Yan Chun lowered her head and watched as Yin Yuchens back and arms trembled finely. His sweat gathered under the Four Symbols mask, trickling down his neck and slowly slipping into his collar.

He was half kneeling on the ground, picking up a handkerchief and the jade card for entry, rubbing them for a moment before setting them down again. Then he took out a new jade token for leaving an image and continued training in that reckless manner.

At this rate, if he really participated in the sects major competition, he would most likely not survive.

The more Yan Chun watched Yin Yuchen train in such a reckless way, the more furrowed her brow became. It was evident that in his early stage of illusion, it was impossible for him to rely on luck to secure a spot as an inner disciple.

Yan Chun couldnt advise Yin Yuchen because she was currently in a state of soul detachment, and he couldnt even perceive her.

At some point, Yan Chun was involuntarily taken away from the mountain and returned to the Cleansing Spirit Pool.

She was still very happy about the restoration of the Spiritual Mansion, feeling extremely comfortable soaking in the Cleansing Spirit Pool, no longer as painful as before.

However, being alone in the pool, she couldnt help but feel uneasy thinking about Yin Yuchen, who was risking his life down the mountain. Even if Yin Yuchen managed to survive a reckless fight, if the Spiritual Mansion cracked... Yan Chun knew too well the pain of a cracked Spiritual Mansion.

Moreover, she at least had two elder parents and a senior brother who was temporarily in charge of the sect. It took eleven years for them to find a way to repair her Spiritual Mansion. If Yin Yuchens Spiritual Mansion shattered, would he not be left to wait for his life to end in misery and decline?

Yan Chun was no longer as meddlesome as she used to be. Everyone has their own fate, and what she shouldnt interfere with, her own destiny had just managed to get back on track after so much difficulty. How could she control others?

Furthermore, she couldnt even leave the Cleansing Spirit Pool now. Even if she could, if she went to talk to Yin Yuchen, would he really listen?

With his determined appearance, working tirelessly... they were just strangers who met by chance, and Yan Chun knew she couldnt possibly mean anything to him.

The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became, so she decided to sink to the bottom of the Cleansing Spirit Pool to sleep.

Previously, Yan Chun found it too boring to be pressed at the bottom of the Cleansing Spirit Pool, so she forced herself to sleep. She was good at that.

She had probably spent too much time with the Cleansing Spirit Pool. The dense spiritual aura that was suffocating to others didnt bother her even when she sank to the bottom.

Yan Chun quickly fell asleep. She didnt know how long had passed when she vaguely felt someone approaching the edge of the Cleansing Spirit Pool.

The person reached into the pool, grabbed her wrist, and used spiritual power to probe her inner mansion to check her injuries.

Without opening her eyes, Yan Chun knew it was Senior Brother Jing Yangyu. She grabbed his hand in return, then rose from the pool and smiled at him.

Jing Yangyu got splashed with water by her but also smiled. However, his smile faded quickly when he saw Yan Chuns increasingly rosy complexion, thinking of another face growing weaker and paler by the day.

How much longer do I have to stay here? Yan Chun asked out of boredom. Senior Brother, I tried to use spiritual energy to repair my Spiritual Mansion, but it didnt work. Why...

Dont recklessly use spiritual energy to cleanse your Spiritual Mansion! Jing Yangyus voice was urgent and fast. You cant repair your Spiritual Mansion on your own!

Doing so would only make another person more miserable, and the spiritual energy of the Cleansing Spirit Pool was not something that person could bear.

Yanchun was momentarily stunned by Jingyangyus words. Jingyangyu quickly noticed his tone and hastily added, Youve just recovered, dont act recklessly, be obedient.

Yanchun smiled and leaned closer to Jingyangyu, his wet hair resting on Jingyangyus lap. Looking up at Jingyangyu, he resembled a seductive mermaid luring in souls, yet also appeared like a water ghost beckoning spirits.

I understand, Senior Brother, dont worry, Yanchun rubbed his cheek against Jingyangyus hand.

Jingyangyu clenched his fingers, lifting his hand to move away Yanchuns wet hair from his face.

