Chapter 22

“Thank you, Senior Brother Ouyang.”

Ouyang Zheng looked at Lin Qingyang’s expressionless face and sighed helplessly in his heart.

As someone who remained neutral, he was troubled by the ongoing conflict between the Xuan Corpse and Puppet factions within the sect. The differences in their ideologies were too vast, and the grudges had been accumulating for so long that it wasn’t something a mere disciple like him could mediate.

Incidents like the previous provocation happened frequently between the two factions. Without sufficient evidence, even if he intervened, the most he could do was impose a minor punishment like confinement. This might only cause the person to resent Lin Qingyang even more.

He couldn’t always protect Lin Qingyang, and besides, the Corpse Puppet Sect wasn’t a righteous path but rather a left-hand path. Although the atmosphere wasn’t as blatantly survival-of-the-fittest as in the demon path, strength was still respected. It was normal for the weak to be bullied.

He helped Lin Qingyang not because he was weak, but because he was Zhang Yifan’s junior brother. He had a good relationship with Zhang Yifan, so naturally, he was willing to look after his junior. Otherwise, he might not have intervened in such matters.

“Senior Brother Ouyang?” Lin Qingyang looked up at him.

Ouyang Zheng snapped back to reality and said, “I didn’t find the right magic fish gold. I need to try another place. Do you want to stay here?”

Thinking about the empty river, Lin Qingyang shook his head. His main goal was to awaken Cheng Hui’s talent. Although he failed, he didn’t plan to give up just yet.

“Ah ah…” Cheng Hui tugged at Lin Qingyang’s sleeve with effort.

Lin Qingyang turned around and saw the bruises on his face, his expression darkening further.

“In that case, why don’t we leave together?” Ouyang Zheng suggested kindly.

Lin Qingyang thought about it and saw no harm in it, so he agreed.

Ouyang Zheng smiled and casually picked some topics to chat about with Lin Qingyang as they walked out. To his surprise, the more they talked, the more astonished he became.

Despite being just a child, Lin Qingyang had unique insights into cultivation. Although Lin Qingyang couldn’t solve the problems Ouyang Zheng encountered in his cultivation, he did offer some ideas for solutions.

“Junior Brother, you’re truly a genius,” Ouyang Zheng exclaimed.

Lin Qingyang smiled without speaking. A genius? Perhaps… If it weren’t for the foundation of over a decade in his past life, he would just be a kid with potential now.

Having benefited from Lin Qingyang, Ouyang Zheng didn’t hold back and shared some of his cultivation tips with him. While they talked, Lin Qingyang didn’t neglect Cheng Hui, frequently glancing at him with concern.

Ouyang Zheng found it amusing to watch. This junior brother was truly a romantic. At just eight years old, he was already so considerate of his fiancé.

Uncle Wu Youzi really had an eye for talent. Such a junior brother was naturally a born disciple of the Xuan Corpse faction!

“Ouyang Zheng!”

As they chatted and laughed, a silver light suddenly shot through the air, aiming straight for Lin Qingyang.

Cheng Hui, who had been on guard against the blue-clothed person, immediately tried to block it, but Lin Qingyang stopped him with a backhand.

Ouyang Zheng was furious. Someone dared to attack right in front of him??!!

With a flick of his wrist, he drew a long knife, intercepting the silver light with a clang.

“Yang Wenyu! Are you crazy?” Ouyang Zheng shouted angrily.

“Ouyang Zheng, you’re the one who’s crazy! How dare you protect this little slut!” Yang Wenyu, dressed in red, emerged from the darkness ahead, her face filled with uncontrollable anger.

“What nonsense are you spouting!” Ouyang Zheng was extremely displeased with Yang Wenyu’s reckless words.

“Nonsense?” Yang Wenyu laughed in anger, pointing at Lin Qingyang. “If you weren’t guilty, why would you be meeting her here in secret?”

Secret meeting??

Cheng Hui was displeased. What’s with this girl? She might be pretty, but that doesn’t mean she can be blind, right?

What secret meeting? Can’t she see my kid is just a little one, what secret meeting?

Can you watch your words in front of a child?

He glanced at Lin Qingyang, falling silent for a moment.

Well… because of the earlier scuffle, Lin Qingyang’s hair and clothes were a bit messy. He already looked androgynous, and in the dark, he did resemble a girl more.

Looking at the state, it did seem a bit like a secret meeting…

Cheng Hui: … Pah! What am I thinking! It’s this woman’s fault for misleading me!

“Enough! What nonsense are you spouting! This is Zhang Yifan’s junior brother!” Ouyang Zheng guessed Yang Wenyu misunderstood and said with a stern face.

“What?” Yang Wenyu exclaimed, scrutinizing Lin Qingyang closely. Only then did she realize that although the child was pretty, upon closer inspection, it was clear he was a boy.

Yang Wenyu, relieved, couldn’t help but feel jealous.

Why should a boy be prettier than a girl?

He’s still young now, but in a few years, won’t he surpass even her?

Yang Wenyu always prided herself as the first beauty of the Corpse Puppet Sect, with countless suitors.

