After the Dual Cultivation Relationship Ended, the Heroine Panicked! - Chapter 2

It was not until midnight that Bai Muyao finally drifted into an exhausted sleep.

Bai Muyao had originally thought that their relationship would end without much of a ripple. After all, except for the very first time when the dual cultivation occurred under accidental circumstances, Xu Qing had always been as still as a quiet lake.

Yet, that final session last night had been ten thousand times more intense than their first encounter.

Did Senior Sister Xu Qing experience something during those three months of absence?

During the cultivation, Bai Muyao could feel Xu Qing’s Fire Spirit Root recovering until, at the very last moment, it was completely healed.

This also meant that the relationship between them would draw to a close at this very instant.

In the early morning, Bai Muyao woke from her dreams. Sunlight filtered through the window lattices. She stretched lazily, spreading her arms wide in an attempt to dispel the fatigue from her body.

She grumbled to herself, “So tired  How did Xu Qing… Senior Sister?!”

She suddenly realized that Xu Qing was sitting upright by the wooden table, her gaze quietly fixed upon her.

Bai Muyao hurriedly pulled up the quilt to cover herself. She never expected that Xu Qing would still be here. In the past, by the time she woke up, Xu Qing would have long since departed; there were almost no exceptions. Over time, Bai Muyao had grown accustomed to this.

Xu Qing asked, “What were you calling me for?”

Bai Muyao shook her head frantically. “Nothing, nothing! I was just talking in my sleep!”

Xu Qing frowned slightly. Even though it was such a clumsy excuse, Xu Qing chose to believe it. She stood up and straightened her robes. Bai Muyao also scrambled to get dressed properly.

Xu Qing turned around, her expression indifferent as she looked at her. “My spirit root is completely healed.”

Bai Muyao blinked. This indifference and distance were the traits of the Xu Qing she was familiar with. In contrast, the irritable Xu Qing from last night felt like a stranger.

Xu Qing continued, “Between us, it was nothing more than mutual exploitation.”

“After tonight, we have nothing to do with one another.”

Lying by the edge of the bed, Bai Muyao pursed her lips and nodded slightly. “I understand.”

She knew this day would eventually come; the System had told her as much. After Xu Qing finished speaking, she walked out of the treehouse.

Did Xu Qing stay behind just to say that one sentence to me?

Bai Muyao put on her clothes, stood up, and looked out the window. She had looked at this familiar scenery for thirteen years; perhaps this would be the last time.

As Bai Muyao walked out of the treehouse, she was surprised to find Xu Qing standing at the entrance of the cave.

She hasn’t left yet?

Xu Qing seemed to be waiting for her. Bai Muyao walked over, feeling a bit awkward.

Bai Muyao asked, “Is there anything else?”

Xu Qing replied, “I suddenly felt like looking at the scenery for a while.”

Bai Muyao: “?”

Is this person really that free?

Xu Qing added, “If you have things to do, you can leave first.”

“Oh… Um, Senior Sister Xu Qing, may we meet again if fate permits.”

Bai Muyao didn’t intend to linger. After cupping her hands in a formal salute, she stepped out of the cave and began her descent down the mountain.

Xu Qing’s gaze followed that silhouette closely until it vanished into the white mist.

Meet again if fate permits…?

She unconsciously rubbed her thumb against her index finger, trying to erase the strands of inexplicable irritability in her heart. However, it was to no avail. Finally, Xu Qing leaped into the air and also departed from the lonely mountain.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Bai Muyao couldn’t help but look back once more at the peak. From now on, perhaps neither she nor Xu Qing would ever set foot there again. Would anyone else ever come here?

These were questions she no longer needed to consider.

Bai Muyao returned to her own residence. Compared to the exquisite treehouse on the lonely mountain, her home appeared quite dilapidated. It was a worn-out little wooden shack with a yard where a few stalks of vegetables grew.

Bai Muyao didn’t mind; she just needed a place to rest her feet. Besides, she wouldn’t be living here for much longer.

Entering the house, Bai Muyao prepared a simple breakfast and then opened the System interface. Over these thirteen years, she had mastered this strange contraption.

[Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission: The Heroine’s pain is fully recovered.] [Mission Reward: Opportunity Exploration System Unlocked.]

The System had promised that if she cured Xu Qing, it would help her raise her cultivation. Bai Muyao scanned the “Opportunity List,” which featured countless covetable items like ancient cultivation techniques and rare treasures. These were things even the sect elders would dream of.

The System had detailed the locations of these opportunities and provided guides on how to obtain them. As long as Bai Muyao could acquire a few of these divine artifacts within a hundred years, her cultivation and strength would increase significantly. Only then could she hope to preserve her life during the Great War.

Bai Muyao was currently at the late stage of the Golden Core, just one step away from the Nascent Soul stage. Yet, this step was like a vast chasm, difficult to cross. With bad luck, she might not break through even within a hundred years.

She took stock of the silver and spirit stones she possessed—all earned through her frantic mission-grinding. She planned to go to the market today to purchase some spiritual tools and items necessary for her quest. To maximize her protection, she decided to craft a protective artifact for herself.

Bai Muyao intended to leave the sect within the next two days to travel and seek her fortunes. She began flipping through the guide, carefully choosing which opportunity to pursue first.

For example, an Ancient Cultivation Technique: hidden in a secluded valley secret realm. The System provided a detailed map; the entrance was protected by an ancient array requiring specific talismans to crack.

Or a Divine Artifact: left behind on a battlefield from a previous Immortal-Demon war. The System provided a map, but the area was plagued by residual demonic qi and rampaging evil spirits, requiring items to combat these dangers and purify the artifact.

