"Senior Long Xuan, I admit, I really can't bring myself to do it. But you're clearly a beautiful woman; there's no need to reject my feelings for you in such a way."
"Zhou Hong, we are cultivators. You saw what happened to Hu Lu Rong. His physical body is destroyed now. Will he have to find another one? If, one day, I have to do the same and possess a new body, and the most suitable one for me is that dung-carrying peasant woman, then I will have no choice. If we were to become companions, and I were to inhabit such a shell, would you still love me? So, why cause trouble? Being friends might be more reliable."
Zhou Hong could only sigh. Perhaps Long Xuan was right. His feelings for her hadn't truly reached the level of the soul, transcending mere appearances.
"Then let's go back."
Long Xuan returned to her own body. The peasant woman, however, stared at the pile of dung on the ground inexplicably, utterly bewildered and unaware of what had just transpired.
"Senior Long Xuan, does this mean you'll always be alone from now on? While I can't refute the lesson you've given me, I don't agree with such rigid thinking."
"Heh heh, if I were to truly meet true love in the future, perhaps then."
"The true love you speak of is a man who wouldn't care what body you inhabit, right?"
"Exactly. Not only that, but we would also be allowed to have no such relationship between us."
"What kind of relationship? You mean, not sleeping together and doing 'that'?"
"Yes. If I agree to be your cultivation companion, but you're not allowed to touch me afterward, and we have no 'that' between us, would you be willing?"
"Then why would I even want a companion? What's the point?" Zhou Hong rolled his eyes. He was being honest; without 'that,' what use would a cultivation companion be to him?
"That's right."
"Alright then."
Zhou Hong no longer insisted. However, he understood in his heart that the many excuses Long Xuan had given were merely a cover. The true core reason was that she wasn't interested in him.
In other words, if she had genuinely fancied him, she would have moved heaven and earth for him, disregarding future possibilities or the prospect of changing bodies, wanting only to be together.
Of course, Zhou Hong was too lazy to point this out. He was still weak, after all. Perhaps Long Xuan's gaze wasn't focused on the mortal world; ordinary men simply didn't catch her eye. If she met someone she fell in love with at first sight, Zhou Hong doubted she would still be contemplating whether future changes in her body would be liked.
"Zhou Hong, I'll be heading back now," Long Xuan said.
"Mmm-hmm." Zhou Hong nodded, watching Long Xuan leave.
Looking at her retreating figure, Zhou Hong felt a pang of subtle pain. He truly liked her; her ethereal aura, untouched by the mundane world, was something no other woman possessed.
Unfortunately, despite their intimate encounter, he hadn't managed to win her heart.
After an indeterminate amount of time, a cold snort came from behind him: "Warming a cold rear end."
Zhou Hong turned to see Lu Qian Qian, pouting. She had evidently witnessed everything and looked at him with a mocking expression.
Zhou Hong felt speechless. "What do you know?"
"I heard what you were saying. I didn't understand it all, but judging by her expression, I can tell she's not interested in you at all."
"Tch, you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I've already slept with her." Zhou Hong huffed.
"Don't lie," Lu Qian Qian certainly didn't believe him. In her mind, if a man had 'had' a woman, she would naturally follow him. At the very least, once a woman was claimed by a man, she could only belong to that man afterward.
Zhou Hong was too tired to say more.
"Instructor Lu, I'm heading back."
"Don't call me Instructor Lu anymore. I'm no longer the instructor for Class 30."
"What?" Zhou Hong was greatly surprised.
"I've resigned from my position as instructor for Class 30."
"Why?" he asked, not quite understanding.
"No reason. I just don't want to live such a comfortable life anymore. I want to strive for strength."
"Heh heh, that's new. You haven't been an instructor for long, what's with this sudden change?"
"For someone!" Lu Qian Qian stated, then turned to leave.
Zhou Hong's heart skipped a beat. He seemed to guess who the "someone" she mentioned was – himself.
A flicker of emotion stirred within him, seeing a woman change for his sake. From the Dan Novel Network.
"Zhou Hong, I've applied to join the Guardian Corps of the Primordial Academy. Tomorrow, I'm heading to Deep Space One. If I manage to return alive, I'll make him realize I'm worthy of him," Lu Qian Qian said as she walked away, without looking back.
"Wait, what is Deep Space One? And what is the Guardian Corps?"
"That's a secret of the Primordial Academy. Ordinary people wouldn't know. Goodbye, and I hope we meet again."
"When will you be back?"
"In 200 years."
"Ah? It'll take that long?"
"Of course. The woman you like once went there too. I want to show someone that if she dares to go, I dare too. I just can't guarantee I'll come back alive...!" With that, Lu Qian Qian disappeared around the corner ahead.
Zhou Hong stood there, a shiver running down his spine.
He had never heard of the Guardian Corps before, nor did he know what Deep Space One was.
From what Lu Qian Qian implied, Long Xuan had also been there. He'd ask her about it later.
However, Zhou Hong immediately chased after Lu Qian Qian, wanting to say something more. From her tone, it sounded like a place that only peerless geniuses could venture into easily.
Lu Qian Qian was going to such a place to court death for him. Her talent clearly didn't match Long Xuan's level. What if she really didn't return alive? That would be a permanent farewell.
However, when Zhou Hong caught up, he saw Lu Qian Qian entering a light-shrouded area ahead. Besides her, there were four or five other people within the glowing circle. Though Zhou Hong didn't recognize them, he felt he had seen them somewhere before; they were all peerless geniuses from the higher years of the Primordial Academy.
Seeing Zhou Hong approaching, Lu Qian Qian waved at him.
Before Zhou Hong could utter a word, the circle of light ascended into the sky and, in the blink of an eye, vanished into the heavens.
"Damn it, what is that? Where did they go?" Zhou Hong stared at the deep space, which showed no trace, his mind filled with questions.
He hadn't even had a chance to say another word to Lu Qian Qian before she was gone, leaving him with a sense of something missing.