In the medicinal garden, the afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows.
From afar, Zhiwei saw her master’s figure.
Before her master approached, the elder girl softly asked:
"Sister Qiuyun, why are you looking for Master? Is it... something dangerous?"
Li Qiuyun showed a trace of hesitation, for this mission was perilous, and letting the two children know would surely make them worry.
She pondered for a moment, then lowered her voice to half-truthfully explain, "Your master... he’s just a worrywart. Besides the medicinal garden, he has some personal matters elsewhere, but he’ll be back in a day or two."
Saying this, to prevent Zhiwei from questioning further.
Li Qiuyun immediately pulled the black cloth tight over her eyes, and pretended to fiercefully spread her arms: "Alright, alright, enough about that! Let’s keep playing! This time I will definitely catch you!"
"Come on, come on!"
Qing Jun laughed crisply, like a nimble little sparrow, darting through the gaps in the medicinal garden, occasionally playfully patting Sister Qiuyun on the behind to vent her petty anger.
Hum... Sister Qiuyun is a big fatty!
It must be because she’s so fat that... she takes up too much visual space, so Master always accidentally looks at her plump parts!
"Ah! Xu Qingjun, what are you doing!!"
Li Qiuyun’s face turned red from the slap, how could this little girl behave like this?
Even though Uncle Chen is upright and forthright, he has somehow raised such a "little rascal" as a disciple!
She fiercely lunged forward, just in time to catch the jubilant Qing Jun in her arms: "Hahaha, caught you again! Little Qing Jun, your skill is lacking..."
"Sister Qiuyun is cheating!"
Qing Jun puffed up her cheeks and broke free, putting her small hands on her hips, pouting discontentedly,
"You definitely used Divine Sense! Otherwise, how could you catch me!"
Li Qiuyun firmly replied, "I didn’t, it’s because you were laughing too loudly."
The young girl was skeptical: "Really... Then let’s go again!"
Li Qiuyun had no choice but to humor her.
But...
Without using Divine Sense, how could she catch two girls running around in such a large medicinal garden?
Furthermore, this little girl always took advantage of her being blindfolded to bully her!
"This is..."
Suddenly, a thought struck Li Qiuyun, and she unhesitatingly lunged towards the light footsteps beside her, audibly announcing her victory: "Now I’ve really caught you..."
However, instead of the expected warm body, she embraced thin air, stumbling a step and almost falling.
Li Qiuyun paused, took off the blindfold in confusion, only to see Chen Ye standing where she had leapt, a faintly amused smile on his face.
It turns out that seeing her lunge, Chen Ye realized they were playing, so he used Cloud Chasing Step to quietly dodge, not wanting to take advantage of Li Qiuyun.
"Chen... Uncle Chen! I thought... you were Qing Jun." Li Qiuyun’s face flushed, her ears turning a little red.
"Sister Qiuyun, why are you hugging Master? Shame on you!" Qing Jun jeered from the side, eager for chaos, covering her mouth with a giggle.
It seems Sister Qiuyun really didn’t use Divine Sense.
Otherwise, how could she mistake Master?
Master is smelly and robust, only disciples pity him enough to let him hug.
Aside from that, no girl in this world wants to get close to Master!
For example, Bai Susu utterly looks down on Master, although she allows him to touch her, it’s only the smelliest pig’s trotter!
The little girl looked at Chen Ye disdainfully, thinking, poor Master, from now on he can just hug her!
Chen Ye, seeing Li Qiuyun’s awkward appearance, looked both amused and exasperated as he glared at Qing Jun, then stepped in to say:
"Nonsense, Sister Qiuyun was blindfolded and didn’t see clearly!"
"Ah? Yes... yes!"
Li Qiuyun was relieved as if granted amnesty, and quickly went along, smoothing her hair and attempting to regain her composure, "Silly Qing Jun, how was I to know Uncle Chen had returned! Annoying, you should have told me your master was back, now I won’t play with you anymore!"
The young girl pulled down on her eyelid, sticking out her tongue, with a smug expression: "Bleh, if Sister Qiuyun doesn’t play with Qing Jun, then Qing Jun will play with Sister Qiuyun!"
This faulty reasoning left Li Qiuyun speechless.
"Master, Sister Qiuyun is here for you." The quiet Zhiwei suddenly spoke up, timely reminding.
Chen Ye understood that Li Qiuyun’s visit was about the Divine Mist Valley matter.
A month and a half had passed since the day discussed with the Listening Wind Pavilion, finally the opportunity to go to Divine Mist Valley had arrived!
Chen Ye nodded and said to the two disciples, "Alright, no more fooling around, you two stay in the Herb Pavilion, help Grandpa Sun with some work; I need to go out with Qiuyun."
Though the two disciples were puzzled, not knowing what Master had to do outside,
they had even less reason to hold him back, so as not to affect Master’s official matters.
After Chen Ye left,
Qing Jun whispered softly, "Why is Sister Qiuyun’s hearing so sharp? She knows wherever I hide..."
Feeling defeated,
Zhiwei suddenly glanced at Qing Jun, having long understood the trick.
But...
Should she tell Qing Jun?
She watched the backs of Master and Li Qiuyun as they departed.
Their bodies close, the heroic girl’s arms occasionally brushing against the man’s arm unintentionally.
"Hmm, Sister Qiuyun is amazing."
The elder girl remarked expressionlessly,
"When holding Qing Jun, before Qing Jun even speaks, she knows she’s caught Qing Jun, not Sister."
The young girl nodded repeatedly:
"Yes, she... huh? huh?"