The Second Sect Master would neither neglect Yun Shouxi nor slight the Sacred Sword Sect.

Seeing Bai Cang and Yue Liangze, he smiled and said: “Immortal Master San Xi, those two are from the Sacred Sword Sect.”

Sacred Sword Sect?

Yun Shouxi raised his head to look, his eyes containing a smile.

Bai Cang had no choice but to step forward and greet him: “Greetings, Immortal Master San Xi.”

Yun Shouxi smiled and said: “Sacred Sword Sect, I’ve long admired you.”

He glanced briefly at Yue Liangze beside him, but Yue Liangze maintained his composure without movement.

His own Junior Brother showed no intention of introducing himself.

Bai Cang followed his lead and thus made no introduction.

“For tomorrow’s championship battle, representatives from both Tian Ji and Snowy River have arrived tonight,” the Second Sect Master said smilingly, leading them toward the mountain gate. “Sect Master Feng arrived a little earlier than you and is chatting with our Sect Master. Would you like to meet him as well, San Xi?”

Yun Shouxi said: “No need. We’ll see each other tomorrow anyway.”

“Accommodations have been arranged for you in the inner courtyard. Shall we go there now?” the Second Sect Master asked.

Yun Shouxi turned to ask Ling Luo: “Where are you two staying?”

Ling Luo said: “The west courtyard.”

Yun Shouxi: “Then let’s go to the west courtyard.”

The Second Sect Master said helplessly: “We’ve been too busy lately and arranged for all the disciples from the Twelve Immortal Sects to stay in the west courtyard. San Xi, why don’t you bring them to the inner courtyard instead?”

Just as Yun Shouxi was about to refuse, Ling Luo tugged at his sleeve and winked slightly at him. “Master, I want to stay in the inner courtyard. The scenery there is better.”

The inner and west courtyards were so far apart; if she wanted to find Yue Liangze, she’d have to go a long way. How much better it would be if they all stayed in the inner courtyard.

Yun Shouxi looked at her with doting eyes and said: “Then let’s go to the inner courtyard.”

Chu Yi cast a cool glance at his junior sister. Is scenery really what you’re going to look at in the inner courtyard?

Zi Xiu looked longingly at the group heading to the inner courtyard. Hey! Consider that your best drinking companion lives in the west courtyard!

As they parted ways, Bai Cang waved to Zi Xiu.

He turned to Yue Liangze and said: “What shall we eat tonight?”

Yue Liangze glanced at the box of chestnuts his Senior Brother was holding and said: “Chestnut roasted chicken.”

“That sounds good,” Bai Cang said in a pleased tone.

The Second Sect Master said to Yun Shouxi: “There have been some strange occurrences during this Golden Luan Pool Banquet that involve the Twelve Great Immortal Sects. I’d like to ask San Xi to first go to the Sect Master’s place for a brief discussion.”

Yun Shouxi pondered briefly before nodding in agreement.

With the elders gone, only the younger ones remained to entertain themselves.

Cong Xiu led Ling Luo and the other two to their accommodations in the inner courtyard. By coincidence, this residence was right across from the Sacred Sword Sects.

Separated by just one path.

The Sect Master of Tian Ji truly had prestige.

Bai Cang greeted Chu Yi: “Brother Chu, you’re staying here? It’s quite close. Feel free to visit often.”

Chu Yi: “Sure.”

Yu Xiu and Ling Luo gave Chu Yi a suspicious look.

After the Hot Spring Inn incident, these two seemed to have rapidly developed their relationship.

Cong Xiu led them inside and conversed with Yu Xiu.

Ling Luo went to the courtyard wall, stood on tiptoes, and looked outside. Beyond was Weak Water Lake, shimmering with a gentle blue in the moonlight.

Chu Yi sat down on a lounge chair in the courtyard. After sending Cong Xiu away, Yu Xiu returned and placed a box of sour plums brought from Tian Ji for Ling Luo on the stone table.

“Why did Master come so early?” Chu Yi asked, taking a sour plum and popping it into his mouth, his hands cushioning the back of his head as he reclined lazily on the chair.

Yu Xiu said: “Of course, to watch Ling Luo participate in the Golden Luan Pool Banquet. Senior Brother, when you participated in the banquet back then, didn’t Master also come early?”

Ling Luo returned and sat by the stone table.

Yun Shouxi was truly a good master.

He cared for each of his disciples, earnestly teaching them cultivation, taking responsibility and protecting them when they got into trouble, and wholeheartedly maintaining world order and peace when demons ran rampant.

Yet specifically toward her, he was a deviant.

Ling Luo occasionally found it depressing to think about.

She believed her judgment wasn’t poor; the Yun Shouxi she had admired truly made her feel goodness and aspiration. Unfortunately, fate had let her discover the malice beneath this goodness, instantly complicating her feelings toward Yun Shouxi.

This man’s love was too frenzied.

