“Senior Brother.” When Kong Hou found Cheng Yi, he was inspecting the newly arranged defensive array at Jixiang Pavilion. Though Cheng Yi primarily cultivated the sword dao, he also had considerable accomplishments in the array dao. Among the middle generation disciples of Yunhua Sect, aside from Wu Chuan, he had the most prestige.

Cheng Yi adjusted the positions of two magical artifacts and rolled down his sleeves. “Why did you come here?”

Kong Hou smiled at several Jixiang Pavilion disciples who looked somewhat unfamiliar, then turned to address Cheng Yi. “Senior Brother, there’s something I want to tell you.”

Cheng Yi glanced at her and gestured for the Jixiang Pavilion disciples not to follow, then led Kong Hou to sit by the stone table in the courtyard. “Go ahead. Do you need spirit stones or magical artifacts?”

Gently shaking her head, Kong Hou poured a cup of tea and handed it to Cheng Yi with both hands. “Neither.”

“Oh?” Cheng Yi took a sip of tea. “Then what is it?”

“Senior Brother, I want to set out for Kuicheng in two days.” Kong Hou felt a bit guilty. “With you stationed at Jixiang Pavilion, I can be at ease.”

“Together with Huan Zong?” Cheng Yi set down his teacup, his expression showing neither pleasure nor anger. This appearance made Kong Hou feel even more guilty as she lowered her head and nodded.

“I’ve heard that Kuicheng’s peach blossom cakes are delicious. When you get there, remember to send some back to me.” Cheng Yi smiled. “Kuicheng is far away. I dislike traveling long distances most, so I won’t go with you.”

“Senior Brother…” Kong Hou peeked at Cheng Yi. “You’re not angry with me?”

“Why would I be angry? You came out to travel and gain experience. Could I really keep you here to accompany me at Jixiang Pavilion?” Cheng Yi looked at the obediently behaved young woman before him, his smile becoming even warmer. “Moreover, you have Senior Lin and Daoist Huan Zong, two great experts, by your side. Being with them will also broaden your knowledge considerably.” He touched the thumb ring on his finger. After going out this one trip, she had even learned artifact crafting. After spending more time with Senior Lin and Daoist Huan Zong, she might even learn arrays, talismans, and beast taming.

“I wanted to spend more time with you.” Kong Hou cupped her face with both hands and blinked at Cheng Yi. “Now that I’m leaving early, don’t you feel reluctant?”

“I am reluctant, but keeping you constantly by our side would only harm you.” Cheng Yi smiled. “I understand your feelings, but we cultivators aren’t bound by worldly customs. Moreover, the entire Lingyou Realm is only so large. If I miss you, I’ll come find you.”

“Senior Brother…” Kong Hou lowered her hands and hugged Cheng Yi’s arm, showing him a big smile. “You’re so good.”

Outside the courtyard gate, Huan Zong stood on the stone steps watching the intimately behaving senior brother and junior sister inside. He withdrew his gaze and turned to walk away.

“Zhenren Huan Zong.” Pavilion Master Sun, appearing from somewhere, clasped his hands toward Huan Zong. “Zhenren, please wait.”

“May I ask what the Pavilion Master needs?” Huan Zong returned the bow.

“Nothing major. A guest just came to visit, and I observed this person’s fate has a blood connection with yours, so I’m taking the liberty to inform you.” Pavilion Master Sun said. “If this person is your junior, there’s no harm in taking a look.”

“May I know the visitor’s surname?”

“The Crown Prince of the Lingyou Realm’s imperial family, Chu Jixuan.” Pavilion Master Sun said. “He asked me to divine the Chu family’s national fortune.” To cultivators, the imperial family was an esteemed decoration. They respected the imperial family’s people but didn’t truly take them seriously. Matters of national fortune couldn’t be easily divined. The Chu family sought him out only because he once owed them a favor, but whether this favor was enough for him to perform divination still depended on this Zhenren Huan Zong’s attitude.

