Chapter 189: Why Am I So Confused? (6k)

"No, Third Brother, you…"

Seeing this, Zhou Qing quickly reached out to stop him, trying to calm him down.

Yan Xiaohu suddenly grabbed Zhou Qing tightly, his eyes reddening as he nearly knelt before him, pleading pitifully: "Fourth Brother, I've never begged anyone in my life—please, take me with you, okay?"

Looking at Yan Xiaohu, tears and snot streaming down his face, Zhou Qing's face twitched—he made it sound like I was abandoning him.

"Third Brother, Master is all alone now…"

"If you all leave, he'll beat me senseless! Besides, he's still in peak condition—he doesn't need me to take care of him!" Yan Xiaohu immediately cut him off.

He added quickly: "Besides, I've already dealt with that old guy before—he swindled me out of a fortune at the Five Sects' Artifact Fair. I've got some history with him."

Zhou Qing: "..."

Yan Xiaohu spun around swiftly, efficiently packing his belongings while muttering: "The farthest we've ever gone together was Lingyun Prefecture—now it's time for Haomiao Prefecture to be the same."

"Aren't Second Sister and Brother-in-law already in Haomiao Prefecture? I've got to go keep an eye on them for Master—if they start causing trouble, we'll be uncles way too soon."

"Have you read those romance novels? Changing locations is a huge taboo—how can you possibly go somewhere new without someone you know? It'd be so awkward."

"Of course, the main reason is I want to see the world and find a cultivation partner. Everyone here in Taiqing Sect knows each other too well, and with my reputation for peeping and grave-robbing, all the pretty junior sisters avoid me."

"Isn't Second Elder going to be our senior soon? You all are progressing so fast—if he gives me even a little guidance, maybe I can finally break into Core Formation mid-stage."

……

As Yan Xiaohu packed and chattered nonstop, Zhou Qing couldn't get a word in.

Soon, over sixty bundles were packed.

"And the old hen—I'll take care of her for you, at least. Drink some water first; I'll go talk to Master."

Yan Xiaohu hurriedly opened the underground vault, grabbed three boxes, and sprinted up the mountain, leaving Zhou Qing stunned in place.

"Why do I feel so confused?" Zhou Qing scratched his head.

Even more unbelievable—he had no idea what Third Brother had said to Master, but Master actually agreed to let him come along.

"When is Second Elder coming to pick us up? I'm so nervous—what if he doesn't take me? Should I leave early and start from the bottom of Baiyu Taixu Academy?"

Yan Xiaohu looked around excitedly.

Zhou Qing said: "We have two more days."

"Damn, why didn't you tell me sooner? I need to prepare more!" Yan Xiaohu dashed off again.

Zhou Qing sighed helplessly.

After thinking it over, there was still one person he couldn't let go without talking to—she'd worry if he didn't.

Then, Zhou Qing headed straight for Shenyue Peak.

Along the way, every young disciple looked at Zhou Qing with fervent admiration.

He single-handedly slew five prodigies from the Cangyan Dao Palace, ranking second on the Most Wanted List—no, strictly speaking, after Luo Lingling's breakthrough to Nascent Soul, if the Five Sects War hadn't ended, he'd be number one.

He also turned the tide at Canglan Mountain, foreseeing the Cangyan Dao Palace and Tianji Sect's schemes, coordinating the escape of countless others from the outside.

In the Eastern Region, who among cultivators doesn't know Zhou Qing, the new prodigy of Taiqing Sect?

Facing the crowd's intense gazes, Zhou Qing could only smile politely and nod, quickening his pace.

Once inside Shenyue Peak, the adoring stares became overwhelming.

Especially the female disciples, gathered in groups, blushing with shy admiration as they gazed at Zhou Qing.

Even usually composed and reserved elders now looked at him with evident pride and approval.

"Senior Zhou!"

When Lu Yaoyao saw Zhou Qing suddenly visiting, she rushed out, beaming with joy.

With no one else around, Zhou Qing told her of his plan to leave.

Lu Yaoyao's cheerful expression instantly froze, then without a word, she turned around.

"Where are you going?" Zhou Qing suddenly felt this scene was eerily familiar—and a wave of unease rose in him.

Lu Yaoyao didn't look back: "Packing my things—I'm coming with you."

Zhou Qing: "..."

"I don't need you to take care of me!" Zhou Qing cried out quickly.

Third Brother can use 'taking care of me' as an excuse—you don't need to.

But Lu Yaoyao replied firmly: "But I need you to take care of me."

Zhou Qing: "..."

"If you won't let me come, I'll disguise myself and sneak off like I did to Qingmu City—if anything happens to me on the road, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!" Lu Yaoyao said.

Zhou Qing: "..."

Wait, what even is our relationship? You're pulling moral blackmail now?

