All was back to normal in the outside world by the time Bai Yunfei and Xiao Qi exited from the Core World into the real world. Neither of the two knew just how many people their little implosion of energy had brought to the courtyards the night before.
The first one to greet the two was Long Lan who came out from his room almost at the same exact time the two came out from the Core World. Impatiently, he asked, âYunfei, Xiao Qi, have you twoâŠadvanced a stage?â
Xiao Qi nodded his head excitedly on top of Bai Yunfeiâs shoulder. âObviously, heheâŠIâm a mid-stage class seven now. Xiao LanâŠyouâre always going to be one step behind me!â
The earlier part of Xiao Qiâs statement excited Long Lan when he heard it, but the later half deflated that excitement with just about the same abruptness of a needle poking a balloon apart.Â
âIâm not a freak of nature like you. Your way of getting stronger is a cheat!â
âHah! So what? Iâm probably the only one in this world with this âcheatâ, that just means Iâm the king!â Xiao Qi crowed with obvious satisfaction in his âsuperiorityâ.
Not in the mood to argue with the bird, Long Lan turned his attention to Bai Yunfei instead. âYou and Xiao Qiâs advancement yesterday night brought a lot of attention. I counted at least a dozen Soul Kings, and thenâŠa single person had them all back awayâŠâ
âA single person? What do you mean by that?âÂ
Bai Yunfei was intrigued by what Long Lan had said.
âHe said the courtyard was too noisy and had them all go awayâŠI recall hearing Tang Xinyunâs grandfather calling him âfatherââŠâ Long Lan had a bit of a fearful light in his eyes, âHe wasâŠstrongâŠI could tell even if he only spoke a few words! Far stronger than anyone else, even my master!â
âEven stronger than Long Zhen?! ThenâŠisnât that a Soul Emperor?! Tang Zhanâs father would beâŠ.Tang Xinyunâs great-grandfather then, the true patriarch of the Tang. If he was looking at what happened yesterday, then thereâs a chance he mightâve found out about the Core WorldâŠâ
Bai Yunfei looked up at the sky as he pondered to himself. It was already noon. Now, he figured, would be as good of a time to go see how Tang Xinyun was doing as any other.
A loud trill from Xiao Qi interrupted Bai Yunfei from his thoughts then.
âXiao Bai!â
A streak of white light flew out from one of the nearby courtyards. A few equally happy trills came out from the white streak of light as well.Â
Bai Yunfei was slightly surprised at first, but he was quick to realize what was going on. A moment after, a faint-blue streak of light came out from the same courtyard.
It was Tang Xinyun.
âXinyun! Youâre up?!â
Bai Yunfei cried happily as he drew closer to her.
âAh, yes. Earlier this morning. They said you were training, so I decided to wait for you here.â Tang Xinyun nodded her head. She looked a little haggard still, but was otherwise overjoyed to see Bai Yunfei.Â
âHow do you feel? Do you feel off anywhere?â Bai Yunfei asked, concerned for Tang Xinyunâs wellbeing. He was already leading Tang Xinyun by hand to a nearby table to sit down.
âIâm fine, nothing to worry about. I just need to rest for a few days more.â The corners to her lips curled upwards and her cheeks flushed a slight red hue, but she never pulled her hand away from Bai Yunfeiâs.
âYunfei, let me into the Core World. Iâd like to train in there.â
Long Lanâs voice spoke out to Bai Yunfei. Something Xiao Qi said earlier mustâve struck a nerve in Long Lan, as he looked far more determined than usually to train.
He was also, of course, not so willing to stick around and disturb Bai Yunfei and Tang Xinyun during their time alone.
âAh, alright. Thereâs a lot of primal stones in here, use as much as youâd like.â Bai Yunfei handed a space ring over to Long Lan. In the ring contained a multitude of primal stones and even the soulgems of the three class seven soulbeasts killed a while ago. Surely, Long Lan would experience a great deal of strength if he were to take in their energy.
Taking the ring, Long Lan nodded once to Bai Yunfei before he disappeared away from sight.
âAhâYunfei, whereâŠâ Tang Xinyun gave a start at the sight.
He smiled. âHeâs gone into the Core World in here.â Unhooking the Core World from around his neck, Bai Yunfei let Tang Xinyun take a look at it.
âIn here? Core World?â
The smile Bai Yunfei had on his face deepened. The hand he had still holding onto Tang Xinyunâs hand tightened. âHere, donât fight this. Youâll know when you go in it.â
âWhat are yââ
A strange bubble of energy wrapped around her person before she could finish her sentence. Then the next thing she knew, the entire world had gone into a blurâŠÂ
  âŠâŠ
Some time later, there was another small flash of light as Bai Yunfei and Tang Xinyun reappeared by the stone table in the real world.
There was a faint smile on Bai Yunfeiâs face and a shocked look on Tang Xinyunâs. She looked as though she had just experienced something she couldnât comprehend. âTheâŠCore Stone? The Core World? WhenâŠwhen did you get a powerful Regalia like this?â
âHehe, itâs something I picked up while in the Southward River ProvinceâŠâ Bai Yunfei replied. Starting from when they first parted at Formagua City, Bai Yunfei retold his tale to Tang Xinyun bit by bit. There was nothing he wanted to hide, and nothing he was willing to hide from her.
Tang Xinyun was enthralled by his story. Even when Bai Yunfei told her of what happened the night before, she looked practically spellbound by everything.
âYunfeiâŠyouâre really too rash. How could you undo the Realm Accretion seal like that? It would have let you become a Late-stage Soul King, and now the chance is goneâŠâ
The very first thing she said to Bai Yunfei was to rebuke him on undoing the seal. But there was a grateful light in her eyes even as she did.
âWhat good was the chance given the circumstances? Iâd never feel at ease if I tried to run away.â Bai Yunfei laughed at first, but his eyes gained a steel edge to them. âAnyone that hurts you will have to pay for it! Itâs a shame that Mo Ni managed to escape. I wonât let him get away the next time we meet!â
Seeing that Tang Xinyun still looked unconvinced, Bai Yunfei gave her a reassuring smile. âActually, itâs not really all that bad. Look here; I may have undone the seal, but look at how many Soul Kings I killed and all the soul armaments and soul skills I got. Xiao Qi was able to become a mid-stage class seven soulbeast, and I was able to become a Mid-stage Soul King. If anything, Iâd like to think I came out on top, all things considered!â
He blinked once, as if suddenly remembering something. âThat reminds me, this is for you, Xinyun.â
He shook his right hand once to take out a small gold tile into his hand.
âThis isâŠâ Tang Xinyun took the item into her hand, confused by what she was holding.
âItâs one of the âspoilsâ I got. A defensive-type soul armament that I managed to upgrade to being as strong as a high-heaven tier. It can create a very strong barrier. You should be safe whenever you use it.â Bai Yunfei told her.
âA high-heaven tier defensive-type soul armament?!â Tang Xinyun cried out with a re-evaluating eye onto the golden tile in her hand.
As if knowing what she was thinking about, Bai Yunfei replied, âIf youâre thinking if Iâm the one that needs it, then stop. Iâve a lot of them already. Take the gold tile, Itâll make me feel better.â
âAhâŠâ The staunch look of determination in Bai Yunfeiâs eyes convinced her. Nodding her head, she took the golden tile and stored it away.
âYunfei, I heard aunty Zhao say that you helped cure mother againâŠIâŠreally, thank youâŠâ
For a while, nothing was spoken before Tang Xinyun began to thank him in earnest.
âHaha, donât be silly, whatâs the point thanking me for?â Bai Yunfei laughed. âSheâs your mother, so of course sheâd be close to me too. Doing things like this should be expected, not something to be thanked over.â
ââŠâŠâ
A teary sheen of mist covered Tang Xinyunâs eyes. Her hands held Bai Yunfeiâs hands tightlyâthough she was unaware of itâand her head bent slightly towards the side to rest on his shoulder.
Nothing was said between them, the two preferring to listen to each otherâs heartbeats rather than their voices.
In Bai Yunfeiâs mind, the thoughts of what he was having before he came here resurfaced in his mind. Thoughts about pitching his idea of marriage with Tang Xinyun to her father.
âXinyun, I think I heard something about your father having some business today? Where has he gone? And when will he be back?âÂ
He asked gently. Once Tang Qianlei returned and auntie Xue was fully cured, Bai Yunfei was prepared to formally ask for permission.
Tang Xinyunâs person trembled a bit the moment when he asked about her father. Sensing something was off, he turned his head towards her. âWhatâs wrong?â
She stood up. There was a strange look on her face, as if she was hesitating about something.
Gathering up what courage she had in her, she spoke.
âYunfei, thereâsâŠsomething Iâve been keeping from youâŠâ
âKeeping from me?â Bai Yunfei looked surprised. âWhat is it?â