“Hold on.”
Just as Qiu Ming was about to take over Lin Wu, the cold and quiet gates of the Cold Palace suddenly swung open, sending out a biting, icy wind.
Elder Honglian’s feet froze in place, her smile solidifying instantly.
“Sect Master… what are your orders?”
“This is Frozen Marrow Cold Poison. The demonic energy has seeped deep into his bones. Meng Yao, you should have brought him here sooner. You almost cost a life.”
The ethereal female voice was pure and clear, like Heavenly Music, making one unconsciously feel goodwill.
Lin Wu sneered inwardly, as if he had anticipated this. He was all too familiar with that voice.
Though the speaker hadn’t shown herself, she had clearly witnessed everything that had happened on Goddess Peak.
“Sorry, Master. I didn’t expect the cold poison to be so severe either.”
Yun Mengyao’s cheeks turned slightly red, as if she had caught an undertone in the words.
What did Master mean by that? Was she blaming her for wasting time because she was greedy?
Wrongly accused! She did taste some, but instead ended up being plucked off the lotus platform…
Deep within the Ice Palace, spiritual energy howled. A sweep of white frost drifted by, enveloping the youth’s whole body, as if pure spiritual energy seeped into his skin.
Lin Wu let out a muffled groan, his pale face gradually regaining color.
In an instant, the cold poison was dispelled, a clear display of the Snow Lotus Sect Master’s profound Dao skills, living up to her reputation.
“All right, do as you wish now. There are countless great and small abodes in Kunlun Ruins, full of dangers. Remember not to approach the Cold Abyss so recklessly again.”
The gates of the Cold Palace closed once more, no more immortal voice to be heard.
“Thank you, Palace Mistress Immortal, for saving me. Lin Wu is deeply grateful!”
Lin Wu bowed low, his gratitude mixed with just the right amount of being flattered.
He’d shown his face—there was no need to cling on further, or it would seem too deliberate.
“…?”
Not only was Qiu Ming surprised, but Yun Mengyao also looked completely confused.
It was just cold poison, after all. Elder Honglian could have dispelled it as well.
Their Master had been in closed-door cultivation for years and rarely left her seclusion, only showing her face briefly during sect ceremonies for disciples to admire her immortal beauty.
When had she ever given such special care to a man?
Qiu Ming collected herself. After this reprimand, she dared not overstep.
“Ahem, Meng Yao, you just said this child is a lost traveler seeking to join the sect? I see that his natural endowments are remarkable and he is quite promising. Let me make an exception and waive his entrance exam. He can be cultivated under my palace.”
That sounds nice. I see you’re just drooling over him!
Yun Mengyao hurriedly shielded Lin Wu behind her, waving her hands in refusal.
“I wouldn’t dare trouble Elder Qiu. Since Master herself intervened, it means he’s fated with my Qinghan Palace. Naturally, I will take full responsibility.”
A trace of annoyance flickered in Qiu Ming’s long eyes. She glanced longingly at the youth, then regretfully swept her sleeve and left.
“Hmph, then you’d better take good care of your Lin Shidi!”
This boy’s blood is sweet and of the highest quality—he’s an irreplaceable pillar of talent.
What luck that little girl has.
Every year during the sect’s recruiting season, it’s also when the elders of each palace “pick their consorts.” Taking one as a disciple means the “flower” is taken, and others can’t snatch them away.
While being highly valued, respecting and serving one’s master also becomes an obligation—the Dao of Food.
Like Yun Mengyao, after being promoted in Qinghan Palace to a direct disciple of the White Lotus, she was required to serve her master every month and donate blood for free.
“See? Didn’t I tell you? Good thing you weren’t dumb enough to say you’re Cang Wu!”
Yun Mengyao breathed a sigh of relief and cheerfully pulled her little junior brother outside.
The Snow Lotus Sect valued talent above all else. With this thief’s quality, he was like an inexhaustible, supreme spiritual vein!
“Don’t rush. The real show has just begun. Yun Shijie, please help me settle in first.”
Lin Wu stretched lazily, gazing out over the whole Goddess Peak, seeing it as a buffet of fresh ingredients—as if a giant shark had slipped into a pond.
Yun Mengyao rode a little White Lotus, picked a pleasing snow-capped peak from the mountains, carved out a simple cave mansion, and assigned it to Lin Wu—right next door to her own.
