Yun Qianxue stood frozen for a long time before she finally recovered from her shock.
Her face flushed deep red, and her body fidgeted as she suppressed the joy in her heart.
With a hint of shyness and curiosity, she asked, “Elder Sister… when did you recognize me?”
“From the very first moment I saw you in the mountain forest, Grandmaster recognized you,” Yu Yi answered.
“Then why… why didn’t you ever tell me?”
Yun Qianxue lowered her head and whispered.
“Because Grandmaster was waiting for you to speak first,” Yu Yi said calmly.
“Only proactive children can fight for the things they want.”
“No, it’s not that I didn’t want to be proactive, I just—”
Yun Qianxue tried to explain, but Yu Yi placed a slender finger gently against her lips.
“You do not truly know Grandmaster yet, so there is no need to express your feelings so soon. After you have spent some time with me, you can reconsider whether those words should be spoken.”
Yu Yi spoke with a smile.
The meaning behind Yu Yi’s words was a hope that Yun Qianxue would get to know her better first rather than rushing to confess.
After all, Yun Qianxue had no idea what kind of person the object of her five-year devotion truly was.
Yu Yi admired Yun Qianxue’s deep affection.
Precisely because of that, she could not simply accept her feelings before Yun Qianxue became familiar with her, as she did not want to betray such sincerity.
There was another, more important reason why Yu Yi was taking Yun Qianxue away besides letting the girl get to know her.
She needed to ensure that Yun Qianxue would never be targeted by those with ill intentions.
Even if someone in the Palace was eventually caught and dealt with by the Yan Emperor, there was no guarantee that others wouldn’t covet the power of the Wuxiang Demonic Art.
After Ouyang Yue’s death, Yun Qianxue was the only “Carrier” perfectly suited for the Wuxiang Demonic Art, and she absolutely could not fall into the hands of such people.
Yun Qianxue was a clever child.
She grasped another layer of meaning from Yu Yi’s words.
That was the fact that Yu Yi did not know her either.
No one would casually accept the feelings of someone they had only spent two days with, even if that person had loved them for five years.
If one could accept so easily, it would be a sign of respect for neither oneself nor the other party.
How would that be any different from a child’s game?
Therefore, both of them needed to understand each other more.
Yu Yi hoped to live up to Yun Qianxue’s devotion, while Yun Qianxue hoped to earn Yu Yi’s recognition.
“I understand.”
Yun Qianxue raised her head again, her eyes shimmering with faint tears but radiating a gaze of absolute determination.
“I will definitely work hard to make Elder Sister like me!”
Standing to the side, Su Cheng appeared calm on the surface, but her inner world was in total turmoil.
Su Cheng had originally thought that Yun Qianxue was nothing more than an ordinary “Fox Spirit” who was infatuated with her Master’s beauty.
Fox Spirits who seduced Yu Yi were merely greedy for her looks, which was a great disrespect toward Yu Yi.
Such people never met a good end at Su Cheng’s hands.
This was why Su Cheng had felt murderous intent toward Yun Qianxue earlier.
What Su Cheng hadn’t expected was that Yun Qianxue was actually a devoted soul.
She had stayed in this frozen land of Cangzhou without going anywhere, bitterly waiting for Yu Yi for five years?
Su Cheng’s perception of Yun Qianxue immediately rose to a new level.
‘However, thinking she can develop that kind of relationship with Master just by “working hard”?
How naive.
If hard work alone were enough, then Second Senior Sister would have likely achieved results with Master long ago,’ Su Cheng thought silently.
Although Su Cheng felt that the fewer “love rivals” she had, the better, she knew clearly that such a thing was impossible.
After all, her Master was a Capital Beauty.
It was perfectly normal for her to be adored by thousands.
Consequently, Su Cheng had already prepared herself for a long-term war against all kinds of “love rivals.”
Of course, not everyone was qualified to be her “love rival.”
Only those recognized by Su Cheng could hold that title.
Those not recognized—such as the insolent fools who merely lusted after Yu Yi’s beauty—had all died miserable deaths, with the exception of the untouchable Yan Emperor.
Now, Yun Qianxue had undoubtedly become Su Cheng’s newest “love rival,” but her threat level was not high.
She was far inferior to the other Senior Sisters, so it didn’t matter if she was ignored for the time being.
At present, the only “love rival” who truly made Su Cheng wary was her Second Senior Sister, Blue Ling’er.
‘Hehe… if I go back and tell Second Senior Sister that I not only wore the clothes Master wore for a whole day but also admired Master’s seductive figure, I wonder what kind of expression she’ll make?’
The more Su Cheng thought about it, the more excited she became, letting out a wicked laugh in her heart.
At the same time, Su Cheng began to wonder how she should seek Yu Yi’s favor next time.
‘Did Master just say that she likes proactive children?’
‘Even though I really want to feel Master’s dominance again, that would require me to be passive… Since Master wants me to be proactive, how can I let her down?’
Su Cheng gave a charming, wicked smile. Clearly, she already had a plan in mind.
At that moment, Yu Yi suddenly felt a sudden chill.
She instinctively looked back at Su Cheng, only to see her standing respectfully to the side with an innocent smile on her face.
“Master, what is it?”
“It is nothing,” Yu Yi replied indifferently.
‘Is this girl… planning to scheme against me again?’
Yu Yi had proposed to take Yun Qianxue away, and as her father, Yun Yi was naturally reluctant to part with her.
He frowned and thought for a long time before saying, “Xiao Xue has reached an age where it is time for her to go out and see the world.”
“Father…”
What Yun Qianxue needed most right now was her father’s approval.
She dropped to her knees before Yun Yi and said, “Thank you for your blessing, Father!”
“Silly child, get up quickly!”
Yun Yi hurried to help Yun Qianxue up.
“Regarding this matter, your father has always supported you. Why would I stop you now? I only have two requirements for you. Can you do them?”
“Father, please tell me!”
“Do not cause trouble for Gexia, and do not bring shame to the Cloud Family!”
“I will remember!”
The father and daughter then embraced tightly, as if they were saying a final farewell.
Yun Yi’s eyes filled with old tears.
His feelings at this moment were no different from seeing his daughter off to be married.
“Gexia… I have one more presumptuous request.”
He looked at Yu Yi with a face full of sincerity.
“Speak,” Yu Yi said calmly.
“While I firmly believe that Gexia can protect Xiao Xue, she is leaving my side after all. I cannot be completely at ease. Therefore, I want to do everything in my power to give her the greatest possible help,” Yun Yi said.
Yu Yi nodded.
Then, Yun Yi took out a banknote and solemnly placed it into Yun Qianxue’s palm.
He spoke with earnest advice, “Xiao Xue… keep this safe. Take care of yourself out there and be grateful to those who are good to you. Your father has no other skills in this life. Since you are leaving home, I cannot give you much. I can only give you half of our family’s fortune…”
Yu Yi: “???”
‘Wait a minute? What did you just say?’
‘Half the fortune???’
Did this not mean that the person Yu Yi was bringing back to Among the Colorful Clouds was not just a beautiful girl who had loved her for five years and might confess at any moment—
But also a wealthy young Miss carrying a massive amount of money, practically a Moving Bank!?