Shen Manyi hurriedly took three steps in two and leaped onto the flying sword.
The moment she steadied herself, the flying sword shot into the sky with a “whoosh,” moving as fast as lightning.
“Ah—!”
Shen Manyi had not expected it to be so fast. She cried out in alarm and instinctively reached out with both hands, tightly wrapping them around Xiao Mo’s waist.
“Stand steady.”
Xiao Mo’s voice came from in front of her, carrying a faint tension that was difficult to detect.
“Oh, okay.” Shen Manyi answered with her mouth, but she did not dare loosen her grip.
The wind was fierce at such a high altitude, whipping her hair into a mess.
Yet the man’s back in front of her was like a mountain, blocking all the wind and snow.
The feeling was deeply reassuring.
Looking at the fabric beneath her hands, Shen Manyi suddenly asked, “Brother, are you short on spirit stones?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not looking down on you.”
She hurriedly explained, “I just feel that someone as powerful as you shouldn’t be living so poorly.
“You don’t even have a decent spiritual robe, and when you’re injured, you can only endure it.”
Xiao Mo: “……”
The spiritual robe he wore was made of ten-thousand-year ice silkworm silk. It was impervious to water and fire and nearly impossible for blades or swords to damage. It was a supreme treasure that countless people in the cultivation world dreamed of possessing.
How had it become “not decent” in her mouth?
“You have me from now on. I’ll support you!” Shen Manyi said earnestly.
“Whatever you like, I’ll buy it for you.
“Once we settle down, the first thing I’ll do is buy you ten… No, a hundred of the best-looking spiritual robes!”
Shen Manyi felt that she was being an exceptionally responsible Younger Sister.
Xiao Mo fell silent.
He was beginning to think that picking up this Little Girl might not have been such a boring thing after all.
At the very least, she was interesting.
The flying sword moved extremely quickly. In less than half a day, it had crossed the vast snow-covered mountains.
A continuous mountain range appeared before them, shrouded in immortal mist and overflowing with spiritual energy.
Peak after peak pierced the clouds. Vaguely, one could see jade pavilions and towers, with immortal cranes dancing through the air.
At the very center, atop the tallest peak that rose into the clouds, four large, flamboyant characters—“Guiyuan Sword Sect”—shone brilliantly beneath the sunlight.
“Wow…” Shen Manyi stared, completely dumbfounded.
Was this the legendary number-one sect? It really was magnificent!
Wait—
“Brother, you… you’re not planning to seek shelter with the Guiyuan Sword Sect, are you?” she asked worriedly.
After all, she had heard that orthodox sects looked down on demonic cultivators more than anyone!
“No, no, no, this place is too dangerous! Let’s leave!”
She grabbed Xiao Mo’s sleeve and spoke anxiously.
“Don’t be afraid.” Xiao Mo spat out two words.
“How can I not be afraid? This is the number-one orthodox sect! They’re our mortal enemies!”
Shen Manyi was so anxious that she was about to cry. “Brother, listen to me. Let’s go somewhere else. This place really isn’t suitable for demonic cultivators like us to develop!”
Xiao Mo turned his head and glanced at her.
His gaze was calm, yet it possessed a power that inexplicably made people feel at ease.
“My place is here.”
The flying sword did not stop at the mountain gate. Instead, it flew directly toward the deepest part of the sect.
Along the way, countless Sword Sect disciples who saw that familiar black figure stopped and respectfully bowed.
“Welcome back to the sect, Sword Venerable!”
“Sword Venerable!”
The voices rose and fell one after another, filled with awe.
Shen Manyi was somewhat dazed as she listened to the way they addressed him.
“Sword Venerable? Brother, are they calling you?”
Xiao Mo did not answer. He merely guided the flying sword steadily down onto the summit of a Main Peak.
There was a broad platform here, with clouds surging beneath their feet. An ancient and magnificent palace stood quietly atop the sea of clouds.
