Chapter - 21
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Originally, Qiao Han planned to visit the Qingyun Sect disciples to check on their situation.
However, from a distance, he saw the annoying Jiang Qiluo. Just as he was about to be happy for having altered the plot after dealing with a major problem, that familiar face, which looked like he owed him hundreds of spirit stones came into view.
Fine, those hundreds of spirit stones were indeed related to him. The painful part was that it also caused the protagonist to sacrifice 100 top-grade spirit stones. Qiao Han couldn't help but wonder if that guy Jiang Qiluo would ever pay him back.
Qiao Han paused for a moment. Although he didn’t feel he had done anything wrong, the eight emotional points really hit him hard. He decided first to apologize to the protagonist and show goodwill, hopefully brushing this incident aside quickly.
Xiao Jiuci also noticed Jiang Qiluo’s unfriendly expression. Feeling the hesitation of the person behind him, he stopped and turned to look at Qiao Han.
Qiao Han gathered his courage and spoke:
"Big Brother Xiao, what happened earlier with your junior brother was my fault. I’m sorry, I—"
Before Qiao Han could finish, Xiao Jiuci, rarely impolite, interrupted him:
“Why apologize? You didn’t do anything wrong. If you’ve made a decision, you should stand firm in it. You taught him a sufficient lesson, and the punishment wasn’t overly severe. It will teach him to be more cautious in the future, better than letting him be bullied by outsiders later.”
Qiao Han was stunned. He looked up at Xiao Jiuci in disbelief, only to see the man’s lips curled into a gentle smile. His words remained courteous and refined, carrying a sense of care and approval.
“The most important thing is that he provoked you first. The fault lies solely with him,” Xiao Jiuci continued, sounding like a patient elder brother explaining reasoning to a child. His gaze exuded warmth as if effortlessly resolving conflicts.
Qiao Han was dumbfounded. “You’re not angry?” He couldn’t possibly have misread the situation, right?
Xiao Jiuci seemed to notice Qiao Han’s concern and smiled as he said, “I’m not angry with you.”
Qiao Han was astonished and immediately called out to the system, demanding an explanation.
System: "The emotional fluctuations generated by your tasks aren’t necessarily directed at you. They can also come from others’ emotional shifts, and they’ll still count toward collection."
Qiao Han was overjoyed. He had always assumed the emotional points were solely tied to him. He hadn’t expected they could also come from others. This meant the protagonist truly wasn’t angry with him.
As expected, Xiao Jiuci is fair and impartial, dealing with matters rationally, and never showing favoritism. Truly worthy of admiration.
Seeing the smile finally appear on Qiao Han’s face, Xiao Jiuci noticed it was like a moment of joy after a near escape. His eyes curved into lively crescents, resembling the first light of dawn—warm and bright.
Was he really that afraid of him being angry?
Their pause, however, made Jiang Qiluo impatient. He ran over, shouting, “Senior Brother!”
Jiang Qiluo was extremely dissatisfied with how Xiao Jiuci had been holding Qiao Han the entire time during the earlier battle. He felt as if his senior brother had been protecting someone completely irrelevant, almost like half of his elder brother had been taken away. On top of that, there were so many people watching, and many of them were asking questions about it. It was so humiliating.
When Jiang Qiluo came over, he first shot a glare at Qiao Han before turning to Xiao Jiuci and saying, “Senior Brother, he didn’t drag you down just now, did he?”
Now that Qiao Han was aware of Xiao Jiuci’s attitude, he certainly wouldn’t let Jiang Qiluo off easily. If Jiang dared to glare at him, Qiao Han would return it with an eye roll. What could he say? His temperament wasn’t exactly noble, he thrived on matching strength with strength.
Xiao Jiuci withdrew his smile and gave Jiang Qiluo a sharp glance, instantly silencing him. Jiang Qiluo stammered, “Senior Brother, I was just worried about you.”
Xiao Jiuci didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he turned to Qiao Han and said, “You go over there first.”
Qiao Han understood that Xiao Jiuci wanted to have a private conversation with Jiang Qiluo, so he went to join Jiang Yin and the others. Once gathered, the group immediately started boasting about the thrilling events that had just transpired.
Jiang Qiluo’s gaze followed Qiao Han as he left. He couldn’t understand—why did the people of Puxian Peak seem so close to Qiao Han now?
