Wan Yunting, along with the sect leaders, masters, and elders, engaged in lively discussions, and the banquet finally concluded around ten in the evening. Wan Yunting and Lu Xiaodie, along with Zhang Xian'er and Zheng Rong, first returned to their guest quarters. Master Lin Yiping and his son Lin Xiaobao were also present.
"Master Lin, I hope you can forgive the events of tonight," Wan Yunting said in the courtyard's tea pavilion. He asked Lu Xiaodie to personally brew a pot of hot tea and invited Lin Yiping to converse, offering an apology.
"Sect Master Wan, there's no need," Lin Yiping waved his hand, sighing. "This matter had nothing to do with you. I never imagined that Jun Xuan would use me and Xiaobao, nearly causing a great disaster. Your intervention has indeed pacified the situation and prevented more severe consequences. I should be thanking you."
Wan Yunting took the teapot from Lu Xiaodie, gesturing for her to go and rest. He then personally poured hot tea into Lin Yiping's cup and said, "You don't blame me for publicly revealing your son's relationship with Abbess Jun Xuan?"
Lin Yiping shook his head slightly, looking at Wan Yunting. "It doesn't matter to me and Xiaobao if outsiders know about this."
"That's good then." Relieved, Wan Yunting raised his tea cup in a toast to Lin Yiping. Lin Yiping then looked at Wan Yunting and said, "Sect Master Wan invited me for tea, you must want to know about the relationship between Jun Xuan and Sima Boyong, right?"
Wan Yunting smiled, "It seems nothing can be hidden from Master Lin." Lin Yiping waved his hand, his eyebrows slightly raised. "Jun Xuan was with Sima Boyong before she met me, and they even had a daughter. Later, she knew me for some time before Xiaobao was born."
Upon hearing that Abbess Jun Xuan and Sima Boyong had this prior connection, Wan Yunting was inwardly surprised. No wonder Abbess Jun Xuan would help the Sima family plot against him. "I understand," Wan Yunting nodded and cupped his fists towards Lin Yiping. "Thank you, Master Lin, for informing me."
Lin Yiping waved his hand, indicating it wasn't necessary to be so formal. He looked directly at Wan Yunting and said solemnly, "I've heard some of the grievances between you and the Sima family. Now that Jun Xuan has left the Emei Sect, she will surely be with Sima Boyong!"
Wan Yunting's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Lin Yiping. "Are you implying that you are concerned about me harming Abbess Jun Xuan when I deal with Sima Boyong in the future?"
Lin Yiping nodded, sighing, "After all, she is Xiaobao's mother!"
Wan Yunting nodded with a smile, "I cannot guarantee that for you. If Abbess Jun Xuan teams up with Sima Boyong to deal with me again like this, I will absolutely show no mercy. I hope you are prepared, Master Lin!"
Lin Yiping looked directly at Wan Yunting. He understood that Wan Yunting had already shown extraordinary leniency by allowing Abbess Jun Xuan to leave Emei safely tonight. Otherwise, just like the White Sect Leader's family from the Hengshan Sect previously, Wan Yunting's swift action would have made Abbess Jun Xuan suffer greatly.
"Hey, what are you talking about with my nephew Lin?" At this moment, Zhang Xian'er emerged, boldly sitting on a stool, and turned to ask Wan Yunting.
"Nothing much," Wan Yunting smiled. However, hearing Zhang Xian'er refer to Master Lin as "nephew Lin" made him curious. "Xian'er, Master Lin, does your Longhu Mountain place so much importance on seniority?"
Lin Yiping nodded and smiled. "Senior Martial Sister Zhang is a direct disciple of the Longhu Mountain Sect Leader and belongs to the 'Xian' generation. I am two generations below her. It's fortunate she doesn't make me call her 'Grand Aunt'."
Upon hearing that Zhang Xian'er was a direct disciple of the Longhu Mountain Sect Leader, Wan Yunting glanced at her with surprise, nodding with a smile. "No wonder, so you are a direct disciple of the Longhu Mountain Sect Leader."
"Just average, really," Zhang Xian'er lifted her head slightly, looking proud and pleased.
Wan Yunting checked the time and, seeing that it was about time, stood up. "Master Lin, you two chat for a while. I need to go out."
"Okay..." Lin Yiping stood up and nodded. Zhang Xian'er asked, "Where are you going?"
"It's none of your business. Go to bed early..." Wan Yunting glanced back at her and then headed towards the guest quarters. He greeted Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong inside before turning to leave...
Meanwhile, at the residence of Zhou Ruoxi and Jiang Tingxia, the two senior and junior sisters had just returned. "So tired. I used to envy our master and uncles who could drink and chat with the sect leaders. I didn't expect it to be this exhausting."
"Mhmm," Zhou Ruoxi nodded with a smile. Her cheeks were flushed from drinking. She took out her phone to check the time and then turned to look at the courtyard gate, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Alright, you wait by yourself. I'm going back to sleep." Jiang Tingxia rolled her eyes at the speechless Zhou Ruoxi, knowing she was waiting for Wan Yunting. She waved and headed towards her room, saying, "Remember to be quiet, don't disturb my rest."