I was planning to say proper goodbyes to others, but with you two pulling this, I'm too scared to open my mouth.

Zhou Qing kept trying to dissuade her, but Lu Yaoyao was determined to follow him.

"I came to Taiqing Sect for you—if you're gone, what's the point of me staying?"

Lu Yaoyao's sudden statement left Zhou Qing utterly stunned.

"What do you mean?" Zhou Qing asked, confused.

"Nothing!" Lu Yaoyao sounded angry, turning her head away—making Zhou Qing even more baffled.

Do women always get mad for no reason?

Soon after, Yan Xiaohu rushed in, breathless.

"I was terrified—I thought you were lying to me and sneaking off! By the way, Lu Sister, what's going on with you?"

Yan Xiaohu looked at Lu Yaoyao packing her belongings and seemed to guess the truth.

This is perfect—Lu Sister handles the inside: washing clothes and cooking.

I handle the outside: chasing chickens and gathering gossip.

You just follow Second Elder and focus on your cultivation—look at how great our trio is.

"Lu Sister, let me help you pack—it's not urgent, he still has two days. Should we bring this bed? We've got storage bags anyway—it's convenient. I heard many people are picky about their beds."

As Yan Xiaohu spoke, he began helping enthusiastically.

Watching his enthusiastic Third Brother, Zhou Qing sat outside the courtyard, staring at the path near the outhouse, sighing heavily.

Two days later, outside Zhou Qing's residence!

Yan Xiaohu held the old hen, Lu Yaoyao carried a box of pastries, both beaming with excitement.

In the center, Zhou Qing looked utterly miserable.

Nearby, Mo Xingjian, Cao Zhengyang, and over a dozen peak masters—even three Supreme Elders—stood silently, watching the scene intently.

After all, some things can't be hidden from them.

They wholeheartedly approved of the three leaving—especially since Zhou Qing's arraying lineage needed a proper heir.

Their real purpose? To see what the legendary "Er Da Ye," who had once thrived in Taiqing Sect, actually looked like.

After all, this guy always appeared in a different form whenever he infiltrated a sect.

Especially years ago, when he faked his death and escaped—he'd made all his brothers-in-arms weep uncontrollably.

After all, Second Elder possessed a natural charisma, effortlessly drawing people to him.

Fellow disciples loved drinking and laughing with him.

Senior sisters and junior sisters would stroll past his quarters every night.

Otherwise, how could so many sects he'd visited willingly offer him the position of next sect leader—with almost no opposition?

Time passed slowly, and as Zhou Qing anxiously waited, Second Elder's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Why are there three of you now?"

Hearing the question, Zhou Qing sighed helplessly—just as he was about to explain, Second Elder's voice came again.

"Never mind, fine, come along all of you. I was worried you'd be overwhelmed in a strange place anyway. I've still got some unfinished business—wait for me at the Lingyun Prefecture teleport array!"

Then, as if swallowed by the void, his voice vanished completely.

Zhou Qing nodded and relayed Second Elder's message to the others.

They readily agreed, and they set off down the mountain.

Cao Zhengyang and the others exchanged glances—they knew they couldn't have fooled him. With his talent, he'd surely reached the Cutting Spirit realm.

Now, they could only hope these three children traveled safely!

……

Two months later, the three arrived again in Lingyun Prefecture. They'd planned to greet Zhang Wanbao and the others, but ultimately decided against it.

Still, Yan Xiaohu, the master of gossip, couldn't resist his curiosity—he went out for a stroll and quickly returned with detailed news about Baiyu Taixu Academy.

The three immediately examined it.

Baiyu Taixu Academy was an exceptionally unique institution in Haomiao Prefecture, boasting formidable teaching resources and gathering numerous revered, immensely powerful masters as instructors.

Rumor had it that the headmaster's origins were mysterious and his power unparalleled.

Even the governor of Longyuan Commandery treated him with utmost respect, never daring to be careless.

As a result, many major sects across the Four Regions—equally powerful or even stronger than Taiqing Sect—sent their most promising young disciples there to train.

Countless smaller sects did the same.

But now, Haomiao Prefecture was in chaos. Originally, the Western Region resembled Taiqing Sect's Eastern Region, with several major sects embroiled in civil war—only to be brutally crushed within a year by the far stronger Hunyuan Sect.

Who could have predicted that just half a year later, for unknown reasons, the Southwest Regions erupted into war, drawing in millions of combatants, with over forty Nascent Soul cultivators already slain.

The other two regions, of course, happily stirred the pot, inserting themselves for their own gains.

Still, Baiyu Taixu Academy remained untouched—but internal factions and infighting among its students had inevitably intensified.

"I didn't expect the Haomiao Prefecture side is still fighting—thankfully, our side is already over!" Lu Yaoyao sighed after reading the messages.

