Cang Dongqing rushed out of the inn, tears blurring her vision. Her steps were unsteady, and she nearly collided with a roadside stall, drawing curious glances from the passersby.
She had never suffered such humiliation. She hadn't expected the situation she had so carefully orchestrated to be turned into a complete mess by Li Nanzhu and that dim-witted Duan Xianxing.
Wretches! They’re all wretches! Just rogue cultivators without a sect, yet they dared to ruin her plans! They deserve to die—all of them!
Stumbling, she fell heavily onto the bluestone pavement. Looking down, she saw a jagged tear in the gold-embroidered hem of her skirt, mirroring her dignity which had been shredded in public today. Her nails dug deep into her palms, but the pain couldn't suppress the hatred surging in her heart.
"Little Junior Sister!"
Qu Chen's voice came from behind. He quickly caught up and, seeing Cang Dongqing fallen on the ground, hurriedly leaned down to help her up, his voice full of anxiety. "Stop running. Are you hurt anywhere?"
Cang Dongqing immediately retracted all the emotions in her eyes. She struggled slightly, looking at him with tearful eyes. "Third Senior Brother..." Her voice choked. "My skirt..."
"It’s just a piece of clothing—" Qu Chen began, but she interrupted him.
"But what about what happened today?" She gripped Qu Chen's sleeve, her knuckles turning white. "I clearly did it for the sake of our sect's reputation, yet they..." A tear fell at just the right moment. "Do you also think I was wrong? Even you won't help me?"
Qu Chen's Adam's apple bobbed. The little junior sister before him had reddened eyes and looked like a startled sparrow, bearing no resemblance to her demeanor at the inn just moments ago. The guilt in his heart intensified. "I didn't..."
Cang Dongqing then lifted her head. Though the tear tracks hadn't dried, she had already put on a gentle smile. "But it doesn't matter. Clothes can be mended, but the sect's reputation cannot be tarnished. I was too impulsive just now; I shouldn't have blamed you, Third Senior Brother."
As she spoke, she took an embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve and carefully wiped her cheeks, even concealing the faint redness at the corners of her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Third Senior Brother. Please don't be angry with me."
Qu Chen was dazed by the sight. His little junior sister, who could adjust her emotions so quickly, made him feel both heartache and admiration.
"Let's head back," Cang Dongqing said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. However, a voice suddenly rang out from behind them.
"Junior Sister Dongqing?"
"It's you?!"
Meanwhile, inside the inn.
Li Nanzhu watched Duan Xianxing happily counting his spirit stones and couldn't help but laugh. "Seventh Senior Brother, we really made a killing this time."
Duan Xianxing chuckled. "You bet! We got a heaven-grade superior room for free and even earned a bag of spirit stones!"
"That's right, I made a killing." Li Nanzhu extended her fair palm. "A 30/70 split. Hand them over!"
Duan Xianxing's face instantly collapsed. With a look of extreme physical pain, he pulled out seven high-grade spirit stones and handed them to Li Nanzhu. As he took each one out, he muttered as if they were parting forever at a deathbed.
"Spirit stone number one, goodbye. I'll miss you. Spirit stone number two, will we ever meet again? Spirit stone number three, you must never forget me. You have to be okay without me, boohoo..."
Seeing Duan Xianxing like this, Li Nanzhu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. After a moment of thought, she softened and gave two back to him.
"Here, your spirit stone number six and spirit stone number seven. They have returned to your embrace."
Duan Xianxing’s pained expression instantly vanished, replaced by a beaming smile. He opened his arms as if to hug Li Nanzhu. "Little Junior Sister, you're the best!"
"Cut it out!" Li Nanzhu nimbly dodged him, though the mirth in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
Watching their familiar banter, Liu Qi couldn't help but show a hint of envy.
"Fellow Daoist Duan and Fellow Daoist Li have a truly great relationship."
Duan Xianxing puffed out his chest with some pride. "Of course! After all, Little Junior Sister and I are the best of the best in the whole world!"
