Gelan shook her head, completely baffled.
“Then let’s go together. We have important matters to discuss with him as well.”
“It’s nothing urgent on my side, not too pressing. Master, after you.”
The girl in green spoke softly, her voice polite and calm.
The four of them walked together, and only when they reached Mirror Lake did they discover someone else was already waiting there, pacing back and forth with long legs, visibly anxious.
The moment Xiao Xinran saw that silhouette, she recognized the Outer Sect Disciple wandering there. With a stern face, she called out, “What are you doing here! Still looking to cause trouble for Young Cloud?”
The long-legged girl shrank her neck, startled, thinking she’d been caught skipping class.
She was still worried about Yun Liu, so she’d quietly slipped away from Sighing Peak to check on him.
“Heh, so it’s you all. I heard last night you got a real lesson from the Demonic Sect’s freaks. You sure know how to attract trouble!”
When Jing Tan’er saw who it was, she sneered with contempt, her words merciless.
Only when she noticed the mature female cultivator at Qin Yao’s side did she put away her arrogance and respectfully said, “Uh… Greetings, Head of Qingxia Peak!”
“Another one?”
Ji Shiyu shook her head, swaying slightly.
That oily kid sure had a lot of friends.
Ao Tian immediately sensed trouble—things seemed even more serious than imagined!
Unknowingly, more and more lovesick admirers drawn by fate seemed to be gathering, all fighting over the blessing of fortune?
The Leaking Spiritual Mansion didn’t affect Yun Liu’s luck in the slightest.
It was as if abandoning the sword to cultivate pills was his true path.
On the other hand, this silly girl Shiyu had run into nothing but bad luck lately, being suppressed by the local powers of East Pole Province in every way.
Those who follow the right path gain much help; those who stray, little.
That’s the way of things.
Gelan hummed in response, glancing at the long-legged girl with a meaningful smile, catching a strong whiff of jealousy in the air.
Suddenly it felt like a reunion day with all three giants showing up—chasing right up to the doorstep.
What a pity that Bingling, that hardcore “child” fan, couldn’t witness this scene!
“And where’s our lovely Chief of Tianxiang Peak?”
Though she spoke this way, Gelan actually felt much more at ease.
It seemed someone had turned misfortune into fortune, with plenty of people worrying over him.
“I just got here too. I just happened to walk here while taking a stroll, not, not here specifically to look for him!”
Jing Tan’er turned her head away, tidying her hair, her usual brashness tempered before the immortal elders.
“You strolled this far?”
Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu looked utterly unconvinced, scoffing.
“My legs are long, I take big steps, so what!?”
At that moment, a certain farming youth ambled back along the lakeside, hands full of spirit fruits and spirit materials, a bunch of spirit hoes and tools slung on his back.
He looked less like a sword cultivator and more like a herbalist of the Immortal Sect.
Yun Liu was a classic member of the Hamster Faction, always preparing for every plot twist.
No amount of caution was too much.
Whenever he wasn’t seen, he was busy in the mountains, picking out an Auspicious Land to reclaim a private spirit garden for cultivating spirit material seedlings.
Seeing a big group of women gathered at the village entrance, all full of momentum, Yun Liu was stunned.
Fine, they came, but why bring the whole family?
When did Tianxiang Peak get so lively?
“What’s all this…”
The five of them wore different expressions, each harboring their own thoughts.
“It’s a long story.”
Yun Liu mused, just as he saw the Yellow Chicken atop Ji Shiyu’s head winking at him.
The chief disciple of Tianxiang Peak calmly welcomed the guests inside, inviting everyone into his simple thatched hut.
The room was quite cramped, five people seated in a row of bamboo chairs, giving off the feeling of upper management visiting poor grassroots villagers.
It was hard to imagine that the legendary Little Martial Aunt was actually so carefree.
Xiao Xinran wanted to speak, but hesitated. Her small face was tense, and she wilted as soon as she saw Yun Liu, losing all her earlier aggression from scolding the yellow-haired girl.
