Finally, he managed to send off the living Buddha. Yun Liu wiped the sweat from his brow.
If Second Mother was already like this, who knew how Martial Aunt would react if she found out someone at home wanted to “rebel”? Would she sever the “mother-son” relationship?
Fortunately, while the plot was ridiculous, it hadn’t gone completely off the rails yet. The main storyline was still progressing according to the guide.
Yun Liu shook his head, then thought again—if this continued and Ji Shiyu really lost to Xiao Xinran, wouldn’t his ex-wife end up seizing both strands of Fortune and counterattacking to become the Protagonist?
How strange. He’d better take another look!
Once the elders left, returning to the room revealed a three-way standoff.
With no tigers in the mountain, the three giants vied for control of Celestial Phenomena Peak, each eyeing the others like hungry wolves, their true natures laid bare.
Xiao Xinran crossed her arms, spiritual energy blazing, crimson eyes burning.
The more she looked at the other two eyesores, the more annoyed she became.
Jing Tan’er sat with her legs crossed, exuding arrogance, slender fingers twirling her hair as if she were in her own home, paying absolutely no heed to the two little girls.
As for Ji Shiyu, her big eyes were fixed on the dishes, swallowing hungrily.
All she cared about was the delicious snacks on the table, wishing she could pounce and claim them all for herself!
You really are something, Old Ji. Only you have stayed exactly the same, steady and reliable as ever.
Yun Liu propped his chin, sinking into thought.
Xiao Xinran’s transformation had come out of nowhere—her strong, domineering big heroine side was supposed to appear only in the mid-game.
In the game, she was a starter character, given away for free at sign-in. Lazy, naive, and childish, she only ever caused trouble for the Main Character Group and held them back.
She was known as the weakest Qi Luck Maiden, her only use being to charge up the blond protagonist.
Yet the number one heroine actually had tremendous potential.
With a bit of investment, a Special Weapon and the Burning Silence Technique, she was an indispensable Fire Attribute Main C in late-game teams.
The Protagonist’s opponents would only grow stronger. Without Xiao Xinran’s help, facing other Children of Destiny, the blondie might end up crying for his father and mother.
He might not even be able to handle Jing Tan’er, that walking experience bundle.
But what did any of this have to do with me, a mere Background NPC?
Yun Liu didn’t care at all.
His gaze shifted to the last girl in green, eyes blazing.
He’d been worrying about how to slip into Clear Mist Peak to hand in his task, but hadn’t expected Qin Sister to deliver herself right to his door.
That made things much easier.
The only outsider here was Qin Yao.
The Clear Mist Peak Senior Sister was full of question marks, not understanding why the atmosphere was so strange.
Could it be that the Junior Sisters all had some deep-seated grudge?
“Junior Brother Yun, right?”
Qin Yao tugged at Yun Liu’s sleeve, speaking softly.
“That’s me. To what do I owe the honor of Qin Sister’s visit to Celestial Phenomena Peak?”
“Elder Kuai and we are quite curious about that bottle of Spirit-Guiding Water. We had no idea our Sect had such a master. We’d like to invite you to the Medicine Hut for a chat. Since you’re injured, it might be inconvenient for you to move around. If it’s alright, I can come fetch you at Celestial Phenomena Peak tomorrow morning?”
Yun Liu nodded in puzzlement, feeling flattered.
Not just any man could enter Clear Mist Peak.
“Elder flatters me—it was nothing, just a small matter. Then I’ll trouble you, Senior Sister.”
So he’d passed the interview, but wasn’t he applying to be a sales rep for Rosy Fragrance Pavilion?
According to the game’s secondary specialization, a Second-Grade Alchemist could register at Rosy Fragrance Pavilion and get a decent yearly dividend.
The higher the grade, the better the treatment.
Even if he left the Sect, Yun Liu could still make a living at Shenhua Pavilion like other mortals without spiritual roots, enjoying Sect benefits and the protection of the grand formation.
Compared to the heavy tasks and precarious life of an Inner Disciple, it was much more comfortable—this had always been his intention.
“Then it’s settled!”
