Chapter 268: Let the Misunderstanding Continue!

"Senior Brother, what did you choose?"

After triumphantly showing off her new toy to Senior Brother repeatedly, Li Lingling curiously examined the treasures in Ren Yidao's hands.

A jade ring, a hairpin, and a comb.

However, aside from the ring, the other two looked like things used by women... Hmm?

"Senior Brother, these... are you going to use them yourself?"

Seeing the strange, evasive look in the young girl's eyes, Ren Yidao did not panic and openly spread his hands to show her.

"Hehe, no, only one of these is for my own use; I have other uses for the rest."

"Oh, I see! I knew it, how could Senior Brother like women's items?"

Ren Yidao smiled as he watched Li Lingling heave a sigh of relief, shaking his head without telling her that the item he intended to use was the comb.

"Let this beautiful misunderstanding continue."

"After all, since it's for brushing my tail, I won't reveal that to her."

As for the three treasures he had selected, they were not chosen at random just to make up the numbers.

Although there wasn't a single Heaven Grade treasure, the value of these three Earth Grade high-tier treasures in his heart was far higher than those broken swords produced by Gongsun.

As the saying goes, the most suitable is the best.

As for not choosing a Heaven Grade treasure, Ren Yidao didn't feel it was a pity at all.

Because Ren Yidao's greatest gain from this trip was actually the old fellow who called himself a Demon God, who had been sealed into his left hand.

Although it currently had no power at all, the ancient knowledge in its brain alone was enough to be worth all the Heaven Grade treasures in this Beigan treasury.

"Well, although my move of not choosing a Heaven Grade treasure seems to have caused old man Wang to have some beautiful misunderstandings..."

Recalling Prime Minister Wang's complex expression and his sincere, long bow upon parting, Ren Yidao fell silent.

He could see naked relief and admiration on the old Prime Minister's wrinkled face; he was just a step away from opening his mouth to praise him with all sorts of flowery, sycophantic words.

Don't! Absolutely don't!

I only want to hear the praise of a beautiful girl, I don't want to hear the commendation of an old man!

There was no help for it; to avoid creating more trouble, Ren Yidao could only pretend he didn't understand anything and remain silent without further explanation.

"Hmm, let this beautiful misunderstanding continue!"

Just as Ren Yidao was feeling emotional, he noticed a curious, hidden gaze.

Hmm?

Ren Yidao turned his head, only to see Li Lingling pretending to lower her head, seriously stroking the hilt of the Blood Fiend Blade back and forth.

And after Ren Yidao's gaze moved away, he noticed another burning gaze from his side.

"..."

Feeling the inquisitive look she cast over from time to time, Ren Yidao knew with his shins that she was undergoing a brainstorm in her heart.

"She is probably guessing right now which woman Senior Brother intends to give these treasures to, right?"

"Which woman is it that makes Senior Brother so concerned?"

Ren Yidao: "... Junior Sister."

Li Lingling:!!!

"Ah! Yes!"

Having a guilty conscience, Li Lingling, who had been suddenly called, straightened her back abruptly.

W-w-what, what is it?

"Your mother... is Imperial Concubine Ran in the palace today? Or at the Ran Family?"

Li Lingling:?

What's the situation?

Why bring up Mother's affairs all of a sudden?

"My mother, she should still be in the Cold Palace, right? Probably."

Regarding this point, Li Lingling was truly unsure...

Before returning, she had worried that her mother wasn't doing well in the Cold Palace, but after returning, she realized she had overthought it.

Where was that a Cold Palace?

That was clearly her mother's summer resort; the life she lived inside was nothing short of free and comfortable.

Have you ever seen a Cold Palace Imperial Concubine who goes shopping in Wentian City at any time, to the point where you can't even find a shadow of her?

Never seen one, right?

Li Lingling hadn't seen one before either; everyone hadn't seen one before, and they didn't even dare to think about it.

Ren Yidao recalled his few encounters with Imperial Concubine Ran and understood what the look on Li Lingling's face meant.

This was a remarkably free Imperial Concubine.

"Then, could you help me pass a message to the Imperial Concubine? I hope to pay a visit in the next few days, and I hope she can grant it."

Pay a visit... to my mother?

Li Lingling blinked rapidly, not knowing what purpose Senior Brother had in bringing this up at this time.

In the young girl's impression, her Senior Brother and her mother didn't seem to have any connection at all!

These two people... ah?

At this moment, the girl, whose gaze was wandering, saw the hairpin and comb in Ren Yidao's hand...

"... Hiss!"

Watching the young girl suddenly gasp, widen her eyes, and bite her lip, Ren Yidao was also startled.

???

Young girl, what on earth are you doing?

"Uh, is there some kind of difficulty?"

Li Lingling, having come to her senses, shook her head repeatedly, shaking that terrifying thought clean out of her mind.

No, no, no!

How could that be possible!