Bai Muyao’s head throbbed as she scrolled through the information. She never thought she’d one day be stressed because she had too many good options.

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

“Xiao Bai!”

Bai Muyao closed the System and looked up to see her friend waving as she approached.

“Hurry up, breakfast is almost cold,” Bai Muyao said.

“What I look forward to most every day is Xiao Bai’s breakfast!”

This was Duan Yi, a friend she had met while teaming up for a mission. They had encountered an accident during that mission, and Duan Yi had been bedridden with injuries. During that time, Bai Muyao had cared for her and cooked for her. Duan Yi had grown particularly fond of her cooking.

They had agreed to go to the market together today. Bai Muyao originally planned to go alone, but Duan Yi insisted on coming along.

As soon as Duan Yi arrived, she wore a gossiping expression. “Xiao Bai, you look a bit haggard. Where did you go last night?”

Bai Muyao touched her face nervously. Last night, Xu Qing had indeed made things… difficult for her. But surely it wasn’t that obvious!

Duan Yi continued, “Let me guess~~ Senior Sister Xu Qing just happened to return yesterday, and you just happened to disappear. Could it be—!”

Bai Muyao’s heart skipped two beats in fright. She cut her off: “Don’t make blind guesses! Anyway, hurry up and eat breakfast!”

“Fine” Duan Yi replied.

After breakfast, Bai Muyao took Duan Yi to the market.

On the other side, following sect rules, Xu Qing went to her Master’s residence to pay her respects.

Upon seeing Xu Qing, her Master sighed. “Why are you so late?”

Xu Qing replied, “Apologies, I was delayed by some matters.”

“Never mind.” Her Master waved a hand. “Let us talk. About the recovery of your spirit root.”

Xu Qing remained silent. She had never revealed her affairs with Bai Muyao to anyone, including her Master. Her Master had undoubtedly sensed the recovery of her spirit root, but Xu Qing did not wish to explain.

Seeing this, her Master sighed again helplessly. “Fine. Regardless of who the other party is, now that your spirit root is recovered, you must not have further contact with them. Do you understand?”

Xu Qing frowned slightly. It seemed her Master had guessed she used the dual cultivation method to heal. She answered softly, “This disciple knows her limits.”

Her Master shook her head and spoke earnestly. “Sigh, your spirit root is restored, and your strength is now even above mine. You likely know better than I do that the path of cultivation is extremely cruel. You must not trust others too much.”

“This disciple understands.”

Afterward, the two discussed the demon invasion. Xu Qing reported everything in detail before preparing to leave. Before she left, her Master took a lotus flower from a storage ring.

“This lotus contains spiritual energy. It will wither at the stroke of midnight tonight. Go back now and absorb the energy within it.”

This lotus was a rare cultivation treasure. It was only because the Master valued Xu Qing so highly that she bestowed it upon her. Xu Qing accepted the lotus, thanked her, and left.

The Master still felt a trace of worry regarding Xu Qing’s dual cultivation partner but maintained confidence in this aloof disciple. Xu Qing kept everyone at arm’s length; even toward her Master, there was a sense of distance. She believed Xu Qing would not make a wrong judgment because of anyone.

After leaving, Xu Qing stopped at a mountain peak to rest for a moment. She knew her Master was right. The path of cultivation was brutal; trusting the wrong person could cost one’s life.

And she… she had never cared whether Bai Muyao was trustworthy. From the beginning, she had only intended to use her. Her original plan was to have no more connection with Bai Muyao once her spirit root was healed from then on, they would be strangers.

However, when her Master mentioned the matter today, Xu Qing had subconsciously wanted to argue back. This realization startled her. She had to stop on this peak and examine her own heart.

Why has my state of mind changed?

Previously, she would never have had such thoughts. It felt as though since she went to the border, from the first time she thought of Bai Muyao, something had gone wrong.

Xu Qing shook her head, trying to find a solution. The best way was to stop thinking about Bai Muyao and stop meeting her. But as long as she stayed in the sect, it would be difficult to avoid her.

That’s right…

She hadn’t told Bai Muyao yet not to go back to that treehouse. If her Master discovered it, it would be problematic. Xu Qing thought about whether she should go find Bai Muyao now to clarify this point.

While she was deep in thought, she remembered the lotus gift, which could wither at any moment. She needed to return and cultivate immediately; this matter could not be delayed.

Just as Xu Qing was about to head back, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure at the foot of the mountain.

Bai Muyao?

And that fellow disciple who called her “Xiao Bai.” They were walking toward the sect market, chatting and laughing.

“Xiao Bai…” Xu Qing uttered the two words heavily, her figure vanishing into the clouds instantly.

Bai Muyao and Duan Yi arrived at the sect market. Most of the goods here were collected by disciples during various missions. Both silver and spirit stones could be used for trade.

Bai Muyao pulled a list from her sleeve, detailing the items she wanted to buy. They chatted as they walked.

“Xiao Bai, do you really intend to leave the sect so soon to travel the world?” Duan Yi’s tone carried a hint of reluctance.

A flash of helplessness appeared in Bai Muyao’s eyes. She had less than a hundred years left before the great tribulation. Time was pressing; she had to raise her cultivation as quickly as possible. Therefore, traveling and searching for more opportunities was her primary choice.

“Yes!”

After Bai Muyao gave her firm answer, Duan Yi couldn’t help but feel a bit downcast. Bai Muyao moved to another stall. Duan Yi watched her silently, something brewing in her heart.

“Wha, What? Why has the price doubled?!”

Suddenly, Bai Muyao’s voice rose several decibels. This was a piece of jade she had set her heart on long ago. It was originally only 100 spirit stones, but now the price tag was as high as 200!