Xiao Qing, off to the side, was completely defeated by the taste of the grapes; she couldn't stop her hands, popping them into her mouth one after another.
Princess Tianyao, abandoning all pretense of decorum, used both hands, terrified that Xiao Qing might eat them all first.
"Xiao Qing, save some for me!"
Seeing Xiao Qing eating faster than she was, the Princess grew anxious.
"Your... My Lady, you've clearly eaten more than me!"
Xiao Qing mumbled, her words slurred, grape juice overflowing from the corners of her mouth.
Ye Qingyun watched, dumbfounded.
It’s just a bowl of grapes, isn't it?
Is there really any need to be this excited?
Could it be that grapes don't exist in this world?
Surely not?
Under the fierce competition between the mistress and her servant, the bowl of grapes was soon polished off completely. By the end, they weren't even bothering to spit out the skins.
Ye Qingyun stared at the two of them, their faces covered in juice, speechless.
Princess Tianyao realized she had lost her composure. Her face turned bright red; she was so embarrassed she could hardly bear to face Ye Qingyun.
"Forgive my unseemly behavior, sir. I have truly... truly never tasted grapes so delicious!"
Ye Qingyun gave an awkward laugh. "It’s fine, it’s fine. As long as you enjoyed them."
"My Lady, I feel so hot inside," Xiao Qing suddenly said from the side.
Princess Tianyao turned to look. Xiao Qing's face had turned fiery red, and there was even white steam rising from her head.
"Xiao Qing, what’s wrong?" Princess Tianyao asked, clearly worried.
Xiao Qing was her personal maid, having grown up alongside her. Though they were mistress and servant, they were as close as sisters.
"I... I feel a heat rushing through my body, like there's a massive amount of power surging out!" Xiao Qing panted, her breathing ragged. "I can't... I can't hold it in!"
Xiao Qing leaped to her feet and began running wildly around the room. She ran faster and faster, her feet seeming to kick up a breeze.
Princess Tianyao was shocked. "Could it be that Xiao Qing has successfully achieved Spirit Opening? Has she become a martial artist?"
Ye Qingyun, on the other hand, was even more bewildered. What’s up with this girl? Did she take stimulants? Should I give her a drug test?
Before Xiao Qing had even finished running, Princess Tianyao’s body began to change as well. White steam began rising from her head, too. A rich, mellow energy surged from deep within her body.
"This is..." Princess Tianyao gasped in surprise. She had just broken through to the Late Spirit Opening Realm, and now, it seemed she was vaguely on the verge of rushing toward the Great Perfection.
Martial cultivation consists of eight great realms: Spirit Opening, Source Gathering, Core Condensation, Heaven Reaching, Spirit Refining, Aperture Return, Essence Transformation, and Peak Inquiry. Each realm is further divided into four stages: early, mid, late, and Great Perfection.
Though young, the Princess was already at the mid-stage of the Spirit Opening Realm, and having just broken through to the late stage, her cultivation seemed unstoppable, visibly racing toward the Great Perfection.
Xiao Qing slowed to a stop, waves of spiritual energy rippling off her. Princess Tianyao was stunned. "Xiao Qing, have you entered the Spirit Opening Realm?"
Xiao Qing looked blank. "I... I don't know."
Princess Tianyao hurried over and grabbed Xiao Qing's wrist to check. The discovery nearly scared her to death: not only had she reached the Spirit Opening Realm, she was already at the mid-stage.
Princess Tianyao was shocked. "Xiao Qing had no talent for cultivation before, yet now she is already at Mid Spirit Opening. And I am only one step away from the Great Perfection of Spirit Opening."
The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. She couldn't help but recall the grapes they had just eaten.
"Could it be... because of the grapes?"
Princess Tianyao immediately looked toward Ye Qingyun and bowed deeply. "Thank you for your generous gift, expert!"
Ye Qingyun scratched his head. *Expert? Where? Is she talking about me? I’m not even that tall.*
Seeing Ye Qingyun’s reaction, the Princess trembled, immediately remembering the warnings given by the large golden dog earlier.
"I apologize, I misspoke," she quickly corrected herself, fearing she might anger this expert.
*He must be living in seclusion here as a mortal, likely to contemplate life. If I expose his identity, he will surely be displeased.*
Ye Qingyun didn't pay it much mind.
"I have disturbed you today, sir. I have nothing to repay you with, so please, accept this." Princess Tianyao reached into her robes.
Ye Qingyun was startled and waved his hands repeatedly. However, when she pulled out a golden token, he felt a flicker of disappointment—he’d expected something... more indescribable.
Still, he continued to wave her off. "I can't take this. You're being too kind. It was just a few grapes; there's no need to give me something so valuable."
*Does this woman have a screw loose? Giving me a giant gold plate for some grapes? What kind of family is this wealthy?*
"You must accept it, sir!" she insisted.
Ye Qingyun, left with no choice, accepted it. "Fine, then. If you want more grapes in the future, just come by. I have plenty; I can't even finish them all."