Yan Xiao Hu worriedly said: "Speaking of the battle at Canglan Mountain, Jin Leizong, Qingyu Immortal Sect, and Tianji Gate suffered the heaviest losses—they now have less than two percent of their peak strength and likely can't compete with other domains anymore."

Zhou Qing fell silent, but thankfully, after this incident, the imperial capital seemed to notice the east domain's weakness and did not interfere further.

Other observers, after receiving simple warnings, have now also laid down their arms, giving the Five Sects a moment to breathe.

Could Sikong Yan's actions have been precisely aimed at achieving this effect?

What exactly is he trying to do?

Fortunately, this trip is just a temporary stop at Baiyu Tai Xu Academy—to borrow an identity—and we'll return soon enough.

After gaining a general understanding, the three of them felt more at ease. Once they located the teleportation array's position, they hurried over.

An hour later, before them stood a massive teleportation array in the central square of Lingyun Prefecture.

This array, dozens of meters in diameter, emitted a deep blue glow, majestic and grand; its runes shimmered like a river of stars flowing within it, far surpassing the small arrays purchased by the three sects.

Around it, crowds surged, with people from various sects lining up anxiously.

Lingyun Prefecture's guards, clad in heavy armor and wielding long spears, stood tall and moved through the throngs, maintaining order.

Anyone attempting to cut in line or cause chaos was swiftly halted by them.

At a side entrance, a stern-faced man sat at a table, meticulously collecting the spirit stones required for teleportation.

Each time he received a spirit stone, he scrutinized it with sharp eyes, confirmed its authenticity, then recorded the corresponding details in his ledger.

"Senior Zhou, those heading to Haomiao Prefecture are in the ninth wave—we need to queue over there."

Yaoyao gazed at a floating purple crystal wall, its surface glowing with strange light, listing detailed information for each teleportation wave's destination.

The two followed her gaze and confirmed it was true.

Following the instructions, they circled around the crowd and reached the other side.

Unexpectedly, there were many heading to Haomiao Prefecture—hundreds lined up here, slowly inching forward.

"Zhou big brother, Yan big brother—it's really you two!"

As the three were on tiptoe, waiting for Er Daye, a delighted voice suddenly rang out.

They turned toward the voice and saw Zhang Wanbao, his belly slightly rounded, beaming with excitement as he hurried over.

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu stared in shock—how did you know we were here?

"What do you mean? You came to Lingyun Prefecture and didn't come find me? Are you treating Wanbao like a brother at all?!"

Zhang Wanbao feigned anger, hands on hips, but his eyes sparkled with joy.

Zhou Qing had to explain they'd just arrived and were rushing to Haomiao Prefecture—couldn't afford to disturb him.

"Really? You're going to Haomiao Prefecture too?" Upon hearing their destination, Zhang Wanbao grew even more excited.

Zhou Qing's heart stirred—he was about to ask—when Fu Kui appeared.

The three immediately bowed.

Fu Kui nodded. Young people always had plenty to say when they met; since time was still early, he chose not to dampen their spirits and turned away, walking to a quiet corner to wait.

"I'm going to Haomiao Prefecture too!" Zhang Wanbao blurted out eagerly.

Although the Wanxiang Auction's main venue was in Lingyun Prefecture, its procurement network spread like a vast spiderweb across a dozen neighboring prefectures.

Haomiao Prefecture housed a key outpost called "Zhenbao Pavilion," located near Baiyu Tai Xu Academy.

The Zhenbao Pavilion was always packed, trading everything from rare spirit herbs and elixirs to powerful magic treasures.

With war raging between the two domains, demand for supplies had surged dramatically, and the sale of war spoils created urgent needs—Haomiao Prefecture urgently required a capable person to take charge.

Over the past few years, Zhang Wanbao had grown increasingly serious about business, displaying sharp wit and exceptional commercial talent, performing well in all tasks.

Zhang Yifu, as head of the Wanxiang Auction, weighed his options carefully and decided to send Zhang Wanbao to oversee operations—also a form of training for him.

After learning the full story, the three were delighted; now, in Haomiao Prefecture, they could look out for each other.

"What about Xiao Cancan? You two are going long-distance!" Zhou Qing smirked, teasingly.

Zhang Wanbao waved his hand dismissively. "They say 'marry first, then build a career'—but reverse it, and that's the real truth."

As the conversation deepened and Zhang Wanbao learned Zhou Qing and the others would be studying at Baiyu Tai Xu Academy, his eyes lit up. He immediately patted his chest and promised that once settled, he'd come visit them.

If they needed anything—anything reasonable—he'd give it to them for free.

After all, he'd be the one in charge there.

The three laughed and groaned—your father would have a heart attack if he knew you were this wasteful.

At that moment, Zhou Qing casually glanced through the crowd and spotted a young man with a golden tag reading 【The Kid with Insanely Lucky Fortune】 approaching.

