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Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Don't Trust Hero-Saves-Beauty Plots!

Bai Yunfei's scattered thoughts immediately snapped into focus upon hearing the mention of the Artifact Refining Sect. He concentrated intently.

Instructor Qiu Lüliu seemed pleased with his attentiveness. She cleared her throat softly and began, "The Artifact Refining Sect. Their main sect is located atop the highest peak within the Pingchuan Province in the northern reaches of the Empire – Crimson Glow Mountain."

"Similar to the Heaven's Favor Sect, the Soul Refining Sect is an entity that other major sects are unwilling to provoke. In fact, they actively strive to maintain good relations. The reason is singular: Soul Equipment!"

"Naturally, what the Artifact Refining Sect excels at is the refining of artifacts. While Soul Equipment is considered immensely precious and rare for ordinary soul cultivators, it's said that within the Artifact Refining Sect, every disciple possesses at least one piece, often more. You must understand, possessing a powerful piece of Soul Equipment can enhance a soul cultivator's strength by several fold, even exponentially! The majority of the renowned Soul Equipment across the continent originates from the Artifact Refining Sect. Even the Soul Equipment wielded by successive Emperors – who are also successive Patriarchs of the Heaven's Soul Sect – were custom-forged by request from the Artifact Refining Sect. Countless powerful factions and peak figures within the soul cultivator world spare no expense, offering rare heavenly treasures or pledging favors, all for the chance to obtain a supremely powerful piece of Soul Equipment tailored specifically for them by the Artifact Refining Sect."

"It's not that there are absolutely no other factions or individuals on the continent who understand artifact refining. However, even for Soul Equipment of the same grade, those crafted by the Artifact Refining Sect invariably possess a slight edge. Yet, the Artifact Refining Sect does not readily forge Soul Equipment for outsiders. One reason is the inherent, immense difficulty of the crafting process itself. Another is their reluctance to see Soul Equipment become too widespread. Admittedly, saying 'widespread' might be an exaggeration, but from a certain perspective, the Artifact Refining Sect genuinely possesses the capacity to influence the quantity of lower-grade Soul Equipment circulating within the soul cultivator world. It could even be said that the Artifact Refining Sect acts as one of the pivotal balancing forces among the major powers."

"The Artifact Refining Sect's criteria for accepting disciples are exceptionally stringent. They almost exclusively recruit soul cultivators whose innate soul attribute is fire. Furthermore, only those possessing truly outstanding talent for artifact refining are granted the sect's unique and special forging secrets. Others can, at best, become outer sect disciples, learning only ordinary refining methods. Yet, even so, any Artifact Refining Sect disciple venturing out for training – whether inner or outer sect – is rarely provoked. Why? Because you simply cannot know how many pieces of Soul Equipment that seemingly weaker soul cultivator carries on their person. For disciples of the Artifact Refining Sect, defeating opponents of a higher cultivation tier by bombarding them with an arsenal of Soul Equipment is not an uncommon feat."

Qiu Lüliu seemed a little tired after speaking so much. She paused for a moment to catch her breath before smiling and asking, "So, that's the basic situation regarding the Artifact Refining Sect. Now then... are you considering going there to seek admission?"

"Huh? How did you know?" Bai Yunfei was still processing the wealth of information he'd just received. Her question startled him, and the words slipped out instinctively.

"You're paying such close attention to matters concerning the Artifact Refining Sect. If I couldn't guess that much, wouldn't I seem incredibly foolish?" Qiu Lüliu shot Bai Yunfei a slightly displeased look, as if chiding him for underestimating her intelligence.

Bai Yunfei lowered his head again, falling into deep silence. Just as Qiu Lüliu was growing impatient and about to urge him, he looked up. He cupped his fists respectfully towards the two young women. "Thank you, Miss Qiu, for explaining all this. I believe chaos will soon erupt in the city. I have other matters to attend to. I suggest you both leave quickly as well."

Qiu Lüliu seemed taken aback by his abrupt declaration of departure. After a moment's pause, she replied, "Hmm, I was also preparing to return to my sect. This training journey has been worthwhile, as I've found this exceptionally talented junior sister." She gestured towards Chu Yuhe. "I'd like to get her back to the sect as soon as possible, so my master can see the excellent disciple I've recruited on her behalf."