Shuiyun, he softly called Yanchuns name, pointing to a small mole on her nose, Be good, youll get better soon. Leave everything else to Senior Brother.

Whether it goes against the natural order or must remain hidden from others, he didnt want Yanchun to be involved in these matters.

Yanchun obediently nodded, Jingyangyu smiled and said, I have to go back now. There are many things at the sect that need to be taken care of.

He had to go back to continuously repair another persons spiritual mansion with spiritual power, so that she could constantly repair Yan Chuns spiritual mansion with her soul.

Jing Yangyus heart was tangled in pain, all hidden beneath his unmoving exterior.

He stood up from beside the spiritual pool, and Yan Chun was a bit reluctant to leave. The closer she got to recovery, the less she wanted to be alone.

But she had caused enough trouble for Senior Brother, so she had to behave.

However, as Jing Yangyu shook off the water droplets with spiritual power and turned to leave, Yan Chun was really bored and remembered the pair of Yin-Yang fish that Yin Yuchen had given her before.

Yan Chun had originally looked down on those silly creatures, but she was so bored that playing with them seemed like a good idea.

So, Yan Chun asked, Senior Brother, where did you keep my pair of Yin-Yang fish?

Jing Yangyu paused his steps and turned to say, In my courtyard.

Seeing Yan Chuns expression, he knew she couldnt stay still. Jing Yangyu thought for a moment and said, Those Yin-Yang fish are really silly creatures and wont absorb spiritual power on their own. If you want to play, Ill bring them over later.

Most spiritually intelligent spirit beasts would autonomously absorb spiritual power to cultivate. In Jing Yangyus courtyard, the Spirit Gathering Array was set up by the sect leader personally. Although it couldnt compare to the Cleansing Spirit Pool, it was still rich in spiritual energy.

Those two silly fish didnt know how to utilize it, leaving Yan Chun amused and exasperated.

But because they didnt absorb spiritual energy, Yan Chun didnt have to worry about them being torn apart by the pure spiritual power in the Cleansing Spirit Pool.

Whether they would transform into spiritual pills was still unknown.

Yan Chun quickly nodded, Great, bring them over. They dont absorb spiritual energy like me, so they can just soak in the pool and save me from boredom.

Jing Yangyu nodded and swiftly left the restricted area. Before long, he brought the Yin-Yang fish over.

Jing Yangyu directly threw the silly pair into the Cleansing Spirit Pool. They were indeed foolish, but whether they recognized Yan Chun or not, they started playing with her once in the pool.

After watching for a while, Jing Yangyu left. Yan Chun and the two fish chased each other in the pool for a while, and she named them - the black one was called Xiao Yin, and the white one was called Xiao Yang.

After playing for a while, all three of them floated in the water. Yan Chun looked at Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang, then remembered their previous owner, Yin Yuchen.

With the crescent moon hanging overhead and stars shining brightly, Yan Chun muttered to Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang, unsure if they could understand human speech, The one who saved you, your former master, is probably out there looking for trouble right now.

I just dont understand why hes so insistent on entering the inner sect this year...

After muttering a few more words, Yan Chun fell silent, and as she drifted off, her thoughts became muddled.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself being carried down the mountain by the mountain wind, and the old horse instinctively led her into the cave where Yin Yuchen practiced.

Inside the cave, Yin Yuchen had taken off his damp robe and was practicing combat in a sweaty undershirt.

Bored, Yan Chun sat on the smooth stone slab with a handkerchief and an entrance jade, watching Yin Yuchen push himself to the limit.

She was bored and thought, How does this matter concern me? I have my hands full right now.

But... if the entrance jade is broken, wouldnt he be unable to participate in the outer sect competition?

Yan Chun tried to reach for the entrance jade, but in her current state, she was in a ghostly form, not the spiritual state of a cocoon soul cultivator. How could she touch the entrance jade, let alone break it?

She struggled for a while, causing a mysterious gust of wind that lifted a corner of a handkerchief.

Yin Yuchen, too focused on training, didnt notice the strange wind, but Yan Chun, looking at the handkerchief, inexplicably remembered wiping her face with it before.

