The group chat was filled with wails due to Huo Yan’s appearance, but more people were worried about their Young Sect Leader than their own end of month assessment situations.
Soon, the Cultivation Group 2 (No Eldest Senior Brother Version) was established.
“What should we do? Junior Brother Yuzhu won’t be punished because we implicated him, right?”
“Definitely. Eldest Senior Brother has always been cold toward Junior Brother Yuzhu. It is hard not to suspect he is taking revenge.”
“If that is the case, we must do something for the Young Sect Leader!”
“But would Huo Yan really use a public office to settle a private grudge? I feel like that guy is so righteous it is almost eerie.”
“Better safe than sorry. Are you willing to see the Young Sect Leader sad? I heard from Senior Brother Zhou that the last time Eldest Senior Brother punished him, he hit the Young Sect Leader’s palms until they were red.”
“What!?”
“If Eldest Senior Brother wants a life, he can take mine! Do not take the Young Sect Leader’s life!”
The group was abuzz with discussion until someone finally proposed an idea.
“How about we all go and confess our guilt together? We are already being punished anyway. With so many of us, what difference does a little more or a little less punishment make?”
A chorus of approval followed, “Repeat after me: The Young Sect Leader is the sky, the Young Sect Leader is the earth, the Young Sect Leader is the whole world! He is a delicate lady who needs cherishing, he is a princess, he is the lover of our dreams! Members of the Yuzhu Support Club, charge!”
Messages: +999.
Xie Shurong, who had been inexplicably dragged into the group: “???”
Neither Xian Yuzhu nor Huo Yan knew that someone had built a Cultivation Group 2 behind their backs, nor that the group had already turned into a mess.
After finishing a day of classes absentmindedly, Xian Yuzhu stood before the teleportation formation, hesitating.
To be honest, although he wanted to mock Huo Yan ruthlessly, he did not want to see him so soon. Who knew what that lunatic would do to him once they entered the Library Tower?
Unfortunately, Huo Yan was acting under his father’s orders, and none of the uncles or elders in the sect could interfere.
Speaking of his father, he wondered how his father’s secluded cultivation was going; he did not dare to disturb him rashly.
His mother had passed away early, and Yuzhu had been raised single-handedly by his father since childhood. Unlike the distant father-son relationships in other families, Yuzhu and his father had always shared a deep bond.
If there were one person in the world Yuzhu would never lose his temper with, it was likely the Sect Leader of the Yuxian Sect. Even though his father had entrusted him to the detestable Huo Yan, Yuzhu was not angry; he only had a few questions that needed answering.
Of course, once his father finished his seclusion, he would definitely throw a small tantrum. After the tantrum, he would act spoiled and have his father seek justice for him.
“Stupid Huo Yan, just you wait!”
Yuzhu swept his sleeves angrily and stepped into the teleportation formation reluctantly.
At the entrance of the Library Tower, just as Xian Yuzhu took a step out, in the next instant, a large group of people swarmed out from a nearby large scale teleportation formation.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch! You stepped on my foot!”
“Damn it, who touched my butt? I am a totally straight man!”
“If you are straight, why did you come with us?”
“Exactly! And who do you think you are? Touching you? You would have nightmares just looking at yourself in the mirror.”
The cultivator in question covered his backside, his ears turning red as he shouted, “I am straight! But that does not stop me from liking the Young Sect Leader, does it?”
After all, for someone that beautiful, gender was no longer important.
Xian Yuzhu was described as a celestial being descended to earth or a fox spirit in human form. How else could one explain how a mere portrait could captivate countless mortals and cultivators in the cultivation world day and night?
Xian Yuzhu himself: “…”
A bunch of idiots.
He rolled his eyes wordlessly and then walked past the cultivators with an air of grandiosity.
A misty fragrance diffused with his footsteps, and in an instant, the world fell silent. Amidst the fanatical and obsessed gazes of the cultivators, Xian Yuzhu stood at the entrance of the Library Tower and sent an impatient voice transmission, “Huo Yan, where are you?”
He originally wanted to curse, but then he remembered that the last time he cursed and that lunatic heard him, he had been lectured.
Realizing Yuzhu wanted to enter the Library Tower, the cultivators immediately surrounded him.
A moment later, a cold voice drifted down, “Come up yourself. Fifth floor.”
The barrier flickered; Huo Yan was indeed in the Library Tower.
But what kind of attitude was this? He sounded like he was commanding a prisoner.
Xian Yuzhu was a bit unhappy. He crossed his arms, his stubbornness flaring up, and said, “On what grounds? Unless you come down and invite me, I am leaving.”
The cultivators looked at each other and scrambled to speak before Huo Yan could come down to seize him. “Eldest Senior Brother, this matter is all our fault! Please do not take your anger out on the Young Sect Leader, okay?”
