When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

Chu Xianlan ran down the mountain as if her life depended on it, until she had completely shaken off Hua Ling, before she dared to stop by leaning against an old tree, bending down to catch her breath.

"Huff...huff...what a mess..."

Wiping away sweat with a pained expression, Chu Xianlan was still shaken by the experience.

and many more.

Hua Ling is unruly and mischievous. If she were to use Master's face to swindle and cheat people in the Taiyi Sect, wouldn't Master's image be completely ruined?

Chu Xianlan's vision went black.

As a disciple, how can I stand by and watch my master's reputation be ruined!

No, we have to go back and catch her!

Thinking of this, a sense of responsibility and crisis arose spontaneously. Chu Xianlan rolled up his sleeves and turned around. When he looked back, a familiar figure stood firmly in front of him.

It was Xiao Huandu.

His face was flushed with shyness, his brows were furrowed as if he were struggling with something, his eyes were burning, his breathing was rapid, and there seemed to be some kind of intense emotion in his gaze that Chu Xianlan couldn't quite understand...?

Before Chu Xianlan could recover from the strange eye contact, Xiao Huandu had already moved, extending his arm.

A loud "crack!"

Xiao Huandu slammed his palm down hard on the tree trunk beside Chu Xianlan's ear, exuding an aura of dominance.

Immediately afterwards, the other arm did the same. The man's tall and muscular upper body suddenly leaned forward, and Chu Xianlan was inexplicably trapped in a small space between the tree trunk and Xiao Huandu's arms.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Chu Xianlan frowned, looking annoyed.

The other person remained silent, only breathing heavily like a bull, staring intently at him.

Although she didn't understand the situation, a word flashed through Chu Xianlan's mind in this scene.

*Thump*

Xiao Huandu, is he pinning himself against the wall?

"Hoo."

A wave of nausea and vomiting shot through Chu Xianlan's throat. Unable to bear it any longer, she covered her mouth and let out a genuine dry heave.

"He was just playing around with you by changing his appearance, what kind of reaction is this! That's so hurtful! Why are you vomiting? Am I ugly?! No, is he ugly?"

Ugh, Chu Xianlan felt even worse. I'm sorry, but Xiao Huandu's voice combined with Hua Ling's coquettish tone was double torture... Ugh.

After a mental struggle, Chu Xianlan finally managed to lift her head despite feeling nauseous.

As it turned out, Xiao Huandu's face had changed, becoming the one he knew best...

"Holding an orchid in one's hand".

Yi Chen leaned slightly forward and gazed at him, his misty eyes seeming to be dampened by the heat, unlike his usual perfect indifference, as if revealing a straightforward and deep yearning.

Chu Xianlan's mind went blank again.

It was as if they had been thrown into a pot of boiling oil, then quickly scooped out and placed in an ice cave, and then thrown under the scorching sun to be baked repeatedly.

Their will to escape is at its peak.

Chu Xianlan tactically crouched down, ducked out, and then sprinted away again!

Just as he was rushing towards the Thousand Refinement Hall in a panic, a reassuring voice came from beside him: "Xianlan? Why are you running so fast? Be careful not to fall."

That voice... it's Master Pei!

Chu Xianlan slammed on the brakes, still shaken, and said, "Uncle-Master."

"What's the rush? Why are you panting? Oh, young man, don't be so impatient. Everything has its rules. Only by calming down can you succeed." Pei Fang'an chuckled and unfolded his fan.

He was very verbose and very gentle, perfectly matching his senior's usual image.

but……

Having just experienced the series of scams, Chu Xianlan's vigilance was at its peak.

He took a small half-step back without making a sound.

"This disciple has other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now. I apologize, Senior Uncle!"

"?"

Pei Fang'an was left standing there, quite puzzled.

What's wrong with this child today? He acts like he's seen a monster whenever he sees me. I've thought carefully about what I said earlier, and I didn't say anything inappropriate.

While I was still confused, a person slowly emerged from the corner behind me.

"Junior brother." Upon seeing the visitor, Pei Fang'an immediately showed a kind smile.

After all, he was the most lovable junior brother in the entire sect and even the entire cultivation world, so it was hard for him not to be kind.

Yi Chen's gaze swept over indifferently.

"Um."

Hua Ling naturally didn't know Pei Fang'an, but that didn't stop her from imitating Yi Chen, nodding slightly and pretending to be profound.

