Deep in Simplicity smiled awkwardly.
However, the smile on his face looked somewhat forced.
It was full of discordance.
Trying to play dumb in front of Senior Sister was just too difficult.
He decided it was better to tell the truth.
"Senior Sister, you must be joking," he said, steadying his mind. "Inside the cabin... is my newly recruited disciple."
"disciple?"
Yan Qingning's eyebrows arched slightly, her curiosity piqued.
The light from the clouds fell upon her white robes, creating a thin, shimmering halo.
She looked at Deep in Simplicity with a hint of playfulness in her eyes:
"During the meeting a few days ago, Junior Brother, you were the one advising me not to interfere with the trial Disciples to avoid breaking the rules. How is it that you've turned around and taken a Disciple yourself first?"
These words were spoken lightly, but they made Deep in Simplicity's back tighten.
"She is not a trial Disciple," he said, cupping his hands. "She's a seed I found in a nearby village. Her talent is rare... This Junior Brother felt a moment of pity for her talent, which is why I made an exception."
"A nearby village?"
Yan Qingning repeated, her gaze shifting toward the black-awning boat.
The bamboo curtains were lowered, and the cabin was dim.
This vessel was her Junior Brother's masterpiece, named the Cloud-Top Ferry.
Its entire body was engraved with high-tier Formations.
Ordinary Cultivators could not see through to the interior.
"Since it's such a treasure, why not have them come out to meet me?"
Her voice carried a probing tone. "I am also curious to see what kind of talent could make my Junior Brother neglect even his duties as an overseer to rush back to the Sect."
"It's as if you're afraid someone will snatch her from you!"
Yan Qingning teased.
Deep in Simplicity's Adam's apple bobbed.
He wasn't afraid of his Senior Sister snatching her, but his Senior Brothers were another story.
He knew he couldn't hide it any longer.
"Girl," he turned and called toward the cabin, "come out."
"Come meet your Junior Martial Uncle."
Jiang Xun pretended not to hear and had no intention of going out.
He simply kept urging Jiang Wanxing to go out and see the world.
Jiang Wanxing wanted to pull her brother along, but Jiang Xun shook his head. "A small fry like me shouldn't go out and embarrass himself."
With her Master urging her, she had no choice but to step out first.
The bamboo curtain rustled softly.
Jiang Wanxing lowered her head as she walked out of the cabin.
The cloud-wind brushed against her face, blowing the stray hairs on her forehead. She stood steadily, but her fingers curled up quietly at her side.
She looked quite timid.
Yan Qingning's gaze fell upon her.
Suddenly, her eyes turned somewhat dark and heavy.
After a moment, she withdrew her gaze.
"She indeed has an extraordinary Foundation," she said faintly. "It's no wonder."
One couldn't tell from her tone if it was praise or something else.
Just as Deep in Simplicity was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he saw Yan Qingning raise her right hand.
Her index finger and thumb pinched lightly, and a wisp of moonlight-like light condensed between her fingers.
The halo swirled, gradually condensing into a drop of dew, crystal clear, with what seemed like starlight flowing inside.
She handed it toward Jiang Wanxing.
"Consider this a meeting gift for my Martial Niece."
Deep in Simplicity's eyes lit up.
"Moonlight Condensed Dew."
"Quickly, thank your Junior Martial Uncle!" he urged, unable to suppress the joy in his voice.
This was a treasure of the Jade Void Grotto-Heaven, capable of cleansing the marrow, tempering the meridians, and solidifying one's origin.
Jiang Wanxing accepted it with both hands.
The dewdrop landed in her palm, cold as ice yet light as nothing.
She looked down, her eyes reflecting that tiny shimmer of light, full of ignorance.
"This dew can help you wash away worldly impurities and stabilize your Foundation," Yan Qingning said. "It will be of great benefit to your future cultivation."
"Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle," Jiang Wanxing bowed, her etiquette perfect.
"No need."
Yan Qingning withdrew her hand, but her gaze still didn't leave Jiang Wanxing.
Seeing this, Deep in Simplicity quickly took half a step forward:
"Girl, since it's a gift from your Junior Martial Uncle, consume it now. The spirituality of the Moonlight Condensed Dew dissipates easily; if you wait too long, its effects will be greatly diminished."
Jiang Wanxing nodded and placed the dewdrop into her mouth.
The coolness slid down her throat like drinking from an icy spring.
She let out a soft "mm," feeling her skin itch slightly, as if countless fine feathers were gently scratching her.
Immediately following that.
Her arms, neck, cheeks... all her exposed skin began to break out in fine white dander.
That layer of old skin curled and peeled away like a cicada's slough, rustling as it fell. Before it could touch the deck, it turned into something like flying snow in the air and was swept away by the wind.
The newly revealed skin was translucent and white as jade, glowing faintly under the cloud-light.
Jiang Wanxing instinctively raised her hand to touch her face; the texture was delicate and warm, and even the thin calluses left by her past labors had vanished without a trace.
She looked as if she had been re-sculpted; her temperament had become clearer, and even her breathing had become soft and long.
"Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle," she bowed again, this time with more sincerity in her voice.
"Go then." Yan Qingning finally looked away, gazing toward the distant sea of clouds.