So Young Cloud had been living up here with Aunt Ling all these years, enduring such hard days?
The youth in white remained composed, brewing a pot of tea and serving it first, then bringing out some spirit meals and snacks for the guests to try.
The tea was fragrant with spirit energy, brimming with spiritual essence.
Qin Yao took a light sip, her eyes brightening, feeling refreshed and at ease. She thought, this Junior Brother Yun really has some skills—no wonder the teacher valued him so much.
Gelan was also full of praise, finishing one cup after another, never showing any restraint in front of Yan Bingling or her Martial Nephew.
Seeing the younger ones guarding against each other was just too amusing, and she forgot her original purpose entirely.
Ji Shiyu licked her red lips, even more interested in those delicious snacks.
After one bite, she couldn’t stop.
“Crunch crunch, munch munch…”
The yellow-haired girl’s face was blissful, both hands constantly reaching for the table, moving faster and faster.
She was the only one here with nothing urgent to do, purely here to stir things up at Ao Tian’s suggestion.
“Is it tasty?”
Yun Liu rested his chin in his hand, eyes fixed on the little white mouse, observing and recording the test subject’s reactions.
If the yellow-haired girl showed no unusual reaction, it meant the recipe was a success and could be sold for profit.
The myriad cuisines of the Misty Nine Provinces seemed easier to replicate as pill formulas, and their battle-boosting effects weren’t bad either.
“Mm mm mm! So delicious!”
“I made them. If you like them (referring to the client), there are other flavors too.”
With that, the youth brought out a few more snacks to test (poison), so enthusiastic that even Ji Shiyu felt a little embarrassed.
Seriously? She even got to try them first?
The usually reserved Xiao Xinran and Jing Tan’er’s faces changed slightly.
Smack!
Xiao Xinran rolled her eyes and slapped Ji Shiyu’s hand.
Shiyu shrank back her stinging hand, looking pitiful.
“Young Cloud, we’re here to investigate something strange. Do you still remember the Demonic Sect member who injured you?”
“Ah, right, right, almost forgot the main business.”
Gelan smiled awkwardly, completely immersed in the unique spirit tea, feeling even her qi sea flowing faster.
Bingling really knew how to enjoy life, teaching such a considerate disciple.
She’d have to ask Liu’er to send some to Clear Mist Peak someday, to properly show her respect!
The Head of Clear Mist Peak got straight to the point, clarifying last night’s Sighing Peak incident and praising the two new disciples for their outstanding performance.
“The Demonic Sect scum dared to repeatedly offend our Shenhwa, truly audacious!”
Yun Liu nodded in agreement, his face indignant, though he was secretly surprised.
Before the yellow-haired girl could play the hero again, the female lead had already resolved the plot crisis herself.
Apart from the two Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators, none of the other demonic persons escaped—no wonder only two got away.
Looking at Xiao Xinran again, she was full of energy, her spiritual aura even stronger.
It turned out she had sensed the danger early and saved Ji Shiyu this time.
Xiao Xinran shook her ponytail, looking like a puppy waiting for praise from its master, only to find Yun Liu was completely indifferent to the victim.
Is Xinran alright?
Let me check if your injuries are serious!
Not a single word of concern like that—his attitude was still distant.
The girl pouted, her gaze full of grievance.
She just wanted Young Cloud to care for her like before, it’s not like she was asking for the stars!
“So, you came specifically to investigate the Demonic Sect’s incursion?”
“That’s right, Liu’er, what do you think?”
Yun Liu pondered, putting on a show, and after a moment said, “Afterwards, I also went back to investigate the scene. As far as I know, Xinran and I ran into the Bloodthirsty Banner’s demonic person Chi Jiu that day. They were hunting down a traitor, so we just happened to run into them. Last night’s group should have been their accomplices sent to provide backup.”
“Chi Jiu!?”
Qin Yao’s expression clearly changed when she heard that name.
Others might not know, but she was well aware of this rising star among the enemy’s ranks.
There were only a handful of troublesome demonic persons who could make it onto the Asura Ranking while still at the Qi Refining stage.