Sitting in the elders' seats, the Sect Master of the Wenjian Sect almost jumped up in anger upon hearing the spectators' words.
His Qinghan was so cold, aloof, and upright. How could he possibly like men?
No, absolutely impossible! This was all the Changming Sect's fault!
Seeing this, the elders of the other sects all turned their gazes toward him in unison.
The Chengfeng Sect elder smiled and said, “Didn't you hear what that child Zhu You said? Luo Qingyu even saved those disciples of yours.”
The Bishui Sect elder chimed in, “Exactly. A life-saving debt should be repaid with one's body. What's there to be so worked up about?”
Qin Fanfan listened with a look of utter bewilderment. He had absolutely no idea that his Xiaoyu had actually saved people from the Wenjian Sect.
Sitting to the side, Elder Zhao's heart tightened, suddenly getting the bizarre illusion that his precious cabbage was about to be snatched away.
Elder Duan: What in the world is going on?
*
Inside the secret realm, Luo Qingyu looked at Zhu You with a smile. “But your Senior Brother has already repaid the favor on your behalf, so you don't have to worry.”
Hearing this, Zhu You looked at Ye Qinghan beside them in surprise.
Their eyes seemed to say: Senior Brother, I didn't expect you to go to such lengths for us.
Ye Qinghan's face flushed red as he muttered awkwardly, “I didn't. Don't overthink it.”
Just as he finished speaking, the ground suddenly shook violently. The tree trunk swayed wildly, and Luo Qingyu lost her balance, falling straight down from the branch.
“Ahhh! Which bastard is causing trouble?!”
At this critical juncture, Ye Qinghan reacted with lightning speed. He instantly lunged forward and caught her steadily, pulling Luo Qingyu into his embrace.
Their eyes met. A blush crept up Ye Qinghan's cheeks, and he stammered slightly, “Y-You... are you okay?”
Luo Qingyu hadn't expected to be caught by Ye Qinghan. She smiled and said softly, “Thank you for the rescue, Chief Disciple Ye. However, the previous favor still can't be wiped clean just like this.”
Ye Qinghan turned his head away, his tone awkward. “Suit yourself.”
Seeing his shy and awkward demeanor, Luo Qingyu couldn't help but let out a low chuckle. “Alright, alright, put me down first. How long do you plan on holding me?”
Watching from the side, Zhu You clicked their tongue in amazement. They never expected their usually cold and aloof Senior Brother to actually fall in love. What was even more mind-blowing was that the person he fancied was actually a man.
*
“Huh? Did you guys see that?! They actually hugged!”
“This is absolute proof! I suspect they've had something going on since way back!”
“To be honest, seeing the two of them standing together is actually quite easy on the eyes!”
In the elimination area, several people stared at the screen of the recording stone. Chu Xingzhi was the first to lose his mind, his face a mask of utter despair. “It's over! My Senior Brother is no longer pure!”
Beside him, Song Hansheng couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Chu Xingzhi immediately glared at him. “What are you laughing at?”
Song Hansheng raised an eyebrow and said bluntly, “Laughing at how stupid you guys are.”
Chu Xingzhi: ...Ahhh, I really want to slash him with my sword.
...
Meanwhile, the Sect Master of the Wenjian Sect witnessed the entire process with his own eyes, and his mental state completely collapsed.
His eldest disciple, who was supposed to be cold, pure, and single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, actually liked men. This was a hundred times more shocking than if he were to ascend right now.
The Bishui Sect elder beside him watched with great relish, sighing softly, “Ah, it's good to be young.”
The people from the Changming Sect were also completely petrified. They had never expected their disciple—their Xiaoyu—to actually have her eyes on Ye Qinghan.
*
Suddenly, Luo Qingyu's brow furrowed tightly. Her divine sense instantly spread out, detecting a powerful aura rapidly approaching.
She immediately looked at Ye Qinghan and Zhu You beside her, shouting in a low, urgent voice, “Oh no, it's a Nascent Soul realm demon beast!”
Just then, a demon beast resembling a giant snake charged toward them at high speed, its crimson vertical pupils locking dead onto the three of them.
Ye Qinghan's expression turned serious. He immediately drew his sword from its sheath, preparing to step forward and engage in battle.
Luo Qingyu hastily reached out and yanked him back, saying urgently, “Are you crazy? That's a Nascent Soul realm demon beast! Even my Senior Brother might not be able to defeat it. Run!”
With that, Luo Qingyu dragged the two of them along as she activated her Breeze Step, fleeing at full speed.
