Nangong Ting covered her mouth and chuckled, "Your apprentice is quite interesting."

Shu Lan simply smiled without saying a word, and then introduced her apprentice Qin An to Nangong Ting.

Qin An, however, was somewhat absent-minded. He stood there blankly, letting his master introduce him to the others.

"So, your disciple's aptitude is quite good too." When Shu Lan mentioned Qin An's cultivation level, Nangong Ting couldn't help but speak up, "With both of you being so powerful, what about the other cultivators? You two are both freaks!"

"Haha, my apprentice is of course excellent." Shu Lan did not hold back her praise for Qin An.

"Everyone, the Soaring Cloud Gathering is about to begin. Please take your positions." Just as Shu Lan and Nangong Ting were chatting, an elder announced loudly from the center of the platform. He infused his voice with spiritual power, making it clearly audible throughout the entire platform.

"Alright, we'll talk again later." Nangong Ting stopped talking, waved to Shu Lan, smiled, turned around and left, heading towards the location of the Zixiao Sect.

"Okay, see you later." Shu Lan smiled and waved, watching Nangong Ting leave.

Qin An stood to the side, hesitant to speak. He wanted to ask about the relationship between his master and Senior Nangong Ting, but felt he had no right to ask. Yet, not asking left him feeling uneasy. For a moment, Qin An was extremely anxious.

"What's wrong, Xiao An?" Shu Lan noticed that something was wrong with Qin An and asked with concern.

Seeing his master brother still caring for him as always, Qin An felt a little more at ease. He took a deep breath and then regained his composure: "It's nothing, Master, I'm fine." In the end, he decided not to ask the question aloud and instead keep it buried in his heart.

"If anything happens, be sure to tell your teacher. Don't keep it to yourself." Shu Lan's worried expression did not lessen at all, and he still gave Qin An this instruction.

"Yes, definitely." Qin An nodded, indicating that he understood.

After the cultivators from each sect had returned to their respective sects, the elder's booming voice rang out: "The Soaring Cloud Gathering officially begins!"

After a series of opening ceremonies, the elder spoke: "Now, please invite the Qi Refining stage disciples from each sect to come forward, draw lots to determine the order, and begin the Qi Refining stage competition."

As soon as the elder finished speaking, the eager disciples of the Qi Refining stage from various sects rushed onto the stage. Through a lottery system using black and white number cards to divide the disciples into two groups, the Qi Refining disciples on the stage were quickly separated.

Starting with Black One and White One, and so on. Meanwhile, to speed things up, the organizers opened ten arenas on the platform.

Thus, the disciples of various sects began their competition.

The elders on the stands were bored, but fortunately, the battles between Qi Refining disciples were usually very short and quick.

It took only about two hours for all the Qi Refining stage disciples from all the sects to finish their competition.

Next up was the competition for Foundation Establishment stage disciples. Some elders perked up a bit, while some disciples watched with great interest.

Shu Lan sat blankly in her elder's seat, so bored that she started counting the number of people from all the sects on the platform.

Qin An stood quietly to the side, watching Shu Lan's childlike side, feeling extremely satisfied.

And so, another day passed. The Foundation Establishment stage disciples' competition was over; tomorrow would be the Golden Core stage cultivators' competition.

There are both disciples and elders in the Golden Core stage, so tomorrow the disciples and elders will compete separately.

"How are you? Are you confident about tomorrow's competition?" On the way back, Shu Lan suddenly asked Qin An.

"Don't worry, Master," Qin An replied affirmatively.

"That's good."

"Shulan, little brother." Just then, Nangong Ting's voice rang out from not far away.

Upon hearing Nangong Ting's voice, Qin An's expression immediately darkened, but he quickly regained his composure, without even Shu Lan noticing.

"Sister Nangong Ting." Shu Lan greeted Nangong Ting with a smile as she looked at her walking towards him.

"Would you like to go for a walk with me?" Nangong Ting asked Shu Lan.

"I'd be delighted." Shu Lan readily agreed, then turned to Qin An and said, "Xiao An, you go back first. I'll accompany Senior Nangong Ting for a while and then come back later."

Qin An felt a pang of sadness, but still smiled and said, "Okay, Master Brother."

So, Shu Lan and Nangong Ting left, chatting and laughing.

Qin An stood there watching them leave, not moving for a long time.

It wasn't until the sun set that Qin An suddenly realized something, and he walked somewhat dejectedly towards his room.

This time, Shu Lan and Nangong Ting played until the moon was high in the sky before reluctantly parting ways and returning to their respective rooms.

Shu Lan walked to her room and found that the light was on.

He opened the door and saw Qin An sitting on his bed, nodding his head.

Qin An perked up immediately upon hearing the door open.

"Master Brother!" Qin An rushed into Shu Lan's arms like a whirlwind, snuggling against his shoulder affectionately.

"What's wrong?" Shu Lan caught Qin An as he lunged at her and gently rubbed his head with her hand.

"Master, you've been playing for so long!" So long that I was worried you wouldn't come back tonight. Qin An's voice carried a hint of complaint.

"I'm sorry, I just found a kindred spirit all at once and didn't manage my time well. It won't happen again next time!" Shu Lan gently patted his back and apologized to him.

"Really?" Is it really just a friend, and nothing more? Qin An looked at Shu Lan with expectant eyes.

"Of course it's true. Your master is back now, isn't he? Besides, when have I ever lied?" Shu Lan poked Qin An's forehead with her finger, amused.

"Okay, that's good." It's good to just be friends. Qin An buried his head in Shu Lan's shoulder, greedily inhaling the cool magnolia scent emanating from her.

"Alright, alright, you're all grown up now, why are you still acting like a child?" Shu Lan tugged at Qin An's cheek. "It's so late, hurry back to your room and rest up for tomorrow's competition."

"Oh, okay." Qin An reluctantly got off Shu Lan, then lingered as he walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.

Shu Lan shook her head, feeling both helpless and amused, as she watched Qin An's dawdling movements.

After leaving the room, Qin An did not immediately return to his own room. Instead, he stood quietly at the door of his master's room, his eyes fixed on the window, his thoughts slowly drifting away.

Only after Shu Lan turned off the lights in the room did Qin An lift his foot, turn around, and walk into his own room.