The atmosphere froze for a moment. The elder shoved the gift box into Lin Hu’s hands and changed the subject. “May I ask which expert the other benefactor studied under?” According to what his martial niece Ye Fei had said, though that benefactor had an extremely formidable sword, she wasn’t a sword cultivator and shouldn’t be a disciple of Liuguang Sect.

With a creak, the door beside them opened, and a head poked out. The elder turned to look and saw a young lady in a pale pink dress standing in the doorway with large eyes and a fair face—truly beautiful and lovely.

“Miss Kong Hou.” Lin Hu nodded at Kong Hou.

“Senior Lin Hu.” Kong Hou walked out the door and cupped her hands to both of them. “May I ask who this senior is?”

“This is Elder Xuanmu of Qingfeng Sect.” Lin Hu turned to look at Xuanmu. “Elder, this is the young lady who saved your sect’s disciples.”

“Greetings, Elder Xuanmu.” Kong Hou had originally wanted to come out and ask Huan Zong when they would leave this place, but with outsiders present, she could only swallow her words and smile as she greeted Elder Xuanmu.

“Please, Miss Kong Hou, don’t be so polite.” Elder Xuanmu returned the bow. “Thanks to Miss extending help, my several martial nieces and nephews were able to escape the evil demons’ clutches.”

After the two exchanged polite courtesies back and forth, Elder Xuanmu said, “May I ask who Miss studied under? In the future, I will definitely pay a visit to express my gratitude.”

“No need, no need.” Kong Hou waved her hands repeatedly, turning to look at Lin Hu. Lin Hu silently directed his gaze toward the distance.

Kong Hou: “…”

“Please inform this old one, Miss.” Elder Xuanmu bowed again.

Kong Hou could only say, “This junior is a disciple of Yunhua Sect. Elder, you are an elder—this junior cannot accept your bow.”

“So you’re actually a distinguished disciple of Yunhua Sect.” Qingfeng Sect and Yunhua Sect had mediocre relations—first because the two sects were very far apart, and second because Yunhua Sect kept to itself and didn’t interfere in cultivation world affairs unless there was major trouble, so the two sects had almost no opportunities for interaction.

When the cultivation world held various exchange conferences, they would come and go hastily without time for detailed conversation. But no matter what, in Elder Xuanmu’s eyes, dealing with Yunhua Sect was definitely easier than dealing with Liuguang Sect.

However, having received kindness, it should still be repaid. Elder Xuanmu made up his mind, gave the thank-you gifts to Kong Hou, and then took his leave.

Knowing the Qingfeng Sect disciples had been frightened this time, Kong Hou didn’t try to keep them. She and Lin Hu saw them to the door together.

“Miss.” Ye Fei walked before Kong Hou and bowed gracefully. “I don’t know when we’ll meet again. Will you come to the Sect Exchange Conference?”

Kong Hou didn’t yet know what this Sect Exchange Conference was, but she maintained her smile. “Everything follows the sect’s arrangements.”

“With Miss’s outstanding talent, you’ll surely be one of the disciples representing the sect.” Thinking of how Yunhua Sect had once missed the Exchange Conference’s timing because they were watching excitement, Ye Fei’s expression was somewhat subtle. This young lady should be… different from those Yunhua Sect disciples, right?

“I also hope to see Sister again next time.” Kong Hou grasped Ye Fei’s hands and saw her onto the flying vessel. “Take care.”

“Mm.” Ye Fei reluctantly released Kong Hou’s hand. The flying palace rose from the ground. She leaned on the railing, sticking half her body out to wave at Kong Hou on the ground. “Miss, if you come to the Exchange Conference, you must find me!”

“Senior Sister.” Feng Qi stood beside her. Watching Ye Fei and Kong Hou’s reluctant farewell, he couldn’t help saying, “Fortunately this is a young lady, otherwise I’d think you’d fallen in love at first sight with her.”

