Chapter 16

Without investigating whether Pei Junheng's words were true or false, although doubtful, Wen Qingyin still accepted the uniform.

As the junior sect master of the Cloud Immortal Sect, his food, clothing, and necessities are naturally the best.

He always wears only shark-silk fabric, so the academy's uniform does not fit him; accepting the uniform is merely to pass it on to the Cloud Immortal Sect, which will later send a uniform made of shark-silk.

Holding the uniform, Wen Qingyin furtively glanced at Pei Junheng beside him with the corner of his eye.

He seriously pondered what Pei Junheng's earlier words meant, and how he knew his body measurements.

But upon further thought, if he asked now, it would make his aura seem inferior to Pei Junheng's.

Most likely, Pei Junheng was speaking nonsense at random, deliberately being mysterious.

Thus, after receiving their uniforms, Wen Qingyin and Pei Junheng walked out of the hall.

Just as they stepped out of the Hall of Nothing, Zi Shu Zhi, who had also come to collect his uniform, saw Wen Qingyin and immediately shouted 'Junior Sect Master' and rushed over.

He pulled Wen Qingyin away like shielding a calf, took the uniform from Wen Qingyin's hand, and Zi Shu Zhi loudly said to Pei Junheng, 'Let's go find Qing Xuan Shangjun to change our lodgings!'

After saying that, Zi Shu Zhi pulled Wen Qingyin and turned to leave.

Chi Feiqian, left where they were, watched Zi Shu Zhi's swiftly receding figure, then turned to look at Pei Junheng, who was also staring at the two's backs.

"Did he just leave like that?" Chi Feiqian wondered, Zi Shu Zhi hadn't even collected his uniform.

Pei Junheng said nothing, his gaze fixed on the departing backs of Wen Qingyin and Zi Shu Zhi as they drew close, his eyes deepening somewhat compared to before.

Only Chi Feiqian remained where they were; helplessly spreading his hands, he alone walked into the Hall of Nothing.

Zi Shu Zhi, with Wen Qingyin in tow, marched aggressively toward Qing Xuan Shangjun's quarters, pounded on the door aggressively, and was aggressively informed that Qing Xuan Shangjun had gone into seclusion.

"When will Qing Xuan Shangjun be able to return?" Zi Shu Zhi asked the gatekeeping child.

The child, cheeks cupped in his hands, thought for a moment, his voice crisp and tender: "The Upper Lord's return date is uncertain; at the very least, not until after the sect's grand competition."

After the sect grand competition, if he could indeed return then, it wouldn't be too long.

Wen Qingyin decided to endure for now; this was currently the only option.

Afterward, Zi Shu Zhi hurried to the Hall of Nothing to collect his uniform, while Wen Qingyin returned to the Falling Star Courtyard on his own.

He pushed open the door and found that Pei Junheng had not yet returned.

A jade slip in his pouch flickered faintly; someone had sent Wen Qingyin a message.

He picked it up and saw it was a message from the sect master of the Cloud Immortal Sect—his father, Immortal Venerable You Sang.

Upon opening the message, his father's voice flowed out like a trickling stream.

"My son Jade Flute, how have you been lately? I heard the Abyssal Isle Academy is about to hold the sect grand competition; as your father, I ask for nothing else, only that Jade Flute overwhelm those sword cultivators." Having said that, Immortal Venerable You Sang shifted tone and began recounting past events: "When I entered the Abyssal Isle Academy that year's sect grand competition, I fought to the death with the old villain Chi Xiao, yet I was overwhelmed; even now, thinking back, it is utterly humiliating."

Chi Xiao is the honorific of the sect master of the Myriad Day Sword Sect.

Afterward, the message's content consisted of Immortal Venerable You Sang urging Wen Qingyin that he must certainly display his talent at the sect grand competition, overpower the sword cultivators, and help the Cloud Immortal Sect regain the glory lost years ago.

Even back when Immortal Venerable You Sang and Sword Venerable Chi Xiao first entered the academy as youths, they had already clashed fiercely, being as opposed as water and fire.

Not having been able to defeat Sword Venerable Chi Xiao in the entrance sect grand competition has always been Immortal Venerable You Sang's regret.

Wen Qingyin silently finished listening to the message, raised his hand to form a seal, and transmitted the uniform he had previously received to the Cloud Immortal Sect, so that the sect's people could produce several sets based on its pattern.

Even if his father did not say so, he would not tolerate the Myriad Day Sword Sect's people lording over their Cloud Immortal Sect, especially Pei Junheng.

He would personally defeat Pei Junheng.

Wen Qingyin put the jade slip away, his gaze casually falling onto the uniform placed on his bed.

The Immortal Elder had given each of them two sets of uniforms; Wen Qingyin transmitted only one set away, so another set remains here.

Strangely, at this moment he actually recalled the words Pei Junheng had said earlier.