Pavilion Master Sun was a clever man. He not only knew divination but also knew how to calculate advantages.

Huan Zong heard the implication in Pavilion Master Sun’s words. His expression remained calm. “National fortune is determined by heaven. Whether to divine it or not is secondary. However, the Chu family does have some connection with me. If the Pavilion Master doesn’t mind, I’d like to meet this person.”

“Please come this way.” Pavilion Master Sun saw Huan Zong’s indifferent expression and knew that Huan Zong had little affection for this imperial prince who might be a relative junior.

Chu Jixuan’s status within the imperial family was somewhat special because his birth mother was a cultivator, and he possessed spiritual roots for cultivation. The Chu family had been blessed by dragon qi for generations, ruling over the common people of the Lingyou Realm for hundreds of years with incomparably noble status. Yet as if cursed, almost all their descendants lacked spiritual roots for cultivation. The occasional ones who had spiritual roots were also dull-witted and found it difficult to go far on the cultivation path.

After he was tested and found to have three spiritual roots, the Emperor Father was extremely delighted and said that the Chu family’s ancestors had once produced a cultivator of exceptional talent. However, something went wrong back then, and the records about this ancestor were extremely brief—not even leaving behind his name, only recording his ranking among the imperial princes.

He had wanted to enter a sect’s tutelage, but major sects wouldn’t accept him and minor sects didn’t dare accept him. These years he could only cultivate following a rogue cultivator invited into the palace, and now barely had fifth stage Qi Refining cultivation.

After kneeling on the cushion for a while, he heard footsteps outside and set down his teacup. He straightened his robes and turned to face the door.

The carved wooden door opened. Walking in front wasn’t Pavilion Master Sun, but a white-robed man of outstanding bearing. Several days ago, he had seen this person on the street. He hadn’t expected to meet him again here today.

“Greetings to the two seniors.”

“You’re not a cultivator, so there’s no need to address by seniority. Just call me Zhenren.” Huan Zong walked to the guest seat and sat down, then turned to glance at Pavilion Master Sun following behind. Pavilion Master Sun obediently sat in the main seat, smiling and remaining silent.

Chu Jixuan was intimidated by the other party’s cold attitude and honestly performed the bow. “Yes, Zhenren.”

Last time he had seen wrong. This Zhenren didn’t resemble his old Chu family ancestors at all. Among the Chu family’s ancestors through the generations, no one could cultivate such presence.

“I hear you want to divine the Chu family’s future national fortune?” Huan Zong’s expression was serious, even his brow peak taking on some severity. “A nation’s fortune involves all the people—how can it be divined just like that?”

“Zhen… Zhenren is right.” Chu Jixuan’s knees felt somewhat weak. In front of this handsome-featured Zhenren, he felt like a grandson being lectured by his grandfather—and a very timid grandson at that.

“This Zhenren Huan Zong is a great expert from Liuguang Sect.” Pavilion Master Sun added with a smile from the side.

Hearing this, Chu Jixuan’s knees grew even weaker. If this great expert was willing to bring him to Liuguang Sect to cultivate, forget being a grandson—he’d even be willing to be a great-grandson.

He came to Jixiang Pavilion nominally to divine national fortune, but actually wanted to join a cultivation sect.

Rumin was his wife and had already been accepted as a disciple of Shuiyue Sect. If he didn’t devote himself to cultivation, even if Rumin didn’t mind, he wouldn’t be able to accompany her long due to lifespan issues.

“Jixuan presumes to ask, could this humble one enter your esteemed sect?” Chu Jixuan’s face was pale and his arms trembled, but he still bowed deeply to Huan Zong. He wasn’t a fool—how could he not see that the person whose words carried more weight here was this Zhenren Huan Zong of Liuguang Sect, not Pavilion Master Sun?