Once only the two of them were left, Jiang Qiluo became anxious. “Senior Brother, are you angry with me?”
Xiao Jiuci’s expression remained calm, making it hard to discern his emotions. His eyes darkened slightly as he asked, “Do you realize what you did wrong?”
“I... I was just testing his character. I didn’t think he’d go so far...”
“It seems you’re still showing no regret for your wrongdoings.” Xiao Jiuci’s tone turned indifferent, as though shrouded by some emotion.
Jiang Qiluo’s breath hitched. He felt that his senior brother was being unfair and wanted to argue.
But before he could, Xiao Jiuci cut him off coldly:
“Back in the shop earlier, if I hadn’t shown up, just how far were you planning to go as a Foundation Establishment cultivator against Qiao Han, who’s only at the Qi Refinement stage?”
The moment those words landed, Jiang Qiluo’s back went cold. He belatedly recalled the situation earlier.
Indeed, the moment that made Xiao Jiuci’s expression darken had been when Jiang Qiluo gathered spiritual energy in his hand, ready to strike at Qiao Han, who was completely defenseless at the time.
Had he really attacked, Qiao Han would have undoubtedly been gravely injured.
What had started as a typical provocation and retaliation would have taken on an entirely different meaning. Especially considering the vast disparity in cultivation levels, it would’ve been an act of outright bullying.
Xiao Jiuci hadn’t expected Jiang Qiluo to let his anger drive him to such lengths. How could he not be furious, seeing the junior brother he had raised turn out like this?
Xiao Jiuci’s words left Jiang Qiluo trembling with fear. Only now did he truly grasp the severity of his actions. He had merely intended to intimidate Qiao Han, believing him to be just as malicious and cunning as his sister and Senior Sister Ou Zanrui had described. In his impulsiveness, he had acted without considering the consequences.
Having been called out, Jiang Qiluo immediately felt guilty and couldn’t muster the courage to argue anymore. “Senior Brother, I... I was wrong.”
Xiao Jiuci observed Jiang Qiluo’s expression. Only after confirming that he seemed genuinely remorseful did Xiao Jiuci withdraw his intimidating gaze.
“I didn’t tell Qiao Han about this, nor did I ask you to apologize to him. It’s not because I’m favoring you but because I don’t want Qiao Han to hold any grudges against you in the future while cultivating in Qingyun Sect. Let’s end it here. I hope you truly reflect on this and don’t make the same mistake again.”
“I understand, Senior Brother.” Jiang Qiluo was thoroughly subdued.
Seeing his junior brother hanging his head in dejection, Xiao Jiuci sighed softly, then gently patted Jiang Qiluo’s head. His tone softened with a hint of warmth as he said, “To understand someone, you must start with goodwill. Don’t judge based on hearsay or preconceived notions.”
Jiang Qiluo nodded obediently.
As they were talking, Lu Zhui arrived with people from the Lingbao Sect.
Because Xiao Jiuci and Lu Zhui had helped the Lingbao Sect fend off a powerful enemy, the Lingbao Sect had come to express their gratitude and invited them to the pavilion, offering gifts of appreciation specifically magical artifacts.
Jiang Qiluo’s curiosity was piqued. A gift personally delivered by the Lingbao Sect had to be of the finest quality.
Xiao Jiuci considered for a moment before asking the visitors, “May I bring someone along?”
The people from the Lingbao Sect replied immediately, “Of course, there’s no problem.”
Hearing this, Jiang Qiluo’s eyes lit up with anticipation. Naturally, in moments of good fortune, his senior brother would think of him first. Perhaps he’d even receive one of the gifts.
But to his dismay, Xiao Jiuci waved to someone in the distance. “Qiao Han, come over here.”
Jiang Qiluo’s expression instantly froze. An overwhelming feeling of discomfort and awkwardness crept over him like ants crawling all over his body. He couldn’t help but clench his teeth.
Despite Jiang Qiluo’s jealous and resentful expression, Xiao Jiuci left with Qiao Han, following the Lingbao Sect people.
Qiao Han, knowing the plot’s developments, hadn’t expected Xiao Jiuci to invite him to join.
As they arrived at the pavilion’s room, it was brightly lit, and a faint sandalwood fragrance lingered in the air.
