After the middle-aged man's figure completely disappeared, Nuantang's tension became even more obvious.
Her hands nervously twisted at the hem of her clothes, and she lowered her head even further, feeling incredibly awkward facing Qin Luo alone.
Noticing Nuantang's unease, Qin Luo couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.
He softened his voice and said gently, "Don't be nervous. I know what your father is thinking. Just act as usual when you're with me."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Nuantang's face turned deathly pale, her legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground with a thud, her body trembling uncontrollably. She urgently defended her father, saying:
"Please forgive me, sir. My father is not usually like this! He was just too worried about the future of the Spirit Fox Clan, which is why he resorted to this desperate measure."
She looked up, her eyes filled with pleading, tears welling up in her eyes, ready to spill over at any moment.
"My lord, it's all Nuantang's fault. If Nuantang hadn't been incompetent, Father wouldn't be in such a predicament. Please, my lord, don't blame him."
As Nuantang spoke, her voice grew increasingly choked with emotion, almost breaking into sobs.
Seeing Nuantang kneeling on the ground, pleading desperately, Qin Luo sighed inwardly, bent down to help her up, and said softly:
"Get up. I have no intention of blaming your father. In this dog-eat-dog world, I can understand why he made this choice for the sake of the family."
Hearing his words, Nuantang looked at the genuine gentleness on his face, then carefully raised her sleeve to wipe away her tears, her eyes still carrying a trace of unease.
"Thank you for your magnanimity, sir. I will never forget this great kindness."
Qin Luo didn't take these little thoughts to heart. He then looked into the distance, pondered for a moment, and asked Nuantang:
"By the way, you've lived in the fox clan for a long time, do you know if there are any quiet places for cultivation within the clan?"
Nuantang quickly replied, "My lord, there is a secluded valley in the back mountains of the fox clan. It's a place rich in spiritual energy and extremely tranquil, rarely disturbed by people; it's an excellent place for cultivation. However..."
At this point, Nuantang paused, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.
"Just what? Please speak freely."
Nuantang took a deep breath, her chest heaving, and mustered her courage to say:
"However, Lingyou Valley has always been a forbidden area for the fox clan, and the clan strictly forbids unauthorized entry. Nuantang... Nuantang has never been inside either, for fear of delaying the master's precious cultivation time."
At this point, she lowered her head, her voice becoming even softer, tinged with a hint of self-reproach:
“My lord’s time is precious. Nuantang is worried that my suggestion will waste the time that my lord should be using for cultivation and improvement. If that happens, Nuantang will die a thousand deaths to atone for it.”
Looking at the girl who was shrouded in unease, her slightly trembling body and shifty eyes spoke volumes about her inner fear.
“Nuantang,” Qin Luo said gently, his tone reassuringly calm, “Now that you know the location of Lingyou Valley, you don’t need to worry so much. Just lead me there. As for whether this trip will be a waste of time, that’s something I need to consider. You don’t need to carry such a heavy psychological burden.”
After speaking, he leaned down slightly, meeting Nuantang's gaze. "My name is Qin Luo. From now on, you don't need to address me as 'Sir' anymore; just call me by my name. There's no need for formalities with me; let's keep things simple and natural."
Upon hearing this, Nuantang was struck dumb, her whole body instantly stiffening, her face drained of color, turning deathly pale.
"My lord... no, Lord Qin... Lord Qin Luo, this is unacceptable!" Nuantang stammered, her voice trembling violently with panic. "You are an incomparably noble and powerful figure. How can Nuantang be so rude as to address you by your given name? If the rest of the clan finds out, they will surely say that Nuantang is ignorant of etiquette and has offended you."
As she spoke, her body trembled even more, as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall.
"Nuantang would not dare to do anything disrespectful to you. Please rescind your order and allow Nuantang to continue to address you as 'Master'."
She dared not look Qin Luo in the eye; beads of sweat slid down her face, soaking her clothes.
At this moment, Nuantang was filled with fear. In her mind, the respect for the strong was a deeply rooted tradition, and Qin Luo's request broke the principle she had always adhered to, plunging her into extreme panic.
Seeing Nuantang's panic, Qin Luo sighed inwardly. It seemed that in the world of demon beasts, this sense of hierarchy was ingrained in their very bones.
After hesitating for a moment, Qin Luo slowly reached out and gently placed his hand on Nuantang's hair. This sudden action caused Nuantang's body to tense up immediately, and she closed her eyes resignedly.
However, instead of the offense she had imagined, she received a silent reassurance.
"Nuantang." Qin Luo's voice was deep and gentle, caressing Nuantang's heart. "To me, titles are just a formality. What I value is sincerity and genuine feelings, not empty formalities."
His palm gently stroked Nuantang's head, conveying a silent comfort.
“I can see that you are a kind and innocent child, and I don’t want you to be bound by those formalities.” Qin Luo continued, his eyes full of tenderness. “If you really feel it’s inappropriate to call me by my name, then call me Young Master Qin, how about that? It’s respectful and less formal.”
As that gentle voice rang out, Nuantang's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly. She then opened her eyes and secretly glanced at Qin Luo, the fear in her eyes gradually being replaced by a trace of doubt.
She never imagined that such a powerful being would care so much about her feelings and be willing to make such a compromise for her.
"Young Master Qin~" Nuantang said softly, her voice still carrying a hint of hesitation, as if testing whether this new form of address was appropriate.
A timid, soft voice echoed in Qin Luo's ears, bringing a relieved smile to his face. Sure enough, the innocent fox was easy to "tease".
However, this teasing wasn't malicious; it was just that he found the innocent and adorable Nuantang really interesting.
He then nodded and said, "Yes, that's right. From now on, we don't need to be so formal with each other. If you have any thoughts or encounter any difficulties, you can tell me directly."
Seeing Qin Luo's sincere smile, Nuantang's panic gradually subsided, replaced by a strange warmth.
She nodded gently and said, "Yes, Young Master Qin. Nuantang has remembered."
At this moment, imperceptibly, her awe of Qin Luo was mixed with an added sense of closeness that she herself could not perceive.
"Alright, it's getting late. We should head to Spirit Valley now."
Nuantang responded weakly, turned around and led the way. Although her steps were still a little shaky, they were more steady than before.
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