Chapter 122: You Really Are a Vexing Little Vixen

Tianxin Pavilion.

Yan Xiaoyu stood before the main gate of the pavilion, gazing at the familiar building before her.

She still remembered, the first time she entered Tianxin Mountain, the first place she came to was Tianxin Pavilion.

So many years had passed.

Forty years had gone by.

She wondered if you still remembered someone named Xiaoyu.

Yan Xiaoyu brushed away the last traces of memory from her mind, cupped her fists, and called out.

“Disciple Yan Xiaoyu requests an audience with Sect Master Shen.”

Upon reaching the Qi Initiation Realm, one could hear sounds from two li away.

Within two li, even the faintest flutter of a mosquito’s wings would not escape her detection.

Let alone Shen Qingqing, whose cultivation was far above Qi Initiation.

“Come in.”

“Yes.”

Sect Master Shen’s voice had grown more mature than before, less arrogant and domineering.

Yan Xiaoyu nervously clutched the hem of her skirt, lowered her head, and walked into the backyard.

Shen Qingqing stood under a peach tree by the pond, pondering how to make them bloom again.

Sensing someone approaching, she turned and asked,

“What is it that you seek from me?”

“Reporting to Sect Master Shen, recently there have been rumors circulating within the sect, so I have come to ask Sect Master Shen to clarify their truth or falsehood.”

Shen Qingqing smiled.

Coming to ask her personally—so the rumors must be related to her?

“Rumors about me? Interesting, tell me in detail.”

“The rumor says that Junior Sister Chen Xiaoyan has already become a personal disciple.”

Upon hearing this, the relaxed smile vanished instantly from Shen Qingqing’s face.

Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at Yan Xiaoyu.

Yan Xiaoyu, of course, felt the sharp gaze sweep over her.

“Your name is Yan Xiaoyu?”

“Yes.”

Yan Xiaoyu was delighted—after all these years, she actually still remembered her.

“Ambition is a good thing, but remember not to stray onto a demonic path, and forget the core principles of a Tianxiang disciple,” Shen Qingqing said coldly.

Yan Xiaoyu panicked.

She felt that Sect Master Shen must have misunderstood something, or she would never have warned her about falling to the demonic path.

“Sect Master Shen, these things weren’t said by me. They came from the new disciples, who spread rumors about Junior Sister Chen Xiaoyan’s secret arts… That’s why we guessed.”

“Then that’s fine.”

“That girl is not my disciple,” nor had she ever considered her one.

“Really?”

Yan Xiaoyu blurted out excitedly, but it was too late to take it back.

Her face turned pale, and she lowered her head in panic.

“You seem quite happy?”

Facing Shen Qingqing’s questioning, Yan Xiaoyu dared not lie, and could only nod in acknowledgment.

“Yes.”

“Raise your head, you haven’t done anything wrong, there’s no need to look like this.”

Yan Xiaoyu lifted her head, looking anxiously at the only light in her life.

“You really want to become a personal disciple?”

Yan Xiaoyu nodded, then shook her head.

“I do… and yet, I don’t.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Shen Qingqing was both amused and exasperated.

“Disciple… disciple wants to become Sect Master Shen’s personal disciple,” Yan Xiaoyu said through gritted teeth.

“Me?”

Shen Qingqing was a little surprised.

A pure body constitution to be her disciple, and already at the Qi Initiation Realm—indeed quite qualified.

But as for her, she no longer wished to take on disciples.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. I won’t be taking any more disciples.”

“However, you shouldn’t be discouraged. A pure body, even if it’s lost its primal yin, is still a pure body by nature. That essence hasn’t changed. I can recommend you to Sect Master Yue. With your physique, becoming a personal disciple should be well within your grasp.”

“Sect Master Yue?”

Yan Xiaoyu was stunned.

“Mm.”

Shen Qingqing mistook her reaction for being speechless with delight, so she gave a gentle reminder.

“Don’t get your hopes up too soon. Sect Master Yue hasn’t agreed yet.”

“No!”

“I don’t want to be Sect Master Yue’s personal disciple!” Yan Xiaoyu suddenly shouted.

“Hmm?”

Shen Qingqing looked at her, confused. She really didn’t understand.

“You clearly want to be a personal disciple, so why can’t you be Sect Master Yue’s?”

Who would have thought Yan Xiaoyu would reply firmly, “Because I only want to be Sect Master Shen’s personal disciple.”

Those words made Shen Qingqing laugh.

She finally understood.

Understood why Yan Xiaoyu had come to ask if Xiaoyan was her personal disciple.

This little girl still couldn’t let go of the shackles of the past.

“Xiaoyu, back then, I only helped you because of your constitution. There’s no need for you to be like this,” Shen Qingqing explained gravely.

