As she finished explaining everything, Lan Yingqing's brow furrowed tightly.
"I understand, follow me first!"
Jin Bao'er nodded, and the three followed Lan Yingqing into the逍遥宫 (Xiaoyao Palace)...
Along the way, Yun Mo Linglong gently tugged at her, looking at Lan Yingqing's retreating back. With a rare hint of shyness on her cheeks, she whispered.
"Hey, hey, fellow Daoist Jin, is that your senior brother? How old is he? Is he married? Does he have a fiancée or anything?"
Jin Bao'er looked at her with confusion. Honestly, she really didn't know.
Perhaps sensing her expression, Yun Mo Linglong secretly glanced at the young man leading the way. Her face flushed even redder. He's so handsome! His demeanor is so gentle too... he's exactly the kind of husband she dreams of!
Beside her, Qiao Qianshan snorted coldly.
"Don't even look at yourself. Lan Yingqing, the young palace lord of Xiaoyao Palace, is destined to be the next in charge, with countless beauties and a harem! You can keep dreaming!"
Hearing this, Yun Mo Linglong was about to explode. But considering it wasn't appropriate in front of someone, she suppressed her anger and glared at him fiercely.
"Do you think everyone is as shallow and blind as you are? This face of mine has never lost to anyone!"
Then, her gaze shifted to Jin Bao'er, full of arrogance.
"Hmph... except for a certain person!"
Just as they reached the entrance of a certain courtyard, a group of youths in uniform attire walked over. Leading them was a middle-aged man with a lecherous and arrogant expression.
"Young Palace Lord! It's not that I, this elder, am saying this to you, but the Palace Lord is gravely ill. How can you still have the heart to play with women? This is utterly disrespectful!"
Lan Yingqing's brow furrowed, his handsome face instantly sinking.
"What kind of words are these, Seventh Elder! My junior sister came specifically to visit her senior brother! I will personally take care of my father, so you don't need to worry!"
Yun Mo Linglong, with her fiery temper, naturally couldn't stand it and exploded on the spot.
"What kind of mind does an old man like you have? So disgusting! I'll say all the male disciples behind you are your cauldrons then! Tsk tsk, such heavy taste!"
As soon as she spoke, several disciples behind the Seventh Elder turned red with anger, shouting in defiance. However, a few disciples blushed with shame and lowered their heads firmly.
Yun Mo Linglong: Damn it... I guessed it right?
The Seventh Elder was even more furious, his face suddenly darkened! His Golden Core stage might instantly erupted, causing the disciples behind him to turn pale. Yet, the four in front of him showed no change!
All of them are at the Golden Core stage?!
Realizing the cultivation of the three, the Seventh Elder instantly became vigilant. How could these men and women, who looked no older than their teens or early twenties, possess such profound cultivation? What were their identities? Were they helpers called by Lan Yingqing?
In an instant, a thousand schemes flashed through his mind. The Seventh Elder slightly relaxed his expression, with a hint of probing.
"Since you are guests, I shall say no more! I spoke too hastily just now! May I ask which great master of the Misty Sect your esteemed young friends study under?"
He hadn't heard that Hua Qingsu, the alchemist, had so many powerful disciples.
Yun Mo Linglong let out a disdainful scoff upon hearing this.
"This young lady is a disciple of Baili Ruyi, the Sect Master of the Beast Taming Sect! Yun Mo Linglong!"
"I am Qiao Qianshan, a disciple of the Hundred Beasts Sect!"
Compared to Yun Mo Linglong's arrogance, Qiao Qianshan was much more low-key, clearly realizing that it was not suitable to be too ostentatious on someone else's territory.
However, as soon as their words fell, the Seventh Elder's expression instantly became solemn, with a hint of surprise in his gaze towards Lan Yingqing!
The Beast Taming Sect and the Hundred Beasts Sect were quite famous sects on their cultivation continent, housing tens of thousands of demonic beasts, instilling fear in many cultivators! He never expected Lan Yingqing to know people from these two sects...
It seemed... they had to proceed with caution!
Jin Bao'er looked at him with cold eyes.
"Jin Bao'er of the Misty Sect!"
The Seventh Elder looked over upon hearing this, and only then did he notice Jin Bao'er's appearance. A flicker of amazement flashed in his eyes. This must be that Hua Qingsu's little disciple. She's so beautiful? And her cultivation is not low...
His gaze swept over the faces of the three. The Seventh Elder lowered his head slightly. These visitors were not to be trifled with! He had thought that one Misty Sect was enough, but he never expected that Lan Yingqing, in the years he had been away, had also made friends with so many powerful sects.
"In that case, please rest well, everyone. I have other matters to attend to and shall take my leave!"
With that, he directly led the group of disciples away, paying no heed to Yun Mo Linglong's earlier rudeness.
Jin Bao'er, however, frowned. There was an aura about this person that she disliked intensely.
That night...
"Ah!!"
With a scream, the entire Xiaoyao Palace was thoroughly awakened from their sleep!
Jin Bao'er and the others were in the same courtyard. Hearing the noise, they rushed out immediately, only to see all the disciples running towards one place.
"What are all these people doing up late at night?"
Yun Mo Linglong complained unhappily after being woken up. Just as she was about to go back to sleep, she saw a person rushing towards them, looking flustered.
"This is bad, the Young Palace Lord has been captured! Please go and help!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Mo Linglong was the first to get energized. Without a word, she prepared to go and help. Qiao Qianshan frowned, seeming reluctant to meddle, and turned to look at Jin Bao'er, only to see her staring at the disciple speechlessly.
"Is... something wrong?"
Jin Bao'er shook her head, her eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"Although I haven't spent much time with my senior brother, I know he's the kind of person who dislikes troubling others. Why this time..."
The disciple's body stiffened, but he quickly recovered.
"This time it was out of desperation! The intruders injured the Old Palace Lord and many disciples. I had no choice! I beg of you!"
Jin Bao'er withdrew her gaze, seemingly believing his words.
"I'll go into the room to get something and will be there shortly."
Qiao Qianshan watched her retreating back, something flashing through his mind.
"Let's go, we'll head over first..."
Yun Mo Linglong, who couldn't wait any longer, directly rushed towards the inner hall...
The disciple, however, chose to wait for Jin Bao'er to return, standing still. This strange action caught Qiao Qianshan's attention, and his expression became even more cautious.
A few minutes later, Jin Bao'er, following the disciple, finally arrived at the inner hall. She saw everyone gathered together, and Lan Yingqing standing unharmed to the side, looking surprised to see the three of them.
"Why have you come here?"
Jin Bao'er instinctively turned back. The disciple who had brought her was nowhere to be seen. A flicker of understanding then flashed in her eyes.
"Hearing the commotion, we were worried about our Sixth Senior Brother's safety, so the three of us came to check. It's good that Senior Brother is unharmed."
As the last to arrive, the three of them clearly drew everyone's attention.
"After our Xiaoyao Palace was attacked last time, the Palace Lord has been in a coma. To prevent enemy attacks, we have strengthened our guards and refused all visitors. How could there be another enemy attack today? How did they get in?"