Huang Rang could hardly believe this was a gift from Di Yiqiu.

She stood forlornly outside the door, gazing distantly at the puppet. Before the Nine-Curve Spirit Eye, the Director Jianzheng watched helplessly as her hair was soaked by rain, clinging tightly to her forehead.

The two were separated by a thousand miles, each in their own despair.

Fortunately, this puppet’s combat session also had a time limit.

Two hours later, it finally lowered its head and fell still.

Huang Rang’s clothes were completely drenched. She tentatively approached the thing. This time it truly showed no response. Only then did Huang Rang squeeze through past it into the room. She wrung out the rainwater from her clothes, truly wanting to curse but stopping herself.

The room was in complete chaos. She could only move the puppet aside.

—Fortunately she practiced martial dao and her strength had increased considerably. Otherwise, how could she move such a big thing?

Huang Rang shifted it to a corner and discovered her bed had been smashed, and her trunks trampled. She sighed deeply, finally finding a set of relatively clean dress from the ruins and changing first.

However, she had no idea what use the puppet’s eyes served!!

Beside the Nine-Curve Spirit Eye, the Director Jianzheng reached out wanting to turn off this magical treasure. After hesitating, he only lowered his head and continued decomposing sword techniques with his charcoal pencil.

Occasionally wanting to lift his head for a glance, ultimately he did not.

That night, Zhuque Si’s Junior Director Zhu Xiang rushed over with an extremely serious expression. She ran very quickly, with Li Lu following behind.

The two didn’t even wait to be announced, directly entering Di Yiqiu’s study.

Zhu Xiang said, “Director Jianzheng, today when Zhuque Si took inventory of the puppets, we discovered one missing! Moreover, it’s the highest-grade combat puppet. This subordinate was negligent. Please punish me, Director Jianzheng.”

This matter. The Director Jianzheng continued using his charcoal pencil to decompose techniques, saying, “It wasn’t lost. This seat merely gave it away.”

“Gave… gave it away?” Zhu Xiang was stunned.

Li Lu was also stunned, but he quickly reacted, asking, “Director Jianzheng gave it to Miss Ah Rang?”

Oh, Miss Ah Rang.

Zhu Xiang quickly caught on, but then she had another question: “Director Jianzheng selected a super-A-grade combat puppet for her.”

The Director Jianzheng grunted in acknowledgment, adding a sentence: “Super-A-grade is most precious.”

Since he was giving it to her, naturally he had to pick the best one.

This is precious!! Vice Director Li asked, “But… can Miss Ah Rang defeat it?” That was super-A-grade—Si Tianjian only had three total. Normally they were used for the Baihu Si’s experts to practice sword formations.

A sword formation of twelve people could only face one super-A-grade puppet.

The Director Jianzheng pointed at the Nine-Curve Spirit Eye’s image on the wall.

In the image, Huang Rang had already changed clothes, her hair still wet. She was crouching down, repairing the bed the puppet had smashed.

…Well then, she indeed couldn’t defeat it.

Sigh. Straight men giving gifts—severing all sentiment and righteousness.

Vice Director Li sighed deeply.

Meanwhile, at Yuhu Xuanzong, Huang Rang could only train even more diligently.

She fumbled with the puppet’s usage method and gradually discovered it actually had three adjustable combat power levels: A, B, and C. Inserting the bronze key into the ear hole and turning it just one rotation would set it to the lowest combat power.

One combat session could last two hours.

After two hours, the puppet would stop fighting.

Huang Rang began to find this very interesting. She would spar with it once daily. Adding in reading, self-study, and seed cultivation, time passed hurriedly.

So she didn’t go to Yeyun Hall for several days.

At this time, at Yeyun Hall.

Xie Hongchen sat before his desk. Several disciples in the hall were sweeping and cleaning.

On the desk was a pot of orchids, blooming magnificently, seemingly unfading through all four seasons.

Xie Hongchen’s fingertips gently parted those rich green leaves. That crimson-gold flower drew his thoughts away from the scriptures and classics, and for a time, they had nowhere to settle.

Huang Rang hadn’t come again today.

But Xie Hongchen actually had no reason to summon her into the hall every day.

With his status, even for direct disciples, daily meetings were impossible.