Several elders from different sects were gathered, and engaged in conversation. At the front, a stern-looking middle-aged man sat on a long couch, scolding a young man.
The young man being reprimanded was none other than the odd vendor Qiao Han had encountered earlier. Qiao Han had already deduced his identity: Wu Hao, the incompetent son of the Lingbao Sect’s sect master.
At this moment, Wu Hao appeared dejected, enduring his elder’s lecture. However, upon noticing their arrival, his eyes lit up.
Standing not far from Wu Hao was the only woman present in the room.
As soon as Qiao Han entered, his gaze lingered on her. Her bronze skin glowed with a healthy sheen, her sculpted figure exuding a stunning, wild beauty. She stood proud and confident, her head held high as she regarded them. This was none other than He Tong, the senior sister of the Lingbao Sect.
The male lead’s life was fraught with hardships. Many women who adored him crossed his path, but none ever found lasting happiness with him.
He Tong is one of them. She likes the male lead and secretly gave him a protective talisman that she personally forged when he was in trouble, saving him several times when he had no cultivation abilities. However, she did not follow him because, in her view, the male lead had no future, and she still had the responsibilities of her sect to bear. She could not abandon everything for love and run away with him.
Moreover, the male lead did not have feelings for her, so she was naturally unwilling to risk everything for a relationship. Her feelings for him were genuine, but she was also rational. The piece of work she was most proud of, the talisman, carried all her youthful emotions, and that was enough for Qiao Han to appreciate her.
While reading, Qiao Han had hoped that a good woman would accompany the male lead, but he fully accepted He Tong's choice. However, things were different now. Qiao Han thought that if he could change the male lead's fate, then perhaps this woman could be considered for the role of sister-in-law.
Of course, Qiao Han still ships the main couple with his original sister, Qiao Wan, but it didn't hurt to entertain the thought for a moment. After all, in the cultivation world, the male lead was such an excellent and respectful figure; having more beautiful wives wouldn't be a crime, right?
Qiao Han also remembered that the second male lead, Qin Xiu Zhong, had many wives later on, and he followed a "either endure it or leave it" principle as a "sea king" with his wives, yet he still had many women by his side. So why couldn't the male lead have the same?
If the male lead weren't manipulated by fate, if he had wives, no matter how many, he would definitely treat them sincerely, ensuring they all had a happy life.
However, based on what Qiao Han knew about the male lead if he really had a Dao companion, he would probably strictly uphold moral conduct and not give any other women who admired him a chance unless the plot forced him to take on a harem.
Finally, having encountered a female supporting character from the original story, Qiao Han couldn't help but let his mind wander, imagining the beautiful future of the male lead. Suddenly, a fragrance wafted by, snapping him out of his thoughts.
When Qiao Han looked up, He Tong was already standing before him, her eyebrows raised, scanning him with an annoyed expression. "What are you staring at me for? Never seen a beauty before?"
Qiao Han was instantly embarrassed, realizing that he had been staring at her while lost in thought, inadvertently offending her.
He quickly forced a smile. "I've never seen anyone like you."
He Tong snorted. "Oh? And what am I like?"
Remembering the original description, Qiao Han replied, "Like a freshly forged spiritual sword both exquisite and dangerous."
The moment he said this, everyone was stunned, and then they burst into laughter. Even He Tong, who had been preparing to trouble him, couldn't help but smile, as the description was perfect for her as a weapon refiner.
"Kid, your mouth is pretty sweet."
Qiao Han sighed in relief and instinctively glanced at Xiao Jiuci.
Xiao Jiuci looked at him in surprise, clearly not expecting him to be so good at complimenting women. However, he was more curious about why Qiao Han had been staring at He Tong. Did he really think she was beautiful?
He Tong turned to Xiao Jiuci. "Aren't you going to introduce him?"
Xiao Jiuci answered, "This is Qiao Han, my dao companion."
He Tong immediately asked, "Your?"
Xiao Jiuci hesitated for a moment and was about to speak, but Qiao Han decisively cut in, "Yes"
He Tong looked at him with a strange expression, growing more curious about Qiao Han.
At that moment, Lu Zhui appeared and said, "Ah, you two haven't held a proper ceremony yet, so your status isn't official. How are you supposed to introduce him directly like that?!"
