Qin Luo's expression hardened, and he was about to express his determination when Aunt Shu raised her hand to signal him. Before he could speak, Aunt Shu continued:
“I’m not trying to break you two up, but you know Xiaoyao’s personality all too well. She’s always been innocent, carefree, and unrestrained. At the age when a young girl is in love, it’s understandable that she might be blinded by her feelings for a moment.”
“I can see that her heart is completely devoted to you. Otherwise, given her personality, how could she listen to you so obediently, and leave so easily with just a few words from you?”
Aunt Shu sighed softly, her eyes filled with love and worry for Dongfang Jinyao. "But the path of cultivation is long and full of dangers. A momentary emotional impulse is far from enough."
"With your current level of cultivation, you can't even get past me, let alone her father. Do you even know who her father is?"
At this point, Aunt Shu's scholarly eyes were fixed on Qin Luo, as if trying to see something in his eyes.
Upon hearing her question, a hint of doubt flashed in Qin Luo's eyes, before he honestly replied, "I don't know."
This answer seemed to surprise Aunt Shu. "You really don't know? She didn't mention it to you?"
She frowned slightly, her eyes scrutinizing him as if she were re-evaluating the young man before her.
Qin Luo looked completely calm:
“Senior, Jin Yao and I got to know each other because we understood each other. I value Jin Yao as a person, and I have never deliberately inquired about her family background. In my heart, Jin Yao’s kindness and innocence are the most precious things.”
Looking at the undisguised sincerity in Qin Luo's eyes, Aunt Shu's expression softened a bit, but her face still remained as serious as ever.
"Have you ever heard of the name Dongfang Ye?"
The moment the name "Dongfang Ye" was mentioned, Qin Luo keenly caught a fleeting, almost imperceptible tenderness deep within her calm and serious eyes.
Unfortunately, the name was completely unfamiliar to him.
Qin Luo shook his head sincerely with a hint of apology on his face: "Senior, I'm so sorry. I've never heard of this name before."
"oh?"
Upon hearing this answer, Aunt Shu carefully examined Qin Luo, her gaze filled with scrutiny, doubt, and a complex emotion that was hard to describe, leaving Qin Luo completely bewildered.
In that moment of silence, the atmosphere froze. Just as Qin Luo was feeling a little uneasy, Aunt Shu's slightly hesitant voice broke the silence: "You're a rogue cultivator, right?"
This sudden question left Qin Luo somewhat bewildered. Could it be that he looked like someone with a powerful background? But he still answered truthfully, "That's right, I am a rogue cultivator."
Upon hearing the expected answer, the complex emotions that had been swirling in Aunt Shu's eyes subsided slightly, and she softly uttered two words:
No wonder...
"Since you don't know that name, let's just leave it at that." Aunt Shu waved her hand slightly, her expression returning to its usual seriousness, and brought the topic back to Qin Luo and Xiao Yao. "I'll be frank with you, the gap between you and Xiao Yao makes me unable to see a future for you two."
Her gaze was fixed on Qin Luo, as if trying to see through his very soul. "Xiao Yao has a special identity and a privileged upbringing. The people and things she has encountered are completely different from your past experiences. Your life trajectories and future paths are inherently vastly different. What makes you think you can walk hand in hand through the long years of cultivation?"
"With just a surge of enthusiasm and a few sweet words?" Aunt Shu sneered, her eyes full of doubt. "In this world, who doesn't know how to say nice things to coax people? But you can't just rely on your words; you have to show something real to prove yourself."
As expected of a woman from a powerful family, she has matured over the years, just like You Yueying, and every word and action of hers exudes an undeniable sharpness.
Qin Luo felt a sense of helplessness in his heart. He took a deep breath, looked directly into her eyes, and asked, "Senior, how do you want me to prove it?"
Unexpectedly, Aunt Shu shook her head, and a deep, indescribable meaning appeared in her originally calm eyes. She said softly, "This proof is not for me to see."
At this moment, Qin Luo realized that her true intentions had been revealed. Good heavens, she had gone through all this trouble, saying all this just to prevent him from taking Dongfang Jinyao away.
Making him prove himself is just a roundabout way of trying to make him realize his own limitations.
Right now, he still needs to find the medicinal herbs needed to refine the Nirvana Pill. Rather than getting stuck here with her, he might as well go along with her wishes and put her mind at ease first. After all, Dongfang Jinyao also needs to go back to focus on cultivating her Dharma Aspect, and he naturally can't go back with her.
Although his relationship with Jin Yao would allow him to save a lot of time by having her help find medicinal herbs, it wasn't what Qin Luo truly wanted. If he relied on Jin Yao, others would inevitably look down on him, thinking he was incompetent, and might even question Jin Yao's judgment and choices.
"Senior, you don't need to beat around the bush. I know what to do. But before that, I'd like to know exactly how much time I have? In other words, how much time are you going to keep this from us?"
Upon hearing Qin Luo's words, a hint of surprise flashed in Aunt Shu's eyes, as if she hadn't expected him to ask such a direct question.
There's no need to hide it.
“If you ever have the chance to prove yourself,” Aunt Shu narrowed her eyes, her gaze piercing through Qin Luo and looking into the distance, “Xiao Yao’s father will naturally acknowledge you. But until then, I will not deliberately hide it, nor will I bring it up. Everything depends on your own destiny.”
"Heh, what a big mouth you're to say. Are you so sure this kid has no chance? I think he has more potential than Dongfang Ye back then."
The sound was soft, yet it resonated clearly in the small space.
As the sound rang out, You Yueying emerged from the ring, her figure appearing and disappearing in the black mist, exuding a mysterious aura.
Qin Luo hadn't expected her to appear so suddenly. After the restrictions on the ring were removed, his control over You Yueying was practically negligible.
Seeing the suddenly appearing black mist, Aunt Shu said in surprise, "A divine soul? No, it feels like something is missing compared to a normal divine soul. Is it a remnant soul?"
As soon as You Yueying appeared, black mist churned around her. She narrowed her eyes, looking at Aunt Shu with a half-smile, her tone full of emotion:
"What a wonderful array of arts and sciences... It's truly unexpected. Back then, those four mediocre maids by that lecher's side, who could have predicted that the one who was skilled in 'books' would now reach the level of a seventh-grade sage? Tsk tsk tsk, that guy really spared no expense, I wonder how many resources he poured into you."
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