But Yan Xiaoyu couldn’t listen at all.

“Sister Shen, this disciple knows, I understand, but no matter what you say, it was you who pulled me out of the darkness and crippled that fiend Zhao Heng.”

“So, you want to become my personal disciple as a way of repaying your debt?”

Yan Xiaoyu’s eyes filled with tears as she shook her head, saying, “Xiaoyu never had any intention of repaying you by becoming your disciple. I simply want to stay by Sister Shen’s side.”

“You child…”

Shen Qingqing shook her head with a wry smile, then said, “Aren’t you being foolish? Staying in the Tianxiang Sect is the same as staying by my side, isn’t it?”

“Uh…”

Yan Xiaoyu was stunned.

Thinking about it, it did seem to make sense.

“Is that really so?”

She was a bit muddled, feeling it made sense but also somehow not.

“That’s right, you’ve just been lost and confused all this time.”

“As long as you stay on Tianxin Mountain, I’ll be by your side—be it you or any of the other disciples, it’s all the same.”

Yan Xiaoyu felt as if she’d been awakened with a splash of wisdom, understanding instantly.

She looked excitedly at Shen Qingqing, “Sister Shen, I understand now. I was too ignorant before and failed to see the truth.”

Shen Qingqing nodded in satisfaction.

“Better late than never. Now go and cultivate diligently. If you run into problems with your cultivation, you can come and ask me.”

This girl Xiaoyu probably developed a dependence on her after being rescued back then.

But what surprised her most was that this girl had held on for decades—her willpower was truly remarkable.

“Xiaoyu obeys!”

Once more, Yan Xiaoyu walked to the front gate of Tianxin Pavilion.

Compared to her earlier anxiety and nervousness,

Now she felt like a great weight had been lifted, her mood far lighter and brighter.

She seemed more full of vitality.

Gazing at the plaque above Tianxin Pavilion, Yan Xiaoyu silently vowed in her heart.

In this life, she would never leave the Tianxiang Sect.

As long as she remained, she would stay by her side for as long as possible.

***

Back Courtyard

Shen Qingqing returned to the peach tree, channeling her spiritual power to try to make the tree bloom.

The power of Fragrant Intent Art’s spiritual energy held great restorative force, able to heal the peach tree and make it blossom again.

In theory, it should have worked.

But she had used the wrong method.

“Let’s take a look at the structure of the peach tree first,” Shen Qingqing said, raising her hand.

With a palm strike, the peach tree bloomed right down the middle.

After studying it for a while without gaining any insight, she grew frustrated and simply took the split tree for firewood.

Can’t bloom, huh?

If you won’t bloom, then you can forget about living.

The remaining peach trees trembled in terror.

***

On the rear mountain.

Chongchong dragged Chen Xiaoyan to the peach blossom grove.

“What on earth is it? Why so mysterious?”

“Of course it’s something good!”

The two of them walked to the spot where they’d lain before, where traces of them still remained.

Peach blossoms for a bed.

“Sit down and let’s talk,” Chongchong said, patting the spot beside her.

Chen Xiaoyan had no choice but to sit.

Then, Chongchong took out a glowing green fruit from her backpack and handed it over.

“Here~ For you.”

Chen Xiaoyan froze, then smiled, “So the good thing you mentioned is a spirit fruit, huh?”

“That’s right. Isn’t a spirit fruit a good thing?”

Chongchong blinked.

She had no words—this thing restored two hundred points of spiritual energy, it really was a good item.

But wasn’t this the reward from Chongchong’s sect competition?

Why give it to her?

“You should eat it yourself. Why give it to me?”

“I don’t want it. It only restores two hundred points of spiritual energy, and at most gives a tiny bit of extra healing. It’s better to give it to you. I saw at the plaza you really wanted it.”

Chen Xiaoyan was surprised, glancing at her in astonishment, then laughed, “You little thing, you’re quite sharp-eyed.”

“But I can’t take it.”

“Why not?”

“Because I said before, I don’t want you to depend on me too much. You need to work hard and get stronger yourself.”

Chongchong pouted.

She disliked these big philosophical reasons the most.

If even in a game she couldn’t do as she pleased, what was the point?

“Really not taking it?”

Chen Xiaoyan shook her head firmly.

“Alright, then I’ll throw it away.”

She tossed the spirit fruit down the mountain in a huff.

“Whoa… You really did it?”

Watching the fruit disappear down the mountain, Chen Xiaoyan panicked.

She hurriedly got up and rushed down after it.

Heavens above, please let nobody else find it.

That’s two hundred points of spiritual energy! If she lost it, she’d be heartbroken!

Chongchong, that girl—couldn’t she just talk things through?

Why must she throw things around?