“Insufficient aptitude, haven’t reached Foundation Establishment yet have already lost your primordial yang.” Huan Zong’s tone was bland. “Your Highness doesn’t meet our sect’s standards for accepting disciples.”

Chu Jixuan: “…”

This rejection was so direct, his chest ached a bit.

“I observe Your Highness already has cultivation. Why not cultivate in the palace?” Pavilion Master Sun stroked his beard. “If you entered a sect, you’d have to cast aside all status and act according to sect rules. Wouldn’t that wrong you?”

“If I can enter a sect, what does casting aside these empty titles matter?” Chu Jixuan kowtowed. “Please believe in this humble one’s sincere heart, Zhenren and Pavilion Master.”

Pavilion Master Sun sighed. “It’s not that I’m unwilling to help you, but our Jixiang Pavilion only accepts disciples skilled in divination. Your Highness’s talents don’t seem suited for the divination path. If Your Highness doesn’t mind my presumptuous question, would you tell me what you’re best at?”

Chu Jixuan: “…”

As a child, he was raised as the imperial heir. Later, after the Emperor Father discovered he had spiritual roots, he invited rogue cultivators to the palace to teach him cultivation. These years he also tried sending gifts to the ten major sects, hoping they would accept him, but unfortunately the ten major sects were upright and honest, refusing all bribery attempts. To this day, he still hadn’t joined any sect. Zhenren Huan Zong was probably the cultivator with the highest status he had ever met.

Huan Zong looked at Chu Jixuan critically. Extremely poor aptitude, unremarkable temperament, and had already tasted feminine pleasures. No special talents, already in his twenties but cultivation still at Qi Refining stage. The Chu family’s descendants were truly worse with each generation—better not to have met him.

Pavilion Master Sun saw that Chu Jixuan actually couldn’t answer what he excelled at, and cleared his throat. “Think again, Your Highness. Surely there’s something you’re interested in?”

Chu Jixuan thought of something, his face flushing red as he secretly glanced at Huan Zong. Huan Zong raised an eyebrow, his tone cold as frost and snow. “Speak.”

“I… I want to cook.” When Chu Jixuan was very young, he had secretly watched the imperial chefs cook in the imperial kitchen. That lightning-fast knife work, the deft way they lifted and flipped the wok—it sparked in him a deep interest in culinary arts.

Unfortunately, as an imperial family member, forget letting him cook—him merely approaching the kitchen could cause the servants to shriek in alarm. All these years, he only dared secretly make a few small dishes for Rumin to eat when they went out together.

“This is really…” Pavilion Master Sun noticed Huan Zong looking at him. The words on his tongue turned round and round, becoming: “A really interesting hobby.”

In the entire cultivation world, cultivators who entered the Dao through cooking were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. The only sect that accepted chef cultivators was Wuwei Manor. However, their Jixiang Pavilion had no relationship with Wuwei Manor, so even if he wanted to help, he was powerless.

In fact, Zhenren Huan Zong could help with this. Wuwei Manor’s manor master, Zhenren Bai’an, had ties with Hefeng House, and Hefeng House was an affiliated sect of Liuguang Sect. Zhenren Huan Zong was a personal disciple of Liuguang Sect. If he spoke up to help, Prince Chu entering Wuwei Manor shouldn’t be difficult.

However, the biggest problem was that Zhenren Huan Zong really didn’t look willing to help.

Thinking of the favor he owed the imperial family, Pavilion Master Sun wanted to say some good words for Chu Jixuan, but Zhenren Huan Zong had already stood up and walked toward the courtyard.

Pavilion Master Sun froze. This meant he didn’t want to continue talking?

“Huan Zong?” Coming out from Senior Brother’s courtyard, Kong Hou had wanted to ask Pavilion Master Sun more about the Xunyun Tree, but hearing from the disciple guarding outside that Pavilion Master Sun was entertaining a guest, she prepared to leave. Who knew Huan Zong would walk out from inside?

Was the guest Pavilion Master Sun was entertaining Huan Zong?