“Yes, yes! The Young Sect Leader is beautiful, kind, generous, and gentle. He definitely did not mean anything by it, nor was he trying to mock you for suddenly having a mortal fiancé!”
Xian Yuzhu turned his head sharply, “? I was clearly mocking him!”
The disciple speaking for Xian Yuzhu: “…”
Huo Yan: “…”
Sitting by the window on the fifth floor of the Library Tower, Huo Yan could clearly see the indignant expression on Yuzhu’s small face. With that fierce look of hatred, if Yuzhu were not unable to beat him, he probably would have rushed up to scratch his face long ago.
Kind? Generous? Gentle?
Huo Yan found it somewhat amusing. Aside from beautiful, not a single one of those words applied to his troublesome Junior Brother.
He naturally would not go down to fetch Xian Yuzhu. If he gave in to Yuzhu’s wishes now, would the boy not be stepping on his head next time?
Moreover, Huo Yan did not intend to let Xian Yuzhu lose interest in him, nor did he intend to allow Xian Yuzhu to distance himself.
A few breaths later, an old and solemn voice suddenly rang out.
“What is going on? Instead of practicing, what are you all doing making such a racket in front of the Library Tower?”
Upon hearing this voice full of pressure, the disciples turned around to see the wrinkled face of the strictest Teaching Elder.
Wait, who called this old skin flayer over?
The Teaching Elder detested lazy disciples the most. Seeing the scene, he glared and waved his hand in a reprimand, “Do you know that your shouting here will affect the people reading inside? All of you, follow me back now to transcribe the sect rules!”
After scolding the disciples, he turned and saw Xian Yuzhu.
Yuzhu was startled by the sudden loud voice.
That dog, Huo Yan. If he did not want to come down, fine, but what kind of skill was it to tattle to an elder?
When the Teaching Elder saw him, his expression softened. “Yuzhu, why are you standing here?”
Xian Yuzhu naturally would not say that he was here reluctantly because Huo Yan wanted to settle accounts with him; that would be too embarrassing.
He pursed his lips slightly and said obediently, “Uncle, I want to go up and read.”
“What a good child.” The Teaching Elder smiled kindly. “Go on then. I will deal with these rowdy monkeys who are bothering you. Just focus on your studies.”
“Um, okay.” Facing a highly respected elder, Xian Yuzhu felt a rare bit of guilt.
He did not dare to shout for Huo Yan to get lost and come down to fetch him anymore. He tried his best to maintain his usual confident appearance and walked inside with his head held high.
The gazes of the cultivators behind him were reluctant, but none of them exposed Yuzhu. They could only watch as his figure disappeared up the winding stairs of the Library Tower.
Library Tower, Fifth Floor
A secret manual was spread out before Huo Yan. It was found in the ruins of a certain powerhouse mentioned by the remnant soul. He had checked it carefully and only began practicing after ensuring there were no issues.
Xian Yuzhu saw his tall, broad back and let out a scoff. “Poseur.”
He sat down across from Huo Yan. “This Young Sect Leader is here. What do you want with me?”
Huo Yan did not open his eyes. Maintaining his meditative posture, he only spoke slowly, “Are you not clear in your heart about what you had people do at the gate of my courtyard last night?”
Of course he was clear. But how could Xian Yuzhu admit it?
“I have no idea what you are talking about! I was sleeping soundly and could not be bothered with you.”
Yuzhu crossed his arms, his peach blossom eyes narrowing slowly. Heh, Huo Yan did not like men, so he would deliberately mention the childhood betrothal to make him uncomfortable.
“Hey, Huo Yan. I say, do you not claim to be righteous every day? That Young Master Xie traveled a long way to find you. As his fiancé, are you really going to let him down like this?”
“Nonsense. Do not speak such wild words.”
The man across from him opened his eyes, revealing a pair of deep, dark orbs.
He did not know if it was an illusion, but Xian Yuzhu felt that Huo Yan had suddenly become unhappy.
However, that was exactly what he wanted. If Huo Yan was miserable, he was happy. Xian Yuzhu began to smile triumphantly.
Click.
With a slight movement of his fingertips, Huo Yan placed a Recording Stone on the table.
“Regarding last night’s matter, do you choose to behave and confess your mistake yourself, or shall I expose you personally?”
Xian Yuzhu’s pupils shrank, and he looked up in disbelief.
Huo Yan lowered his gaze, his heavy eyes sweeping over Yuzhu’s fair and beautiful face. He said expressionlessly.
“Think carefully about what you have done wrong, Yuzhu.”
“Do not make Senior Brother angry. You know that I will not be soft hearted toward you.”