They don't even have any interaction!

*Cough, cough. *

There must be something important to say, yes, that's it!

"Oh, oh, oh, no, nothing... uh, Senior Brother, is there something you need from her?"

"Oh, just a small matter."

A small matter!?

What kind of thing counts as a small matter?

Just as Li Lingling was sinking into a massive internal struggle, a figure appeared beside her out of nowhere.

"Oh my, we're all family, why be so formal?"

Imperial Concubine Ran held a white fox in one arm, familiarly wrapped her arm around her daughter's slender waist, and said to Ren Yidao with a raised eyebrow and a smile:

"I'm not the Emperor; there aren't so many rules for seeing me. Just come straight to the palace to find me."

"If that doesn't work, just find any servant to let me know, and I can come find you directly. I have plenty of time, you know!"

Good.

Speak of the devil, and the devil appears.

Watching Imperial Concubine Ran pop out from a blind spot, Ren Yidao nodded in admiration, expressing his highest respect to her.

Imperial Concubine, I can tell, you really are quite free.

How are you everywhere!

Of course, although he was complaining like this in his heart, he still couldn't lose his outward etiquette.

"Imperial Concubine, you joke. As a junior, how could I let you come to see me? It should be me visiting you."

Ran Yeting's smile became even brighter as she waved her hand:

"Oh my, why are you still being so formal? Aren't you the new younger brother recognized by the Emperor? Then you are my younger brother too."

Imperial Concubine Ran's happiness was not feigned; although she came from the Ran Family, she didn't have a good impression of the group of brothers and sisters in her own family.

The only ones she could consider family were those few she had sworn brotherhood with in her youth.

It was just that she was third in rank back then, and there was only a fourth younger sister below her, no younger brother.

Now seeing Ren Yidao, the more she looked at him, the more she liked him, feeling that a younger brother should be just like this.

"Why are there so many rules for a younger brother seeing his older sister?"

Li Lingling:?

"Since that is the case, then Ren... this younger brother thanks you, older sister."

Hearing this conversation between the two, where the sister was friendly and the brother was respectful, a giant question mark floated above Li Lingling's head.

Hello? Can you hear me?

You two are happy, but have you considered my feelings?

You both recognize him as a younger brother, so what am I supposed to do?

Am I supposed to call him uncle?

Is there anyone who will speak up for me?

"So you were here for this matter."

Ran Yeting looked at the youth sitting properly to the side, her tone filled with emotion:

"I didn't expect you to actually be Xiaojian's junior brother. This is truly a coincidence."

"This really fulfills that saying: if you aren't of the same family, you don't enter the same gate!"

"Did the Emperor tell you?"

To this, Ren Yidao smiled without speaking, nodding with a smile.

Neither confirming nor denying.

Actually, it was you who told me this!

It was you who were talking to yourself for ages in front of a white fox you picked up; it's not like I wanted to listen!

Of course, in order not to expose this, he kept repeating the same thought:

"Let this beautiful misunderstanding continue."

More accurately, Ran Yeting said a part, Li Long said another part, and combined with Ren Yidao's own observations...

Exercising a little bit of associative ability to deduce the relationship behind it really wasn't difficult.

"Since there is such a layer of connection, I understand why the Emperor treated you differently from the start."

On this point, Ren Yidao also agreed.

Thinking about it, if it weren't for the connection to Jian Xinxin, Li Long probably wouldn't have felt at ease throwing his son and daughter into the Divine Path Sect.

Because Li Long believed that as long as Jian Xinxin was still in the Divine Path Sect for a single day, she would never be so heartless as to not save her own nephew and niece.

And by extension, he himself on Luoyue Peak was also favored by Li Long because of this natural filter.

After all that, it turns out I was the one benefiting from nepotism!

Although Li Long has seemingly ignored Jian Xinxin all these years, letting him fend for himself in the Divine Path Sect, he has actually been watching over him silently in the dark.

"Huh, if you put it that way... then were some Beigan spies also captured under Luoyue Peak?"

Wouldn't that be awkward?

However, since Jian Xinxin is a substitute Jailer, he should have some idea about such minor matters.

So, these two are actually one watching silently without interfering, and the other knowing the truth without exposing it.

After all that, is this seemingly broken brotherhood actually just two tsundere middle-aged men who refuse to bow their heads first?

"You two are so 'gay', and it's even royal incest."

Terrifying!

I'm going back to write a fanfic about you two!

Ren Yidao grumbled to himself for a long while, and Ran Yeting on the other side also snapped out of her memories and asked him:

"Since you already know, why not go directly to His Majesty? Why ask me to relay the message?"

Shrugging helplessly, Ren Yidao shook his head with a 'you know how it is' expression and said:

"After all, they are both... men."

How could tsundere middle-aged men possibly take the initiative to bow their heads and admit their faults?

"Sigh, that's true."

