Nie Yun wasn’t walking fast; in fact, one could say he was almost letting his horse roam freely. He squinted, as if he were dozing off.

Suddenly, his ears twitched, he opened his eyes and laughed, “You little devil!” Then he reined in his horse and disappeared in a leap.

Not far behind, a girl in a green silk dress opened her mouth wide. “What happened? Weren’t we just on horseback?” She quickly spurred her horse, wanting to go over and see what was going on.

Suddenly, she felt a jolt behind her, and then heard a teasing voice: “Were you looking for me?”

The girl was startled, but after recognizing the voice, she curled her lips into a smile, though her tone was dismissive: “Hmph! There are many paths in the world, let’s go our separate ways. Don’t be so conceited, I’m not going to bother with you.”

The person behind her chuckled, put their arm around her slender waist, and said, “Then why have you been following me?”

The girl felt a tingling sensation on her neck from his warm breath as he spoke, and her whole body felt as if she were being held tightly in his arms, pressed against his.

Her pretty face flushed instantly, and she struggled to shout, “Let me go! Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude to you.”

“I won’t let go! I didn’t wear enough clothes today, I’m so cold!” The person behind me not only didn’t let go, but hugged me even tighter.

“You…” The girl was furious, but suddenly her eyes darted around, “You really won’t let go?”

“I won’t let go, I’d rather die… Ouch!” A scream rang out, and the man behind him jumped off his horse, blowing on his hand. “Are you a cat? Your claws are so sharp!”

“Hmph… Now you know how powerful I am!”

The young girl was beaming with pride. A gentle breeze ruffled her dark hair, revealing two large, jet-black eyes and a pretty, fair oval face. It was none other than the clever and mischievous Qu Feiyan.

“It’s practically murdering her husband!” Nie Yun muttered.

“What nonsense are you talking about? What murder…murder that!” The little girl’s pretty face flushed red.

“The girl’s face is flushed, she’s thinking of her husband. Look at your little face, it’s almost as red as an autumn apple. There’s no one else here but me, who else could you be thinking of but me?”

Nie Yun said with a grin, “Oh my, little sister, you’re so devoted, chasing after your husband from afar. I’m truly touched!”

“You…you…” No matter how precocious Qu Feiyan was, she was still a virgin. Being teased by Nie Yun like this, she felt both ashamed and angry, but also a little happy.

She jumped off her horse, clenched her fist, and punched Nie Yun in the nose.

Nie Yun chuckled softly, grabbed Qu Feiyan’s delicate hand, sniffed it under his nose, and revealed a look of intoxication on his face, “What a wonderful hand, so smooth and fragrant!”

Qu Feiyan’s heart pounded, and she struggled shyly, “Let go!”

A smile appeared on Nie Yun’s lips as he looked at the little girl without saying a word.

Qu Feiyan felt embarrassed by the stare and spat, saying, “Those eyes are so shifty, they’re definitely up to no good.”

Nie Yun nodded, “As the saying goes, ‘beauty is food for the eyes,’ how can I not be captivated by such beauty!” With that, he kissed her small hand.

“Ah!” Qu Feiyan pulled her hand back forcefully as if she had been electrocuted, turned around and clutched her chest, her heart pounding so hard she could hardly breathe.

After a while, she turned around, her face full of shyness, and she didn’t dare to look at Nie Yun. She just lowered her head, put her hands behind her back, and tapped the ground with her toes.

Nie Yun stepped forward, placed his hands on his knees, and bent down. “Tell me, why are you following me?”

Qu Feiyan didn’t dare to lift her head and said in a low voice, “I was so bored at Grandpa Liu’s house, so… so… I came out for a walk.”

Nie Yun laughed and said, “Want to follow me?”

Qu Feiyan didn’t speak, but nodded with a blush.

Nie Yun stroked her soft black hair. “Think carefully. If you come with me, you can never go back.”

This sounded like a joke, but Qu Feiyan raised her head and stared straight at Nie Yun: “I…I just want to follow you forever!”

The two looked at each other. Qu Feiyan’s eyes held both expectation and worry, but she looked at Nie Yun without backing down, her small face full of stubbornness and seriousness.

“I once whipped a famous horse while drunk, now I fear my affections will burden the beauty.” Nie Yun smiled as he looked at the girl before him.

Qu Feiyan was only fifteen years old and not yet fully grown. Although her petite body was still immature and tender, the slightly protruding buds on her chest gave her a strong sense of youth.

