Chapter 18: "Qin Lian's Cooking."

The golden hues of the setting sun bathed the sprawling Sect Master Courtyard in an otherworldly glow. The towering peaks of the Vermillion Flame Sect stood proud against the backdrop of a burning sky, their grandeur further accentuated by the cascading clouds that clung to the jagged cliffs like shimmering veils. The soft chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves created a serene melody a stark contrast to the inner turmoil brewing in Ye Xiaotian's mind.

Leading the two Blue Mountain Cattle, Ye Xiaotian made his way toward his pavilion. The spirit beasts moved obediently, their blue-tinted hides glinting under the sun's waning rays. He was lost in thought, considering the experiments he intended to perform with the beasts in his Spirit World, when Qin Lian's familiar, energetic voice broke through his reverie.

"Let's go!" she exclaimed, her tone bright and inviting. "I'll cook for you today!"

Ye Xiaotian paused mid-step, his grip tightening slightly on the rope tied to the cattle. Memories of the delicious meals she had prepared during their journey in the Great Azure Forest surfaced, and his stomach grumbled involuntarily. However, another thought quickly followed, darkening his expression. He hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

The truth was, as much as he enjoyed her cooking, he couldn't ignore the boundaries he had set for himself. The scars of his past betrayal, abandonment, and heartbreak were still too fresh, too raw. He had resolved not to let anyone, not even someone as kind as Qin Lian, get too close.

Qin Lian noticed his hesitation, and a flicker of sadness crossed her face. But it was fleeting, quickly replaced by a mischievous glint in her amber eyes. She wasn't one to give up easily.

"What?" she said, her voice turning dramatic. "After becoming a core disciple, you're just going to forget about me? After using me for so many days, you're throwing me away?"

Her lips quivered as she sniffled theatrically. "Didn't you say you wanted to eat food cooked by me every day? Were you lying to me in the Great Azure Forest?" She sniffed again, and for added effect, tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

Ye Xiaotian stared at her, dumbfounded. His mind struggled to reconcile the image of the domineering Sect Master who commanded respect and fear with this… wronged woman standing before him. The contrast was so absurd that his brain momentarily froze.

"When… did I ever say that?" he muttered, half to himself.

"How can you do this to me?" she wailed, her voice trembling. "How can you be so cruel? Where is my Ye Xiaotian? Where is my little brother?"

She reached out, grabbing his hands in her own, her grip surprisingly strong. Ye Xiaotian, completely thrown off guard, felt a strange warmth spread through his body. Her touch, unexpected and intimate, sent a jolt through him. Her nearness, the faint scent of sandalwood and a hint of something sweeter, something uniquely hers, filled his senses. His mind, still reeling from the events of the day, struggled to process the situation.

Ye Xiaotian's face flushed as her fragrance a soothing mix of herbs and natural allure wafted toward him. His 18-year-old body, still unfamiliar with its own hormonal reactions, betrayed him, making it difficult to think clearly. He let out a defeated sigh, his resistance crumbling.

Qin Lian, observing his shocked expression, smirked inwardly. It was working.She continued her dramatic display, shaking his hands gently. "How can you do this to me?" she repeated, her voice filled with mock despair. "After all we've been through… in the forest…"

Ye Xiaotian felt a knot of confusion tighten in his chest. He remembered their time in the forest, the shared meals, the camaraderie forged under the watchful eyes of the spirit beasts. But her words, her actions… they felt… exaggerated.

"Fine," he said, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "I'll eat whatever you cook. Just… stop crying."

In an instant, Qin Lian's expression brightened. The crocodile tears vanished as she practically skipped with joy. "Yay! This big sister will cook you the most delicious meal you've ever had!" Without waiting for a response, She grabbed his hand, her radiant smile a stark contrast to the cunning smirk she hid earlier, her touch surprisingly warm and firm, and pulled him towards her pavilion, leaving Ye Xiaotian feeling a strange mixture of amusement and bewilderment.

If any of the sect elders or even Qin Lian's family had witnessed this exchange, they would have been dumbfounded. The notion of Qin Lian the fearsome and unyielding Sect Master acting so joyfully for an unknown boy would have shattered their perception of her entirely. Yet even Qin Lian herself was unaware of the changes that had taken root in her since meeting Ye Xiaotian in the Great Azure Forest.