"Tingxia..." Zhou Ruoxi's face turned even redder at the remark, resembling a young girl in love. She felt shy and annoyed by her friend's teasing, but the next moment, seeing the courtyard gate pushed open and the man entering, her face lit up with joy. She ignored Jiang Tingxia and hurried to meet Wan Yunting. "You're here..."
"Mhmm," Wan Yunting latched the courtyard gate. He saw Jiang Tingxia, who had just returned to her room, paused at the doorway and waved with a smile. "Junior Sister Jiang isn't asleep yet."
"I'm just going to sleep. Keep your voices down, understand?" Jiang Tingxia's almond-shaped eyes widened, and she sternly warned the two of them before closing her room door.
Wan Yunting's expression faltered for a moment. Zhou Ruoxi beside him cast a helpless glance towards Jiang Tingxia's room before turning back to him. "Don't listen to that girl talking nonsense."
"Mhmm..." Wan Yunting, having recovered, naturally wrapped his arms around Zhou Ruoxi's soft and firm waist, a playful smile on his lips. He teasingly said, "Then you'll have to call out louder later..."
Zhou Ruoxi's cheeks turned even redder. She playfully punched Wan Yunting's chest and coquettishly exclaimed, "You're so annoying, always bullying me..."
"Heh heh, let's go..." Wan Yunting scooped her up in a princess carry. Zhou Ruoxi, startled, repeatedly whispered for him to put her down. But Wan Yunting ignored her, carrying her towards the room, kicking the door open with his foot, and then closing it with his foot as he headed towards the large bed...
"Haven't washed yet..."
"No need to wash, we can wash together later..."
After a passionate encounter, they bathed together and finally, busy until the early morning, they fell asleep in each other's arms. Zhou Ruoxi's face was like a peach blossom, her autumn eyes full of affection, a happy smile gracing her face as she nestled against the man's broad and safe chest. She softly said, "Yunting, thank you."
Wan Yunting leaned against the headboard, holding her, and smiled gently. "What are you thanking me for? You and I are inseparable. Besides, if I hadn't come, you would have really married Master Lin's foolish son."
Zhou Ruoxi looked up at his words, her autumn eyes charmingly rolling at him. Her jade hand lightly struck Wan Yunting's chest. "My Master Lin's son isn't foolish, he's quite good."
Wan Yunting's expression froze. He flipped her over and pinned her down. "What do you mean, you really want to marry him?"
Zhou Ruoxi giggled coyly, teasingly saying, "If you hadn't come, I would have married him."
Wan Yunting pinched her chin. Her small lips pouted, looking so alluring that he couldn't resist kissing her. He chuckled, "Too bad, you belong to me now."
"Pah, you scoundrel, I'm not yours." Zhou Ruoxi forcefully pushed him away, her small lips pursed. She said in a low voice, "Don't think I don't know that besides your girlfriend Fang Yanxi, you're also ambiguously involved with other women. You're just a philandering渣男 (zhā nán - scumbag)."
This statement made Wan Yunting feel somewhat embarrassed. He embraced her, wanting to explain, "Ruoxi, listen to me..."
Zhou Ruoxi covered his mouth with her jade hand, shaking her head and smiling gently. "Alright, don't tell me these things. I chose to be with you willingly. Besides, we can't be together in the future, and you shouldn't expect me to hold you responsible. So, this is quite good!"
Wan Yunting's expression was stunned. He immediately sat up, asking in confusion, "What do you mean? What do you mean we can't be together in the future?"
Zhou Ruoxi exhaled, then looked at Wan Yunting again, smiling. "The successive sect leaders of our Emei Sect do not marry, and naturally, I cannot marry!"
Wan Yunting raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on the woman. Zhou Ruoxi continued to smile, "Now that I have taken over as the Emei Sect Leader, there are many challenges awaiting me. I don't want anything related to you to disrupt me, do you understand?"
Wan Yunting understood her meaning perfectly. That is to say, from now on, Zhou Ruoxi would focus on being the Emei Sect Leader and would not have any contact with him, let alone be together every day! Marriage was obviously out of the question. At the same time, Wan Yunting realized that if he were to make any promises now, it would appear very false and irresponsible in Zhou Ruoxi's eyes.
"I understand what you mean." Finally, Wan Yunting nodded helplessly, looking up at Zhou Ruoxi. He gently caressed her cheek with his large hand and said, "Ruoxi, no matter what the future holds, you will always be in my heart!"
Zhou Ruoxi's autumn eyes were filled with emotion. She threw herself into his arms and smiled, "Yunting, thank you. Thank you for giving me beautiful fantasies..."
Wan Yunting nodded, holding her tightly. Even though they couldn't be together in the future, they both knew in their hearts that they loved each other and were inseparable...
That night, the two of them mingled passionately, their souls intertwined, until they were both exhausted and fell asleep. Tomorrow would be the capping ceremony for Zhou Ruoxi's succession as the Emei Sect Leader...