Chapter 125: I’ll Be Leaving
After some time, Xiang Yu had produced a substantial amount of pills, even more than yesterday. With the pill refining complete, he decided to shift his focus to blacksmithing.
As he completed his first weapon, he activated his appraisal skill to examine it:
[Name: Basic Long Sword]
[Grade: Mid-Level Magical Weapon]
[Info: A basic long sword made by Xiang Yu]
Xiang Yu studied the information carefully, noting subtle differences in how his appraisal ability now functioned. The advancement to sixth grade had changed its mechanics—he needed to concentrate more deeply to view detailed information, and this concentration required a small expenditure of spiritual sea energy. This explained why he hadn’t immediately noticed when the ability was upgraded; at its basic level, it still displayed the same fundamental information as before.
Only when he deliberately focused and channeled energy did the enhanced details appear. He decided to look into it more at a later time. For routine assessment, the basic appraisal function would suffice. While the energy cost was negligible to him now—especially after his spiritual sea had been upgraded—spamming the enhanced version would accumulate costs quickly. Better to reserve the sixth-grade functionality for when it was truly necessary.
With this understanding, Xiang Yu continued refining weapons. Before he knew it, it was lunchtime. He decided to go by his house, admitting that he hadn’t been there for quite some time given his intense focus on cultivation within the spirit vein.
As he approached his residence, a small worry crept into his mind as he noticed some things that hadn’t been there before. Had someone claimed his abandoned space as their own? He pushed open the door cautiously, only to freeze in surprise at the sight before him.
Someone was lying on his bed.
Not just anyone—it was Li Yao.
Xiang Yu blinked, momentarily confused by this unexpected development. Why would she be in his room, on his bed? Something about the situation felt off. He studied her carefully, suspicion growing. How could a Core Formation expert fall so deeply asleep? More importantly, how could she fail to detect his presence when he entered? No cultivator at her level would be so unaware of their surroundings.
He approached the bed silently, observing the minutest details of her posture and breathing. Li Yao remained motionless, committed to her act, while inwardly wondering about his intentions as he drew closer.
She felt his hand rest gently on her shoulder. Was he going to...?
"I know you’re awake," Xiang Yu stated matter-of-factly.
[I told you this wouldn’t work,] the Empress sighed within Li Yao’s consciousness.
But Li Yao remained stubborn, mentally scoffing at his ’act’. He was probably just testing her, trying to see if she was truly asleep.
"Hey, if you don’t get up now, I’ll do something bad," he whispered softly to her ear, his breath warm against her ear.
Li Yao felt her ear twitch involuntarily at the sensation. Xiang Yu’s keen observation instantly noticed this. So she really was pretending.
Meanwhile, Li Yao’s thoughts raced. Something bad? Could it be what she was thinking?
"Ouch!"
...
Xiang Yu and Li Yao walked together toward the kitchen.
"Why did you pinch me?" Li Yao spoke, rubbing her ear.
"Why were you pretending to be asleep?" Xiang Yu countered.
Li Yao’s face remained impressively composed as she crafted her response. "Pretending? What pretending? I was just looking for you and didn’t find you, so I decided to rest on your bed for a while and unknowingly fell asleep." She spoke, taking on the tone of someone who had been wronged.
She quickly redirected the conversation, her curiosity genuine this time. "Speaking of, where were you?"
"I just went out to find some herbs," Xiang Yu answered.
It was truly difficult to track her senior brother, she thought. She had scanned the entire pavilion with her spiritual sense and couldn’t detect a trace of him. His physique seemed to hide his qi completely, making him essentially invisible to spiritual detection. If not for the Empress assuring her that he was still within the mountain, she didn’t know what she might have done.
She suddenly rushed forward and embraced Xiang Yu from behind, her slender arms wrapping around his waist.
"What are you doing?" Xiang Yu asked, his body tensing at the unexpected contact.
"Nothing, I’ve just missed you," she replied softly as she reluctantly released him and stepped back.
She smiled to herself. If she couldn’t find him with qi sensing, she’d resort to more traditional methods—memorizing his scent to track him later. With her sharp nose, she didn’t believe she couldn’t find him, besides, it wasn’t her first time.
"Don’t do that all of a sudden, you startled me," Xiang Yu admonished, adjusting his robes where her embrace had rumpled them.
"Oki," she agreed cheerfully as they continued their walk toward the kitchen.
During lunch, the four of them—Xiang Yu, Li Yao, Elder Huang, and Elder Guo—sat around the table enjoying another of Xiang Yu’s exceptional meals. The atmosphere was comfortable.
Li Yao looked up from her bowl, directing her question to Elder Huang. "When are you getting married?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with genuine interest.
Elder Huang’s chopsticks paused midway to her mouth. "We decided to do it after the issue with the sect is resolved," she replied, exchanging a meaningful glance with Elder Guo. "If we survive, we will hold a huge wedding."
Li Yao puffed out her chest confidently, placing her hand over her heart in a dramatic gesture. "Don’t worry, we will definitely survive," she declared with absolute certainty.
Xiang Yu stared at them incredulously. What are these idiots doing? he thought to himself. That’s a death flag, right? He glanced at Elder Guo, who continued eating cluelessly at his side, completely oblivious. Xiang Yu could only sigh heavily, hoping nothing bad would happen.
"There’s something I want to tell you," Li Yao announced suddenly, her expression growing serious. "I’ll be leaving the sect for a while."
Xiang Yu nearly choked on his drink, tea splattering as he coughed. Nevermind, it really is a death flag.
Li Yao observed his reaction with interest, wondering if her senior brother was upset about her departure. Though touched, her resolve remained unshaken. She had to leave—only by growing stronger could she ultimately help make him the strongest.
"Sect Master, what do you mean by this?" Elder Huang’s demeanor transformed instantly, switching to her professional account. If the sect master were to leave at such a precarious time, it would cause widespread panic throughout the sect.
"I have to do this," Li Yao insisted firmly. "The upcoming enemies will be even stronger, and I don’t think I can handle them at my current level." Her eyes reflected unwavering determination as she continued, "I need to grow stronger as well."
Elder Huang’s expression softened as she considered Li Yao’s reasoning. It was actually quite reasonable. Although they had eliminated the immediate danger, the looming threat remained. The Wuming Cult was a fifth-grade sect, and now that their initial attack had failed, they would undoubtedly send even stronger opponents. It was indeed for the best if Li Yao increased her power.
She sighed in resignation. "When are you leaving?"
Li Yao blinked in surprise at the elder’s quick acceptance. "In two days," she answered.
"I’ll handle the sect matters while you’re gone," Elder Huang promised.
"Thank you," Li Yao said gratefully. Her gaze drifted toward Xiang Yu, noticing his unusually pale expression. "Senior brother?" she called, trying to capture his attention.
But Xiang Yu didn’t respond. His mind had shut down all external input, processing only one terrifying thought that echoed through his consciousness: "We’re fucked!"