The corners of Princess Tianyao’s mouth twitched. Those grapes were clearly no ordinary items; they were likely priceless treasures in the mortal world. But to such an expert, they probably meant nothing.
Still, with that promise, the Princess felt a secret thrill—she had successfully befriended this expert. This was a monumental opportunity!
***
**Chapter 4: The Rabbit Loves Meat**
"Uh, I don't think I caught your name."
Ye Qingyun walked them to the edge of the courtyard and suddenly asked. The Princess paused; she realized she didn't know the expert's name either.
"My name is Chu Yanyu. May I ask what to call you, sir?"
"I'm Ye Qingyun."
*Ye Qingyun?* She repeated the name in her mind. *Truly an expert beyond the world; the name is so simple and unadorned, yet refined.*
"I'm Xiao Qing," the maid added hurriedly.
Ye Qingyun smiled. Chu Yanyu pulled Xiao Qing away, feeling rather bashful. Ye Qingyun watched them go.
"Decent looking, but they sure can eat," he muttered, turning back into the yard.
At the foot of the mountain, the two were walking along.
"My Lady, why were you so polite to that guy? You even gave him the royal gold token!" Xiao Qing asked, confused.
"That man is definitely an expert beyond the world. Didn't you see the dog? Its strength was terrifying, and the wonders inside his house are unheard of," Chu Yanyu said, still shaken. "I only stayed for a moment, and I'm already on the verge of the Late Spirit Opening Realm. You didn't even have cultivation talent, and now you're a martial artist."
"All signs point to him being unfathomable. We must befriend him; this is our heaven-sent opportunity!"
Xiao Qing listened, bewildered. "Then why didn't you ask him to help us deal with the Song family?"
Chu Yanyu shook her head. "For such an expert, even letting us meet him is a massive grace. If I were to force him to help, I would only incur his displeasure."
Xiao Qing nodded, as if she understood.
"Let’s go. We must report this to Father."
Chu Yanyu left Fuyun Mountain with Xiao Qing.
After they left, Ye Qingyun grew bored again. He toyed with the idea of heading down the mountain to look around, but feared the dangers below. After much deliberation, he decided to just wander the mountain instead.
He took Damao with him. The dog was lively, bounding through the woods. Whenever they encountered small beasts, Damao would chase them, causing a commotion throughout the mountain.
Soon, Ye Qingyun had walked the entire mountain. It was an ordinary place, but he did have one gain. Damao trotted back to the courtyard with an injured rabbit in its mouth.
Ye Qingyun originally thought Damao was planning to eat it, but to his surprise, the dog didn't, and instead began "treating" the rabbit’s wounds. Heaven knows how a dog treats a rabbit, but after returning to the yard, the rabbit quickly became active again.
Ye Qingyun didn't mind. He already had a dog; having a rabbit as well wouldn't hurt. It would help pass the time.
Feeling hungry, he started cooking. A large pot of stew was soon ready, filled with all kinds of meat. Ye Qingyun carried it to the courtyard, the fragrance wafting everywhere. Damao and the rabbit crouched to the side, waiting for a share.
Ye Qingyun picked out a bone with plenty of meat and tossed it to Damao. Then, he picked up a mushroom and threw it to the rabbit. Unexpectedly, the rabbit ignored the mushroom, staring instead at the meat in Damao’s mouth.
Ye Qingyun laughed and tossed a piece of meat to the rabbit. It ate it happily. It was his first time seeing a rabbit that loved meat.
Meanwhile, three figures arrived at Fuyun Mountain. Two men and one woman, all very young and wearing identical robes.
"The Demon Beast fled into this mountain and vanished."
"It must be hiding here. It’s injured and couldn't have gone far. Let's pursue it immediately."
"Agreed!"
The three ascended the mountain, searching everywhere. Soon, they found bloodstains. "It’s here!" They were overjoyed and followed the trail toward the peak.
Before long, they found themselves at Ye Qingyun’s place. All three stopped, stunned. *Someone actually lives here?*
They approached, startling Ye Qingyun, who was just eating his stew. He looked at them, blankly.
"Who are you?" the woman asked.
"Who are you?" Ye Qingyun put down his chopsticks and countered.
The woman was about to speak, but the two men behind her pulled her back.
"What's wrong?" she asked, confused.
The two men looked grave, pointing toward the rabbit eating meat at Ye Qingyun’s feet.
*Hiss!* The woman’s expression changed when she saw the rabbit. It was the very Demon Beast they had been hunting! How could it be here, eating meat at this man’s feet?
Ye Qingyun felt a prickle of anxiety. *These three look like trouble. I’d better be polite so I don't lose my head!*
He stood up, flashing a friendly smile. That smile made the three of them even more nervous.
"There’s no energy on this man. He looks like an ordinary mortal," the woman whispered hesitantly.
"Impossible. If he were a mortal, he would have been eaten by the rabbit demon long ago," the tall youth said with absolute certainty.
"Exactly. No one could live in a place as desolate as this and be a mere mortal," the plump youth agreed.
