“Master!”

Just as Bai Tu was about to unfold the parchment, he was suddenly grabbed by the wrist by Yun Ye.

The intense heat from Yun Ye’s palm radiated through his wrist, scorching him unbearably. Bai Tu flinched, startled like a rabbit, nearly jumping up. His grip loosened, and the parchment he was holding fluttered to the ground.

Before he could say anything, Yun Ye swiftly cast a spell, and the falling parchment obediently returned to his hands.

Bai Tu felt mortified.

He had planned to act as if nothing had happened, but his body’s instincts were beyond his control. No matter how much he tried to convince himself, he had to admit that what happened last night had left a significant psychological mark.

No, it couldn’t even be called a “small psychological shadow” anymore.

Whenever Yun Ye touched him, it always reminded him of the frantic skin-to-skin contact from the previous night making Bai Tu’s heart raced, and even his breathing became shallow.

Fortunately, it seemed Yun Ye hadn’t noticed his unusual reaction.

The little wolf cub tucked the parchment behind his back, leaned in closer to Bai Tu, and with a soft, almost coquettish tone, said. “Master, my writing is poor and I don’t want to hurt your eyes. May I show it to you after I finish it properly?”

As Yun Ye leaned closer, Bai Tu found himself struggling to breathe again. He swallowed hard and subtly shifted back half a step. “…Alright then.”

“Master is so kind.”

Yun Ye smiled, his eyes curving gently, then obediently returned to his seat at the table, saying no more. Bai Tu let out a quiet sigh of relief, feeling weighed down with thoughts as he finished dinner with Yun Ye.

With just over half a month left before the trial for the entry disciples, Yun Ye, who had always been lax about his training, began to practice swordsmanship day and night under Bai Tu’s supervision to prepare for the journey into the secret realm. Though Yun Ye’s cultivation was limited, his agility had always been among the best in Tianyan Sect, and with his newfound focus, his progress was visible to the naked eye.

In truth, even if Bai Tu didn’t accompany him into the secret realm with Yun Ye’s current agility, it would be easy for him to retreat unharmed.

But in the end, Bai Tu just couldn’t bring himself to let go.

So, just two or three days before the trial, Bai Tu flew out of Luoxia Peak.

Over a thousand miles south of Qingyun Mountain, there was a secluded valley. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the towering treetops blocked out the sun, and a thick mist lingered in the air.

A flash of bright sword light descended in front of the valley, and Bai Tu stepped out from the light, unable to stifle a yawn.

Lately, he had been feeling a bit off, as though his energy was running low.

It was like today—Bai Tu had only been flying for less than two hours but already felt a sense of fatigue.

Perhaps it was due to the significant loss of his cultivation before, and he still hadn’t fully recovered. Bai Tu thought to himself as he walked into the valley. As he approached the entrance, he saw a tall young man walking toward him from a distance.

The man was handsome, with sharp, exotic features and a calm, elegant demeanor. There was an unmistakable aura of sharp sword intent surrounding him. He bowed to Bai Tu and said. “Greetings, Immortal Lord Zhaohua. My master has been waiting for you. Please, follow me.”

“Thank you.”

The man led Bai Tu across a vine bridge into the valley, and as they walked, the surrounding scenery suddenly shifted.

The thick mist that had been enveloping the valley seemed to be blown away by an unseen wind. As the clouds parted, a majestic palace made of jade and stone appeared in its full splendor.

The man guided Bai Tu to the entrance of the palace. “Please, enter, Immortal Lord.”

Bai Tu nodded his thanks, and as he raised his hand to knock on the door, it suddenly opened on its own, a cold gust sweeping out from inside.

Bai Tu adjusted his robe and stepped in calmly.

The interior was dimly lit, with faint firelight flickering on the walls, casting shadows across several rows of display racks. The racks were filled with various magical artifacts, but they were arranged haphazardly, with some even lying askew on the floor alongside scattered pills and artifacts.

The strong scent of alcohol made Bai Tu frown when a lazy voice rang out. “Finally, remembered to come see me?”

The voice came from the front of the hall and behind the thick curtain, a blurry figure could be seen.

Bai Tu spoke lightly. “Long time no see, Senior Brother.”

At the sound of “Senior Brother”, the figure behind the curtain stood up, parted the fabric and walked out.

It was a young man with refined features, he wore a loose black robe casually draped over his shoulders, and a delicate wine flash hung from his waist. His demeanor was carefree and elegant with no hint of the disciplined appearance one would expect from the cultivator.

This person was none other than Bai Tu’s only Senior Brother, Xu Yi, who had studied alongside him under the Qinghui Immortal of Kunlun.

Xu Yi walked up to Bai Tu, his body swaying slightly from the effects of alcohol. He leaned in closer to Bai Tu and frowned. “What’s wrong with your complexion?”

Bai Tu didn’t explain. “It’s nothing.”

Xu Yi squinted at him suspiciously but didn’t press the issue, instead, he asked. “So, what brings you here? Is it about your disciple again?”

Bai Tu: “In two days, the Primordial Secret Realm of the Tianyan Sect will open. I’m here to find some protective item for Yun Ye.”

Xu Yi gave him a knowing look and casually kicked aside a bottle of pills at his feet. “Is there anything you don’t have where you are? Why come all the way to my Wuyagu for something?”

Bai Tu replied, “When it comes to refining pills and crafting elixirs, no one surpasses you, Senior Brother.”

Xu Yi paused for a moment, tilting his head with a smile. “So, when you need something, it’s ‘dear Senior Brother,’ and when there’s nothing to gain, I’m a stranger?”

