"Huh?"
The martial uncle instinctively glanced at Sheng Sheng in his arms.
The little cutie sitting in his lap tilted her head.
Do I look silly like this?
Her two perky pigtails swayed, looking inexplicably silly, saved only by her jade-like, snow-white, adorable chubby face.
The martial uncle said in puzzlement, "Isn't she quite cute?"
"Back when I was little, my mother especially loved tying this hairstyle for my younger sister."
The martial uncle wore a nostalgic expression.
Wen Rugu smiled: "You said it yourself—that was when you were little. But we're in the Cultivation World now."
What little fairy would wear such perky pigtails!
"Or perhaps you could learn how to tie hair properly."
Wen Rugu deftly untied the two perky pigtails with his nimble fingers.
He combed Sheng Sheng's hair anew, tying it into two adorable little flower buns and adding two delicate, fluttering butterflies.
Instantly, Sheng Sheng transformed from a cute little silly girl into a cute little fairy.
"Forget it, this skill… it's a bit too advanced, not something I can master."
The martial uncle wore a profound expression as he took a bite of his dried persimmon.
Wen Rugu thought of how he looked when using the abacus and smiled slightly.
"Your speed with the abacus is also something ordinary people can't surpass."
"After all, practice makes perfect."
"The abacus must be used; none who owe me debts can escape."
The martial uncle stroked the account book, revealing an inscrutable smile—ethereal and dignified, yet inexplicably tinged with a worldly, mercenary air.
Watching the martial uncle's smile, Sheng Sheng fell into deep thought.
【Perhaps I should also learn from martial uncle.】
【Make a special account book of past-life enemies, so I don't forget them.】
Seeing Sheng Sheng's expression of having learned a lesson, the martial uncle slowly revealed a smile that said, "The pupil is teachable."
"Martial uncle, don't corrupt our little junior sister."
Wen Rugu handed Sheng Sheng a stick of candied hawthorn.
Sheng Sheng immediately stopped thinking about the revenge ledger and happily accepted it.
"Thank you, senior brother!"
【I really like senior brother the most—even more like a mother than my own mother!】
Wen Rugu's smile stiffened: "No need to be so polite. After all, senior brother promised you."
"But, little junior sister, do you also want to go find our master?"
Sheng Sheng quickly nodded: "Mhm, mhm, I want to go too!"
"Senior brother, take me with you, okay? This time I'll be good and listen!"
She was worried that because of her injury, senior brother wouldn't let her descend the mountain.
"Don't worry, senior brother won't leave Sheng Sheng alone on the mountain."
The martial uncle, munching on his dried persimmon, said: "Kid, are you implying I'm not human?"
"How could that be?"
Wen Rugu showed a surprised expression: "It's just that martial uncle probably still has things to attend to, so it would be difficult to take care of little junior sister, right?"
"Little junior sister is still too young and just injured; she can't be left alone for now."
"After we all descend the mountain, we'll have to trouble martial uncle to watch the home alone."
"Third junior brother and fourth junior sister are on their way back. When they arrive, we'll have to trouble martial uncle to inform them."
It wasn't that there were no communication Magic Treasures; it was just that not only could they not contact their master, but they couldn't reach third junior brother and fourth junior sister either.
The communication Magic Treasures of their Yun Miao Sect were always hit-or-miss.
The martial uncle sighed: "Kid, you really know how to give me work."
Looks like he'd have to find an opportunity to repair the communication Magic Treasures.
Otherwise, at critical moments, they always held them back, and no one could be contacted.
"No choice, you're the elder we can most rely on right now."
Wen Rugu looked at the martial uncle with a trusting expression.
It was enough to make the hairs on his back stand on end.
"Don't try to flatter me, kid."
Being stared at with such trust by this treacherous, smiling tiger made the martial uncle shudder.
Wen Rugu smiled slightly.
Based on Sheng Sheng's inner thoughts, the most urgent matter now was their master.
"Master's last reply was near Youzhou City. Second Junior Sister should be in Youzhou City right now."
