The afternoon at the Qingqing Sect became exceptionally lively. The Immortal Alliance First Seat’s apprenticeship ceremony created a sensation across the entire cultivation world. People from all sects and factions received invitations to attend as observers, and those coming from afar had arrived a day early.
However, compared to the bustling main peak, Lingyun Peak was also buzzing with excitement.
The disciples of the Earth Hall held their heads high in triumph over those of the Heaven Hall, and upon returning to the classroom, they were still discussing what had just happened.
“That Yang Hua truly deserved it. I had found him obnoxious for a long time. Fortunately, the sect master is wise and knew Xiao Bai was framed.”
“Come to think of it, when I saw the sect master pull Xiao Bai just now, I felt he looked so gentle. I have never sensed that kind of emotion from the sect master before. Was I imagining things?”
“I don’t think you were mistaken, because the sect master has never pulled the senior brother like that!”
“Just now, the sect master even blamed the senior brother because of it. I feel that Xiao Bai holds an extraordinary weight in the sect master’s heart.”
“More than that! Xiao Bai was accepted into the sect by the sect master as an exception, and within just a few days, he was taught the Spirit-Sealing Grand Array. Now the sect master is shielding him so fiercely. It is completely worthy of being called doting favor!”
Meanwhile, one of the protagonists of this discussion, Jiang Youbai, was sitting alone in the courtyard of Yuling Peak. Although all major and minor affairs of the Qingqing Sect were handed over to Tang Ci to manage, tomorrow was, after all, Shen Changchuan’s initiation ceremony, and he had to step out to handle the various sect leaders coming to attend.
Jiang Youbai sat on a stone stool, fiddling with the teacups Shen Changchuan usually used, while his thoughts drifted far beyond the clouds.
If he had not seen it wrong, that trace of crimson in Tang Ci’s eyes earlier must have been caused by a mind-control spell cast upon him by Mu Jiyuan. Mu Jiyuan was also capable of manipulating minds, was this the ability of the Son of Heaven, or was there another reason?
He suddenly felt somewhat curious: if Mu Jiyuan were to use a mind-control spell on him, who would win, him or Mu Jiyuan?
Just as he was pondering, Tang Ci’s voice came from the entrance. “Xiao Bai.”
That tone was filled with guilt.
Jiang Youbai tilted his head and looked toward the gate. Right behind Tang Ci, Mu Jiyuan was still following closely.
The two of them always seemed to move together. Even though it had only been a few days, was this truly the magic of the Son of Heaven?
Ignoring both of them, Jiang Youbai poured and drank his tea leisurely.
Tang Ci walked up beside him like a repentant large dog, practically on the verge of kneeling before Jiang Youbai. “Xiao Bai, I did not look closely enough earlier and wronged you. I knew you weren’t the kind of person to harm your fellow disciples, but I was just anxious. I was afraid the sect master would expel you from the sect, and I did not want you to leave.”
Playing with the cup in his hand, Jiang Youbai smiled faintly. “Senior Brother enforces the law impartially. That is only right.”
Tang Ci’s face paled slightly. “I know you are angry, Xiao Bai. I spoke without thinking earlier. I actually didn’t mean to blame you; I just wanted to ask if you were hurt. But given the circumstances, I couldn’t show partiality.”
Jiang Youbai wasn’t actually angry. He had seen that Tang Ci was placed under Mu Jiyuan’s mind-control spell, but what about in his past life? Was the truth of his past life also like this?
He didn’t know, but he found it somewhat ironic.
Setting down his cup, Jiang Youbai looked at Tang Ci and said. “I understand, Senior Brother.”
Seeing Jiang Youbai’s solemn expression, Tang Ci’s eyes dimmed. The other person looked entirely reasonable and accommodating, but he always felt that Jiang Youbai had grown disappointed in him, or perhaps Jiang Youbai had never placed any expectations on him to begin since, and it was simply his own incompetence as the senior brother.
Not caring what Tang Ci was thinking, Jiang Youbai shifted his gaze to Mu Jiyuan, who was staring straight back at him. Seeing Jiang Youbai look over, Mu Jiyuan lowered his eyelids slightly.
Raising an eyebrow slightly, Jiang Youbai said. “Since you’re here to apologize, Junior Brother might as well offer me an apology too.”
Tang Ci was stunned and turned to look at Mu Jiyuan. Although Mu Jiyuan had indeed followed him here to apologize to Jiang Youbai, it didn’t seem like Mu Jiyuan had actually done anything wrong in this matter.
Squeezing out a smile, Mu Jiyuan stepped closer to Jiang Youbai and said. “No matter what, this incident started because of me. I truly should apologize to Senior Brother Jiang. It is all Ah Yuan’s fault for implicating Senior Brother Jiang and causing you to suffer grievances.”
Jiang Youbai didn’t even listen to what Mu Jiyuan was saying. The exact moment that person stepped close and met his gaze, his pupils instantly flooded with a crimson, bloody hue, his innate companion ability, mind control!
Giving Mu Jiyuan a deep look, Jiang Youbai said playfully. “Since that’s the case, why don’t you request to leave the Qingqing Sect yourself?”
Mu Jiyuan’s face paled as if frightened. “I have nowhere else to go. If I leave the Qingqing Sect, the demon race will kill me. Senior Brother Jiang, I promise I won’t associate with the people from the Heaven Hall anymore. I’ll just follow you, okay?”
Jiang Youbai’s gaze narrowed. Mu Jiyuan hadn’t been controlled by his mind-control ability at all; his innate companion ability had no effect on this Son of Heaven.
