6: My master thought of me first!

She tentatively squeezed out these two words from deep in her throat.

Her voice was hoarse and dry.

Su Lin watched as his reflection finally reappeared in her eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He didn't speak, but slowly extended his hand to her, just as he had done countless times a hundred years ago.

This simple gesture became the flood that broke the last dam in Mu Qingxue's heart.

She could no longer hold back.

"Wah—"

A mournful cry, heart-wrenching, filled with the grievances and pain suppressed for a hundred years, tore through the air.

That was no longer the Qingyao Sect Revered Master, no longer a Void Refining Stage mighty figure; it was just a child who had been lost for a hundred years and finally found her way home.

She staggered, rushing towards Su Lin frantically, even forgetting to use her spiritual power, almost tripping several times over the loose stones beneath her feet.

Finally, she threw herself heavily into Su Lin's embrace.

Su Lin stumbled from the impact, his chest injury flaring up, but he paid it no mind.

He held the trembling body in his arms tightly, tightly.

"Revered Master... Revered Master... Is it really you...? I'm not dreaming..."

Mu Qingxue clutched Su Lin's robes desperately, as if letting go would make everything before her vanish like a bubble.

Warm tears soaked Su Lin's chest, burning him with their heat.

"Why did you only come back now...? Why, I missed you so much... I was so scared..."

She sobbed incoherently, turning a hundred years of longing into a flood of tears.

Su Lin held her, gently patting her back.

"This Revered Master... has returned."

Just then, in Su Lin's mind, the cold, mechanical voice sounded again.

"Ding! Detected host and Disciple Mu Qingxue have successfully reunited, bond established!"

"Mu Qingxue's longing and filial devotion for you have broken through the critical point; bond value is rapidly increasing!"

"Bond value: 10... 20... 30... 50... 80..."

"Ding! Bond value has reached 10 points! Novice mission complete!"

"Mission reward issued: host's cultivation level increased to — Golden Core Middle Stage!"

A warm current instantly surged from Su Lin's Dantian, flowing through his limbs.

His Meridians, which had been damaged by the pressure, were rapidly being restored by a gentle force; the Golden Core in his Dantian shone brightly, spinning a few times faster, and the Qi it emitted was considerably more robust.

"Revered Master... your cultivation?" Mu Qingxue finally asked, puzzled.

"The battle a hundred years ago probably exhausted all my spiritual power. Afterwards, I was teleported to another world and only just returned these past few days."

Hearing Su Lin's explanation, Mu Qingxue's body stiffened abruptly, and she slowly lifted her head from his embrace.

Her sapphire eyes, freshly washed with tears, stared blankly at Su Lin. A trace of confusion flashed in her pupils, immediately followed by overwhelming remorse.

Revered Master... to protect them, exhausted all his cultivation in that great battle.

Revered Master... was teleported to another realm, alone, and only returned with great difficulty after a hundred years.

Revered Master... upon his return, only had Core Formation Stage cultivation, extremely weak.

And she... what had she just done?

At the mountain gate, she had used Void Refining Stage Divine Sense pressure to mercilessly crush her Revered Master, who was just recovering from severe injuries!

She had used the coldest, most hurtful words to drive him away as if he were a liar!

She even... almost harbored killing intent towards him!

In an instant, overwhelming regret and self-reproach transformed into painful blades, fiercely piercing Mu Qingxue's heart.

The ice and pride she had forged for herself over a hundred years shattered into dust at this moment.

With a "thump."

Mu Qingxue actually took a step back, her knees buckling, and she knelt directly before Su Lin.

"Revered Master..."

Her voice trembled uncontrollably, and tears once again burst forth.

"Disciple is unfilial... Disciple is guilty... Disciple... Disciple actually attacked you just now."

Su Lin's heart ached, and he quickly stepped forward, wanting to help her up.

But Mu Qingxue stubbornly knelt on the ground, refusing to rise. Tears mixed with dust covered her beautiful face, making her look disheveled and pitiful.

"Disciple has harmed Revered Master; I deserve ten thousand deaths! Please punish Disciple!"

He sighed, no longer forcing her to stand, but instead crouched down and gently wiped away the tear stains on her face with his sleeve.

She suddenly looked up, gazing at Su Lin's face, so close to her, and could no longer hold back, throwing herself into his arms again and weeping loudly.

This time, her cries were no longer just of grievance and longing, but more of the relief of having found something lost and regret for her own actions.

Su Lin let her embrace him, gently stroking her long hair until her sobs gradually subsided and she stabilized, sniffling.

"Revered Master," Mu Qingxue asked in a muffled voice from his embrace, her voice still thick with a strong nasal tone.

"You... you've returned. Have you... have you seen the other Senior Sisters?"

As she asked this, her heart involuntarily tightened.

She hoped that Revered Master would reunite with all her sisters soon, yet deep down, there was a trace of selfish thought that even she found shameful.

"Not yet," Su Lin shook his head, stating truthfully.

"I was teleported to a completely unfamiliar realm, and only just found my way back these past few days.

As soon as I returned, I heard about Mu Qingxue of Qingyao Sect's great name in a tavern in a border town.

So, I came directly to find you."

Su Lin's words were calm.

However, these words, upon reaching Mu Qingxue's ears, were no less than a clap of thunder from the Nine Heavens!

Her body trembled violently, and her sobs abruptly ceased.

As soon as he returned... he heard my name... so, he came directly to find me?

Her mind went somewhat blank as she repeatedly chewed on the meaning of these few sentences.

What did this mean?

This meant that Revered Master, having traversed worlds and endured a hundred years of hardship, the first person he thought of after his return was her!

The first person he wanted to find was also her!

Not the steady and reliable Eldest Senior Sister, not the ethereal and aloof Second Senior Sister, nor any other Senior Sister... but her, Mu Qingxue!

An indescribable ecstasy instantly washed away all the regret and self-reproach in her heart!

On her tear-streaked face, a hint of astonishment first appeared, and then a charming blush spread from her neck to her earlobes, finally making her entire pretty face feel hot.

So... so in Revered Master's heart, the one he cared for most, the one he thought of first, was indeed me!

Su Lin was momentarily stunned by her sudden smile.

A hundred years had not only failed to diminish her peerless radiance but had instead imbued her with a cold and noble aura.

Yet at this moment, when she smiled, all the pressure and aloofness of a Void Refining Stage mighty figure vanished.

It was as if she had reverted to the young girl from back then who would follow him, sweetly calling out "Revered Master."

No, it was also a little different.

In her eyes, besides filial devotion and dependence, there was also a fervent, almost melting possessiveness.

"Revered Master, the ground is cold, please get up quickly."