"I heard from a friend that a Secret Realm is about to open in Youzhou City recently. Second Junior Sister will probably encounter it."
Secret Realm?!
Sheng Sheng, who had been quietly nibbling on her candied hawthorn, couldn't help but widen her eyes in shock.
In her previous life, Second Senior Sister had met with misfortune in a Secret Realm near Youzhou City.
She was far too sensitive to that term.
If Second Senior Sister went there early now, would she encounter those two scoundrels and meet with misfortune ahead of time?
"Eldest Senior Brother, when are we going down the mountain to find Second Senior Sister?"
Sheng Sheng grew a bit anxious, worried that her rebirth might cause events to unfold earlier.
[No, Eldest Senior Brother, you must go find Second Senior Sister immediately, without a moment's delay!]
[In her previous life, Second Senior Sister was framed and severely injured in the Secret Realm, leaving her powerless to resist and suffering abuse from the Jiang family later on!]
Wen Rugu narrowed his eyes. "No rush, we'll head down the mountain today."
"Is Sheng Sheng eager to go find Second Senior Sister and Master?"
"Mhm, I miss Master and Second Senior Sister so, so, so much!"
To express her longing, Sheng Sheng used "so" three times in a row, emphasizing her feelings.
"Alright then, once your Fifth Senior Brother arrives, we'll go."
Before long, Guan Yuanbai was ready.
Urged on by Sheng Sheng's impatience.
Guan Yuanbai only had time to grab a persimmon cake before carrying Sheng Sheng down the mountain.
"Who would have thought we'd end up like this? Is Heavenly Fate truly unchangeable?"
Standing at the mountain's edge, the martial uncle watched the three figures gradually fade into the distance. Recalling Sheng Sheng's inner thoughts, his eyes grew profound.
"Unfortunately, our sect has never bowed to Heavenly Fate."
The wind rustled his Taoist robe as he stroked his beard, looking every bit the transcendent immortal, as if about to ride the wind and depart.
"Brr, the wind from the Sword Burial Valley is blowing over. It's really cold. Better hurry back inside."
The next moment, rubbing his arms, he quickly slipped back into the house, devoid of any immortal demeanor.
At this moment, the martial uncle had no idea.
That Yunmiao Sect, which never bowed to Heavenly Fate, had also produced a foolish "traitor."
One who firmly believed himself to be a Child of Destiny—Guan Yuanbai.
Meanwhile.
Jiang Qingjiu was still on the road searching for her master.
Although she hadn't learned from her junior sister's inner thoughts who the culprit was, it was enough.
She would find that person and try to eliminate them.
To cut off the root of future troubles.
Her master's most recent traces were near Youzhou City.
After descending the mountain, Jiang Qingjiu hurried to the nearest city and used a teleportation array to reach Youzhou City.
However, unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out of the teleportation array, she heard a voice filled with delight.
"Sister?"
Jiang Qingjiu turned to look. A beautiful, innocent-looking girl was eagerly walking toward her, her face alight with joy.
"Sister, I never thought it would really be you!"
"It's so wonderful to see you here!"
"Did you also come because you heard about the Secret Realm appearing in Youzhou City?"
Secret Realm?
Jiang Qingjiu's eyes flickered.
She remembered her junior sister's inner thoughts.
In the future, she would be pushed into a horde of Demonic Beasts in a Secret Realm, suffering severe injuries and beginning a series of misfortunes.
Could it be the Secret Realm Jiang Qingyu mentioned?
"Mhm."
Jiang Qingjiu responded coldly, not revealing her purpose.
"If we had known elder sister was coming too, we should have contacted her in advance, right, Xiao Feng?"
Jiang Qingyu looked at Jiang Qingfeng with a smile.
Jiang Qingjiu glanced at the indifferent young man behind Jiang Qingyu.
This was her younger brother Jiang Qingfeng, who studied under the Danxia Sect alongside Jiang Qingyu, and they were on very good terms.
As for her, their relationship had been poor since childhood.