Qiao Han turned to look at Lu Zhui, who winked at him with a "I understand, bro" expression.
Xiao Jiuci was embarrassed, and Qiao Han turned back to look at Lu Zhui, wanting to use his toes to dig a Mariana Trench for him.
The male lead had never explained the situation to Lu Zhui, likely because he was afraid of his big mouth.
He Tong let out a disappointed hum.
After the introductions, everyone in the room probably had a clearer idea of who Qiao Han was. It was understandable that he had come with Xiao Jiuci.
After exchanging pleasantries, the sect leader of the Lingbao Sect got straight to the point, saying, “I am grateful for your help with today’s crisis. I have prepared some gifts as thanks, and I hope my two esteemed juniors will accept them. He Tong, you arrange the selection.”
He Tong stepped forward and said, “Take whatever you like, but whether you pick something good depends on your own skill.”
As she spoke, He Tong pointed to a door on the wall. The door appeared to be embedded in the wall, emitting powerful spiritual energy. It was clearly a powerful spatial magic tool.
Qiao Han understood that this was the Lingbao Pavilion described in the original text. The space it opened could store many things, and even people could briefly enter and exit.
He Tong opened the door, and immediately, a strong wave of spiritual energy poured out. It was clear that most of the contents were spirit tools of the Xuan level.
“Wow, is this the legendary Lingbao Pavilion of the Lingbao Sect? I’ve heard that all the finest works are stored here, and we can pick freely?” Lu Zhui looked around curiously.
He Tong replied, “Naturally, but you can only pick one item, while Xiao Jiuci can pick three.”
“Ah, should I politely be jealous?” Lu Zhui joked.
“That depends on how much effort you put in,” He Tong retorted. “Besides, Xiao Jiuci defeated most of the demon tribes, and he even saved our young master.”
Hearing this, Qiao Han looked up and saw Wu Hao step forward to express his gratitude, with Xiao Jiuci nodding politely.
Qiao Han almost laughed. In the original story, it was He Tong who was saved, so how did Wu Hao get involved in this “hero saving the beauty” moment?
But these small details weren’t important. What followed, the selection of spirit tools, went as it did in the original. First, Lu Zhui picked a wristband that enhanced wind-based spiritual power, and he seemed very satisfied with his choice.
Now it was Xiao Jiuci's turn, and Qiao Han felt a bit anxious. He couldn’t think of a good reason to say something, yet he couldn’t help but feel the need to speak.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jiuci suddenly turned to He Tong and asked, “Can I transfer my chance to someone else?”
Everyone froze.
He Tong immediately turned her gaze to Qiao Han. “To him?”
Before Qiao Han could react, he saw Xiao Jiuci nodding without hesitation.
He Tong’s expression shifted slightly, feeling a touch of envy. “You’re his benefactor, so it’s up to you. But really, if you’re going to waste this valuable opportunity, why not let him choose? You can pick two more items.”
“No, give him all three. He’s about to enter the Qinglian realm, maybe he’ll find something useful.” Xiao Jiuci smiled gently.
He Tong was speechless. She looked at Qiao Han. “Go ahead, pick.”
Qiao Han was stunned. “Me?!”
Xiao Jiuci nonchalantly replied, “You’ve changed your cultivation direction, and most of the tools you brought from home are probably useless now. Take the opportunity to choose a few useful ones. Even if you can’t use them right now, you’ll need them in the future. Remember, pick protective tools first.”
Qiao Han’s eyes widened, but then Xiao Jiuci suddenly leaned down, whispering in his ear with a clear and pleasant voice, “And let’s not forget, you played a huge part in driving away Yin Lou, didn’t you?”
The soft and pleasant voice tickled his ears, and Qiao Han remembered the embarrassing situation earlier. He hadn’t realized that Xiao Jiuci knew it was him. He instantly felt flustered.
But then he thought, wait… isn’t this a good opportunity?
Qiao Han narrowed his eyes, then stepped forward with confidence. “Well then, I’ll accept the offer.”
He Tong felt that Qiao Han was taking advantage of the situation and replied, “Go ahead.”
But Qiao Han didn’t rush in. Instead, he asked, “I’m not as good at identifying as Brother Xiao, can I ask someone else for help?”