Chongchong watched Chen Xiaoyan’s frantic figure running off and smiled.

Hmph, so you really do want it. I knew you were just pretending.

Soon enough, Chen Xiaoyan came back holding the spirit fruit.

As soon as she returned, she flicked Chongchong on the forehead.

“If you do that again, you can look for it yourself. I’m not helping you.”

“Take it.”

But Chongchong didn’t accept it, instead wrinkling her nose in disgust.

“It fell on the ground, it’s dirty. I don’t want it.”

“Then I’ll go wash it?”

“Once it hits the ground, washing it a hundred times won’t change the fact it was on the ground.”

“Uh…”

Chen Xiaoyan finally saw through her.

This girl was dead set on giving her the spirit fruit.

“Why must you do this?”

“Hehe.”

Chongchong hugged Chen Xiaoyan’s left arm playfully.

“We’re meeting up tomorrow, aren’t we? I didn’t know what to give you, so I’m giving you the spirit fruit. You wouldn’t refuse, right?”

Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t help but laugh.

She pinched the little one’s chubby cheeks.

“Since you put it that way, how could I refuse?”

“So tomorrow, what gift does our cute little pet want to receive?”

“Huh? I get a gift too?”

Chongchong was overjoyed, trembling with excitement.

“Of course! It’s only fun if we exchange gifts.”

“Then… I want a kiss.”

“Hmm?”

Chen Xiaoyan was dumbfounded.

She rubbed her ear and leaned in.

“Uh… I didn’t catch that. Can you say it again?”

“Mean Xiaoyan-jie, you’re definitely doing this on purpose!”

Chongchong pouted, punching her gently on the chest.

“Stop, stop, it tingles, don’t hit me.”

Feeling something odd at her chest, Chen Xiaoyan quickly grabbed those little hands.

Chongchong didn’t struggle, still clinging to her.

“I don’t care, I just want a kiss.”

“Give me a kiss.”

“If you don’t, I’ll cling to you all day and annoy you to death.”

“You really are a vexing little vixen.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll give you one, okay?”

Chongchong’s ability to pester was unmatched.

Chen Xiaoyan soon couldn’t hold out any longer.

She leaned over and kissed Chongchong on the cheek.

Since she hadn’t specified, any spot would do.

But in the next second—

Chongchong blocked her face with her hand.

Chen Xiaoyan was baffled, looking at her in confusion.

What does this mean?

Weren’t you the one begging for a kiss?

Now that I’m kissing you, you’re not happy?

“A kiss in-game is meaningless. I want Xiaoyan-jie to kiss me in real life.”

“Ah!!!”

That sentence gave Chen Xiaoyan quite a shock.

If she really kissed her in reality, wouldn’t that be the end?

Though her real body was now almost androgynous, at the end of the day, she was still male.

She couldn’t take such a risk.

“Xiaoyan-jie, what’s with that reaction? Am I really that ugly in real life?”

Chongchong saw Chen Xiaoyan step back in horror and became furious.

“How should I know? I haven’t seen you.”

She was strangely lacking in confidence as she said this, making her voice weak.

“Xiaoyan-jie, please log off and search for the name Zhou Xiaochong. See for yourself whether I’m ugly or not.”

Chongchong emphasized the word ‘please’ heavily, clearly angry—truly angry.

For the first time ever, she’d been called ugly.

Even an uncle could tolerate that, but an aunt could not.

“Fine.”

Chen Xiaoyan responded perfunctorily.

Her attitude only fanned the flames.

Chongchong exploded.

But unexpectedly, she didn’t cry or throw a tantrum—she just went completely quiet.

Then, she disappeared from Chen Xiaoyan’s sight.

“What was that all about?”

Chen Xiaoyan sighed, feeling stifled.

Chongchong had acted far too strange just now, so quiet.

She was probably truly angry this time.

But what could she do?

In-game, it was all fun, since it was just a game.

If she really did that in reality, there’d be no escaping.

Chen Xiaoyan wasn’t someone irresponsible, who would flirt and then leave others hanging.

If she couldn’t give her anything, she shouldn’t disturb her life.

“Sigh~”

At the root of it all, if only Chongchong’s orientation were normal, things wouldn’t be so complicated.

Damn it, why did she have to be a yuri girl?

Damn, what a waste.

Forget it, she’d apologize to that girl tomorrow.

For now, she should go check if there were any new daily sect missions, and if not, grab a book at Xueyan Pavilion.

Thinking thus, Chen Xiaoyan rubbed her temples and headed down the mountain.

She had no idea that, just as she left, a figure leaped out from the peach blossom grove.

If Chen Xiaoyan were there, she would have recognized her instantly.

It was the senior sister who’d been driven to the brink during the sect competition.