### Chapter 367: One Day You’ll Fall in Love with Me
Meandering through the winding paths of the sect, they stumbled upon a particularly idyllic spot where the trees were lush and flowers fragrant. A small pavilion sat elegantly as if tailor-made for their little siesta.
The sunlight filtered through sparse clouds, casting dappled shadows on the roof of the pavilion.
They cheerfully took their seats to enjoy lunch together. The beauty of Xuantian Sect was truly mesmerizing, like a terrestrial paradise.
Yet as the days at Xuantian Sect stretched on, that initial awe and novelty began to wane. Yun Zhonghe barely noticed the scenery anymore—until today. Today’s view felt different, unusually captivating.
In reality, he knew it was due to the company of Lin Zhongyu. From a ring on her finger, she retrieved a dainty lunchbox. As she opened the lid with a flourish, two large, perfectly round rice balls came into view.
Traversing the Western Continent with the Yin-Yang Sword God hadn’t been very convenient for meals, so Lin Zhongyu made her own rice balls to carry around.
These weren’t just ordinary rice balls—they were made from steamed spiritual rice, filled with all sorts of side dishes and Lin Zhongyu’s homemade sauce. While her cooking skills may not rival those of Xia Linglong or Tao Jiu’er, they got the job done.
The simplicity of this meal didn’t matter; it was made by a beautiful girl’s hands, so it must be delicious. Even the plain-looking rice balls were quite filling compared to the basic fare provided by Xuantian Sect—bland steamed buns, rice, and some mediocre dishes.
Crucially, these ingredients were of spiritual quality, greatly beneficial for cultivation. Don’t underestimate these spiritual rice buns; each grain contained heavenly energy, aiding cultivators in refining their spiritual power and boosting their physique.
Spiritual food wasn’t easy to come by in the world of cultivation. The value was often astronomical. And for Xuantian Sect to supply an abundance to its disciples showcased their immense strength and heritage. Only the top ten immortal sects could pull this off.
Moreover, the inner sect’s cuisine offered richer varieties, including the meat of specially-bred spiritual beasts.
Yun Zhonghe suddenly had a brainwave.
“I suppose even the spiritual beasts on Beast Tamer Peak might have a culinary purpose…”
“Yun-ge, you can have half of my lunch.”
Lin Zhongyu’s words broke his reverie. She presented him with a massive rice ball he could barely hold with both hands.
“Thanks… Wait, what?”
Surprised, Yun Zhonghe wondered if this gigantic ball was supposed to be her whole meal!
He wisely kept quiet about it, not wanting to imply she had a monstrous appetite.
He figured she must have improved her cultivation immensely after training under the Yin-Yang Sword God, hence her increased food intake.
She looked hardworking and diligent.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind,” he said with a smile, grabbing the rice ball and taking a bite—
“Mmmm, not bad!”
A unique aroma blossomed in his mouth, the distinct fresh sweetness of spiritual rice. It was no surprise; every grain seemed to contain essence of the universe, releasing enchanting aromas.
Even without any side dishes, this pure rice flavor was divine.
Lin Zhongyu leisurely enjoyed her own portion alongside him, each bite exuding grace and elegance. Eating became an art form, devoid of any pretense.
Initially, the atmosphere was stiff; Yun Zhonghe still pondered how to react to her previous confession. However, Lin Zhongyu took charge, chatting animatedly about her sword training experiences on the Western Continent. Her exciting tales soon captivated Yun Zhonghe.
“Lively discussions on advanced sword techniques from the Western Continent, where many techniques left me speechless, and spiritual swords came in countless forms. As a fellow swordsman, I can hardly resist the idea of visiting the Western Continent myself.”
It was obvious Rinz Zhongyu had reaped many rewards from her journey: broadened horizons, increased knowledge, and rapid improvements in cultivation and swordsmanship.
“This progress is all thanks to you, Yun-ge. Without your encouragement and help, I wouldn’t have come this far.”
