After parting with Huan Zong, Kong Hou turned and ran to the dining hall.

The senior brothers and sisters in the dining hall were very happy to see Kong Hou, enthusiastically recommending the new foods they had recently developed. Kong Hou skipped over a row of oddly-shaped items and picked several snacks that looked delicious at first glance.

“Grand-martial Uncle…” A man in clean blue robes lifted his head from beside a large wok, his face covered with sweat from the smoke and heat. Kong Hou looked carefully for a moment before recognizing this was Chu Jixuan, some generation of grand-nephew to Huan Zong. Hadn’t he joined Wuwei Manor—why was he in Yunhua Sect’s dining hall?

“Jixuan.” Kong Hou smiled and nodded at him. “Why are you here?”

“To improve our pursuit of the culinary dao, disciples within the manor take turns serving in your esteemed sect’s dining hall.” Chu Jixuan smiled, very satisfied with Yunhua Sect’s dining hall. “Your esteemed sect has abundant ingredients, all the fellow daoists are easy to get along with, and disciples from top to bottom respect culinary cultivators very much. Disciples from the manor all like to serve here.”

After entering the sect, he learned that the status of culinary cultivators wasn’t high in the cultivation world. But Yunhua Sect’s disciples were different—they never slighted him for being a newly admitted disciple. No matter when, whenever they encountered him, they would greet him warmly and politely, often giving him all kinds of good ingredients.

His senior brothers and sisters often said that only after affiliating with Yunhua Sect did they truly experience what it meant to feel at home, what it meant to receive supreme respect.

As culinary cultivators, their favorite praise was nothing more than diners having hearty appetites for every dish carefully prepared.

“Your grand-martial uncle also came. When you have time, go pay your respects to him.” Kong Hou saw it was almost time for the midday meal and knew they would soon be busy. “I’ll take some snacks for him to try first.”

“Grand-martial Uncle, wait.” Chu Jixuan glanced at the few snacks on Kong Hou’s tray, then added several more snacks to her tray, his tone tactful: “These few are also popular with your esteemed sect’s disciples.”

Kong Hou immediately understood and silently put back all the snacks she had previously selected.

Having not seen them for some time, the senior brothers and sisters’ pursuit of the culinary dao had become increasingly unrestrained and impractical.

“Is Grand-martial Uncle doing well?” Chu Jixuan wiped his hands, somewhat embarrassed.

Kong Hou nodded and smiled: “He’s very well. Would you like to come see him with me?”

“That’s good then.” Chu Jixuan nodded in a daze, then quickly shook his head. “I won’t disturb Grand-martial Uncle.” After joining Wuwei Manor, he had written a letter home to his imperial father and mother. In his imperial father’s reply, which mentioned palace secrets from hundreds of years ago, he learned that relations between Grand-martial Uncle and the Chu family hadn’t been pleasant back then.

His imperial father specifically emphasized that if he encountered Grand-martial Uncle, he must not be bothersome, and absolutely must not annoy him—the Chu family had wronged Grand-martial Uncle back then.

“What does shaking your head and then nodding mean?”

“I…” Chu Jixuan shook his head. “This junior’s meaning is that since Grand-martial Uncle has traveled from afar, this junior won’t disturb his rest.”

Kong Hou didn’t ask further, nodding to show understanding. Turning to see several disciples walking in chatting and laughing, she said: “You’re busy, I’ll take my leave first.”

“Grand-martial Uncle, take care.” Chu Jixuan respectfully bowed. Having joined Wuwei Manor for just a few months, his conduct had already become much more mature and steady than when they first met.

Gui Lin and the others had just reached the dining hall entrance when they saw a kindly-smiling woman with beautiful features walking toward them with a smile. Gao Jianyan stared blankly at the woman’s face, somewhat unable to come back to his senses.

“S-Senior Sister Kong Hou, greetings Senior Sister, Senior Sister is well.” Li Rou’s face reddened as she obediently bowed to Kong Hou.

“Greetings to all junior brothers and sisters.” Kong Hou nodded in return, her clear black-and-white eyes sweeping over them as she smiled: “Quickly go grab seats—when others arrive, you won’t be able to get the dishes you want.”

Li Rou’s face was red, her voice soft as a mosquito’s: “En, thank you for Senior Sister’s reminder.”

