Chapter 447: Senior Brother, Mixed Feelings
It was unclear how much time had passed in the illusory realm.
However, in the cave dwelling on Moon Spring Peak, it was merely the blink of an eye.
… …
Inside the Moon Spring Peak cave dwelling, Ah Ying was still perched on the windowsill, crunching on its spirit rice. Upon seeing Madam Si draw aside the gauze curtain, it simply closed its eyes and let out a breath. Suddenly, its face turned dark and stormy, startling it so much that the rice in its mouth fell out.
Ah Ying immediately turned its head, spread its wings, and flew out the window, chirping and flicking its tongue as it went:
“Bristling with rage! Bristling with rage!!”
“Young Master, be careful! Young Master, be careful!!”
The duck-like cries echoed from the courtyard of the cave dwelling.
After a while, Qiu Shui Rou, who had been tending the garden, also heard the commotion and rushed over. After gently knocking twice on the door, she pushed it open and entered.
However, seeing her young master’s current expression, as green as the vibrant grass on the slopes below Moon Spring Peak, Qiu Shui Rou was also quite frightened. She quickly went to fetch some melon seeds and tea, brought them to her side, and asked in a low voice:
“Young Master, have some stir-fried melon seeds to calm your anger. What happened?”
Si Xuan Ji grabbed a handful of melon seeds and stuffed them into her mouth, her cheeks bulging as she spat the husks into the plate. She chewed and swallowed, then asked:
“Where is Ye Anping?”
“Uh… he should be in seclusion cultivating on Tianyun Peak. Young Master Ye came by earlier. These melon seeds were roasted and sent by him. This servant said you were in closed-door cultivation and didn’t let him in.”
Si Xuan Ji paused upon hearing this. Looking at the plate of melon seeds beside her, she couldn’t tell if it was because Ye Anping’s cooking was good, or because the melon seeds were roasted by Ye Anping, that they tasted quite fragrant…
But this plate of “fiery” stir-fried melon seeds had indeed somewhat dissipated her anger.
That wicked woman Sun Juehu had bothered her with Ye Anping’s portrait last time. Now, she was practically clinging to Ye Anping. Knowing how important Ye Anping was to her, she had actually announced that he possessed “Spring Aspect Spiritual Energy” in front of all the Sect Masters of the immortal sects.
In the thousands of years that had passed, countless people had managed to annoy her and earn a spot in her little black book.
But now, she was willing to place Sun Juehu, that woman, in the first row and first column of her black book!
However, there was nothing she could do about it.
She and the Sun family of the Northern Region had a deep-seated feud.
The fall of Sun Juehu’s direct master was indeed not unrelated to her.
This was not a secret among immortal families.
Now, in Sun Juehu’s eyes, Ye Anping was her weakness and a handle. Naturally, Sun Juehu would use this to set a trap for her.
“Hoo…”
Si Xuan Ji let out a light breath, gradually calming down.
Who was right and who was wrong in the events of the past?
Because she was the one who stood until the end, she was naturally in the right across the Four Domains.
However, as generations change, have heroes not always fought against heroes?
The head of the Sun family was merely a step below her, but in her heart, she was still an immortal cultivator who deserved the title of “Immortal Venerable.”
Si Xuan Ji originally didn’t want to bother with Sun Juehu. Usually, engaging in petty squabbles, exchanging witty remarks, or a bit of passive aggression was quite enjoyable. But now, Sun Juehu had clearly crossed the line.
—It was time to settle this.
A breeze blew in through the window, rustling the strands of black and white hair behind her slender shoulders. Waves of killing intent appeared in her yang-yin heteromorphic eyes, causing Qiu Shui Rou beside her to feel a chill down her spine. She quickly nodded and took a step back.
Si Xuan Ji closed her eyes and slowly exhaled, then jumped down from the long couch.
However, the grievances between her and Sun Juehu could not be easily resolved in a day or two.
For now, she still needed to go and remind Ye Anping…
Si Xuan Ji could guess that Ye Anping likely had his own plans and had made thorough preparations. But Ye Anping had never told her everything anyway. What if Ye Anping missed something?
“I’m going to Tianyun Peak.”
“Ah… then this servant will immediately…”
Before Qiu Shui Rou could finish speaking, Si Xuan Ji transformed into specks of spiritual light using her escape technique and vanished from the room.
… …
Not long after, Si Xuan Ji, clad in the Sect Master’s immortal robe, appeared in the bamboo forest next to the Three-Bay Houses on Tianyun Peak.
—Did Shui Rou want to say something just now?
“Forget it…”
Si Xuan Ji didn’t dwell on it and walked forward.
After a few steps, a noise suddenly came from not far away.
Whoosh, whoosh—
A stream of water, like a green snake, coiled and weaved its way through the dozens of feet tall green bamboo stalks in the bamboo forest.
“Ah?!”