Three characters were written on the palace’s plaque—
Supreme Peak.
“We’re here.”
Xiao Mo put away the flying sword and turned to look at Shen Manyi, who was still in shock.
“From today onward, you’ll live here.”
“L-live here?”
Shen Manyi’s mind was having trouble processing things. “Brother, who… who exactly are you?”
Looking at her dazed and foolish expression, Xiao Mo suddenly found himself in a good mood.
He reached out, intending to pat the top of her head as he had before, but his hand stopped halfway.
In the end, he merely said flatly, “Your brother.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the main hall, leaving Shen Manyi alone to stand in the wind, utterly flustered.
Who exactly was he? Why did all the Guiyuan Sword Sect disciples call him “Sword Venerable”?
Could it be… that her cheap Older Brother was not an ordinary demonic cultivator,
but rather… a demonic-path spy who had infiltrated the number-one orthodox sect?
The thought had barely appeared when Shen Manyi frightened even herself.
This was far too exciting!
“Little Girl, stop standing there like an idiot!”
Tangyuan’s voice rang out. “No matter who he is, he’s your greatest backer now! Hurry up and follow him!”
“Oh, right!”
Shen Manyi came back to her senses and hurriedly moved her short legs to chase after him.
There was no time to worry about all that! As long as she could cling tightly to this golden thigh, who cared whether he was the Demon Venerable or the Sword Venerable?
In any case, she had decided to stick with him!
Supreme Peak was very large and very quiet.
Aside from that magnificent palace, there were no other buildings on the entire mountain. There was not even a single disciple attending to the place.
Shen Manyi followed behind Xiao Mo, curiously looking around.
“Brother, why isn’t there a single person here?” she could not help asking.
“I like peace and quiet.” Xiao Mo’s answer was as simple as ever.
Shen Manyi nodded in understanding. “Oh, I get it. Experts all like to act aloof and antisocial.”
Xiao Mo: “……”
He led Shen Manyi through the front hall to a side hall by the rear entrance.
Pointing to a room, he said, “You’ll live here from now on.”
Then he looked at the simple bed and table inside. After thinking for a moment, he added, “If you’re missing anything, go to the storeroom and take it yourself.”
“Thank you, Brother! I understand!” Shen Manyi said sweetly.
In her heart, she had already begun planning how to make the crude room feel a little more cozy.
“Mm.” Xiao Mo acknowledged her, seemingly preparing to leave.
“Wait!” Shen Manyi called out to him.
She immediately took a small jade bottle from the spatial realm and held it out to him.
“Brother, these are healing pills. They’re a little better than the ones I showed you before. Remember to take them on time.”
This was one of the Shen Family’s treasured heirlooms.
Xiao Mo looked at the jade bottle in her hand, then at her eyes brimming with concern.
Although the medicine was of no use to him, he still reached out and accepted it.
When Shen Manyi saw him take it, her heart bloomed with joy.
See? She was such a good Younger Sister! She even knew to worry about her Older Brother’s health!
Holding the jade bottle, Xiao Mo left her with a single sentence:
“Don’t let anyone bully you.”
Then he vanished from sight.
Once he had gone, Shen Manyi’s entire body relaxed, and she flopped onto the bed.
“Tangyuan, we have a place to live!”
She happily rolled around on the bed.
“Yes, yes, we have a place to live.”
Tangyuan crawled out of the spatial realm and jumped onto the table, looking at the empty room with disdain.
“But this place is far too shabby! It doesn’t even have a cushion!”
“And where are my spirit stones? Why didn’t he give you any spirit stones?”
Shen Manyi said solemnly, “Brother is going through a difficult period right now. We have to be understanding.”
“Besides, I have some! I’ll go and properly furnish this place in a little while!”
Just as the girl and tiger were talking, a burst of footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
Immediately afterward, a clear female voice rang out.
“Excuse me, is anyone here?”