The disciples, already accustomed to her loud voice, felt somewhat unaccustomed to Li Rou’s sudden coy manner and couldn’t help secretly touching their arms.

Gui Lin noticed Kong Hou carrying several portions of snacks and guessed she was bringing things for someone. He bowed to Kong Hou: “Respectfully welcoming Senior Sister’s return.”

“No need for such formality.” Kong Hou noticed this junior brother who spoke had refined features and extraordinary bearing, looking at him twice more. “Are you all newly admitted disciples?”

“Yes, I’m called Gui Lin.”

“Gui Lin…” Kong Hou nodded. “Returning clouds half-entering the ridge, facing water ravines and autumn frost… a good name.”

Gui Lin’s eyelids trembled slightly as he lowered his head and bowed: “Thank you for Senior Sister’s praise.”

Kong Hou smiled again: “Alright, you should all go eat now. Farewell.”

“Senior Sister, take care.” Gui Lin bent at the waist, catching the very faint fragrance as the young woman passed by.

After the group was seated, he noticed Li Rou looking at him with disapproval, somewhat baffled: “What’s your problem?”

“You’re the one with a problem!” Li Rou rolled her eyes at him. “I really didn’t see it—you actually have such scheming.”

Gui Lin’s hand holding his chopsticks trembled slightly, then steadily picked up a vegetable: “What do you mean by that?”

“You actually stole my chance to attract Senior Sister’s attention.” Li Rou gritted her teeth. “The grudge between us is irreconcilable.”

Gui Lin nearly failed to grip his chopsticks steady. What kind of problem was this? Li Rou was a woman—a woman! What attention was she competing for in front of a senior sister?!

Kong Hou carried the snacks all the way to the courtyard where Liuguang Sect was staying. Guarding the gate was that disciple called Xiao Dong. When he saw Kong Hou, he bowed to her: “Martial Uncle.”

“Xiao Dong, is Huan Zong in?”

“Martial Uncle is in Martial Grand-uncle’s courtyard.” Xiao Dong pointed in a direction. “He just went over.”

“Thank you.” Kong Hou walked in the direction Xiao Dong indicated.

Xiao Dong watched her graceful retreating figure, unable to help thinking—after Martial Uncle Kong Hou, who has such a good temperament, becomes cultivation partners with Martial Uncle, will Martial Uncle’s temperament become much gentler?

In Song He’s room, Zhihe looked at the suddenly appearing Huan Zong, feeling very puzzled. He had always heard that Liuguang Sect disciples were very proper and rule-abiding—how could a junior suddenly barge into a courtyard where elders were residing? Turning to look at Song He, there was surprisingly no anger on his face. What kind of status did this Daoist Huan Zong have in Liuguang Sect?

“Zhihe, this is my no-account grand-nephew, the peak lord of Luanfeng Peak.” Song He smiled slightly and greeted Huan Zong: “Why are you standing at the door? Come in and sit.”

“Martial Uncle.” Huan Zong bowed to Song He—what an elegant gentleman.

Zhihe exclaimed in shock: “The peak lord of Luanfeng Peak—isn’t that Daoist Zhong Xi?”

“Brother Zhihe doesn’t know—after my grand-nephew joined the sect, my senior brother gave him the dao name Zhong Xi, but his secular name is Huan Zong.” Song He’s smile became warmer. “This child cherishes the past and doesn’t forget his birth mother’s kindness, so when he goes out, he prefers to use his secular name.” He absolutely didn’t mention Jiufeng Sect’s intention to arrange a marriage, wanting to preserve some face for Zhihe.

Setting aside that his grand-nephew and Miss Kong Hou already had feelings for each other, even if he didn’t have a woman in his heart, they wouldn’t disregard his wishes and force him to be with anyone. Though medicinal materials were important, a sword cultivator’s life pursued the supreme dao of one’s heart—what meaning was there in lingering existence obtained by selling body and soul?

He didn’t understand why Jiufeng Sect suddenly had this notion. Though from a sect’s perspective, two disciples joining forces was a good thing, people were ultimately people. Even though outsiders said sword cultivators were as cold as swords, they couldn’t truly treat them as swords.

