Lingxiao Peak mountain gate.
The helpless look on Elder Wang’s face was practically overflowing.
Not long ago, after Chu Mo had met with Yan Qingge, the people from Red Sun Phoenix Heaven Sect had thought they could finally pack up and head home.
They had even finished preparing all their luggage.
Yet who could have guessed that Yan Qingge would change her mind again?
She claimed Chu Mo had done them a great favor, then immediately brought a pile of gifts and continued camping at the foot of Lingxiao Peak, insisting she would not leave until she had properly thanked Chu Mo.
You two are so close you could share the same pair of pants.
Is there any need to be this polite?
Elder Wang grumbled inwardly.
She had patiently tried to persuade Yan Qingge several times, but she simply could not overcome her True Disciple’s stubbornness, which was as unyielding as a wild bull.
Not only did Yan Qingge refuse to leave until Chu Mo accepted every single gift, she even seemed to deliberately make the commotion louder.
Now everyone in the Xuan Phoenix Sacred Sect knew that their group stood guard outside Lingxiao Peak every single day like wooden stakes.
Sigh.
Elder Wang let out another mental sigh.
She truly could not figure out what had happened between Chu Mo and Yan Qingge.
It was probably just a quarrel between sisters.
Both of them were proud people who refused to give the other a way to back down, so they could only keep awkwardly competing like this.
However…
Her gaze drifted toward the Breaking Abyss Peak disciples quietly monitoring them from a distance.
Elder Wang frowned with displeasure. She was not unaware of Xuan Phoenix Sacred Sect’s intentions.
Great Elder Luo Na had made things very clear the day the treatment failed.
Besides, Yan Qingge had ultimately been cured by Lin Rou, so they could give Xuan Phoenix Sacred Sect—and that infamous Nalan Qingjue—some face on this matter.
But the debt between them and Mistveil Pavilion, and between them and Pei Yunqing, could not be settled so easily.
In fact, ever since Yan Qingge had been cured, Elder Wang had already made arrangements.
People from Red Sun Phoenix Heaven Sect were taking turns keeping a tight watch on Mistveil Pavilion’s movements.
They would not give them any chance to slip away in secret.
Once they left Xuan Phoenix Sacred Sect…
At the thought, Elder Wang clenched her fists tightly.
A cold, murderous glint flashed in her eyes.
At that moment, Xiao Tao had just finished preparing the ingredients and was about to head back to the cave.
As she passed the mountain gate, she sensed the Red Sun Phoenix Heaven Sect group that had been lingering there for days.
The news had already spread like wildfire through Xuan Phoenix Sacred Sect: Yan Qingge wanted to thank Chu Mo, but Chu Mo kept finding excuses to refuse.
Ai, True Disciple Chu has already been taken away by the Sect Master.
She probably can’t even protect herself right now.
True Disciple Yan wanting to see her is most likely impossible…
At the thought, Xiao Tao’s heart suddenly pounded violently.
The huge upheaval that day had frightened her badly.
Yet she was even more terrified that the Sect Master might take her anger out on Bai Qingran.
If… if by any chance the Sect Master decided to…
The heavy thought she dared not finish instantly flooded Xiao Tao like bitter water, drowning her in suffocation, powerlessness, and sorrow that tangled together in her chest.
Distracted, Xiao Tao did not notice the step beneath her foot.
She missed it, her body swayed, and with a sharp “Ah!” she fell heavily to the ground.
The noise instantly drew everyone’s attention.
But when they saw it was only a menial disciple who had fallen, most of them coldly turned their heads away again.
Only Yan Qingge stared in a daze at Xiao Tao, who was sitting on the ground rubbing her wrist and gasping in pain.
The especially wretched sight reminded her of the day she first met Bai Qingran in the illusion.
Back then, no one had reached out to pull her up from the mud either.
Yan Qingge’s heart suddenly clenched.
If… if Brother Qingran were here, he’s so kind-hearted, he would definitely help this little girl.
Even though I know Brother Qingran would do it out of kindness, the thought of him touching another woman still makes me unhappy.
But… I could use this as an excuse to punish Brother Qingran later…
Yan Qingge walked over to Xiao Tao, bent down, and extended her hand.
“Are you all right?”
She helped Xiao Tao up, then carefully brushed the dust off her clothes.
