When they reached the gates of the Grand Primordium Sect, two people were standing there.
One was Li Buqi, wearing a defiant “I'm number one under heaven” expression on his face, looking as if everyone owed him eight hundred spirit stones.
The other had a gentle temperament and a slender, frail build, looking as though a gust of wind could knock her over.
She wore a bright red sect robe made of light, soft fabric. What should have been a bold, passionate color carried not a single hint of sharpness on her; instead, it only made her look even more delicate and fragile.
Xue Mingzhao's eyes lit up.
My goodness, is this my Eldest Senior Sister, Qi Wuyang? This sickly beauty vibe is absolutely perfect.
Su Mingyuan put away his spirit boat. “Wuyang, Buqi, what are you two doing here?”
Li Buqi was about to open his mouth to complain. “Master, Senior Sister, she—”
Qi Wuyang gently interrupted him. “Master, Third Junior Brother was clamoring to go down the mountain, so I took action to teach—oh, no, to guide him a little.”
As she spoke, she tilted her head to look at Li Buqi, smiling warmly. “Isn't that right, Junior Brother?”
Li Buqi swallowed hard. “Yes, Senior Sister was comforting me, telling me not to be homesick.”
“I suddenly remembered I have some things to take care of. I'll head back to cultivate first.”
With that, he turned and bolted, not even looking back, running faster than if he were being chased by a dog.
Xue Mingzhao was dumbfounded.
Her Third Senior Brother was usually incredibly arrogant, looking at everyone with an “are you even worthy of speaking to me?” expression. Yet in front of Eldest Senior Sister, he was as obedient as a quail?
Hiss—
This Eldest Senior Sister is far from being as weak as she appears on the surface.
She swept her gaze over Qi Wuyang's dantian—mid-grade wood and fire double spiritual roots, great perfection of Foundation Establishment.
Her cultivation level didn't seem particularly high, but for her to be able to tame a troublemaker like Li Buqi, she was definitely not simple.
Qi Wuyang also noticed Xue Mingzhao and Su Ye nearby and smiled gently. “These must be the new junior brother and junior sister Master took in, right?”
The two of them quickly bowed. “Greetings, Senior Sister.”
Qi Wuyang took out two porcelain vials from her storage bag and handed them over. “I don't have much to give, so please accept these two vials of pills as a small token of my regard.”
As Xue Mingzhao took the vial, Cang Jue's voice suddenly rang in her mind. “Three mid-grade Rejuvenation Pills.”
Xue Mingzhao: “? You can see through things?”
Cang Jue: “...The quality of this vial is poor. I smelled it.”
Xue Mingzhao's lips twitched.
Chaos Spiritual Root: “Smelled it? Are you a dog?”
Cang Jue ignored her, pretending to be fast asleep.
Xue Mingzhao ignored him as well. Stashing the vial away, she offered Qi Wuyang an incredibly obedient smile. “Thank you, Eldest Senior Sister.”
Su Ye scratched his head and also thanked her. “Thank you, Eldest Senior Sister.”
He muttered to himself: Eldest Senior Sister's build really looks like a gust of wind could knock her over. She's way too weak.
Qi Wuyang pointed toward a cave dwelling on the mountainside of Cloud Listening Peak. “My cave dwelling is over there. If you have any questions, you can come find me anytime.”
“If I'm not around, head to the cave dwelling at the foot of the mountain. Your Fourth and Fifth Senior Brothers live there.”
She paused and added, “As for your Third Senior Brother... his residence is in Master's backyard.”
Xue Mingzhao: “...”
To keep Third Senior Brother from getting distracted by romance and neglecting his cultivation, Master really has gone to great lengths.
Su Mingyuan stepped forward to interrupt. “Wuyang, you go back first. I have some words to say to your junior brother and junior sister.”
Qi Wuyang nodded, bid the three of them farewell, and walked away slowly. Her retreating figure looked incredibly fragile.
Su Mingyuan looked at the two of them, only speaking after a long silence.
“Come meet me at Cloud Listening Peak at the Hour of the Dog.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he departed in a hurry.
...