Seemingly because of Nie Yun’s silence, the lovely girl trembled slightly, like a leaf shaking in the wind.

“Do you look down on me because I come from a demonic sect? Or do you think I’m too ugly?” Qu Feiyan asked in a trembling voice, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Silly girl!” Nie Yun shook his head, “I already have…”

“I don’t care! I’m going to follow you!” Qu Feiyan seemed to have guessed what Nie Yun was going to say, so she interrupted him in a fit of pique.

Nie Yun took a deep breath, stretched out his arms, pulled the girl into his embrace, and lowered his head to kiss her slightly trembling lips.

Qu Feiyan let out a soft moan as Nie Yun captured her lips with his. The little girl trembled and almost fell to the ground.

Nie Yun sensed the girl in his arms was both excited and timid. Instead of immediately launching a full-scale assault, he gently sucked on her petal-like lips, licking along her lip line with his tongue. The intense fragrance of the young girl intoxicated him.

“Mmm…mmm…” Qu Feiyan’s small hands gripped Nie Yun’s arm tightly. She felt her whole body getting hot, and a strange feeling she had never experienced before rose from the bottom of her heart.

Slowly, she involuntarily opened her arms and hugged Nie Yun’s waist tightly, pressing her petite body against his.

The girl was so nervous about her first kiss that she couldn’t even breathe properly. She just moved instinctively, and her breathing became more and more rapid as time went by.

Nie Yun sensed that Qu Feiyan seemed to be struggling to breathe, so he released her.

Qu Feiyan rested her head against Nie Yun’s chest, her eyes closed, her pretty face flushed, her small mouth slightly open, and she was breathing heavily.

After things calmed down, the girl still leaned against Nie Yun’s chest, seemingly embarrassed by her behavior earlier.

“Feifei…” Nie Yun lowered his head and kissed the top of the girl’s head.

“Hmm…” Qu Feiyan’s voice was muffled, as if she had a cold.

“It wasn’t enough time just now, how about we kiss again?” Nie Yun said with a mischievous smile.

The little girl suddenly lifted herself out of his arms and said coquettishly, “Brother Nie…”

“Haha…” Nie Yun laughed heartily, reached out and ruffled her soft, spring-grass-like hair, and said, “Let’s go!”

“Ugh! Stinky hands! Don’t touch my hair!” the girl complained, but her face lit up with a smile.

The two rode side by side, slowly heading north. During the day, Nie Yun and Qu Feiyan rode lightly, chatting and playing. At night, they would either sleep together in the mountains to watch the stars and admire the moon, or stay at inns, living side by side.

The freedom is indescribable, and the carefree enjoyment is boundless.

Nie Yun wasn’t in a hurry to push the little girl down. Good things should be savored little by little, and he was also enjoying this feeling, which was similar to a modern couple’s outing.

When Nie Yun asked about Qu Yang, Qu Feiyan said, “Grandpa has been living like a hermit these past few years, completely detached from the affairs of the sect. He’s found a very secluded and quiet place to live in seclusion, just waiting for Grandpa Liu to retire so they can go into seclusion together. He’s gone there to settle things now, and once Grandpa Liu has settled his family, he’ll go too. I was supposed to go with him, but who knew…” The little girl paused, glanced at Nie Yun, and pouted, “Who knew something like this would happen, and that I’d run into you!”

Although Qu Feiyan is not very old, she has traveled all over the country with Qu Yang since she was a child, and even lived in Miao territory for a few years.

The local customs are open and the social norms are not as strict as those in the inland areas.

Miao women are passionate, outgoing, and passionate, capable of both love and hate.

Having been influenced by her surroundings, she is far more mature psychologically than she appears, which is why she did something like leaving a note and running away to chase after her husband for thousands of miles.

********************

On this day, the two had already entered Henan Province when they suddenly heard the sound of horses’ hooves behind them.

Nie Yun turned his head and saw three riders coming from the southeast. There were two men and one woman on horseback, two adults and one child, who looked like a family of three.

As the three approached, Nie Yun’s eyes lit up, and he smiled, “Master Shi, Lady Min, this junior greets you!”

“Whoa!” The three men reined in their horses, and the man on the black horse cupped his hands and said, “So it’s Sect Leader Nie, what a pleasure to meet you!”

A hint of surprise flashed in Min Rou’s eyes, but she didn’t say anything, only smiled and nodded.

The boy beside her, however, stared at the pretty Qu Feiyan with a lewd smile on his lips.

Qu Feiyan was furious and was about to lash out, but Nie Yun stopped her with a look.