Her gaze softened as she added with a contented smile.
Caught off guard, Yun Zhonghe’s heart raced. Oh no, he’d blank out on this one too!
“Purr~”
Just then, a plump cat with lustrous fur waddled over, clearly enticed by the spiritual food in their hands. It nuzzled against Yun Zhonghe’s leg, gazing at him with hopeful eyes. “I want some too~”
Probably another escapee from the Beast Tamer Peak.
“Ah, Yun-ge, feeding pets our food isn’t ideal, especially these spiritual meals which could upset their health.”
Lin Zhongyu reminded him gently.
“Oh… right…”
Like a mother, he felt scolded. Smiling, Lin Zhongyu turned to the cat, “And you need to control yourself, being this chubby as it is.”
“Purr?! What?”
Dumbfounded, the cat never imagined being lectured by humans. Yet, she had a nurturing aura the cat couldn’t resist. The poor thing joined Yun Zhonghe in dejection, feeling denied of such delectable treats.
Yun Zhonghe shrugged off his contemplation and plunged back into his rice ball.
He savored it more thoroughly now.
The cat watched enviously, drooling profusely.
“Haha, looks like you’re enjoying this quite a bit, Yun-ge,” Lin Zhongyu marveled.
He quipped back, “Really? Thanks.”
“You can tell from your expression.”
“Well, honestly, I was surprised. Though the sect canteen serves spiritual rice, the taste is incomparably better when formed into these balls.”
“My evaluation’s high, I admit. And the filling is a secret for now, Yun-ge.”
Laughing, he thought even with his huge capacity, getting to the filling would be a challenge.
Soon, Lin Zhongyu gracefully finished hers as Yun Zhonghe continued battling the colossal ball.
Meanwhile, the cat seeing no hope of eating, stormed off grumpily.
Incidentally, Yun Zhonghe’s rice ball was filled with fried pork slices, carefully prepared from the breast of a spiritual chicken with rich egg yolk mayo in between.
Beyond just rich flavors combining perfectly with spiritual rice, it was a delightful treat!
“Eh… that was fantastic,” remarked Yun Zhonghe as he patted his rounded belly, feeling full enough to skip dinner entirely.
Lin Zhongyu handed him a fragrant cup of tea, rinsing his throat, showing her thoughtful nature.
“Uh, Yun-ge, there’s some rice stuck on your lip,”
Before he could respond, her delicate, silky fingers wiped it away softly.
Time froze in that moment.
Watching her pop that grain into her mouth sent Yun Zhonghe’s heart into tumultuous waters. It felt like an impending dive into a deep abyss, both thrilling and scary.
But inside, something stirred violently.
“…!!!” he thought.
Too flustered by the motion, he choked on his tea, coughing uncontrollably.
“Are you okay, Yun-ge?”
Lin Zhongyu patted his back soothingly until he recovered, wiping the tea from his lips.
The lake of his peace trembled fiercely now.
But she understood everything.
“Yun-ge, are you still worrying over what happened last time?”
“Uh, yeah…”
Who could guess she’d be so direct?
Opening his mouth to explain, he hesitated as her slender finger gently touched his lips, signaling him to stop.
Her golden eyes sparkled with boundless tenderness, soft as a tranquil stream washing over his heart, soothing all turmoil.
“You’re the person I respect and love most in this world. I love you, so I’d rather avoid putting you in an awkward position. It’s enough for me to share this emotion with you.”
Her eyes held him captive.
This declaration of love hit him like a bolt, momentarily leaving him breathless.
After a pause, her cheeks flushed, heated up like boiling water. Despite trying to appear composed, she could barely maintain eye contact.
“It must be hard to keep calm,” she stood up hastily, voice nervous, “Yun-ge, you must be busy cultivating… Guess I should leave now…”
“Zhongyu…”
“Yun-ge, one day I’ll make you fall in love with me from the bottom of your heart.”
With that, she ran off, leaving behind her declaration.
