[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female-":3,"chapter-my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--chapter-278":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Master's Elder Brother Just Took on a Female Disciple",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2265811,4423,"Chapter 278: Nannan, this is Brother Zhou Qing—he","my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--chapter-278",278,"\u003Cp>Facing Zhou Qing’s sudden question, Shen Yunzhou immediately perked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glancing around and confirming no one was eavesdropping, he lowered his voice, a sly smile appearing on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’d never guess in a million years—it’s her Nascent Soul enhancement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nascent Soul enhancement?” Zhou Qing blinked, a flicker of surprise in his pupils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had previously speculated, but leaned toward the Soul Transformation realm’s aura—not expecting it to relate to the Nascent Soul at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou deliberately stalled, leaning close with a mysterious tone: “The heavenly qi my sister cultivated is Qian Yin, ranked third among heavenly qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her awakened Qian Yin Nascent Soul places immense value on fate. Anyone she deems fated is perfectly attuned to her spiritual field.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only those who bring her inner peace and tangible benefits can earn her notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing was taken aback upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he remembered correctly, there were only ten Heavenly-grade Nascent Souls, and Qian Yin ranked third—barely behind San Hua Ju Ding and Si Xiang Gui Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder she reached the Zhan Ling realm so young—her talent was truly extraordinary!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, his own Si Hua Ju Ding technically fell outside the Heavenly-grade classification—just how far would he go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, how old is your sister?” Zhou Qing finally couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou instantly eyed him like a thief, his tone brimming with suspicion: “What? Now that she’s deemed you fated, you’re getting ideas?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, don’t misunderstand—I’m just curious. She looks so young, yet she’s already at the Zhan Ling realm,” Zhou Qing hastily waved his hands, explaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou relaxed slightly but still shook his head: “A girl’s age is a sacred secret—I can’t tell you, or my sister will kill me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, don’t take it too seriously. Since she cultivated heavenly qi and began her cultivation path, countless people have been deemed fated by her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet, very few have sustained that fate and continued to bring her benefits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This “gathered for benefit, scattered when benefit ends” dynamic sounded suspiciously like “seduce and abandon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does being a confidant today mean becoming a stranger tomorrow if things go slightly wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhou Qing frown, Shen Yunzhou chuckled and bumped his shoulder: “Worried? Treat it as fleeting chance—gain it, you’re lucky; lose it, it’s fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even I, her own brother, haven’t been deemed fated—why are you stressing over it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing smiled: “Nothing. I just find her Heavenly-grade Nascent Soul fascinating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally!” Shen Yunzhou’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Heavenly, Earthly, Xuan, Huang-grade Nascent Souls each have their own wonders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Zhou brother, what heavenly qi did you cultivate? What Nascent Soul did you awaken?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Shen Yunzhou turned curiously to Zhou Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s face flushed awkwardly, then he turned serious: “I—I have nothing worth mentioning. What about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft, fine, if you won’t tell, I won’t tell you either,” Shen Yunzhou said, seeing Zhou Qing’s reluctance and dropping the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he could guess: Zhou Qing must have achieved Heavenly-grade Foundation Establishment, or he wouldn’t be at mid-Soul Transformation so young—though he didn’t know which grade his Nascent Soul was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh, what’s that?” At that moment, Shen Yunzhou turned his head and saw two black-clad figures suddenly climbing up from the abyss below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—they’d scanned earlier and detected no living energy. Where did these two come from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhou Qing saw them, his pupils instantly contracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Black-clad puppets!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After emerging from the abyss, the two black-clad puppets immediately scanned their surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou was about to speak, but Zhou Qing yanked him aside into hiding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the puppets merely stared blankly around, then swiftly departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You recognize them?” Shen Yunzhou asked, pulled aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching their furtive backs, Zhou Qing signaled silence, hesitated briefly, then followed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the two black-clad puppets headed straight toward a deeper abyss nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, more and more black-clad puppets climbed out from below—dense, countless, over a hundred thousand—scenes of staggering grandeur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Shen Yunzhou finally understood, his face filled with shock: “These aren’t people—they’re puppets?