Fairy, please have some self-respect. I am not the reincarnation of your deceased husband.

Chapter 143 The Cold and Cute Mu Qianxue

"The villages surrounding the sect have been quite unsettled lately."

Lin Miaohan's expression gradually turned serious, and she said earnestly, "I heard that quite a few people have gone missing, many of them young people."

"This situation is clearly unusual."

She mimicked the way the elders analyzed things, pondering carefully: "If it's just a lost child or woman, then it can be concluded that it's a human trafficker."

"But those who have gone missing are all young people, both men and women, which doesn't seem like a typical abduction."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingyao's smile vanished instantly, and her tone turned serious: "So Master suspects this was the work of evil cultivators?"

Lin Miaohan nodded vigorously, her tone becoming more serious: "Yes, especially recently, the activities of evil cultivators have become more and more frequent. Only evil cultivators would plunder living beings on such a large scale."

"this--"

Xiao Qingyao paused, her thoughts churning.

After all, evil cultivators prefer to use the essence and blood of living beings as sacrifices in order to quickly improve their own cultivation and aptitude.

Such a large-scale disappearance of young people is a typical sign of the influence of heretical practices.

But she really couldn't understand which evil cultivator was so bold.

How dare they kidnap people right under the nose of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect?

Moreover, various sects are coming here to discuss the Dao recently. Isn't this just courting death?

"So, from what you're saying, we haven't found any trace of the heretical cultivators yet?"

Xiao Qingyao pressed for more information.

What she hates most is this kind of evil cultivator who harms the innocent.

If she catches him, she will be severely punished!

"right."

Lin Miaohan's tone was also full of worry, and she sighed softly: "My master is in charge of this matter. Recently, he has been leading his senior brothers and sisters to investigate the surrounding area every day."

"We searched everywhere, from towns and villages to even remote mountain forests."

"Aside from a faint trace of evil energy found in the missing person's home, we couldn't detect a single trace of the evil cultivator's aura; it was as if they had vanished into thin air."

"Therefore, Master suspects that this time the evil cultivator is not a lone individual, but a well-organized evil cultivator group."

Xiao Qingyao slammed her hand on the stone table in anger, causing the porcelain plate containing osmanthus cakes to shake and nearly spill several pieces.

"Damn it, these evil cultivators are cunning!"

Lin Miaohan quickly grabbed her sleeve and gently advised, "Senior Sister, don't be upset. Master and the elders are doing their best to investigate. They will find clues eventually."

After a slight pause, she added, "However, Master is not entirely without a clue."

"Just recently, the sect was recruiting new disciples, and the elders discovered during their investigation that all the missing people possessed spiritual roots."

"Some people may not have the talent to join our Ten Thousand Swords Sect, but they can still join some smaller sects."

"They were kidnapped before they could even set off for the sect's assessment—"

「唉

Xiao Qingyao sighed softly, the anger in her eyes gradually replaced by helplessness.

She knew how troublesome this matter was; even the elders of the sect were at a loss.

The silence lasted for a while.

Seeing her senior sister's low spirits, Lin Miaohan changed the subject: "Senior sister, let's not talk about these troublesome things. Tell me about what happened in the secret realm, I've been wanting to hear it for ages!"

Xiao Qingyao was no longer willing to dwell on things she couldn't control, so she nodded, and her face gradually regained its former vibrancy.

The two gradually shifted their conversation from the sect's thorny affairs to the adventures and dangers they encountered in the secret realm.

Lin Miaohan listened with great interest, nodding frequently, and occasionally asking questions with her bright almond-shaped eyes, her eyes full of longing and admiration.

Meanwhile, at the Jade Jade Sect, Jade Spirit Peak.

Inside the side hall, Chen Lianshu was sitting cross-legged in meditation.

Su Jiu'er, meanwhile, was fast asleep, nestled on her husband's lap, quietly keeping him company.

After circulating his spiritual energy for one cycle, Chen Lianshu slowly withdrew his spiritual power. Just as he opened his eyes, a knock came from outside the hall, accompanied by Pei Wanyun's gentle voice: "Lianshu."

Chen Lianshu got up and opened the door.