Most of the time, after disciples received the practice manuals, they first studied on their own. When encountering difficulties, they would seek guidance. Or simply have senior disciples instruct them.

Xie Hongchen had a cold temperament and normally wasn’t someone who enjoyed liveliness.

Of course, he even less could forcibly require a female disciple to remain at Yeyun Hall daily to practice, “enjoying his company.”

But she hadn’t come for several days now.

What was she doing?

Very suddenly, Xie Hongchen wanted to go see.

He walked out of Yeyun Hall. The midsummer weather was extremely clear. Though it was just past the first quarter of the mao hour, the sun had already shown its head early, hanging red-faced at the horizon’s edge.

Xie Hongchen descended along the mountain path toward the quarters where direct disciples resided.

In a trance, memories were hazy and indistinct.

It seemed he had also gone to find Huang Rang this way before. In that moment when yin and yang first divided, when dawn was about to arrive. Also walking alone on the mountain path like this, thinking of that person, faintly giving rise to many stray thoughts.

Xie Hongchen arrived all the way at Huang Rang’s residence. Because she was a female disciple, her quarters were in the innermost area, with the small rooms of Nie Qinglan, Xie Li, and others outside.

Huang Rang lived in the mountain hollow. Yuhu Xuanzong’s mountain ranges were like an embrace, wrapping up her small room.

Before Xie Hongchen had drawn near, he heard sounds—the sound of mechanisms turning.

He advanced a bit further and saw in the brilliant morning glow, Huang Rang dressed in light golden practice clothes, sparring with a tall puppet.

That puppet was made of refined iron, using aged ship timber that had been submerged for years, only to prevent easy cracking.

At its joints, the connections were extremely ingenious. As it sparred with Huang Rang, its techniques and methods were very similar to a real person.

Huang Rang didn’t recognize treasure, but Xie Hongchen saw at a glance—this puppet was finely crafted with exquisite technique, precisely Si Tianjian’s super-A-grade combat puppet.

To obtain such a thing from Si Tianjian wasn’t something that could be accomplished merely with silver.

After all, in all of Si Tianjian, there were only three super-A-grade puppets.

Xie Hongchen stood to one side, watching Huang Rang spar with the puppet for a long time before asking, “This object—where did you obtain it?”

“Ah, Master!” Huang Rang had been practicing intently, focused on decomposing the puppet’s techniques, and hadn’t noticed when he arrived. These past few days after being beaten several times, she already knew this puppet’s combat range.

So she leaped away very nimbly, more than a zhang distant. The puppet lost its target and stopped pursuing, standing dumbly to one side.

“Master!” Huang Rang respectfully bowed to Xie Hongchen. Fragrant sweat dripped from her forehead, her peach-colored cheeks flushed. Her entire person reflected in the rosy light had a dazzling brilliance.

Xie Hongchen’s gaze involuntarily lingered. After quite a while, he collected his thoughts and said, “Si Tianjian’s super-A-grade puppets are normally only used for internal demonstrations. How has one appeared here?”

Huang Rang had no reaction to the three words “super-A-grade.” She answered frankly, “Some days ago, this disciple inexplicably received this object. At first I didn’t know its purpose. Only these past few days have I fumbled out how to use it.”

“Inexplicably?” Xie Hongchen raised his eyes to look at the puppet before him. That puppet also stared at him woodenly and dumbly. This thing was extremely tall, giving anyone it looked at a sense of being looked down upon.

Xie Hongchen frowned. “Si Tianjian belongs to the court after all. Such a precious object, given away so easily—I fear there are ulterior motives.”

“Precious?” Huang Rang caught these two words from Xie Hongchen’s mouth. Things that Xie Hongchen would call “precious” were truly not many.

She asked, “This… is very precious?”

Xie Hongchen circled the puppet once, pondering deeply. “One of Si Tianjian’s Director Jianzheng Di Yiqiu’s proud works, once causing a sensation among all major sects. But because of complex construction and difficult maintenance, Si Tianjian refuses to sell them. Ruyi Sword Sect once wanted to purchase one.”

He thought for a moment, couldn’t help but look toward Huang Rang, saying, “He Xijin once offered a price of three hundred million spirit stones. Di Yiqiu refused, citing insufficient energy.”

Huang Rang was shocked on the spot.