“What are you standing outside for?” Huan Zong raised his hand. “Come.”

“Is it appropriate for me to go?” Kong Hou felt she probably shouldn’t disturb them.

“It’s fine. It’s a junior from my ancestral line. According to the rules, he should call you martial grand-aunt.” Huan Zong led Kong Hou inside. “This child has no talent and mediocre temperament, but at least his character is pure and kind. He also likes the culinary dao. I plan to recommend him to cultivate at Wuwei Manor, hoping Zhenren Bai’an will give me some face.”

“Wuwei Manor is a good place.” Hearing that this junior from Huan Zong’s family actually liked the culinary dao, Kong Hou already had some favorable feelings toward him before even seeing him. “Food is the paramount necessity of the people. Entering the Dao through cooking is excellent—this junior must have great prospects.”

Huan Zong: “…”

“But don’t have him call me martial grand-aunt. That sounds too old. I’m afraid such a form of address will affect my good impression of him.” Kong Hou said half-jokingly, half-seriously. “Huan Zong, you don’t need to be so formal either. It’s not like you’re ten or eight generations above him. Adding ‘old’ in front of titles sounds too awful.”

Huan Zong: “…”

After Huan Zong went out, Chu Jixuan sat restlessly. Only because Pavilion Master Sun was present did he barely maintain the elegance befitting an imperial family member. When footsteps sounded outside again, he secretly glanced out and saw that Zhenren Huan Zong had actually returned. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Wasn’t the young lady behind the Zhenren the woman who had walked together with him several days ago?

“Xianzi, please take the seat of honor.” Pavilion Master Sun stood and bowed to Kong Hou.

“Pavilion Master, please don’t be overly courteous.” Kong Hou returned the bow and glanced at Chu Jixuan kneeling in the lower seat. In his brows and eyes, she could vaguely see some shadow of Huan Zong, but whether in presence or appearance, he couldn’t match Huan Zong.

Seeing that even Pavilion Master Sun had to bow to this young lady who entered later, Chu Jixuan quickly stood and clasped his hands toward Kong Hou.

“No need, no need. Sit down quickly.” Kong Hou pulled out two bottles of pills and stuffed them into Chu Jixuan’s hands. “I have nothing good to give you. Take these two bottles of Spirit Gathering Pills—don’t refuse them.”

Spirit Gathering Pills that could gather and converge spiritual energy were usually good items only available to sect disciples. How could Chu Jixuan refuse? But why did this xianzi give gifts upon opening her mouth? Was this a new custom popular in the cultivation world? Or could it be…

His body and heart both belonged to Rumin. He absolutely couldn’t compromise for two bottles of Spirit Gathering Pills.

“These items are too precious. This humble one dare not accept them. Please take them back, Xianzi.” Chu Jixuan bowed and returned the Spirit Gathering Pills to Kong Hou with both hands.

“Xianzi Kong Hou is the closed-door disciple of Yunhua Sect’s Qiyue Peak Master.” Pavilion Master Sun saw Chu Jixuan being so cautious. “Since it’s from the xianzi, keep it properly.”

Chu Jixuan looked at Pavilion Master Sun, then seeing Xianzi Kong Hou’s clear expression without any other intentions, he performed a grand bow. “Thank you, Xianzi.”

“No need to be polite.” Kong Hou walked to sit beside Huan Zong. “I heard from Huan Zong that you want to enter the Dao through cooking?”

Chu Jixuan thought that in mainstream cultivators’ eyes, the culinary dao was definitely very unseemly, but facing Kong Hou’s inquiring gaze, he still gritted his teeth and nodded.

“Your five fingers are long and strong—quite suitable for entering the culinary dao.” Kong Hou thought for a moment. “Huan Zong, when we rush to Kuicheng, we’ll pass by Wuwei Manor. Why don’t we set out tomorrow and send him to Wuwei Manor before going to Kuicheng?”