Pei Fang'an was already used to his junior brother's taciturn nature and didn't take it to heart at all. He walked over with concern and asked, "Junior brother, I just saw Xianlan running over in a panic. I couldn't stop her no matter how much I called her. Did something happen?"

"He's alright."

Yi Chen frowned, as if he was having some trouble, and then seriously changed the subject: "Senior brother, the Jade Capital Pavilion has been repairing its courtyard recently, and it has consumed a lot of materials, especially... items such as Cold Earth Ice Soul, Crimson Fire Refined Gold, Seven-Colored Fluorite, and Jadeite are somewhat scarce."

Pei Fang'an was stunned.

Is this... is my junior brother asking for something on his own initiative?

Could it be that……

Junior brother has finally... finally realized he needs to rely on his senior brother?!

Pei Fang'an was overjoyed; this was truly his good junior brother! So adorable!

"I see! These materials and pills should all be in stock in the storeroom. I'll check them later and have someone deliver them to Yujing Pavilion for you. Do you need anything else? I'll arrange everything for you!"

Yi Chen seemed to think for a moment before nodding slightly.

"Either way, please send it directly to the spirit platform, senior brother." Here you go!

Watching his junior brother stride away, Pei Fang'an waved his fan, feeling a little smug and sweet inside. As he waved the fan, his movements slowed down.

Speaking of which, what exactly is Jade Capital Pavilion building? Frosty Ice Soul, Crimson Fire Refining—aren't these rare refining materials...? Never mind, there's no point in thinking about it!

It's rare for my junior brother to ask for anything, so whatever he wants, I'll give it to him!

Chu Xianlan closed the door of the forging workshop, rubbed his face vigorously, and deeply despised himself for his desertion. Even though he knew that it was Hua Ling impersonating his master, he just... couldn't calm down.

It's all...it's all because of that accident in the cave!

He tried to calm himself down and said, "Fighting piracy, good will prevail over evil!"

"It's fake...it's all fake..."

"Huh? What do you mean by fake? Who's fake?"

A familiar voice rang out, and Chu Xianlan's heart skipped a beat. She slowly looked towards the window.

Sure enough, Hua Ling, like a persistent ghost, chased after him again. The handsome man, as beautiful as an immortal, was now resting his chin on his hand, smiling at him with an undisguised mischievous expression on his face.

"..." The illusion was instantly dispelled.

Chu Xianlan felt utterly absurd. What are you doing using my master's face?! My master would never smile so brightly, so... infuriatingly!

After that, Hua Ling was given a lecture and a threat as a reward.

If they don't obey, cut off their food supply! Cut off their food supply completely!

Hua Ling also chickened out, puffing out her cheeks in resentment, and reluctantly turned back to her original state. "Hmph, I know."

Anyway, I already managed to swindle quite a few good things from that easy-going senior brother by pretending to be Yi Chen, so it wasn't a complete loss.

She figured she could tell the difference between being full at one meal and being full at every other meal.

"Boring! I'm leaving!" she muttered, and slipped away.

After finally getting rid of this little troublemaker, Chu Xianlan shook her head, feeling both amused and annoyed. She looked around the forging room and her gaze fell on a corner of the workbench, where an unfinished white jade lotus pendant sat.

He reached out, his fingertips tracing the smooth surface of the white jade. A thought flashed through his mind, and his gaze softened considerably.

This is a protective magical artifact that he has been refining for some time.

That day at the Hundred Herbs Hall, seeing her master still using the jade pendant she had made when she was fourteen, she couldn't help but feel moved. But that was, after all, her clumsy work from her youth, and her skills were still immature. Chu Xianlan kept thinking that she should get her master a protective item that was more worthy of him, and also give it as a congratulatory gift for his departure from the sect.

Logically speaking, the gifts that disciples give to their masters upon their departure from seclusion should have been prepared well in advance. Unfortunately, Yi Chen's departure from seclusion was too sudden, catching Chu Xianlan off guard.

So many things happened afterward that the forging of this magical artifact had to be postponed indefinitely.

However, it was just a little short.

Chu Xianlan took a deep breath, walked to the forging table, sat down, and pondered how to achieve the final perfection.

"Thump."

A gentle knock sounded on the door.

"Holding an orchid in one's hand".

Then, a deep, clear voice came from outside the door.

again!

Veins bulged on Chu Xianlan's forehead, and her eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

They just sent Hua Ling away, and now they've come back with a vengeance? This time they've even learned to knock on the door; they're putting on quite a show!

He suppressed his anger and unconsciously lowered his voice, saying coldly, "...Go away, don't come any closer."