Sure enough, Ran Guifei understood what Ren Yidao meant, and she sighed with a bit of a headache:

"The tempers of these two brothers are cut from the same mold."

Ren Yidao:?

These two are cut from the same mold?

Big sister, what kind of joke are you making?

My Senior Brother is a naturally tragic male lead who never jokes, how could he be the same type as that fun-loving guy who is your Emperor?

Don't talk nonsense!

"Cough... Sister Ran, I'll have to trouble you to write a letter in the tone of Brother Long for me to take to Senior Brother Jian, and then write another in the tone of Senior Brother Jian to give to Brother Long."

Calling her 'Sister-in-law' was just too strange, so Ran Guifei simply let Ren Yidao call her 'Sister Ran' just like her clansmen.

Ran Yeting understood the implication behind his words and nodded:

"Heh, since neither of them is willing to be the first to bow their head, we can only give them a helping hand."

"Fine, leave it to me."

"It just so happens that I also want to see the scene when these two guys meet."

Both of them think the other will be the one to bow their head first; what kind of interesting scene will it be when they meet?

Just thinking about this is interesting enough, let alone pushing it to happen.

Ran Guifei readily agreed to Ren Yidao's invitation, completely disregarding the potential crime of deceiving the Emperor.

Deceiving the Emperor?

Does he dare to punish me?

Let him try!

"Alright, I have agreed to the first thing, what about the second?"

The two smiled at each other with tacit understanding for a moment, then Ran Guifei's expression gradually settled, and she stared into Ren Yidao's eyes and said slowly:

"You specifically sent Ling'er away, surely it wasn't just for this one thing, right?"

After arriving at the residence, Li Lingling originally wanted to stay and supervise the two, but Ren Yidao easily sent her away using Yu Yu as bait.

She is currently next door protecting the Dharma for Yu Yu, assisting her in refining the hairpin Ren Yidao gave her.

The hairpin Ren Yidao had selected in the Treasury earlier was prepared specifically for Yu Yu.

"I am a conscientious entrepreneur; even NPCs have wages!"

"Although she still counts as child labor, I will never withhold her wages!"

Given Yu Yu's cooperation during the Two Domains Conflict, Ren Yidao chose that hairpin to protect her.

It doesn't need to be activated; as long as Dharma Power is infused beforehand, it can create a powerful protective barrier in a moment of crisis.

"Yes, I do indeed have one more thing I would like to ask Sister Ran for help with."

Without stating the request first, Ren Yidao asked instead:

"Sister Ran, do you want Junior Sister Lingling to stay in Wentian for a while longer?"

Ran Guifei narrowed her eyes and nodded slowly:

"... That is correct."

Ren Yidao's intention to return was obvious; although it hadn't been officially announced, many people were already mentally prepared for it.

"Lingling left in a hurry before, and I didn't get to say goodbye to them properly, nor did I give them some things."

"Now that she has returned, I want her to finish her studies before returning to the sect."

"Do you disagree?"

When talking about other things, Ran Yeting was always smiling, but the moment children were mentioned, she became dangerous.

Meeting Ran Guifei's vigilant gaze, Ren Yidao smiled and shook his head, soothing her:

"This is only natural, how could I not allow it? Besides, Junior Sister Lingling is currently only at the introductory stage and still needs guidance from others."

"If she can stay in Wentian, she will surely be able to enjoy better treatment than within the Divine Path Sect."

"Not only will I not stop you, but I will also help you persuade Junior Sister Lingling to stay and give her a reason she cannot refuse."

Raising an eyebrow, Ran Guifei asked curiously:

"Oh? What reason?"

Ren Yidao shifted his gaze away from Imperial Concubine Ran and looked toward the room next door, his eyes seeming to pierce through the wall and land on the two young girls.

"I will have Yu Yu stay at Wentian for a while longer."

Anti-Li Qiushui special-purpose item—Shi Xue.

Anti-Li Lingling special-purpose item—Yu Yu.

I have to say, you Li Family members are really easy to understand~

"During this period, I will have to trouble Sister Ran to look after these two Junior Sisters."

Ran Yeting waved her hand and shook her head, saying:

"It's not a matter of looking after them; one is my biological daughter, and the other is my goddaughter, so naturally, I won't ignore them."

"However, if you leave them here, what about you? Where are you going?"

Ran Yeting could tell that Ren Yidao was certainly not just returning to the sect to cultivate this time, but had other matters to attend to.

"Me? As for me, I am going to do some things that children cannot participate in."

For example... suppressing a Demon girl on the night of the full moon.

Or for another example...

"Inter-regional travel."

He said:

"I am going to the Eastern Wasteland."

"To find someone."

Today's update is late because of one thing...

I got dumped, I've been dazed all day, and my mind is a mess.

I'll discuss the specific situation in detail when we meet on Saturday; it should be an amicable parting.

It's just that, friends, I want to know one thing...

Is life truly destined to be full of regrets?