“How… how could we trouble the xianzi so?” Chu Jixuan was both excited and moved. He hadn’t expected a xianzi from the ten major sects to be so kind. Not only did she not look down on his desire to enter the Dao through cooking, she even planned to send him to the sect.

“It’s nothing, just along the way.” Kong Hou said. “You could also be considered my junior. A small matter doesn’t count as trouble.”

Junior… junior?

Chu Jixuan had a flash of inspiration. Could it be that their ancestral records were mistaken? Perhaps the ancestor who became a cultivator back then wasn’t an imperial prince but a princess? He looked at Kong Hou again—eyebrows like willow silk, eyes like stars, pretty as a girl of just over ten years. The ancestral records said the ancestor was taken away by cultivators when not yet ten years old. If the ancestor had profound cultivation, looking very young now wouldn’t be strange.

After figuring this out, Chu Jixuan’s gaze at Kong Hou became more affectionate.

No matter how young she looked, she was still his great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother—could be simply called great-great-great grandmother.

“Huan Zong, what do you think?” Kong Hou asked Huan Zong.

“As you say.” Huan Zong nodded, then said seriously to Chu Jixuan, “If you can enter Wuwei Manor’s tutelage, remember to devote yourself to cultivation, cast aside your imperial prince status, and respect teachers and value the Dao. Have you remembered?”

Kong Hou looked at Huan Zong in surprise. Cast aside imperial prince status? Huan Zong’s junior was an imperial prince—could he also be of imperial family origin?

“Thank you for Zhenren’s teaching. I’ve remembered.” Chu Jixuan was somewhat puzzled. What was the relationship between this Zhenren and his great-great-great grandmother? Why did he lecture him in an elder’s manner? Could it be…

His gaze swept over the two of them, revealing some realization in his eyes.

It wasn’t strange for cultivators to become dao companions. Though this Zhenren Huan Zong’s personality was somewhat cold, his appearance was outstanding and he came from a prestigious family—he barely matched his great-great-great grandmother.

“Huan Zong is right.” Kong Hou saw Chu Jixuan looking back and forth between her and Huan Zong, thinking he was frightened by Huan Zong’s serious tone. “After joining a sect, past status and position are all like clouds. If you can’t let them go, you won’t be able to walk the cultivation path.”

“Yes, this junior will definitely remember. Please be at ease, Great-Great-Great Grandmother.” Chu Jixuan performed a junior’s grand bow to Kong Hou.

What kind of strange form of address was great-great-great grandmother? It sounded even worse than martial grand-aunt. Kong Hou’s eyebrows twitched, but seeing Chu Jixuan’s obedient and respectful appearance, she swallowed her words.

Forget it. For Huan Zong’s sake, she wouldn’t quibble with him.

After Chu Jixuan returned to his courtyard, he told his wife Rumin the happy news of meeting his ancestral elder. “Great-Great-Great Grandmother will personally take me to Wuwei Manor to meet the manor master. Rumin, I can cultivate together with you now.”

“Didn’t the ancestral records say that the one who embarked on the cultivation path was the Fifth Imperial Prince?” After celebrating with Chu Jixuan for a while, when they both lay on the bed, Rumin remembered this matter. How did an imperial prince become a princess?

“This ancestral record was re-transcribed several decades ago. Regarding events from over three hundred years ago, having some omissions during transcription and compilation isn’t strange.” Chu Jixuan said. “Great-Great-Great Grandmother is named Kong Hou and is also an outstanding disciple of Yunhua Sect.”

“Kong Hou…” Rumin looked thoughtful. She seemed to have heard this name somewhere. Seeing the smile never leaving Chu Jixuan’s face, she said, “Tomorrow morning I must rush to Shuiyue Sect. Fortunately, there’s Xianzi Kong Hou to help you. Otherwise, I’d rather not enter Shuiyue Sect than leave you alone.”

“What foolish talk…”

Nearing separation, this young couple had endless things to say, wishing the night could be longer, and longer still.

