"The third day of the fifth month of the year 2115 of the Immortal Calendar.
I got a task to collect spiritual medicine from Heavenly Cloud Peak . One Moongrass piece can be exchanged for fifty spirit stones. I was very lucky today! I encountered a total of twelve plants on the mountain and exchanged them for six hundred spirit stones! Excluding the cost of renting the Spiritual Gathering Array, there are still three hundred and twenty-seven spirit stones left!
A few days ago, there was a sale for a Peace and Safety (安平-- An Ping) Talisman in the Jade Spring Pavilion in the market. Every time I hear the word peace, I think of Ye Anping. I couldn't help it, so I spent some of my savings to buy it, then hung it on his room door in the complex where he and Miss Xiao are living.
I hope Ye Anping can live a peaceful life like his name! Of course, the same goes for Sister Pei!"
The warm wind of early summer swept through a courtyard on the Heavenly Cloud Peak . The woman sitting by the window put the brush back on the pen holder on the table, closed the journal in front of her, straightened her chest, and raised her arms, stretching lazily.
"Woo~~~Oh..."
Bai Yuexin heaved a sigh and looked out the window.
In her eyes were the mountains hidden behind clouds, and the fragrance of the blooming summer flowers entered her nostrils.
Elder Lei did something wrong a while ago and was kicked to an unknown place by the Matriarch, so the Black Star Sect had been "peaceful" in the literal sense in the past few months.
What a pity that the Black Star Sect had its "peace and quiet", but her "peace and quiet" was not there.
"Has Anping forgotten about this elder sister of his? That brat..."
Bai Yuexin grumbled in dissatisfaction, but she felt helpless. Pei Lianxue had formed her core some time ago and told her that Ye Anping had also formed his core in the Hundred Lotus Sect.
Back then, when she first met Ye Anping, he was just a young cultivator at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining .
Now, in just over six years, the young man who used to help people with physiotherapy in the market had already faced the thunder tribulation of the Core Formation .
And what about her?
Six years ago, she had just entered the middle stage of the Foundation Building , and after six years of hard work, she had barely touched the door of the late stage of the Foundation Building . As for the Core Formation , it was even more distant.
What limited her was not her qualifications, but spirit stones and resources.
She was a cultivator with a single spiritual root, and she entered the Black Star Sect through the selection process. She was considered to be of average level among the disciples who entered at the same time.
However, she didn't have the help of a big family, and she wasn't particularly lucky, so she relied on completing daily tasks within the Black Star Sect, which was only a drop in the bucket. Even some time ago, when the flying sword she had used for five years broke, she was reluctant to send it for repair, so she just wrapped it with some gauze and continued to use it.
When Feng Yu Die mentioned that Ye Anping had helped her earn a lot of spirit stones, Bai Yuexin was very happy for a while, wondering if Ye Anping could take her with him.
But when she heard Feng Yu Die say that she had to kill a demonic cultivator and confront a Nascent Soul cultivator, she immediately gave up the idea.
She knew her own limitations. Unlike a genius like Feng Yu Die, she couldn't casually fight cultivators who were one or even several levels higher than her.
All she could do was to help Ye Anping clean the house, look after the store, and so on...
Of course, Bai Yuexin also thought about whether to borrow money from Ye Anping, but she immediately abandoned this idea.
To be honest, her kindness to Ye Anping was not to get benefits from him.
She just wanted to help and watch over Ye Anping as a sister.
Just like how Ye Anping comforted her like a younger brother six years ago, if he encountered any difficulties in the future, she would also comfort him like a sister!
Six years ago, Bai Yuexin was devastated by Pei Lianxue and Feng Yu Die's sword abilities during the sect entry selection.
She would not repeat the same mistake six years later!
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then patted her cheeks and stood up. "Okay! Don't be sentimental, Bai Yuexin. It's time to clean the yard. Sister Pei and the others are gone again, and the grass is overgrowing here."
With this pep talk, Bai Yuexin rolled up her sleeves and tied her cloud-patterned sleeves with a ribbon, then summoned her flying sword, heading toward the three-house compound on the mountainside.
The people living in these compounds were all the top ten disciples selected six years ago.
However, apart from Feng Yu Die and the gang, the highest cultivation level among them was only at the early stage of the Foundation Building .
Coming here often, Bai Yuexin had already gotten to know these disciples. As soon as she landed, she received several greetings. "Good afternoon, Sister Bai!"
Although these people knew that she came here to help Xiao Yunluo and Feng Yu Die clean the house, no one looked down on her for this, and sometimes they even offered to help her.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with these disciples, Bai Yuexin came to the gate of the compound where Xiao Yunluo and Ye Anping lived.
"Huu..."
Bai Yuexin exhaled deeply and took out a broom from her storage bag.
Even though she knew that Ye Anping couldn't be there, she still deliberately knocked on the door every time she came before opening the door.
