Yaoqin didn't answer immediately. She first carried her qin into the room and placed it on the table.

After sitting down, Yaoqin slowly spoke:

"It's been a long time. I thought you were dead."

Chu Xingchen picked up an unused cup nearby, poured a cup of tea for Yaoqin, and handed it to her.

Just as he was about to explain, Yaoqin spoke first:

"Oh, I forgot. In your words, someone like you, a calamity, is destined to linger for a thousand years. You wouldn't die so easily."

Little Ling, who was standing respectfully to the side, couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing this.

However, as Yaoqin's gaze drifted over, she quickly stifled her laughter.

Yaoqin waved her hand to signal the maid beside her: "You may leave now."

Little Ling hesitated upon hearing this and looked up at her mistress.

The young lady always gets fooled by this guy! If I leave, I won't be able to remind her, and who knows, she might get tricked by him again this time.

It's strange, really. The young lady is usually so smart, but in front of this guy, she seems even dumber than me.

Reluctantly, Little Ling spoke softly, "Miss..."

Yaoqin's gaze remained steady, and she said nothing, only waved her hand again.

Sighing inwardly, knowing that her mistress would get angry if she didn't comply, Little Ling, despite her helplessness, could only leave the room.

With Little Ling's departure, only the veiled Yaoqin and Chu Xingchen remained in the room.

Yaoqin didn't lift her gaze, instead looking down at the qin on the table, gently plucking its strings:

"Speak, what brings you to me this time?"

Chu Xingchen sighed, his tone slightly aggrieved:

"Why does Miss Yaoqin speak so distantly? It makes it seem like every time I come to you, it's to ask for a favor."

Oh? Distant? Who's the one that kept calling me Miss Yaoqin from the door until now?

Yaoqin still didn't look up, her tone growing colder:

"When have you ever come to me and not asked for my help?"

This made Chu Xingchen pause slightly, then upon reflection... it seemed Yaoqin was right. Every time he sought her out, it was indeed to ask for her help.

And it seemed he had never really repaid her for anything. Thinking about it this way, hadn't he been getting free favors from her all this time?

And this time, he had indeed come to ask for her help again.

Yaoqin waited briefly, but when Chu Xingchen didn't speak, she pressed on:

"Well? Can't find the words?"

Chu Xingchen pondered for a moment, realizing he needed to be more tactful this time, lest he be unable to even get through the door the next time he needed help.

He looked up at Yaoqin: "I wish to entrust my thoughts to Yaoqin."

Yaoqin was momentarily taken aback upon hearing this, her hands pressing down on the strings, her tone icy:

"What are you trying to say?"

Faced with her cold tone, Chu Xingchen seemed quite saddened by Yaoqin's chilly demeanor, and he sighed:

"I wish to entrust my thoughts to Yaoqin. Few understand me, and who will hear when the strings break?"

The Bamboo-Jade Courtyard is distinguished by the fact that money alone doesn't guarantee success.

But with good literary talent and a certain flair, there's a chance. Additionally, if you're handsome enough, there's an eighty percent chance it will work.

Chu Xingchen relied on his own wit and humor, borrowing ancient poetry from his previous life.

By casually reciting a few top-tier poems, he could easily win over these proud courtesans.

At least, that's how it was with Yaoqin. Although, up to now, he hadn't even held her hand.

This time, by incorporating Yaoqin's name, he hoped to show his sincerity.

Chu Xingchen was quite confident that the Yaoqin before him would be deeply moved.

But...

Reality seemed otherwise.

What greeted Chu Xingchen was not Yaoqin's slightly shy voice, but a fierce soundwave.

Yaoqin raised her hand, unleashing a powerful soundwave.

Zheng—

The slightly piercing soundwave brushed past his ears, instantly clearing Chu Xingchen's mind. He quickly reached up to rub his ears.

Yaoqin angrily said, "Scoundrel! Do you think that just because you've seen me a few times, you can toy with me?"

"Wait... How am I a scoundrel? I haven't even touched your hand. Isn't this a bit unjust?"

Yaoqin swiftly withdrew her hand from the table, casting a disdainful look at Chu Xingchen.

"...Alright, my mistake."

Chu Xingchen sighed, realizing he should have been more businesslike. He took out a Blood Qi Spirit Stone from his spatial ring and placed it on the table.

Yaoqin's gaze immediately locked onto the Blood Qi Spirit Stone.

After a couple of glances, Yaoqin sharply looked at Chu Xingchen, her spiritual sense quickly scanning him, only to find that her spiritual sense couldn't penetrate his protective aura.

"Have you reached the Golden Core stage?" Yaoqin's brows furrowed slightly.

Chu Xingchen leaned back in his chair:

"Yes, did I scare you?"

Yaoqin was well aware of Chu Xingchen's aptitude. After all, he was indeed a prodigy. Having drunk so much of her fine tea, he should have long understood its effects and how well she treated him.

This person drank her fine tea as if it were mere water, yet never seemed to grasp its significance.

His aptitude wasn't particularly outstanding.

The last time she saw him, he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment. In just about a year, he now seemed to be at least at the Mid Core Formation Stage.

Yaoqin looked down at the Blood Qi Spirit Stone on the table.

An unsettling thought crossed Yaoqin's mind.

Yaoqin, disappointed, said, "Have you turned to evil cultivation?"

Chu Xingchen quickly refuted, "Don't spread rumors. Who in Yuzhou City doesn't know that the White Dragon is full of righteous spirit?"

Yaoqin questioned, "Then how do you explain your cultivation level and this spirit stone?"

Chu Xingchen exaggeratedly recounted his encounter at the Qingfeng Sect Mine and the situation with the evil cultivators there.

"This Blood Qi Spirit Stone is what I obtained from the Qingfeng Sect Mine."

Chu Xingchen lightly tapped the Blood Qi Spirit Stone in front of him.

Upon hearing this, Yaoqin gently grasped the spirit stone, her spiritual sense probing it, indeed finding a malevolent Blood Qi contained within.

It was the handiwork of extreme evil cultivators.

Yaoqin asked, "So, did you come to me this time to deal with the Qingfeng Sect?"

Chu Xingchen shook his head, "Not exactly. I just wanted to know if there's a way to purify this spirit stone."

Yaoqin looked at him skeptically, "Do you have many of these spirit stones?"

Chu Xingchen sincerely replied, "Just two. I just want to know some methods to counteract them in case I encounter similar evil cultivators in the future, for safety's sake."

Yaoqin nodded gently:

"It will take some time. I can't guarantee a solution... Check back with me in a few days."

"No need, I'll be staying in Yuzhou City for a while. When you have results, just send a letter to this address."

Chu Xingchen picked up a brush and wrote down his current address.

Yaoqin glanced at the elegant running script and the address in Yuzhou City.

This was the first time Yaoqin could accurately know where to find Chu Xingchen.

She reached out, took the paper, and tucked it into her sleeve:

"Is there anything else?"

Chu Xingchen stood up, "No, just waiting for your good news."

With that, he stood up to leave.

"Wait... leave the words you just said before you go."

"What words?"

"Chu Xingchen!"

"Alright, I'll write them down right away!"