Kong Hou didn’t sleep well. At night she dreamed a hairy-bearded burly man chased after her calling her grandmother. It made her so angry that in the dream she thoroughly beat up this burly man. She was a dignified sixteen-year-old beautiful young lady—why should she be called grandmother?

Waking from bed in anger, Kong Hou specifically changed into a fresh, tender-colored dress and looked in the mirror for quite a while before feeling her mood improve. Leaving the courtyard, she saw Chu Jixuan squatting outside the courtyard gate.

“Paying respects to Great-Great-Great Grandmother.” Seeing Kong Hou come out, Chu Jixuan stepped forward and bowed to her. “Great-Great-Great Grandmother, good morning.”

Kong Hou: “…”

She silently patted her chest, calming her faintly aching heart. “I’ll take you to find Huan Zong.” If he kept calling her this, she’d really age prematurely. Leading Chu Jixuan to the gate of Huan Zong’s courtyard, Kong Hou pointed inside. “Just go in yourself. I’m going to bid farewell to my senior brother.”

“Yes, Great-Great-Great Grandmother, please go slowly.” Chu Jixuan nodded obediently.

However, at this moment, Kong Hou felt that though this young man looked half similar to Huan Zong, he definitely wasn’t half as likable as Huan Zong.

As soon as Kong Hou left, the courtyard gate behind Chu Jixuan opened. Huan Zong glanced at him. “What are you standing outside for? Come in.”

“Yes.” Upon meeting Zhenren Huan Zong’s gaze, Chu Jixuan couldn’t help but feel his knees go weak and obediently listened.

“From when you started cultivating until now, how many years has it been?” Huan Zong saw Jixuan’s head lowered dejectedly and frowned slightly.

“This junior began cultivating at age seven and has now cultivated for fifteen years.” Chu Jixuan answered honestly. “The grand tutor who taught me cultivation is a Core Formation stage rogue cultivator.” The grand tutor said that spending only fifteen years to reach fifth stage Qi Refining cultivation was very good talent throughout the entire cultivation world. If he had been able to enter sect cultivation back then, he might already have eighth stage Qi Refining cultivation.

“Spent fifteen years and only reached fifth stage Qi Refining cultivation?” Huan Zong’s brows furrowed tighter, but seeing Chu Jixuan’s somewhat timid appearance, he ultimately didn’t speak harsh words. He pulled out several essential cultivation manuals for Qi Refining stage cultivators and tossed them to him. “Memorize these thoroughly.”

“Thank you for gifting books, Zhenren.” Chu Jixuan was overjoyed. Though this Zhenren Huan Zong seemed very difficult to get along with, his heart was still very good.

An hour later, under Jixiang Pavilion’s reluctant gazes, Kong Hou and Huan Zong prepared to step out of Jixiang Pavilion’s main gate.

“Xianzi Kong Hou, please wait.” Hongling chased out. “Last night I performed divination for you. When you exit the main gate today, you should step with your right foot first.”

“Thank you for informing me.” Kong Hou withdrew her half-extended left foot and put out her right foot.

“Please everyone take good care.” Kong Hou’s gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Cheng Yi. Cheng Yi smiled at her. “Take care of your health while traveling. Don’t worry about sect matters—we’re all here.”

Kong Hou turned and ran back to the gate, hugged Cheng Yi, then turned again to step out with her right foot, jumping onto the carriage without looking back.

Huan Zong’s gaze lingered on the thumb ring on Cheng Yi’s right hand for a moment before turning to follow Kong Hou’s steps onto the carriage.

Amid a chorus of farewell voices, the carriage started moving. Huan Zong saw Kong Hou’s spirits weren’t great and pulled out a magical artifact given to him by an elder in his youth from his storage ring. “For you.”

“What is this?” Kong Hou looked at the little person automatically dancing in the glass orb and held the glass orb closer. “There’s a small-scale array inside?”