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing frowned heavily and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t seen these black-clad puppets in ages—why were they here in Canglan Mountain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These puppets are fascinating—they seem forged directly from living humans. So agile, yet no trace of living energy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou muttered in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still—there were so many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though most were Nascent Soul and Jin Dan, even Foundation Establishment, if united, even a large force of Soul Transformation cultivators couldn’t withstand them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, these puppets obeyed orders unconditionally, felt no pain, feared no death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing remained silent, eyes locked on the gathering puppet army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gazes all seemed fixed on a single direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go.” Zhou Qing suddenly spoke, his figure flashing forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou didn’t dare delay—he hurried after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, they saw two figures at the northeastern edge—one tall, one small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sikong Yan”—Zhou Qing showed little surprise at the figure facing away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his gaze fell on the little girl in the floral dress beside Sikong Yan, his pupils shrank violently, disbelief flooding his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because that girl was Nannan—the child whose image had been captured on the jade stone sent by Sikong Yan to Gao Xuan’s senior, months ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing rubbed his eyes quickly, ensuring he wasn’t hallucinating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Nannan still alive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the image on the jade stone not from the past—but from now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impossible. Absolutely impossible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Gao Xuan’s senior, Nannan had died long ago. Even if she were alive, she shouldn’t still look exactly as she did then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Shen Yunzhou gently nudged Zhou Qing and swallowed hard, visibly tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing snapped back to reality, looked around—and realized hundreds of thousands of black-clad puppets had silently surrounded them, their eyes vacant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s face darkened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend, you’ve watched long enough—why not come out and converse?” Sikong Yan slowly turned, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou sighed, looking at Zhou Qing: Should’ve known better than to get involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is he? What realm? Can we take him down?” Shen Yunzhou whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing stared at the annotation 【Fish】 above Sikong Yan’s head, his brow furrowed deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord of Cangyan Dao Palace, one of the Five Great Sects—Soul Transformation peak!” Zhou Qing explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou nodded in understanding: “Troublesome. Mainly because there are too many puppets here—our flying vessel won’t fit. If needed, you’ll have to distract them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing nodded slightly, then fixed his gaze solemnly on Sikong Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time they met in person was during the Linggu Skull Realm’s opening—he’d secretly bound him then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Zhou Qing stepped forward, Sikong Yan spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend, few come here now. Since you came alone, you must have a story—why not step out and talk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Shen Yunzhou was baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you blind? These puppets are your eyes—can’t you tell it’s two people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s raised foot instantly retracted, his expression odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cleared his throat: “He’s calling you. Go out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I’m not a person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, I’m local!” Zhou Qing said earnestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t think I’m new here—I know your record. During the Five Sects War, you slew more than one of their prodigies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Local or not—you’re still an enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t believe me? Watch me leave!” Zhou Qing turned and slipped through gaps between the black-clad puppets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout, the puppets made no move to stop him—as if they couldn’t see him at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou began doubting his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Favoritism?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—did Zhou Qing find a flaw in these puppets?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zhou Qing slip past the puppets and sprint toward the perimeter, Shen Yunzhou rubbed his hands and stepped back, ready to slip out through a gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, every black-clad puppet stepped forward in unison, their hollow gazes locking onto him like icy arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, who’s that big brother?” Nannan asked, watching the young man emerge surrounded by puppets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan’s lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze settling on Shen Yunzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke calmly: “I’ve never seen them, but this big brother seems a bit tense—probably frightened. Nannan, tell them to withdraw.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nannan nodded obediently, her tiny pink hand flicking lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, all the black-robed puppets bowed their heads as if pulled by invisible threads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, like clusters of shadows, they swiftly sank into the ground and vanished without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away, Zhou Qing frowned tightly, quickly capturing the scene with an image stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had witnessed firsthand the modification process of these black-robed puppets; even Shi Zhen had nearly fallen victim to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Senior Brother once speculated that the cultivation arrays within these puppets each had subtle differences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cangyan Dao Palace must have a mother body capable of unilateral control; to eliminate them, you must either crush them with overwhelming force or destroy the mother body outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it seemed Third Senior Brother’s guess was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Zhou Qing could not possibly