As for whatever else Chu Xuanzhi went on to say, Yun Zhou no longer had the heart to listen. His little disciple was simply too long-winded.
His current form had already reverted to that of a youth entering early manhood; it wasn’t as though his intelligence had actually dropped.
Fortunately, a junior disciple soon arrived at the hall to report on official matters.
Yun Zhou tugged at the cuff of Shi An’s sleeve, offered his excuses to Sect Master Chu Xuanzhi, and followed the guiding disciple out.
Once Yun Zhou had walked out of earshot, Chu Xuanzhi completely dropped any pretense of grand sect master authority, viciously grabbing the collar of Shi An’s robes and snarling: “Is this how you pursue Shizun? Shizun ended up injured and reduced to this state precisely because of you!”
Shi An opened his mouth to utter a single “I”, only to be cut off as Chu Xuanzhi released his grip on his collar.
With a despondent expression, Chu Xuanzhi muttered, “Actually… I know it isn’t your fault. Shizun would inevitably have made that choice, and neither you nor I could have stopped him.
“It’s just that he is your master and mine. Shizun ought to be carefree, unfettered, and revered by all, rather than suffering such severe injuries.
“Furthermore, Shizun is destined to be your partner, and you care deeply for him. So, take good care of Shizun, and take care of yourself as well I’m not saying this out of concern for you, mind you, but simply because I don’t want Shizun to be saddened or distressed.”
With that, Chu Xuanzhi stared fixedly at Shi An for a long moment, looking as though he had more to say, before finally blurting out at lightning speed: “Shizun is yours, and he has always favored you in his heart. Besides, you aren’t a vinegar jar you can’t possibly hold that much jealousy!
“The cranes on Zhanlan Peak are practically on the verge of extinction just because they once carried Shizun was that really necessary?
“And as for Luo Jiuyou, the young sect master of the Yunqi Sect, simply because he stared at Shizun a moment too long out of fascination, you went and gave him a beating, and even ended up exposing your own identity in the process. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for me to clean up your messes?”
Shi An remained speechless and silent. Finally, he raised his head with a helpless expression and replied, “I’ll try my best. As for whether it was necessary I don’t know, but… thank you.”
Unwilling to exchange another word with this dragon, Chu Xuanzhi waved his hand and angrily shooed him away.
When Shi An went back out to look for Yun Zhou, he spotted him from afar, gathered together with a group of Sword Peak disciples.
One of the younger disciples had brought along two rabbits one with white ears and the other with gray ears.
The disciple stroked the long ears of the gray rabbit in wonder while watching the white rabbit groom its own fur. “Brother Qingchen, historical texts record: ‘Hares lick their fur, gaze at the moon to conceive, and give birth to young from their mouths.’ Is this actually true?”
Brother Qingchen who was none other than Immortal Venerable Yun Zhou cupped a hand over his fist, pressed it against his lips, and gave a light cough to mask the smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
A larger, livelier disciple chimed in, trying to hoodwink the others with mischievous encouragement: “Naturally it’s true! Secular books say that rabbits are exclusively female and have no males. Whenever a female rabbit wants a baby, she licks her fur and prays to the moon. If she receives the blessing of the moon palace’s rabbit, she will cough up a baby rabbit right from her mouth. Since it’s recorded in the books, there can’t be any mistake.”
Listening from the side and having had his fill of amusement, Yun Zhou finally added, “There is another line right after that, however: ‘Such a legend has long existed, yet it is something these eyes have never witnessed.'”
Before paying attention to whether the junior disciples had processed what he said, Yun Zhou was already whisked away by Shi An.
Shi An mentally noted down the faces of these disciples, recognizing them as inner-stage disciples of the Elixir Peak. The moment he turned and pulled Yun Zhou away, he sent a voice transmission to the Elixir Peak Master, Nangong Wanyue: “Your inner disciples are supposed to be studying alchemy formulas and mental cultivation techniques, yet right now, several of them are outside the main hall of the master peak studying rabbits.”
With one hand gripping the back collar of Yun Zhou’s robes to prevent him from transforming into his true form and bolting, Shi An led him back.
Along their path, those very same disciples fled in a panic those capable of sword flight dragging along those who couldn’t, while others frantically slapped rushing talismans onto themselves.
As they streaked past, a gust of wind followed closely behind them, carrying a flash of white hair, tangled red silk ribbons, and the sight of Yun Zhou’s fox ears twitching forward in amusement.
When they brought the master back to the main hall of Zhanlan Peak, the interior furnishings remained exactly as they had been, save for the dried-up ink in the inkstone, which silently testified to the fact that the place had been unoccupied for a long time.