Chapter 28: He Really Knows How to Take in Disciples

Qi Chaoye brought her gifts?

Su Jiu’s fingers trembled slightly, and after a long pause, she finally mustered the courage to step forward and take the storage bag.

She wasn’t afraid of Qi Chaoye bringing her something bad; after all, they were still fellow disciples, and in front of Shen Wangchen, Qi Chaoye still had to act like a generous senior brother.

She just really didn’t want to get involved with Qi Chaoye.

After taking the storage bag, Su Jiu didn’t step back. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke up, “Master, I want to revisit the Half-Moon Secret Realm tomorrow.”

She was afraid Shen Wangchen would ask her why she wanted to go back, so she had already thought of her reasons.

【In any case, I can’t let Master know that I don’t want to see Qi Chaoye and Mo Lin.】

【One is from the monster race, and the other is from the demon race. I must be tired of living to be wandering under their noses. I should just go out and hide; if I can’t provoke them, I can at least avoid them. Who told me I’m currently a useless person who can’t even lift a sword?】

Cang Qianxue’s hand, which was hanging in mid-air, paused as he looked up at his friend across from him.

As expected, he saw that his expression was extremely cold.

If it weren’t for the inappropriate setting, Cang Qianxue would have laughed out loud.

What kind of vision did his friend have? How come the disciples he took in were either from the demon race or the monster race? There were hardly any normal ones.

Shen Wangchen tightened his grip as well: “Your second senior brother…”

He didn’t want to believe Su Jiu’s words, but he had no choice but to accept them.

The person he sent to investigate had returned with news that Mo Lin indeed had connections with the demon realm.

If Qi Chaoye was truly from the monster race—

Su Jiu thought Shen Wangchen was going to make her meet Qi Chaoye, so she quickly said, “I won’t say goodbye to Second Senior Brother. Oh right, there’s also the little junior brother. When I come back, I’ll bring them gifts.”

Hearing her strong desire to escape, Shen Wangchen fell silent for a moment. His glass-like eyes fixed on her, reflecting all of Su Jiu’s thoughts clearly.

She felt flustered under his gaze, her eyes unable to stop drifting away.

【Master, please don’t blame me for wanting to run away. You all are a loving family; if something really happens, the first to die will be me, the cannon fodder female supporting character. As the saying goes, stay away from the protagonist and cherish your life. I think it’s best for me to distance myself as much as possible.】

【Besides, I’m the one who’s currently poisoned. If I don’t find a way to figure out how to cure this poison, I won’t survive until this winter, so what does the safety of the three realms have to do with me, right?】

【If I remember correctly, this “Three Days of Beauty” poison was found in the Half-Moon Secret Realm. I’ll go back this time to see if I can find any clues…】

“Forget it, since you have other plans, then do as you wish.” Shen Wangchen understood her thoughts. He wasn’t disappointed in Su Jiu, not at all.

If he had to say who he cared about most among his disciples, it would naturally be Su Jiu.

He had raised her himself, watching her grow from such a small child to this age, pouring all his limited emotions into her.

If everything was as Su Jiu said, then Mo Lin and Qi Chaoye’s return would bring disaster to the Qianyuan Sect. Letting Su Jiu leave the Qianyuan Sect seemed to be the only way to protect her.

Moreover, she still had the “Three Days of Beauty” poison inside her.

In recent days, Shen Wangchen had also looked up some materials but found no clues.

Since Su Jiu could find a clue, that was a good thing.

Su Jiu couldn’t use any spiritual power now, completely indistinguishable from a mortal. Shen Wangchen originally wanted to go with her, but he couldn’t shake off his worries about Mo Lin and Qi Chaoye.

He frowned in deep thought. Cang Qianxue waited for a long time before making a move, and seeing Shen Wangchen’s expression, he understood the worries in his heart.

He smiled casually, sweeping his long sleeves over the chessboard, and seemingly unintentionally said, “What a coincidence, little Su Jiu is going to the Half-Moon Secret Realm. Just so happens, I need to visit the nearby Lingmiao Sect. How about we go together?”

Cang Qianxue looked at Su Jiu and gently blinked, sending her a message: “I’ve also found some clues about that pill formula.”

Su Jiu almost said she wanted to refuse, but immediately changed her expression to surprise: “What a coincidence, Master Uncle, then I will go with you!”

Shen Wangchen lightly tapped the table with his fingers, his gaze dimming slightly. He neither agreed nor disagreed.

Su Jiu felt a tightness in her heart: “Master…”

Beside her, Mu Yunqing also looked a bit worried. It wasn’t that he doubted Cang Qianxue’s reliability; he just thought that regardless, this was their own business in the Not-Dao Mountain. They had already caused Cang Qianxue some trouble, so how could they trouble him again?

“Master, I can accompany Junior Sister—”

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Shen Wangchen.

“Since that’s the case,” he looked at Cang Qianxue and said, “then I’ll trouble you with her.”

Cang Qianxue smiled and patted his shoulder: “We’ve been friends for a hundred years; there’s no need for thanks.”

Mu Yunqing pressed his lips together and turned to look at Su Jiu. He didn’t know why, but even though he had never felt anything before, this time when he thought about her leaving the Qianyuan Sect and not knowing when she would return, a strange feeling emerged in his heart.

“Junior Sister…” He couldn’t help but raise his hand, intending to grab Su Jiu’s arm, but almost as if compelled by an unseen force, his hand moved down lightly, gently enclosing Su Jiu’s hand.

The girl’s hand was soft and smooth, reminiscent of the jade pendant he used to play with when he was a prince; the touch felt wonderful.

He couldn’t help but use a bit more strength.

Su Jiu was stunned: “Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”

She relied on and trusted Mu Yunqing more than anyone else. Even when he suddenly grasped her hand, she was only slightly surprised and didn’t pull her hand away.

Mu Yunqing was jolted awake by her calling him “Senior Brother,” and he snapped back to reality.

“…It’s nothing.” After a while, he forced himself to let go of her hand, uttering two words.

“Be careful when you’re out.”

Su Jiu listened to Mu Yunqing’s gathering of concerns and couldn’t help but laugh: “Senior Brother, you’re really so fussy. I’m not going out for the first time.”

【Goodness, if I didn’t know that Senior Brother has feelings for Master, with this kind of gentle and caring older brother, who wouldn’t like him? I’m simply in love!】

【I really like Senior Brother.】

Mu Yunqing listened to her thoughts, and his cheeks couldn’t help but flush, turning red at the tips of his ears.

However, a subtle joy arose in his heart.