“What’s wrong with being a young lady?” White clouds blocked her view. Ye Fei withdrew her extended body and turned to glare at Feng Qi. “Young ladies are fragrant and soft, much more adorable than you smelly men.”

“Senior Sister, you can’t be like this. I bathe and burn incense every day. Even without water, I remember to give myself two cleansing spells. Where do I smell?” Feng Qi muttered quietly, “Our Qingfeng Sect doesn’t practice favoring women over men. This isn’t good of you.”

“Just saying two words to you and you’re already feeling wronged.” Ye Fei laughed despite herself. “I didn’t expect Miss Kong Hou would actually be a distinguished disciple of Yunhua Sect. You really can’t tell at all.” Though disciples of great sects treated people politely on the surface, deep in their bones they still carried some aloofness—like that Young Master Huan Zong, sitting there without saying a word, as if he weren’t from the same world as them.

“That’s true. Yunhua Sect and Liuguang Sect disciples have completely different personalities. I don’t know what Miss Kong Hou saw in that Huan Zong.” Thinking of Huan Zong’s indifferent face, Feng Qi felt it was a pity. Such a fresh and lovely young lady, actually being monopolized by a block of wood.

“What did you say?” Ye Fei asked. “You’re saying Miss Kong Hou and Young Master Huan Zong have romantic feelings?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Feng Qi said. “Young Master Huan Zong’s attendant is a Nascent Soul ancestor. If the two didn’t have romantic feelings, how would a Nascent Soul ancestor be so polite to an outsider?”

“Really?” Ye Fei sighed. Such a good young lady—how did she get snatched away by someone from Liuguang Sect?

She turned to look at her own senior and junior brothers and shook her head with a sigh. Crooked melons and split dates—even less worthy of Miss Kong Hou.

Feng Qi: “…”

What did Senior Sister’s picky gaze mean?

After Xuanmu brought the disciples back to the sect, he wrote letters of gratitude to Liuguang Sect and Yunhua Sect, lavishly praising Kong Hou and Huan Zong’s noble character. Praising these two sects wasn’t enough—he deeply understood the principle that fame should come early. He wrote to other friendly sects, describing how dangerous this incident had been and how Kong Hou and Huan Zong had bestowed grace without expecting repayment, and so on. Within just a few days, Kong Hou and Huan Zong’s great names had spread to all the major sects.

The sect masters of the major sects all sighed with emotion—Yunhua Sect had finally become accomplished, actually cultivating such a formidable disciple.

Thus Kong Hou, still at Foundation Establishment stage, received the same treatment as Lingbo—being respectfully addressed by countless cultivators as Kong Hou Xianzi.

Kong Hou didn’t yet know that Elder Xuanmu had boasted about her throughout the cultivation world. On the day they were preparing to leave Three Trees City, she saw two cultivators wearing white robes embroidered with gold thread come out of Huan Zong’s door. About to knock, she and these two cultivators stared at each other, momentarily speechless.

It was Lin Hu who came out and broke the awkward atmosphere, proactively explaining to Kong Hou, “These two are disciples of Liuguang Sect. They’ve come to take those two evil cultivators back to the sect.”

“Greetings, fellow daoists.” Kong Hou returned to her senses and greeted the Liuguang Sect cultivators.

“Greetings, fellow daoist.” The two young disciples couldn’t yet completely conceal their emotions. Their faces showed some surprise—they couldn’t imagine that their martial uncle would have a woman traveling with him while out.

“This young lady is Kong Hou Xianzi of Yunhua Sect. By seniority, you should address her as martial aunt.” Lin Hu threw out the two thoroughly trussed-up evil cultivators and said to the two disciples, “Be careful on the road. Don’t delay—go straight back to the sect.”

“Yes.” The two disciples were very respectful toward Lin Hu, not showing half a bit of discourtesy just because he was Huan Zong’s servant.

After bowing to Lin Hu, they cupped their hands respectfully toward Kong Hou. “We juniors didn’t know Miss was actually Martial Aunt Kong Hou. Please forgive us, Martial Aunt.”