As they entered Qin Lian's pavilion, Ye Xiaotian couldn't help but admire its beauty. The layout was elegant, with a pond reflecting the fiery colors of the sky and spirit beasts lounging in the open courtyard. The air was fragrant with blooming flowers, their petals gently swaying in the evening breeze.

Qin Lian led him to an open clearing beneath a towering tree. She took the rope from his hands and tied the cattle to a nearby branch, her movements swift and efficient.

"Little brother, you sit here," she said, gesturing to a spot under the tree. "I'll handle everything."

Ye Xiaotian nodded helplessly, knowing he had no say in the matter, he leaned against the tree trunk, feeling a strange sense of calm descend upon him.

Qin Lian, meanwhile, moved with a grace that belied her strength, gathering firewood, setting up a small fire pit, and pulling out a collection of spices and ingredients from her spatial ring.

He marveled at how seamlessly she transitioned from her role as a sect leader to this seemingly carefree version of herself.As he watched her, a strange sense of peace settled over him. Her movements were fluid and deliberate, a mesmerizing dance of preparation. Her face, illuminated by the flickering flames, held a soft glow, her features softened by a gentle smile. He found himself strangely drawn to her, captivated by her unexpected vulnerability.

Ye Xiaotian found himself staring, his mind wandering. He noticed a stray strand of hair fall across her face, and for a fleeting moment, In the soft glow of the fire, her face blurred into another a face he had tried so hard to forget. Bing'er. His wife. The one who had abandoned him when he was at his lowest.

The image vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving him shaken. He shook his head, trying to dispel the unwelcome memory.

"Bing'er…" he whispered unconsciously, his voice filled with a mix of pain and longing.

Hearing the faint whisper, Qin Lian turned toward him, her eyes full of concern. "Did you call me?" she asked softly.

Snapping out of his daze, Ye Xiaotian shook his head. "No," he replied, his tone guarded.

Qin Lian studied him for a moment, sensing the turmoil beneath his composed exterior. Without a word, she walked over, knelt beside him, and gently pulled his head to rest against her chest. Her hand stroked his hair soothingly.

"It's okay," she murmured. "Whatever it is, everything will be okay."

He leaned into her touch, inhaling the scent of sandalwood and something uniquely hers, a comforting aroma that calmed his racing heart. Her touch, gentle yet firm, brought a strange sense of peace. He felt a familiar ache in his chest, a longing for the warmth of human touch, a longing he had thought long buried.

For a brief moment, Ye Xiaotian allowed himself to relax, inhaling her calming scent. It was a fleeting respite, but it steadied the storm within him. He remained silent, enjoying the unexpected comfort of her presence.

Qin Lian, sensing his emotional turmoil, continued to stroke his hair gently. "Don't worry," she whispered, her voice soothing. "I'm here."He felt a strange sense of calm wash over him, a sense of peace he hadn't experienced in years.Finally, he pulled away, feeling a pang of regret as he did so. "I'm okay," he said, his voice low.

Qin Lian smiled, though a hint of sadness lingered in her eyes. "Good. But if you ever need to talk, you can tell me. Just… don't look so sad. It doesn't suit you."

Her words struck a chord within him, and he nodded again, this time with more conviction. "Thank you, Big Sister."

The title brought a genuine smile to Qin Lian's face. She returned to cooking, her movements light and cheerful. She hummed softly, her focus unwavering.

After sometime Qin Lian said. "Good. Now, let's eat."

She served him a plate of grilled meat, the aroma mouthwatering. Ye Xiaotian took his first bite of the meal Qin Lian had prepared. The flavors exploded on his tongue, rich and perfectly balanced. He couldn't help but let out a soft moan of satisfaction.

"How did you make it so delicious?" he asked, his eyes wide with appreciation.Qin Lian smiled, her eyes twinkling. "A little secret," she replied playfully.

As they ate, Ye Xiaotian suddenly asked, "Can you teach me how to cook like this?"

Qin Lian's smile faltered for a moment, her tone turning melancholic. "Why? Do you want to leave and cook for yourself?"

Realizing her misunderstanding, Ye Xiaotian quickly explained, "No! I just… don't want to disturb you every time I'm hungry. And maybe I could cook for you sometime."

Her face turned red at his words, and she avoided his gaze. "Fine," she said after a pause. "But only if you promise that I'll still cook for you whenever you want."

"Deal," Ye Xiaotian replied with a small smile.

