Night.
Shen Mu’s room was brightly lit.
The glowing spiritual lamp illuminated Shen Mu’s strikingly handsome yet slightly exasperated profile.
Across the table, Lin Yuhe was devouring food, wolfing down seven or eight dishes with greasy lips, showing none of the refined grace expected of a young lady.
“Sigh…” Shen Mu sighed helplessly, calmly picking up his wine cup and taking a sip.
“Are you made of sticky candy or something? I disguised myself like this, and you still managed to latch onto me.”
“Mmph…”
Lin Yuhe tore into a large chicken leg, swallowing before responding, “Who told you to go off and do this kind of thing without discussing it with me first?”
“You know we’re bound together now. If something happens to you, I’m done for too.”
Crunch…
Watching her continue to chomp on meat, Shen Mu rolled his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and propped up a leg.
“I figured even if I discussed it with you, with your personality… you’d probably ignore the plan and sneakily follow me anyway.”
Gulp~
After finishing the chicken leg, Lin Yuhe drank a bowl of vegetable soup, wiped her greasy mouth with a pure white handkerchief, sat up straight, and looked at him. “That’s just your subjective distrust of me…”
“You didn’t even discuss it with me this time. How do you know I wouldn’t stick to the plan?”
Shen Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, asking calmly, “Alright, let’s discuss now. Go back tomorrow and stop following me. Will you do it?”
“Uh… no.”
Lin Yuhe pretended to think for a moment before giving the answer Shen Mu expected.
I knew it…
“I see you’re trying to avoid some interactions with Jiang Ling during this time, aren’t you?” Shen Mu estimated the timing, roughly guessing why she didn’t want to stay at the sect.
“Mm~ Looks like we’re both worms in each other’s stomachs.” Lin Yuhe didn’t deny his assumption.
This period coincided with a grand competition for new disciples, a test of their cultivation progress.
All new disciples still at the sect during this time were required to participate.
Though the winner’s reward—a free choice of a technique from the Mysterious Spirit Pavilion or a spiritual treasure—was rare and valuable…
For Lin Yuhe, avoiding Jiang Ling was a higher priority.
“I really don’t get you. There are plenty of ways to avoid him. Why insist on sticking to me?”
“Because it’s more fun with you~”
Lin Yuhe flashed a radiant smile, though a fleeting trace of loneliness flickered in her eyes. “Besides… here, you’re the only one I can really talk to, the only one who understands me.”
“…”
Seeing her rare display of such emotion, Shen Mu fell silent for a moment, his eyes lowering and half-closing briefly…
Finally, he let out a resigned breath and said calmly, “I get it, but can you stop springing these surprises on me every time?”
She always played by her own rules.
Last time, she sent a drugged, charming junior sister to his door. This time, she barged into his room at night through who-knows-what entrance.
Who knew what she’d pull next.
“It’s training your adaptability, isn’t it~?”
“Twisted logic.”
Shen Mu couldn’t be bothered to argue further and waved his hand. “Finish eating and go back to your room. I’m starting my cultivation.”
“Wow, Senior Brother, you’re that diligent? Even using rest time to cultivate?”
“Slacking now means missing your chance forever…”
“With my aptitude, I can only work harder to have a shot at defying fate.”
With the Chongtian Technique and sufficient resources, if he didn’t put in the effort, he’d deserve his powerless end.
“Hm… Alright, see you tomorrow, homo Senior Brother…”
Burp~
Lin Yuhe covered her mouth, her face flushing slightly with an awkward smile, before quickly fleeing the room.
Bang!
“…”
Hearing the door close behind her, Shen Mu sat in silence for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle.
“Heh~”
If I can ultimately achieve the life I want in this world…
Having a lively treasure like her, someone I can connect with, doesn’t sound half bad.
Wind Spirit Immortal Sect.
In a spiritual pool shrouded in misty spiritual energy, exuding boundless natural charm…
Luo Qingyue’s red hair dipped into the water as she slowly submerged her curvaceous, mature figure, revealing her delicate, fair collarbone and shoulders. Her stunningly beautiful face radiated calm and comfort.
“Ning’er, you must perform well in this new disciples’ competition and set an example for the others.”
“Yes, Ning’er knows what to do.”
Luo Qingyue’s gaze shifted slightly. Amid the hazy spiritual mist, a young girl’s figure, beginning to take shape, quietly slipped into the warm pool as she responded.
“If you win this time, I’ll forge a natal treasure for you as a special reward.”
“…”
Jiang Ning’er showed no signs of excitement or similar emotions. After a long pause, she proactively asked, “Master, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course, go ahead. What is it?”
Curious about her usually reserved disciple’s rare question, Luo Qingyue’s interest was piqued.
“What’s the background of Junior Sister Lin Yuhe from Wanxiang Peak?”
Hearing this, Luo Qingyue was momentarily taken aback before asking curiously, “Why are you suddenly interested in her?”
“I feel she might become a strong rival in the future, so I want to learn about her in advance.”
“Is that so…”
Given that girl’s aptitude, it wasn’t an unreasonable concern.
Without overthinking, Luo Qingyue slowly explained Lin Yuhe’s background to Jiang Ning’er.
“Lin Yuhe was born into the Lin family of the Nine Heavens Dynasty. At her birth, a true phoenix descending phenomenon appeared, startling the dynasty’s former emperor, who personally visited. She’s an undeniable prodigy.”
“The Lin family, her lineage, descends from one of the Nine Heavens Dynasty’s founding vassals, holding significant influence in the dynasty.”
“Moreover, the Lin family, along with the Luo, Tang, and Lu families, are known as the four great cultivation clans of Chiyou Continent.”
“For you now, they’re quite a formidable force.”
Upon learning Lin Yuhe’s background, Jiang Ning’er fell silent for a long time, her heart quietly relieved.
Good thing I didn’t harm her out of momentary resentment back then, or I’d have brought disaster upon myself.