"Kid, I hope you have something serious for me. I've been busy lately. If you want to cut off Qinghe's horn, you don't need my permission—just cut it if you want."
Bai Xuanling held her teacup, first smiling and nodding in response to Chen Baiqing who handed her tea, then her tone turned serious.
Chu Xingchen hadn't reacted yet.
Qinghe's little head lifted very quickly instead, looking at Chu Xingchen and Bai Xuanling with shocked eyes.
Qinghe wasn't actually afraid of anyone talking about cutting off her horn—even if Xie Lingyu said it with a serious face, Qinghe would just take it as a joke.
There was only one person whose words, once spoken, made Qinghe feel her horn had already been cut off.
Qinghe had thought coming here with Grandma Bai would be for some fun, to see Little Bai Qing whom she hadn't seen in a long time, to taste some tea she hadn't had in a while.
But arriving here was preparation to cut her horn?!
Qinghe, who had her horn cut before, hurriedly put down the teacup she'd been longing for, protecting both her horns as she quickly said:
"No! You still need my consent!"
Xie Lingyu sat beside Qinghe, gently sipping some tea before saying calmly:
"Master is joking with you. No one will cut off your horn."
Qinghe heard this and quickly looked at Xie Lingyu, saying gratefully:
"You're the best to me! Qinghe wants to continue being the absolute best with you!"
Chu Xingchen glanced at Qinghe, a smile appearing on his face. Qinghe was still the same Qinghe.
As for Bai Xuanling's words, they were clearly just to tease Qinghe. Chu Xingchen didn't respond, instead cutting straight to the chase:
"How goes the investigation on the Buddhist Sect's side? Is there concrete news?"
Bai Xuanling shook her head slightly. "Basically no news. If what you said is true, then the Buddhist Sect has been extremely secretive. Currently there's no decisive evidence. Relying solely on the Heavenly Derivation Sect and Mystic Pure Heaven Sect's accounts, it's uncertain whether we can even alert the other immortal sects. Continuing to pressure the Buddhist Sect from here has its limits too."
She paused, then suddenly smiled. "But it doesn't matter. At least we're prepared. This time, have you discovered something new?"
Chu Xingchen took out the bottle containing that faint trace of strange energy that Chen Baiqing had stored:
"Something has stolen authority and is conducting some kind of experiment, just like Zhou Family Village back then."
Bai Xuanling waited a moment, but finding Chu Xingchen didn't say anything more, she naturally understood his meaning.
The thing stealing authority to conduct experiments was very likely the [Demon] she was tracking.
If the overseas demons were cast-off pawns used to distract other immortal sects...
Then the demon conducting experiments would definitely be core to all this. Moreover... this matter had very likely exceeded the Buddhist Sect's control.
After all, with something of such high authority, how could the Buddhist Sect not do it themselves instead of handing it over to demons?
Bai Xuanling pondered briefly, then asked seriously:
"Are you certain? That those things are conducting experiments?"
The habitual warm smile faded from Chu Xingchen's face as he replied equally seriously:
"I can't be completely certain of this point, but there's a very high probability."
If the system hadn't triggered another side quest for this, besides the system being stingy and not wanting to give anything, there was a high likelihood this thing had already been incorporated into the main storyline.
Moreover... when Chen Baiqing reconstructed the aura of those two shadowy black figures, Wan Ban had a subtle reaction.
It was that kind of... hmm... somewhat heady aura, worth a glance.
Tsk... what trash, interfering with my sleep.
And regardless, this was authority. And the experiments being conducted didn't look like they'd be anything good. Investigating thoroughly was still a good thing.
Bai Xuanling looked at Chu Xingchen for a moment, then reached out and took the bottle in front of her:
"I understand your information. I'll investigate it together."
"Next time, for those filthy things, don't specially have someone deliver them to Zhuji Peak. Send them directly to the Punishment Hall. Use my name and they'll know how to handle it."
"Also, those two main things are primarily puppet arts. The caster is at least at Peak Integration stage. The items are rather trash too, so the experimental quantity might be quite high. Currently still tracking. More things are being tested and verified. I'll notify you when there are results or additional news."
Chu Xingchen sighed with admiration. "As expected of Sister Bai. Saving the world still depends on great powers like you who selflessly contribute."
Bai Xuanling didn't even look up, completely immune to this flattery:
"Tell that to Qinghe. She loves hearing it. If you have additional news you can contact me again. Thanks to you, I have more and more things to do lately. Next time you find me, it better be with good news."
Qinghe heard this and looked at Chu Xingchen with anticipation in her eyes, as if genuinely waiting for Chu Xingchen to praise her.
Facing Qinghe's gaze, though Chu Xingchen's bottom line was somewhat flexible, in this moment he found it hard to say anything praising Qinghe.
But when it came to handling Qinghe, Chu Xingchen had his methods.
"You go back a bit later. Tonight I'll take you to eat something good. Let me see if you haven't been eating properly lately."
"Wow..." Qinghe looked at Chu Xingchen with even more anticipation. "You really observe carefully. I haven't had an appetite for a long time... unlike Bai..."
Qinghe paused, her gaze suddenly clearing up a bit before she continued:
"Unlike someone, who doesn't care about me at all."
Bai Xuanling's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Qinghe. Qinghe instinctively gave a forced smile under her gaze, but fortunately Bai Xuanling still didn't say anything.
She finished the tea in front of her and stood up. "You all eat and play. I have matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company."
Bai Xuanling's gaze swept over Xie Lingyu and Qinghe.
She had cultivated diligently all this time. Beyond the bold declarations of her youth and her pursuit of the Great Dao, perhaps what she really wanted more was to protect those she wanted to protect.
To let them eat and drink and live the lives they wanted to live.
Chu Xingchen also hurriedly stood up. "Stay for a meal before leaving?"
Bai Xuanling looked at Chu Xingchen. She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but in the end only shook her head gently before turning to leave.
Though Chu Xingchen occasionally seemed somewhat unreliable, at crucial moments he never dropped the ball.
If the great tribulation truly couldn't be stopped, Bai Xuanling only hoped that the one who should face the tribulation wouldn't have to face it.
Facing tribulation—sounding like some destined great hero saving the world and being remembered through the ages.
The reality was quite different.
And for someone so lazy, the probability of not being the one to face the tribulation was actually quite high.
Bai Xuanling's gaze grew somewhat sharp as she quickly transformed into a rainbow light and sped away.
Xie Lingyu sighed softly and slowly set down her teacup.
Chu Xingchen withdrew his gaze, picked up the teapot beside him, and personally poured a cup of tea for Xie Lingyu's now-empty cup.
Seeing this, Qinghe's gaze shifted. She looked at her own empty teacup, decisively reached out and held it forward:
"Pour a cup for Qinghe too."
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