"Master has been gone for quite a few days now, has he not?"
Cui Hao reached out and picked up a pastry from the table, then waved it in front of Sandong.
Sandong's little head and eyes followed the pastry as it swayed back and forth. Taking careful aim, she snapped her mouth shut around it.
With the pastry in her mouth, Sandong wore the smug expression of someone who had just won a great battle.
Cui Hao very cooperatively clapped in applause.
Chen Baiqing raised a hand, and a gluttonous Tianyan Sect crane spread its wings as if to dance. Hearing Cui Hao's words, she answered naturally:
"If it is something Master would personally handle, it must be a major matter. Major matters naturally take time."
"You have never missed Master this badly before. Are you cooking up some scheme again? How long has it been since your last bit of mischief?"
Cui Hao said nothing. He simply gazed enviously at the martial training ground not far away, where Yun Li was practicing her moves. This green snake's human form was quite striking — she had about half of his own charisma.
When she was actually training, her presence rose several more notches, though she was still far from matching him.
Cui Hao's envious gaze might have seemed directed at Yun Li, but it was actually fixed on the Spirit Treasure longsword in her hands.
Tch...
So cool...
The way it flashed and gleamed, its translucent radiance carrying wave after wave of imposing pressure, with sword intent surging forth — the sheer coolness of it was unmatched.
He really should not have listened to Master back then and practiced boxing. He should have trained in the sword instead.
Master had both a blade and a sword at hand. Even Third Senior Sister had her arm ring. But there was no pair of fist gauntlets to be found.
Even Yun Li — a guardian spirit beast that Master had taken in — had a Spirit Treasure now, and here he was, a direct disciple, still fighting bare-knuckled.
Chen Baiqing followed Cui Hao's gaze, and with a single glance, she understood. Cui Hao was not missing Master at all — he was clearly pining for his own Spirit Treasure.
She released the crane she had been holding and said in a matter-of-fact tone:
"Master has not given you one yet — it is probably because he has not fully prepared it."
"I know that naturally. The bond between Master and myself is beyond question." Cui Hao sighed.
"Not to brag, but I genuinely believe that when it comes to my relationship with Master, even you cannot compare, Third Senior Sister."
Chen Baiqing's lip curled into a dismissive smirk — little Cui Hao, not knowing his place.
Sandong swallowed her pastry and gently rubbed her belly. "I think the Sect Master has a better relationship with Third Senior Sister. He is always smiling when he sees Third Senior Sister, but when he sees you, the first thing he does is smack you on the head."
Hearing this, Cui Hao immediately grabbed another pastry from the side. This time he did not wave it around — he shoved it directly into Sandong's mouth and retorted:
"What does a little Sandong know? The more a master and disciple exchange blows, the closer their bond. It is a sign of intimacy."
Sandong chewed thoughtfully. The look in her eyes as she stared at Cui Hao essentially said — you cannot even fool Sandong with that nonsense.
Naturally, Cui Hao could not tolerate this. A little Sandong already questioning him? He immediately pressed on:
"Think about it — when a stranger greets you, they smile, right? But between you and me, who have such a close relationship, I can just stuff a pastry right into your mouth."
"By the same logic, does it not mean that the fact Master hits me shows our relationship is especially close?"
"Think about it — who else does Master hit on a regular basis? He barely even hits Second Senior Brother, does he?"
Sandong chewed her pastry, her expression shifting into one of deep contemplation.
After a moment, Sandong swallowed the pastry and looked at Chen Baiqing to ask:
"Master does not hit me. Does that mean our relationship is just average?"
Chen Baiqing watched Sandong looking like she was about to be bamboozled into next week. She did not waste breath trying to explain anything. Instead, she clenched her right fist and placed it directly in front of Cui Hao.
A warm smile spread across her face as she asked softly:
"Now Third Senior Sister wants to build a closer relationship with you. Would you like her to hit your left cheek or your right cheek?"
Cui Hao stared at that delicate hand capable of punching a tiger to death. He did not overthink it. His envious gaze instantly turned pure and clear, and he quickly said:
"I must have gotten confused earlier. That rule only applies to ordinary folk."
"For cultivators like us, physical blows carry far too much power. Usually, a nod and a greeting are sufficient."
Chen Baiqing withdrew her fist and pressed him:
"Is that so?"