To a certain extent, it influenced Ling Luo’s understanding and views on love and affection, making her disdainful and averse to others’ affection.

Ling Luo touched her hair. Earlier, Yun Shouxi’s gaze had lingered on her head for a moment because Ling Luo wasn’t wearing the hair ornament he liked, nor the golden hairpin he had given her, nor was she dressed in the clothes he preferred.

When Yun Shouxi returned, he would certainly nag her about this and ask her to change back.

Ling Luo grabbed the small braid she had made herself and narrowed her eyes. The end of her hair lightly brushed her cheek, feeling cool.

“Ling Luo, are you confident about tomorrow’s battle against Feng Tian Yao?” Yu Xiu asked.

Chu Yi laughed coldly: “How could she not be confident? From the first day she arrived at Tai Chu, she already considered herself the champion.”

“Of course I’m confident,” Ling Luo said, holding a sour plum. “What’s so difficult about Feng Tian Yao?”

Such a dismissive attitude.

Yu Xiu shook his head helplessly. Indeed, this was the junior sister he knew.

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’re already very impressive,” Yu Xiu said.

Ling Luo: “But I still want first place.”

“Having ambition isn’t a bad thing,” Yu Xiu smiled. “It’s just that I need to go to Ping Yao City tomorrow to investigate Bai Ling Long’s matter, so I can’t watch your championship battle.”

“Bai Ling Long?” Chu Yi raised an eyebrow. “They’re back again?”

Ever since a Hall Master died at the hands of Bai Ling Long that year, Tian Ji and Bai Ling Long had been locked in a deadly feud, with friction continuing over these years.

Bai Ling Long had gone from twelve people to ten, with two companions dying tragically, and had been causing trouble for Tian Ji ever since.

Yu Xiu said solemnly: “Do you remember Senior Sister Tian Rong?”

Chu Yi: “Who?”

“The senior sister from Tian Zhou Sect,” Yu Xiu explained patiently. “The last disciple taken by the Second Sect Master before her seclusion, Tian Rong.”

Ling Luo bit into a sour plum and looked over. She remembered.

Chu Yi nodded, “I recall now. This senior sister has been in the world for a long time with no news. Why bring her up suddenly?”

“There are rumors from Meng Chuan Fang that Senior Sister Tian Rong has been working with Bai Ling Long, injuring Tian Ji’s disciples. The Sect Master has ordered her capture and return to the mountain gate,” Yu Xiu said. “When Master and I were looking for gifts, we encountered her. She had a demonic aura about her and was rescued by the Death Mist Gate of the Twenty-Six Demons when she was severely injured.”

“Death Mist Gate?” Chu Yi sat up straight.

Ling Luo continued eating sour plums with an unchanged expression.

“Is there a connection between the Twenty-Six Demons and Bai Ling Long?” Chu Yi asked.

Yu Xiu shook his head and said: “We’re still investigating. By tomorrow morning at the latest, the Sect Master will issue an arrest warrant, and all Tian Ji disciples in the outside world will execute the order.”

Chu Yi: “Then I’ll go. You stay at Tai Chu and watch over her.”

Yu Xiu smiled and said: “Senior Brother, there’s no rush. After the Golden Luan Pool Banquet, Master will likely send you and Ling Luo too.”

Chu Yi rolled his eyes and said: “What do you know? I don’t want to be alone with her outside again.”

Yu Xiu couldn’t understand his disdain for Ling Luo.

When he took Ling Luo out, his junior sister was very well-behaved.

If Ling Luo with Chu Yi meant letting Senior Brother fetch and handle everything, then with Yu Xiu it was “Senior Brother, what do you need? I’ll help you get it and prepare it.”

The contrast was very stark.

No wonder Yu Xiu couldn’t understand Chu Yi’s irritation.

“What about the Second Sect Master? Still in seclusion?” Chu Yi asked.

Yu Xiu nodded and said: “Master went to speak with the Second Sect Master about this matter, but she had no opinion and left everything to the Grand Sect Master to handle.”

Chu Yi clicked his tongue, “The disciples under the Second Sect Master, one after another, give people no peace of mind.”

Her most prized disciple was locked away in the Saha Realm, and now her last disciple had turned to demonic ways and injured people of their sect, completely following in the footsteps of the previous disciple.

Ling Luo rested her chin on one hand, silently laughing.

Not to mention the Second Sect Master; their own master was the same.

As the three chatted idly, they inadvertently caught an unusual fragrance wafting over from across the way. The aroma came and went, tempting their appetites.

Yu Xiu glanced across: “Good cooking skills.”

However, Ling Luo and Chu Yi simultaneously stood up and walked outside.

“Where are you going?” Yu Xiu asked, puzzled.

Chu Yi said: “To visit my newly made drinking companion.”

Yu Xiu was speechless.