“The ignorant are innocent. No need for excessive courtesy.” Remembering that Liuguang Sect’s Peak Master Song He had given her a meeting gift last time, now that Liuguang Sect disciples were calling her martial aunt, should she also show some gesture?

Thinking this, Kong Hou took out two pouches from her storage ring and stuffed one into each disciple’s hand. “First meeting—a small gift. Don’t disdain it.”

The Liuguang Sect disciples: “…”

The two of them, men over a hundred years old, accepting meeting gifts from a teenage girl? If their martial uncles found out, they’d be punished.

“This…” The two disciples turned to look at Lin Hu. Should they accept or not?

“Since it’s given by your martial aunt, you should take it.” Lin Hu coughed lightly, suppressing his amusement. “Why aren’t you thanking Martial Aunt Kong Hou?”

“Thank you, Martial Aunt Kong Hou.” The two disciples bowed formally, their etiquette so standard one couldn’t find half a fault.

“No need, no need.” Kong Hou stepped aside. “You go about your business.”

“Yes. We respectfully obey Martial Aunt’s command.” The two disciples cupped their hands again before bending to pick up the two evil cultivators and leaving the inn.

Kong Hou breathed a sigh of relief. These Liuguang Sect disciples were too rule-bound. If this were at Yunhua Sect, those martial nieces and nephews would have already been beaming with joy and reaching out their hands when they saw her bringing things out. Compared to Liuguang Sect, was their Yunhua Sect a bit too lax?

“Kong Hou, you’re here?”

Huan Zong’s voice came from inside the room. Kong Hou leaned in the doorway to look inside. “Huan Zong, may I come in?”

Huan Zong sat by the window holding a book scroll, smiling at her. “Come in.”

Kong Hou bounded through the door and sat down beside Huan Zong. “Huan Zong, when are we leaving here?”

“If you don’t have anything you need to buy, we’ll leave this afternoon.” Huan Zong put down his book. “Next time you see those juniors, you don’t need to give them meeting gifts.”

“How can I not? They’re calling me martial aunt after all. I can’t let them call me that for nothing.” Kong Hou propped her chin in her hands. “But are all your Liuguang Sect disciples like this?”

“Like what?” Huan Zong rose and took out tea implements from the cabinet. Using spiritual power, he heated and boiled the morning dew from his gourd and brewed a pot of tea for Kong Hou.

“Just serious and earnest, very strict about rules.” Kong Hou liked drinking tea brewed by Huan Zong. Holding the teacup and blowing on the steam, she took small sips.

“The sect has very strict requirements for disciples. Respecting teachers and valuing the dao, not slacking off—these are the most basic requirements.” Huan Zong poured himself a cup of tea. Smelling the tea fragrance, he didn’t drink it. “They’re juniors. Being respectful to you is proper.”

“Don’t you all go out together privately to play, drink wine, admire flowers and view the moon?” Kong Hou was shocked. No wonder Liuguang Sect could become the cultivation world’s number one great sect. Every disciple was elite. The effort they put in was beyond what other cultivators could match.

“Greedily seeking enjoyment—how can one walk further on the great dao of cultivation?” Seeing Kong Hou hadn’t yet shifted her mood, Huan Zong refilled her tea. “Every sect has its own dao and persistence. There’s no right or wrong, no distinction between superior and inferior. To put it more commonly, birds of a feather flock together. It’s precisely because of this that the cultivation world can have a hundred flowers blooming and the realm can be at peace.”

Hearing these words, Kong Hou smiled. “It’s really wonderful that you can think this way.” Though she couldn’t be called lazy, she had her own small hobbies regarding food and clothing. When not in seclusion, she would also go down the mountain with senior sisters to browse shops. She often went with fellow disciples to Master Uncle Qingyuan’s place at Dawn Glow Peak to beg for pills to eat. This kind of behavior, placed in Liuguang Sect, would probably count as not respecting teachers and valuing the dao, right?

