Full of lies, always sneaking glances at him—clearly provoking him!
He nodded: "In that case, why not arrange for Qing Jun and Zhang Chuxi to have a proper magical battle another day? Then we’ll know the truth of the matter."
Zhang Chuxi kept insisting that Qing Jun launched a sneak attack; otherwise, she wouldn’t have lost.
If Qing Jun wins in an open duel, it will disprove her claims... at least it will show she lied, and it will let Qing Jun vent.
Chen Ye didn’t intend to force Zhang Chuxi to apologize directly; that was truly unrealistic.
"Ridiculous, why should I listen to you?"
Aunt Lan, however, didn’t follow the usual playbook. She appeared angry, but suddenly an old man’s laughter was heard:
"Indeed, I think it’s a good idea. Qing Jun just arrived and should spar with her peers."
As the words fell, a mist rose up, and Xu Henshan quietly emerged from it.
His presence changed the atmosphere instantly.
"Well... this old man really values Qing Jun, a dignified Foundation Establishment Ninth-Layer cultivator, always minding her affairs."
Chen Ye silently complained, not expecting Xu Henshan to always play nanny for Qing Jun.
Though Qing Jun was hit earlier, most likely he allowed it to teach her a lesson.
This old man wasn’t as dotingly indulgent as he was.
"Xu... Peak Master Xu!"
Aunt Lan’s face changed dramatically, her earlier arrogance dissipated, pressing Zhang Chuxi down beside her.
Zhang Chuxi pouted and unwillingly saluted.
She disliked this old man, he scolded without regard to background—her palm had been smacked by him before!
And yet her mother seemed pleased with it...
Xu Henshan nodded and smiled, continuing: "Let the issue be resolved by a duel; it’s the fairest way. What, do you think my suggestion is inappropriate? I oversee Baopu Peak and won’t allow disciples to act recklessly!"
"Junior doesn’t dare!" Aunt Lan’s forehead brimmed with a layer of sweat.
Kidding?
Though she was with the Fourth Elder, she dared not openly contradict an Inner Sect Peak Master, especially one as senior as Xu Henshan.
If not for Xu Henshan returning to his family to recuperate, with his Foundation Establishment Peak cultivation and seniority, he would have been qualified for the fifth elder position.
"Since you don’t dare, then it’s settled. If my junior sister knew, she wouldn’t object either. Leave now, all of you."
Xu Henshan finalized the decision, left spiritedly, not worried Aunt Lan would change her mind.
And the junior sister he mentioned was now the Fourth Elder!
Despite Aunt Lan’s fear,
Zhang Chuxi wasn’t worried at all.
She had taken a beating from Qing Jun and was unwilling to let it stand, eager to fight back.
She clenched her little fist, unwilling to relent: "When the time comes, I’m going to teach her a lesson!"
...
Returning to Luoli Courtyard.
Chen Ye wasn’t worried about the upcoming magical battle; his only concern was that Qing Jun shouldn’t go too hard on them.
"Tsk, tsk, that little girl lies without a hint of guilt."
He patted his disciple’s silver hair, bad-mouthing Zhang Chuxi.
His disciple had suffered today, naturally deserving a comforting embrace.
The earlier quarrel seemed to have exhausted the little girl’s energy, coupled with the fighting in the secret realm, leaving her drowsy in her master’s arms, soft as a fragrant cloud.
"Qing Jun thought Master might say Qing Jun was lying!"
Qing Jun mumbled, her little head rubbing against her master’s chest.
Who made Master always think she was disobedient and naughty?
As if he didn’t trust her...
She had been worried Master would make her apologize directly.
Thinking of that, she glared at her master, threatening: "So, from now on, Master should think Qing Jun is the best, or else Qing Jun might worry that Master will support others!"
Chen Ye chuckled helplessly; this girl was just taking advantage of the situation.
But,
his disciple was slender and delicate, surprisingly light in his embrace.
Her head rested on his shoulder, one small hand unconsciously clenching his chest garment, like a young cub seeking shelter.
Seeing this utterly dependent and tender demeanor, Chen Ye sighed inwardly:
It’s over, he could never escape this girl’s grasp in this lifetime.
The old man sure was right; he tended to spoil them...
No matter!
After all, his disciple would become a major protagonist, she would soar even if spoiled!
Chen Ye gritted his teeth and held his apprentice’s warm little hand tighter:
"Hmm!"
Seeing Qing Jun already drowsy, Chen Ye called Lin Qiongyu over to take care of Qing Jun.
Speaking of which,
he hadn’t seen Lin Qiongyu much recently; she used to be busy around the courtyard, but lately, she seemed to always be outside.
Chen Ye, considering Lin Qiongyu just became an Outer Sect disciple of the Lingyin Sect, didn’t reprimand much, only advising:
"You should stay in the courtyard more often. Your sister still needs care, especially at night when Qing Jun returns from Baopu Peak, she needs attending."
The dark-haired girl panicked: "Qiongyu was just thinking of taking sect missions to earn some Spirit Stones... I’ll be more careful in the future."
Zhiwei glanced at Lin Qiongyu and added: "Master, now that Jin’er is better, no need for constant care. Besides, Sister Lin is here every night, very dutiful."
Though she didn’t like Lin Qiongyu, she understood.
Not everyone could be as happy as she was, just sitting with the master all day for cultivation.
Besides, having Lin Qiongyu outside was better.
Fewer people around Master.
Seeing Zhiwei speaking for Lin Qiongyu, Chen Ye didn’t press the matter, just realizing Lin Qiongyu seemed different lately, he subtly reminded her.
"Hopefully she doesn’t get cocky as an Outer Sect disciple..."
Chen Ye mused as he watched Lin Qiongyu’s retreating figure.
He recalled that this month Lin Qiongyu had been quite popular among Herb Peak disciples.
With her fair skin and beauty, and her sister being a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s disciple, she was naturally favored.
Zhiwei pondered: "Sister Lin did recently make friends with several female disciples from Herb Peak. But she is very attentive in taking care of Qing Jun."
"Even if she had ten guts, she wouldn’t dare mess with me."
Chen Ye gathered his thoughts, a slightly serious expression crossed his face,
"Still, perhaps in a few days, the sect might send me out; this Herb Peak won’t be a long stay."
Though he’d been refining pills on Danxia Peak recently, that was just a sect duty he chose—essentially a side job.
He was still a Guardian of Herb Peak, and the sect would eventually assign him external tasks.
"Leaving the sect? But Qing Jun is still cultivating in Baopu Peak... and Master just left the grotto two months ago, why so soon?"
Zhiwei was surprised, a frown emerging, and she had a bad feeling.
If something out of the ordinary happened, strange things were afoot!
"Recently, demon beasts have appeared in Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, clashing with the Herb Pavilion, gravely injuring the guarding Guardian, and causing significant losses to the Herb Pavilion. Someone needs to take over his position."
Chen Ye never hid anything from Zhiwei, explaining the situation immediately.
"In the Outer Sect, Herb Peak has seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, ranking among the top of the Thirty-six Peaks, but the Herb Pavilion is a vital part of Lingyin’s affairs with branches in every district of the Yan Kingdom. Manpower has always been tight..."