[May the Sect Master recover quickly!]
San Dong's expression was devout, its small hand writing each stroke with care, repeating the same words over and over.
It wasn't very literate to begin with, and its learning habits were sporadic—studying only when it was in the mood and thoroughly bored. But these few characters, San Dong had learned them with great seriousness, writing them again and again.
San Dong didn't know many people, so it cherished every single one.
It cherished the goodwill others showed it, and it cherished its own feelings toward others.
The Sect Master had always been a good person—San Dong could feel that.
So if the Sect Master couldn't hear San Dong's well-wishes, then San Dong would use a way the Sect Master could see to offer its blessings.
Qinghe propped its face on one hand, watching San Dong sitting on the table with such a devout expression, and couldn't help but speak up:
"That black-hearted kid just got hit by an illusion spell—it'll probably break in a few days. Rather than blessing him now, you'd be better off using this chance to get all your grievances with him off your chest…"
Before Qinghe could finish, Xie Lingyu's hand gently grasped its horn.
In that instant, Qinghe snapped wide awake—forgetting that Lingyu was temporarily serving as the kid's interpreter.
Qinghe's mind cleared instantly. He was about to open his mouth to argue when San Dong spoke first.
San Dong shook its head repeatedly, its tone sincere:
"The Sect Master has always been very good to me. I have no grievances with him. These wishes are my true feelings. As the sect mascot, I haven't done nearly enough—I just eat and drink every day. If even my sincere feelings can't be expressed at a time like this, then the Sect Master's kindness toward me would have been wasted."
The more Qinghe listened to San Dong's words, the worse his expression became. At the same time, the hand gripping his horn tightened slightly!
Xie Lingyu's gesture seemed to say—look at him, then look at you!
Good heavens!
He had truly underestimated this flower spirit, San Dong!
Outwardly honest and straightforward, looking like a pushover who got bullied—and yet now he pulled off a move like this!
Absolutely infuriating!
Qinghe put on an innocent smile and looked at Xie Lingyu:
"I… I was just trying to lighten the mood."
Xie Lingyu's tone was flat. "Was it funny?"
"About average?"
"Hmm?"
"…Not funny." Qinghe's expression deflated. "Alright, alright, I know you care about him. You don't care about Qinghe anymore."
Xie Lingyu looked at Qinghe's expression, hesitated for a moment, then let go of his horn:
"It's not about caring or not caring. You're injured—I don't want others speaking ill of you either."
Qinghe's eyes lit up. He turned his gaze to Xie Lingyu and asked with a pout:
"Really?"
Xie Lingyu gave a slight nod:
"I've never been one to speak falsely."
A smile appeared on Qinghe's face—phew, got away with it.
Sure enough, Cui Hao's tips were actually useful. He'd treat him to a meal next time.
Xie Lingyu turned her gaze toward Chu Xingchen, only to find his eyes somewhat vacant, indifferent to everything happening around him. That wasn't like his usual self, so she quickly reached out and waved her hand in front of his face.
This illusion spell—Sect Master Lu Xuan was still researching it and hadn't given any explanation yet. There couldn't be any lingering effects, could there?
Chu Xingchen snapped back to awareness and looked toward Xie Lingyu, following the direction of her hand:
"I'm fine. And thank you, San Dong."
San Dong beamed brightly. "No need to thank me—it's what the sect mascot is supposed to do!"
Chu Xingchen gave a gentle nod.
Over the past few days, memories had been surfacing one after another, like recalling childhood—suddenly remembering a small, forgotten detail from some corner of his mind.
One small memory led to another, pulling him back into those forgotten stories.
At least now he could remember Cui Hao, and he could remember Lin Luoyu too.
Perhaps the illusion spell Xu Linglong had cast was gradually being undone.
Besides controlling the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect's treasure bead, Chu Xingchen had also been struggling to resist with his spiritual consciousness—after all, the illusion spell Xu Linglong cast had an assimilating effect.
Once one sank into it, the mind would no longer find anything strange.
Only by continuously resisting with his spiritual consciousness could he avoid being assimilated.
Perhaps because of this constant resistance, and with no more energy to sustain it, the illusion spell was gradually fading.
After all, remembering things was a good thing—it was just the timing that was hard to predict.
Perhaps in two more days the illusion would dissipate completely, or perhaps it might take two years.
Xu Jin's previous invitation to meet had also been refused by Chu Xingchen.
Xie Lingyu had indeed been by Chu Xingchen's side during this time, talking about Yuzhou City and the things that had happened before.
But everything was only from Xie Lingyu's perspective, and many of the motivations and logic behind those events didn't quite add up.
Among the explanations Xie Lingyu gave, some were things the old him had made up on the spot—he just didn't know whether it was because his mouth had run wild, or if there were genuinely reasons to keep her in the dark.
But while Xie Lingyu didn't know these things, who could guarantee that Xu Jin didn't?
If the truth came out then…
Though given Lingyu's temperament she might not necessarily get angry, the things he didn't want Lingyu to know were certainly not good things.
Moreover, without fully understanding the causes and consequences, making decisions based solely on judgment at the time—Chu Xingchen felt that was a foolish thing to do.
Better to let Xu Jin handle things as he saw fit for now.
After all, they were all core disciples of the current generation—how incompetent could they really be?
Chu Xingchen gently shook his head. His gaze narrowed slightly, and he seemed to see through the illusion, catching a hazy glimpse of Xie Lingyu's true face—not the illusion Xie Lingyu selling a warm, false smile.
This illusion realm was still somewhat impressive, always offering the best version of things to tempt him.
Even the draft-prone little Yingling was nearly as well-behaved as Xiao Baiqing.
But Chu Xingchen still preferred his Yingling with a few drafts.
Chu Xingchen propped his face on one hand, his gaze drifting leisurely to a nearby branch blooming with small flowers.
That was something San Dong had planted—it had transplanted the tree Luo Yue had given it.
San Dong took promises very seriously. It had agreed to Luo Yue, so naturally it had to take care of this small branch.
This branch emanated a different kind of energy from ordinary plants.
Under normal circumstances, perhaps a new spirit might be born from it.
During this time, unable to hear useful sounds, his heart had grown much quieter.
[What are you thinking about?]
Xie Lingyu's hand reached over, gently writing.
Chu Xingchen didn't answer. He simply reached out and took hold of Xie Lingyu's hand.
Though there was no tactile sensation of touching something real, his heart had already responded.
Qinghe's eyes went wide as he watched Xie Lingyu's face flush red instantly—she wanted to pull away but couldn't bring herself to move for a long time.
This kind of Xie Lingyu was so novel, so adorable.
"I was thinking…" Chu Xingchen's voice trailed off slightly, "shouldn't we hold a full sect gathering once I've recovered, to celebrate properly?"
Xie Lingyu felt the slightly warm pressure of Chu Xingchen's hand and decisively moved her hand beneath the table. Though Chu Xingchen didn't let go, she didn't pull away either.
"Alright."
Xie Lingyu didn't use her other hand to write her answer. Instead, she spoke softly.
Because she knew that even though Chu Xingchen couldn't hear sounds, he would understand her reply.
"Then it's settled."
Just as Xie Lingyu had expected.
Chu Xingchen's answer was that certain.
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