He Tong hadn’t expected Qiao Han to be so shameless, pushing his luck. “We have a rule. Outsiders who enter the Lingbao Pavilion can’t bring anyone with them, only by themselves.”
“Well then, can I ask someone from your Lingbao Sect for help?” Qiao Han pressed.
He Tong raised an eyebrow and smirked. “I won’t help you.”
Qiao Han turned toward Wu Hao, who was watching the situation unfold, and asked, “Can I ask Daoist Wu for help?”
Wu Hao caught off guard, was about to refuse, but then he heard the surrounding laughter. The sound was clearly mocking, and even He Tong had a strange expression on her face. Wu Hao was the least talented artificer here; he hadn’t made a single decent artifact. He wasn’t a good judge either. To put it bluntly, asking Wu Hao for help was no better than guessing blindly.
However, Wu Hao was the sect leader’s son, so they couldn’t openly express their disdain, only showing subtle derision in their laughter.
“Forget it. I’m not sure about the quality of the tools in there, and my cultivation is still low.” It seemed like the previously enthusiastic young man had suddenly become more reserved.
Qiao Han seemed unaware that he had chosen the wrong person, enthusiastically saying, "We met before, it's fate. Anyway, Brother Xiao gave me the opportunity, so you can accompany me inside. It will give me the chance to carefully select things."
Wu Hao hesitated, but He Tong pushed him and said, "Since Daoist Qiao is so kind, you should accompany him. But I must warn you upfront, if my junior can't help, don't complain later."
"Absolutely not," Qiao Han firmly replied.
With that, the two of them entered.
As soon as they entered the Lingbao Pavilion, Qiao Han was stunned by the vast array of magic tools. The walls around them seemed to be made of clouds, with shelves stretching endlessly upwards, filled with countless different magical items.
Qiao Han was relieved that he had shamelessly asked for help, otherwise, he would have been overwhelmed by the sheer variety and had trouble choosing.
"Daoist Qiao, what... what are you looking for?" Wu Hao hesitated, "Actually, I'm not very good at..."
Qiao Han looked at Wu Hao and smiled, "Aren't you good at this? You helped me identify the Baiyun Fan earlier. I actually had one but couldn't spot the issue myself. I'd say your identifying skills are probably better than those of many outside."
The fifteen-year-old boy's eyes widened in surprise. This was the first time someone had recognized his abilities, and he stuttered, "I... I..."
While looking at the magic tools, Qiao Han continued, "Your tools, though I've never seen them before, all look exquisite. Your ideas are unique and far better than the usual ones. You'll definitely create top-tier magical items in the future."
"Brother Qiao... you're my true friend!" The boy suddenly regained his energetic personality, as if a seal had been broken. "Do you really think that?"
Qiao Han smiled and nodded.
Of course, the plot had gifted him the ability to recognize talent.
Wu Hao was indeed going to be a background character, a cannon fodder who would die early, but not before leaving behind a powerful magical tool. It was a puppet mechanism powered by spiritual energy that could fight against any level of opponent as long as there was enough spiritual power. It became one of Lingbao Sect’s most formidable guardians, saving them from many crises. However, Wu Hao never knew the full extent of his creations, which would later become legendary. Perhaps this was the true tragedy of a genius.
Qiao Han flattered Wu Hao so much that the boy was completely stunned, eventually saying, "I'll find you whatever magic tool you want."
Qiao Han smiled faintly, very good.
Meanwhile, outside, He Tong, who was watching, said with schadenfreude to Xiao Jiuci, "You're going to regret this."
Xiao Jiuci smiled faintly, "Even if he doesn't choose well, it's fine. At least he'll get to see so many tools. It will help improve his identification skills; think of it as experience."
He Tong was speechless, not expecting such a good opportunity to be given to Qiao Han as mere practice.
Lu Zhui joined them, smiling, "He is spoiling him. Are you jealous?"
"Piss off," He Tong said irritably.
Xiao Jiuci ignored them and casually looked around. He had let Qiao Han go in partly to make amends for Jiang Qiluo, so he didn’t think much of it.
Suddenly, Xiao Jiuci’s gaze fixed on a young elder.
The elder, noticing Xiao Jiuci’s gaze, immediately shifted his eyes nervously.
Xiao Jiuci slowly withdrew his gaze.
