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Shen Liuxiang was startled. His long eyelashes fluttered in the air as he grabbed the hand covering his mouth and pulled it open slightly.
“First, don’t talk nonsense. The rumors you heard might be different from what I heard,” Shen Liuxiu said.
Zhou Xuanlan’s eyes darkened, and he leaned close to Shen Liuxiang’s ear, whispering, “Is that so?”
He continued in a low voice, “What I heard is that in the Bone-Washing Spring, the Master was being served to death by me, causing him to almost faint.”
“What about Master? Did he hear something different?” Warm breath sprayed on Shen Liuxiang’s ear, and a faint blush rushed to his white earlobe.
Was it from the warmth of the breath or from being teased?
“Why did you admit it then? Clearly, these are all groundless rumors,” Shen Liuxiang’s ears felt hot, and he felt a warmth spread through his whole body. He wanted to get away from the person behind him, but his waist was held even tighter.
“I explained it already,” Zhou Xuanlan insisted, “It’s true.”
Shen Liuxiang frowned and was about to get angry, asserting his authority as his Master. However, he heard a transmission message: “I’m helping Master explain.”
He was taken aback and looked at Ning Runxin, whose face was still gloomy, realizing that he wouldn’t give up easily.
“That’s not going to work,” Shen Liuxiang said firmly.
He couldn’t let his reputation be tarnished by getting involved with his disciple, let alone have a disciple who helped his master clean up the mess. It would ruin their reputations.
“Why not?” Zhou Xuanlan asked.
“Simply because it’s not going to work,” Shen Liuxiu replied.
“That’s enough!”
A cold shout interrupted the two’s private conversation.
The disciples of the Sword Sect heard the familiar voice and felt a chill down their spines. They felt that things were not looking good and looked toward the source of the voice, trembling.
“The, the Sect Master!”
They were in trouble. Why did the Sect Master look so unhappy? Could it be…
Lan Xiaosheng’s face was cold as he kept his gaze shifting between Zhou Xuanlan and Shen Liuxiang. He frowned deeply.
“Public displays of affection in front of everyone are inappropriate,” Lan Xiaosheng said, looking towards Ling Ye, “Sect Master Ling, you should advise your disciples to be more careful about their behavior.”
Ling Ye smiled gently, “It was your disciples who started this trouble.”
Lan Xiaosheng’s gaze then turned toward Ning Runxin, Ye Bingran, and Zhao Lin, remaining silent for a while. With a tone of deep frustration, he said, “All of you, go back and focus on your cultivation. All you know is how to practice swordsmanship.”
“Yes, Master,” Ye Bingran bowed.
Seeing the eager expression on his eldest disciple’s face, Lan Xiaosheng felt even more annoyed and cursed him inwardly. He ignored him and turned away, leaving with large strides.
He returned to his peak alone and stood under an ancient phoenix tree. From daylight to nightfall, he finally sighed, “Linlang, I have a bad feeling about this.”
The night sky was filled with brilliant stars.
Lan Xiaosheng sat cross-legged on the ground, taking out several dark stones from his pocket. He activated his spiritual energy, causing runes to appear on the stones, emitting a faint light that seemed to correspond with the starlight in the sky.
He used the technique of star divination, manipulating the stones with his slender fingers, not stopping for several hours.
Until a certain moment, there was a crack, and one of the black stones on the table shattered into powder.
Lan Xiaosheng’s face turned pale, and he spat out blood. His pupils shrank.
…
Early the next morning, Shen Liuxiang was curled up in his bed, sleeping soundly, while Shen Bu Bu snored beside him, sleeping in all sorts of positions.
The door creaked open, accompanied by whispers and murmurs, filtering into the room.
Shen Liuxiang blinked his sleepy eyes and was met with an icy-cold face entering his vision. This sudden appearance startled him, and he sat up abruptly.
Lan Xiaosheng walked over to the side of the bed, placing his hand on Shen Liuxiang’s head and ruffling his soft and messy hair. “Get up, I have something to ask of you.”
Shen Liuxiang looked puzzled and clueless, not understanding what the Sect Master would want from him.
Lan Xiaosheng pointed to Ye Bingran, who stood beside him exuding a cold aura, “This disciple of mine has been stuck at the Nascent Soul realm for a long time, while you have already reached the Harmonisation realm. How about passing on some of your experience to him?”
Shen Liuxiang’s face immediately turned into a big “No.” Teaching Ye Bingran cultivation? Absolutely impossible.
First, there were too many complicated memories between them. Second, he didn’t have much to teach, otherwise, he would have already taught Zhou Xuanlan. Third…
“One thousand spiritual stones per day,” Lan Xiaosheng raised his index finger.
