Chapter 4: Let Me Pet You

"Many thanks, Senior Uncle! Come, say it with me."

"Many thanks, fresh vegetables?"

"Ahahaha, this child of ours had her Consciousness Sea invaded by Demon Qi; it was thanks to my Senior Sister taking action that her life was saved."

"No, no, no, how could I be so embarrassed as to let you spend more? But since you've already said so—little Yu'er, hurry up and thank Senior Uncle!"

"Write, write history books!"

"Then we won't disturb you any further; thank you for your hard work, Senior Uncles."

"Little Yu'er, Foster Father will keep this halberd for you for now, and when you grow up... no, it's best if you don't use this in the future either. Foster Father is a bit scared..."

……

……

Watching the two figures walk away, the two Senior Uncles who had been "fleeced" twice stood in silence for a long time.

Not until their backs were no longer visible did Yan Changchun stroke his graying beard and speak slowly:

"Ren Yidao, I remember him. He was a good seedling who reached the Descending God Selection Path stage just two years after entering the sect, but is this personality of his perhaps a bit..."

This, this isn't right, is it?

How did they end up fleecing us?

You must know, the two of them are not some sect deacons without real power, but Elders guarding the sect's secret treasures!

Most Peak Masters have to bow their heads and call them Senior Uncle upon meeting them, so how did they get swindled out of "greeting gifts" by two little brats?

After pondering for a while, Yan Changchun shook his head and chuckled:

"Truly audacious, hehe..."

As an Elder, he wouldn't go so far as to get angry with two mischievous children, not to mention that this matter really couldn't be faulted in terms of etiquette and law.

And beside him, Yan Siji let out a cold sneer:

"Heh, what of it? Have you forgotten who his Senior Sister is?"

"It's that Jing Yueqin!"

Once this name was spoken, the smile on Yan Changchun's face froze on the spot. His lips moved for a long time, and many unpresentable interjections finally turned into a complex, long sigh:

"Peak Master Jing... Sigh! That explains it; after all, it is her."

"Yes, after all, it is her."

The two brothers looked at each other, then sighed in unison.

Peak Master Jing, how wonderful!

The good thing is that no one can keep her in check.

She is not a quiet one; she might not count as a hegemon of the Divine Path Sect, but she is definitely an existence that the vast majority of people do not want to provoke.

Those who can beat her have too high a status and are unwilling to lower themselves to her level.

As for those who can't beat her... they really can't beat her!

These two are among the group that can't beat her.

The two brothers knew each other's situation well, so neither mentioned this heartbreaking matter. Yan Siji sneered:

"I just don't know if Jing Yueqin can have such good luck again this time."

Being able to pick up a Ren Yidao was already a stroke of extreme fortune; Yan Siji did not believe that Yu Yu could also have such high talent.

"However, is it not against the rules for Peak Master Jing to repeatedly take on disciples on behalf of her master like this?"

Unlike his brother who had been beaten, Yan Changchun, while equally fond of Jing Yueqin, did not have such strong hostility; instead, he was somewhat worried about this junior making a mistake.

"What of it? It's just an Inner Sect Disciple; who would wag their tongue over such a small matter?"

Yan Siji didn't care in the slightest and scoffed:

"Ever since her master went missing, the years she spent with only her Spirit Pet were her quietest. Now that the Spirit Fox has only been dead for a short while, who do you think would dare to touch her bad luck at a time like this?"

"It's already good enough that Jing Yueqin doesn't go looking for trouble with others; even Sect Leader Senior Brother wouldn't interfere."

Yan Changchun wanted to say more, but seeing that his brother had already returned to meditation, he shut his mouth and could only sigh slightly:

"Sigh, that's true..."

……

……

【Come see me.】

Jing Yueqin, following behind Ren Yidao and the other, blinked her eyes, then pretended nothing had happened and walked toward the other side.

"Hum hum hum~ The weather is really nice today!"

【Come here.】

"Can't hear you, I can't hear anything."

After half a minute of silence, the voice sounded again, only this time it became exceptionally grand, like the roaring of Buddhist chants.

【CO—ME—HE—RE—】

And noisy.

【Come here come here come here...】

"Got it, got it! Stop being so noisy!"

Having a headache from the noise in her mind, Jing Yueqin couldn't continue playing dumb and turned back to roll her eyes fiercely.

In the blink of an eye, Jing Yueqin arrived at the deepest part of the sect and lazily walked into an ancient, dilapidated temple.

There were no incense or cauldrons in the temple, only a crooked stone statue covered in moss.