After a while, the door of the Lingbao Pavilion finally opened, and Qiao Han came out holding three boxes, his lips twitching as he struggled to suppress a smile.
"Picked what you wanted? What are they?" He Tong asked.
Qiao Han smiled, "Just three items, no more, no less." He then stored the boxes in his bag, signaling that he didn’t want to reveal what they were.
There were so many things inside the pavilion that it would take some time to inventory everything. He Tong didn’t think much of it; he could always ask Wu Hao later. By the way, why hadn’t the boy come out yet?
"Heh, maybe he’s unsure if the tools are good enough and is afraid of embarrassing himself in front of everyone, since Xiao Jiuci gave him such a great opportunity," He Tong sarcastically commented.
Qiao Han didn’t deny it and walked up to Xiao Jiuci, giving him a signal with his eyes to hurry up.
Xiao Jiuci didn’t understand but complied, leaving with Lu Zhui.
He Tong was about to see them off when Xiao Jiuci suddenly pointed at one of the younger elders and said, "Can this elder escort us? I have something to ask."
He Tong was puzzled, but half of the elders present seemed to have changed expression upon hearing this.
The young elder, sweating nervously, was about to refuse when the Sect Master of Lingbao spoke up, "Go with them."
The young elder froze and could only follow reluctantly.
Qiao Han, full of excitement, walked ahead, thinking Xiao Jiuci really had something to discuss, while Lu Zhui grew more suspicious.
As they reached the exit of the building, Xiao Jiuci suddenly stopped and said to the elder, "No need to trouble you anymore. We’re fine from here."
The young elder was left dumbfounded. Was that it? What was the point of bringing him out?
Perhaps he had overthought it. Maybe Xiao Jiuci hadn’t suspected anything or, if he had, didn’t dare to pursue the matter. It seemed like a warning.
The young elder’s thoughts began to swell, and he felt that Xiao Jiuci, known as the top figure of the younger generation, was nothing but a soft target. Just as he was about to show off his seniority, a sudden chill spread through him.
Looking up, he saw Xiao Jiuci turning around, his eyes radiating a chilling cold. In that instant, an ice frost quickly spread from Xiao Jiuci’s feet, covering the ground like a giant icy serpent, rapidly crawling up to the elder's legs, freezing him in place. Before he could even cry out, the ice reached him fully, sealing him completely.
At that moment, the sharp pain and freezing sensation made the young elder think that Xiao Jiuci was going to kill him.
Just after a few breaths, when the young elder instinctively began to reflect on his life, the cold and lifeless feeling suddenly shattered, splitting into countless deep blue ice crystals, like a suspended starry river, scattering and releasing the vitality that had been frozen.
From death to life, as he regained his senses, the young elder looked down to find that all his magical tools had been frozen and lost their spiritual energy, none of them spared.
The young elder dared not even breathe, completely shocked. He raised his head, and in front of him was still Qiao Han, walking briskly, seemingly unaware. Lu Zhui tilted his head, as though speaking to Xiao Jiuci.
Xiao Jiuci wore a faint smile as if everything happening behind him had nothing to do with him.
The life-and-death moment earlier had been so fast that almost no one noticed. Even if someone did, they would only have sensed a flash of overwhelming ice-element spiritual power.
The young elder's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground. The leader of the younger generation, truly... not something to be taken lightly.
Up ahead, Lu Zhui asked strangely, “What happened? Although the other side’s cultivation isn’t on your level, he is an elder of the Lingbao Sect. Why did you make a move against him?”
“To give him a warning,” Xiao Jiuci replied calmly. “He was the one behind the hidden weapon that attacked Yin Lou.”
Lu Zhui furrowed his brow. “Wasn’t he helping you?”
“No,” Xiao Jiuci said. “He was framing me.”
Lu Zhui was quick to catch on, and as soon as Xiao Jiuci hinted, he immediately understood. “Damn, that’s some shady sect. They can’t even handle the attacks from the Spirit Monkey Clan, yet they want to shift the blame?! I knew their sudden generosity in offering us magical tools was suspicious. It turns out they were feeling guilty!”
The battle had mainly been fought by Xiao Jiuci and Lu Zhui, representing the Qingyun Sect and the Yuxu Sect.
As long as the young master of the Spirit Monkey Clan, Yin Lou, died while facing Xiao Jiuci, the Spirit Monkey Clan would shift their focus, targeting either Xiao Jiuci or Qingyun Sect.