Though Song He didn’t bring it up, Zhihe was unwilling to give up. He looked at Huan Zong: “So worthy nephew is Peak Lord Zhong Xi. I wonder what you think of this matter?”

“My apologies.” Huan Zong said coldly. “Your esteemed sect’s female disciple has outstanding natural talent—this junior is not worthy.”

“I see it’s not that you’re unworthy, but that you’re unwilling.” Zhihe was somewhat displeased by Huan Zong’s unhesitating refusal, unable to maintain the smile on his face. “Zhong Xi, I heard your esteemed sect urgently needs phoenix blood. You should be very clear how precious such a thing is—are you truly not considering it?”

“Please forgive me, Peak Lord. In life, there are things that can be abandoned and things that cannot be abandoned.” Huan Zong’s expression was calm. “This junior understands very well how precious phoenix blood is. But please rest assured, Peak Lord—the matter of your esteemed sect having phoenix blood, once you leave this door today, will never reach another’s ears.”

Song He looked at Huan Zong with slight surprise. His grand-nephew could actually say such words? In the past, he would never have considered these things. It seemed people still needed to travel more and see more to make progress.

On this point, Zhihe didn’t doubt Liuguang Sect’s character at all. He worked hard to adjust his mindset: “Since that’s the case, then I shall take my leave.”

“Why must Brother Zhihe be so hasty? Sit down and have some tea before leaving.” Song He stood to urge him to stay.

“No need.” Zhihe was somewhat disappointed. In his view, Zhong Xi and Ling Yue becoming cultivation partners would be beneficial without harm. Since the other party was unwilling, he couldn’t force it. “In two days will be Nephew Cheng Yi’s Nascent Soul formation ceremony—I still need to go back and properly prepare a congratulatory gift.”

This was just an excuse. When representatives from the major sects came, they had already prepared congratulatory gifts—how could they wait until now to prepare? Song He didn’t expose this and escorted Zhihe to the door. “Brother Zhihe, take care.”

“Brother Song He, please stay.” Zhihe bowed to Song He and Huan Zong. “Brother Song He, Worthy Nephew Zhong Xi, farewell.”

Huan Zong didn’t look at him but suddenly raised his head, looking toward the hanging flower archway on the right.

Kong Hou, holding a tray of snacks, stood at the doorway watching him.

His fingertips trembled. Huan Zong opened his mouth: “Kong Hou…”

From Zhihe’s mouth, Kong Hou vaguely heard the four words “Worthy Nephew Zhong Xi.” She looked behind Huan Zong and Song He twice, seeing two sword cultivators in disciple robes, but neither was nine feet tall, and both were quite handsome.

Before she could examine closely, Zhihe was already walking this way. Kong Hou stepped aside and curtsied to Zhihe.

Zhihe saw Kong Hou and nodded slightly to her. Suddenly thinking of something, he turned to look at Huan Zong, then at Kong Hou.

So that’s how it was…

He had thought Zhong Xi was heartless and unfeeling, without a woman he liked, which was why the sect had the idea of an arranged marriage. Had he known earlier that Zhong Xi had feelings for this newly admitted disciple of Yunhua Sect, he absolutely would never have opened his mouth.

A perfectly good sword cultivator—discuss the heavens, discuss the earth, discuss the sword dao, discuss anything else, but why must he discuss emotions?

Zhihe sighed inwardly. Throughout history, how many cultivators who became obsessed with romantic love cultivated to a good end?

“Martial Uncle Song He.” When Kong Hou saw Song He, she remembered the story books Song He had confiscated from her in the past and obediently bowed to him.

“You two juniors chat slowly. I’m going to find Daoist Wang Tong to discuss the dao.” Song He forced a smile at Kong Hou, turned and walked out, not forgetting to take the other disciples with him.

The courtyard suddenly became quiet.

“I…”

“Where is Daoist Zhong Xi?” Kong Hou stuffed the tray into Huan Zong’s hands, craning her neck to look around.

Huan Zong used a small spell to transfer the tray to the stone table in the courtyard and turned Kong Hou’s shoulders: “There’s no Daoist Zhong Xi inside.” He looked at the young woman’s bewildered eyes and said slowly: “Kong Hou, my secular name is Huan Zong, the name my mother gave me. Later when I joined Liuguang Sect, Master said my destiny was noble and I needed a prestigious dao name to be suitable, so my dao name is…”

“Zhong Xi.”