Not far away, Duan Hengdao happened to be passing by. Feeling a sudden gust of wind brush past his face, he couldn't help but look puzzled. “Huh? What just ran past?”
He turned his head to glance back, only to see the demon beast hot on their heels. His heart instantly seized, and he cursed inwardly, Holy crap! A Nascent Soul realm demon beast!
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind.
He bolted in the direction of the group ahead. Looking closer, he realized the people fleeing in front were actually familiar faces.
Duan Hengdao caught up to the group in a few strides, shouting as he ran, “Senior Brother Luo! Wait for me! Are you guys being chased by this demon beast too?”
Luo Qingyu was panting heavily as she ran, not even turning her head. “Save your breath! Just run! This Nascent Soul realm demon beast isn't something we can go head-to-head with!”
The group fled continuously for half an hour.
Duan Hengdao was completely out of breath. “No... I really can't run anymore.”
Luo Qingyu was about to step forward and pull him, but Ye Qinghan beat her to it. “No need, I'll take him.” With that, he grabbed Duan Hengdao and continued running forward.
Luo Qingyu's brow furrowed slightly. “Constantly draining our spiritual energy like this isn't a long-term solution.”
Suddenly, her gaze swept across a mud pit ahead. An idea immediately struck her, and she called out loudly, “Jump into the mud pit!”
Duan Hengdao looked at the murky mud pit, his face full of resistance. “But that's way too dirty!”
Luo Qingyu replied flatly, “Do you want your pride, or your life?”
Before Duan Hengdao could refuse, Ye Qinghan dragged him and leaped into the mud pit.
Immediately after, Zhu You and Luo Qingyu jumped in as well, and the group lay flat beneath the muddy slope.
The pursuing green-scaled giant snake looked around. Scenting absolutely nothing, it lingered for a moment before having no choice but to turn around and leave.
Luo Qingyu spread her divine sense to investigate the area once more, finally letting out a long sigh of relief. “Alright, the demon beast is far away now. Let's get out.”
The group climbed out of the mud pit one by one. Duan Hengdao was pulled onto the bank by Ye Qinghan, his legs giving out as he collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
Luo Qingyu looked at him with a smile. “How is it? The feeling of surviving a disaster—pretty thrilling, right?”
Duan Hengdao nodded vigorously, a look of lingering fear on his face. “Too thrilling! It's even more heart-pounding than my last training expedition in a secret realm!”
Recalling the scene of their frantic sprint just now, Duan Hengdao looked at Luo Qingyu with a face full of confusion. “Senior Brother Luo, how can you run for so long without getting tired? We're both artifact cultivators!”
Luo Qingyu shrugged, her tone casual and tinged with a bit of pride. “Can't help it. My physical conditioning is just that good. Got a problem with that?”
Duan Hengdao thought about it and nodded. “Alright, Senior Brother Luo, you really are amazing.”
“Then, can I follow you from now on?”
Before Luo Qingyu could answer, Ye Qinghan cut in coldly, “No.”
Duan Hengdao was stunned. He turned to Ye Qinghan, utterly bewildered. “Why not?”
Ye Qinghan's gaze was cold, his tone blunt and merciless. “You will hold us back.”
At those words, Duan Hengdao was instantly choked up, completely speechless, unable to find a single word to refute him.
*
The spectating cultivators outside instantly burst into laughter, teasing one after another.
“What the hell, 'hold us back'?! That is way too blunt, haha!”
“What happened to the cold, proud, and untainted flower on a high peak? His tongue is too venomous!”
“I used to think Ye Qinghan was a desireless banished immortal. Turns out he's just double-standard when it comes to Luo Qingyu!”
*
The Sect Master of the Wenjian Sect's face turned red and white in turns. He simply couldn't bear to look at his own disciple.
The Wenjian Sect elder beside him hastily coaxed in a soft voice, “Sect Master, think about it from another angle.”
“Luo Qingyu not only has great talent, but also looks prettier than most girls. Even that bunch of artifact cultivators from the Chengfeng Sect is overshadowed by her.”
“Qinghan liking her isn't a loss at all. It's clearly a guaranteed win for us!”
After listening to the elder's persuasion, the Sect Master of the Wenjian Sect pondered in secret and had to admit that this match was indeed very good.
It was just that whenever he thought of his usually cold and self-possessed eldest disciple, he still felt an indescribable awkwardness in his heart.
He could only let out a long sigh, his gaze landing on the recording stone once again.
Rate on N.U.