The corners of Huan Zong’s mouth curved slightly. He didn’t speak. He’d only recently come to understand these principles. Before, he’d always felt that as a cultivator, one should have no desires or demands and shouldn’t greedily seek enjoyment. The sword dao was his only pursuit.

During these days together with Kong Hou, he’d discovered that having other hobbies wasn’t wrong, and occasionally relaxing one’s spirit wasn’t a crime. If all these were wrong, then why was this young lady Kong Hou still so likeable and adorable?

Before, he’d been too obsessive.

After finishing lunch, Kong Hou and Huan Zong got into the carriage. “Where’s the next place?”

“Yi City.” Huan Zong spread several more layers of soft cushions on the padding, making Kong Hou more comfortable. “Lin Hu said Yi City’s embroidery is very famous. When we get there, you can take a good look around.”

“Embroidery?” Kong Hou nodded repeatedly. “Good, good!” The senior sisters and female martial nieces would definitely like it. And she should also buy some for Elder Qiushuang. The elder was so beautiful—the fabric should be chosen to be the most magnificent to match her.

Seeing Kong Hou already lying on the table beginning to calculate how many embroideries to buy, Huan Zong lifted the curtain and said to Lin Hu, “Let’s go.”

“Immortal Master, wait! Immortal Master, please wait!”

Huan Zong turned his head and saw the inn’s waiter running over holding a dusty cloth bundle, an old cleaning cloth draped over his shoulder.

“Immortal Master.” The waiter gasped as he ran to the carriage. “A few days ago, I saw that Immortal Master and Miss both enjoyed freshly picked mushrooms. This morning, Mother and I went to the forest to look for some wild mountain mushrooms. But there are few mountain goods in winter. We searched for several hours and didn’t find much. Please don’t disdain them, Immortal Master. Accept this small one’s sincere gesture.”

The waiter’s clothes were full of patches, but the cloth bundle holding the mountain mushrooms was clean and intact, though this type of fabric seemed extremely rough to Huan Zong.

Seeing Huan Zong not reaching out to accept it, the waiter’s honest face flushed red. His two feet rubbed against each other. “It’s this small one who has overstepped.” These things they normally couldn’t bear to eat were probably worthless in Immortal Master’s eyes. Had he run over presumptuously and troubled Immortal Master?

“Thank you.” Fair, clean hands took the cloth bundle from his hands. The immortal master as handsome as stars and moon in the heavens nodded at him. “You’ve gone to trouble.”

“No trouble, no trouble. As long as Immortal Master is pleased.” The waiter rubbed his hands, so excited his entire face turned red. “I wish Immortal Master and Miss a safe journey and early ascension to the immortal dao.”

Huan Zong nodded at him. “Farewell.”

“Immortal Master, travel slowly.” Afraid of blocking the carriage’s path, the waiter quickly stepped back several paces and bowed to the carriage.

After the horses started moving, Kong Hou looked at the cloth bundle Huan Zong had placed in the carriage corner. “This waiter is really polite—still giving gifts as we leave.”

“Mm.” Huan Zong nodded.

This might be the most shabby gift among the thank-you gifts he’d received, but it was a thank-you gift he’d personally accepted.

Kong Hou opened the cloth bundle and exclaimed in delight, “Such fresh mountain mushrooms! They’ll definitely be delicious. Let’s make roasted mountain mushrooms tonight.”

“All right.” Huan Zong clasped his hands together, frowning slightly.

How did one make roasted mountain mushrooms? Roast them directly over fire, or cook them with spiritual power?

Before nightfall, the three stopped in a valley. The wind in the valley was strong. When it blew past the valley entrance, it made whooshing sounds. The withered grass on the ground swayed in the wind. Some short small trees were the only green among the yellowed withered grass.

Seeing Kong Hou’s skirt hem blown high by the wind, Huan Zong searched in his storage ring for a long time before finding a jade slip. He tossed it into the air. The jade slip landed and transformed into a golden house. From the roof to the pillars, everything emitted glittering golden light.

