Brother, how come you're a witch?

After he finished speaking, the private room fell silent for a moment.

Su Yan's hand holding the chopsticks froze in mid-air, his lips twitched slightly, and he looked up at Xu Qinglan sitting opposite him.

Her expression remained unchanged, with even a faint hint of smugness on her lips, as if the title was perfectly natural.

Yan'er...

This way of addressing someone is indeed often used by elders to address younger people, but it seems a bit too intimate.

Often, the development of a relationship is reflected in changes in how people address each other, and the reverse is also true.

Su Yan had no idea that a bet could bring such great progress to his work. Just as he was about to say something, Chen Yixing burst through the door carrying a wine jar half his height.

"As the saying goes, wine is like an old hero; the more you drink, the more vigorous you become. Don't be shy, drink from a big cup."

Chen Yixing's wrinkled face was flushed. He hadn't used his spiritual power to suppress the effects of the alcohol and was already drunk, uttering incoherent drunken ramblings.

Su Yan composed himself. Elder Chen was clearly drunk, and if he had a request, this was the time to do so, as it would greatly increase the chances of Elder Chen agreeing.

Elder Chen.

He took the wine jar from Chen Yixing and filled it for him first.

"You said before that if I helped you complete this research, you would help me get a Foundation Establishment Pill. Does that promise still stand?"

"Hahaha, Su Yan, you should broaden your horizons. We're aiming for a top-tier publication. What's a Foundation Establishment Pill then? I'll even get you one of those super-fast flying boats from Lan Family Village."

Chen Yixing took a sip of wine and started bragging.

"But publishing in the top issue takes quite a while, doesn't it?" Su Yan pretended to be hesitant.

"That's right. But I can finish the first draft in just half a month. I'll submit it to the sect for review first, and then the sect's rewards will be issued. It will be easy to get you a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Half a month is too long, there's not enough time." Su Yan shook his head.

"Huh? Isn't the summit still more than a month away?" Chen Yixing closed his eyes tightly, trying to figure out that he wasn't so drunk that he couldn't remember the date.

"But there are only four days left to register for the Ultimate Sword Cultivation Challenge."

Su Yan picked up his wine glass and clinked it against Elder Chen's:

"Could you perhaps grant me one Foundation Establishment Pill on credit?"

"Oh~ you sword cultivators just love to show off and enjoy participating in boring competitions." Chen Yixing suddenly realized.

"Cough cough."

Xu Qinglan coughed lightly twice.

But nobody paid any attention to her.

"Giving it to you on credit is no problem. Your contributions to the research far exceed the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill."

Chen Yixing swirled his wine glass and said:

"But as you know, Foundation Establishment Pills are like a chicken bone to most cultivators. I don't know who to ask for credit, or who would even have one?"

"I have."

Xu Qinglan said coldly and suddenly.

Chen Yixing stopped swirling his wine glass and looked at her strangely:

"Am I drunk? Why do you have Foundation Establishment Pills?"

"The sect has given us too many resources. I don't know which batch they were sent in. They've been sitting there for many years and are still useless."

Xu Qinglan said calmly.

Chen Yixing immediately pointed at her, his beard trembling: "Listen to this, this is blatant boasting!"

Su Yan dared not agree and could only drink.

This is the downside of a lack of market transparency. Lu Jing searched everywhere for Foundation Establishment Pills but couldn't find any, and had no idea who had them. Xu Qinglan had some, but she wouldn't say so, nor was she bothered to sell them.

A spark of inspiration arose in Su Yan's mind.

"I'm just stating the facts."

Xu Qinglan glanced at Chen Yixing out of the corner of her eye, a slight smile playing on her lips:

"I can give him this Foundation Establishment Pill on credit, but you'll owe me a favor."

"I declare, why don't we just give you back your surname?" Chen Yixing said.

"What I have lost through defeat, I must reclaim through victory."

Xu Qinglan shook her head and stood up, glancing at Chen Yixing before looking at Su Yan again:

"From now on, you owe me a favor, so straighten your attitude. Also, come with me back to the peak to retrieve the Foundation Establishment Pill."

"So that's what you were planning."