Has the waist truly been made larger?

Wen Qingyin stared at the folded uniform for a while, gaining true understanding through practice, and decided to pick it up and try it on.

In disbelief, he grabbed at the extra space around the waist, and indeed, that fellow Pei Junheng had been right.

The uniform's waist was indeed made larger, while the rest fit properly.

Accustomed to wearing shark-silk garments, the ordinary fabric chafed his skin uncomfortably; without looking, one could tell it had already turned red.

Wen Qingyin reached out to take off the uniform, but he hadn't expected that putting it on would be simple while taking it off would be quite difficult.

The shoulders, however, were unexpectedly tight, and Wen Qingyin struggled hard with it.

Just then, Wen Qingyin sharply heard footsteps.

Someone had arrived.

Who was coming to the Falling Star Courtyard at this time?

However, at this moment Wen Qingyin's uniform was half-removed, one shoulder half-exposed, the white skin dazzling to the eye.

Wen Qingyin pulled at the clothing, trying to yank it off immediately, while turning around anxiously to find a place to hide.

But the lodgings in the Falling Star Courtyard were too shabby; aside from the bed and a curtain as good as nonexistent, he had almost nowhere to go.

He could see a familiar silhouette approaching through the faint, gauzy curtain; seeing that the person would soon come over and witness his disheveled state, Wen Qingyin cried out in a trembling voice, "Don't move!"

The person behind the sheer curtain abruptly halted his steps.

Once again cursing the Falling Star Courtyard's strange layout and the curtain that was practically nothing, Wen Qingyin seized the opportunity and pulled hard to drag the uniform downward.

Whether due to the urgency of the situation or not, this tug actually moved the uniform, and Wen Qingyin finally managed to take it off.

After Wen Qingyin hastily threw on an inner garment and stepped out from behind the curtain, his clothing was disordered, his snowy white neck chafed by the earlier violent motion and rough fabric into countless red marks, like lovely plum blossoms blooming on pure snow, impossible to look away from.

Surely enough outside the curtain was Pei Junheng.

"How come you suddenly came back?" Wen Qingyin asked him, feigning calm.

As long as he remained sufficiently calm, he could pretend nothing had happened.

Pei Junheng did not immediately answer Wen Qingyin's question.

On the contrary, his gaze fell on Wen Qingyin's collar; a substantive, cool stare made Wen Qingyin unconsciously adjust his clothing, and just after straightening his outfit he heard Pei Junheng lightly remark, "Your collar is loose."

The junior sect master Wen Qingyin truly possesses an excellent appearance; no one facing him can avert their gaze from that face, even though Wen Qingyin had once injured him.

Wen Qingyin followed Pei Junheng's gaze and discovered the skin exposed from his loose collar, with the ambiguous red mark above it.

"You lecher!" Reacting, Wen Qingyin's face instantly turned red.

Shameless scoundrel, Pei Junheng!

He reached out, picked up the outer robe on the couch, hastily put it on, also tidied his inner garments, and covered himself completely.

But before Wen Qingyin could scold again, footsteps of another person sounded in the room.

Qiu Sanchi came to Pei Junheng's residence, Falling Star Courtyard; he was entrusted by the Sect Master to come and deliver something to the Young Sect Master.

The courtyard's gate was open, so Qiu Sanchi walked straight in.

Upon entering, he saw Pei Junheng's back and a slender beauty, though Pei Junheng's tall figure mostly blocked the beauty's face. But from Qiu Sanchi's angle, he could also see the beauty's lovely feet, like jade, a waist as slender as something that would break at a touch, and skin as fresh and tender as peeled lychee flesh.

Who would have thought the Young Sect Master had such good fortune, actually living under the same roof with such a beauty—this is truly a blessing hard to find in three lifetimes.

But the Young Sect Master never pities fragrance and jade; let him see which delicate little beauty this is…

Hearing Qiu Sanchi's movement entering, Pei Junheng turned his head, and at that moment Qiu Sanchi finally saw the beauty's face.

Gorgeous and noble, like flowers clustered at the cloud's summit, the lingering shyness on her face was a rouge-like red.

However, upon seeing that face clearly, Qiu Sanchi's expression instantly became as unpleasant as having swallowed a fly.

It was Wen Qingyin.

Moreover, thinking back to earlier, when he was unaware, he had expressed admiration toward Wen Qingyin.

Qiu Sanchi: ……

This is practically more unbearable than killing him.

But why would Wen Qingyin appear in Pei Junheng's residence?

Qiu Sanchi keenly sensed something amiss.

Surely the visitor bears ill intent, coming to cause trouble for their Young Sect Master.

Thus Qiu Sanchi stepped forward to block in front of Pei Junheng, as if the Wen Qingyin across from him were some flood or ferocious beast.