Three hundred million spirit stones was simply unimaginable to her. The Huang family cultivated seeds year-round and among seed cultivators was considered to have some reputation. But a year’s profit converted to spirit stones was only a few hundred thousand. And that was before deducting expenses for supporting the clan.

Huang Rang was shocked, but at Si Tianjian, Zhuque Si.

The Director Jianzheng was presiding over re-forging a combat puppet. This thing’s construction was exceptionally complex. He alone couldn’t possibly complete it. Fortunately, the blueprints were complete, spare parts were also available. Re-forging, though time-consuming and labor-intensive, wouldn’t result in errors.

While directing everyone to cast components, he occasionally glanced at the opposite wall. On the wall’s Nine-Curve Spirit Eye were two images. One was a segment from Xie Lingbi’s new disciple demonstration that year.

This image was somewhat old, recorded using Yuhu Xuanzong’s Worldview Eye. But fortunately, many were sold on the market, so it was fairly clear.

The other image came from that super-A-grade puppet.

Hearing Xie Hongchen’s explanation about this puppet inside, the Director Jianzheng snorted coldly, unconcerned.

Meanwhile, Huang Rang touched the puppet with a face full of awe, instantly forgiving its home-wrecking behavior.

Such a precious object—Di Yiqiu had given it to her without a word. This was simply…

Simply…

The four words “enormously wealthy” spun countless times in Huang Rang’s mind. Sigh, in the fifth year of Chengyuan outside the dream, if you’d come with four hundred million spirit stones to propose marriage, how could the great matter not succeed!

Huang Rang sighed inwardly.

But Xie Hongchen’s expression was serious. “This object’s value is too high. If you and the giver aren’t well acquainted, naturally it would be more proper to return it.”

“Ah?” Huang Rang was always a practical person. Before knowing this object’s value, she was naturally moved. Now that she knew—how could she bear to return it? This was something that three hundred million spirit stones couldn’t buy!

Could she possibly see so many spirit stones in her lifetime?

Could she?!

Her brow furrowed, immediately extremely conflicted.

Seeing this, Xie Hongchen said in a deep voice, “You are an immortal sect disciple. You shouldn’t maintain overly close relations with Si Tianjian. Besides Di Yiqiu, I’m afraid no one else could present such a puppet as a gift. You being a woman, it’s improper to accept unearned rewards and invite criticism.”

With these words, he clearly delineated the boundaries between Huang Rang and Di Yiqiu.

Huang Rang could only say, “This disciple will find him and return the puppet.”

Xie Hongchen grunted in acknowledgment, then added, “Since you’ve joined my tutelage, I will naturally teach you everything and guide you patiently. Though puppets are convenient for practice, their techniques and patterns are ultimately rigid. On the path of cultivation, this is a shortcut method and cannot grasp the essence.”

He rarely explained so patiently, clearly deeply bothered by the puppet before him.

No matter how precious the puppet, how could it compare to his personal guidance?

At Si Tianjian, Zhuque Si.

The Director Jianzheng’s expression was equally grim. What was worse, he heard Xie Hongchen’s next sentence.

Xie Hongchen continued, “That you devote yourself to cultivation is naturally good. The door of Yeyun Hall… will forever be open to you.”

This sentence, coming from Xie Hongchen’s mouth, was truly excessively intimate and doting.

Huang Rang felt the same way, but her delicate face was full of pure, genuine smile. “Master’s kindness toward this disciple—this disciple knows it all.” She looked back at the puppet, understanding Xie Hongchen’s meaning.

This object absolutely could not be kept.

Therefore, no matter how reluctant her heart, she only said, “This disciple will contact Si Tianjian immediately and return it.”

Xie Hongchen grunted in acknowledgment, looking toward the puppet again.

He couldn’t explain where the faint hostility in his heart toward this object came from.

Of course, he couldn’t explain it, but on the puppet’s side, beside the Nine-Curve Spirit Eye, the Director Jianzheng could explain it clearly.

A sour feeling rose from his heart. The puppet looked down at Xie Hongchen before it, as if receiving contempt from its master.

“The door of Yeyun Hall will forever be open to you.” The Director Jianzheng repeated this sentence, his face full of sourness.

Hmph, utterly shameless!

The next day, he indeed received a letter from Yuhu Xuanzong.