Deep in Simplicity cupped his hands and said:
"Then this Junior Brother will not disturb Senior Sister's patrol any longer."
He pulled Jiang Wanxing back into the cabin, and the flying boat slowly started, its hull re-entering the cloud layer.
It wasn't until they had flown quite far that Jiang Xun slowly let out a breath.
As he exhaled, he realized his back was already soaked through.
Just a moment ago, the phantom of Frost Radiance had stopped less than thirty feet outside the cabin.
He could even see the curve of her fluttering sleeves and feel that faint, indistinct connection.
But she hadn't discovered him.
Even Yan Qingning hadn't noticed anything.
Jiang Xun didn't know whether to feel disappointed or happy.
He had imagined the moment of meeting Yan Qingning a hundred times.
But every time, he didn't dare to face it.
Whether it was guilt or fear, he wasn't sure. He only knew that he should act as if the 'him' in the game was already dead.
He shouldn't appear before them again.
It would only add to their troubles.
Jiang Xun opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Wanxing beside him.
The young girl was looking down at the back of her hand, her fingertips gently stroking her new skin, her eyes filled with novelty.
The lingering effects of the Moonlight Condensed Dew had not yet faded; she was surrounded by an extremely faint spiritual light, like a thin mist.
"Brother," she suddenly looked up, "that Junior Martial Uncle just now... her gaze was so scary."
Jiang Xun's heart tightened slightly, but he remained calm on the surface. "Is that so? How was it scary?"
"I don't know," Jiang Wanxing shook her head. "It just felt... like her gaze was trying to see right through me."
Deep in Simplicity sat opposite them and smiled upon hearing this. "Senior Sister cultivates the Void Tempering Sword Dao; her Divine Sense is exceptionally sharp compared to normal people."
"Since she gave you the dew, it's only natural for her to take a few extra looks."
Jiang Wanxing remained silent; she didn't want to tell her brother about other women.
She just wanted her brother to look at her; she had become more beautiful.
But it seemed her brother had never paid attention to her.
The flying boat continued forward through the vast sea of clouds.
At the same moment.
Yan Qingning still stood in the same spot, her white robes billowing in the wind.
She looked in the direction where the flying boat had disappeared, not moving for a long time.
Frost Radiance floated by her side.
"Master," the phantom suddenly spoke, her voice weak, "I just now..."
"Hmm?"
"I seemed to smell... a familiar scent."
Yan Qingning turned her head abruptly.
"Is it him?"
"It's a bit like it," Frost Radiance's voice carried uncertainty, "but the aura was blocked by something... it was very blurry and vanished in a flash."
"Location," Yan Qingning's tone suddenly turned cold.
Frost Radiance raised her arm, pointing exactly in the direction the flying boat had left.
"There," she said, "near that boat just now."
A cold light suddenly appeared in the depths of Yan Qingning's eyes.
The flying boat had the effect of concealing auras; while the boat was there, the aura was hidden, but once it left, that tiny bit of residual, leaking trace was exposed instead.
Like the foam left on a beach after the tide recedes.
"So..." she spoke softly, her voice devoid of emotion, "he was right under my nose."
The moment the words fell, she smiled.
That smile was very faint, yet it was so cold that even the surrounding clouds seemed to freeze.
She reached out and gripped the hilt of the shuang hua sword. The blade hummed, and a white-blue light burst from the sword, illuminating half of her profile.
In the next instant.
A sword light slashed out.
It wasn't aimed at a physical object, but at the'space' ahead.
Where the sword edge passed, the air tore like cloth, revealing a pitch-black rift.
Inside the rift, starlight swirled, bottomless and deep.
Yan Qingning took a step forward, her figure vanishing into the rift.
Dozens of miles away, in another part of the sea of clouds.
Space tore open again, and the white-robed figure stepped out calmly, her hair unruffled and her clothes undisturbed.
She looked up. Ahead in the clouds, that black-awning flying boat was sailing unhurriedly, like a leisurely traveler.
The sword light rose again.
This time there were three, slashing in a triangular Formation toward the front of the flying boat.
Before the Sword Qi even arrived, a majestic pressure like the overturning of mountains and seas had already scattered all the clouds within ten miles!
Leaving no place to hide.
The flying boat jolted to a halt, letting out an overburdened hum.
Deep in Simplicity rushed out of the cabin, his face pale. "Senior Sister?! What are you—"
What madness is this now?
Deep in Simplicity was speechless. Surely she hadn't changed her mind and wanted to snatch his precious disciple?
Yan Qingning stood suspended in the air.
She didn't look at Deep in Simplicity; her gaze was fixed straight on the cabin, her voice so calm it was terrifying:
"Junior Brother."
"On your boat... isn't there one more person?"
Inside the cabin, Jiang Xun opened his eyes.
[Ding!]
[Scenario Triggered: Fairy comes knocking at the door]
[Option 1: This is a big shot you can't afford to provoke. Kneel. Please kneel immediately.]
[Option 2: What is there to fear? A real man born between heaven and earth cannot live long under the thumb of others. Please face her head-on.]
[Option 3: What else can you do? Just coax her!]
[Time: 60... 59... 58...]
Outside the cabin, Yan Qingning's voice came again, word by word, clear to the ear:
"Why not bring them out—"
"So we can meet?"