“Yes.” Seeing Kong Hou’s eyes become lively again, Huan Zong’s brows and eyes also softened. He extended a finger and lightly tapped the glass orb. The dancing court lady in the glass orb transformed into a phantom, flew out from the orb, and danced a flying celestial dance before Kong Hou’s eyes.

After the dance ended, the phantom turned back into a little person sealed inside the glass orb.

“Like dreams and illusions, truly a celestial maiden.” Kong Hou held the glass orb and turned to see Chu Jixuan sitting in the corner staring unblinkingly at the glass orb in her hands. “You like this?”

“No… I don’t like it.” Chu Jixuan quickly shook his head.

“If you like it, ask your great-great-great grandfather to give you some interesting toys.” Kong Hou felt she couldn’t be the only one called so old. “Huan Zong, hmm?”

“What does a boy need to play with these for?” Huan Zong pulled out several attack magical treasures from his storage ring and placed them before Chu Jixuan. “Pick one.”

Chu Jixuan: “No, no, no, thank you for your kind intentions, Zhenren. This junior appreciates the thought.” These magical treasures gleamed brilliantly—clearly good items. As a junior, he couldn’t let Great-Great-Great Grandmother owe others favors.

“He’s your great-great-great grandfather—what ‘Zhenren’?” Kong Hou played with the glass orb. Seeing that Chu Jixuan wouldn’t accept Huan Zong’s items, she said, “When an elder gives, one cannot refuse. Hurry and accept it.”

“Thank you… Great-Great-Great Grandfather.” Without looking, Chu Jixuan randomly picked one from the pile of attack magical treasures.

“Mm.” Huan Zong nodded slightly. “No need to thank me.”

Seeing Chu Jixuan’s honest appearance, if Huan Zong weren’t here, Kong Hou really wouldn’t dare believe this was an imperial prince.

“This junior previously didn’t know Great-Great-Great Grandmother and Great-Great-Great Grandfather had such deep affection. Where courtesy was lacking, please forgive me, Great-Great-Great Grandfather.” Having received valuable gifts, Chu Jixuan felt he should say some pleasant words to win the elders’ favor. “I wish Great-Great-Great Grandfather and Great-Great-Great Grandmother early ascension to the immortal realm, loving and inseparable.”

Hearing the four words “loving and inseparable,” Huan Zong’s ear tips burned red and his heartbeat became irregular. “Unfilial descendant, don’t speak nonsense!”

“Huh?” Kong Hou was stunned for a while before realizing Chu Jixuan might have misunderstood something. No wonder he kept calling her great-great-great grandmother. Understanding this, Kong Hou immediately doubled over with laughter, laughing until she rolled onto the carriage cushions. Even with her hair disheveled and breathing uneven, she couldn’t stop.

“Huan Zong, this junior of yours is too funny, hahaha.” Kong Hou covered her abdomen, laughing and groaning. “My stomach hurts, my stomach hurts.”

Chu Jixuan: “…”

So… this Xianzi Kong Hou wasn’t his Chu family elder—Zhenren Huan Zong was?

It’s over. He was going to be removed from the Chu family register.

Huan Zong saw Kong Hou laugh until tears came out. He reached out to help her up from the cushions to prevent her head from hitting the corner of the wall. “Be careful.”

Feeding a calming pill into Kong Hou’s mouth, Huan Zong turned to Chu Jixuan. “Absurd!”

How old was Kong Hou? How could he and she possibly…

This was truly too absurd!

How could he have such a foolish descendant nephew?

“It’s fine. He didn’t know.” After swallowing the calming pill, Kong Hou recovered and saw Chu Jixuan’s face had turned deathly pale from fright. She tugged on Huan Zong’s sleeve. “Don’t frighten the junior.”

Huan Zong looked down at the pale fingers grasping his sleeve and lowered his eyelids. “Mm.”

Those soft ear tips had already turned red as if dripping blood.