"Take this soft armor."
Gu He handed the Black Ice Sacred Armor in his hand to Yun Yun.
"This is…?" Yun Yun glanced at the armor, then looked at Gu He with slight confusion.
"It's for you."
"Didn't your inner armor get destroyed in the Magic Beast Mountain Range last time?"
As he spoke, Gu He slid his finger across his storage ring, and a light-blue metal inner armor appeared in his hand.
Imprinted on it were still the claw marks of the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
"I didn't expect you to have kept it."
Looking at the inner armor in Gu He's grasp, Yun Yun's eyes flickered with emotion, her expression growing complicated.
In an instant, her thoughts drifted back to their time in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
Had it not been for Gu He, she might have perished under the Lion King's claws.
"Of course."
"This is something personal to you—how could I let it be lost?"
He neatly folded the inner armor, his movements deliberate.
Watching this, Yun Yun's clear, water-like eyes shimmered with an unreadable brilliance.
She never imagined that something so personal to her would be treasured so deeply by him.
A trace of warmth bloomed in her heart, and the gaze she directed at Gu He softened.
"Does it still carry your scent?"
The next moment, Gu He pressed the inner armor to his nose, inhaling lightly. A faint, lingering fragrance met his senses.
Yun Yun froze, her fair cheeks gradually flushing pink.
"You—! Give it back!" she demanded, flustered.
"Give it back?" Gu He blinked, then shook his head without hesitation.
"No."
"This is the only thing you left me—how could I return it?"
With a thought, he stored the inner armor back into his ring.
Seeing this, Yun Yun fell silent.
Yes… he had given so much for her sake.
In that cave, he had left her countless treasures.
Yet she had given him nothing in return.
'Fine… I will let you keep it.'
"But you still need armor, so take this soft armor—consider it an exchange of tokens."
Gu He extended the Black Ice Sacred Armor toward her once more.
"Tokens?"
Yun Yun stared blankly until the icy chill of the armor seeped into her palm. Only then did she snap back to reality, her delicate brows furrowing in shy indignation.
'Since when was this man so shameless?'
Examining the armor, she sensed its extraordinary nature immediately.
With a slight infusion of dou qi, the armor emitted a brilliant blue light before dissolving into her body.
A moment later, she felt the soft armor cling to her skin.
Before she could react, an intense surge of Profound Ice dou qi erupted, encasing her in a suit of crystalline armor.
"Incredible…" Yun Yun traced the icy plates, marveling at its power.
Gu He smiled.
"This is the Black Ice Sacred Armor, embedded with multiple eighth-rank ice-attribute magic cores. Its defensive capabilities are peerless. With this, your safety is assured."
Yun Yun's lips parted slightly in shock.
'Eighth-rank magic cores?'
That was equivalent to the power of a Dou Venerable!
Her heart swelled with emotion.
Such a priceless treasure, and he had given it to her without hesitation.
Then she recalled the Seven-Colored Holy Lotus, and her astonishment faded into quiet warmth.
If he could part with something so divine, what wouldn't he give her?
In her eyes, the lotus far surpassed even this armor in value.
She lifted her gaze to Gu He, her eyes shimmering with unspoken affection.
At this moment, she understood.
How could she hold back, when he gave her everything so freely?
What other man in this world would offer her such treasures?
Her lingering doubts melted away.
Softly, she whispered, "Thank you."
"No need for thanks. Giving gifts to my woman is only natural."
This time, Yun Yun didn't refute him—as if silently accepting his words.
Delighted, Gu He retrieved three Core-Fire Lotus Seeds from his ring and pressed them into her palm.
"And these are…?"
"Core-Fire Lotus Seeds," he explained. "They form only once every century, containing the purest essence of heaven and earth. Consuming them can restore dou qi or aid in breakthroughs."
Yun Yun murmured the name but didn't hesitate, storing them away.
After all…
If a man's gifts to his woman were natural, then a woman accepting them was just as natural.
...
Seeing Yun Yun accept his gift without hesitation, Gu He's heart swelled with joy.
In his past life, though he had never been in a formal relationship, he had studied the basics of romantic psychology to pursue a girl.
Women naturally adore gifts and surprises, which is why many men use them to win favor.
But not every girl will accept them gladly. If she refuses a gift while being courted, what does it mean?