Kong Hou stared at Huan Zong in a daze, countless emotions churning in her heart. After a long while, she asked: “Nine feet tall?”

“That’s a false rumor from outsiders. There was an evil cultivator I killed who was nine feet tall.”

“Eyes like lightning?” Kong Hou raised her head to look at Huan Zong’s eyes, silently covering her face. These eyes were beautiful and deep, as if all the stars in the sky were contained within them. Indeed… indeed eyes like lightning.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t intentionally deceive you. It’s just that the name Zhong Xi often causes unnecessary commotion. On this journey, to truly travel the world, I completely cast aside my responsibilities as Liuguang Sect’s peak lord.” Huan Zong’s long eyelashes trembled. “Kong Hou, please don’t become distant from me because of this.”

He grabbed Kong Hou’s sleeve and shook it, then forcibly suppressed his shame and buried his head against Kong Hou’s shoulder. “Will you forgive me?”

A warm spot on her shoulder, medicinal fragrance swirling around her nose—Kong Hou’s mind felt somewhat dizzy. As if possessed, she reached out and gently patted Huan Zong’s back. “Don’t be afraid, I’m not angry with you. Good boy.”

Huan Zong raised his head, looking at the young woman’s expression of coaxing a child, and suddenly smiled. He pulled her to sit by the stone table and poured a cup of tea, placing it in front of her: “If there’s anything you need to ask me, I will tell you everything.”

“Wait.” Kong Hou drank a mouthful of tea, and her brain, confused by beautiful looks, finally found a thread of clarity. “Let me sort this out.”

“So you’re the legendary Daoist Zhong Xi—nine feet tall, eyes like lightning, capable of stopping children from crying at night, who reached the Divine Transformation stage at just over two hundred years old and became a peak lord?” Kong Hou drank most of the cup of tea before speaking again. “The foremost genius in a thousand years?”

“What thousand-year genius? It’s just the world’s exaggerated praise…”

“So you’re already three hundred twenty-eight years old this year?” Kong Hou carefully calculated. “Huan Zong, you’re a full three hundred years older than me, with an extra eleven years on top.”

Huan Zong turned to look at Kong Hou. After a long moment, he pressed his lips together: “En.”

Wind swept through the small courtyard, making the tree leaves rustle.

Huan Zong looked at the swaying leaves, as if seeing his own constantly wavering heart. He lowered his head to look at the teacup in his hands. “Will you… mind that I’m old?”

Stealing a glance at Huan Zong’s flawless face—with such a face, never mind being just over three hundred years old, even if he were a thousand years old, she couldn’t bear to mind.

“I don’t mind, I don’t mind. Men being a bit older is more mature.” Kong Hou quickly picked up her teacup and took a sip. Her words sounded somewhat off.

“Thank you.” Huan Zong grasped Kong Hou’s wrist. “And I’m sorry.”

“It’s just a name.” Kong Hou was very magnanimous. “No matter what your name is, you’re still you. A name is just a designation.” Kong Hou remembered she had asked right in front of Huan Zong whether Daoist Zhong Xi was not very good-looking, and silently covered her face. “It’s just… I embarrassed myself a bit.”

“If I’d known you were Daoist Zhong Xi, I absolutely wouldn’t have asked those foolish questions.” The more she recalled, the more embarrassed she felt. Kong Hou felt she could no longer face Huan Zong normally.

“It wasn’t embarrassing.” Huan Zong stood up, walked in front of Kong Hou, and crouched before her, looking up at her seated on the stone bench. “My memory isn’t good—I’ve forgotten many things. I only remember… you’ve always been beautiful and lovely.”

What did it feel like to have a flawless man crouching before you, looking up with gentle and affectionate eyes?

Kong Hou couldn’t describe it with simple words. She felt as if she currently possessed the entire world. She was a queen, the master of the world. She wanted to lower her head and touch foreheads with Huan Zong.

However, reason stopped this crazy thought. She didn’t want to be regarded as a lecher by Huan Zong at such a young age.

But if she could possess this gaze for a long, long time, possess this person, it seemed…

“Is Daoist Zhong Xi here?” Wu Chuan’s voice sounded from outside the gate.

