The night deepened.
System: 【Detected host's training slave Fang Xuan is secretly admiring master Ning Xian's fair feet and is deeply mesmerized by them. Training value +66!】
Good grief...
Fang Xuan was so startled that his whole body jolted. He abruptly pulled back his hand, his heart nearly leaping out of his throat.
System! Are you freaking sick!
He was scared to death; he had thought his Senior Sister had woken up.
With lingering fear, he patted his chest and let out a long sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Senior Sister hadn't woken up. She only seemed slightly disturbed by his movement, letting out a subconscious whimper.
Her head nudged closer to him again as she fell into an even deeper sleep.
Fang Xuan composed himself and prepared to continue touching them.
"Mmm... Junior Brother...?"
Ning Xian half-opened her eyes, looking dazed.
This time, Fang Xuan was paralyzed with fear.
"Senior Sister, no, there's nothing!"
"I'm not that kind of person. I didn't do anything. I just saw that your sock had slipped and was helping you put it back on."
He spoke at a rapid-fire pace.
Ning Xian: "...???"
She had just woken up and her mind wasn't quite clear yet. She only had a vague sensation that her Junior Brother seemed to have touched her foot.
Then came this string of nonsensical words from him.
She blinked in confusion and looked down at her perfectly worn socks.
Hm...? Her sock... had it just fallen off?
She didn't remember that.
However, Junior Brother certainly wouldn't lie to her... He was so obedient and cute.
.......
The next day, they traveled in silence.
The familiar gates of the Qingyun Sect appeared in their sight, and Fang Xuan let out a long breath of relief.
He was finally back in comfort.
There was really no place like his own little nest.
Although the courtyard he stayed in at the Prince’s Manor was quite magnificent, it couldn't compare to the freedom of this bamboo hut in the quiet valley.
Pushing open the familiar bamboo gate, everything in the courtyard seemed exactly as it was when they left.
Including that... old plum tree in the corner of the yard.
When they left, the branches were only dotted with a few sparse flower buds.
Yet now, after only half a month, the entire tree seemed to have been lit up. Layers upon layers of pink and white plum blossoms were blooming passionately.
They looked like clouds and mist.
Fang Xuan sniffed the air; it was quite fragrant.
"Senior Sister," he turned his head.
"How about you teach me how to brew some plum blossom wine?"
Ning Xian was stunned by this sudden request. She nodded subconsciously, her voice sounding softer than usual.
"Um... O-Okay."
When Junior Brother smiled, his eyes curved like crescents. He really looked handsome...
.......
A mountain breeze blew past, making the branches tremble.
A plum blossom in full bloom was brushed down by the light wind, drifting into Ning Xian's open palm.
Ning Xian stared at the perfect plum blossom in her palm, appearing somewhat lost in thought...
.......
"It's good to be back."
Fang Xuan gave a great stretch, his gaze scanning the small courtyard before finally locking onto his favorite small rattan chair.
The rattan chair was still in its usual spot, looking exceptionally inviting under the afternoon sun...
He walked over and slumped into it comfortably.
The sun shone warmly on his body, and Fang Xuan squinted his eyes.
......
However, Ning Xian sensed something unusual.
For some reason, she felt a faint inkling that this courtyard was... a bit too quiet.
The sound of the stream remained, as did the sound of the wind, but it felt like something was missing.
Usually, mountain birds would occasionally land on the plum branches to chirp, or some bold small beasts would rustle in the nearby grass.
Now, there wasn't a single sound.
She didn't relax like Fang Xuan did. Instead, she stood in place, her cold eyes slowly sweeping across every corner of the courtyard.
The doors and windows of the bamboo hut, the fence of the herb garden, and even the bamboo forest across the stream.
Her expression gradually became solemn, and her fingertips twitched slightly.
"I'm going inside to take a look," she said to Fang Xuan on the rattan chair before stepping toward the main house.
Fang Xuan also sat up straight. His previous laziness vanished, replaced by a hint of alertness in his eyes.
He seemingly casually adjusted his sitting posture, but in reality, spiritual power was already quietly flowing through his meridians as his divine sense cautiously probed the surroundings.
Ning Xian pushed the door and entered.
The furnishings inside were exactly as they were, almost identical to when she left.
The bedding was neat, the table and chairs were dust-free, and even the few volumes of miscellaneous books she often read were still in their old positions.
She carefully checked the doors, windows, and floor, even using a faint trace of spiritual power to sense any lingering auras in the air.
There were no traces of strangers, and the restriction barrier hadn't been tampered with.
In short, there was no obvious abnormality.
Everything... was as usual.
Had she really overthought it?
Ning Xian’s brows furrowed slightly, and that bit of unease in her heart didn't completely dissipate.
Her intuition, especially the intuition developed after surviving life-and-death crises, was often more trustworthy than what her eyes saw.
She turned and walked out of the house, giving Fang Xuan a slight shake of her head to indicate that all was fine inside.
Fang Xuan also breathed a slight sigh of relief. Perhaps because of that sudden battle with a Transformation Realm expert last time, he was unavoidably more cautious now.
Just as he was about to slump back into the rattan chair, footsteps were heard outside the courtyard gate...
......
"Is Junior Brother Fang here? Is Senior Sister Ning here?"
It was the voice of an inner disciple from the Main Peak.
Ning Xian walked behind the courtyard gate and asked coldly, "What is it?"
The disciple outside seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and hurriedly said respectfully, "Greetings, Senior Sister Ning. This disciple has been ordered by the Sect Master to deliver a message. The Sect Master requests Junior Brother Fang Xuan to proceed to the Main Peak Great Hall immediately for an inquiry regarding important matters."
The Main Peak Great Hall? Lu Qingsong?
Fang Xuan thought to himself.
They had only just returned. How did Lu Qingsong know already?
And to go immediately... This old fellow's information network was a bit too efficient.
Ning Xian's brows furrowed even tighter.
Her voice betrayed no emotion. "Do you know what the Sect Master wants?"
The disciple outside was clearly of low status, merely a messenger. Hearing this, he said awkwardly, "In response to Senior Sister Ning... This disciple... does not know."
"However, the elder who gave the order looked very serious and commanded that I must bring Junior Brother Fang as quickly as possible."
Fang Xuan stood up and walked to Ning Xian's side.
Since Lu Qingsong had "invited" him, he couldn't refuse to go.
Hiding would only make him look guilty.
He raised his voice and said to the person outside, "I understand. I'll be there shortly."
"Yes! Many thanks, Junior Brother Fang! This disciple... this disciple will take his leave now."
Ning Xian looked at Fang Xuan and said in a low voice, "Something isn't right."
Lu Qingsong summoning him at this time was definitely not as simple as inquiring about important matters.
It was highly likely that he knew something, or... this itself was a trap.
Fang Xuan nodded. He naturally knew something was wrong.
"I'll go see what the situation is and adapt accordingly," Fang Xuan said to Ning Xian in a low voice.
"Senior Sister, you stay in the courtyard. In case anything goes wrong..."
He had originally wanted to tell her to act according to the situation and leave if things got bad.
But before he could finish, he was interrupted by Ning Xian.
She raised her cold eyes and looked directly into Fang Xuan's.
"I'm going too."
"Senior Sister, Lu Qingsong only called for me..."
Fang Xuan tried to persuade her. He didn't want to let her walk into danger, especially since her cultivation was only at the Golden Core Realm.
Ning Xian, however, acted as if she hadn't heard his refusal. She reached out directly and grabbed Fang Xuan's wrist.
"I'm going too."
The mountain breeze blew, swaying the plum tree.
Even more petals rustled as they fell from the branches.......
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