“But that’s the Sacred Sword Sect—”

Ling Luo, who had gone halfway, came back to pull Yu Xiu along: “So what if it’s the Sacred Sword Sect? The Sacred Sword Sect also eats chestnut roasted chicken!”

Bai Cang opened the door to find all three Tian Ji disciples had arrived.

“I’m surprisingly popular,” Bai Cang said, stroking his chin. Then, seeing Ling Luo run toward the kitchen, he smiled and shook his head. “A Ze, you’ll need to make a few more dishes.”

Only Yu Xiu still properly greeted him. After Chu Yi introduced him as his junior brother, Bai Cang put his arm around Yu Xiu’s shoulders and said with smiling eyes: “Both junior brother and sister are here. Brother Chu, you’re so fortunate.”

Chu Yi said lazily: “You can have my junior sister.”

Bai Cang laughed: “Then my junior brother would be ecstatic.”

Chu Yi immediately said coldly: “Forget what I said.”

Yu Xiu stood bewildered between the two.

Ling Luo stood by the window, peering inside.

Yue Liangze said: “It’s not ready yet.”

Ling Luo: “Then you’d better hurry. If my master returns, none of us will get to eat.”

Yue Liangze said calmly: “How could Immortal Master San Xi be so petty?”

“Oh,” Ling Luo said. “Some people can be unimaginably petty.”

In the courtyard, Yu Xiu sat while Bai Cang stood pouring tea for him.

Yu Xiu was still somewhat constrained: “This doesn’t seem quite proper.”

“What’s improper about it?” Bai Cang said with a smile. “Don’t worry, Brother Yu. We’re just drinking and eating together. How could that be improper?”

“It’s not like we’re discussing sect rules or committing treason,” Chu Yi said. “What’s wrong with being ordinary drinking and dining companions?”

Yu Xiu looked at Chu Yi with a headache. Isn’t this a private relationship?

Bai Cang smiled and pointed to the kitchen, saying to Yu Xiu: “Brother Yu, theirs is the kind of private relationship that would be criticized and guarded against by the major immortal sects. Ours doesn’t count as anything.”

Yu Xiu turned to look and saw Ling Luo, who had been stealing food, grabbing Yue Liangze’s sleeve to wipe her tears. She was crying from the spiciness, wiping, and cursing at the same time. Yue Liangze looked helpless, handing her some clear water and helping her wipe her tears.

Yu Xiu: “…”

Compared to those two, their table, where they hadn’t even touched teacups, was truly innocent.

Ling Luo feared Yun Shouxi would return and spoil their gathering, and Yu Xiu worried about being discovered associating with people from the Sacred Sword Sect. Only Chu Yi felt no pressure, eating at a leisurely pace, wondering about his junior brother and sister who were devouring like hungry tigers.

Their timing was perfect.

Just as the three were leaving the Sacred Sword Sect’s courtyard, they ran into Yun Shouxi returning.

Yun Shouxi stood at the door and smiled: “Had a good time?”

Yu Xiu and Ling Luo silently hid behind their Senior Brother. Chu Yi asked: “Master, have you eaten yet?”

Yun Shouxi said: “I was waiting for you three to eat together.”

Yu Xiu felt extremely guilty after hearing this.

Chu Yi still didn’t see anything wrong and said: “Then Master, rest for a while. I’ll go—”

Before he could finish, Bai Cang came out carrying a plate of fragrant baked buns: “Immortal Master San Xi has returned? These baked buns just came out of the oven. I thought you might not have eaten while discussing matters with the Sect Master.”

He handed them to Ling Luo, who was closest.

Ling Luo held the plate, her expression slightly startled.

Baked buns?

Identical baked buns.

She instantly recalled the scene where she had once lost control and forced Yue Liangze to eat. Looking up again, she saw Yue Liangze behind Bai Cang with a baked bun in his mouth that he had just bitten into—

As scenes flashed through her mind, Ling Luo exclaimed urgently: “You’re not allowed to eat that!”

Yue Liangze: “?”

Everyone else looked at the two in surprise.

After Ling Luo’s outburst, Yue Liangze was caught between eating and not eating. After a moment’s hesitation, he didn’t take another bite.

Bai Cang asked puzzledly: “Why can’t he eat? He made them himself.”

Ling Luo: “…”

She stammered: “Because… I-I like to eat these!”

Yu Xiu and Chu Yi, in a rare moment of tacit understanding, wanted to lock Ling Luo back in their courtyard.

Yun Shouxi watched quietly, only narrowing his eyes slightly.

Hearing this, Yue Liangze turned and brought her another plate.

“For you,” he said. “In the future, if you want to eat them, I won’t need to send them. I can give them to you in person.”

Yun Shouxi’s gaze turned cold.

Ling Luo carried the two plates of baked buns toward Yun Shouxi.

Inside, she was furiously screaming.

I don’t like eating them at all!

I hate baked buns the most!

You’d better never eat them in your entire life!