"However, something seems to have happened in the Ninth Layer Heaven, a pillar of light shoots up, and the stone tablet shines brightly. The grand array outside is starting to loosen. But since there is a grand array, how did Bai Susu get inside?"
"If we wait for the grand array to loosen, then many cultivators with unpredictable intentions will rush in together, making it harder to handle. We must enter sooner..."
In his contemplation, Chen Ye discreetly glanced behind him.
He had already sensed someone was tracking him.
So he deliberately first let Hee Qi leave, while ambushing nearby, luring the stalker to come out.
But who could be following them?
Just then, a fierce gust of wind attacked from behind!
Such speed!
Chen Ye’s heart tightened, and he suddenly lowered his body, avoiding the sneak attack like a nimble cat!
He flipped his hand to strike back, forcing the intruder to retreat. Upon closer inspection, the intruder was a short-statured, black-robed person.
"Where did this dwarf come from?"
Chen Ye wondered. He signaled Hee Qi not to come out; this person’s cultivation was low, possibly just bait.
Unexpectedly,
Upon hearing the word ’dwarf’, the small figure froze, seemingly fixed in place by a spell.
She clenched her little fists, angrily throwing another punch.
She had previously spoken fiercely, but upon genuinely facing her master, she couldn’t bring herself to use any force or spiritual power.
Chen Ye raised his sword sheath to strike, containing his spiritual power and refraining from harm, merely aiming to force retreat.
The attacking "dwarf" had a small stature but responded quickly, facing the sword sheath without dodging, instead flinging open her arms like an annoyed kitten, rushing forward regardless, aiming directly at the wide hem of his black robe.
Chen Ye was slightly perplexed. Though the dwarf seemed aggressive, she had no intent to harm.
Just lightly punching him with her small, soft fists, hardly causing any damage.
Seeing his sword sheath swing down and her still stubbornly letting him hit...
With this thought, Chen Ye hurriedly withdrew the sword sheath, switching to a palm strike.
This gentle strike landed precisely on her shoulder.
"Um!"
A muffled sound of grievance rang out.
Chen Ye felt his palm’s touch was light and frail, pushing the small figure instantly off balance like a kite with a broken string, tumbling and rolling several times before stopping, raising a cloud of dust.
"Huh? She didn’t use any spiritual power at all?" Chen Ye was puzzled. Observing her figure and movements, and the sensation...why did it feel so familiar?
He instinctively relaxed his palm strength, but it was too late.
The small figure sitting disheveled on the ground had dust all over her black robe’s bottom edge, her hat tilted to the side, tears began falling down.
Chen Ye’s heart skipped a beat.
The small dwarf had evidently fallen hard. After much effort, she stood up from the ground, her little hands franticly dusting off.
Without lifting her head, she stomped firmly, cursing with a forcibly lowered yet slightly childish fierce voice:
"Big black fatty! You’re a big meanie!"
While speaking, she rubbed her sore little rear, having painfully landed hard.
Chen Ye: "..."
Yes.
This little fellow must be Qing Jun.
The familiar sensation suddenly had a source. It was her angry little demeanor, also her ever-hidden thoughts before her master.
Yet... Qing Jun was highly valued by the Xu Family.
Xu Henshan wouldn’t possibly let the little girl out alone; there must be guards following her, not to reveal her identity.
Chen Ye’s emotions surged, unable to stop sizing up the little girl.
The little girl stood upright in place, with tiny fists at her sides tightly clenched, displaying a stubborn demeanor.
He almost didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This little one tried to sneak and ambush, but her technique was inadequate, got pushed down with a palm, feeling frustrated and angry.
"Hey, kid."
Chen Ye was both amused and pained, maintaining his character,
"Walking without eyes? Ran into someone yet didn’t apologize and still acted fierce? Whose teaching is this?"
He spoke while discreetly scanning the surroundings.
Regrettably, even in this Grotto Heaven, the divine sense shielding applies to him.
Especially within this Eighth Layer Heaven, his divine sense struggled.
Thus, he hadn’t detected Qing Jun’s guards.
"You’re the kid!"
Tears welled in Qing Jun’s eyes under the hood. She breathed in, refusing to let more tears fall.
If master turned into ashes, she’d recognize him.
Yet standing right before her master, he didn’t recognize her...
Clearly, she adored her master! Yet her master didn’t like her, only her senior sister!
"You...you pushed me! You scolded me! You’re a bad person! A big meanie! I hate you the most!"
Brimming with grievance nearly exploding, she maintained a fierce facade, not being his disciple, who else could she be?
Both timid and likes to show off.
Chen Ye’s amusement swiftly dissipated; his little disciple was indeed suffering. Her current demeanor, clearly harboring countless grievances and longing, had nowhere to vent.
But, the act must go on.
"Tsk, where did this little girl come from, quite the temper." Chen Ye continued his role as an indifferent passerby, nodding at Qing Jun with his chin, "Such a young age, not much skill but big guts, daring to provoke strangers? Where are your guardians?"
"Guardians?"
At the mention of ’guardians’, Qing Jun couldn’t hold back her tears, cascading like a string of broken pearls.
"Boohoo...big meanie! I am the guardian! My...my master...boohoo...master doesn’t want me anymore! Wah..."
"..." Chen Ye completely lost it. The little one was genuinely heartbroken.