At this moment, Xiao Yunluo was practicing water elemental spells in the forest. Seeing Si Xuan Ji, dressed in the Sect Master’s immortal robe, suddenly appear, her mind became flustered.
The water snake weaving through the bamboo instantly transformed into a whip, severing the bamboo stalks at their bases and swinging towards Si Xuan Ji.
?
Bang—swish…
Si Xuan Ji thought Xiao Yunluo was going to “kill her mother” and raised an eyebrow. She lightly swept her finger, turning the charging water snake into scattered water droplets.
Si Xuan Ji turned to look at Xiao Yunluo and saw her ghost-like expression. She immediately understood what was happening and began to reprimand her:
“You’re unfocused while wielding your magic! If it weren’t me, but an ordinary disciple, you would have cut them in half!”
“Ah… I’m sorry… Mother…”
“…Master.”
Xiao Yunluo could see that Si Xuan Ji was in a bad mood, but didn’t know what had happened. She didn’t retort, merely nodded, corrected herself, and bowed again:
“Yes… I’m sorry, Master.”
Si Xuan Ji sighed softly and briefly examined Xiao Yunluo. She noticed that in just over a month, she had already reached the middle stage of Core Formation and was about to enter the late stage. This made her immediately realize that this girl had definitely been “eating Ye Anping’s rations” quite often.
Even though she herself had been holding back for the past month and a half, worried about Ye Anping’s rice jar running empty!
She didn’t understand how to show consideration for her own husband…
“Dual Cultivation should be moderate. What if the cow gets too tired?”
“?”
This was the first time Si Xuan Ji had brought up such a topic. Xiao Yunluo felt incredibly awkward, her toes almost peeling off three rooms and a hall inside her small embroidered shoes. She shyly lowered her head:
“Mother… Master, what are you talking about…”
“Don’t think I don’t know what kind of messy books you’ve been reading. Move your butt, I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
Xiao Yunluo was mortified and wished she could burrow into the ground.
“Ah… I… I…”
“Never mind, is Ye Anping in the courtyard?”
“Mm… yes.”
“Continue your spirit taming practice.”
Si Xuan Ji sighed slightly and, with her bare feet, walked step by step towards the Three-Bay Houses outside the bamboo forest.
Seeing her in the Sect Master’s immortal robe going to see Ye Anping, Xiao Yunluo thought she was going to reveal her identity. She suddenly came to her senses and asked:
“Mother… Master, are you going to tell Anping?”
“Hm?”
Si Xuan Ji paused, followed Xiao Yunluo’s gaze to herself, and then suddenly realized that Qiu Shui Rou had intended to get her some clothes…
—Sun Juehu on the “Summoning Immortal Token” had been too infuriating, infuriating her so much that she had forgotten to change her attire.
Thinking about it, Si Xuan Ji walked back to Xiao Yunluo, leaned forward, and opened her hands slightly.
?
Xiao Yunluo looked puzzled, thinking she wanted a hug. She also opened her hands in response.
Then, Si Xuan Ji stripped off her clothes, leaving her with only her undergarments. She changed into a different set of clothes in front of her and threw her a blanket, telling her to wrap herself:
“I’ll return it to you later.”
She then left Xiao Yunluo alone, wrapped in a blanket, squatting there, and walked briskly towards the courtyard where she and Ye Anping lived.
Arriving at the red wooden courtyard gate of the Three-Bay Houses, Si Xuan Ji raised her hand to knock but then decided to surprise Ye Anping. She bypassed the restriction array around the courtyard and jumped in.
Inside the courtyard, a spring breeze swept through the tender leaves. Weeds had already grown on both sides of the stone table under the tree, giving it a peaceful appearance.
Si Xuan Ji scanned the surroundings. Once her gaze fell upon the windowsill of the west wing room, her previously furrowed brows relaxed.
Ye Anping was currently sitting at the desk by the window, seemingly engrossed in holding an ink brush, writing and drawing something on Xuan paper. He would occasionally shake his head or rest his chin on the brush handle.
Si Xuan Ji watched for a while, subtly raised a finger, concealed her aura, and then walked to the windowsill, lightly jumping up and sitting sideways. Just as she was about to playfully poke him, she saw a severed hand wriggling on the desk, inching towards the edge.
“…”
Gu Ming Xin’s hand was doing something unknown. It twisted and turned, and just as it was about to fall off the table, Ye Anping would reach out and pull it back, asking with a frown, “Are you bothering me?”
Si Xuan Ji tilted her head slightly and looked at the paper in front of Ye Anping. For a moment, her eyes showed a hint of surprise. On the paper, the names of almost all the elders of the Taibai Sect at the Nascent Soul stage and above, as well as those closely related to Zu Yuan, were listed.
It was at this moment that Ye Anping suddenly looked up and glanced towards her, squinting slightly:
“…”
Si Xuan Ji initially thought he had discovered her. But then she thought that with his cultivation level, he shouldn’t be able to see through her invisibility technique. However, the next moment, Ye Anping suddenly reached out towards her chest, startling her into jumping down from the windowsill to dodge.