Yet, seeing the eight-year-old Lin Qingyang, she felt a surge of crisis, fearing this child might steal her title as the first beauty.

Yang Wenyu gritted her teeth, and even Ouyang Zheng, whom she liked, couldn’t attract her attention.

After all, Ouyang Zheng was just a man she wanted to conquer but couldn’t, while Lin Qingyang was a rival for the title of the first beauty.

“Yang Wenyu, what exactly do you want?” Ouyang Zheng noticed Yang Wenyu’s jealous gaze and felt uneasy.

This woman’s jealousy was outrageous.

She often caused trouble for junior sisters who looked good. Although Lin Qingyang was just a child and a boy, his face, which could be considered a disaster, had clearly caught Yang Wenyu’s attention.

Called out by Ouyang Zheng, Yang Wenyu finally stopped glaring at Lin Qingyang with hatred and looked at Ouyang Zheng with grievance.

“Senior Brother Ouyang, why are you avoiding me? Why are you going on missions with that bitch Shen Shu?”

Ouyang Zheng’s handsome eyebrows furrowed. “What are you talking about? Who I go on missions with is none of your business, is it?”

Yang Wenyu’s face twisted for a moment, then she put on a heartbroken expression.

“Senior Brother Ouyang, how can you say that!”

Ouyang Zheng didn’t want to argue with her, but he knew that once Yang Wenyu blocked him, it would be hard to leave.

He didn’t want to say anything too harsh in front of the child, so he signaled Lin Qingyang to leave.

It was also a way to avoid Yang Wenyu’s attention.

He knew that in the past, there were junior sisters prettier than Yang Wenyu, but most of them had accidents.

If he had evidence, he would have dealt with this woman long ago.

Before leaving, Lin Qingyang gave Yang Wenyu a deep look, as if memorizing her appearance.

He turned around and secretly took out a small notebook in his heart, jotting down Yang Wenyu’s name.

Lin Qingyang was very sensitive to people’s malice. Back in the Blood Slaughter Sect, besides those who coveted his beauty, many more were jealous of his looks.

He was all too familiar with those intensely jealous gazes, and he saw the well-hidden hatred in this woman’s eyes.

Ouyang Zheng was a man, and he didn’t understand that for some women, anyone prettier than them was more hateful than their mortal enemy.

This wasn’t something that could be solved by simply diverting attention.

Lin Qingyang wasn’t one to wait passively for trouble. Instead of waiting for someone else’s trap, he preferred to solve the problem in advance.

If he couldn’t solve the problem, then solving the person causing the problem was also an option.

At this moment, Yang Wenyu had clearly become a ‘potential problem person.’ As long as there was an opportunity in the future, Lin Qingyang would take action to deal with her.

“Ah, ah…” Cheng Hui had been trying to tell Lin Qingyang that he had already activated his talent, but since he came out of the space, he hadn’t had the chance.

When they left this Yin Qi cave, Lin Qingyang planned to take him to other Yin Qi caves to catch magic fish gold.

Only then did he find an opportunity and, when no one was around, grabbed Lin Qingyang’s arm.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Qingyang asked softly.

Since discovering the wonders of divine sense, Cheng Hui liked to use it to check things out whenever he had the chance.

If it weren’t for the pressure of keeping his divine sense constantly active, he would have kept it on 24/7 to prevent sneak attacks, eavesdropping, or spying.

Unexpectedly, while using his divine sense as a precaution, he really discovered someone hiding not far away.

Moreover, there were two figures approaching from both sides, clearly intending to ambush them.

“Ah!” Cheng Hui quickly gestured, indicating someone was in the dark.

Lin Qingyang understood his meaning, his eyes darkening, but his face remained innocent.

“Huihui, what’s wrong? Let’s go.”

Cheng Hui: …

He couldn’t figure out if this little kid understood what he meant. But trusting in the kid, he decided to play along, swaying as he continued forward.

Lin Qingyang’s lips curled slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.

The two of them seemed to walk casually, but they were already on high alert.

Cheng Hui’s divine sense was like a cheat code here, allowing him to clearly see the movements of the three people.

He held Lin Qingyang’s hand, his fingertips moving in his palm, trying to indicate the positions of the hidden people.

The sensation in Lin Qingyang’s palm tickled his heart, and he reflexively tightened his grip on Cheng Hui’s hand.

Cheng Hui: ?

Wait, if you hold so tight, how am I supposed to signal you?

A dark gleam flashed in Lin Qingyang’s eyes.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the restlessness in his heart, and his fingers also moved in Cheng Hui’s palm.

Cheng · Steel Straight Man · Hui: …??? Stop messing around!

Lin Qingyang: …

A hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.

He had long noticed that his fiancé didn’t seem to have those kinds of feelings for him.

Although his current appearance was only eight years old, if Cheng Hui really had feelings, he would be a scumbag.

But the fact that he had no thoughts at all left Lin Qingyang particularly frustrated.

Oh well, take it slow.

After all, the mark has already been made on him.

With time, feelings will develop… eventually!

Lin Qingyang touched his face.

With a face like this, there’s no way Cheng Hui wouldn’t be moved, right?