Ah, so that's it, Bai Yunfei thought, the earlier puzzlement clearing. He had wondered why Chu Yuhe, identified as a Green Willow Sect disciple, seemed like an ordinary person. It was because she hadn't formally begun her cultivation yet. But is it really possible to directly test an ordinary person's cultivation aptitude? The idea hadn't occurred to him before.

"Very well, let us part ways here! If fate allows, I hope to meet you both again in the future!" Having said this, Bai Yunfei turned and walked towards the alley entrance.

"W-Wait! Young master, wait!" Seeing him leave, Chu Yuhe, who had been standing behind Qiu Lüliu, suddenly grew anxious. She took a couple of quick steps forward, calling out to Bai Yunfei's retreating figure. "You... you haven't told us your name!"

Bai Yunfei's steps faltered almost imperceptibly, but he didn't turn around. Instead, he raised his right hand and waved it casually behind him. "This one is Bai Yunfei. Miss Yuhe, cultivate diligently once you return to your sect. Then, no one will ever easily bully you again!"

Chu Yuhe watched Bai Yunfei's figure gradually fade into the distance, her gaze distant, a faint trace of disappointment coloring her expression.

Qiu Lüliu walked over and gently patted her head. "What's the matter, little junior sister? Could it be... you've taken a liking to this young gentleman?"

"N-No! Not at all! Senior Sister, don't talk nonsense..." Chu Yuhe protested, shaking her head stubbornly, her cheeks flushing crimson. "I... I'm just grateful he saved me, that's all... At that moment... that villain was about to come upstairs... and you hadn't arrived yet, Senior Sister... I felt a sliver of despair... I was even prepared to... to die to preserve my purity..."

Qiu Lüliu's expression froze. She pulled Chu Yuhe into a tight embrace, her face full of tenderness and regret. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I insisted on leaving you behind to investigate the destruction of the Blackwood Stronghold. That's how those villains managed to capture you. And then... I arrived too late. Thank goodness you're unharmed. If anything had happened to you... I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."

Chu Yuhe lifted her delicate face, shaking her head vehemently. "No, it's not your fault, Senior Sister. It was me. I didn't listen to your instructions. I went out onto the street alone... that's why they caught me. And... I am alright. You don't need to blame yourself..."

Her voice trailed off, and she couldn't help but turn her head once more to look down the now empty alley where Bai Yunfei had vanished. She murmured softly, "Luckily he appeared... just when I was almost in despair... descending like he fell from the sky... fighting three soul cultivators alone..."

Observing her expression, Qiu Lüliu felt a headache coming on. She gently turned Chu Yuhe to face her, placing both hands firmly on her shoulders. Her tone was serious. "Little junior sister, let me warn you: don't trust hero-saves-beauty plots! Many noble young masters or smooth-talking soul cultivators use that exact trick to win a girl's affection."

Seeing a flicker of dissatisfaction appear on Chu Yuhe's face, Qiu Lüliu quickly added, "Ah... of course, I'm not saying Bai Yunfei is that kind of person. His rescue was genuine, and he didn't try to leverage the favor for anything in return, unlike what I initially suspected. He seems like a true gentleman. But... since he clearly doesn't place much importance on the fact that he saved you, you absolutely must not place too much importance on him in your heart. That's very dangerous. You cannot fall for him... Didn't you get his name? Bai Yunfei... White Cloud Flying. He's a white cloud drifting across the sky. You... you cannot hold onto him..."

"Senior Sister! What are you saying? I haven't fallen for him... You're overthinking it..." Chu Yuhe protested again, her embarrassment returning under her senior sister's pointed reminder.

"Sigh... I hope so. Anyway, it's likely you'll never have the chance to meet him again. You'll gradually forget him." Knowing further argument was futile, Qiu Lüliu shook her head with a sigh.

Chu Yuhe returned her gaze to the desolate alley, her expression distant and pensive. She couldn't quite articulate the complex feelings swirling within her.

"Will I truly... never see him again...?"

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