The woman was confused. No matter how she looked at it, he seemed like a regular guy.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Ye Qingyun asked, rubbing his hands together.
The tall youth cupped his fists. "May I ask your name, sir? Are you living here in seclusion?"
Ye Qingyun scratched his head. *In seclusion? I suppose so.*
"Uh, I'm Ye Qingyun. Yes, I live here."
The tall youth scanned the environment. It was simple and unadorned—it looked exactly like the residence of an expert in hiding.
"Sir, have you seen a rabbit demon?" the youth asked cautiously.
Hearing this, the rabbit eating meat nearby trembled. Damao cast a side-eye at the rabbit, and under the dog’s gaze, the rabbit didn't dare move, just kept chewing its meat.
"Rabbit demon? What rabbit demon?" Ye Qingyun had no idea what they were talking about.
The youth pointed at the rabbit. Ye Qingyun found it funny. *This is just a regular rabbit, right?*
He walked over and picked it up. The rabbit was very docile. "You mean this guy? My dog brought it back. It was injured at the time; it’s definitely not a demon."
He carried the rabbit toward them. The three of them immediately took on a defensive posture. They knew they had only managed to wound the beast by sacrificing a sect treasure; otherwise, the three of them combined would be no match for it. Yet, in this man’s arms, it was as docile as a pet?
***
**Chapter 5: The Docile Rabbit Demon**
The plump youth pulled the tall one back.
"Junior brother, what is it?" the tall one asked.
"Senior brother, we may have encountered someone truly extraordinary," the plump one said solemnly.
The tall one nodded in deep agreement. The woman, however, remained skeptical. "Is it for real? I can't tell."
The plump youth clicked his tongue. "Look at that rabbit demon. It doesn't dare to even twitch in his hands. It’s clearly terrified of him. To be able to make a demon act like this... need I say more? His cultivation must be unfathomable!"
The woman looked at the rabbit. Indeed, just as he said, it was not only docile but trembling. Though she was slow to react, she wasn't stupid. Only an expert living in seclusion could command such fear.
The three exchanged glances, all realizing the truth.
Ye Qingyun was confused by their behavior. The three of them walked forward together and bowed deeply.
"We are disciples of the Mysterious Sword Sect, tasked by our master to capture the rabbit demon. We did not mean to intrude on your property; please forgive our rudeness."
*Mysterious Sword Sect?* Ye Qingyun felt a tremor. *They are sect disciples.* He was glad he’d kept his tone friendly. *It seems the cultivators in this world are quite polite as long as one is respectful.*
"It’s fine, it’s fine. Not many people come around here anyway," Ye Qingyun laughed.
"May I ask your name, sir?"
"Ye Qingyun."
"Greetings, Senior Ye!" the three of them saluted again.
Ye Qingyun was speechless. *Senior? Do I look that old? Are they making fun of me?*
"I’m not a senior. I’m just an ordinary person," he clarified.
Hearing this, the three became even more certain. *This is definitely an expert living in seclusion to experience mortal life. Since he doesn't want to be addressed as a senior, we shouldn't ruin his fun.*
"Our apologies, Brother Ye. Please forgive our discourtesy," the tall youth said with a smile.
After a bit of introduction, Ye Qingyun learned their names. The tall one was the senior disciple, Li Chenyuan; the plump one was the second disciple, Zhao Wangchun; and the sweet-faced girl was the junior sister, Xu Jing'er. As for the Mysterious Sword Sect, it was one of the three great sects in the Tianwu Dynasty, led by its current Sect Master, Xu Changfeng—who was also Xu Jing'er’s father.
Learning they were from a sect, Ye Qingyun was eager to cozy up to them. In this strange world, he was powerless, a sitting duck. Being able to befriend sect members was like finding a sturdy tree to lean on.
He enthusiastically invited them into the courtyard. Though they remained wary of the rabbit in his arms, they followed him inside.
"Have you eaten? Would you like to have some food here?" Ye Qingyun asked warmly.
Li Chenyuan waved his hands. "No, no, thank you."
Ye Qingyun, still hungry, said, "Well, feel free to look around. I’m going to eat."
He sat down and continued working on his stew. Li Chenyuan and the others didn't feel comfortable wandering around, so they stood in the courtyard, pretending to admire the flowers and grass.
They didn't have to admire them for long before their expressions turned to horror.
"Senior brother, look, is that... Green Essence Grass?" Zhao Wangchun pointed at the lush green grass, his voice trembling with shock.
Li Chenyuan gasped. "It is!"
The three were stunned. Green Essence Grass was an extremely rare alchemical ingredient, found only in ancient mountains. Yet here, there was a whole patch of it—and it looked well-tended, at least five hundred years old.
They were incredibly excited. If they could take some back to the sect, it would be a monumental achievement.
Ye Qingyun watched them, confused. *Why are they so excited about a patch of grass? It’s just common grass I tidied up a bit to make look neat. What’s the big deal?*
"Senior brother, is that the legendary Seven-Leaf Crimson Fruit?"