Last night, Master mentioned that Qing Jun would be going to Baopu Peak to receive the inheritance.
But looking at the way Junior Sister acts, she seems to have forgotten.
The little girl frowned in thought, as if suddenly realizing, "Could it be that Master wants to take us out to play?"
Zhiwei glanced at Master,
Master sighed helplessly and had to break the little girl’s joyful illusion, "Didn’t Qing Jun promise yesterday? Today you have to go to Baopu Peak."
"What!"
Qing Jun’s little face immediately fell, her lips pouting,
"Can we go tomorrow instead, please?"
She unfolded her slender legs, ran to Chen Ye, lifted her delicate face, and began to act spoiled.
Qing Jun’s features already showed the outline that could one day enchant nations, and the slight pout of her petal-like lips was enough to soften the hardest of hearts.
"This girl, so young yet already possesses the charm to bring disaster to nations, who knows if it’s a blessing or a curse."
Chen Ye pondered in his heart, but firmly said,
"No. We’ve already promised Senior Xu, how can we go back on our word?"
"I don’t want to, I don’t want to, just don’t want to go!" Qing Jun insisted, "Without Master, Qing Jun will miss Master and will be bored!"
Chen Ye was angry; this little girl talked as if her promises meant nothing.
She clearly agreed yesterday, but today she’s changing her mind!
The little girl, while acting spoiled, sneaked glances at her Master, noticing his furrowed brows, realized she was in trouble.
How annoying!
Master used to pamper her so much... it’s definitely Lin Jin’s fault!
She swallowed and, with her hands behind her back, slowly paced away from Master, feigning nonchalance as she said:
"Fine, if we’re going, we’re going! Who’s afraid of whom!"
Chen Ye had long noticed his disciple’s little looks; this girl is cunning and always opportunistic.
Surely she’d been watching him, ready to continue her antics if he relented.
So, he responded with a light "Mm," cool and unyielding, turning to walk out of the courtyard.
"Let’s go."
"Hey? Master, wait for Qing Jun!"
Seeing Master actually leave, Qing Jun didn’t dare throw any more tantrums and quickly followed along.
Chen Ye summoned his Iron Sword, which grew in the wind.
He stepped onto the sword first, then turned back to extend his hand to Qing Jun, still standing on the ground.
Qing Jun obediently placed her small hand into her Master’s wide and warm palm, leveraging her strength for a light jump, landing gracefully in front of him.
She skillfully hugged her Master’s waist, pressing her little face against his firm back, peeking out only a small head to curiously observe the surroundings.
"Hold on tight."
Chen Ye reminded her, and with a thought, the Flying Sword became a green rainbow, soaring into the depths of the cloud sea towards the Twelve Peaks of the Inner Sect.
The Inner Sect of Lingyin Sect is the true core of the sect.
The twelve majestic immortal peaks float above the vast cloud sea like towering pillars, linked by rainbow bridges, creating a magnificent spectacle.
Some peaks are as sharp as swords, with sword qi everywhere; some peaks have surging spirit seas, vast and majestic...
Among these twelve peaks, nine each have a True Inheritor.
The remaining three peaks each have their own special features.
For instance, Baopu Peak, where Chen Ye is headed, is mostly inhabited by the descendants of the sect’s Great Cultivators, naturally without a True Inheritor.
It’s Qing Jun’s first time admiring the splendor of the Inner Sect so closely, both scared and curious, pressing her tender, soft body tightly against her Master’s, not daring to let go.
"Master... can you hold Qing Jun?"
The little girl’s legs trembled, staring at the vast cloud sea below, unable to stand firmly.
She was used to flying with Master in the air before, but this was too high!
Plus, Master wasn’t holding her... it must be because of Lin Jin! Now that Master has Lin Jin to hold, he doesn’t want to hold Qing Jun anymore, it’s definitely not because Master doesn’t like holding her!
Chen Ye snorted coldly: "Behave yourself! Do you think you’re a little girl? You could even get engaged in the mortal world. If your fellow disciples saw you being held at your age, wouldn’t it be a joke?"
Qing Jun squinted her eyes, grinding her teeth secretly: "Huh? But doesn’t Master like to hold Senior Sister?"
Uh...
It’s mainly because Zhiwei always looks so serious that Chen Ye couldn’t resist teasing her.