“Senior Brother…”

“Alright, I’m just teasing you.” Xu Yi raised his hand and lightly tapped Bai Tu on the forehead. “Zhaohua, Zhaohua, since you ascended, you’ve really become less lovable.”

Immortal Zhaohua wasn’t always this way.

When he was still a newly transformed white rabbit, it was Xu Yi who brought him to Kunlun, where he became a disciple of the Kunlun Immortal. Immortal Zhaohua had always been diligent in his cultivation, but he struggled to break through just before his ascension.

In the end, he severed his emotions and turned to the path of emotionlessness. After a hundred years, he finally ascended.

But his personality changed, becoming cold and detached.

Bai Tu didn’t want to delve into the past. “Senior Brother, I…”

“I know.” Xu Yi interrupted him, shaking the wine jug he had picked up from the table and smiling at Bai Tu. “You want some pills to suppress demon power and enhance cultivation, right? I’ll get them for you.”

As he spoke, a gust of wind suddenly swept through the hall, and a small pouch floated into his hand. Xu Yi took the pouch and went over to the display racks. Soon, his muttering could be heard as he rummaged through the items. “This one will do… This one too… This one’s no good, oh, here it is…”

The sound of bottles and jars clinking together made Bai Tu’s heart jump, as if Xu Yi had accidentally broken something.

Bai Tu quickly approached to help him. “Senior Brother, are you drunk?”

“No, just a little bit of this won’t get me drunk,” Xu Yi waved his hand dismissively, fastening the pouch and handing it to Bai Tu.

Bai Tu took it and carefully tucked it away. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

“Don’t mention it,” Xu Yi said, ruffling Bai Tu’s hair. “But honestly, your complexion looks off. Should I check your pulse?”

Bai Tu shook his head. “It’s fine. I just exhausted some of my cultivation earlier. A little rest and recovery should fix it.”

The heavy smell of alcohol in the room made Bai Tu feel a bit suffocated. He didn’t want to linger, so he quickly bade Xu Yi farewell and stepped out of the hall. The man who had originally escorted Bai Tu into the valley was still waiting outside the doors. As he was about to lead Bai Tu out of the valley, they suddenly heard Xu Yi’s voice from within the hall. “Pei Ran, bring me another jar of wine!”

Pei Ran’s face showed a hint of helplessness, and Bai Tu quickly said. “It’s fine, I can leave on my own.”

“My apologies,” Pei Ran said as he bowed to Bai Tu, then turned to fetch more wine for Xu Yi.

By the time Bai Tu returned to Luoxia Peak, the night had already fallen.

Perhaps it was due to the long journey today, but even after sitting for a while in his room, Bai Tu still felt uncomfortable. He frowned, stood up, and glanced out the window. Yun Ye had been practicing his swordsmanship at the back mountain lately, often returning late. At this hour, Luoxia Peak was deserted.

In the next moment, Bai Tu’s clothes fell away, and a small white rabbit lay on its back in the middle of the clothes, letting out a long sigh.

So comfortable.

Whether a celestial being or a demon, as long as one’s true form wasn’t human, shifting into human form would consume spiritual power—nowhere near as comfortable as staying in one’s natural shape. Though Bai Tu had been human before, since arriving here and becoming a rabbit spirit, he had gradually come to enjoy returning to his original form.

The little white rabbit rolled around happily in the clothes for a moment before sitting up. With a powerful push of its hind legs, it leapt out of the window, its head not turning back as it darted off toward the bamboo forest, quickly disappearing into the night.

In the depths of the bamboo grove, the soft, fluffy little white rabbit half-buried itself in the underbrush. Its small round tail quivered slightly, and soon it emerged, pulling out a small woven basket made of vines and grass.

Inside the basket were neatly arranged various leaves, vegetables, and fruits, with the fresh scent of melons and the tender greenery making one’s mouth water.

The little white rabbit sniffed the basket with its pink nose, then, with its three-pronged mouth, carefully pulled out a juicy, tender carrot.

The little white rabbit carefully hid the basket again before sitting on the ground. It held the carrot, which was larger than itself, with its front paws and began munching on it contentedly.

As the Celestial being of Zhaohua, Bai Tu no longer needed to eat. But no matter how profound his skills were, they couldn’t eliminate his appetite. The real Zhaohua Celestial might have been able to overcome this, but Bai Tu certainly couldn’t.

What was the point of being a celestial if he couldn’t even enjoy eating?

After eating his fill, the little white rabbit rubbed its belly and lazily lay back on the grass, drowsy.

Time passed, and suddenly, faint footsteps could be heard from a distance.

The little white rabbit’s ears stood up, and it quickly turned around, only to meet a familiar face. Yun Ye, seemingly returning from sword practice, had his hair slightly damp, his breath still unsteady.

When did he come back?!

The little white rabbit’s fur stood on end. Without thinking, it darted into the bushes, swiftly disappearing, leaving Yun Ye staring in surprise.

Yun Ye blinked, looking genuinely puzzled.

Did he just… see a rabbit?

A rabbit???

Yun Ye’s eyes brightened.

Having cultivated in seclusion for many years at Tianyan Sect, he had restrained his sharp fangs and claws, gradually becoming more humanlike. However, the wolfish nature in his blood had not been completely subdued, and the moment he saw the rabbit, his predator instinct surged to the forefront.

A rabbit appeared before a wolf; if it got away, that would be quite a blow to his pride.

Yun Ye licked his lips and quickly gave chase.

=^_^=

Author has something to say: Yun Ye: Spicy rabbit head, roasted rabbit legs, braised rabbit meat, here I come.

Bai Tu: …Ahh, get away from me!