With a flick of his brows, he instead burst out laughing.
No wonder Shen Changchuan wanted to keep this person around. Now, even he wanted to find out what exactly this so-called Son of Heaven was.
Sitting there, Jiang Youbai leaned in close to Mu Jiyuan, hooking the other’s chin with one finger in a frivolous and teasing manner. “Alright, since you’ve put it that way, I’ll look after you in the Qingqing Sect from now on. How about it?”
Mu Jiyuan also smiled, his expression appearing genuinely overjoyed. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”
Seeing this, Tang Ci let out a soft breath of relief. “If the two of you can get along harmoniously, Master will surely be very pleased.”
Mu Jiyuan nodded. “Master dotes on Senior Brother Jiang so much. The disciples of the Earth Hall all say this is the first time the sect master has ever treated a disciple with such gentleness. With me staying by Senior Brother Jiang’s side, I’m sure no one in the Qingqing Sect will dare bully me.”
Jiang Youbai froze.
Gentle? Who? Shen Changchuan?
Which of their eyes saw Shen Changchuan as gentle?
“I still have to go help Master prepare for the initiation ceremony. Xiao Bai, don’t be late tomorrow,” Tang Ci instructed Jiang Youbai with renewed gentleness.
Jiang Youbai nodded. “Senior Brother, rest assured.”
As soon as Tang Ci left, only Jiang Youbai and Mu Jiyuan were left in the courtyard. Jiang Youbai’s hand was still hooked under Mu Jiyuan’s chin, refusing to let go as if teasing him. “Why were you pursued by the demon race?”
Looking at him, Mu Jiyuan pressed his lips together and said with a sorrowful expression. “Everyone in our entire town was slaughtered by the demon race, and I barely managed to escape. People in the town often said the Qingqing Sect is the largest sect in the cultivation world and isn’t far from our town, so I thought of fleeing here to seek protection.”
As he listened, Jiang Youbai’s hand slowly moved downward, coming to rest on Mu Jiyuan’s slender neck. Feeling the other’s fearful, slight tremble, he asked with a faint smile. “What is the name of your town?”
Mu Jiyuan’s voice even trembled a little. “Yuanhui Town.”
Jiang Youbai hadn’t bothered to learn much about Mu Jiyuan in his past life, so this was the first time he was hearing any of this. Still, figuring that the Son of Heaven’s identity wouldn’t have any flaws to pick apart, he asked instead. “Have you ever learned spiritual cultivation or spells?”
Mu Jiyuan seemed to hesitate for a moment. A glint flickered in Jiang Youbai’s eyes as his fingers gently stroked the other’s neck, the pulsing blood vessel pressing tightly against his fingertips.
Mu Jiyuan quickly said. “I learned a little.”
“Oh?” Jiang Youbai didn’t relax his grip in the slightest. “What did you learn?”
Mu Jiyuan suddenly lifted his eyes. “I learned the art of transformation.”
The moment his voice fell, his entire body vanished, turning into a cyan snake that coiled around the hand Jiang Youbai still held in mid-air. Mu Jiyuan moved extremely fast, wrapping around Jiang Youbai’s shoulder in an instant and pressing extremely close to him.
Turning his head to look at him at arm’s length, Jiang Youbai asked. “What, dropping the act?”
Instead, the cyan snake stuck out its fork-like tongue and gently licked Jiang Youbai’s face.
There was no killing intent.
Yet Jiang Youbai still frowned, quickly turning his head away and slapping the cyan snake flying off his shoulder. “Disgusting.”
Mu Jiyuan’s transformation spell was disrupted by the slap, forcing him to revert to his original form. However, instead of crashing to the ground as he flew backward, someone caught him from behind. In just a split second, he was pushed aside.
Looking back, Mu Jiyuan hastily lowered his head. “Master.”
Hearing the voice, Jiang Youbai also looked over and saw Shen Changchuan standing at the courtyard entrance. His long robes fluttered gently, and his hair was bound with a silver crown. It seemed that in order to meet the various sect leaders, he had dressed up a bit more solemnly than usual, though the profound depth in his eyes made him appear even more indifferent.
As if caught in the act of doing something illicit, Jiang Youbai glanced at Mu Jiyuan, who was desperately trying to lower his presence, and guiltily withdrew his gaze.
Yet after just a split second, he snapped back to his senses, feeling that his reaction was somewhat unnatural, and quickly adjusted his mood.
Lifting the corners of his lips, Jiang Youbai walked up to Shen Changchuan, stared at the silver crown atop his head, and suddenly reached out. “Master, this hair crown looks very nice. Lend it to me to wear.”
To his surprise, Shen Changchuan didn’t dodge, and the crown was directly lifted off by him. Raising an eyebrow without a word, he smoothly placed the silver crown onto his own head, adding. “We’re just meeting a few old men, why bother dressing up specially?”
Shen Changchuan said calmly. “Tomorrow’s initiation ceremony cannot be treated with negligence.”
Jiang Youbai paused for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Does Master mean you dressed up specially for me to see?”
Shen Changchuan’s gaze grew slightly profound, and instead of answering the question, he glanced at Mu Jiyuan standing respectfully to the side and asked. “What is going on here?”
Jiang Youbai fully expected Mu Jiyuan to immediately speak up and muddy the waters with words like, “Senior Brother Jiang didn’t hit me, I just accidentally tripped and fell.” He purposely waited a moment, only to find that Mu Jiyuan had no intention of fabricating a story. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes before he said. “Just getting close to the little junior brother.”
Shen Changchuan raised his eyes calmly. “Is getting close between senior and junior brothers achieved by kissing?”