CHAPTER 28: The Ruthless Bald Master

At this moment, far away in the Western Region, Yu Youyou and her group had already finished eating their steaming hot crab roe noodles. Now, they were queuing at another restaurant, waiting to try the local specialty—roast camel hump.

Their teleportation had landed them in Extreme West City, the most prosperous city in the Western Region.

Compared to the Eastern Region, which was filled with mountain ranges and rivers, the Western Region was dominated by wastelands and sand dunes. The bustling traffic here made the city lively, and the variety of street food ranged from simple wonton noodles sold by ordinary mortals to spiritual delicacies affordable only to cultivators.

There was still some time before the Four Realms Tournament, so the Eastern Region cultivators had nothing urgent to do. They started wandering around Extreme West City in small groups.

Leading them was Elder Ma, who had been here before. He claimed he was familiarizing himself with the environment and making preparations for the tournament.

Under the influence of the talkative dan cultivators and the overly enthusiastic shield cultivators, even the usually aloof and rigid sword cultivators had no choice but to join in on this sightseeing trip to blend in.

Yu Youyou and her two companions lagged at the back of the group.

It wasn’t because they had the shortest legs, but because Su Yizhi’s delicate, harmless face—resembling a rabbit spirit who had just gained human form—was simply too eye-catching.

Along the way, countless elegant and graceful female cultivators from the Western Region had stopped him. With affectionate smiles, they had pinched his soft cheeks and, with breath as sweet as orchids, whispered their names to him, telling him to remember them and seek them out once he grew up.

After that, they even pressed their cheeks to his as a sign of familiarity.

Su Yizhi’s face was completely red.

Yu Youyou cast him a sideways glance, her tone tinged with undisguised envy. “Isn’t it a good thing to be popular with beautiful senior sisters? What are you blushing for?”

Su Yizhi’s face remained expressionless. “I’m not blushing this time. I got pinched.”

Qi Nanfeng, however, wasn’t envious. He was just curious. “Why are there so many female cultivators here?”

“Because the Hehuan Sect is just outside the Westernmost City.” The all-knowing Su Yizhi rubbed his face, his voice carrying a hint of fear. “That’s also why the Westernmost City is the liveliest place in the entire human realm.”

The three great sects of the Western Territory were Spirit Medicine Valley, Tianyin Zen Temple, and Hehuan Sect.

Yu Youyou had only learned about this yesterday, and she found it puzzling—why were Tianyin Zen Temple and Hehuan Sect in the same territory?

The two sects would even have to spend a whole month together during the Four Realms Tournament. Would the Buddhist cultivators of Tianyin Zen Temple be chanting scriptures at the Hehuan Sect’s female cultivators for an entire month?

It was quite baffling.

As the three of them chatted, they wandered farther and farther from the main group.

In the end, it was Qu Qingmiao who worried about them and came back to round them up.

She looked at Yu Youyou first. Though her tone wasn’t exactly gentle, it was at least calm. “There are too many cultivators in the Western Territory, and with the Four Realms Tournament coming up, the place is even more crowded than usual. You need to be careful—there are many bad people around.”

Then she turned to the two boys, and her tone instantly grew much sharper. “Don’t go wandering off with Little Fish.”

Su Yizhi clutched his swollen, pinched cheek, teary-eyed. Wasn’t he the one who needed care the most right now?

But Qu Qingmiao’s presence did relieve Su Yizhi somewhat. Now that it was clear this pretty boy was under someone’s watch, the Hehuan Sect’s female cultivators who had been passing by only glanced at him with a hint of regret but didn’t make a move anymore.

“The Four Realms Tournament hasn’t started yet. Elder Ma and the others have gone to liaise with the cultivators of the Western Territory. Do you want to eat anything? Fill your stomach before we head back.”

After some discussion, the three decided to queue up again for another round of crab roe noodles.

The restaurant selling crab roe noodles was incredibly popular. The line of people waiting for food stretched from the restaurant all the way to the massive teleportation array several hundred meters away.

