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"Brother Qi, what are you doing? And why are you making those monsters act like that…"

Han Yunzhi suppressed her embarrassment and voiced her confusion.

Qi Yuan caught another wild pheasant, took out a large amount of aphrodisiac pills, ground them into powder, and fed them to the bird. Hearing Han Yunzhi's question, he glanced up and said, "Some things can't be revealed. I know you want my help with something, so I'm making preparations."

If they encountered trouble while picking the Sunflower later, he could use high-level talismans to deal with it. In a way, he was preparing for her as well.

Han Yunzhi gasped softly, suddenly flustered that her secret had been exposed. Looking away, she whispered, "Brother Qi, you see through everything. Can I… can I ask for your help in picking the Scorching Sunflower? I'll pay you with spirit stones as thanks."

Qi Yuan smirked and clapped his hands, tossing the pheasant aside before stepping closer. "Sister, spirit stones are a small matter. What I want… I'm afraid you won't be willing to give."

Han Yunzhi looked up and met his deep gaze. A thought crossed her mind, and her pale neck flushed red. She quickly crossed her arms over her chest, lowered her head, and murmured, "Brother Qi, that won't do… we've only known each other for two days…"

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore," Qi Yuan chuckled, flicking her forehead lightly before turning his attention back to the wolves.

Han Yunzhi yelped softly in protest, rubbing the spot where he had flicked her. She shot him an indignant look before patting her heated cheeks and walking ahead in silence.

In the valley below, the wolves discovered another pheasant had appeared. Their natural instincts took over as they tore into their prey. Soon, the noises in the valley grew louder.

Qi Yuan felt the Chaos Cauldron within his soul greedily absorbing the Yin and Yang Qi. Although the speed was remarkable, the energy generated by the wolves still wasn't enough to match the cauldron's hunger.

If they were outside, time wouldn't be an issue.

Unfortunately, this was the Blood Forbidden Land, and they only had five days. There was no time to waste.

Glancing toward a distant river, an idea formed in Qi Yuan's mind. He would manipulate the water to strengthen the wolves' vitality, ensuring they could generate even more Yin and Yang Qi.

Fortunately, he had enough "Endless Love Pills," "River Stopping Pills," and "Sea Drying Pills" to carry out his plan.

"Yunzhi, wait here for a moment. I have something to take care of."

Han Yunzhi's cheeks were still flushed. She tilted her head slightly, looking somewhat shy.

Qi Yuan left her with two mid-level talismans for self-defense before secretly making his way to the river. Wolves were naturally alert, and any unnecessary movement could ruin his plan.

Moreover, he needed to keep the talisman within the Chaos Cauldron, meaning he had to avoid Han Yunzhi's sight as well.

Han Yunzhi clutched the two talismans tightly and crouched beneath a patch of dense weeds and trees. A small smile tugged at her lips. For the first time in a long while, she felt the warmth of being cared for. Her eyes sparkled as she silently hoped Qi Yuan would return soon.

Time passed unknowingly.

Suddenly, the wolves in the valley let out a synchronized howl, shaking the entire forest. Birds scattered, and distant beasts fled in fear.

Han Yunzhi, startled by the noise, peeked out cautiously—only to quickly jerk her head away, her face burning with embarrassment. She had glimpsed something she shouldn't have.

"Brother Qi is so shameless! Why is he teasing those monsters like this?"

She assumed this was just another one of Qi Yuan's ridiculous antics.

Then, footsteps approached.

Han Yunzhi immediately tensed, clutching the talismans in her jade-like hands. Her other hand slipped into her storage bag, gripping a magical weapon, ready to defend herself.

"You're quite alert."

Qi Yuan stepped through the trees, smiling as he saw her battle-ready stance.

"Brother Qi…" Han Yunzhi relaxed when she recognized him. A look of joy crossed her face as she hurried to put away her weapon. But as she took a step forward, her legs suddenly gave out, and she stumbled straight into Qi Yuan's chest.

Qi Yuan blinked in surprise. Did he just walk into a pleasant accident?

Had Han Yunzhi been affected by the wolves' howling?

Holding her soft, warm body in his arms, he thought about it carefully. It seemed the wolves'… excitement had influenced her, even though he was the cause behind it.

Qi Yuan was a man who had already experienced the pleasures of life. The howling of mere beasts couldn't stir any emotions in him. But Han Yunzhi, a sheltered girl, must have struggled to endure such an atmosphere for so long.

She had it tough.

Glancing at the valley below, he suddenly felt like he had taken her to witness a live performance.

What a sin.

Han Yunzhi remained frozen in place, her heart pounding. This was the first time a man had held her so tightly. Embarrassing sounds still echoed around them, making her emotions a tangled mess.

"Just cover your ears, and you won't hear anything," Qi Yuan murmured.

Han Yunzhi quickly pulled away, turned her back to him, and covered her ears. Finding a tree to lean against, she squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look at him.

Half a day passed.

The wolves in the valley were completely exhausted, their bodies sprawled limply across the ground. If an enemy attacked now, they wouldn't even be able to fight back.

Qi Yuan peered into the Chaos Cauldron within his soul. Inside lay over twenty high-level talismans—half of them Flame Sun Talismans, the other half Condensed Pearl Talismans. Satisfied, he turned to Han Yunzhi and signaled that they could leave.

She immediately uncovered her ears and followed him, though neither spoke along the way.

After walking for a while, Qi Yuan stopped and turned to her. "Yunzhi, didn't you ask for my help? Lead the way."

Han Yunzhi, who had been lost in thought, lifted her head in surprise. A trace of shyness appeared on her face before she quickly responded, "I'll take Brother Qi there right away."

"Good, hurry up," Qi Yuan said calmly.

After settling Han Yunzhi's business, he planned to head straight to the Stone Hall.

Before long, the two of them arrived at the entrance of a cave. Darkness stretched inside, obscuring what lay within.

"Brother Qi, according to the information I gathered, there should be Scorching Sunflowers inside. But powerful monsters often guard spiritual herbs, which is why I need your help," Han Yunzhi said cautiously.

Qi Yuan pulled out a Moonstone to light the way and stepped inside first, a high-level Flame Sun Talisman ready in his hand.

The Chaos Cauldron resided within his soul, allowing him to summon items at will.

Han Yunzhi quickly followed, releasing a spirit snake to assist in battle while clutching her magic weapon tightly.

The cave was damp, with water dripping from the ceiling, making the muddy ground difficult to walk on.

Above them, countless pairs of red eyes gleamed in the Moonstone's glow—a swarm of bats clinging to the cave ceiling.

Han Yunzhi shivered and instinctively clung to Qi Yuan's arm.

Noticing her reaction, he whispered, "If you're scared, just hold onto my arm."

He kept the talisman in his other hand, reluctant to let go.

Suddenly, a soft sensation pressed against him, making his heartbeat quicken.

A true gentleman never reveals his thoughts.

(End of chapter)