It means she doesn't like you.
Under normal circumstances, a woman rejecting a man's gift is a clear sign of disinterest—especially if the gift is expensive. Unless she's the type who never refuses anyone, a decent woman wouldn't accept it.
Given Gu He's understanding of Yun Yun, she was no such scoundrel.
Her calm acceptance of his gift proved that, deep down, she had already accepted him.
This realization filled Gu He with happiness.
After all his efforts, he was finally about to win her over completely.
This was, after all, Gu He's first time experiencing love.
And it felt wonderful.
His gaze lingered on her soft, rosy lips. Unable to resist, he stepped forward, took her delicate hand, and whispered, "Yun'er… may I visit you tonight?"
Yun Yun blinked in surprise, meeting his burning eyes. Flustered, she pulled her hand back and shot him a reproachful glare. "You've got quite the guts."
She feigned annoyance, her cheeks faintly pink. "Didn't you say you'd give me time? Did you think a few gifts would let you do as you please?"
'What does this man take me for?'
Gu He coughed awkwardly. "Yun'er, you're overthinking it. I just meant… if I miss you tonight, could I come over for tea and conversation? Definitely not… the other kind."
Yun Yun froze, then flushed crimson, embarrassment bubbling in her chest.
'That's what he meant!'
And yet, she had accused him of overthinking.
Now, it seemed her mind was the impure one.
Annoyed, she shot him a sharp look and coldly declared, "No!"
"Uh…" Gu He was stunned.
Why the sudden rejection?
As a first-time lover, he was utterly lost.
Desperate, he mentally revisited the romance psychology he'd studied in his past life.
Then, his eyes lit up, and a smirk curled his lips.
'A woman's heart is as deep as the ocean.'
Women were enigmatic, their words often the opposite of their true feelings.
When a woman said no, she usually meant yes.
Realizing this, Gu He studied Yun Yun's stern expression—not a trace of anger in her eyes.
'Ah. She's just too shy to admit it.'
Meanwhile, Yun Yun immediately regretted her refusal.
'Was I too harsh? Maybe he really just wanted to talk…'
Her irritation melted away.
She resolved to forgive him if he asked again nicely.
But after a long silence, she glanced up—only to find him grinning like a fool.
'Why is this idiot spacing out now?'
With a soft sigh, Yun Yun said, "The Inner Sect Grand Competition is in ten days. Be prepared—you promised to help me oversee it."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left.
"Inner Sect Grand Competition… I'd nearly forgotten." Watching her retreating figure, Gu He chuckled wryly before returning to his courtyard.
…
The Next Day
"Teacher! I've broken through to the Dou Grandmaster Realm!"
Gu He, sipping tea in the gazebo, looked up as the Little Fairy Doctor's cheerful voice rang through the courtyard.
Surprised, he set down his cup, a smile tugging at his lips.
A month ago, she had reached the Eight-Star Dou Master level.
Now, she had ascended to Dou Grandmaster.
'Three realms in a month—even crossing a major threshold.'
'The Woeful Poison Body's potential is terrifying.'
"Well done. I estimated another week, but you've surpassed expectations."
Praising her warmly, he added, "As usual—sit down before me."
The Little Fairy Doctor nodded eagerly, scurrying over and obediently sitting down.
Last time, Gu He had been away during her breakthrough, denying her the chance for empowerment.
Now, after two months, she'd finally experience it again.
'This time, I'll endure longer. I'll make Teacher proud!'
She had diligently tempered her body with Jade Bone Powder and other poisons, strengthening her physique significantly.
Confidence surged within her.
Gu He rose, placing a hand on her back. "Prepare yourself. I'm beginning."
Having undergone this process multiple times, the Little Fairy Doctor quickly steadied her breathing, entering a meditative state.
Without further delay, Gu He activated his empowerment technique. A torrent of potent dou qi surged into her body.
'Such immense power! Teacher's grown even stronger!'
Alarmed, she focused entirely on guiding the violent energy toward her dou qi cyclone.
Her meridians screamed in protest, her face paling—but she gritted her teeth and persisted.
Gradually, her aura began to shift.
Within moments—
"Pop!"
A soft sound echoed within her.
Two-Star Dou Grandmaster!
In mere breaths, she had ascended another level.
...
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