Knock knock---
"Anping, are you there?"
"..."
Naturally, no one responded.
Somewhat helpless, Bai Yuexin took out the token Xiao Yunluo gave her from the storage bag.
However, before she could send her spiritual power into the token and open the restriction of the house...
Creak---
The door was opened from the inside.
A handsome young man appeared behind the door. He was wearing a green shirt and long boots, his black hair tied up and hanging on his back. On his face, there was a hint of surprise.
"Sister Bai, how did you know I was back?"
"..."
Bai Yuexin, holding the token high, directly froze in place, staring at Ye Anping's face as if she couldn't recognize him.
He was still as handsome as she remembered, but his temperament was completely different from before.
His dark purple eyes which used to have some coldness, now showed a little more warmth.
"Anping?"
"Well, sister, what's wrong?"
"Anping!!"
Bai Yuexin didn't hold back and rushed up to pull Ye Anping into a bear hug, her eyes tearing up. "Anping, I missed you so much!"
Ye Anping was a little surprised, but he came back to his senses soon and gently patted her back, comforting her. "Indeed, I haven't been back for a long time."
But the next moment, when he saw that Bai Yuexin was still in the middle stage of the Foundation Building , a trace of sadness appeared in his eyes.
Bai Yuexin was not the kind of cultivator loafing around all day long, and her aptitudes were not bad either. The only reason why her cultivation was stagnant now was the lack of resources.
Ye Anping also understood that this was not because the Black Star Sect was stingy, but simply because they could not take care of each disciple individually. He also had some impulse to help.
He was not short of spirit stones and resources now, so it was not a bad idea to give Bai Yuexin some...
Just as he was about to do so, Bai Yuexin slowly let go of him, took his hand, and ran quickly to the door of his bedroom. "Look at this... I bought it for you."
Ye Anping was a little confused. He followed her finger and noticed a circular crystal with spiritual jade hanging on the wooden door. This shape was generally called a Peace and Safety Talisman .
"Did you hang this here, sister?"
"Yes, I spent ten thousand spirit stones at Jade Spring Pavilion to buy it for you, to bless you with peace and safety, how is it? Do you like it?"
Ye Anping was silent for a moment, then took the crystal and hung it at his waist, smiling. "Yes, I like it. Thank you, sister."
When Bai Yuexin heard Ye Anping say that he liked it, she felt that her ten thousand spirit stones were not wasted. However, when she turned around to look at his face, she suddenly remembered that Feng Yu Die had said before that she had earned nearly one million spirit stones with Ye Anping!
Instantly, Bai Yuexin felt like a fool. She pursed her lips awkwardly, blushed, and asked hesitantly, "Anping, do you really like it?"
Ye Anping reacted fast and replied, "I really like it. The gift is small, but the intention counts. Since it's from my sister, how could I not like it?"
The gift is small... I saved up for a month and a half by scrimping and living frugally...
Bai Yuexin pursed her lips and didn't say anything. She changed the topic instead. "Anping, how many days are you staying in the Black Star Sect?"
"I'll be leaving soon. I just stopped by to have a look."
"Ah... Oh."
I also wanted to accompany you to visit the market. There are several interesting new shops in the market... Bai Yuexin nodded. "Where are you going?"
"To the Cold Country in the Northern Region . My sister went there for some reason. The Cold Country has been very dangerous recently, I have to rush over there."
"Yes, I also heard that the Eastern Region 's demonic cultivators have been on the move recently and are approaching the pass east of the Northern Region , but I don't know if it's true. Be careful on the road."
"I will."
"Then, go quickly. I will help you take care of the house while you are away. I will make sure that when you come back, you can move in directly without cleaning."
"...Alright."
Ye Anping looked at Bai Yuexin, feeling inexplicably sad. He was not that insensitive as to not understand anything, so he could naturally see that Bai Yuexin was feeling uncomfortable.
He wanted to give her some spirit stones and materials, but if he gave them now, she might feel even more uncomfortable.
After thinking for a while, he took out a box of snacks and a can of premium tea from the storage bag and pushed them into Bai Yuexin's hand. "Sister, can I ask you for a favor?"
Bai Yuexin was a little confused. She looked at the things in her hands and asked, "Just say what it is."
"There is a lush bamboo forest on the hillside of Moon Spring Peak . Just give this box of snacks and top-grade tea to the person living in the cave there."
"Isn't it a bamboo forest there?"
"Yes, there is a maze inside it. Miss Xiao's sister lives in it. If you tell my name, someone should take you in."
"...Miss Xiao has a younger sister?" Bai Yuexin looked puzzled. "I've been in the Black Star Sect for so many years, and I never heard that the Matriarch has two daughters."
"Well, I heard her say that she rarely came out of the cave before, and I only met her by chance."
"So... shall I go now?"
"Yeah."
