Chen Baiqing's figure crossed through the Tianyan Sect's spirit array barrier, her gaze fixed on the Peak of One Big Happy Family.
When she'd gone to the Western Niu Continent, the urgency had demanded the enormous cost of the teleportation array. For the return trip, that was obviously out of the question.
Traveling the safe route all the way back from the Western Niu Continent naturally took much longer.
Though she knew her master would likely be lenient, the unease in her heart still needed some time to settle.
But… she had to face it eventually.
Chen Baiqing's figure moved toward the Peak of One Big Happy Family.
She made her way to the summit, slowing her steps before the main entrance. With her master's cultivation, he should have sensed her arrival by now.
She slowed further and headed toward the courtyard where her master usually sat.
Chen Baiqing passed through the corridor and saw her master and Xie Lingyu seated in the courtyard.
Xie Lingyu looked toward Chen Baiqing, waved a hand in front of Chu Xingchen's face, and smiled at Chen Baiqing in greeting.
Chen Baiqing returned the courtesy quickly, then hurried inside.
"Master, Baiqing has returned."
Xie Lingyu reached out to help Chen Baiqing up.
"Your master was hit by a minor illusion technique. He can't hear sounds for the time being."
Chen Baiqing froze. The spirit treasure in her hand blazed with light, and a faint green glow lit her eyes. After observing for a moment, she finally detected something amiss.
Xie Lingyu understood Chen Baiqing's concern for her master and quickly added words of comfort.
"Don't be alarmed. The Sect Master is already researching it—it's not a serious problem, just a bit inconvenient for now."
Chen Baiqing's eyes reddened slightly, but she said nothing more, only nodding softly.
Chu Xingchen didn't speak either. He simply reached out and gently patted Chen Baiqing's head.
Chen Baiqing lowered her head and spoke slowly:
"Master, Baiqing was wrong."
Xie Lingyu raised her hand to write—Chu Xingchen's spiritual sense was also affected by the illusion, so even spiritual sense communication was impossible. They had to rely entirely on gestures.
Chu Xingchen rubbed the small head a little harder.
"By all rights, what you did without consulting me was wrong. Daoist Yuyang's frantic letters about going mad were flooding in here."
"Wukong and Bright Buddha have been racing all over the Western Niu Continent because of it."
"But judging by the outcome, you weren't wrong."
"From an emotional standpoint, you did it because you were worried about your Master. As your master, I can only feel touched."
"I also know your Second Senior Brother was the one who asked you to do this. Trusting your Second Senior Brother isn't a bad thing."
"Sometimes life just puts us in difficult positions."
Chen Baiqing kept her head lowered, her voice earnest.
"It was Baiqing's fault. Master, please reprimand me."
Chu Xingchen patted her head gently.
"I won't reprimand you—that would make me seem heartless. But I won't reward you either, lest Daoist Yuyang come after me with a vengeance."
"I know Baiqing has grown up. She has her own ideas about many things."
"Not everyone thinks the same way, and having different ideas doesn't mean someone has to be wrong."
"I only want to offer you one piece of advice from experience: think thrice before you act."
"And this time, it really was thanks to Baiqing."
As he spoke, Chu Xingchen drew a piece of candied fruit from his pocket and placed it gently in Chen Baiqing's palm.
"This time, I only brought a gift back for you. You're not to tell the others—your Eldest Senior Sister would be jealous."
"Actually, my wish has always been simple. As long as everyone is well, that's the first priority."
Chen Baiqing clutched the candied fruit, looked up into her master's eyes, and finally couldn't hold back. She let out a quiet sob.
Since she had begun cultivating under her master, she had never cried.
But today, she truly couldn't hold it in.
Perhaps it was also because her master couldn't hear her weeping.
Xie Lingyu gazed at Chen Baiqing with a gentle expression, and at the same time gestured some sign language in front of Chu Xingchen.
She'd been staying with Chu Xingchen almost constantly lately, essentially serving full-time as his sign language interpreter. The two of them had developed some shorthand gestures for things that were difficult to write out directly.
"Alright, alright." Chu Xingchen's tone was soft. "Master would like some tea. Could you brew a cup for me?"
Chen Baiqing nodded gently, pressing her lips together, and began preparing it.
Chu Xingchen's calm gaze rested on Chen Baiqing before him.
[Target: Chen Baiqing]
[Cultivation: Nascent Soul, early stage]
[Orange Attribute Line: Bewitching Heaven Enchantress] [Upgradable]
[Purple Attribute Line: Meticulous Mind] [Upgradable]
[Purple Attribute Line: Intelligent and Studious] [Upgradable]
[Purple Attribute Line: Thick-Skinned and Cunning] [Upgradable]
[Blue Attribute Line: Silver-Tongued Debater] [Upgradable]
[Blue Attribute Line: Cool and Collected] [Upgradable]
[White Attribute Line: Enduring and Hardworking] [Upgradable]
[Black Attribute Line: Devoted Love] [Erasable]
Having gone through her growth, Chen Baiqing—whose attribute lines had once been nothing but question marks—now revealed the attribute lines that were truly hers.
The sheer number of lines indicated that this disciple, who had always been quiet, had quietly grown into someone remarkable without anyone noticing.
Disciples who earned the system's acknowledgment could upgrade their attribute lines upon reaching the Nascent Soul realm.
However, neither his Eldest nor Second Disciple had possessed this negative attribute line. For the first time, Chu Xingchen understood that a negative attribute line could actually be erased.
But this [Devoted Love] was likely just a product of Baiqing's personality.
A person's mysteries were mostly hidden within their personality.
A trait others disliked would inevitably be liked by someone else.
At the very least, Chu Xingchen was quite satisfied with the Chen Baiqing of today.
If Chen Baiqing's personality suddenly changed, Chu Xingchen might not be used to it.
Besides, artificially altering someone's character carried a whiff of the demonic path.
In theory, directly upgrading the [Bewitching Heaven Enchantress] line to the golden attribute level would be the best outcome.
The remaining lines had essentially no connection to cultivation.
When Li Yingling had upgraded directly, Chu Xingchen had at least asked a few questions.
Though calling it asking was generous—there had only been one upgradable line to begin with.
It had basically been going through the motions.
Li Xingtian's case was even more straightforward. It wasn't as if [Decisive Slayer] could be upgraded to [Kill Kill Kill!] or [Reborn] could become [Love Love Love].
Those kinds of attribute upgrades were rather pointless and felt like they would change one's personality.
Furthermore, based on his understanding of Li Xingtian, for him, cultivating with everything he had was the only path that mattered.
And there was also the possibility that upgrading might resolve his blood qi issue—that was what had ultimately led Chu Xingchen to make the decision without further questions.
Now he faced Chen Baiqing.
Chu Xingchen thought for a moment, then asked Xie Lingyu beside him for paper and a brush. He wrote gently:
[Cultivation Talent]
[Intelligence]
[Flawless Strategy]
[Ruthless Cunning]
Chu Xingchen finished writing and placed the paper before Chen Baiqing.
"If I were to focus your training in one direction, which would you choose?"
Chen Baiqing's eyes swept over it, and she answered quickly.
"Cultivation Talent."
Chu Xingchen asked, "Why?"
Chen Baiqing's voice was firm.
"Because only by becoming strong can I protect Master. Everything else is empty."
Chu Xingchen was momentarily speechless, then let out a soft laugh.
He gently selected the upgrade for [Bewitching Heaven Enchantress].
[
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