Shen Min’s Revolving Qi Realm Extreme Yin Qi was incredibly potent and as she approached the Foundation Building Realm, it allowed Wu Long to advance through a watershed barrier between the 3rd and 4th level Qi Manifestation Realm in one go, with some leftover energy to stabilize it and even raise his cultivation closer to the 5th level.

This cultivation also significantly helped his recovery, though it did not allow him to fully recover the damage to his arm. .𝗰𝗼𝗺

When they woke up in the morning they cuddled in the bed for some time as it was a while since she was held in his embrace in the bed.

“Wu Long”

“Hm?”

“I think, I will use my lighter side more often now”

She said and he turned to look at her with slightly surprised eyes.

“I know, I used to look at it as being trapped inside, but I think I understood something important this time, that, the lighter side is still me even though it lacks some memory. The feelings I felt last night…”

She slightly blushed and looked to the side, but then her beautiful heterochromatic eyes looked straight into his.

“Hmm, well I did enjoy your cute and bubbly side but you have to know that I like all of you, whether it is your lighter or darker side. And though I don’t mind enjoying an ‘innocent maiden’ from time to time I don’t want you to think that I prefer that over your true self”

He said sincerely as she blushed and a happy smile touched her lips but she shook her head from side to side.

“Hahaha, I didn’t mean that, you perverted man. I meant using my lighter side outwardly, at times when it is not just you or my sisters”

She laughed and he wryly smiled as he admitted that his mind went there first before considering what she meant.

“You mean like with the Gong sisters?”

Shen Min nodded as she looked at him.

“Yeah, at first, I thought to test them out and then reveal my true self, but then I got an idea. There will always be people around us, some of them not with the best intentions. And such people are usually seeking the easiest prey, the most naive and gullible person…”

“Min’er…”

She placed a finger on his lips and continued.

“I am the only one that can pull it off completely without even needing to act. This is the gift the Heavenly Daos gave me, and I want to use it where it is most efficient”

“But Min’er, depending on where we are, and what our circumstances are you might need to spend most of your time in your sheltered state…”

“I know, but you know what? I started to find some comfort in that. At first, it was the thing that showed me my weakness, not being able to cope with the hardship that fell on my lap I subconsciously chose to run away, which was why I hated this ability to some extent…

But then, as I gradually gained control over it with your guidance I found a way to stay in control while in that state, and it felt… natural. And very comfortable.

Of course, there is still that cowardly side as I tucked my head into the sand when I got scared this time… but, I think as I gain more and more control over this ability, and… slowly deal with my cowardly side, I am liking this ability more and more”

Wu Long looked at this devoted, loving beauty and leaned in to kiss her as she closed her eyes, relishing in the sensation.

“You are not cowardly, Min’er. Everyone has something they fear or don’t want to lose”

“Even you?”

“Of course”

He looked at her with a sincere look as she found some comfort in his words. Shen Min, in fact, was incredibly brave, as she was not initially a battle-hardened expert, and had no one to guide or protect her as she gained experience in fighting and killing all on her own. Quite ironically, her personality was opposite to her ability, as she had a hard and rough outer shell as almost nothing could faze her, and there was only a small very vulnerable part inside of things she really cherished, that was incredibly tender and easy to damage.

Wu Long looked in her different-colored eyes for a few moments, and slightly sighed as he saw an unswaying determination in her eyes.

“If that is what you decided let it be as you wish, but you have to promise me a few things”

“…?”

“You have to be EXTREMELY… CAREFUL”

Wu Long said while enunciating each word, highlighting the last two as he made a deliberate pause to emphasize their importance. What she was planning to do was pertaining to the area of covert activities, acting as the last line of defense against people who would want to bring them harm not on the surface but by approaching them like a friend. It was an incredibly dangerous job to be the ‘bait’ for such people to approach.

“Of course”

She nodded as she also understood what she was signing up for.

“And also, never deal with anything alone, as soon as you suspect something you have to tell me, and if I am not for any reason available at the very least Ling’er, preferably as many of our inner circle as possible”

He said looking into her eyes, making sure she understood how important it was. She nodded with a sincere look, and he sighed, wrapping his hand around her head and bringing her nearer to hold her close in his embrace.

She blissfully smiled as she felt his care and worry. She felt slightly guilty for it but his worry actually made her happy.

“Don’t worry, I will come out from the shell whenever we are alone in the inner circle”

She said softly and he nodded.

In truth, there was not that much danger in what she wanted to do since the probability of what she feared was quite low. What she was doing was creating a failsafe in the case of an unlikely possibility, the last stronghold. But the mere smallest chance that there might be danger was making him protective.