The meal left the kids thoroughly satisfied, while Xiao Jingting felt like he had just endured an ordeal. Finally seeing off Qiu Yun, Mu Yun, and Xie Wanran, he slumped onto the couch in exhaustion.
“Son, why did you invite both Manager Qiu and Senior Mu Yun? And even Xie Wanran?” Xiao Jingting asked weakly, staring at Xiao Xiaofan. Those three are tangled in a love triangle, and this idiot just dragged them all to the same table!
Xiao Xiaofan blinked innocently. “We ran into them, so I just invited them along.”
Xiao Jingting sighed. “You acted on a whim, but your poor father nearly lost half his lifespan from fright!”
Xiao Xiaofan tilted his head. “Lost half your lifespan? Dad, you’re that scared? That’s kinda pathetic.”
Xiao Jingting: “…” What kind of unfilial son did I raise, mocking his own father’s cowardice?
“Dad, they didn’t even eat much. Why are you so upset?” Xiao Xiaojin chimed in.
Xiao Jingting nodded and thought to himself: True, they didn’t eat nearly as much as you bottomless pits.
“Never mind. You kids wouldn’t understand.” He turned to Xu Mu’an. “After today, if anyone says Qiu Yun and Mu Yun aren’t involved, even pigs wouldn’t believe it.”
Xu Mu’an nodded. “But there’s still Xie Wanran in the mix.”
Xiao Jingting sighed. “Exactly.” Qiu Yun and Mu Yun were having an affair, but it was not a big deal. At most, they loved and hated each other, and had a tragic love relationship. However, if there was one more person, there would be a bloodbath.
“When is Senior Mu Yun leaving?” Xu Mu’an asked.
Xiao Jingting shrugged. “No idea. At this rate, he might just stay.” The Bodhi Fruit exchange is over—his mission is done.
“Well, let Manager Qiu deal with that headache.”
—
As Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an tidied up, a knock sounded at the door.
Xiao Jingting opened it to find Xie Wanran standing outside.
“Miss Xie? What brings you here?” Why do I feel like my scalp is tingling?
“I came to discuss something with you.”
“What is it?”
“That pill you gave Senior Uncle Mu Yun last time…”
Xiao Jingting rubbed his hands awkwardly. “Ah, actually, that pill was given to me by Manager Qiu. You’d have to ask him.”
Xie Wanran frowned. “But you said you bought it on the black market.”
“Manager Qiu didn’t want me revealing its origin, so I made that up.”
Xie Wanran’s face darkened.
After sending her off, Xiao Jingting exhaled in relief. “Manager Qiu is a real hero—taking the blame like that.”
Xu Mu’an nodded. “Truly selfless.”
Xiao Xiaojin wandered in, hugging a pillow. “Why did Senior Xie come back? Was she still hungry?”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Xu Mu’an patted his head. “Overthinking it. Someone like Xie Wanran wouldn’t visit at night just for food. She came for Mu Yun.”
“For Senior Mu Yun, the virgin chicken? Why? To buy virility pills?”
Xiao Jingting stared. “Who taught you that?”
“Big Brother,” Xiao Xiaojin declared righteously.
Xiao Jingting narrowed his eyes. “Really?”
Xiao Xiaojin nodded. “Really.”
Xu Mu’an studied his earnest face. “Xiaojin, when did you learn to lie?”
Xiao Xiaojin covered his mouth. “Oops. It was Second Brother. But he said if Dad and Mom got mad, blame Big Brother.”
“Why?”
“Second Brother said Dad is scared of Big Brother, so he wouldn’t punish him.”
Xiao Jingting: “…” What kind of nonsense is this? Sure, Xiaodong is mature and sharp, so I respect him—but ‘scared’? These brats!
—
After the meal, Xiao Xiaodong walked Chen Xu back.
“Thanks for escorting me,” Chen Xu said softly.
Xiao Xiaodong shook his head. “No need for thanks.”
The flower-patterned chicken strutted ahead, clucking proudly.
“I heard your contracted beast ate Xie Wanran’s Azure-Feathered Swallow?” Chen Xu asked.
Xiao Xiaodong nodded. “Yeah.”
“That swallow had extraordinary bloodline potential. For your beast to eat it… impressive.”
The chicken let out a series of triumphant squawks.
Chen Xu smiled. “What’s it saying?”
Xiao Xiaodong sighed. “That the swallow wasn’t that impressive—just a ‘noob bird’ in its eyes.”
Chen Xu laughed. “Your beast is adorable.”
Adorable? More like delusional. “What do you know about Xie Wanran?” Father seems wary of her.
“Her cultivation progress is remarkable. She’s highly valued in the sect,” Chen Xu said.
Xiao Xiaodong frowned. “I heard her status in the Lingyao Sect is… unique.”
Chen Xu nodded. “She’s a Spirit Cultivator. Despite only being at late Foundation Establishment, she can grow spirit plants even Golden Core cultivators struggle with.”
