Hearing the devastating news Qin Yu brought, Luo Qingyan felt as if struck by five bolts of lightning! Her mind instantly went blank!
Her revered master, who had once meticulously taught her medical skills and guided her like a lighthouse, was… gone?
Just moments ago, she had been looking at an object and missing him, recalling the times she studied medicine at home when she was little.
Now, she was being told… her master had passed away.
This news came too suddenly! Too heavily!
A huge, unbearable wave of grief, like the fiercest tide, instantly seized her heart!
Making her almost unable to breathe!
She could no longer maintain her usual aloofness and composure!
Tears, like pearls with a broken string, rolled uncontrollably from her beautiful eyes!
She reached out her slender hand to cover her mouth, not wanting to cry out loud, but the suppressed sobs still seeped out in wisps through her fingers!
Her body trembled violently from extreme sorrow, swaying precariously, as if she would completely collapse and fall to the ground the next second!
Just then!
A steady and strong arm reached out from beside her, timely and extremely naturally.
It gently supported her delicate body, which was shaking uncontrollably from grief.
And then smoothly pulled her into a warm, broad embrace filled with a reassuring scent.
A mellow, gentle voice, full of comforting power, sounded in her ear:
"Qingyan, don't be too sad."
"The dead cannot return to life; please accept your grief and adapt to the change."
The person who came was none other than Lu Cheng, who had calculated the time and arrived precisely then to visit Luo Qingyan!
His appearance was always so… timely.
Under the impact of immense grief and the sudden bad news, Luo Qingyan had already lost her composure and was at a loss.
At this moment, being embraced by Lu Cheng's domineering yet incredibly gentle arms, and smelling his unique scent that made her feel immensely safe and dependent.
All her strength instantly collapsed!
She couldn't hold back anymore!
Almost instinctively, she turned around, extended her arms, and tightly hugged Lu Cheng's waist!
Burying her exquisitely beautiful, tear-streaked face deep into his broad and solid chest, she burst into heart-wrenching, gut-wrenching sobs!
It was as if all the grievances, pressures, longing, and sorrow accumulated in her heart over the years were completely released at this moment!
She continued to sob intermittently, with a heavy nasal tone, like a helpless child:
"Lu Cheng… boo hoo hoo… my master is gone…"
"I… I'll never see him again… boo hoo hoo…"
At this moment, she had completely forgotten that a newly recognized, dumbfounded junior brother was standing nearby.
She just instinctively, greedily, absorbed the warmth and strength coming from Lu Cheng, seeking his comfort and reliance… And what about Qin Yu, standing by?
He was originally immersed in the complex emotions of successfully recognizing his fairy senior sister and delivering the devastating news about their master.
But then… the next second!
He watched with his own eyes!
His pure, ethereal, otherworldly fairy senior sister, like a Heavenly Maiden descended to earth!
Actually… actively threw herself into the arms of some pretty boy who appeared out of nowhere?
And cried so heartbrokenly! With tears streaming down her face! So piteously!
And that damned pretty boy!
He… he actually dared to openly put his arm around his senior sister's slender, soft waist?
And gently patted her back with a tender expression, soothing her in a soft voice?
What the hell was going on?
Qin Yu was stunned on the spot!
His eyes were wide open! His jaw almost dropped!
Who was this pretty boy?
How dare he hug my senior sister?
No!
It was senior sister… how could she actively throw herself into his arms?
Could it be that they… A sudden, extremely strong pang of sourness and… annoyance!
Like an overturned vinegar jar, it instantly surged into his heart!
That feeling… was a hundred times worse than when he was caught by his master peeking at the pretty young widow from the next village bathing on the mountain, and was hung up and spanked!
Lu Cheng let Luo Qingyan cry in his arms for a long time, until her suppressed sobs gradually subsided and her agitated emotions calmed down a little.
Only then did he gently support her shoulders and tenderly wipe away the remaining tear stains on her cheeks with his well-defined fingers, his movements as gentle as if he were caring for a fragile treasure.
"Alright, Qingyan, if you keep crying, your eyes will be swollen like steamed buns tomorrow."
"The deceased is gone, but the living remain. You must take care of your body to better inherit and carry forward your master's medical skills, and to comfort his spirit in heaven, isn't that right?"
His comfort was both gentle and considerate, and subtly pointed out the responsibility Luo Qingyan bore, allowing her to temporarily detach from her immense grief and find a glimmer of spiritual solace.
Luo Qingyan sobbed and nodded gently, her voice still heavily nasal, and her beautiful eyes, which appeared even more charmingly pitiful from crying, were filled with gratitude and dependence on Lu Cheng.
"Mm… Thank you, Lu Cheng."
"If… if you weren't here today… I really don't know what I would have done."
At this moment, she was as fragile as a frightened little girl who needed a hug to feel safe, but this was only in front of Lu Cheng.
And Qin Yu, standing by, taking in the affectionate and intimate scene of the two, felt incredibly stifled! Depressed! And sour!
He felt like his lungs were about to explode with anger!
Several times he wanted to go forward and comfort his crying fairy senior sister, wanting to pull her out of that pretty boy's arms and tell her, "Don't be afraid, senior sister, from now on, your junior brother will protect you!"
But… he didn't know where to start or how to comfort her.
And… that damned pretty boy named Lu Cheng!
He was guarding his senior sister tightly in his arms like a protective wolf!
He couldn't get a word in! And couldn't find a suitable moment to speak!
"Damn pretty boy! A scoundrel who takes advantage of others' misfortune! He's taking advantage of senior sister when she's sad! Utterly shameless!"
"Master never told me that my fairy senior sister… already had a sweetheart!"
"This pretty boy, at first glance, isn't a good person!"
Just as Qin Yu was full of inner drama, imagining all sorts of things, and wishing he could rush up and fight Lu Cheng for three hundred rounds.
Lu Cheng seemed to have just noticed the "third wheel" standing nearby and turned his gaze to Qin Yu.
Luo Qingyan also somewhat shyly pulled away slightly from Lu Cheng's embrace, her pretty face flushed red as she introduced to Lu Cheng:
"Lu Cheng… this is my master's last disciple, my junior brother, Qin Yu."
Lu Cheng nodded slightly at Qin Yu, as a greeting.
His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable meaning, as he slowly said:
"So it's Junior Brother Qin Yu, I've long heard of your name."
"Since you just came down from the mountain, dusty from your journey, you must be tired."
"Why don't you go to the guest room to rest, wash up, and change into clean clothes."
"Whatever matters you have, it's not too late to discuss them in detail with your senior sister after her emotions have calmed down."
He paused, then added in a very considerate and caring tone:
"Qingyan… her body and mind both need quiet rest now, and it's not suitable to disturb her further."
These words were incredibly reasonable and thoughtful.
On the surface, they exuded concern for Luo Qingyan and care for Junior Brother Qin Yu.
In reality… it was a naked order to leave!
He didn't want this annoying third wheel to interfere with his upcoming… well, more in-depth communication with Luo Qingyan.