The Spirit Treasure Sect felt that the Qingyun Sect, being a major sect, would be easier to deal with in the face of the Spirit Monkey Clan, so they had no qualms about transferring the hatred.
“Don’t tell me He Tong was involved too,” Lu Zhui said with some disappointment.
“Only the Sect Leader and a few elders, I believe,” Xiao Jiuci replied.
“You’re not going to pursue it?”
“There’s no evidence to prove they were acting together against us, so we can’t turn things around. Between sects, it’s better to leave some things unclear; we’ll need to maintain relationships for future dealings.” Xiao Jiuci said lightly. “Besides, I’ve already taught them a lesson, making it clear that I’m not someone who doesn’t know anything.”
Lu Zhui grumbled, “Why didn’t you tell me? You went behind my back and took action. I was one of the candidates they calculated against too. I also wanted to beat someone.”
“Even if it was subtle, it was still a conflict. One person is enough; no need to drag you into it,” Xiao Jiuci explained.
Lu Zhui clicked his tongue and shot Xiao Jiuci a reproachful look. “You... When are you going to think about yourself? You nearly became the fool. The lesson you just gave him was probably to protect Qingyun Sect’s face, wasn’t it? You didn’t want me to share the trouble with you, thinking of everything except yourself. With your personality, what can I say? If you don’t think about yourself, who will?”
Before Xiao Jiuci could respond, a familiar voice of a woman shouting angrily came from the upper floor.
It was He Tong’s voice. Before they could process what had happened, they saw Qiao Han immediately turn around and pull them along, urging them to run.
The two of them were dragged to the exit, and under the urging, they flew off on their swords.
“Come on, admit it, did you cause some trouble?” Lu Zhui asked in surprise.
Qiao Han innocently replied, "I just picked up some good things. I thought they would care, maybe they’ll shamelessly try to take them back, so I decided to run quickly."
Lu Zhui asked, "Ah? What good things can you, a Qi Refining Stage cultivator, possibly get?"
"You’ll know when we return to Qingyun Sect," Qiao Han said mysteriously with a smile.
Xiao Jiuci wasn’t too concerned, thinking that overall, the other party was in the wrong. Even if Qiao Han went too far, they would likely endure it.
Flying on his sword, Xiao Jiuci casually glanced around and suddenly paused, his eyes fixed on a certain spot. He immediately stopped and handed Qiao Han to Lu Zhui.
"Take him back."
The two of them were both confused and looked at Xiao Jiuci.
"I saw an acquaintance. I’m going to greet him," Xiao Jiuci said and flew away.
Lu Zhui had no choice but to take Qiao Han away.
In the forest below the flying boat, a person wearing a gray cloak was walking slowly, holding his injured arm.
Suddenly, he stopped, turned around, and saw Xiao Jiuci standing quietly behind him.
The man didn’t speak but looked at Xiao Jiuci warily.
Xiao Jiuci hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Long time no see, Qin Xiong."
The man trembled slightly, then raised his hand and took off his mask. His face was handsome and sharp, with deep, rebellious eyes. The high nose bridge and strong jawline outlined his resolute profile. The confidence and flamboyance from before had been completely replaced by gloom and depth.
This was the once-genius cultivator of the Wanren Sect, Qin Xiu Zhong, a rare mutant Thunder Spirit Root from the Qin family, who had been equal in fame to Xiao Jiuci for many years.
He was also Qiao Han’s former fiancé.
Once rivals, also half-friends, competing and discussing together, now fallen to such a state, Xiao Jiuci couldn’t help but feel a little sentimental.
Qin Xiu Zhong observed his expression and finally smiled lightly. "No contempt, no sympathy, Xiao Jiuci, I really didn’t misjudge you. But now, it seems you’ve misjudged someone else."
Xiao Jiuci fell silent for a moment before getting straight to the point. "This is a coincidence?"
"Yes," Qin Xiu Zhong said.
"But you’ve been following Qiao Han. Can I ask why?"
Qin Xiu Zhong sneered, "Of course you can ask. After all, you’re his Dao companion now, right?"
These words made Xiao Jiuci at a loss for how to respond.