This letter was written extremely formally, clearly from Xie Hongchen’s hand. The letter not only expressed gratitude on Huang Rang’s behalf for the Director Jianzheng’s care, but also informed him that because the puppet was too precious and the two had no prior dealings, they dared not accept it and could only return it.

Begging forgiveness and so forth.

The Director Jianzheng crumpled the letter into a ball and casually tossed it into the furnace.

No prior dealings?

Then let there be dealings!

The next day, the Director Jianzheng departed from the capital, bringing along generous gifts. He even used a transmission talisman worth three thousand spirit stones, directly charging up to Yuhu Xuanzong.

At that time, Huang Rang was conducting the final trial with the puppet—this thing would soon be returned to Si Tianjian. No harm in using it one more time.

Three hundred million spirit stones! Using it one more time was worth it!

She was sparring enthusiastically with the puppet when suddenly a disciple ran in from outside, panting heavily. “Senior Sister Huang! The Sect Leader summons you to come to Yeyun Hall immediately!”

He ran too urgently, appearing quite discourteous. Huang Rang didn’t mind. She jumped outside the puppet’s attack range and asked, “What has happened?”

That disciple said urgently, “Early this morning, Si Tianjian’s Director Jianzheng Di Yiqiu entered the sect. He even brought generous gifts!” Having said this, he glanced at the puppet. “I heard it’s to discuss this puppet matter.”

“…” Generous gifts?! Huang Rang involuntarily thought in the direction of betrothal gifts. She silently changed her dress and headed to Yeyun Hall.

In the hall, waiting for her was precisely an Asura battlefield.

Huang Rang wasn’t some pure white lotus. She’d already imagined the upcoming scene’s dialogue.

Xie Hongchen: “Ah Rang, are you willing to leave with him, or stay by your master’s side to continue studying?”

Di Yiqiu: “Ah Rang, if you wish to devote yourself to study, naturally I can wait.”

Then both would look at her together, awaiting her response.

Huang Rang sighed deeply. She entered Yeyun Hall and discovered inside sat not only Xie Hongchen and Di Yiqiu, but even the rarely-appearing Xie Lingbi had arrived.

After she entered the hall, all three looked over.

Huang Rang could only kneel, saying, “Disciple Huang Rang pays respects to Old Ancestor and Master.”

Xie Lingbi’s complexion was poor. For some reason, he instinctively disliked Huang Rang.

It was still Xie Hongchen who said, “Rise.”

Huang Rang stood, then turned to look at Di Yiqiu, curtsying to him. “Director Jianzheng.”

The Director Jianzheng’s lips held a smile. “Miss Ah Rang, we meet again.”

Cough. Huang Rang stood beside Xie Hongchen. Xie Hongchen said in a deep voice, “Now that she’s here, why doesn’t the Director Jianzheng ask her directly?”

Di Yiqiu’s gaze followed Huang Rang closely. Huang Rang glanced over and happened to meet it.

As if burned by fire, she quickly looked away.

Xie Hongchen became extremely displeased. He said, “Director Jianzheng?”

Only then did Di Yiqiu speak. “Miss Ah Rang, I have a matter I wish to ask you. I hope you’ll answer honestly.”

Heavens! You’re not going to propose marriage again, are you? Huang Rang wailed inwardly. If you propose marriage now and I refuse you, my heart will ache. But if I don’t refuse you, I can only leave Yuhu Xuanzong. What should I do?

Huang Rang was secretly anxious.

The Director Jianzheng paused, creating full suspense, before asking, “Please tell me, Miss Ah Rang, how did you find sparring with this puppet?”

Ah? Huang Rang glanced at Xie Hongchen, then swept a look at Xie Lingbi. Seeing both their expressions grave, she was immediately confused.

But the question still needed answering. She could only say, “The practice flows smoothly, the technique decomposition is extremely detailed. Truly… a work of heavenly craftsmanship.” She spoke honestly.

The Director Jianzheng nodded slightly, then turned to ask Xie Lingbi and Xie Hongchen, “It seems Miss Ah Rang is very satisfied with this puppet. Old Ancestor Lingbi, Sect Leader Xie, do you two still feel four hundred million spirit stones isn’t worth it?”

…What?

Huang Rang grew even more confused.