“What a beautiful golden house!” Kong Hou exclaimed. “Huan Zong, you’re so amazing! How do you have everything?”

Huan Zong remembered this golden house had been given to him by an elder when he was young and accompanied his master on a visit. But he’d felt this golden house was ostentatious and vulgar. It had sat in his storage ring for several hundred years—he’d forgotten this item existed. It was probably Lin Hu who’d packed it when they left.

However, after hearing Kong Hou say the golden house was beautiful, he suddenly felt that a house glittering with golden light all over wasn’t so vulgar after all.

The golden house was somewhat like a miniaturized palace. The flowers, grass, and trees inside were all constructed from gemstones, almost able to pass for real. Walking into the golden house, the wind stopped blowing and the skirt hem stopped flying. Huan Zong had Lin Hu go process the mountain mushrooms while he led Kong Hou to squat down in the courtyard.

“What do we need to roast mountain mushrooms?”

“Roasting skewers, right?” Kong Hou cupped her face and thought for a while. “Also salt and oil?”

“I understand.” Huan Zong stood up, walked to the golden house entrance, and said to Lin Hu washing mushrooms outside, “Lin Hu, remember to bring oil and salt.”

Lin Hu shook the water from his hands and stood up expressionlessly. “Young Master, though the golden house won’t catch fire no matter how much you torment it, the mountain mushrooms are innocent.”

Huan Zong looked back at him calmly.

“Fine, I’ll go get firewood.” Lin Hu took out oil, salt, and various spices from his storage ring and shoved them all, along with the mountain mushrooms, at Huan Zong. “You and Miss Kong Hou have fun.”

When Huan Zong returned with the mountain mushrooms and spices, Kong Hou had already rolled up her sleeves and found a bunch of skewers.

“The first step in roasting mountain mushrooms should be stringing them up, right?” Kong Hou turned to look at Huan Zong. Through this period of interaction, Huan Zong’s image in her heart was practically omniscient.

“Mm.” Faced with Kong Hou’s trusting gaze, Huan Zong… Huan Zong, as if possessed by ghosts and gods, nodded.

“Then let’s do it together.” Kong Hou divided half the skewers to Huan Zong. Huan Zong accepted the skewers and picked a relatively large mountain mushroom. The big one should be easier to handle.

Lin Hu came in carrying firewood. Seeing Huan Zong and Kong Hou enthusiastically squatting on the ground stringing mushrooms, the skewers used for stringing mushrooms were actually an extremely precious artifact-refining material—Mystic Gold Iron.

If artifact refiners knew they were using Mystic Gold Iron as roasting skewers, they might draw their swords and kill both of them.

Two prodigals who knew no hardship.

“Senior Lin Hu, do you want to play together?” Kong Hou smiled and waved at Lin Hu. “Join us.”

Heh. At least there was one with self-awareness, knowing this was playing, not roasting food. Fine, he’d better watch them so good mountain mushrooms wouldn’t be wasted.

“All right.” Lin Hu walked over to the two with a stern face and squatted down.

Huan Zong glanced at him and shifted aside, making space for him.

The Liuguang Sect disciples traveled rapidly all the way. After bringing the two evil cultivators back to the sect, they went to report their martial uncle’s recent situation to the sect master.

“Is your martial uncle’s health better?”

“Reporting to Sect Master, Martial Uncle’s complexion is much better than before. Senior Lin Hu said they’ve already found Scarlet Grass. However…”

“However what?” Jin Yue’s joyful heart, not yet risen, fell back down.

“By Martial Uncle’s side, there’s an extremely beautiful woman. Senior Lin Hu said this woman is Martial Aunt Kong Hou from Yunhua Sect.”

“Say that again?!”

—

Author’s Note: Huan Zong: Today’s me is still omnipotent as always.

Lin Hu: Keep blowing hot air.