Chapter 392

Upon meeting, Pei Si immediately said "Congratulations and prosperity," which was fine enough, but Cao Cixiu behind him also solemnly added a "Congratulations and prosperity."

This made Mu Yuanzhi a bit unable to hold back, so she also replied with a "shared joy."

During the New Year, it's normal and polite to greet with "Congratulations and prosperity" upon meeting; Mu Yuanzhi told herself that.

But for some reason, the air was filled with a puzzling awkward atmosphere that couldn't be dispelled.

But this awkwardness seemed to be felt only by Mu Yuanzhi herself; Pei Si and the others didn't seem to notice it.

Pei Si sat down, and Cao Cixiu stood behind him as always, a dutiful chief of the death warriors.

Mu Yuanzhi personally served tea to Pei Si, sending away all the attendants in the hall.

"Thank you for the trouble, Princess, personally pouring tea for this palace." Pei Si accepted with a smile.

"Third Prince, you're too courteous." Mu Yuanzhi poured tea for Pei Si, then also poured a cup for Cao Cixiu: "Please, Sir Cao."

Cao Cixiu hadn't expected Mu Yuanzhi to pour tea for him as well; he looked at Pei Si, who said: "Just accept what the Princess gives you; don't let her kindness go to waste."

"Then, thank you, Princess." Cao Cixiu received the cup with both hands.

Mu Yuanzhi glanced at Cao Cixiu again, feeling that his earlier interactions with her hadn't been like this—was he putting on an act of obedience in front of Pei Si, or was he truly loyal to Pei Si to the point of strictly following his every word and deed?

She noticed that with Pei Si present, Cao Cixiu was indeed much more proper.

Pei Si smiled, took a sip of tea, not rushing to speak, as if someone else had business with him.

Mu Yuanzhi had originally been about to go look for Qilin, but she hadn't expected Pei Si and his group to suddenly arrive; however, she wasn't in a hurry either.

Since the other party wasn't in a rush, she was happy to have a cup of tea.

Both remained calm and unhurried, each sipping tea, as if neither wanted to speak first.

Cao Cixiu, standing behind Pei Si, stared straight ahead without glancing sideways, not knowing whether he was zoning out or actually looking at the vase in front.

After about a quarter of an hour or so, just as Mu Yuanzhi, bored, began to check whether her nails today were painted crookedly, Pei Si finally couldn't hold back and asked: "Princess, aren't you going to ask why I've come here?"

"If the Third Prince wants to say something, he will say it naturally." Mu Yuanzhi looked over again and smiled at Pei Si.

Pei Si gave a noncommittal smile: "The Princess really can keep her composure."

"Not bad, neither arrogant nor impatient."

Pei Si set down his teacup and asked: "Princess, do you know what my household's death warrior chief found when he went into the Back Mountain that day?"

"What?" Mu Yuanzhi asked, interested.

Cao Cixiu had indeed found a method to dispel the miasma?!

Pei Si just laughed: "I thought the Princess wouldn't be interested."

"How could that be? Third Prince, stop being coy—you came to Juechen Valley this time and helped us; what exactly do you want?"

They'd been holding it in for so many days, and they really could hold it in.

"Frankly, I'm actually quite interested in the miasma itself of your Juechen Valley; perhaps I could make use of it."

"Can Your Highness even divert all the miasma away?"

"That's hard to say; let's talk about the miasma itself." Pei Si said, "The source of the miasma lies beneath the fire pool; if we resolve that, the miasma on the mountain valley can no longer cause harm."

"So, Sir Cao, what method did you inquire about?"

"This method is simple to say, yet complex to say, but your urgent priority right now should still be the Qilin Valley Master's health issue, right?" Pei Si cut straight to the point.

He indeed knew!

Mu Yuanzhi's expression grew solemn.

Aside from the two direct disciples, only a few of them knew about the Qilin matter; how did Pei Si find out?

Could there be more than one spy in Juechen Valley? One leaking news to the Cold Dew Stronghold, another leaking to him?

Isn't this place already infiltrated like a sieve?

Seeing her expression extremely grave, Pei Si's expression didn't change much, and he said: "Sir, you're so tense; I suppose my guess was correct."

"A guess? How did Your Highness make that guess?" Mu Yuanzhi doubted.

"Intelligent people, those with meticulous thoughts, can naturally guess it." Pei Si smiled, "Of course, the premise for guessing is having clues; otherwise, short of opening the heavenly eye, there's no way to start guessing."

"After all this talk, isn't it still because you planted spies here, Your Highness?"

Her gaze instantly became extremely sharp.

"But this palace is now your ally; don't quibble over such a small matter."

Mu Yuanzhi: ……

Gu Rongjin didn't know when he had entered; he strode over: "Third Prince, what you say makes sense, so after all those detours, why haven't you gotten to the point yet?"

"Young Master Jin, don't rush—aren't we still waiting for your good junior disciple and good disciple to arrive?" Pei Si smiled: "This palace has already sent someone to the Heavenly Palace to invite him; he should be arriving soon."

For such a major matter, Qilin's presence and approval are indeed necessary; otherwise, telling them would be pointless.

But it's already been two quarters of an hour; how could it possibly take that long for someone from the Heavenly Palace to get here?

While Mu Yuanzhi was pondering, the outer sect disciple sent by Pei Si to fetch the person came over, clasped his hands, and said: "Third Prince, Senior Uncle."

Not seeing Qilin come along, everyone looked at him with suspicion.

Mu Yuanzhi asked: "Where is your master?"

"His master is feeling unwell and won't come today; he said if you have any matters, go to the Heavenly Palace to find him."

Mu Yuanzhi immediately asked anxiously: "What's wrong with him?"

"Senior Uncle, don't worry; his master has no serious trouble."

"No serious trouble?"

As long as Qilin can still get up, he would never let her worry; he's that kind of stubborn person, yet now he's using poor health as an excuse not to come—he must have reached a very serious state!

Without another word, Mu Yuanzhi rose and rushed to the Heavenly Palace.

Gu Rongjin immediately caught up, grabbed Mu Yuanzhi's arm, leaned close to her ear, and said: "Don't panic, Qilin is using a blinding tactic."

His voice was so low it was almost like a mosquito's buzz; when Mu Yuanzhi heard it the first time, she was still anxious and couldn't make it out; Gu Rongjin repeated it, and then she looked at him suspiciously.

Gu Rongjin said it twice, seeing Mu Yuanzhi's doubts only increase not decrease, he helplessly wrote characters on her palm:

The Qilin is fine; he's just disturbing others' line of sight, it wouldn't matter if we went over and told him.

He wrote such a long string, yet Mu Yuanzhi still understood it tacitly.

She wrote back on his palm: "What you say makes sense; I'm just overthinking because I care, but why do we have to communicate like this?"

Gu Rongjin glanced around without a trace, then continued writing on her palm: "Be careful, walls have ears, and this ear might not even be human's; of course, all this is just my guess. Speaking of which, we're incredibly in sync—I'm practically being romanticized by myself."

What time is it now, and this person is still flirting!

Mu Yuanzhi gave Gu Rongjin an annoyed look, "Let's go."