Li Nanzhu blinked. Looking at Liu Qi's expression, she couldn't help but recall the plot of the original novel. In the original text, Liu Qi seemingly craved the bonds of sect fellowship. That was why, when Cang Dongqing pretended not to care about his identity and befriended him, he was so easily swayed, eventually becoming her personal tool for smithing who could be exploited at any time.
This time, because of her and her seventh senior brother's interference, everything had changed. However, she still wanted to test his current thoughts. It wouldn't be good if he changed his mind later because of a few words from Cang Dongqing and became hostile toward them for helping him today.
Clearing her throat, Li Nanzhu said with a mock air of mystery, "However, we've completely offended the Sword Heart Sect this time. I'm afraid that Fellow Daoist Cang holds a grudge against us."
Duan Xianxing scratched his head, looking bewildered. "Huh? Although what I said last time wasn't nice, I apologized this time and even complimented her..."
Li Nanzhu burst out laughing. "Complimenting her by saying her crying isn't as pretty as those from the Hehuan Sect is worse than not saying anything at all. She probably never wants to see you again in her life."
Liu Qi let out a cold snort. "There is no harm in not seeing such a hypocritical person. If I had accepted her favor today, her sect members might have kept quiet due to her status, but they certainly wouldn't have been so kind to me."
Li Nanzhu looked out the window thoughtfully. This son of the Water Moon Sect's leader was much more perceptive than she had imagined.
"Still, her master is Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao. Aren't you afraid of his retaliation? He isn't someone to be trifled with."
"Ling Xiao wouldn't lower himself to come after a junior over something like this," Liu Qi said dismissively. "Moreover, he doesn't even know who I am."
But Cang Dongqing likely knows your identity. Li Nanzhu thought silently. However, she wouldn't say that aloud; otherwise, wouldn't she be exposing the fact that she knew who he was too?
Duan Xianxing just waved his hand nonchalantly. "What's there to fear? We'll cross that bridge when we come to it! At worst, we have our master." He finished with a suggestive wink at Li Nanzhu.
Liu Qi raised an eyebrow. "Fellow Daoist Duan is certainly broad-minded."
Though he was curious about who the master they mentioned was, they had only just met, and there was no need to ask such personal questions so soon.
Li Nanzhu gave a slight smile, a flash of mischief in her eyes. "That's right. Anyway, if there's any trouble, Seventh Senior Brother can just take the blame!"
Duan Xianxing: "???"
Was she even his biological junior sister?
He really couldn't beat Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao!
Liu Qi looked at the two of them and suddenly said seriously, "What are your plans next?"
Duan Xianxing scratched his head. "We originally planned to go to the Forest of Demonic Beasts to train and collect some spirit herbs along the way."
Liu Qi pondered for a moment. "I was also planning to go to the Forest of Demonic Beasts. I didn't expect us to be heading the same way..."
Li Nanzhu blinked and smiled. "Does Fellow Daoist Liu wish to travel with us?"
Liu Qi nodded. "Thanks to the two of you for your help just now. Besides, the Forest of Demonic Beasts is dangerous; traveling together is safer. Furthermore, I am a refinery master. I came here to test the treasure-hunting compass I recently forged. It can help find treasures faster, so I won't be a burden."
The two exchanged a glance, and Li Nanzhu spoke up first. "We have another senior brother traveling with us. If we are to go together, we need to discuss it with him first."
Liu Qi hadn't expected them to have another senior brother with them. On second thought, it made sense. Since Duan Xianxing was only at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment like himself, that level of cultivation was somewhat dangerous in the Forest of Demonic Beasts. Bringing along a senior brother at the late stage of Foundation Establishment would provide more security.
"Very well. Once the two of you have discussed it with him, you can come find me in my room."
"Of course," Li Nanzhu agreed.
After Liu Qi left, Li Nanzhu and Duan Xianxing finally made their way to Zhu Yinxi's room. They nudged and shoved each other at the door until Zhu Yinxi opened it himself.
"The two of you made such a racket outside, and only now do you think to come find me?"
Duan Xianxing gave a sheepish laugh and scratched his head. "How did Second Senior Brother know..."
"I am a Golden Core stage cultivator, after all. I can still spread my divine sense outside. Speak, what is it?"
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