“I regret that I didn’t have time to properly learn from you two seniors at Uncle Liu’s residence that day. I never expected to have the opportunity to meet you today. This must be your son. He is truly a man of great bearing and outstanding talent!”

Nie Yun asked with a smile.

Parents are never unhappy when they hear others praising their children. Shi Qing and his wife were no exception; when they heard Nie Yun’s praise of Shi Zhongyu, Shi Qing’s smile became much warmer.

“Not at all, Sect Leader Nie is a true prodigy. He’s already the leader of a sect at such a young age!” Shi Qing also showered him with compliments.

After exchanging a few polite words, Nie Yun asked curiously, “Where are you two headed?”

Shi Qing’s smile faded slightly as he said, “I am here to send my son to the Snow Mountain Sect to study under a master.”

Upon hearing this, Min Rou’s eyes immediately reddened, and she turned to look at Shi Zhongyu, her eyes filled with reluctance.

Upon hearing this, Nie Yun was taken aback. He hadn’t expected that Shi Zhongyu hadn’t yet joined the Snow Mountain Sect. If that was the case…

“Master Shi has excellent taste! The Snow Mountain Sect has strict rules, and its leader, ‘Master Wei De’ Bai Zizai, is a renowned figure in the martial arts world. His Snow Mountain Sword Technique is unparalleled in the Western Regions. ‘Wind and Fire Divine Dragon’ Feng Wanli and ‘Frosty Northwest’ Bai Wanjian are both famous masters in the martial arts world. As the saying goes, a good master produces a good student. Your son will surely learn excellent skills there. Moreover, Lingxiao City is located in a remote area, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and deserts. In summer, the sun is scorching, and in winter, heavy snow seals off the mountains. Although it cannot compare to the bustling beauty of Jiangnan, it allows one to focus without distractions. It is indeed a good place to temper one’s character.”

Nie Yun said with a look of longing.

Upon hearing this, Min Rou’s maternal instincts kicked in, and she said to Shi Qing, “Senior brother, are we really going to send Yu’er to that place? He’s been pampered since he was little; how will he be able to endure it there?”

Before she could finish speaking, tears streamed down her face.

Min Rou was dressed in pure white, and now her delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes were brimming with tears, truly like a pear blossom in the rain, which made Nie Yun’s lower abdomen feel hot.

“Junior sister!” Shi Qing frowned. “Have you forgotten what I told you at home?”

He turned to look at Shi Zhongyu, his face full of disappointment, and said, “If it weren’t for your excessive pampering and your constant interference with my discipline, how could this child be so unruly?”

When Shi Zhongyu saw his father get angry, he was like a mouse seeing a cat, so frightened that he shrank back and lowered his head, not daring to say a word.

Looking at his good-for-nothing son, Shi Qing felt utterly frustrated. He sighed to Nie Yun, “I’m sorry to have made you laugh, Sect Leader Nie!”

Looking at the family of three, Nie Yun chuckled inwardly, but said aloud, “The hearts of parents are all the same! Master Shi, there’s no need to blame Lady Min. Since ancient times, it has been a tradition of strict fathers and loving mothers. Women carry a child for ten months and suffer the pain of childbirth, so it’s inevitable that they will spoil their children a bit. In fact, what mother doesn’t want the best for her child?”

After listening to this, Min Rou felt that Nie Yun was simply her soulmate.

It should be noted that ever since Shi Zhongyu’s unruly nature became apparent, Shi Qing has often scolded her for spoiling the child too much.

But as a mother who has already lost one son, she naturally wants to cherish and obey the one in front of her in every way; this is a maternal instinct.

Shi Qing didn’t understand this, or rather, even if he did, he didn’t agree with it, so the two of them had argued about this a lot over the years.

Hearing Nie Yun’s words, her already high level of goodwill towards him continued to rise.

Looking at Min Rou’s admiring gaze, Nie Yun thought, “The groundwork has been laid! Time to make my move!”

He said to Shi Qing, “Master Shi, it is not that I am boasting, but my Huashan Sect was once full of experts and talents. Although our strength has declined after the sword qi infighting, our foundation remains. Now the Sword Sect has also returned to Huashan, and although our strength is not as great as it was at its peak, it is constantly recovering. Although I am young, I have received my master’s true teachings. You must have seen my strength at the Liu residence. I dare not say that I am invincible, but I am capable of protecting myself. If Master Shi trusts me, I am willing to take your son as a disciple on behalf of my master. Moreover, the climate of Huashan is much milder than that of Lingxiao City of the Snow Mountain Sect, and it is not far from Xuansu Manor. If you two miss your son and want to visit him, you will not have to suffer the hardship of traveling thousands of miles. What do you think?”