The teleportation array only allowed cultivators from the other three territories to enter. Ever since the cultivators from the Eastern Territory had arrived, it had remained silent without any activity.

Yu Youyou and the others took their place at the end of the line.

But just then, the teleportation array suddenly erupted with a dazzling brilliance. Moments later, amidst the surging spiritual energy, dozens of figures emerged from within.

Qu Qingmiao had already sensed the teleportation array activating the moment it happened, immediately pulling the three of them aside.

The newcomers were surely disciples from another major sect. She was about to step forward to greet them when her footsteps abruptly halted.

Yu Youyou looked up in confusion. From her angle, she could only see part of Qu Qingmiao’s profile, but at this moment, for some reason, her face had gone completely pale, her lips pressed tightly together.

Even the hand that had been lightly gripping Yu Youyou’s just a moment ago was now clenching tighter and tighter.

“Senior Sister?” she called out tentatively.

But Qu Qingmiao didn’t respond.

Qi Nanfeng was also puzzled. He was about to ask Su Yizhi which sect had arrived when he noticed Su Yizhi’s face had also darkened. In fact, he even lowered his head and took two steps back to hide behind Qi Nanfeng.

“It’s the Northern Territory. The Hanging Gourd Sect,” Su Yizhi muttered, as if he knew they would ask.

“So they’re from your family too?” Qi Nanfeng was puzzled. The leaders of the Hanging Gourd Sect were almost all from the Su family, so why was Su Yizhi avoiding them?

But Su Yizhi quickly shook his head, showing no interest in explaining further.

“Let’s go.” Qu Qingmiao spoke flatly. “The elders are waiting for us.”

But before they could turn around, a lazy voice rang out from the other side—

“Well, if it isn’t Senior Sister Qu from the Pill Cauldron Sect. Judging by your appearance, I suppose your injuries from three years ago have healed quite well.”

At the center of the group stood a young male cultivator, about fifteen or sixteen years old. He wore a dark green long robe, his eyes narrow and sharp, lips curled into a mocking, indifferent smile.

Not only did the disciples of the Hanging Gourd Sect defer to him, but even members of another sect subtly followed his lead.

Qu Qingmiao’s face remained expressionless as she spat out a single word. “None of your business. Get lost.”

It was the first time Yu Youyou and the others had ever heard Senior Sister curse at someone.

However, the young man didn’t seem angered. His smile remained as fake as ever.

“I’m relieved to see Senior Sister Qu unharmed. It’s just a pity… Three years ago, you were on the verge of breaking through to the Golden Core stage, yet now you’re still at the peak of Foundation Establishment?” He chuckled, tapping a paper fan against his lips. “And where are Senior Brother E and Senior Brother Ya? Don’t tell me they still haven’t woken up?”

He flicked the fan open, covering half his face as he smiled silently.

“Ah, my apologies. I must have brought up something painful for Senior Sister Qu.”

Qu Qingmiao’s gaze remained impassive, her posture as straight as ever.

Beside her, Su Yizhi tugged lightly at her sleeve and murmured, “I’m sorry, Senior Sister…”

“This has nothing to do with you.” Qu Qingmiao patted his shoulder lightly. “No need to listen to a dog barking. Let’s go.”

But just then, the young man’s gaze shifted to Su Yizhi, as if he had discovered a rare treasure. He smiled and nodded at him.

“Cousin, you’ve grown quite a bit. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Su Yizhi’s voice was devoid of emotion. “I’ve always been tall.”

The young man squinted slightly and let out a soft sigh. “I never thought you’d actually join the Pill Cauldron Sect. What a waste. I wonder… can you even afford a pill furnace now? If not, I could give you one.”

As he spoke, he retrieved a pill furnace and toyed with it in his hands. The furnace was exquisitely crafted, barely the size of a palm, yet red and wooden spiritual energy constantly swirled around it, indicating that it was enhanced with high-grade formations of both fire and wood attributes.

It was clearly far more expensive than the furnaces the Pill Cauldron Sect had custom-made for Yu Youyou, Qi Nanfeng, and Su Yizhi in the Treasure Pavilion.