Xiao Xiaodong’s eyes widened. “That skilled?”
Or does she have a cheat like Father’s spatial field? Though Father’s too cautious to reveal it.
“What’s her relationship with Mu Yun?”
Chen Xu shrugged. “Not entirely clear. When Xie Wanran first joined the sect, she was unremarkable. But she was assigned to assist Mu Yun, and he took a liking to her.”
“Xie Wanran is beautiful, hardworking, and had one lucky encounter after another. Many in the sect adore her.”
“She and Cheng Yishu are not on good terms. It is no secret in the Lingyao Sect that Cheng Yishu likes Mu Yun. Cheng Yishu’s grandfather is good at cultivating spiritual medicines, and Cheng Yishu often gives spiritual medicines to Mu Yun. Senior Mu Yun is a very cold person. After Xie Wanran appeared, Senior Mu Yun and Xie Wanran seemed to have feelings for each other.”
“It is said that because of the rumors, Cheng Yishu was very dissatisfied with Xie Wanran and often made trouble for Xie Wanran, which caused many people in the sect to have opinions about Cheng Yishu.”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded. “I see.”
Chen Xu nodded and said, “That’s the rumor outside. It is said that because of Xie Wanran, the relationship between Mu Yun and Cheng Yishu became much stiffer. I don’t know if Cheng Yishu was forced into a corner, so he gave Mu Yun an aphrodisiac, and then Mu Yun knocked Cheng Yishu unconscious. The sect later severely punished Cheng Yishu, and Cheng Yishu’s grandfather suffered a blow and passed away not long after.”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “It sounds so complicated!” A Golden Core elder dying suddenly? Suspicious.
Chen Xu nodded and said, “Yes! Later, Cheng Yishu disappeared, and Mu Yun went astray while trying to form the elixir. Some people said that the reason why Mu Yun went astray was because of Cheng Yishu.”
“Then what about Cheng Yishu?” Xiao Xiaodong asked.
“Most say he’s dead.”
“Why?” Xiao Xiaodong asked puzzledly.
“When Cheng Yishu disappeared, he was hit by a palm from Mu Yun. Mu Yun has the Xuan Yang body, and that palm carried the Xuan Yang fire poison. When Cheng Yishu left the sect, he was only at the foundation-building stage, so he basically had no way to survive.” Chen Xu said.
Xiao Xiaodong hummed. “You’re very well-informed.”
Chen Xu smiled sheepishly. “I… listen to a lot of gossip when I’m not cultivating.”
“Is that so!” Xiao Xiaodong nodded and looked at Chen Xu.
Chen Xu, this guy looks quiet, but I didn’t expect him to be so gossipy.
Chen Xu noticed Xiaodong’s stare. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing! Just looking around.” Xiao Xiaodong retracted his gaze.
Chen Xu couldn’t help but blush.
—
Tang Yunjie rushed over. “Xiaodong! Qiao Xiang is here!”
Xiao Xiaodong’s eyes widened. “Qiao Xiang? Why? Wushuang Sect already came for the Bodhi Fruit.”
Tang Yunjie nodded. “They did, but they weren’t satisfied with their share. They’re here to negotiate for more.”
Xiao Xiaodong glanced at Chen Xu. More like they’re here for him.
hen Chen Xu heard what Tang Yunjie said, he couldn’t help but frowned, “When did they arrive?”
“Just now.” Tang Yunjie said.
Chen Xu lowered his head and thought to himself: Is Qiao Xiang here for me? Wushuang Sect had long sought his grandfather’s support, but after the mine incident, relations soured.
“Do you… still care about Qiao Xiang?”
Chen Xu shook his head. “I’m not very familiar with him.”
It’s the truth. His grandfather had kept him isolated for cultivation. The engagement was arranged without his input. At first, he’d been flustered—having such a talented fiancé was thrilling.
But after the mine incident, doubt festered. Whether Qiao Xiang was involved or not, the suspicion would’ve poisoned their marriage.
Xiao Xiaodong looked at Chen Xu and said, “In that case, you shouldn’t meet him.”
Chen Xu nodded. “I think so too.”
Tang Yunjie followed Xiao Xiaodong and whispered, “Wushuang Sect only has two Nascent Soul elders. One of them is said to have only three or four years to live, and the other is in the early-stage Nascent Soul. His cultivation is not very impressive among the cultivators of the same level.”
Xiao Xiaodong glanced at Tang Yunjie and said nothing. He had also heard about the situation of Wushuang Sect. Once their elder dies, the sect’s status will plummet. Marrying Chen Xu would’ve secured their future,but unfortunately…
R : So our new Daughter-in-law is Chen Xu ? hahaha that dude knows a looooooooooot
Oh btw, That Xie Wanran bird, it’s said it’s green but bluish so I’ll just let Azure to define its color in the future.
Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡
