“Senior Brother, Chan’er is back.”
Xia Xiaochan bounced into the room, calling out inside.
After waking up from Spirit Power depletion at the Sword Duel Platform, she had meditated to recover some strength, and with Song Yao Gu’s Spirit Pill, her Spirit Power was almost fully restored.
She couldn’t wait to return to Wenxuan Peak to quickly tell Senior Brother the good news of her victory over Li Xingyao.
“Oh, you’re back.”
Lin Ci replied lightly as he also stepped out from the kitchen, holding a bowl of chicken soup in his hands. The soup was golden and glistening with oil, looking incredibly delicious.
“Senior Brother, are you cooking today…?”
Xiaochan stared at the bowl of fragrant-looking chicken soup, swallowing her saliva.
Since her cultivation improved and she could practice avoiding grain, Wenxuan Peak hadn’t lit the stove or cooked for a long time.
She missed Senior Brother’s cooking skills terribly.
“Wow wow wow, what’s that delicious smell?”
At that moment, a charming woman followed behind Xiaochan as she entered.
It was Song Yao Gu. When Xiaochan left earlier, she had said she was worried and personally escorted Xiaochan home by sword to ensure her safety.
But in truth, protecting Xiaochan was secondary.
Her main purpose was to catch a glimpse of Lin Ci and see if he was really as good-looking as Xiaochan claimed.
The moment she entered and saw Lin Ci, her gaze jolted sharply, her posture suddenly frozen as if by some spell.
“Swish swish swish…”
Song Yao Gu quickly pulled out three Spirit Stone Tickets and handed them over.
“Here, take these!”
“What’s this for?” Lin Ci asked, puzzled.
“I must pay the fee for seeing this face.”
“…”
Lin Ci was speechless but took the tickets without hesitation.
Xiaochan took the chicken soup from Lin Ci’s hand, placed it on the stone table in the courtyard, then tugged his arm to sit down on the stone bench.
“Senior Brother, listen to me. This morning…”
“No need to say more, I already know.”
Lin Ci placed his palm on Xiaochan’s head and patted it, interrupting her as if comforting her from reopening old wounds.
He knew very well.
Xiaochan’s competitive spirit was strong, so losing must have hurt. But since the outcome couldn’t be changed, all she could do was let go and look ahead.
“Ah? Senior Brother, you already knew!”
Xiaochan’s face lit up with joy, surprised at how fast Senior Brother’s news network was to learn she had won.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Of course not!”
“Good, then let’s eat.”
Lin Ci pushed the chicken soup forward.
He had cooked the soup specially, hoping to help Xiaochan cheer up if her mood was low.
But judging from her reaction, she didn’t seem unhappy after all…
She must be forcing a smile.
“The smell is amazing. Pour me a bowl, sister.”
Song Yao Gu spoke up and squeezed between the two, sitting very close to Lin Ci.
Her hands were not very well-behaved as they pinched Lin Ci’s arm.
“Hey, you’re pretty strong, huh?”
“Miss Song… please mind your status!”
Xiaochan’s mouth puffed in anger as she frowned and protested at the scene.
“Hm? What does it matter? Your Senior Brother is still single, right?”
Song Yao Gu rested her head on Lin Ci’s shoulder, giggling.
“Maybe someday you’ll call me sister-in-law?”
“What? No… no way!”
Xiaochan grabbed Song Yao Gu’s sleeve and tried to pull her outside.
“It’s getting late. I won’t stay any longer. Please, Miss Song, hurry home!”
“Oh, little missy, why so anxious? Could it be you like your Senior Brother?”
“Eek—!”
That sentence made Xiaochan jump as if she had been struck by firecrackers. Her entire face flushed red, like a boiled shrimp.
“No way… just a little bit… but it’s definitely not like that…”
She wanted to deny it outright but was afraid Senior Brother would misunderstand, stuck in a dilemma and stammering, almost melting on the spot.
“Hahaha… don’t be so tense, I’m just teasing you, hahaha…”
Xiaochan’s awkwardness had Song Yao Gu clutching her belly, laughing until she doubled over, her chest bouncing enticingly, dazzling and mesmerizing.
Xiaochan knew she’d been played and was utterly embarrassed, wishing she could crawl into a hole.
She glanced at Senior Brother again.
Seeing Lin Ci’s expression calm and indifferent, unaffected by the bewitching woman beside him, she finally breathed a little easier.
“Senior Brother, say something!”
Pouting, Xiaochan expressed her dissatisfaction.
She hated how Senior Brother was like a block of wood, about to be devoured by a hungry wolf yet indifferent to the world, not even uttering a single word to defend her…
“Well, strictly speaking, I’m not exactly single.”
Lin Ci spoke softly.
Suddenly, it was as if something blocked the noise, and the lively laughter in the courtyard abruptly stopped. The air turned still and silent.
“I should have a marriage contract…”
Lin Ci looked up thoughtfully, recalling the original owner’s diary entries and the unusual name, then said with certainty,
“Yes, I do have one.”
“What the heck?!”
Song Yao Gu’s eyes widened instantly, what explosive news.
As for Xiaochan,
Her eyes went blank, and she stood rooted to the spot, slowly turning to stone like a character in a comic…
Qingyuan Peak.
Upon arriving here, Zhuge Cai took a deep breath, standing before the door of an elegant pavilion.
Since reaching an agreement with Lin Ci, in the following days, he had visited the other Chief Disciples one by one to discuss the Great Sect Tournament deal.
After his persistent persuasion, the other Chief Disciples had gradually accepted the terms.
This was good. As long as Lin Ci agreed to hold back in the tournament, their rankings within the Sect would rise, bringing subsequent benefits far exceeding the value of the tournament prizes.
If all went smoothly, Zhuge Cai, currently second strongest, would become the top, third would rise to second, fourth to third…
In exchange, all prizes would be handed over to Lin Ci.
Many Chief Disciples found the deal quite reasonable, even advantageous. After all, if Wenxuan Peak hadn’t been short on resources recently, who could hope to beat Lin Ci?
Absolutely no chance…
This left only one disciple Zhuge Cai still needed to convince.
That was the purpose of his visit here.
The pavilion’s owner was the last Chief Disciple he needed to meet—Buliuguyue.
“May I ask if Miss Buliuguyue is present? I am Chief Disciple Zhuge Cai, paying my respects.”
He stood at the door and spoke loudly.
“Please come in.”
After a moment, a clear and gentle voice sounded, and the wooden doors of the pavilion slid open automatically.
Zhuge Cai shook his folding fan and gracefully stepped inside.
The pavilion’s interior was spacious and exquisitely decorated.
In the center of the living room stood a walnut wood screen, with incense on both sides to calm the mind.
Behind the translucent screen, one could faintly see the silhouette of a slender woman kneeling quietly, holding a brush, writing something on a desk.
“Miss Buliuguyue’s room is quite elegantly appointed.”
Zhuge Cai, ever at ease, walked a few steps around the living room and said.
“No need for formalities. Brother Zhuge, I suppose you have matters to discuss. Please, have a seat, and let us talk in detail.”