link that adorable little girl, barely five or six years old, to the mother body controlling the puppets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what had just happened forced him to accept the reality before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou also gaped in astonishment; if he wanted to flee now, the girl seemingly couldn’t stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after a brief hesitation, he still chose to step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nannan walked forward cautiously, her big watery eyes fixed on him, her voice soft: “Big brother, don’t be afraid. Uncle is very kind—he won’t hurt you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou looked at the adorable, innocent little girl and forced a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He steadied himself, then turned to Sikong Yan and bowed slightly: “Greetings, fellow cultivator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan nodded slightly, his gaze sharp as a hawk’s, and spoke slowly: “I heard someone encountered Jin Leizong’s secret base in the Gobi of Tianji Sect and fled in panic—surely that was you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou’s eyes flickered with surprise, then he chuckled: “Heh, you’re an interesting one—how’d you get such sharp intel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he spoke lightly, he didn’t advance further, instead maintaining a cautious distance from Sikong Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan smiled calmly, sizing him up: “You’re already at the late stage of Soul Transformation—yet you’re not from Lingyun Prefecture, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou crossed his arms, lifted his chin, and his eyes held a touch of defiance: “You’ve got good eyes. But I’m more curious—are you a puppeteer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan shook his head lightly, his tone indifferent: “Merely dabbling. May I ask your name, and why you’re here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this your backyard? Can’t I just stroll around?” Shen Yunzhou retorted with a raised eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan didn’t anger; instead, he threw back his head and laughed loudly: “Of course you can—feel free. But your temperament reminds me of an old acquaintance—he seems to be here too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, his gaze flickered faintly toward the distant forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing had been hiding in the shadows, observing—suddenly, both men turned to look directly at him. His face paled; he spun around in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far behind him, a white-robed figure stood silently, robes fluttering, his silhouette radiating cold aloofness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing looked at Lin Jin, then at Sikong Yan gazing this way—and in that moment, his doubts were fully resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two know each other!” Zhou Qing said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time, outside Taiqingmen’s gate, Lin Jin insisted on buying large quantities of [Bad Luck Talisman] from him—and Zhou Qing refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhou Qing merely asked why he intended to use the [Bad Luck Talisman] on the Grand Eunuch Gao Xianzhong, Lin Jin said nothing and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he appeared here again—coincidentally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that: in the Divine Ruins Tiangong, No. 7 Sikong Yan claimed he erased the Fifth Imperial Prince—everything proved their connection ran deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This also explained why, back at Bai Yu Taixu Courtyard, Lin Jin had first targeted Third Senior Brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Third Senior Brother had trespassed on Cangyan Dao Palace’s ancestral graves three times in a row; the last time, he slipped into the sect’s grounds and left messages—and urinated—on the plaza with Lei Luo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou young friend, long time no see—come chat a while?” Sikong Yan’s voice, laced with spiritual energy, carried across the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He possessed the [Imperial Radiance Scripture], [Wound-Healing], and the Inscription-level Divine Art [Hundred Tribulations Blood Veil]—enough to handle a typical Soul Transformation peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Shen Yunzhou was right here—once he unleashed the Stench Realm, it’d nauseate you to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go together, Lin Jin!” Zhou Qing glanced at Lin Jin, then walked forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the abyss’s edge, watching Zhou Qing walk through the air, Shen Yunzhou smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I really thought you’d abandoned me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, isn’t this the guy who always puts on airs? He’s here too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Shen Yunzhou saw a white-robed figure flying backward and landing atop the treetops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never showed his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Acting so mysterious?” Shen Yunzhou sneered, his eyes brimming with disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After landing, Zhou Qing first bowed to Sikong Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, regardless of anything, Sikong Yan was of the same generation as the Sect Master’s Elder Brother—and Zhou Qing was merely a junior upstart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the bow, his gaze involuntarily fell on the girl in the floral dress hiding behind Sikong Yan; his brows knitted tightly, his eyes filled with complexity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good buddy!” Shen Yunzhou grinned and stepped over, standing casually beside him—but his eyes remained sharply fixed on the white-robed figure, ready for any surprise attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan studied Zhou Qing from head to toe, clicking his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last time we met was at Linggu Mountain, I heard you returned from Bai Yu Taixu Courtyard and entered Soul Transformation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, only a few years later, you’ve reached Soul Transformation mid-stage—this progress is truly astonishing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing bowed again, his tone humble: “Your Grace flatters me—I merely stumbled upon an opportunity and barely broke through.