Chapter 49: You Can

Meanwhile, at another table, Yan Xiao watched the awkward atmosphere and quickly waved to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing sighed and walked over, whispering: “How did they end up here?”

“I don’t know either. When I got down this morning, I saw them already eating—and they’d been at it for ages. Clearly waiting for you, to give you a surprise,” Yan Xiao whispered.

Zhou Qing let out a hollow laugh.

This wasn’t a surprise—it was a scare.

“Didn’t you say the Shenyue Peak team had already left?” Zhou Qing studied the map his master had given him.

The thirteen peaks of Taiqingmen each had their own assigned search zones.

Yan Xiao frowned too: “Exactly. I thought Shenyue Peak was led by the fourth and fifth seniors. Who knew they’d show up here? Forget it—let’s finish eating and leave. Look at Li Daoxuan’s face—he’s practically screaming his disgust at us.”

Zhou Qing nodded vigorously.

Who could’ve predicted the Qingyu Immortal Sect’s spying scandal would blow up so badly? One was the peeper, the other the lookout.

And on top of that, Li Daoxuan had a beautiful junior sister—how could he possibly let her associate with these two scoundrels?

But there was nothing they could do about it.

The next moment, Lu Yaoyao walked over with a bowl of tofu pudding, smiling, and sat right beside Zhou Qing.

“Senior Zhou, Senior Yan, what’s your plan? How are you going to search?” Lu Yaoyao asked.

Yan Xiao cleared his throat, glancing at Li Daoxuan, who sat across from them with a sour expression, and said: “Little Sister Lu, this is a secret operation of Xiaoling Peak—you see…”

“I know, but I’m joining you. I need to know the general route,” Lu Yaoyao said seriously.

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao froze.

“Join us?” They both turned sharply to Li Daoxuan, whose face was as long as a donkey’s.

Li Daoxuan set down his chopsticks and said slowly: “Little Sixth just came out of seclusion. After hearing about the Qingyu Immortal Sect incident, she wanted to lend a hand. But everyone else had already left and couldn’t be caught up with—only you two are still at the mountain’s base, so I thought we might as well help search together.”

The two let out another hollow laugh.

You only just started today and you can’t catch up?

Who’d believe that?

Never mind the token communication issue—just by your strength and speed, Li Daoxuan, even if you carried ten girls, you could reach any team in half a day.

Frankly, your little sister’s intentions aren’t about helping—she’s after us two brothers.

But—

Yan Xiao’s small eyes darted. Forget their motives—for now, if Li Daoxuan was with them, at least his and Little Brother’s safety was guaranteed.

Zhou Qing was about to speak, but Yan Xiao kicked him under the table.

“Why are you kicking me?” Li Daoxuan glared at Yan Xiao.

That round face with tiny eyes was getting more irritating by the second.

Zhou Qing’s current habit? Entirely your fault, you bad senior.

Yan Xiao suddenly felt embarrassed—he’d kicked the wrong person.

He cleared his throat and clapped his hands: “Since I’m the team leader for Xiaoling Peak, let me say a few words. I think with Senior Li and Little Sister Lu joining us, our team is now like a tiger with wings.”

“Especially since Little Sister Lu just broke through to Foundation Establishment, right? That’s even better. Four core disciples plus eight true disciples—our combat power is top-notch. So I agree!”

Under the table, Yan Xiao gently kicked Zhou Qing again. Zhou Qing understood his third senior’s intent immediately and said nothing more.

“Thank you, Senior Yan, Senior Zhou!” Lu Yaoyao beamed.

Li Daoxuan sighed softly, recalling his master’s final words before departure: “With Little Sixth’s successful Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, you must protect her—consider it your training.”

Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment? His master had actually given his junior sister the #26-ranked Heavenly Dao energy, “Star Spirit.”

He remembered how he’d struggled through countless dangers just to obtain a single thread of the #42-ranked Heavenly Dao energy. With the crisis still looming, he’d been forced to immediately refine it, breaking through to Foundation Establishment just barely to escape death.

Second senior He Han had Earth Vein Foundation Establishment. Third through fifth seniors? Straight-up Human Dao Foundation Establishment—no Earth Vein energy at all.

So the master had kept this rare Heavenly Dao energy stored for so long… because no one worthy had appeared.

Of course—Star Spirit leans yin. For a woman to cultivate it? Double the results.

After eating, the twelve of them left Yanlong City and headed toward their assigned search zone.

…………

Yan Xiao studied the map and said: “Generally, all sect disciples pass through this mountain range when departing. Senior Li, what’s your take?”

Li Daoxuan crossed his arms and replied coolly: “I’m only responsible for protecting Little Sixth. Everything else is none of my concern.”

Yan Xiao’s face lit up—he had some self-awareness after all.

Just focus on being our bodyguard. The rest is up to me and Old Four.

“Old Four, sniff it out—which direction did Cui Yingying’s group take?” Yan Xiao turned to Zhou Qing.

“Get lost!” Zhou Qing looked utterly unimpressed.

Lu Yaoyao frowned: “Senior Yan, what are you asking Senior Zhou to sniff?”

Yan Xiao beamed with admiration: “Of course, to sniff out scent trails! You don’t know—Old Four’s nose is incredible. All of us combined can’t match it…”

“Enough, enough. Just pick a direction. Instead of hunting Qingyu Immortal Sect traces, better to track the Cangyan Dao Palace’s route,” Zhou Qing said, then walked straight ahead.

Yan Xiao immediately slapped his thigh.

“You’re right! How did I forget? Nianguangmo, Yue Dong—you two lead teams and thoroughly scout a hundred-li radius. Find out where Cangyan Dao Palace’s people left from!”

Two early-stage Jin Dan true disciples stepped forward, bowed, then each led three others and flew off swiftly.

Lu Yaoyao grew even more curious: “Why look for Cangyan Dao Palace’s trail?”

Yan Xiao told them about Zhou Qing smelling the Ling’ao Essence from the jade pendant yesterday.

It wasn’t a secret—he’d already reported it to Old Mo.

Old Mo would definitely inform the Sect Master and others, prompting investigation and caution.

Besides, telling them would help them stay alert to Cangyan Dao Palace’s people.

【Heart Mirror +6】

Lu Yaoyao looked at Zhou Qing’s retreating back with deep admiration.

The note above his head, previously 【Good Fortune】, instantly changed to 【Damn Awesome】.

Li Daoxuan also stared at Zhou Qing in disbelief, then frowned, lost in thought.

He unconsciously touched his own nose.

Is he really that good?

Can he smell Ling’ao Essence?

No wonder he keeps peeking at girls bathing—when someone dives into a pool, you instantly smell it?

“Senior Zhou, your chicken seems thinner?”

Lu Yaoyao trotted up, smiling and greeting him.

Zhou Qing sat on a rock and pulled the old hen closer.

The hen immediately came over and pecked at the rock with a rapid tap-tap-tap.

“Thinner’s better—less likely to be noticed,” Zhou Qing said.

Lu Yaoyao glanced secretly at Zhou Qing’s nose, then touched her own and sniffed hard.

“Does your ass smell good?” Zhou Qing suddenly asked.

Lu Yaoyao shook her head instinctively: “No… ugh~”

She clamped her nose and fled in panic. Zhou Qing burst into uncontrollable laughter.

Li Daoxuan opened his mouth, unsure what to say, then glanced at Yan Xiao’s sly, rat-like face and snorted.

“You can’t sleep in the same blanket and end up with two different kinds of people!”

Thank you to [pxj_414] for the 5000 reward—our first Steward has arrived. Thank you, great master.

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(End of Chapter)