?!
“Mmm…”
Ye Anping stared in her direction for a while, then picked up his brush and lowered his head to continue writing…
Seeing him like this, Si Xuan Ji couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.
Suddenly, she seemed to find peace. It appeared she didn’t need to interfere with Zu Yuan’s matters; Ye Anping already had his own plans.
—I’ll wait for you to form your Nascent Soul…
Si Xuan Ji slowly shook her head and, with a gentle breeze, left the courtyard.
… …
————
The courtyard was silent, with only the faint chirping of spring birds.
Xiao Tian scurried around the courtyard like a headless fly, occasionally scratching the back of its head. After circling a few times, it returned to the window and said uncertainly:
“Anping, he seems to have left. I just felt something there…”
Madam Si…
Ye Anping guessed in his heart.
Just now, while he was perfecting his plan, he suddenly felt the breeze on his face stop, as if something was blocking his window. He then glanced towards the window.
Xiao Tian, who had been sparring with Gu Ming Xin’s hand, also seemed to have sensed something and suddenly said to him:
—”Anping, I feel something at the window!”
Xiao Tian’s spiritual sense detection was far superior to his and Feng Yu Die’s. Since it said so, there was likely something there.
After thinking about it, the only person in the Xuan Xing Sect who could bypass the Three-Bay House’s restrictions and almost completely evade Xiao Tian’s senses was Si Xuan Ji.
The old woman actually came to spy!
Truly indecent for an elder!
Ye Anping chuckled softly. Seeing that Xiao Tian couldn’t find anyone, he knew Si Xuan Ji had likely already left. He propped his chin on his hand and smiled:
“Xiao Tian, tell me, what use are you?”
Xiao Tian seemed to have been waiting for this question, wanting to prove him wrong. It suddenly tilted its mouth into a smile, placed its hands on its hips, and said proudly:
“Hmph~ Anping. People often say: ‘A scholar should be looked upon with new eyes after three days away.’ ”
Ye Anping nodded:
“Mm… and then?”
“I was in seclusion for a month, did you think I was just sleeping?!”
Xiao Tian tossed its hair and went to Gu Ming Xin’s hand resting on the table. It stood in a horse stance, shuffled, dealt, and picked cards, then kicked Gu Ming Xin’s right hand.
“Hah! I’ll hit!”
Gu Ming Xin’s hand was instantly kicked back by a millimeter. It seemed to feel like it was being touched by a slightly stronger fly, and quickly twisted its hand…
Ye Anping watched, his brows furrowed like gathering dark clouds:
“Mm… I saw that just now. You’ve been kicking Agu’s hand for an hour. Is that all?”
“Hmph hmph~ Of course!”
Xiao Tian grinned and, without flying, walked to the brush rest on the desk. It grasped a brush with both hands as if lifting barbells, took a deep breath, stepped forward into a bow stance, and directly lifted the brush.
“…”
Ye Anping’s expression also showed a hint of surprise. After all, this brush was made of pure jade, and it was quite heavy for him to hold. For Xiao Tian, it was like a massive stone.
Although Xiao Tian’s face was flushed red, and it could only hold the jade brush for two breaths before its whole body began to tremble.
But… it succeeded!
“Whoa…”
Seeing Ye Anping’s surprised expression, Xiao Tian felt immensely pleased and even more refreshed. It tossed the jade brush it had lifted and said breathlessly:
“Hoo… hoo… How was it?!”
“Amazing.”
“Hehe…” Xiao Tian bared its teeth and smiled, squinting one eye, and asked, “Did you discover any other changes in me?”
“…”
Ye Anping was silent for a moment. His gaze flitted between the brush and Xiao Tian. Suddenly, an idea struck him…
Could it be!
He immediately reached out, making a Korean gesture, and pinched Xiao Tian’s round little face directly with his index finger and thumb, squeezing its face into a concave shape like a steamed bun.
“Wooo—”
“…”
Ye Anping pinched it, then withdrew his hand, and remained silent for a moment. Dark lines appeared on his forehead, and his eyes were filled with deep thought…
Although it felt like a ball of cotton when pinched, not like flesh, it could still be pinched…
“Anping, what does that expression mean?!”
“…It means ‘truly amazing’.”
Ye Anping forced a stiff smile, rubbed Xiao Tian’s head with his fingers, then washed his face with both hands, and sighed with deep emotion:
“Alas…”
But then Ye Anping suddenly had an idea and asked seriously:
“Can something invisible touch you?”
“Ah, no. Except for Anping, Yu Die, and the one named Gu, other living things just pass through. Hehe… But I can lift stones to smash others for you from now on!”
Ye Anping pondered for a moment and lightly shook his head:
“Mm… a bit useful, but not much.”
… …