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan laughed. “Barely? Let me count: since the Five Sects War, you ‘barely’ killed five of our prodigies and dozens of Nascent Souls; you ‘barely’ exposed and destroyed the puppet-making workshops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You ‘barely’ topped the Most Wanted List; you ‘barely’ tore open the defenses at Canglan Mountain to rescue the Taiqingmen disciples; in just a few years, you ‘barely’ comprehended a Realm, advanced to Soul Transformation, and even became a formation master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That word ‘barely’ is heavy indeed,” Sikong Yan said, counting each point with a flick of his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing said nothing; beside him, Shen Yunzhou stared at Zhou Qing in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clearly didn’t dig deep enough into you!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nannan, this is Brother Zhou Qing—he’s a close friend of your father’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhou Qing silent, Sikong Yan suddenly crouched and gently pushed the timid little girl forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s pupils contracted sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nannan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could she really be Gao Xuan’s daughter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could react, the girl rushed forward with her short legs, her bright eyes filled with hope: “Brother Zhou Qing, do you really know my dad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing glanced at Nannan, then at Sikong Yan—wondering what game he was playing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for now, he could only pretend ignorance, frowning: “Her father is—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know? I remember sending a recording stone to Taiqingmen months ago—you never replied.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan sighed with regret, then crouched and tugged Nannan’s sleeve: “Nannan, it seems your father has forgotten you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nannan’s eyes instantly filled with tears; fat droplets tumbled down her cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! Dad wouldn’t abandon Nannan—” She clutched Sikong Yan’s sleeve and cried out, her voice trembling with fear and despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this, Zhou Qing’s heart tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou looked confused, wanting to speak but unsure what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan gently wiped the girl’s tears, yet a faint, almost imperceptible smile curled his lips: “So you see, it’s not that I won’t take you to find your father—it’s that your father has already forgotten you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about this? From now on, I’ll be your father. Good girl—call me ‘Dad’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s face darkened instantly; a chilling aura surged around him. He stepped forward, his voice icy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting Nannan recognize a villain as her father? Dream on!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Sikong, Senior Gao has been in seclusion for a long time—the recording stone you sent never reached him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan slowly turned his head, a mocking smile on his lips: “Senior Gao? When did I say her father’s surname is Gao? Nannan, what’s your father’s surname?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father’s surname is Dong, and so is mine. My mother’s surname is Lan,” Nannan sniffled, tear-streaked cheeks still flushed pink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, so his surname is Dong? Why did you mistake her for Senior Gao’s daughter, Zhou young friend?” Sikong Yan asked, feigning curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s face turned grim; he spoke bluntly: “Senior, if you have something to say, just say it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan pulled out a handkerchief embroidered with gold thread and gently wiped Nannan’s tears: “It seems some pawns, after wandering too long, have forgotten who they are. Tell me—what else did he reveal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s fists clenched, knuckles cracking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Senior Gao Xuan said Cangyan Dao Palace hadn’t assigned him any missions in a long time—they’d clearly sensed something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before Zhou Qing could speak, Nannan, who had been crying, suddenly turned deathly pale; her body went limp and collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s face changed: “What did you do to her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan gently laid Nannan on the ground; four black-robed puppets suddenly emerged from beneath the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They carefully lifted her and sank back into the ground, vanishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan brushed off his sleeves and stood, his tone casual: “I did nothing—she’s just ill. I haven’t fully cured her yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing’s chest heaved, but he was powerless to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether in reality or in the Divine Ruins Tiangong, he had never been able to see through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yunzhou now understood—he stepped forward sharply, spiritual energy surging around him, his blue robes lifted by invisible waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glared at Sikong Yan, eyes blazing with fury: “Fellow cultivator, you’ve cultivated for countless years—you know well that in our world, disputes never target family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Using a child like this to threaten others—what kind of gentleman are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sikong Yan burst into loud, mocking laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually flicked his sleeve: “I’m no gentleman. In mortal tales, I’d be the villain—the dark sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given your chivalrous air, you know: villains never follow rules. To me, the more ruthless the method, the more effective it is—as long as it achieves the goal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—” Shen Yunzhou turned crimson with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qing suppressed his fury and spoke coldly: “Senior, just say it—what do you want? Or what must I do to take Nannan away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3098,"2026-06-19T20:13:54.632Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","20cf271aed43835336cf5853f0b0269d82e61c7c6472835c099d0eee895f976b","my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--chapter-279","my-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--chapter-277",302,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-master-s-elder-brother-just-took-on-a-female--cover.jpg"]