He loudly questioned: "Wen Qingyin, how are you here? Don't come harass our Young Sect Master again!"

He's harassing Pei Junheng?

Angered into laughter by Qiu Sanchi's words, Wen Qingyin, though angry, still arrogantly lifted his chin.

"Harassment? Do you know our Young Sect Master was just peeking at me changing clothes? You sword cultivators really put on a dignified façade, but are all actually low‑life scum!" Wen Qingyin pressed step by step; his fingertips, following his words, almost poked Pei Junheng's shoulder.

"Don't lay a hand on our Young Sect Master! Don't forget you were saved by our Young Sect Master on Black Warrior." Qiu Sanchi, quick-eyed and quick‑handed, pulled Pei Junheng away, adding: "When the sect grand competition comes, just wait to be beaten by our Young Sect Master until you're spitting teeth and tears."

Even if Pei Junheng hadn't appeared on Black Warrior then, Wen Qingyin's summoned flower branches and water moss would soon have taken effect.

Instead, it was Pei Junheng who went out of his way to come to Black Warrior just to mock him.

"Just wait and see." Wen Qingyin stared at Qiu Sanchi with arms crossed, a menacing glare flashing from his eyes: "This is my residence; get out quickly!"

Qiu Sanchi still wanted to say something, probably more insults, but before he could speak, Pei Junheng beside him cut him off.

Pei Junheng asked him: "What is the purpose of your visit this time?"

Only then did Qiu Sanchi recall his original purpose for coming; he took out the rolled‑up slip of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Pei Junheng.

"This is from the Sect Master for you."

"The item has been delivered; you can also get lost."

Wen Qingyin gave Qiu Sanchi a cold look, and without waiting for him to speak, activated the courtyard's barrier, directly flicking Qiu Sanchi out of Falling Star Courtyard.

Qiu Sanchi only managed to let out a shout before vanishing from sight.

Having flicked Qiu Sanchi away, Wen Qingyin still felt unsatisfied; he glanced askance at Pei Junheng beside him and said in a weird tone: "Is the Young Sect Master of the Myriad Noon Sword Sect going to chase after your loyal junior brother?"

After saying that, he didn't even look at Pei Junheng's reaction, and Wen Qingyin stormed out of the room angrily.

When he had gone earlier to seek Qing Xuan Shangjun, Wen Qingyin had still felt he could barely endure it, but now he realized he truly could not stand sharing a moment with Pei Junheng.

His flowing sleeves swayed with his movements, unfolding like layers upon layers of blossoms; Wen Qingyin's figure disappeared at the gate of Falling Star Courtyard.

Pei Junheng opened the slip of paper that Qiu Sanchi had handed him.

On the slip were just a few characters written in vigorous, flying‑dragon‑phoenix‑dance style—his father Red Dawn Sword Venerable's own handwriting.

——Win the championship at the sect grand competition.

Red Dawn Sword Venerable wanted him to place first at the sect grand competition.

Pei Junheng took back the slip; light falling on his lowered lashes cast only a shadow.

Wen Qingyin stayed outside until the sky turned pitch black without returning.

He found a quiet spot in the woods to drink; the forest was dense, moonlight filtered through the interlaced branches and leaves, falling on Wen Qingyin leaning against the tree, draping him in a layer of hazy moonlight gauze.

The tender green branches brushed his flushed cheeks; after just a few bottles he was already drunk to the point of confusion, his head spinning so he needed to lean against the trunk to feel better.

He had originally only meant to pass time drinking on this tree, but once the liquor filled his belly, Wen Qingyin no longer wanted to return to Falling Star Courtyard.

As the night grew still, fireflies in the grass flew out one by one, like stars fallen into the human world.

The stars lingered on the three thousand strands of black hair hanging like a waterfall, as if scattering a star‑filled firmament.

The rich wine aroma and fresh herbal fragrance twined around his nostrils; Wen Qingyin relaxed, unfurling his perpetually furrowed brows, pressing his alcohol‑heated face against his arm, the coolness felt making him comfortably squint his eyes.

Half‑opening his eyes, he saw the verdant forest sway with the mountain wind in green waves, fireflies flickering on and off, a faint fragrance making Wen Qingyin feel as if he had returned to the Dragon Ridge Mountain where apricot blossoms once bloomed in full.

Amid the rustling sway of leaves, Wen Qingyin faintly heard footsteps gradually approaching.

Wen Qingyin closed his eyes; the next dizzy second he was about to fall into the sea of sleep.

He inhaled the mountain forest's scent, beating a slow rhythm in his heart.

Three.

Two.

One.

The dizzy, blurred Wen Qingyin turned over, slipped from the branch, and fell straight down.

The branches and leaves rustled, the wine bottle rolled and fell, emitting a creaking, rattling sound.

Wen Qingyin fell into an embrace that carried a chill.