35: Chapter 35: Sisters United

After Yang Yuan achieved a Breakthrough to the fifth level, he felt like a completely different person.

The Internal Energy flowing through his Meridians moved twice as fast as before, and a warm power surged in his palms at all times.

Standing by the seaside, he tested a saber strike—the Saber Qi slashed out, carving a three-zhang-long white line on the sea surface, causing the waves to part to both sides, and it took quite a while for them to close back up.

Even he was startled by it.

"Is it this fierce at the fifth level? Then what about the sixth level?"

He sheathed his saber and turned to walk toward the courtyard.

Just as he reached the entrance, a line of text popped up in his mind—

"System Notification: Lu Wushuang Favorability Binding Quest remaining time: 2 days. Current Favorability: 45 / 60. Failure to complete the quest will prevent unlocking the second partner slot."

Yang Yuan paused his steps.

He had been busy with his Breakthrough these past few days and had forgotten about this.

Lu Wushuang had been on the island for a while now; he taught Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang martial arts every day, and they all ate together.

Life was very peaceful, but he hadn't deliberately tried to farm Favorability.

Looking at it now, he was still 15 points short, and only two days remained.

He stood at the courtyard entrance and glanced inside.

Lu Wushuang was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, helping Cheng Ying pick vegetables.

Cheng Ying sat beside her with her belly protruding, holding a radish and peeling it.

The two were chatting idly, talking about everyday matters—such as how fresh the vegetables were or how to steam the fish so it wouldn't smell fishy.

Sunlight shone into the courtyard, and their shadows were very close together.

Yang Yuan watched for a while, didn't go in, and turned to head deep into the Peach Forest.

Huang Yaoshi taught Little Xue Jian to play the flute every afternoon during the Shen period; it shouldn't have started yet.

He needed to ask one thing—what exactly was Huang Yaoshi's attitude toward Lu Wushuang staying on the island?

Deep in the Peach Forest, Huang Yaoshi was leaning against a peach tree, holding a bamboo flute in his hand.

He saw Yang Yuan walking over and his eyebrows twitched: "Speak, what is it you need from me?"

Yang Yuan was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Lu Wushuang is currently living on the island, and her injuries have mostly healed, but Li Mochou is still out there. I would like for her to stay here, to live here long-term. I wonder if Island Master Huang would permit it?"

Huang Yaoshi didn't answer immediately.

He looked down at the bamboo flute in his hand, and after a moment, he said: "That girl has a decent foundation in martial arts, but she is impetuous and lacks refinement."

Yang Yuan didn't speak, waiting for him to continue.

"I can accept her as a Named Disciple," Huang Yaoshi said, "Let her stay on the island and learn the flute and Qinggong from me for a few years. Whether she can achieve anything depends on herself."

Yang Yuan was stunned for a moment, then bowed deeply: "Many thanks, Island Master Huang."

Huang Yaoshi glanced at him: "Family?"

Yang Yuan nodded: "Family."

Huang Yaoshi didn't say anything else, turned around, and walked deep into the Peach Forest, leaving behind one sentence: "Have her come see me tomorrow."

Yang Yuan stood where he was, a weight lifted off his heart.

Returning to the courtyard, Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang had already finished picking the vegetables.

Lu Wushuang was practicing with her saber in the courtyard, repeating the same slashing motion over and over, her forehead covered in sweat.

Yang Yuan walked over: "Stop practicing, I have something to tell you."

Lu Wushuang sheathed her saber and wiped her sweat: "What is it?"

"Island Master Huang said he can accept you as a Named Disciple."

Lu Wushuang's movements paused.

She was stunned for a long time before she spoke: "Really?"

"Really. You will go see him tomorrow, and he will teach you the flute and Qinggong."

Lu Wushuang stood there, her mouth twitching as if she wanted to laugh, yet also as if she wanted to cry.

She lowered her head, was silent for a while, then raised her head, her eyes slightly red: "I... am I going to be able to stay here forever?"

"Yes," Yang Yuan said, "From now on, this will be your home."

Lu Wushuang didn't speak.

She lowered her head, wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, then turned and walked to Cheng Ying's side, crouched down, and buried her face in Cheng Ying's lap.

Cheng Ying didn't speak, reaching out to gently stroke her hair.

Yang Yuan stood in the courtyard, watching the two of them, and suddenly felt—this was quite nice.

That evening, Cheng Ying prepared a table full of dishes.

Lu Wushuang had been very quiet, but when eating, the speed at which she picked up dishes was faster than anyone else's.

Cheng Ying served her a piece of fish; she was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head and ate it.

Cheng Ying served her another piece, and she ate that as well.

Yang Yuan watched from the side and couldn't help but laugh: "Eat slowly, no one is going to snatch it from you."

With her mouth full of rice, Lu Wushuang said indistinctly: "Cousin's cooking is delicious."

Cheng Ying smiled and served her another chopstick-full.

After dinner, the three sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air.

Little Xue Jian was already asleep, lying on Cheng Ying's lap, her little hand clutching the corner of Cheng Ying's clothes, gripping it tightly.

Yang Po moved inside Cheng Ying's belly, and Cheng Ying gently pressed her stomach, a smile on her face.

Lu Wushuang sat on a stone bench, looking up at the stars in the sky, and suddenly said: "I never thought before that I would be able to live a life like this."

Yang Yuan didn't reply.

"My mother died early, and Li Mochou chased me everywhere; I was running every single day," Lu Wushuang's voice was very soft, "Sometimes I would wake up at night and not even know where I was. Now, sitting here, I suddenly feel—it seems like I don't have to run anymore."

Cheng Ying reached out and held her hand: "You don't have to run anymore. From now on, this is your home."

Lu Wushuang didn't pull away.

She lowered her head, the moonlight shining on the side of her face, making her expression unclear, but her shoulders were trembling slightly.

Yang Yuan stood up, walked to the edge of the courtyard, and looked at the distant sea surface.

A line of text popped up in his mind—

"Detected Lu Wushuang Favorability change: +10 (Huang Yaoshi accepting her as a disciple) +5 (Sense of family belonging). Current Favorability: 60 / 100."

"Quest complete! Reward: Unlocked second partner slot."

"New feature notification: Second partner slot has been unlocked. Currently bindable object: Lu Wushuang."

Yang Yuan looked at that line of text, his heart feeling little fluctuation.

He turned back to look at Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang in the courtyard—the two were sitting together, heads leaning against each other, whispering something.

He turned his head back, looking at the shimmering moonlight on the sea surface.

The second partner slot was unlocked.

But he didn't want to rush into binding anything right now.

Being able to sit together as a family, eating, enjoying the cool air, and watching the stars in peace was more important than anything else.