As the meal ended, Ye Xiaotian, his stomach full from the loving meal, stood up and said, "Big sister, it's time for me to go. I have to cultivate. You rest here." Qin Lian nodded and said, "Okay, be careful. If there's any problem, you can tell me." Ye Xiaotian nodded, took his two sleeping spirit beasts, and walked away.

Qin Lian, as she watched him go, finally emerged from her stupor. Thinking about their interaction – her hugging his head on her chest, him calling her 'Big Sister' her face reddened. She covered her face with her hands, peeking through the gap between her fingers. Her eyes shone as she muttered, 'Idiot.'

Meanwhile, the sect buzzed with the news of Ye Xiaotian's one punch victory over Zhou Liang. Disciples whispered in awe and disbelief, while challenges began flooding in from both inner and core disciples who sought to test his strength. Even the core disciples, who resented his sudden elevation to the Sect Master's courtyard, issued formal challenges.

In the Core Disciple Courtyard, Mu Qinglan, one of the most respected senior disciples, sat in her pavilion, listening to Zi Ran's account of the events.

"Interesting," Mu Qinglan murmured, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Send him a formal challenge. Let's see if he's truly deserving of his reputation."

In a dimly lit chamber within the Elders' Courtyard, a group of senior members gathered. Their faces were etched with concern, and their voices were low but intense.

"The Sect Master's decision was reckless," one elder growled, his fists clenched.

"Bringing in an unknown boy and placing him above the rest… it undermines everything we stand for," another added.

The Grand Elder, seated at the head of the table, raised a hand, silencing the room. "Enough. The Sect Master's judgment is final. But that doesn't mean we can't observe… and test."

A shadowy figure in the corner stirred, his voice a low rumble. "Let the disciples challenge him. If he truly is worthy, he'll prove it. If not… we'll have our answer."

The elders nodded in agreement, their expressions dark.

And on that night, most of the disciples of the Core Disciple Courtyard issued challenges to Ye Xiaotian. No one knew the true reason; they all assumed it was due to Ye Xiaotian living in the Sect Master's Courtyard.

Ye Xiaotian, oblivious to the stir he had caused in the sect, entered his pavilion and went into the meditation chamber. He used his spiritual energy to seal the room and then opened the portal to the Spirit World, taking the two Blue Mountain Cattle with him.

Emerging from the portal, Ye Xiaotian first saw the egg lying silently. He then turned towards the mother and daughter kirin. Lanyu was still sleeping, while Yin'er was playing nearby.

When she saw Ye Xiaotian, she came towards him, then curiously walked around the two spirit beasts, trying to understand them. The two spirit beasts also looked at the kirin with interest.Yin'er first approached Ye Xiaotian and started licking him playfully.

Ye Xiaotian played with her for a while and then pointed at the two Blue Mountain Cattle, who were watching Yin'er with curiosity. "They will be your new playmates," he said. "They will live here."

Yin'er whined at him, then walked towards the cattle and started sniffing them, as if trying to communicate. The cattle also responded with low moos.

Ye Xiaotian watched them interact, then approached the chaos pool. He created a bucket of spiritual energy and filled it with the chaotic fluid.He had initially intended to breed the Blue Mountain Cattle for food, but as he looked at the chaotic fluid, an idea sparked within him.

He wondered if the cattle could also evolve like Yin'er and her mother after consuming the chaotic fluid.He then took the bucket towards the cattle. When they saw the bucket, they felt an attraction and moved towards him, mooing softly.

Ye Xiaotian said, "Open your mouths," as if they understood him. They obediently opened their mouths.

Yin'er, who had come closer, also opened her mouth in a funny way.Ye Xiaotian poured a small amount of the chaotic fluid into the mouths of both cattle and also gave some to Yin'er. After drinking the fluid, the cattle lay down on the ground, like Lanyu, and began to absorb the chaotic energy.

Yin'er, on the other hand, who had already absorbed some chaotic energy since birth, remained standing and looked at the remaining fluid as if she wanted more.Ye Xiaotian nodded and poured the rest of the fluid into her mouth. Yin'er absorbed it immediately, as her body was already accustomed to the chaotic energy. She didn't need to sleep to absorb it like her mother and the cattle.

Ye Xiaotian rubbed her head and said, "That's enough for now." Yin'er nodded, as if understanding him.Knowing he had to wait to see the effects on the cattle, Ye Xiaotian told Yin'er to go to her mother and then moved towards the chaos pool to begin his own cultivation."

End of Chapter 18