**Chapter 31: You Scoundrel, What Dao Companion? You Just Want Her Bodily Form.**

"Brother, what is a Dao companion?"

Reina, wearing a black mask and with her hair tied in a neat ponytail, looked sharp and capable.

She watched Leo as he bent down to adjust her fitted pants, her big, watery eyes filled with confusion.

"Ahem, a Dao companion is…"

Leo stood up, his face slightly embarrassed.

How should he explain?

"A Dao companion is the most important partner for a cultivator in their lifetime. You're a cultivator now, so your brother is your Dao companion!"

He had a flash of inspiration and said this.

That should be fair enough and not count as him taking advantage of her, right?

"I understand…" Reina nodded.

"When you meet the others later, if anyone asks, you have to say that I'm your Dao companion, alright?"

"Got it!"

"And you also can't call me brother anymore."

"Ah? Then what should I call you?"

"You can just call me… Brother Leo."

Leo thought a bit; this way of addressing could show the intimacy between Dao companions.

"Brother Leo… then what do you call me?"

"I'll still call you Reina," Leo said, ruffling Reina's hair.

(Dong dong dong!)

There was a knocking sound at the door.

At this time, the sky had not yet brightened, and the deep blue dusk still hung overhead, with the moon and stars clearly visible.

Since their departure time was urgent, Leo packed the last of his belongings into his storage ring and pulled Reina toward the courtyard gate.

"Remember, Dao companion! Brother Leo!" he reminded her again.

"Mm-hmm, Brother Leo."

At the meeting point, the person standing at the front was Zhong Haoran, followed by three others—two men and one woman—all looking at Leo.

"Brother Leo, my master has already sent a message instructing us to enter the valley immediately! …This is your Dao companion?"

Leo entwined his fingers with Reina's, revealing a slight awkward smile: "That's right. Since time is tight, let's hurry up and set off."

"Okay, we can discuss other matters on the way."

Zhong Haoran glanced at Reina a couple of times but couldn't deduce anything from her. Since she wore a mask, her appearance was hidden, and he could only tell from the weak light that her eyes seemed beautiful.

As for Reina's cultivation level, he couldn't figure that out either because Leo had activated the 'Absolute Cloud's Defiance Formation' before leaving, concealing it within Reina's clothes to prevent any spiritual detection.

He felt a little unsettled in his heart but still chose to trust Leo; this woman should indeed be at the peak of Qi Refinement Level.

At the very least, she shouldn't be a liability.

He turned around, leading the way out of the Hidden Hero Valley. The six of them, under the faint morning light, sneaked quietly into the depths of the Leaving Mountain.

In addition to them, there were also many self-cultivators rushing in from various places, advancing through the vast mountains…

By the time the sun rose, the six people in the team had gotten to know each other.

One of the two men was burly, with bushy eyebrows and big eyes, his appearance somewhat fierce, wielding a long spear; his name was Wang Zhi.

The other had an average build, a white face without a beard, and had a delicate and scholarly aura similar to Zhong Haoran's; his name was He Han, and he was a Beast Tamer.

Both of them were self-cultivators and seemed to be well-acquainted, chatting and laughing as they walked.

The woman, however, was extremely aloof. She was tall and curvy, appeared to be around Reina's age, mature and voluptuous.

She wore simple heroic clothing and, like Reina, donned a thin veil that concealed her face.

But unlike Reina's pair of lively and innocent eyes, hers seemed somewhat indifferent, carrying a hint of coldness.

Everyone only knew her name was Sophia; she said nothing more.

This distant aura naturally made her untouchable for Wang Zhi and He Han.

The two men had been staying in the Hidden Hero Valley recently, so they were aware of Leo's "illustrious deeds."

They occasionally cast strange smiles at Leo, seemingly wanting to tease him.

Don't ask… Don't ask!

Leo inwardly prayed.

Right now, he was handling Reina!

What if these two guys suddenly came over and casually said something like, "Brother Leo, the projection balls you filmed are really impressive"?

What would he do then?

As long as he explained things privately to Reina, she would believe him one hundred percent, no matter what he said.

But if he had to chat with outsiders and start pulling in different directions, that would surely expose him!

While Leo was lost in these thoughts, he suddenly heard a thick voice beside him.

"Brother Leo, how old are you this year?"

It was Wang Zhi! He had approached!

Leo kept silent, intending to give him the cold shoulder.

But just then, Zhong Haoran, who was leading the way, suddenly spoke up!

"Brother Leo is a promising young talent; he's only fifteen this year!"

After walking for a while without anyone speaking, he also felt a bit bored.

As a disciple of the Confucian sect, he had never seen Leo's masterpiece! Thus, he didn't know Wang Zhi's intent in asking that question!

Leo inwardly cried out in distress.

"Really?" Wang Zhi and He Han expressed surprise, "Indeed just like the rumors say, a young genius defeating opponents across levels!"

"Flattery," Leo waved his hand dismissively.

"But… Brother Leo is just fifteen and already has a Dao companion!"

He Han took the lead and asked, wearing a meaningful smile.

"Liu and I are both nearing thirty, yet we haven't found a soulmate. Brother Leo, you're truly enviable."

He Han and Wang Zhi's gazes turned towards Reina, who had been holding Leo's hand since they entered the mountains.

Now that it was daylight, when they both looked at Reina again, they found that this not-so-old girl, with just her eyes exposed, was extraordinarily stunning, even surpassing the aloof Sophia beside her.

Moreover, her figure was delicate and graceful—a true beauty!

This couldn't help igniting a bit of jealousy in the two single men.

Leo smirked slightly and said casually, "Destiny is wonderful."

"A beautiful destiny!" He Han clapped and laughed, "Cultivation is about following one's heart; with such a lovely wife, Brother Leo's future is boundless!"

Wang Zhi chimed in, "Yeah, Brother Leo should also film some projection balls for the Harmony Sect. Wouldn't that mean wealth rolling in?"

Upon hearing the two of them say this, Leo felt a jolt in his heart.

At the same time, he felt Reina's hand tightly gripping his own.

He turned to look at her.

Reina's big eyes were filled with surprise and confusion as she stared blankly at Leo, seemingly not realizing what was going on.

Reina didn't understand cultivation knowledge, so she didn't know what Dao companion meant.

But she understood what "wife" meant…

She had been listening carefully to the two men's words just now, knowing they were talking about her.

"...Brother Leo?"

The dazed look in Reina's eyes shifted to disbelief as she called out softly.

Beneath the black mask, Reina's cheeks quickly flushed hot. Leo could see a faint red spreading up from beneath her mask…