Central Plains, Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge.
Bai Xuanling didn't say much. She simply heard that neither Xie Lingyu nor Qinghe was at Tianyan Sect—both were at Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge—and decided to visit there first before returning to Tianyan Sect.
Chu Xingchen naturally had no objection to this decision. He simply asked whether Bai Xuanling's current condition could endure the journey.
Bai Xuanling's answer was as straightforward and domineering as ever—she had never had a moment she couldn't endure.
Chu Xingchen hesitated briefly but ultimately agreed to Bai Xuanling's plan.
After all, this senior's mindset was indeed not something he could easily sway. Moreover, Bai Xuanling might push herself, but she wasn't reckless about everything.
She certainly wouldn't pay a disproportionate price just to see her disciple for a moment.
As for their other traveling companion, Yuan Kong—his status was lowly and he owed a massive debt of spirit stones, so he naturally had no say in the matter. Chu Xingchen simply dragged him along.
Regarding Yuan Kong, Chu Xingchen hadn't insisted on forcing him to bow and become his disciple to complete the system's task.
Furthermore, Chu Xingchen felt that the system's prompt wasn't a nudge but rather a reminder. The system could continue providing support for only one more true transmission disciple.
Yuan Kong might be a fine candidate, but if he had his own path to walk, staying by Chu Xingchen's side might not be the best choice after all.
At least the final disciple wasn't necessarily him.
For now, though, he needed to bring the kid back and check if anything had gone wrong with him. If Yuan Kong wanted to set out again, Chu Xingchen—out of consideration for Yuan Jing—could still provide some assistance.
The three entered the sect together.
Yuan Kong had mostly traveled as an ascetic on the road. In the beginning, before reaching Foundation Establishment, he'd walked through wilderness and wastelands, eating whatever he could find. Sometimes he'd nearly been eaten instead.
After reaching Foundation Establishment, life improved—he no longer had to worry about food.
Strictly speaking, he'd never really lived well.
Now, seeing a new sect far larger than Chu Xingchen's Yuzhou City sect, a glimmer of wonder naturally appeared in his eyes.
In his heart, he couldn't help but sigh—having money really was nice.
If he'd had money back then, he wouldn't have had to gnaw on a single steamed bun for two days.
Chu Xingchen led Bai Xuanling and Yuan Kong inside:
"Senior Sister Bai, it's been a while since you visited, right?"
"My Zhujie Peak has only two people and one flood dragon besides me. Now everyone except me has run off to your place." Bai Xuanling's tone carried a hint of teasing.
"If I'd known this would happen, I'd have come sooner. Pretty soon you'll have lured away all my people and my gatekeeper spirit beast, and Zhujie Peak will just be me, a lonely old woman."
A warm smile appeared on Chu Xingchen's face: "It's not just Zhujie Peak with only you, Senior Sister. Isn't this your sect too? If you don't mind, you could take up the title of Grand Elder here."
Bai Xuanling looked mildly disdainful: "Before I was Grand Elder, you already leeched plenty of benefits off me. If I became a nominal Grand Elder, I'd probably end up working myself to the bone for your little sect."
Before Chu Xingchen could respond, Bai Xuanling shifted gears: "Though it's not entirely out of the question. Depends on your performance."
As she spoke, Bai Xuanling's brow lifted slightly. The smile on her face was far more pleasant than her earlier fierce grin—giving her a somewhat dashing air.
Chu Xingchen's expression showed a hint of delight, though his mood remained as calm as ever.
The older foxes were indeed the sharpest. An ordinary person would probably sell their soul for a statement like that.
The three walked on, and after a short while, they reached the small artificial pool excavated by Li Xingtian.
Bai Xuanling's gaze swept across and noticed the poolside was empty. Though she wasn't a regular visitor, she knew Chen Baiqing's usual haunt well. She asked:
"Is Little Baiqing not here?"
"She's out on a training mission with her senior sister."
"Ying Ling? That girl is indeed a bit impulsive. Having Baiqing along would help temper her." Bai Xuanling sighed softly.
"I was hoping to taste that child's tea and soothe my restless heart."
Yuan Kong glanced over at those words... If he remembered correctly, wasn't Li Ying Ling the senior sister? And wasn't Baiqing that expressionless little girl toward outsiders?
He looked over and saw only Chu Xingchen nodding in apparent agreement, as if he wholeheartedly endorsed Bai Xuanling's words.
Yuan Kong's expression grew somewhat bewildered—had he been away so long that his memories had gotten mixed up?
Chu Xingchen gestured slightly, inviting Bai Xuanling to take a seat on the stone chairs by the pool: "Little Baiqing isn't here, but if you want tea, we still have some."
Bai Xuanling's gaze swept across, and without refusing, she walked toward the stone chairs. Only as she drew closer did they look somewhat familiar:
"I only just realized—these were moved from Yuzhou City?"
"Yeah. Baiqing is sentimental. These were just ordinary stone chairs and a table from a small courtyard."
"Later they were moved to the Yuzhou City sect, and then here. This pool was also something she wanted."
"Being sentimental is good. Never forgetting your original heart—that's how you see things through to the end." Bai Xuanling nodded gently, then took a seat.
She looked at Chu Xingchen and said, "But not just anyone's tea-brewing counts as tea. If you brew it for me, I'm afraid I won't be able to stomach it."
Chu Xingchen chuckled without replying, and instead retrieved two talisman-sealed teapots from his spatial ring:
"Baiqing brewed these. She was worried I wouldn't get to drink her tea while she was away on her training mission, so she used talismans to preserve the freshness. The taste will be somewhat diminished, but it's still better than what I'd brew."
"Baiqing is the thoughtful one." Bai Xuanling nodded in satisfaction. Her gaze flicked past Chu Xingchen before she asked curiously, "How did you raise Baiqing? Do you think Lingyu could be steered in that direction?"
Chu Xingchen peeled off the talisman and poured Bai Xuanling a cup of tea: "Lingyu has her own brilliance. Setting aside whether it's even possible—even if it were, wouldn't Senior Bai feel it'd be a waste?"
"Smooth talker." Bai Xuanling lifted the teacup and took a calm sip.
The smile remained on Chu Xingchen's face, but just then, Xie Lingyu's voice rang out from behind him:
"Master, why didn't you let me know first when you came back?"
This was followed by Qinghe's dissatisfied voice:
"Exactly, exactly! You could've at least told Qinghe."
Chu Xingchen didn't turn around. His cultivation was already quite high—even without actively releasing his divine sense, he had an instinctive awareness of people and objects in close proximity.
Though he'd known they were coming, what Chu Xingchen had just said was also the truth.
Every person was different, and that in itself was the most fascinating thing.
Being able to appreciate the differences in a person—that was the hidden romance within the most interesting things in life.
Bai Xuanling slowly exhaled, her gaze settling on Xie Lingyu with a smile:
"Isn't this a surprise? I learned it from this Chu boy."
Xie Lingyu didn't stand still. She strode over quickly, her eyes locked on Bai Xuanling's:
"You're again..."
Before Xie Lingyu could finish, Bai Xuanling raised a hand to cut her off: "Your master must return to Tianyan Sect in a moment. If you want to lecture me, I can certainly listen."
"But right now, your master wants to talk about something else. I've missed you terribly."
Xie Lingyu pursed her lips slightly, then sat down anyway, her gaze fixed directly on Bai Xuanling without speaking first.
Bai Xuanling looked at Xie Lingyu, and after a moment, a knowing smile suddenly appeared.
"Still the same as back then—just a little girl."
"But that's fine. Your master can rest easy."
[
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