“This…” Shi Qing hesitated, pondering Nie Yun’s suggestion.

Min Rou’s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly said, “Senior brother, I think this is a good idea! It will keep Yu’er disciplined and spare her from the harsh wind and snow. Moreover, back at Master Liu’s mansion, Headmaster Nie stood up against the powerful and spoke out for justice, even defeating the renowned Pagoda-Bearing Hand Ding Mian with a single palm strike. He is outstanding in both martial arts and character. Haven’t you often praised him since that day?”

Nie Yun was secretly pleased to hear this, but he still humbly replied, “Miss Min, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise.”

Shi Qing hesitated. After all, the Snow Mountain Sect had several experts in charge, and its strength on the surface was still superior to that of the Huashan Sect. Therefore, he still preferred to send his child there.

Seeing this, Nie Yun added, “Moreover, there is a senior in my Huashan who lives in seclusion in the back mountains. If your son can gain his favor, he will surely become famous throughout the world in the future!”

Shi Qing’s heart stirred, and he asked, “May I ask which senior you are?”

Nie Yun cupped his hands in a gesture towards the northwest and said, “This is my Grand Uncle Feng Qingyang!”

“Is it the Sword God Feng Qingyang, who once shook the martial arts world with his Dugu Nine Swords?” Shi Qing asked excitedly.

“It was indeed him, my esteemed elder. I am but a junior, yet I am fortunate to have been favored by him and have been entrusted with all his skills,” Nie Yun nodded.

“Oh? I didn’t expect that Sect Leader Nie is actually the successor of Elder Feng. No wonder Sect Leader Nie has such cultivation at such a young age!” Shi Qing was surprised again upon hearing this.

“Hehe, my cultivation is shallow, far inferior to his.” Nie Yun shook his head. “What did Master Shi think of my previous suggestion?”

After thinking for a long time, Shi Qing saw Min Rou looking at him expectantly and his heart softened. He then said to Nie Yun, “In that case, I’ll leave it to Sect Leader Nie.”

“Hehe, you’re too kind, Master Shi. It’s a joyous occasion for our Huashan Sect to have such a talented son as yours!” Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Nie Yun was overjoyed.

He looked at the beaming Shi Zhongyu and sneered inwardly, “You’ll never leave Mount Hua in your entire life! As for stripping Bai Axiu naked? Heh… I’ll make you a eunuch just like your dead father! And your beautiful mother, hehe…”

The Mind-Cleansing Mantra was quietly activated, and the jade in the stone suddenly shivered…

********************

Since Shi Qing had made up his mind, the group didn’t delay any longer and rode straight towards Mount Hua.

After traveling for two more days, the group arrived in Huayin. Shi Qing said to Nie Yun, “Sect Leader Nie, the matter of becoming a disciple is not to be taken lightly. Please go up the mountain first, and we will rest here for the night, take a bath and change our clothes. Tomorrow morning, we will bring my son to your sect to become a disciple.”

Nie Yun nodded in agreement, and the two went their separate ways.

On the way up the mountain, Qu Feiyan suddenly said to Nie Yun, “Brother Nie, do you think Sister Yue will dislike me?”

Nie Yun laughed and said, “You were so bold when you were pursuing me, why are you scared now?”

Qu Feiyan punched him lightly and said, “If I had known you already had someone you liked, I wouldn’t have chased after you.”

“Is that so?” Nie Yun pulled the girl into his arms. “And now?”

“Once you’re on the pirate ship, there’s no getting off!” Qu Feiyan rolled her eyes at him.

“This ship of mine isn’t a pirate ship, but a ship of love. Once someone I love gets on, they can’t get off.” Nie Yun lowered his head and kissed the girl’s forehead.

“Hmph! Sweet talk comes out of his mouth so easily, what a lecherous man!”

Qu Feiyan blushed at his words, but she still wouldn’t let it go, “Back then in the jewelry shop, you were staring at people lecherously, and I knew you weren’t a good person!”

“And then what?” Nie Yun asked with a smile, his hands slowly sliding around the girl’s waist.

“Later…” Qu Feiyan looked up at Nie Yun, her eyes filled with shyness and infatuation, “Later you became the person who often appeared in Feifei’s dreams!”

The afternoon sun shone on the two young people, casting a soft glow. They were in love and the days were peaceful and serene.