The young man played with it for a moment before smiling again. “Oh, I forgot. This is too valuable. It’s not suitable for you.”

Su Yizhi lowered his gaze, said nothing, and simply turned to follow Qu Qingmiao.

A low chuckle echoed from behind them.

Back at their residence, Qu Qingmiao remained as calm and composed as ever, showing no hint of her true emotions. She also had no intention of explaining anything to Yu Youyou or Qi Nanfeng.

In the end, it was Su Yizhi who was caught.

“Who was that person today?”

Su Yizhi frowned and said a name: “Su Liubai, second young master of the Su family’s main branch.”

Qi Nanfeng scratched his head in confusion. “Aren’t medical cultivators supposed to hit it off at first sight? Why does he give off such a weird, passive-aggressive vibe?”

Su Yizhi looked incredulous. “You don’t know that the Hanging Gourd Sect has a grudge against our Pill Cauldron Sect?”

Yu Youyou and Qi Nanfeng shook their heads in unison, then asked, “If that’s the case, why did you come to Pill Cauldron Sect? Isn’t Hanging Gourd Sect the strongest medical cultivation sect?”

Surely, he wasn’t actually here as a spy?

Su Yizhi’s expression darkened. “I just happen to have the surname Su. I’m from a distant side branch, and I’ve had no contact with the main family for a long time. My father even offended someone from the main branch, so during the three years I spent in Hanging Gourd Sect, I learned absolutely nothing. They wouldn’t even let me use a pill furnace—I was stuck gathering herbs in the medicinal fields the whole time.”

“No wonder you’re so good at picking herbs.” Qi Nanfeng sincerely praised.

“Of course.” Although something about the compliment felt off, Su Yizhi still enjoyed hearing it.

Yu Youyou, however, was still thinking about Qu Qingmiao. “So what’s the deal between Hanging Gourd Sect and Pill Cauldron Sect? Why did Senior Sister look so angry?”

Su Yizhi lowered his voice. “It goes back to the Four Realms Tournament three years ago…”

During the last Four Realms Tournament, the Pill Cauldron Sect representatives were Qu Qingmiao, Senior Brother E, and Senior Brother Ya.

Leading the Northern Region’s team was the eldest son of the Su family’s main branch, Su Feibai.

As the tournament was nearing its end, the Eastern and Northern Regions had killed an equal number of spirit beasts. Both sects decided to venture deeper into the Eternal Forest.

That was when they ran into each other—and simultaneously discovered a fifth-grade spirit herb.

However, Qu Qingmiao arrived first and successfully obtained the herb. At the time, the Hanging Gourd Sect cultivators made no move, as the Four Realms Tournament allowed combat, but righteous cultivators naturally wouldn’t resort to internal slaughter.

“But then…” Su Yizhi’s face showed hesitation, yet he continued, “Su Feibai, my eldest cousin, used pills in the middle of the night to drive a group of mutant beasts into a frenzy and sent them to attack the Eastern Region’s camp.”

“Senior Brother E and Senior Brother Ya of Pill Cauldron Sect… had their spirit veins crushed by the beasts and were crippled. Senior Sister Qu was also seriously injured. I heard she had to go into seclusion for two years to recover. If not for that injury, with her talent, she would have reached the Golden Core stage long ago.”

At this point, all three fell into silence.

Finally, Yu Youyou was the first to speak. She rubbed her hands together. “You’re not on good terms with those two cousins of yours, right?”

Su Yizhi nodded.

Yu Youyou continued, “And our Pill Cauldron Sect and Hanging Gourd Sect are basically mortal enemies, right?”

Su Yizhi nodded again but sighed. “But you saw that pill furnace earlier—Hanging Gourd Sect is rich and powerful. Su Liubai himself is a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even if we wanted revenge, there’s no easy way to get it.”

Yu Youyou curled her lips without commenting. She took out the bag of spirit stones she had earned from Yu Changan and lazily weighed it in her hand.

“Spirit stones? I have some now too.”

Her downcast, delicate eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a silent, ruthless glint.

“Let’s go to the black market in Extreme West City and hire an assassin.”