Kong Hou snapped out of her infatuation with beauty, coughed dryly, and straightened her posture. She absolutely couldn’t let Senior Brother Wu Chuan discover she had such wicked thoughts. If she was sent to the dungeon for a few days, her life would face a severe challenge.

Huan Zong stood up, straightened his robes, and walked to the door: “Daoist Wu Chuan, please come in.”

Wu Chuan looked at Huan Zong with some confusion. Was Yunhua Mountain very hot? Why was Daoist Zhong Xi not only flushed in the face but red in the ears as well?

“Thank you.” Wu Chuan entered the courtyard and saw Kong Hou was also there. “Junior Sister, why are you here?”

“I brought Huan Zong back, so of course I should properly host him.” Kong Hou stood and bowed to Wu Chuan. “Senior Brother Wu Chuan, why have you come?”

“I came to inform Daoist Zhong Xi that there will be a banquet tonight at Feihe Hall. We hope Daoist Zhong Xi, Peak Lord Song He, and your esteemed sect’s disciples will honor us with your presence.” With so many people earlier, Wu Chuan hadn’t been able to properly look her over. Now examining her from head to toe: “It seems you’ve had a good time outside—there’s even flesh on your cheeks.”

Kong Hou: “…”

Senior Brother, telling a girl her face has gained flesh isn’t exactly a compliment.

Huan Zong poured Wu Chuan a cup of tea: “Thank you for Daoist Wu Chuan’s invitation. We will certainly arrive on time.”

“This is Daoist Zhong Xi’s first time at our Yunhua Sect—I wonder if you’re comfortable staying here?” Wu Chuan said. “If you need anything, just say so.”

“Don’t worry, with me here, I won’t let Huan Zong suffer any grievances.” Kong Hou held her teacup and ate a piece of pastry.

Wu Chuan thought to himself—Little Junior Sister Kong Hou went out for half a year and not only brought back many good things, but even brought back a once-in-a-millennium sword cultivator. This ability to bring all good things home really wasn’t something ordinary people could match.

However, Daoist Zhong Xi was known to be aloof and very particular about propriety. Wasn’t Junior Sister’s manner a bit too casual?

Just as he was thinking this, he saw Daoist Zhong Xi take several dishes of spirit fruits brimming with spiritual energy from his storage ring and place them in front of Junior Sister. These spirit fruits were all priceless treasures—without some ability, you couldn’t buy them even with spirit stones in hand.

Looking again at Junior Sister, she very casually picked one up and ate it, her movements so practiced she must have done this countless times. Looking again at Daoist Zhong Xi, his face was full of tenderness—where was the rumored cold as ice demeanor?

It seemed rumors were just rumors and couldn’t be taken seriously. Daoist Zhong Xi wasn’t like an unsheathed sharp sword, but more like a precious jade—warm, gentle, noble, and with extraordinary bearing.

“This kind of fruit isn’t good.” Kong Hou frowned. “Sour.”

“Then next time we won’t buy this one.” Huan Zong put away the spirit fruit Kong Hou said was sour and replaced it with a plate of spirit melons, turning his head to Wu Chuan: “Daoist Wu Chuan, please.”

“Thank you.” Wu Chuan glanced at Kong Hou from the corner of his eye. Had Little Junior Sister Kong Hou always been this delicate? That was an oil fruit worth nearly a hundred spirit stones each. Though it was somewhat sour, its spiritual energy was very abundant—a good thing not easily obtained.

“En.” Kong Hou tried a different fruit, her eyebrows arching as she picked a large one from the plate and handed it to Huan Zong. “This one’s good, try it.”

Huan Zong’s eyebrows softened with tenderness as he took a bite: “Indeed delicious.”

Wu Chuan: “…”

Though three people sat at this table, he felt somewhat superfluous.

Junior Sister was his junior sister—how could she be so close with an outsider?

“Junior Sister Kong Hou, the three elders have all come out of seclusion. Later I’ll take you to pay your respects to them.” Wu Chuan said. “Daoist Huan Zong has traveled from afar—let him rest a while more. Don’t keep disturbing him.”

“It’s nothing, I’m not tired.” Huan Zong’s lips curved in a smile. “Kong Hou hasn’t been disturbing me. These past days, I’m grateful to have had her company.”