The two of them did not dwell on the worry in Su Mingyuan's expression. Chatting and laughing all the way, they returned to their small courtyard on Cloud Listening Peak.
The moment she stepped back into this place, Xue Mingzhao felt an inexplicable sense of peace wash over her.
Though she had only been away for three days, she felt as if she had been wandering outside for a very long time. She had finally returned to a place she could call home.
Gazing at the blank, inscription-less plaque hanging over the small courtyard, she pondered for a moment. Circulating her spiritual energy, she carved three words upon it:
Mingzhao Residence.
Having read the name aloud, Su Ye said enthusiastically, “Then my courtyard will be called Su Ye Residence!”
Xue Mingzhao directly threw cold water on his idea. “That sounds terrible.”
Su Ye scratched his head. “Then how about Nameless Residence?”
“That one is decent.”
Su Ye immediately channeled his spiritual energy, carving the words “Nameless Residence” onto his own plaque.
Once finished, he even took two steps back, admiring his handiwork for a long time.
Xue Mingzhao glanced at it, not having the heart to crush his spirits.
It was a bit ugly, but it would do.
She pulled out a storage ring and shoved it into Su Ye's hand.
Su Ye looked puzzled. “Junior Sister, what is this?”
“Our split of the loot.”
“The two of us went through life and death together on this trip, so you get a share.”
Su Ye swept his divine sense inside and was instantly stunned.
It was piled high with supreme-grade talismans, high-grade pills, and even a spirit boat that could carry six people.
He had thought his junior sister bought these things for herself, never expecting she would give them to him.
He quickly pushed it back. “You worked so hard to earn all of this. I can't accept it.”
Xue Mingzhao firmly forced the storage ring back into Su Ye's hand. “Senior Brother, we've faced life and death together so many times. If you're still going to be so polite with me, you're treating me like an outsider.”
“Besides, your cultivation is higher than mine. I'll have to rely on you to cover for me in the future.”
Before Su Ye could say anything, she urged, “Hurry up and get ready. Master wants us to go find him.”
With that, she turned and entered the Mingzhao Residence.
Clutching the heavy storage ring, Su Ye stood frozen in place as warmth welled up in his heart.
He looked down at the storage ring in his hand, then looked up in the direction of the Mingzhao Residence, silently tightening his grip.
From now on, his junior sister would be like his own flesh-and-blood sister.
If anyone dared to bully her, they would have to get through him first.
In the blink of an eye, the Hour of the Dog arrived.
The two of them sat on the chairs in the main hall of Cloud Listening Peak, whispering to each other.
Xue Mingzhao lowered her voice. “Why do you think Master called us over so late at night?”
Su Ye's eyes were filled with anticipation. “Maybe he recognizes our performance in the mystic realm and plans to pass down some secret, ultimate technique.”
Xue Mingzhao rolled her eyes. “Stop dreaming. With the way Master looked during the day, he's clearly run into some troublesome, major issue.”
Su Ye's expression tightened. “Could it be that our Grand Primordium Sect is about to collapse?”
Su Mingyuan had just walked outside the hall doors when he heard his two disciples' quiet discussion crystal clear.
He cleared his throat lightly and stepped into the main hall. “I was delayed for a long time. I apologize for arriving late.”
Xue Mingzhao quickly walked forward and massaged Su Mingyuan's shoulders. “It's because we came too early, Master. What exactly did you call us here to talk about?”
Su Mingyuan avoided the main topic, softening his tone to make small talk. “I have seen all your hard work. Mingzhao is only one step away from Foundation Establishment, and you mustn't slack off either, Su Ye.”
Su Ye straightened his back and replied seriously, “Please rest assured, Master. I will definitely cultivate diligently, protect Junior Sister, and guard the sect well.”
Su Mingyuan smiled faintly. Looking at the two children before him, the words on the tip of his tongue faltered.
Xue Mingzhao noticed her master's heavy expression, understanding that what he was about to say was by no means a small matter.
Putting away her usual playful demeanor, she waited quietly for Su Mingyuan to speak.
After a long silence, Su Mingyuan seemed to make a monumental decision. “I...”
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