The Director Jianzheng picked up the tea cup beside him, taking a light sip. “Yuhu Xuanzong is the first immortal sect. Such a small amount of spirit stones is truly insignificant. What do you two still have to hesitate about?”

Huang Rang finally understood—he wanted to sell this puppet to Yuhu Xuanzong!

…

The Director Jianzheng drank his tea unhurriedly. Both Xie Lingbi and Xie Hongchen’s expressions were extremely ugly.

To accept this matter—four hundred million spirit stones, saying it was much wasn’t much, saying it was little wasn’t little. Moreover, for Yuhu Xuanzong to purchase a combat puppet from Si Tianjian more or less made Si Tianjian look good.

Not to accept—this puppet had been at Yuhu Xuanzong for over a month. Such a precious object, sent over for free, truly invited speculation and criticism.

With him beating drums and gongs, making it known to everyone—if the world knew, they’d probably say Yuhu Xuanzong couldn’t afford it.

In contrast, the Director Jianzheng was extremely leisurely. He said softly, “If you two are tight on funds, there’s no need to be troubled. This puppet was originally sent for Miss Ah Rang to try. After just over a month, even if reclaimed, no one would think Yuhu Xuanzong took advantage for free.”

Xie Lingbi always valued face most. Hearing this, his expression became even more iron-blue.

Seeing this, the Director Jianzheng felt a wave of satisfaction in his heart.

Xie Hongchen’s face was dark as water. After a long while he said, “Four hundred million spirit stones is not a major matter. Why must the Director Jianzheng press so hard?”

Hearing this, Di Yiqiu laughed lightly. “Sect Leader Xie speaks correctly. Then shortly I’ll send someone over and we’ll sign a contract. Hereafter every half year, Si Tianjian will send someone to perform maintenance.”

He walked before Xie Hongchen, meeting his gaze.

“承蒙谢宗主垂爱，它也定会不遗余力，替宗主教化弟子的 (Receiving Sect Leader Xie’s favor, it will surely spare no effort in educating disciples for the Sect Leader).” As he said this sentence, for some reason, he recalled Xie Hongchen’s line—the door of Yeyun Hall will forever be open to you.

Then Huang Rang had responded with: “Master’s kindness toward this disciple—this disciple knows it all.”

Hmph, his heart grew even more sour.

Sect Leader Xie met his gaze. Between their eyes, sparks seemed ready to fly.

It was still Xie Lingbi who said, “Enough! A mere puppet—is it worth such fanfare?” He stood, glanced at Huang Rang again, saying, “In the future, don’t accept unclear and questionable things into the immortal sect.”

His words carried rebuke. Huang Rang didn’t care at all, immediately saying, “This disciple respectfully remembers Old Ancestor’s teaching.”

Only then did Xie Lingbi glare at Di Yiqiu once more before sweeping his sleeves and departing.

The Director Jianzheng naturally didn’t need to linger either. He cupped his hands toward Xie Hongchen. “Since the matter is settled, then this seat will also take his leave. Sect Leader Xie need not see me out.”

Xie Hongchen fundamentally didn’t want to acknowledge him, much less see him out.

But the Director Jianzheng’s face had always been thick. He turned to Huang Rang instead. “If Miss Ah Rang sees me out, that would suffice.”

Huang Rang was about to agree when Xie Hongchen spoke. “Since the Director Jianzheng came personally, it’s better for this Sect Leader to see you out personally.”

The Director Jianzheng said with veiled sarcasm, “Then I truly trouble the Sect Leader.”

Huang Rang just watched these two people walk out of Yeyun Hall side by side.

—Xie Hongchen wanted to return the combat puppet, so he thick-facedly ran over, simply using both soft and hard tactics, using trial usage as the reason to force Xie Hongchen and Xie Lingbi to purchase this puppet.

He both gave a gift and could recoup the cost.

A true master of getting something for nothing—one had to admire it.

At this time, the Director Jianzheng walked side by side with Sect Leader Xie.

Though the two normally couldn’t be called close, at least on the surface they got along. But today in particular, they couldn’t even exchange a single word.

The Director Jianzheng also found it strange—truly speaking, this Xie Hongchen could be considered half a father-in-law figure. He should be making every effort to curry favor.

But why did his heart always feel disgust?!