Twenty minutes later, Wan Yunting emerged from the dimly lit bamboo forest, holding Gu Luotang’s hand. Her face was flushed and radiant, a hidden smile of contentment playing on her lips. He still hadn’t seen Qi Miaomiao and wondered aloud, "Did that girl fall into the toilet or something?"
"Mm, she sent me a message saying she's already back at the hotel."
Gu Luotang took out her phone, discovering Qi Miaomiao's WeChat message from ten minutes prior. Wan Yunting deliberately chuckled, "This girl, ran back on her own. She must have a stomach ache and felt unwell, so she went back to sleep early."
Gu Luotang’s pretty face turned rosy, and she cast a shy glance at the man, linking her arm through his. "Then we should hurry back too."
"Heh heh, why don't we stay a bit longer? Miaomiao's already gone back anyway." Wan Yunting embraced Gu Luotang, a mischievous grin on his face.
"No, don't. If we're back too late, Miaomiao will laugh at me again..."
"Haha, let her laugh then..."
Still not satisfied, Wan Yunting held Gu Luotang and returned to the dark, shadowy bamboo forest...
It wasn't until nearly midnight that Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang returned to the hotel. He then escorted her back to her room. Qi Miaomiao, already in her pajamas, opened the door. Seeing the two at the entrance, Qi Miaomiao said with a gloomy expression, "You're finally willing to come back. Senior Sister, you might as well sleep in his room then, why come back?"
"Miaomiao, you're teasing me again."
Gu Luotang felt seen through by the girl and became embarrassed.
"Luotang, you two should rest quickly. I'll call you tomorrow morning for breakfast," Wan Yunting said, ignoring Qi Miaomiao with a smile, and returned to his adjacent room.
"Okay, Brother Yunting..."
Gu Luotang responded sweetly before closing her door. She turned to see Qi Miaomiao sprawled on her bed, looking unhappy. Gu Luotang went over and sat by her bed, nudging her. "Miaomiao, what's wrong? You look unhappy?"
Qi Miaomiao turned on her side, propping her cheek with her left hand. Her almond-shaped eyes fixed on Gu Luotang, and she pouted her small lips. "Senior Sister, I want to do it too!"
...Her words stunned Gu Luotang. After a moment, she reacted and tapped Qi Miaomiao's forehead. "You cheeky girl, what are you always thinking about?"
"Hmph, you have the nerve to talk about me? You and Brother Yunting disappeared in the small park just now, weren't you doing that? Don't think I don't know." Qi Miaomiao arrogantly rolled her eyes and pouted, humming coyly.
This made Gu Luotang embarrassed. She got up, "Alright, alright, don't say any more. If you want to do it, find yourself a boyfriend. I'm going to take a bath..."
Watching her sister enter the bathroom, Qi Miaomiao's small face fell again. Her lips were pursed so tightly they almost reached her forehead. She mumbled softly, "Boyfriend, I want to find one too, but the one I like, I've already given up for you. Hmph, unhappy, going to sleep..."
The next morning, at six o'clock, Wan Yunting was already awake.
However, due to the inconvenience, he didn't go out to practice his techniques. Instead, he sat in meditation on the balcony outside his room, practicing the Eight Desolations Divine Skill.
Now, not only did he know the formidable internal energy cultivation technique, the Boundless Heavenly Gang Internal Energy, from the Boundless Daoist Temple, but he had also learned the Peerless Skill of the Carefree Sect, the Eight Desolations Divine Skill. Consequently, Wan Yunting's internal energy was constantly strengthening.
At the same time, the qi pill in his dantian was gradually taking shape, showing signs of nearing the breakthrough to the late stage of Dan Jin, consolidating into a qi pill.
Furthermore, with the minor formless skill he had learned, as well as techniques like the Six Yang Palm of Mount Heaven and the White Rainbow Palm, it could be said that Wan Yunting was an invincible existence within his own cultivation realm.
Last night, he and Gu Luotang were in the small park, and later they practiced the Peerless Yin-Yang cultivation technique together. This also activated the internal energy he had left in Gu Luotang's dantian when he had opened her Ren and Du meridians. Simultaneously, Wan Yunting had also passed down a set of cultivation techniques to her. As long as Gu Luotang practiced diligently, she too would become a master of internal martial arts.
Just as he sat down to practice, there was a knock on the door. Wan Yunting got up and opened it, revealing Gu Luotang, dressed in pajamas and a robe. She smiled, "Brother Yunting, I've come to practice martial arts with you."
Seeing that she was ready, Wan Yunting nodded with a smile, pulled her into the room, and asked, "Where's Miaomiao? Is she still sleeping?"
"Her? She won't wake up until nine o'clock," Gu Luotang said with a smile.
Wan Yunting led her to the balcony outside, where a towel was spread on the ground. He smiled, "Then sit cross-legged, and I'll teach you how to circulate your energy and practice qi."
"Okay."