Who else could it be but Er Daye?

"I've been searching for you for ages—turns out you're here!" Er Daye came over, smiling with familiar ease.

Lu Yaoyao and Yan Xiao Hu looked puzzled; Zhou Qing blinked, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

Er Daye cleared his throat deliberately. "What, don't recognize me? I'm Si Yunya, the guide sent to escort you to the academy."

Zhou Qing feigned realization. "Oh, so you're Brother Si Yun—long time no see."

In that instant, Yan Xiao Hu and Lu Yaoyao understood who this person was.

So this is Er Daye? He's this young?

He doesn't look much older than us.

Probably not his true appearance.

"Greetings, Brother Si Yun!" they both bowed quickly.

Er Daye nodded approvingly, then turned his gaze to Zhang Wanbao, curiosity in his eyes. "Who's this little chubby guy?"

Zhou Qing quickly introduced him.

Er Daye was slightly surprised.

Zhang Wanbao, hearing this man was Zhou big brother's future senior, immediately brightened, pulled a high-grade spirit stone from his storage pouch, and offered it with both hands, beaming.

"Since you're Brother Si Yun to Zhou big brother and Yan big brother, you're also my brother Zhang Wanbao's brother. My two older brothers are new to Baiyu Tai Xu Academy, strangers in a strange land—please look after them a bit. This small token is nothing, just a gesture!"

Zhang Wanbao spoke with sincere earnestness.

Seeing the high-grade spirit stone secretly slipped into his hand, Er Daye's eyes instantly brightened, his smile deepening.

He looked at the chubby boy again, filled with admiration.

No wonder he came from a merchant family—wealthy, bold, and clever.

"Nonsense, nonsense," Er Daye laughed, waving his hand and smoothly slipping the spirit stone into his robe.

"We're all brothers—what talk of looking after or not? In the academy, I'll naturally take good care of them."

But before they'd spoken two more sentences, Fu Kui arrived, his expression sharply wary.

Er Daye seemed to sense Fu Kui's gaze; he turned slowly, meeting Fu Kui's eyes for a moment.

That glance seemed ordinary—but it sent a jolt through Fu Kui's heart.

He involuntarily nodded slightly, yet his mind was in turmoil.

Everyone near the young master was under his strict surveillance—but this man, though young, was beyond his cultivation sense.

Could this man be a Zhan Ling cultivator?

"Come on, come on—I'll go say hello, let's skip ahead!" Zhang Wanbao scanned the crowd, grabbed Zhou Qing's arm, and pulled him forward.

This back-and-forth wasted too much time—by the time it was their turn, it'd be dark.

Time is money—he couldn't wait, especially with his brothers here.

Several prefecture guards, who had been watching the line intently, immediately tensed at the sight of someone cutting in line and stepped forward to stop them.

But when they recognized Zhang Wanbao, their stern expressions softened instantly, and they halted.

The man seated at the table, meticulously collecting spirit stones, saw Zhang Wanbao and immediately stood up, beaming as he rushed forward.

After all, the prefectural lord had ordered: Wanxiang Auction personnel enjoyed supreme privileges for teleportation.

After all, had it not been for Zhang Yifu, the prefectural lord sent here initially could never have so swiftly seized control and smoothly taken over such a vast territory.

And the two families might even become in-laws.

After a brief exchange, the man nodded eagerly, his face plastered with obsequious smiles, and swiftly rearranged the teleportation order.

"Let's go!" After waiting about half an hour, the group didn't even pay—they stepped onto the array and vanished.

………

Central Square of Haomiao Prefecture!

With a flash of light, the group appeared.

Here too, crowds surged, bustling and lively—everyone waited in long lines for teleportation to different destinations.

"Alright, I won't see you off—I'll come visit you later!" After exiting Haomiao Prefecture, Zhang Wanbao looked at Zhou Qing and the others warmly.

Zhou Qing and the others thanked him profusely.

Only after they were far away did Zhou Qing exhale deeply, then turned respectfully to Er Daye. "Grandpa, what do we do next?"

Er Daye spoke calmly: "Suppress your cultivation to Nascent Soul early stage. You two don't need to. By the way, have you learned anything about Baiyu Tai Xu Academy?"

Yan Xiao Hu immediately pulled out the purchased intelligence. Er Daye glanced at it, nodded, and said: "Close enough—but the academy's headmaster is a Zhan Ling expert. Be careful when you meet him."

The three were stunned.

Er Daye added a bit more.

Baiyu Tai Xu Academy was universally recognized as Haomiao Prefecture's highest institution; every graduate ended up in the top tier of their field.

Because of this, its supporters were countless, its status transcendent.

The academy was divided into Outer and Inner Academies. The Outer Academy had many students and fierce competition—only those who excelled in brutal assessments could enter the Inner Academy.

(End of Chapter)