Chapter 24

“You’re not coming back with me?”

Xie Zhen was a bit bewildered by his little disciple’s idea of staying on Jingyun Mountain.

“This time, your teacher brought you here not only to observe the ceremony but also to take a leisurely stroll. I didn’t expect your junior brothers to be fancied by True Person Mingxiao’s daughter and stay here. We, of the divination lineage, don't need such things.”

Xie Zhen subconsciously thought his disciple wanted to stay to take care of his junior brothers, but he was met with a shake of the head.

“I came here and found it quite beautiful, so I want to stay for a few more days,” Mu Chen lied without batting an eye.

Although he had won the right of control in the bet with Xie Chen these past few days, Mingmei had been staying in her residence, and he had no reason to go see her.

As a result, he had done nothing these past few days.

“Is that so?” Xie Zhen narrowed his fox-like eyes slightly, carefully sizing up the little disciple before him, his fingers already calculating within his wide sleeves.

Strange.

It seemed nothing had really happened.

But Xie Zhen’s intuition told him that his disciple staying here was a mistake.

However, the calculations showed everything to be normal.

Was he overthinking it?

“Since you’re alone out here, don’t go down the mountain casually. Cultivate on time with the Jingyun Mountain disciples. These days are not safe; don’t go down the mountain carelessly again.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Mu Chen lowered his eyes, the eerie laughter of the boy in his heart echoing non-stop.

He couldn't investigate some of Xie Chen's previous memories, but from chatting with some disciples these days, he learned a few things.

Xie Chen had gone down the mountain some days ago.

Coupled with the other's undisguised mocking laughter, Mu Chen's eyes grew darker.

…

“I wonder if Luo Yao has returned to Bibo Yao Mountain yet, and she doesn't even send a message back.”

Now that Mei Jiu's little school was full of little boys, and Luo Yao, the only good girlfriend she had, had left first, Mei Jiu simply skipped half a day of class, leaned against Mingmei, and gossiped about what she had overheard.

“I heard that the sect that was exterminated was a small sect called Baicao Hall, which has always supplied medicinal herbs for pill refining to Luo Yao's sect. It seems that it was because the herbs offered to Bibo Yao Mountain were delayed this time that the cultivators from Bibo Yao Mountain went to investigate and discovered it.”

Having never experienced death, Mei Jiu didn't feel much when talking about these things, but she imitated the shocked and unbearable expressions on the faces of the fellow disciples who talked about it.

Mingmei naturally felt unbearable and worried upon hearing it.

This event didn't exist in her childhood memories, and what level of person would have to act for an entire sect to be destroyed?

Mingmei subconsciously thought of Xie Chen, but felt that the timeline didn't match.

According to the news Mei Jiu heard, he had already arrived at Jingyun Mountain when Baicao Hall had its accident.

“Sister, why are you spacing out again~”

Mei Jiu noticed Mingmei's absent-mindedness, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat, then she quickly said, “Have you not gone out to play recently? Didn’t Mother say you should go out and wander around more? Don’t isolate yourself so much~”

“Yeah, it’s been a bit cold these past few days, so I haven’t gone down,” Mingmei said, reminded by Mei Jiu that she had indeed become lazier recently.

Taking advantage of Mei Jiu's words, Mingmei simply suggested that she accompany Mei Jiu to the Spiritual Food Hall today, and then go to the Spiritual Beast Garden to bring back a little pet.

As soon as they went down the mountain, Mingmei encountered Xie Chen again.

However, Mingmei quickly realized that this time, it wasn't Xie Chen.

“I learned some pastries from True Person Mingxiao. Coincidentally, I’m short a few tasters. Would you like to try some?”

It wasn't mealtime yet, and there weren't many people at the Spiritual Food Hall, except for Lu Xiaoyao, who always liked to stay there and eat, and someone they didn't expect to be here at this time.

It was the first time Mei Jiu had encountered someone other than her father cooking here, and she was very curious.

Mingmei was the first to take the pastry handed over by Mu Chen, and her eyelashes couldn't help but tremble slightly in a place others couldn't see.

This familiar taste—she could tell at first bite that it was the taste Mu Chen made!

She immediately understood that Mu Chen had transmigrated into Xie Chen's body!

Was her uncle doing this on purpose?

Mingmei secretly looked at Mu Chen, who seemed to sense it and looked back at her. Although there weren't many movements, the familiar smile in his eyes quickly brought a small smile to Mingmei's face.

The two recognized each other without anyone knowing.

However, their current situations didn't seem too good, especially Mu Chen's.

“Oh, oh, oh, this taste is so familiar…”

Lu Xiaoyao also joined in the fun. After taking a bite, the familiar taste made her feel like she had eaten it somewhere before.

Mingmei's heart skipped a beat at Lu Xiaoyao's words, but Lu Xiaoyao changed the subject and said, "It's a bit lacking compared to your father's cooking."

Mingmei: "..."

"That's right, it's a bit worse than Daddy's craftsmanship." Mei Jiu nodded in agreement, and she and Lu Xiaoyao rarely reached a consensus on this.

"Yes, I still have many shortcomings. True Person Mingxiao also said that diligence and hard work will eventually lead to success."

Mu Chen didn't show any anger. Instead, he was very happy to have two more people to taste the pastries, and even used this agreement to find out when Mingmei and Mei Jiu would regularly come here.

Mingmei naturally agreed without hesitation, and Mu Chen also invisibly curved the corners of his mouth at the sight.

All of this only fueled Lu Xiaoyao's shipper soul once again. She couldn't say she saw all of Mingmei and Mu Chen's small actions, but she saw them all without missing a single one.

It was simply—too! Sweet!

Was this a childhood sweetheart script?!!

Mingmei subconsciously glanced at Lu Xiaoyao, and with just one glance, Mingmei was almost blinded by Lu Xiaoyao's laser-like eyes.

Mingmei: =。=?

What was this idiot thinking again?

The days on Jingyun Mountain were peaceful and serene, but Lu Gui, who failed the Heart-Questioning Stairway and went down the mountain, had been living a—ridiculous life these past few days.

Five days ago,

After failing to ascend the mountain, Lu Gui, covered in embarrassment, rolled down the Heart-Questioning Stairway and directly flew on his sword to a city hundreds of miles away from Jingyun Mountain.

That night, he rented a quiet little courtyard to rest and pondered how he should proceed with his path.

His current task had changed from joining Jingyun Mountain to [Join a cultivation sect and start over].

It was just because of the stimulation he received from the illusion when he went up the mountain one day, and then he flew all the way back, making his whole being feel empty inside and out. Late at night, he found a tavern that was still open, intending to eat quietly.

Unexpectedly, he met a strange person.

In addition to his basic cultivation aptitude, Lu Gui also possessed a pair of innate spiritual eyes.

Although dressed in a blue robe, and looking very elegant from the back, what stood there in Lu Gui's eyes was actually a man exuding a bloody aura.

The strong smell of blood indicated that he was a demonic cultivator who had killed countless people!