Qin Yao smiled, bowed, and took her leave.
Hearing the name Medicine Hut, the three girls assumed Yun Liu was going to heal his injuries. Remembering the boy’s desperate situation, each was lost in her own thoughts.
“Please wait a moment!”
Yun Liu paused for a while, then chased after her, deliberately avoiding the three troublemakers inside.
Qin Yao turned back in surprise.
“Junior Brother, is there something else?”
“To be honest, someone asked me to give this to you.”
Yun Liu took out a letter, a copy of the Way of Alchemy Notes, and a token.
The grass ring was dry and frayed, clearly quite old, but well preserved.
Qin Yao recognized it at a glance—it was the toy her younger brother had made for her as a child.
She snatched it, exclaiming in shock.
“How do you have this? Who gave it to you? Where is he now?”
“He’s already dead.”
“Wha…t?”
Qin Yao was struck as if by lightning, her face drained of color.
She hurriedly tore open the letter, her heartbreak deepening with every line she read.
The letter was full of remorse, every word soaked in tears.
The young man explained everything clearly.
Years ago, he’d promised to follow his sister to Sighing Peak to cultivate, but his will had faltered. In the Illusion Pavilion, his inner demons showed, and he failed the test.
In anger, he left the mountain without saying goodbye.
Over the years, he’d done many evil deeds.
On a mission, his greed flared up again—he secretly tore a page from a Holy Sect Alchemy Manual and fled.
Hunted and desperate, only then did he remember his sister, to whom he could no longer face.
Learning the truth, the girl who had worried for so long burst into tears, so heartbroken she couldn’t even stand, collapsing into Yun Liu’s arms in a flood of grief.
A single wrong thought, and they were forever parted.
Only after a long while did Qin Yao regain her composure, carefully putting away her brother’s belongings, then bowing deeply.
“Forgive me, I lost control and made a fool of myself in front of you, Junior Brother. Did Xiao Yi… did he suffer when he died?”
“If it weren’t for his wish to see you one last time, he wouldn’t have made it to the foot of the mountain. If you want to see him, I can take you there. I didn’t report this to Master Uncle just now because I didn’t want any further complications, or to bring unnecessary trouble to you or me.”
Qin Yao wiped her tears, her gaze full of gratitude and guilt.
“He’s already been laid to rest, so let him rest in peace. Thank you, Junior Brother, for thinking of us at every turn. In the end, my foolish brother dragged you into this and you still repaid evil with good. I… I really don’t know how to thank you!”
The Clear Mist Peak Senior Sister was overwhelmed with guilt, suddenly realizing that all of this had started because of her.
Cold sweat poured down her back.
That child had nearly caused a catastrophe, almost inviting disaster into the Divine Radiance Sect and endangering its disciples.
If this were reported truthfully, Qin Yao would never escape blame.
Then not only would her peers see her as a demonic sect spy, she’d risk losing both her Chief Disciple status and her position at the Medicine Hut.
If things got worse, she might even be expelled from the Sect!
Qin Yi’s crimes were grave, and his fate was deserved. But he was still her beloved little brother…
“Senior Sister, you don’t need to worry. It’s not your fault—just my bad luck.”
Yun Liu shook his head lightly, putting on an air of indifference, though he was almost grinning from ear to ear inside.
The [Legacy Letter] quest was now complete.
All that was left was to wait for Senior Sister to open her purse!
But he saw the girl in green bow again, sword in hand, looking dazed as she staggered away.
“Uh, Senior Sister, uh… my condolences, safe journey, take care of yourself, don’t forget about me!”
Yun Liu stammered, frozen in place.
Wait, Senior Sister, did you forget something!
What about the quest reward?
What about the promised fifteen hundred Spirit Stones?
He’d done a great job, even cleaned up her mess completely.
Even if she didn’t give extra, shouldn’t she at least send a few bottles of pills!?
“This makes no sense…”
Yun Liu turned around with a dark face, only to see the three girls lined up at the window, watching everything clearly.
Stare———
Qin Sister had cried so loudly, the two of them even hugged—were they blind or deaf or something!