Outside the door, Pei Wanyun held a cup of freshly brewed spiritual tea, with Xiao Xueyan beside her, and smiled gently: "Did I disturb your meditation?"

"no."

Chen Lianshu stepped aside to let her in.

Pei Wanyun placed the teapot on the table, poured a full cup, and handed it to her husband: "I came to tell you something."

Chen Lianshu took the spiritual tea and sipped it: "Hmm?"

Pei Wanyun sat down opposite him, her expression turning serious: "The list of those going to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect has been finalized."

"I'll go with you."

"Once we leave, Jade Spirit Peak will be empty."

She paused, somewhat worried, "Fortunately, the discussion won't last long."

"Otherwise, if Qianxue were to emerge from seclusion and find the peak deserted, how disappointed she would be—"

The thought of her disciple facing the empty Spirit Peak after leaving seclusion made her hands tighten slightly, and her mind involuntarily conjured up some absurd ideas.

Especially under the weight of guilt, the idea she had originally dismissed sprouted again like weeds in spring, even growing wildly.

For some reason, she blurted out unconsciously, and then began to hint, "Do you think there's any way to prevent Qianxue from being so lonely?"

"So we're not going to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect?"

Clearly, Chen Lianshu was unaware of the rich thoughts in Pei Wanyun's mind.

From his perspective, his master was asking about the Myriad Swords Sect, not about his love life.

"Wait for your senior sister to emerge from seclusion within the sect?"

"That's enough."

Pei Wanyun sighed softly to herself, her thoughts wandering.

If that were really the case, would she truly feel resistance or find it absurd?

After all, this idea has been popping into my head from time to time lately—

That's enough.

Things will work themselves out; let's wait until Qianxue leaves the pass before making any decisions.

Don't let yourself overthink things later. Even if you can accept it, Qianxue might not.

"Since the list is finalized, let's go."

'

Chen Lianshu noticed that Pei Wanyun, despite saying "never mind," still seemed preoccupied, and silently kept it in mind.

It would be inappropriate to speak at this time.

Inside the side hall, the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

The little fox and the kitten nestled comfortably in Chen Lianshu's arms.

Sunlight streamed through the window, bringing warmth and temporarily easing any anxieties, adding a touch of peace and comfort.

"Oh, right."

Pei Wanyun suddenly spoke again.

This time, she didn't talk about anything else, but about the two of them: "Would you like to come with me to see your grandmaster today?"

"To see the Grandmaster?"

Chen Lianshu was slightly taken aback, and her tea-drinking motion also paused for a moment.

Pei Wanyun nodded and said seriously, "We need to let her get to know you eventually."

"That's better for me—"

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was already clear.

"Don't worry, there are some things I will talk to her about privately."

Clearly nervous, she subconsciously put herself in the role of her master.

"What do I need to bring?"

Chen Lianshu asked.

But Pei Wanyun asked a rather cryptic question: "What do you think of the taste of this spiritual tea?"

"fine."

"Then I'll take this one."

After saying that, he handed over the tea leaves.

"Your grandmaster loved drinking tea."

"Besides, you only need to go; you might even bring back a bunch of treasures she gave you."

As they talked, memories began to surface.

Pei Wanyun chuckled and began to recount the past to her husband: "Back then, Qianxue was still young, and she was so cute and aloof."

"Your grandmaster liked her very much and insisted on giving her a lot of things."

"Then--"

She paused deliberately to pique the other person's interest.

"and then?"

"Then I forgot to give her a storage magic item."

"You know your senior sister's personality. She's introverted, doesn't like to bother others, and doesn't ask for anything."

"So much so that when she returned to the peak, she was just a little girl carrying big bags of her precious things. She would stop every two steps, her face turning red. She looked incredibly cute."

At this point, Pei Wanyun couldn't help but laugh.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

When her eldest disciple was mentioned, she became conflicted again.

That aloof figure and those absurd thoughts resurfaced in my mind.

This time, however, she did not try to suppress it.

Instead, they calmed down and seriously considered this seemingly absurd possibility.

Perhaps, there really is a way that doesn't cause pain for any of the three people—