Chu Xuan thought about it. In such a dangerous place as the Ruo Wood Secret Realm, they couldn’t keep going on like this. It’s better to talk things out.

So he proactively said, "I’ve been a bit emotionally unstable lately, and my tone might not have been great just now. I hope you don’t mind."

Gu Haitang was somewhat surprised, "It’s okay, I also... I also..."

She thought to herself, she hadn’t really done anything wrong, right? He was the one whose attitude cooled down first, not her.

In the end, Haitang just nodded, not saying anything like "I made a mistake too."

So now, can this be considered reconciliation?

Seeing Chu Xuan acting normal, flying down to search for the possibility of a Demon Pill in the sandworm’s corpse, Gu Haitang stopped in midair, thought for a moment, and then followed up a bit slower, "Did you find anything?"

Chu Xuan was somewhat disappointed, "Clearly this sandworm had the aura of a third-tier demon beast, yet not a single Demon Pill was found. I don’t know if it doesn’t understand the method of breathing exercises or if all the fierce beasts in this secret realm are like this."

Gu Haitang let out a sigh of relief internally, feeling as if they had returned to the previous mode of interaction.

So she said easily, "It’s probably because this sandworm lacks intelligence. It can’t even absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi or collect the sun’s essence and moon’s brilliance, it’s just been ’fed big’ by the unique environment of this secret realm."

"As far as I know, this counts as a low-level fierce beast unable even to cultivate."

"Above it, using the ability to cultivate as the standard, fierce beasts in the secret realm are divided into two types: those with an Inner Core, similar to outside demon beasts; and those purely following the path of strength, their essence contained entirely in their flesh and blood."

Chu Xuan nodded, "Though it’s a low-level fierce beast, look at its flesh still struggling and trembling, you can see how strong its life force is."

"Better collect some of it, it can be considered good alchemy material."

Gu Haitang smiled and agreed, "Maybe we can even make some charcoal-grilled sandworm."

Chu Xuan just nodded and began to collect it.

This made Haitang pause for a moment, somewhat surprised. She thought Chu Xuan would chat with her more about how to make it taste better.

Shaking her head, Gu Haitang also began to gather it herself.

During this process, she took the initiative to chat about other topics.

Chu Xuan responded to everything, his attitude rather nice, unlike before when he seemed indifferent. Anyhow, this showed they had reconciled.

But for some reason, Gu Haitang felt a subtle sense of estrangement between them...

She didn’t know how to describe it either, Chu Xuan seemed to have become a bit more polite to her?

"Let’s go, Miss Gu," Chu Xuan said, taking the lead to fly into the air.

Gu Haitang’s expression changed drastically!

"What did you just call me?!"

Chu Xuan hesitated before turning back, "Miss Gu."

"Are you mad at me?" Gu Haitang bit her lip, clenched her fist tightly, her eyes filled with both anger and confusion.

Chu Xuan shook his head, "No, I still think that, given our relationship, it’s not quite appropriate to address you by name directly."

"Moreover, you asked me to change it back then just because you didn’t want to lose to Qingqing, right? Now that Qingqing has left, is there still a need for this?"

Gu Haitang opened her mouth. She wanted to retort, but didn’t know how.

After all, she had admitted herself that she didn’t like Chu Xuan. The previous intimacy on the road was purely for not wanting to lose.

"Let’s leave quickly, once the scent of blood from the sandworm I killed spreads, it might attract some powerful predators," Chu Xuan advised.

Gu Haitang hesitated for a moment but still followed in silence.

...

On the following road, Chu Xuan also took the initiative to speak with Gu Haitang, not neglecting her.

But Haitang felt increasingly uncomfortable as she realized their relationship seemed to have regressed three and a half years, back to when they first met.

Even, even more distant than back then.

Because back then, although Chu Xuan didn’t say anything aloud, his heart still held some envisions when she intentionally tried to be friendly, drew close, and tried to make friends with him.

But now, Chu Xuan no longer held such hopes for her, purely treating her as a friend, a fellow Taoist.

This surprisingly brought pain to Gu Haitang, as if she found breathing somewhat laborious.

Even she herself was surprised at having such a strong reaction, clearly she shouldn’t have liked Chu Xuan that much. At least when they met again three years later in East Immortal Market, she didn’t regard Chu Xuan as importantly as she did now...

But why is it like this? Why has Chu Xuan suddenly become like this? Gu Haitang couldn’t quite understand.

Similar lines like "I don’t like you" or "I haven’t fallen for you" weren’t said to him for the first time.

This must be at least the third time, right? Why was his reaction completely different from before?

Feeling troubled, Gu Haitang again couldn’t figure it out, so she had to seriously recall recent events...

Then her heart skipped a beat, oh no, she hadn’t considered that this time the timing was off.

Although on the surface Chu Xuan still appeared smiling and amiable, it didn’t necessarily mean he was in a good mood these days.

Ji Mingyu and Qingqing were both people he cared about, yet both had or voluntarily or involuntarily left his side.

Right now Chu Xuan is feeling bad, sensitive inside, considering he was severely hurt by the Primordial Monarch Taixu once, inherently lacking much sense of security in matters of affection.

At such a time, I should be comforting him more, not causing a fuss at this critical moment, nor admitting things like "I’m not really that into you."