She scratched her head, paused for a moment, not really thinking about whether it was the same piece as before, just feeling that Yin Yuchen was indeed a dashing young man, always carrying a handkerchief with him.

Such a gentle and refined young man, why was he so persistent? It would be such a pity if he died.

Yan Chun propped her arms, watching Yin Yuchen sweating profusely.

She watched all night long.

As dawn broke, she was swept away by the wind, back to the Cleansing Spirit Pool. As long as she rested, her consciousness would be swept back.

After appearing countless times in the middle of the night, Yan Chun became numb. She had to admit that her spiritual palace had been restored, and the habit of saving all living beings seemed to have recurred. She didnt want Yin Yuchen to participate in the sect competition; that would be sending him to his death.

In short, she didnt want him to die.

Yan Chun watched him skillfully spar with the people in the shadow jade, becoming more and more adept at risking his life.

But watching the practice made Yan Chun fearful. If it came down to a real fight, wouldnt it be...

This couldnt go on.

It was the thirteenth of June, less than half a month left until the outer sect competition of the sect.

That night, Yan Chun was once again brought to the cave, watching Yin Yuchen practice day after day. She suspected he didnt sleep because she could see his waist getting thinner than hers.

Yan Chun sighed, holding her face, and before dawn, she saw Yin Yuchen on the verge of breaking through the initial illusion stage due to his relentless practice day and night.

Shocked in the morning light, Yan Chun was then carried away by the wind.

But when she returned to the Cleansing Spirit Pool, she made a firm decision. Even if it was just for the nights Yin Yuchen spent with her, she would do everything she could to help him.

Of course, Yan Chun refused to dwell on whether it was the mountain wind playing tricks on her every night, or if the mountain wind was too kind, leading her spirit to wander and find him.

That day, Yan Chun waited for Jing Yangyu to arrive, holding Little Yin in her arms, stroking its smooth scales, and looking up at Jing Yangyu, asking, Hey, Senior Brother, why have you also lost so much weight around your waist?

Could it be that you... also practice day and night without rest?

Yanchun didnt finish what she wanted to say. Jing Yangyu would have noticed her hesitation if it were any other time, and he would have definitely inquired carefully about Yanchuns thoughts.

But his mind was restless now because of Yanchuns recovery. The persons condition was deteriorating, with increasing confusion and constantly mistaking themselves for Yanchun.

Jing Yangyu was truly exhausted from dealing with it all, yet he couldnt afford to take even half a step away. It was simply unbearable.

He paused by the pond, took Yanchuns wrist, and probed her spiritual realm, then looked down at the fish in her arms and said, This silly creature, even soaking in the Cleansing Spirit Pool hasnt helped it progress.

Yanchun chuckled and replied, By that logic, I must be the silliest one, as Ive been soaking here for over a decade.

Jing Yangyu chuckled and patted her head. Yanchun nudged his hand and then bit her lip.

She looked at Jing Yangyu, hesitated several times, fiddled with the fish scales, causing the fish to hurt and splash water all over Yanchun before darting away.

Speak up, whats on your mind?

Jing Yangyu had watched Yanchun grow up since she was young. Whenever she had something in mind that the elders wouldnt approve of, she would have this look, eyes darting around, biting her lip, looking at him pitifully.

He would always give in eventually.

Yanchun was actually feeling a bit embarrassed this time. The eldest senior brother was very tired, and she could clearly see it. He had lost weight and couldnt hide his exhaustion.

She shouldnt cause him any more trouble.

But... this matter, on a small scale, was helping a friend, but on a larger scale, it involved a persons life.

Seeing Jing Yangyu ask in the same indulgent tone as before, Yanchun smiled with pursed lips, looking up at Jing Yangyu from below, with her eyes drooping slightly at this angle, making a pitiful expression.

She grabbed the fish from the pond, vigorously rubbed it, and said, These two fish are quite fun, Junior Brother Yuchen gave them to me, and I thought of giving him a gift in return.

Elder Brother, could you help me send the return gift to him at the outer gate?