“Who’s keeping track between us?” Kong Hou stood up and stuffed several of the delicious spirit fruits into her storage ring. “Huan Zong, then I’ll go pay respects to the elders. You rest first—I’ll come get you for the banquet tonight.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you.” Huan Zong stood and straightened the slightly tilted step-shake hairpin at her temple.

Wu Chuan felt these words sounded somewhat off. Junior Sister, a young woman, going to fetch a grown man for dinner—had these two switched genders? In front of a guest, Wu Chuan maintained his silent, steady demeanor.

Huan Zong escorted the senior brother and sister out of the courtyard. After walking quite a distance, Wu Chuan saw Zhong Xi still standing at the gate watching them leave and sighed: “Daoist Zhong Xi is truly too courteous.”

“En, Huan Zong has always been this good.” Kong Hou nodded in agreement.

Wu Chuan smiled at her: “So we senior brothers aren’t good?”

“Senior Brothers are also super good.” Kong Hou hugged Wu Chuan’s arm and shook it. “Senior Brothers are the best.”

“I think you mean to say Senior Brother Cheng Yi is the best.” Wu Chuan said. “Cheng Yi has been in seclusion these past two days stabilizing his mental state. He’ll emerge the morning after tomorrow—don’t be anxious. That Heaven and Earth Sword Technique you brought back is quite extraordinary. After Cheng Yi saw it, he suddenly achieved great enlightenment and broke through his mental barrier.”

“Senior Brother Wu Chuan, you’re also very good—I’m not lying.” Kong Hou smiled. “I actually don’t know how formidable that sword technique really is. I’m just glad it can help you all.”

Wu Chuan had recently also sensed his mental state loosening—a breakthrough was probably in sight. However, breaking through mental barriers was something that should be stable rather than rushed, so he hadn’t deliberately sought an opportunity: “Master and the three elders all examined that sword technique set. They said it’s a set of sword techniques that’s been lost for a very long time and is very helpful for sword cultivators. After Cheng Yi’s Nascent Soul formation ceremony, we’ll have it printed and distributed to the major sects. Master’s intention is that when the sects send their thanks, you’ll receive seventy percent.”

“That much?” Kong Hou rubbed her face. “Fifty percent would be enough for me.”

“The sect doesn’t lack these spirit stones. Even if you took ninety percent, it would be proper. It’s just that giving you too much wouldn’t look good if word got out—seventy percent is just right.” Though Wu Chuan’s expression was steady, his words were quite practical. “Spirit stones, magical treasures, and such things—keeping them yourself is most reliable.”

Young women liked all kinds of beautiful flying immortal dresses and beautiful magical treasures. No amount of spirit stones would be enough to spend.

On Qiyue Peak, Wang Tong had been detained by Song He. He didn’t know what had gotten into Song He lately—with or without reason, he loved to discuss the dao with him. They’d known each other for so many years—what dao was left to discuss?

Barely maintaining his patience as he sat on a meditation cushion, Wang Tong wondered when his little disciple would finish paying respects to the three elders and come back to find him.

“Though Zhong Xi doesn’t talk much, his character is very steady, and he’s extremely protective of those close to him. In his early years, he discovered quite a few secret realms and accumulated many spirit stones and magical implements.” Song He drank a mouthful of tea. Seeing Wang Tong had no reaction, he continued: “Moreover, he’s also skilled in artifact refinement and drawing talismans, with some knowledge of divination and alchemy—truly a rare good child.”

“Daoist Zhong Xi’s talent makes us all ashamed of ourselves.” Wang Tong changed his sitting position, thinking to himself—when did Liuguang Sect also catch Zhaohan Sect’s problem of constantly boasting about their own disciples?

Daoist Zhong Xi was indeed very formidable, but no matter how formidable, he wasn’t from their Qiyue Peak. What was the point of telling him this?

“Brother Wang Tong must not say such things. That child Zhong Xi greatly respects teachers and the dao, and is very respectful toward elders.” Song He, worried Wang Tong might misunderstand Huan Zong as arrogant because of his talent, explained further: “He’s your grand-nephew—how could he make you ashamed?”

Wang Tong changed his sitting position again, unable to understand Song He’s meaning.

What problem had Liuguang Sect developed? Why was their speech so strange?