Proximity has its advantages, after all.
“Congratulations, Little Shidi! You’re officially a Green Lotus Dao-attendant now. From now on, serving your big sister here is your daily task!”
Yun Mengyao put her hands on her hips and crooked her finger, signaling him to hurry up and let her take a bite.
“Ouch!”
Lin Wu flicked her on the forehead, making the girl clutch her head and squat down, crying out in pain.
“You’re a sesame-sized Shijie and you’re already putting on airs? At least have some self-awareness as a captive, will you? I don’t cultivate icy jade bones, so your set doesn’t work on me.”
This little girl was adorably naive, her head full of blood-sucking cultivation, oblivious to the perils of the world.
Did she really see blood-devouring as a legitimate path?
The Evil Cultivator quick-success method wasn’t all benefits—some immortals’ intelligence clearly lagged behind their cultivation.
“Think back—Mu Bingxin was only a direct disciple of White Lotus back then. In three years, she jumped from Honglian straight to Binglian. Such talent, such a ruthless Dao heart!”
Lin Wu’s smile was teasing.
But considering that Snow Lotus Sect had only been founded for less than a hundred years, there wasn’t anything too strange about it.
These days, everyone is either an Immortal or an Evil Cultivator. Five years to enlightenment, three years to simulate, ascending in twenty years is no dream—anything is possible.
“I’m warning you, stop flicking my forehead or I’ll… huh?”
Yun Mengyao looked up angrily, only to see a bleeding finger offered before her face.
Fed unexpectedly, the girl “aowu” bit down, her face blooming with happiness.
๑´ڡ`๑
“Not bad acting. You worked hard today—keep it up tomorrow.”
“Mm! But, who exactly are we acting for?”
“Of course, for my pure-as-ice Dao partner. You’ll play Mu Bingxin, I’ll be Cang Wu.”
“Eh? So this is how you two—or, ahem, they—met? The cold poison too? No wonder Master was so sensitive!”
For once, Yun Mengyao caught on quickly, a belated realization dawning on her.
Could he really be…
Lin Wu pinched the little immortal’s cheek, certain that the Palace Mistress Immortal was indeed spying on her beloved disciple and had now taken the bait.
The big fish was still toying with the lure underwater—biting, yet not biting—not so easy to hook.
Let’s see how long you can endure!
“Hmph, so you’ve already made your move? As expected, only a dead Bai Yueguang is truly lethal—she must die, not dying isn’t an option.”
Inside the cave mansion, a third voice suddenly spoke.
“Who—who’s there?”
Yun Mengyao, biting Lin Wu’s finger, jumped in fright.
A snow-white bundle squeezed out of the youth’s arms.
Furry and round, just like a Snow Maiden.
“A hamster? Your Ling Beast? So cute!”
The white bundle turned its head angrily: “Such rudeness! I am a Fox. It’s just that this tail… happens to be a bit plump!”
“Master, you’ve finally woken up. I’ve successfully infiltrated the Snow Lotus Sect. Oh, and this is my new servant. She’s an idiot, but still pretty handy.”
Lin Wu respectfully patted the chubby fox’s head.
“Hmph, I see. Followers of Mu Bingxin’s path aren’t half as capable as I am.”
“You’re the idiot—wait, this is the Master you talked about?!”
Yun Mengyao was at a loss, unable to imagine that this shameless thief had apprenticed to a hamster.
“Foolish question. This is just one of my fox incarnations.”
The little White Lotus’s eyes sparkled; faced with such a cute creature, she couldn’t resist and reached out to pat the little fox’s head—only to get bitten.
Yun Mengyao pulled her finger back, and as she sucked on it, she realized it had no taste.
The wound had already healed; this rascal’s recovery was truly impressive.
“Today’s meal box is finished. Time to find a new spot to bite, Yun Xianzi.”
Lin Wu flopped down onto the Stone Bed.
“I’m not locked in the Ice Prison, so a bet’s a bet—do it yourself, Shijie.”
“Eh?”
Yun Mengyao pulled a long face, just remembering that detail.
The little fox showed a mischievous, human-like smile, somehow producing pen and paper and squatting on her disciple’s shoulder, sketching away on the spot.
As expected, like master, like disciple!
This girl was neither the first nor would she be the last immortal to be claimed by the master-disciple duo.