AZI Volume 3 Chapter 13

"Wait."

"Hm?"

Just as Long Hua is about to use the village's magic array to return to the city, he is stopped by Nuo'er.

As for Yao Ying, who should have been with Nuo'er—she is nowhere to be seen.

"I asked that little girl to head to the canteen on her own. Can I… Call you, Long-shao?"

"Go ahead."

As Long Hua turns to face Nuo'er, Tian Cheng takes three steps back, while the former asks—

"So, what can I help you with?"

"Thank you."

"Hm?"

Towards the sudden words of gratitude, Long Hua is at a slight loss.

"For that little girl?"

Shaking her head, Nuo'er answers—

"It's for Bai Wen."

"I don't recall doing anything for him."

"He hasn't had a laugh like that in a while. And he's been smiling with sincerity ever since he's met you."

"Uh?"

Hearing this, all of a sudden, Long Hua can't help but feel a hint of discomfort.

Understanding Long Hua's concern, Nuo'er chuckles with a hand near her mouth, and replies—

"He doesn't swing that way as far as I'm aware of. In any case, I just want you to know that he does see you as… An acquaintance? If possible, I hope you can continue to get along with him—despite his troublesome personality."

More confused than ever, Long Hua can't help but ask—

"The words you're saying are rather… Riddle like. What is it that you truly want to ask of me?"

Towards this question, Nuo'er smiles with a hint of being troubled—very much akin to a mother, who has a troublesome time dealing with her own child, who refuses to grow up.

"There are some things that I cannot talk to you about right now. Perhaps… When you meet my siblings, you'll have a clue as to what I'm trying to say here today?"

Unsure of this herself, Nuo'er's tone contains a hint of doubt, to which, Long Hua replies—

"Hmm. Well, I'll keep your words in mind."

"Thank you."

Performing a subtle bow, Nuo'er turns around, and heads in the direction of the canteen, while Tian Cheng remarks—

"A strange girl, is she not, master?"

"Strange, but not in a bad way. In any case, let's return."

...…

Upon returning to the yacht—

(…Why?)

"…"

Seeing Long Hua seated on the bed in lotus posture, and is already cultivating the Tranquil Heart Incantation, the Tian Cheng—inside of the dreamscape, can only choose to look on with a hint of despair in her eyes.

(Wait, wait, a cultivation method isn't something—that can be raised to great mastery in a single night. So long as he hasn't reached that stage, I can still-)

"…!"

Upon Long Hua snapping his azure-colored eyes open, Tian Cheng is stunned for a moment before—

(Why?! Are you that intent on never getting married?! Are you that set on staying a virgin for life?! You're going to end up a laughingstock among men at this rate!)

Going off on a rant within the dreamscape.

It hasn't even been 15 minutes since Long Hua had started to cultivate the incantation; and yet, the clear blue glow emanating from his eyes—shows that he has attained at least a decent level of mastery over it.

"This is easier than I thought to cultivate. Shouldn't even take a full month."

(What do you mean it's easier to cultivate than you thought?! Shouldn't even take a full month?! How about you just shave that head of yours right now?!)

Clasping her head in her hands, the Tian Cheng—within the dreamscape, is at a loss as to how she can make everything seem natural, for Long Hua to fall asleep, before dragging him into her domain.

"Ai…"

Heaving a sigh, Long Hua raises his right hand slightly.

Rotating his cultivation base, along with the Tranquil Heart Incantation, sword Qi gathers on top of his palm.

Condensing the gathered sword Qi together, Long Hua gradually attempts to mold it into the shape of a flower, the true form of "Flowers within the Mist."

(The hell is this?! This Lone Dog Incantation actually had a function like this?!)

Seeing the flower formed of sword Qi slowly coming into being, the Tian Cheng—within the dreamscape, widens her eyes.

"…Uh."

Almost as soon as the flower's form is on the verge of completion, it collapses, causing Long Hua to frown, while thinking—

(Hmm. If my mastery of this incantation increases, my sword Qi should become more refined as well—due to me having a tranquil state of mind when using it.)

With Long Hua having failed to achieve his desired result, Tian Cheng sees this as an opportunity to have him take a break, as she asks—

"Master, how about taking a proper rest?"

"Hmm."

Thinking about the Cloud Ink Incantation, which is still in his storage pouch, Long Hua isn't too keen on taking a break just yet.

However, with there being plans for tomorrow, it might actually be wise to do so.

"I suppose, a proper rest is needed for tomorrow."