Gu Luotang happily sat down cross-legged. Seeing that she couldn't sit properly, Wan Yunting gently guided her beautiful legs into a cross-legged position and began teaching her hand-in-hand how to circulate her energy.
They practiced for over an hour, until almost eight o'clock in the morning. At this moment, a knock came from the door. Wan Yunting, who was meditating with Gu Luotang on the balcony, paused and looked towards the door, guessing it might be Fang Guowen coming to find him for breakfast.
He glanced nervously at Gu Luotang beside him. She was closing her eyes, diligently meditating.
So, Wan Yunting got up and went to open the door. He intended to draw the curtains to block Gu Luotang from view, lest Fang Guowen see her when he entered, but a hotel staff member's voice came from outside the door, saying, "Sir, do you need room cleaning?"
Hearing it was hotel staff, Wan Yunting felt relieved and didn't draw the curtains. He then opened the door and indeed saw a cleaning staff member.
However, just then, Fang Guowen, who lived next door, came out. Seeing Wan Yunting, he smiled, "Little Wan, you're up too. Coincidentally, I have something to tell you..."
Seeing Fang Guowen about to enter his room, Wan Yunting quickly stopped him, smiling, "Uncle Fang, let's go to your room first. Let the staff clean my room."
"Oh, alright..."
Seeing this, Fang Guowen naturally didn't suspect anything. Wan Yunting let the staff member enter his room, then smiled and followed Fang Guowen into his room. Closing the door, he asked, "Uncle Fang, what do you need me for?"
"Please, sit down,"
Fang Guowen gestured to a chair nearby, while he sat on the bed. Wan Yunting sat down, looking at him with a perplexed expression. Fang Guowen sighed and said, "Little Wan, when you arrived yesterday afternoon, you happened to meet Elder Yuan. Do you remember him?"
Wan Yunting nodded and smiled, "Of course, I remember. But Uncle Fang, what's wrong?"
Fang Guowen frowned and said, "He is Huangfu Hongfang's teacher. Although he is not the chief judge for this Lanting Award competition, I fear he might interfere!"
This statement made Wan Yunting look confused, but he quickly understood what Fang Guowen was worried about and smiled, "Uncle Fang, you think Elder Yuan will help Huangfu Hongfang win first place in this Lanting Award calligraphy competition, right?"
"Yes!"
Fang Guowen nodded and said, "Previously, at the Mid-Autumn Festival gala, you inadvertently offended Huangfu Hongfang. I know him quite well; he is deep and cares greatly about his reputation. The fact that he brought Elder Yuan here this time clearly shows he is determined to win first place in this Lanting Award calligraphy competition!"
Wan Yunting listened and nodded, but waved his hand dismissively with a smile. "If he wants it, let him have it. I don't care about these things. I came here just to play and broaden my horizons. Besides, there are so many contestants, and many people are better than him and me. Perhaps the first place will go to someone else."
Seeing Wan Yunting's indifference towards the Lanting Award, Fang Guowen could only offer a wry smile. "Little Wan, the Lanting Award is the highest award in the entire national art community. If you can win first place, your name, Wan Yunting, will skyrocket in the art world. Don't you care at all?"
Wan Yunting stood up and smiled, "Uncle Fang, you know my character. When I learned calligraphy, my master had me practice prescriptions. I never thought of becoming famous through this. Besides, I'm already quite famous now, though not in the art world. I'm indifferent to it."
"Moreover, Huangfu Hongfang's family background is not simple. If he likes it so much, let him compete. I don't need to vie with him for first place. If he truly wins first place with the help of Mr. Yuan, then this award has no meaning."
Hearing his words, Fang Guowen seemed to gain a new perspective. He nodded and smiled, "Little Wan, for you to say this makes me look up to you. You don't fight for things, you have magnanimity and spirit."
"You're right. If Huangfu Hongfang truly wins first place with the help of Elder Yuan, then this award is indeed meaningless. After the competition, we'll head straight back to Huadu City. There's no need to get entangled with those people and cause unnecessary trouble."
Wan Yunting nodded and smiled, "Then, that's settled for now, Uncle Fang. I'll consider it a trip for sightseeing. We'll go back together."
"Alright, alright..."
Fang Guowen also stood up and no longer insisted on Wan Yunting competing for first place in the Lanting Award calligraphy competition.
As he said, Huangfu Hongfang's family background was not simple, and there was no need to compete with them and cause trouble, which would be difficult to resolve. He said, "You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Shall we go downstairs for breakfast together?"
"No, Uncle Fang. I'll go back to my room and practice more. I'll go down to eat with Luotang and the others later," Wan Yunting said with a smile.
"That's fine too. I have to go to the organizers' side later. Today, you and Luotang can go explore nearby. Have fun," Fang Guowen nodded and smiled.
"Okay, I'll be going back then."
Wan Yunting then left Fang Guowen's room. Coincidentally, the staff member had finished cleaning and came out. He went inside and looked at the balcony. Gu Luotang was still meditating. Clearly, the cleaning lady had not woken her up...