It was just a tease, how could it mean he liked holding her!
Moreover, Zhiwei doesn’t often allow herself to be held; the last time was in the Grotto Heaven.
Chen Ye reasoned confidently: "Master had no choice but to hold Senior Sister in the Grotto Heaven."
Qing Jun responded even more confidently: "Then can’t Master have no choice but to hold Qing Jun too! Like... for example, if Master doesn’t listen to Qing Jun, then Qing Jun will punish Master, so Master can only muster courage and hold Qing Jun!"
!
Chen Ye’s vision darkened, nearly falling from the sky.
Listen to what this girl is saying! Is that even human talk? What’s with the courage and shame...
"And," Qing Jun pressed on, rubbing her little face against her Master’s back, "since Master said Qing Jun could get engaged, why not let Qing Jun get engaged to Master! That way, Master could hold Qing Jun... ouch!"
The little girl’s head got a knock from Master, making her tremble in pain, hastily closing her small mouth with embarrassment.
Chen Ye retracted his hand silently, feeling only a sense of resignation.
He felt sending Qing Jun to Baopu Peak was his best decision.
Otherwise,
If Qing Jun continued to stay in Luoli Courtyard acting crazy, sooner or later, her little butt would suffer...
...
Baopu Peak.
This peak is unlike the other peaks, being gentle and smooth, with elegant and small pavilions and buildings amidst ancient and lush pines and cypress and peach forests in full bloom.
Clear streams trickled through the mountain, a few snow-white spirit deer leisurely drinking by the water’s edge, merely curious as the sword flew past, showing no fear.
Chen Ye’s gaze fell on the spirit deer, surprised that they were all spirit beasts at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
"In a certain sense, Baopu Peak is probably the strongest and best-conditioned ’school’ in the Yan Kingdom..."
Although the Yan Kingdom’s top sect is the Refining God Sect, this sect emphasizes hard practice. Their disciples undergo numerous tests from a young age, surviving harsh life-and-death battles, much more brutal than Lingyin Sect.
"It is said that True Man Ye was a complete ruthless person, having killed all her peers. However, after her recent tribulation crossing, she has gone missing..."
"But crossing the Nascent Soul Tribulation isn’t something done overnight. I remember she disappeared for ten years before forming her Nascent Soul."
Chen Ye, holding Qing Jun’s small hand, pondered quietly.
While his thoughts dwelled on the mysterious True Man Ye, the little one in his grasp was getting impatient.
"Master, look! That deer’s antlers are glowing!"
Qing Jun tugged at his sleeve, excitedly pointing to a snow-white spirit deer by the stream, its twin antlers emitting a gentle light.
Seeing his disciple’s joyful expression, Chen Ye felt gratified.
Qing Jun, after all, still had the innocence of a girl her age, not entirely bad.
Unexpectedly,
The little girl suddenly pinched her chin, serious in thought, "I heard some Foundation Cultivators can do seventy-two transformations, Master, can you learn some?"
Chen Ye’s pleased smile froze on his face, "Learn that for what?"
Qing Jun was indeed right. There were Foundation Establishment spells allowing cultivators to temporarily transform into various spirit and demon beasts.
The little girl’s eyes sparkled, "Because, aren’t the sect’s spirit beasts not supposed to be eaten? Master, am I not smart! Plus, wouldn’t Master heal quickly after getting hurt?"
Chen Ye’s face stiffened.
Darn, this girl is quite the rascal!
If they weren’t already at Baopu Peak, Chen Ye would have given her a good lesson.
He ignored the drooling little girl, holding her hand as they followed a child guide through the peach forest onto a jade-paved path, reaching a palace at the mid-mountain level.
Chen Ye led Qing Jun into the hall, seeing a spacious and bright hall with dozens of children around Qing Jun’s age sitting cross-legged on mats, listening to a white-haired instructor teaching.
This white-haired instructor seemed unremarkable, yet his cultivation reached the late Foundation Establishment!
Presumably, he was like Xu Henshan.
Near the end of their lifespan, unable to advance their cultivation, too old to engage in life-risking combat... so with leisure at hand, they might as well teach the sect’s next generation.
"Tsk, I thought people like this would be hiding in the sect’s back mountains in seclusion, waiting to reveal themselves in times of crisis..."
Chen Ye silently grumbled.