Chen Yixing slammed his fist on the table repeatedly, then shook his head with a wry smile:

"You really can't stand being outdone by others. I was only smug for two days, that's all."

Xu Qinglan remained noncommittal, picking up the sword leaning against her side:

"The beast fight tomorrow afternoon will be moved up one hour."

"What's the point of fighting anymore? You fed your spirit beast a whole box of tree fruits, enough for five adult giant pigs. Ji Yi has sent it to recuperate, and it won't be back for three to five days."

Chen Yixing sighed. He hadn't kept an eye on things for a moment that afternoon, and Xu Qinglan had squandered all the feed she kept in the research lab.

"...Then let's wait for it and compete again."

Xu Qinglan was silent for a moment:

"If it needs any medicine, it can ask me for it."

Chen Yixing waved his hand, too lazy to explain to this layman that the healing of spirit beasts and cultivators are two completely different systems.

Xu Qinglan and he had known each other for many years, so she understood what the old man meant. She immediately finished her drink and left without saying goodbye. Her fairy dress fluttered as she turned and left.

Su Yan cupped his hands in a respectful bow, politely took his leave, and followed Xu Qinglan's graceful figure.

The sky in the mountains had completely darkened, and the evening breeze outside carried a hint of chill.

"Elder Qinglan..."

Su Yan fanned away the cool breeze with his sleeve and carefully considered his words.

"Um?"

Xu Qinglan didn't stop walking, only glancing at him sideways, the moonlight outlining her cool and delicate profile.

"Thank you for the Foundation Establishment Pill."

Su Yan paused:

"And that title, actually..."

Xu Qinglan paused, and before Su Yan could finish speaking, she suddenly turned around:

"Yan'er, come here."

Her tone was calm, yet left no room for argument.

Su Yan wisely swallowed the rest of his words and stepped forward.

Xu Qinglan raised her jade-like fingers, a fragrant breeze wafting from her sleeve, and pressed them against Su Yan's shoulder.

The surrounding scenery suddenly changed; the mountains and stars and moon receded like flowing light, and in the blink of an eye, they were reshaped, and we had arrived at Shuiyue Peak.

This was an extremely sophisticated escape technique, but Su Yan was not surprised at all.

"Um?"

Seeing that Su Yan did not have any particular reaction, Xu Qinglan frowned slightly, almost imperceptibly.

If Su Yan hadn't observed Ye Jingqiu's expressionless face every day and become extremely sensitive and adept at it, he would have definitely missed it.

He quickly feigned a look of belated shock:

"What incredible supernatural power!"

"Um."

Xu Qinglan nodded in satisfaction:

"This is the 'One Sword Across a Thousand Miles' technique from the Water Moon Swordplay. Few escape techniques of the same level can match it, and it is far superior to the minor art of Beast Taming."

"We sword cultivators have such a bright future."

Su Yan praised him without hesitation, then thought for a moment and added:

"As expected of Elder Qinglan."

Xu Qinglan waved his hand gently, then walked away with his hands behind his back, stepping in the moonlight that fell on the stone path. He looked quite ethereal and beautiful.

Su Yan followed behind her, and before he had gone a few steps, he suddenly saw a beautiful and graceful figure sitting on the swing in front of him, looking up at the sky.

The melancholy between his brows was no less than his.

"Shuang'er?"

Xu Qinglan raised her eyebrows slightly.

"...Master."

Liu Baishuang abruptly withdrew her gaze and turned her head:

"Have you told anyone about the place where you found me back then?"

"Of course not, why?" Xu Qinglan shook her head.

"It's just... I suddenly remembered things from the past."

Liu Baishuang lowered her eyes, looking somewhat confused and uneasy.

"Shuang'er, you don't need to think about those things. Your teacher hopes you can forget them."

Xu Qinglan stepped forward slowly and gently stroked Liu Baishuang's drooping head:

"All you need to know is that you are my disciple, Xu Qinglan's disciple, the pride of Shuiyue Peak, and that's enough."

"Um......"

Liu Baishuang unconsciously rubbed against Xu Qinglan's palm, as familiarly as a kitten.

Then, she saw Su Yan standing to the side, looking somewhat embarrassed.