Qin Xiu Zhong coldly smiled, "You’ve been played, and you’ve accepted it so calmly. Not only accepted it, but you seem to treat him quite well. I’m really surprised. Aren’t you usually good at judging people? How did you fall for such a person as your Dao companion? How does someone like him deserve your kindness?"
"Do you think he’s bad? Because of the annulment?" Xiao Jiuci asked.
"I’m not unreasonable. Now my spirit root is destroyed, and I’m useless. Why should I ask him to fulfill the engagement? I never held a grudge about the annulment."
"Then why?"
A trace of shame and anger flashed across Qin Xiu Zhong’s face. "I treated him with courtesy back then, but when the engagement was called off, he insulted me, spoke harshly, demeaned, and trampled on me, completely different from before. That was when I realized what it meant to know a person’s face but not their heart."
Xiao Jiuci’s expression changed, his eyes becoming slightly unfocused.
Xiao Jiuci's expression changed slightly, and his eyes became a little disordered.
Qin Xiu Zhong continued, “I’ve encountered many people like him after my fall, and they no longer bother me, but when he called off the engagement, he refused to return the token.”
Qin Xiu Zhong’s breath grew erratic as he spoke, “That token is a tier 6 magic artifact, something they were unwilling to return. But it was also my mother’s heirloom, and I had to get it back. I failed to steal it, and then I was beaten mercilessly by the family under Qiao Han’s lead. If it weren’t for my strong luck and survival, I might have already died in some dark alley. Today, I just want to get back what’s rightfully mine. Is that a problem?”
Xiao Jiuci and Qin Xiu Zhong had known each other for many years. Although they weren’t the closest of friends, they knew each other well enough not to lie in situations like this.
“Maybe there’s been a misunderstanding. Qiao Han is…”
Before Xiao Jiuci could finish, Qin Xiu Zhong let out an incredulous laugh. “You’ve been charmed by him to this extent? Is he really that powerful? He’s clearly shameless, arrogant, and selfish. How come he’s different with you?”
Xiao Jiuci thought back to his usual interactions with Qiao Han and found it hard to reconcile with what Qin Xiu Zhong was describing.
“Oh right, today he does seem different. Then I can only say, unless he’s been possessed, his true nature is the one I saw in the past, and what you’re seeing is just an illusion.” Qin Xiu Zhong said disdainfully.
Qin Xiu Zhong had made a casual comparison, but his words sent a chill through Xiao Jiuci’s heart.
After a brief silence, Xiao Jiuci spoke. “The item you’re looking for is not with Qiao Han. I’ve checked his personal magical items. There’s no tier 6 artifact; it should still be with the Qiao family.”
Qin Xiu Zhong paused slightly, caught off guard by Xiao Jiuci’s mention of checking Qiao Han’s personal items. But after hearing the useful information, he gave a brief thank you.
“If you have no further questions, I’ll take my leave.” Qin Xiu Zhong thought for a moment and added, “As a former rival and friend, I’ll give you a reminder: don’t trust him too easily. If one day you end up like me, he’ll be the first to abandon you.”
Xiao Jiuci’s expression didn’t change at all, only nodding to acknowledge the warning.
He then tossed a bottle of spirit medicine to Qin Xiu Zhong. After a brief hesitation, Qin Xiu Zhong accepted the help with composure.
Looking at the bleak expression on Qin Xiu Zhong’s face, Xiao Jiuci said, “Head west.”
Qin Xiu Zhong was taken aback.
Xiao Jiuci explained, “There might be something you’re looking for over there.”
Qin Xiu Zhong’s expression changed. He knew Xiao Jiuci had noticed his unwillingness and that he was still trying to find a way to restore his spirit roots, otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to the flying ship.
“Thank you.” Qin Xiu Zhong didn’t say anything more, expressing his gratitude before disappearing into the trees.
Xiao Jiuci returned to Qingyun Sect in silence. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard the sound of laughter and chatter.
“Let me see what items you have selected.”
“No, we have to wait for Brother Xiao to come back and look together.”
“Oh, so you really care about Brother Xiao, huh?”
“Of course!”
Xiao Jiuci paused for a moment, clearing his mind of the chaotic thoughts, and then walked inside.
The next second, he heard joyful shouts, pure and straightforward.
“Brother Xiao!”
If this isn’t acting... then what's he up to?
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