"That is so."
Cui Hao nodded rapidly. Then, seeing Sandong about to open her mouth to ask another question, he quickly grabbed another pastry and stuffed it in.
That gluttonous crane had only just been released by Third Senior Sister. He had no desire to take its place.
Sandong muttered something with her mouth full, but she seemed to find Cui Hao's reasoning sound.
Ordinary people's blows carried little force, but cultivators' blows could level mountains and part seas.
"Cui Hao is bamboozling Sandong again?"
Li Yingling strolled over with a leisurely gait, her eyes lifting slightly as she took in the scene of Cui Hao shoving a pastry into Sandong's mouth.
Cui Hao quickly answered with a smile:
"No, no. I was just wondering what kind of top-tier Spirit Treasure Master is going to give me."
Li Yingling nodded in understanding and naturally sat down in an empty chair. She picked up a pastry from the side and placed it in her mouth.
The various disciples naturally had varying degrees of closeness with their master, but the master never showed favoritism because of it.
The fact that Cui Hao still had not received a Spirit Treasure was probably because something was holding it up.
After all, crafting a suitable Spirit Treasure for a pair of fists did require some careful thought.
Cui Hao asked curiously, "What brings you here, Big Senior Sister?"
"Your Second Senior Brother insists on getting beaten up. I have been putting him off for two days, but he will not let it go — I tried to let him off the hook and he would not have it."
Li Yingling tilted her head in indication, and Li Xingtian could be seen approaching rapidly from outside.
Li Xingtian strode forward with imposing steps and a resolute gaze. He cupped his fists toward Li Yingling and said:
"Big Senior Sister, are you ready?"
The phrase "good triumphs over evil" — he, Li Xingtian, was determined to make Big Senior Sister understand!
Who was righteous, and who was evil!
Li Yingling rose to her feet:
"Heh. Does Big Senior Sister need to prepare to beat up Second Junior Brother?"
Cui Hao's curiosity grew even stronger. At the same time, he shut his mouth and waited for the good show to begin.
Li Yingling looked toward Yun Li at the training ground and called out:
"Yun Li, clear the stage."
Yun Li glanced over and immediately sheathed her sword to make way.
Li Yingling and Li Xingtian stepped onto the martial platform together.
A Spirit Treasure longsword and a Spirit Treasure blood blade materialized simultaneously.
Just like that day, the spiritual energy of both sides surged forth.
A smile spread across Li Yingling's face. "Junior Brother..."
"Big Senior Sister, there is no need for pre-battle trash talk." Li Xingtian cut her off directly, well aware that his mouth could never outmatch Li Yingling's.
He chose to skip a phase that was disadvantageous to him. "Let our hands do the talking!"
Li Yingling's spiritual energy surged as she gave a slight nod, flowing water sword intent churning around her body.
The bearing of a peak Nascent Soul cultivator was on full display.
Cui Hao clicked his tongue softly, grabbed a pastry, and popped it into his own mouth. He said casually:
"Third Senior Sister, do you think Big Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother will settle things quickly?"
Chen Baiqing, seeing that Cui Hao had asked a genuine question for once, answered:
"Probably not. Second Senior Brother's energy is also remarkably deep."
"I think so too." Cui Hao's face took on a wheedling expression as he sprang his trap.
"Since it will not be over quickly, how about you brew a pot of tea, Third Senior Sister? We can eat pastries, sip tea, and take our time watching and learning."
"Brew one for me too. I would like to watch as well."
Chu Xingchen seemed to appear from nowhere, settling into a stone chair as if he had simply materialized there. His expression carried a noticeable weariness.
Cui Hao's eyes lit up, and he was about to ask a question.
Chu Xingchen gave a slight shake of his head, signaling Cui Hao not to pry. He looked at the two figures on the training platform and said:
"I will be the house. Big Senior Sister pays one-to-one point two. Second Senior Brother pays one-to-one point five."
Cui Hao immediately pulled out spirit stones:
"Go big or go home — I am betting on Second Senior Brother!"
Sandong did not understand anything about odds or bookmaking, but watching Cui Hao pull out spirit stones, she got the gist of it.
You just spend money on whoever you want to support.
She also pulled out Moon Essence and spirit stones, saying:
"Big Senior Sister and I are close. I support Big Senior Sister."
[
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