Bai Yuexin paused for a moment but didn't think too much. She turned and ran to the courtyard with the snacks and tea leaves, summoned her flying sword, and then headed toward the mountainside of the Moon Spring Peak .
After seeing her leave, Ye Anping let out a long breath and smiled bitterly with a slight sense of helplessness. He took out the Peace and Safety Talisman , rubbing it in his hand for a few moments.
He came to the Black Star Sect, originally intending to meet Si Xuanji once and comfort her, but now it seemed that it was better for Bai Yuexin to go.
"Heh..."
At this time, Li Longling, who had been hiding in the house, came out with the Fire Phoenix, covered her mouth, and chuckled. "It is better to teach a man how to fish than to give him a fish. Master Ye handles matters very tactfully."
"I'm just repaying a favor." Ye Anping lowered his head and hung the Peace Talisman on his belt. "Sister Bai helped me a lot in the past, so I'm just repaying her a favor. Let's go on our way..."
"Okay."
Ye Anping summoned the divine traveling boat, stepped on it before pulling Li Longling up, then controlled the floating boat and took off.
The well-kept courtyard of the complex had returned to peace again...
...
Moon Spring Peak 's mountainside, in a cave in the bamboo forest.
In the waterside pavilion, Si Xuanji lazily lay on a rocking chair, her yin and yang eyes staring at the light traces drawn by the divine traveling boat in the sky. Bulging her cheeks, she sneered with dissatisfaction. "Ye Anping is really becoming more and more like that kid from the Yun family. When he was forming the core, he called me Master all the time, but he forgot about me right after finishing and didn't even come to visit me."
Behind her, Qiu Shuirou, who was helping her rock the chair, sighed. "Matriarch, but Master Ye doesn't know that you are actually Tianji. He hasn't even seen the face of the person he has been practicing dual cultivation with for the past two and a half years..."
"But he could come and visit Miss Xuanji, right? Miss Xuanji treats him very well, hmph!"
Si Xuanji crossed her arms and puffed her face, looking angry and fierce in a cute way.
Qiu Shuirou was a little helpless, but she was also glad in her heart that the Matriarch still had some morals left. When Ye Anping was forming the core, she used the identity of "Master Tianji".
Otherwise, if he knew that he messed around with Miss Xiao's mother, wouldn't he be traumatized?
At this time, a female voice suddenly came from outside the cave.
---"I am a disciple of the Heavenly Cloud Peak . The young master of the Hundred Lotus Sect asked me to deliver something here."
Hearing this, Si Xuanji raised her eyebrows and glanced toward the cave entrance. She was silent for a while before turning her head away. "Hmph! I can't believe he didn't come in person! I'm angry!"
"..." Qiu Shuirou asked helplessly, "Should I let her in?"
Si Xuanji thought for a while, then shook her head.
She remembered this disciple, Bai Yuexin.
When Ye Anping was first asked to look after her parrot, the parrot quarreled with Bai Yuexin every day, and Bai Yuexin even said "Which impolite disciple raised this thing..." .
Ye Anping knew her as the Second Lady of the Black Star Sect, and now he had sent Bai Yuexin to run errands for him.
The meaning was clear.
He simply wanted her to help Bai Yuexin.
Si Xuanji shook her head. "Just take what she brought. Then, tell her to go to the Heavenly Cloud Peak Thunder Sword Pavilion and help Old Man Liu organize the spirit swords within the pavilion."
"Eh? With Mr. Liu's personality, will he accept it?"
"If he dares not to accept it, he can go to accompany old man Lei! That Bai Yuexin is not smart enough and can't go far on the Immortal path, but she is honest. She should be able to make some decent achievements by forging swords."
"Understood."
Qiu Shuirou shook her head and sighed in her heart, seeing as the Matriarch treated Ye Anping like her own son.
In a flash, she disappeared from the pavilion.
After a while, she came back with the tea and snack boxes sent by Bai Yuexin. "Matriarch, Master Ye sent a can of premium tea and snacks."
Si Xuanji glanced at her, then turned around with a snort. "He already has Master Tianji, but he still sends gifts to Miss Xuanji! Is he trying to play a double game?"
?
Didn't you just complain about Master Ye not visiting Miss Xuanji?
Does it mean that Young Master Ye is wrong whether he gives you something or not?
Qiu Shuirou blinked, as she now understood.
Si Xuanji was simply uncomfortable.
As for why she felt uncomfortable, she didn't know.
However, one thing was certain. Ye Anping was indeed the person her master had treasured the most in the past thousand years.
It was the first time that Qiu Shuirou saw Si Xuanji being so nice to someone.
"Matriarch, why are you angry with Master Ye?"
Si Xuanji glanced at her and replied coldly, "Do I need a reason to be angry? Hmph!"
"..."
"Didn't play enough!! Didn't play enough!!"
Si Xuanji frowned and glared at the parrot in the sky.