"Really?" Qing Jun looked at him skeptically.
"Of course it’s true."
Chen Ye took the opportunity to ruffle her hair again, then looked at Zhiwei standing nearby after sheathing her sword.
"Zhiwei, take good care of your junior sister and Junior Sister Lin. I’ll first go adjust my breathing and affairs, and after coming back from Dubhe Hall tomorrow, I’ll accompany you all properly."
"Yes, Master."
Zhiwei nodded, her gaze lingering for a moment on his somewhat weathered face, hesitating to speak.
In any case.
She would not let Luoli Courtyard become a burden for her master.
Even if master didn’t say it, she would take good care of Lin Jin, and wouldn’t let this girl become master’s worry.
...
The next day.
Dubhe Peak, Dubhe Hall.
This is the core of power in Lingyin Sect.
On usual days, only characters at the Peak Master level and above have the privilege to enter.
Chen Ye stood in front of the grand hall, adjusted his lapels, and couldn’t help but be somewhat nervous.
"Hmm... Actually, now within Lingyin Sect, being a Peak Master, I still hold some qualifications."
Chen Ye shook his head, letting go of those miscellaneous thoughts in his mind.
"Guardian Chen, Sect Master and True Inheritor Bai are waiting for you inside."
The disciple guarding the door bowed respectfully, gesturing an invitation.
Chen Ye nodded and stepped into the grand hall.
The hall was spacious and majestic, with several huge dragon pillars standing on both sides.
In the middle of the hall, a massive white jade table was placed.
Behind the table sat a middle-aged man in a purple-gold Taoist robe.
His face was lean, and he had long whiskers, kindly conversing with Bai Susu.
This was the Sect Master of Lingyin Sect, named Zhao Yan’en.
In his youth, he was unmatched, and seventy years ago was the most renowned young prodigy in Yan Kingdom. A Golden Core True Man once predicted he would surely become Golden Core one day.
Now, nearing a hundred years old, with Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer cultivation.
Below him to the left, casually sat Bai Susu, who yawned out of boredom, not caring about this famed figure.
And Sect Master Zhao awkwardly continued to find topics to talk about, not getting angry.
If Zhao Yan’en was a once-in-a-few-generations genius, then Bai Susu was the top prodigy seen once in several centuries, now just over twenty, already Foundation Establishment Sixth-Layer, just half a step away from Late Period Foundation Establishment.
Perhaps in twenty years, she’ll start preparing to break into Golden Core, and by then Zhao Yan’en could only breathe under her shadow.
Therefore, he never acted with airs before Bai Susu.
"I am Chen Ye, greetings to Sect Master and True Inheritor Bai."
Chen Ye walked to the center of the hall and bowed.
At this moment, Chen Ye realized there was a pretty little girl in the corner glaring at him with hatred.
"No need for ceremony."
Zhao Yan’en smiled amiably, his gaze falling on Chen Ye, praising,
"Although I have lived long on Dubhe Peak, I have heard of Guardian Chen’s exploits. Your performance in Moon Rhinoceros Lake District has been conveyed to me by the True Inheritor Bai. Very well, you did not tarnish the renown of my Lingyin Sect."
"Sect Master overpraises, I merely fulfilled my duties." Chen Ye said modestly.
"Hmph, fulfilling duties?"
The mischievous little bun finally began to act up, tears streaming down her face,
"Grandpa Zhao, don’t be deceived by him! At Black Cliff City, not only did he not rescue me immediately, but he also... humiliated me! And even... even wanted to throw me to the Demon Cultivators as a Furnace!"
She couldn’t care about anything else!
Zhang Chuxi didn’t believe that in front of Grandpa Zhao, Bai Susu would still be partial like this?
As soon these words were spoken, the atmosphere inside the grand hall became peculiar.
Zhao Yan’en’s smile slightly froze; he glanced at the pitiful-looking Zhang Chuxi and then at Chen Ye, who looked calm, and finally cast his gaze towards Bai Susu, seemingly asking her opinion.
This...
Zhang Chuxi was the treasured jewel of the Fourth Elder, and Chen Ye was someone recommended by Bai Susu.
Truly difficult to handle.
Especially Bai Susu, who acted willfully, and would flare up if slightly displeased, even Zhao Yan’en feared her greatly.
Not that he was a useless Sect Master.
Zhao Yan’en also felt helpless; he still had a long lifespan, and if he smoothly entered Core Formation, he’d be under Bai Susu for hundreds of years, might even witness Bai Susu achieve Nascent Soul Formation...
As for now, Bai Susu was still at Foundation Establishment Sixth-Layer, but she had an elder who was a Golden Core Elder.
"Heh..."
Bai Susu sneered, not even lifting her eyelids,
"Zhang Chuxi, you’ve gained quite the courage to bring complaints to the Sect Master here? What, my previous lesson wasn’t enough?"
Zhang Chuxi shuddered at these words, instinctively shrinking her neck, but remembering her grievances, she mustered the courage to say:
"Sister Bai, you can’t be so biased! Everything... I said was true! He really..."
"Enough."
Bai Susu impatiently interrupted her,
"Guardian Chen risked his life to save you, single-handedly killed several Demon Cultivators; everyone witnessed his merit. Not only do you not feel grateful, but you make false accusations, is this how Fourth Elder taught you?"
"I..." Zhang Chuxi was choked and couldn’t speak, tears welling in her eyes.
Chen Ye, with an unchanged expression, said calmly:
"True Inheritor knows discretion, the situation was urgent at that time, surrounded by Demon Cultivators. I had no choice but to act cautiously to avoid alerting them. As for the humiliation Miss Zhang spoke of... it was a performance by me to mislead others."
"You’re lying! How is there such a performance!"
Zhang Chuxi said angrily,
"You even hit me! And... and..."
At the end, her face flushed red, unable to continue.
She couldn’t possibly say Chen Ye bathed her, could she? What of her reputation then?
"And what?"
Bai Susu’s eyes narrowed slightly; she glanced at Chen Ye without expression, then snorted coldly,