Chapter 39: Yan Xiao Hu, Who Has No Way to Explain

When Zhou Qing met Cui Yingying’s gaze, he immediately bowed nervously.

Cui Yingying returned the bow, then said, “Zhou younger brother, please forgive us—we saw you two come by last night, and we definitely spotted a chicken by the hot spring. It was just too coincidental. We had no leads at all, and others mentioned you two like… cough, cough.”

Cui Yingying suddenly looked a bit embarrassed.

Yan Xiao heard this and immediately exploded.

What do you mean?

Once a thief, always a thief? Next time something goes missing, everyone will suspect us first?

Is this fair?

Zhou Qing understood exactly what Cui Yingying meant—he had no face to argue.

Cui Yingying continued, “Last night I briefly clashed with that thief—he used a powerful technique. Afterward, I consulted our sect elders, and they recognized it as your sect’s forbidden art—the Silver Dragon Hand.”

“I heard you once earned merit for the sect and were granted it by a Supreme Elder. Is that true?”

Zhou Qing nodded. “Yes, it was granted not long ago—I haven’t even had time to cultivate it. It definitely wasn’t me. First, I’m only at Foundation Establishment—how could I have slipped into that villa without a sound?”

Cui Yingying had already noticed Zhou Qing’s cultivation base—it made no sense.

According to the elders, the Silver Dragon Hand is extremely difficult to master—it takes years, not days.

But last night, that man used it at a minor mastery level, which directly contradicts the timeline of when Zhou younger brother received it.

Unless… he’s a genius!

And there’s another thing we still can’t figure out—if he was just spying, why suddenly burst out and carry off the chicken right in front of so many of us?

Was this a provocation?

Or was he overconfident in his strength?

Clearly, the Zhou younger brother before us matches some traits, but his strength simply couldn’t support such boldness.

Cui Yingying smiled faintly. “Zhou younger brother, don’t take it personally—I’m just asking if you know anyone else who cultivates the Silver Dragon Hand, to help us catch the thief faster and clear our sisters’ names.”

Zhou Qing frowned in thought, then shook his head. “I truly don’t know. The Silver Dragon Hand was found by our Supreme Elder during his youth, far from home. Who knows how many others learned it before and passed it down?”

Cui Yingying agreed with this answer.

With no further questions, she bowed and led the group away.

“What a scare, Master! You have to defend us! Now even random cats and dogs are biting us…”

“Kneel!”

Yan Xiao hadn’t even finished his tearful plea when Mo Xingjian, furious, barked at them from above.

Both instinctively dropped to their knees.

Mo Xingjian trembled with rage as he stepped toward them.

“Excellent! Truly excellent! You’ve divided the tasks clearly—someone scouts, someone keeps watch, someone enjoys the view. Brothers united, their strength can cut through metal, right?”

Mo Xingjian sneered.

Both lowered their heads in silence—they knew they couldn’t fool their master.

After all, they had a record.

“Master, we really just went to find a chicken!” Zhou Qing looked up. “And this has nothing to do with Third Senior Brother—it was all my doing.”

Mo Xingjian glanced at Zhou Qing coldly, then instantly struck Yan Xiao three sharp blows on the head.

Yan Xiao yelped, clutching his skull, grimacing in pain.

“What are you doing?!” Yan Xiao cried, tears welling up.

Zhou Qing froze.

Mo Xingjian snapped, “It’s all because of you! Old Four used to be such a simple kid—now he keeps sneaking to spy on women bathing. How did this habit start? Don’t you know?”

Yan Xiao: “…”

Two streams of hot tears rolled down his face.

“Master, this really isn’t Third Senior Brother’s fault—I’m just unlucky…”

“Shut up!” Mo Xingjian cut him off.

Then he sighed in frustration. “You’re hopeless. They’re just pretty skeletons—do you really need this? From the Supreme Elder down to the eighteen female disciples of the outer sect, then the core disciples of Jade Clear Peak—now even that isn’t enough? You’ve set your sights on disciples from other sects?”

“Forty-plus women—how can you possibly keep track? This time you got away clean—what about next time? Pfft, you’re already thinking about next time? Fine, I’ll give you advice: these girls are boring. Just capture the sect master of Qingyu Immortal Sect. That’s better—tomorrow she’ll call me Master too. How prestigious!”

Mo Xingjian mocked sarcastically.

Zhou Qing stayed silent, head bowed.

Thus, Mo Xingjian paced back and forth, scolding one, then the other, occasionally comparing them to Senior Brother Gui Ao.

After who knew how long, Mo Xingjian finally grew tired of yelling and ordered them out—seeing them made him annoyed.

“I should’ve never given him that Ink Soul Jade,” Yan Xiao muttered, rubbing his three swollen bumps as they stepped outside.

Zhou Qing pulled out the padding from his shoes, sniffed his red nose, then apologized to Third Senior Brother: “Sorry, Third Senior Brother—it’s all my fault for dragging you into this.”

Yan Xiao said, “Don’t talk like that—we’re brothers. What’s dragging? But come to think of it… do you really have this habit of sneaking peeks? If so, I’ve really failed you.”

Zhou Qing quickly waved his hands.

“No no no—it’s just bad luck every time. Forget it—it’s fate!” Zhou Qing felt exhausted.

Yan Xiao sighed inwardly, then looked put-upon. “I only saw the Supreme Elders bathing once—and it left me with lifelong trauma. Yet every time something happens, they blame me, like I saw everything.”

Zhou Qing felt awkward, even more ashamed.

This kind of thing would never happen again.

“Zhou older brother, are you alright?”

As they walked down, four figures approached.

Who else but Lu Yaoyao and the others?

Zhou Qing immediately noticed the notes above their heads.

Lu Yaoyao’s original 【So Generous】 had changed to 【So Lucky】.

Li Daoxuan’s 【Still a Respectable Lothario】 had reverted to 【A Lothario Who Can’t Change His Ways】.

But Shi Zhen had come too—and her note had changed from 【Such a Childish Zhou Younger Brother】 to 【Zhou Younger Brother with Worse Sleepwalking】.

Sister, you’re truly innocent.

Who sleepwalks to someone else’s territory and walks away unscathed?

“Zhou younger brother, I just saw Qingyu Immortal Sect leave—are you alright?” Shi Zhen asked anxiously.

Zhou Qing shook his head, smiling. “Thanks for worrying—it was just a misunderstanding. Not my doing.”

“And not mine either!” Yan Xiao added, rubbing his head.

Shi Zhen nodded reassuringly. “I knew it was a misunderstanding. Good you’re fine.”

But Lu Yaoyao and the other two looked at them like, “You think I believe that?”

The chicken went missing, and you asked us to help find it.

Then you two stormed into that villa, and right after, a chicken appeared by the hot spring—snatched away. Plus the Silver Dragon Hand, and your prior record.

Even your toes could figure out it’s you.

(End of Chapter)