“Th-thank you…”
Xiao Tao’s voice was timid. Yan Qingge waved it off.
But the moment she clearly saw Xiao Tao’s eyes, Yan Qingge froze.
“Your eyes… how…”
Xiao Tao hurriedly lowered her head. She hated when others focused on this flaw of her body.
Sensing Xiao Tao’s reluctance, Yan Qingge swallowed the rest of her question.
After thinking for a moment, she said instead, “You’re a menial disciple on Lingxiao Peak, right? Could I trouble you to inform Chu Mo that Yan Qingge has been waiting here with gifts for a long time?”
“You… you’re Yan Qingge?”
Hearing the unusual fear and terror in Xiao Tao’s voice, Yan Qingge frowned.
Am I some man-eating monster?
Of course she had no idea that Xiao Tao carried far too many secrets and was terrified of what would happen if outsiders learned any of them.
Almost instinctively, Xiao Tao scrambled up the path to Lingxiao Peak on all fours, completely ignoring the shouts behind her.
“Hey! Don’t go! Has there been any outsider on Lingxiao Peak lately? Hey! You…”
Yan Qingge let out a long, helpless sigh through her nose.
This person is really strange. And…
Staring at Xiao Tao’s retreating figure, Yan Qingge looked thoughtful.
She seemed really afraid I would ask her something.
***
“Xiao Tao, you’re back… what happened to you?”
Bai Qingran’s eyes widened. He hurried over to the disheveled Xiao Tao.
“It’s… it’s nothing, Young Master Bai. I accidentally fell on the way back. I’ll go organize the things first, Young Master Bai.”
Fell?
Looking at the bits of leaves caught in Xiao Tao’s hair, the dust on her delicate little face, and her wrist swollen like a steamed bun, Bai Qingran sighed.
This little girl really is careless.
Bai Qingran firmly pressed Xiao Tao down onto a chair.
“Enough. Sit still. I’ll apply medicine for you first.”
Xiao Tao resisted a little—she was a servant; how could she let her master take care of her?
But she could not win against Bai Qingran’s determination.
The sting of the cool ointment on her wrist made Xiao Tao suck in a sharp breath.
Bai Qingran softened his voice.
“Does it hurt? Xiao Tao, I’ll be gentler?”
“No, Young Master Bai. It doesn’t hurt.”
As the medicine took effect, a cool, soothing sensation spread through Xiao Tao’s entire body. She suddenly realized her hand was being held by Bai Qingran.
Those gentle jade-like hands were massaging her skin in slow circles through the ointment.
The faint floral scent of Bai Qingran’s body lingered at the tip of her nose, and his snow-white hair unconsciously brushed across her fingertips.
Xiao Tao’s face flushed bright red in an instant. She awkwardly turned her head away and hurriedly spoke to distract herself.
“Y-Young Master Bai, on my way back today I ran into True Disciple Yan from Red Sun Phoenix Heaven Sect. She’s really a very good person. She even helped me up herself.”
Xiao Tao chattered on without noticing that the hand rubbing her wrist had suddenly gone stiff.
Yan Qingge… hasn’t left Xuan Phoenix Sacred Sect?
And she’s right at the foot of Lingxiao Peak?!
A huge wave of joy instantly flooded Bai Qingran’s heart.
The thought of contacting Yan Qingge surged up uncontrollably once more.
But reality immediately crashed down on him like a bucket of ice-cold water mixed with crushed shards.
What was his current situation?
He was being watched by Nalan Qingjue.
If he contacted Yan Qingge now, wouldn’t that be the same as pushing her into a pit of fire?
Bai Qingran knew her backing was not weak; Nalan Qingjue might not do anything to Yan Qingge. But… she was his little sister.
As her older brother, even the slightest risk was enough reason to keep her far away from danger.
“Young Master Bai? What’s wrong?”
Noticing Bai Qingran’s strange behavior, Xiao Tao called out a few times.
“It’s nothing, Xiao Tao. The medicine is done. Don’t get it wet. It’ll be better by tomorrow.”
Bai Qingran forcefully suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart, but his voice still carried an uncontrollable tremor and sob.
“Young Master Bai… do you know True Disciple Yan?”
Xiao Tao asked cautiously.
Dead silence filled the cave.
After a long time, Bai Qingran spoke with great difficulty, every word forced out between clenched teeth.
“I… don’t know her.”