Sitting down on the prayer mat in front of the Divine Statue, Jing Yueqin spoke brazenly:

"Sect Leader Senior Uncle, what do you want with me? If there's nothing important, I'll be going first; I have things to do on my side..."

【Wait a moment.】

"No waiting, no waiting, I really have something to do!"

【Sit a bit more to the right, I can't turn my head that far.】

"..."

Jing Yueqin stood up and moved to another meditation cushion... the one on the far left.

【Fine, I see it now.】

Jing Yueqin:???

Old man, you can't tell your left from your right, can you!

Before Peak Master Jing could explode, the stone statue that the Sect Leader had transformed into spoke first:

【Stop it, there is no need for you to continue following in your master's footsteps.】

Jing Yueqin narrowed her eyes, her previously smiling expression suddenly turning cold as she stared at the stone statue before her.

"Senior Uncle Sect Leader, what do you mean by this?"

In a few breaths, the temperature in the courtyard plummeted, to the point where one could even hear the rustling sound of the air freezing.

The stone statue remained unchanged, as if it were completely unaware of the changes in the outside world.

【The sect intends to reclaim Luoyue Peak.】

"What?"

Boom!

A violent aura erupted, and blood-colored shockwaves swept through the temple, finally shooting into the sky and transforming into a pillar of blood-colored energy.

【Your master is no longer here; according to the rules, it is only right to reclaim ownerless peaks.】

"Her Soul Lamp has not yet extinguished! She will come back!"

【Your master's Soul Lamp has indeed not extinguished, but she has been missing for hundreds of years without a trace; how is that any different from being dead?】

The stone statue stood unmoved in the storm, all the shockwaves settling into calm as they approached, not even blowing away the floating dust on its head.

【Admit it.】

【She single-mindedly chased after that illusory Eight-Tailed Heavenly Fox, but in the end, she harmed her own life and harmed you disciples as well.】

Jing Yueqin remained silent, the blood-red color in her eyes deepening, almost breaking through the bottom of her eyes.

Her blood-colored hair flew about, but in the end, it returned to calm.

Jing Yueqin spoke slowly:

"Sect Leader, the sect isn't short of one Luoyue Peak, is it?"

【Naturally, it is not, but rules are rules.】

【The sect has indulged you for so many years, even allowing you to break the rules and take the position of Peak Master, yet you have not let us see any changes, nor have you produced any results.】

"Break the rules? Heh."

"Ask those Peak Masters; who among them has an opinion? Let them tell me to my face."

Jing Yueqin let out a dry laugh, though there was not a hint of mirth in her eyes:

"Do you believe I would take down another main peak?"

Stone statue: 【...】

"Hmph."

Jing Yueqin gave a light huff, stood up from the meditation cushion, and spoke indifferently:

"There is no use in saying more. The sect wants results, right? Let them wait; I will produce them."

【Within ten years, otherwise the sect will still reclaim Luoyue Peak.】

"Then it is settled."

Finally, she stared at the mottled face of the stone statue and emphasized with a tone of certainty:

"She will definitely come back."

Having said that, she did not wait for the other party to reply, and her figure vanished.

The temple returned to peace once more, as if nothing had happened, remaining as ancient and quiet as before.

Not until a long time later did the stone statue tremble slightly.

【That's bad.】

【... Forgot to tell her to straighten me out.】

"Slaying Demon Blade, Cleaving Demon Axe, Piercing Demon Spear... Tsk, why are all the treasures given for subduing demons!"

Aside from Lieyang Peak refusing to receive guests, the Senior Uncles who did meet him were truly not stingy; the quality of these treasures was quite good, but not a single one was suitable for Ren Yidao.

Numb.

If the sect culture of the Divine Path Sect, which is relatively tolerant toward the Demon Race, is like this, one can imagine how fierce those sects fighting on the front lines of demon-slaying must be.

"So, I must be even more cautious in my actions from now on... I absolutely cannot expose my true form."

As Ren Yidao, the white fox Spirit Pet of the recently deceased Peak Master Jing, he solidified his belief in staying hidden!

That's right, I am, unfortunately, that white fox...

Clang!

"Little Junior Brother!"

"Let me touch you!"

The door was kicked open violently, and a panting, twisted figure lunged toward Ren Yidao, pinning him onto the couch.

！！？

"Behave!"

"Let me touch your tail, quickly!"

Looking up at his senior sister, who was pressing down on him with an unsatisfied expression, Ren Yidao shamefully got an erection...

My fists are clenched!

Keep your voice down!

Shut up!

(End of chapter)