Shen Liuxiang clenched his fist and put it to his lips, clearing his throat, “Actually, it’s not entirely impossible…”
Lan Xiaosheng’s smile deepened.
Shen Liuxiu tied up his hair, dressed properly, and as he left the room, he ran into Zhou Xuanlan.
“Where is Master going?” Zhou Xuanlan questioned, finding it odd to see him awake at this time.
Shen Liuxiang realized that although Zhou Xuanlan came to the Sword Sect, he didn’t neglect his cultivation. However, finding a quiet place in an unfamiliar area wasn’t easy. He had heard that Zhou Xuanlan changed his meditation locations frequently.
“I’m going out,” Shen Liuxiang swayed the green jade at his waist, “If I find it is a good place, I’ll call you over.”
Ye Bingran was meditating in the Cold Pool surrounded by bamboo forests, filled with abundant spiritual energy, and extremely quiet.
As soon as Shen Liuxiang stepped in, he shivered from the cold.
Ye Bingran sat cross-legged, facing the pool water, and heard the rustling sound behind him. Despite furrowing his eyebrows, he remained motionless.
Shen Liuxiang sighed.
Ye Bingran paid him no attention.
Shen Liuxiang hugged his arms, and the cold air rose from the soles of his feet, freezing him to the core. His voice trembled from the chill, “I don’t have much to teach you, and I’m sure you don’t want me to teach you either. Let’s make a deal. I’ll stay here with you for a day, and I’ll give you three hundred spiritual stones when we’re done. How about that?”
Ye Bingran opened his eyes and looked back at him, “You really came for the spiritual stones.”
Shen Liuxiang squatted on the ground, exhaling a hot breath, “Otherwise, why else would I come?”
Shen Liuxiang raised an eyebrow, suddenly realizing something, and chuckled, “You don’t think I’m still enamored with you, that’s why you eagerly rushed over here, right?”
Ye Bingran didn’t say a word. Indeed, that’s what he thought.
“In that case, watch me,” Shen Liuxiang said.
Ye Bingran frowned and raised his eyes.
In his line of sight, the handsome young man smiled and raised two fingers, using a relaxed tone, “I, Shen Liuxiang, swear that if I have even the slightest affection for you, let the thunder of the heavens strike me…”
“No need to do that,” Ye Bingran interrupted.
Swearing as a cultivator was not something to be taken lightly.
And it would be effective.
“I’ll believe you,” Ye Bingran let out a breath and looked relieved. It seemed that Shen Liuxiang had indeed come to his senses, and that was a good thing.
In these years, he had truly been bothered too much.
“Since that’s the case, what do you think of my earlier proposal?” Shen Liuxiang rubbed his icy hands together and suggested in a friendly tone, “I can compromise a little and give you four hundred spiritual stones.”
“Are you really that poor?” Ye Bingran raised an eyebrow, not understanding why a Harmonisation realm cultivator would compromise for a mere one thousand spiritual stones. It would be a laughing stock if this news got out.
As he spoke, Ye Bingran felt Shen Liuxiang’s eyes scrutinizing him, and he felt uncomfortable being stared at like that. “If you need some, you can sell some medicinal pills and artifacts. I remember you have quite a few precious treasures.”
Shen Liuxiang smirked, “Aren’t they all given to you?”
“Stop lying,” Ye Bingran’s expression turned cold. “I’ve never taken any of your treasures.”
Shen Liuxiang shook his head and sighed, “There’s a mole among your disciples. They took my things and said they would help me deliver them to you, but in the end, I lost both my belongings and money.”
Ye Bingran’s tone turned icy, “Who dares to do such a thing?”
“I don’t remember,” Shen Liuxiang said casually, not giving away any more information.
Ye Bingran fell into thought.
Shen Liuxiang retreated into the bamboo forest, feeling a bit warmer there. He decided to call Zhou Xuanlan to this place, as the spiritual energy here was several times more abundant than outside, and it was a peaceful and serene place for cultivation.
While channeling his spiritual power, Shen Liuxiang asked loudly, “I’m going to call someone over. Is that alright with you?”
“Who?” Ye Bingran asked.
“My disciple.”
Ye Bingran hesitated for a moment and replied, “I don’t mind.”
Shen Liuxiang raised an eyebrow, pretending not to hear him, “Ah? What did you say? I didn’t hear!”
Ye Bingran: “…”
He turned away with a cold expression, closed his eyes, and began to meditate. However, he found it hard to concentrate.
After a while, he turned his head and glanced at the figure that had just appeared. Seeing Shen Liuxiang’s cheeks white from the cold, he furrowed his brows and took out a crimson fox fur cloak from his storage pouch.
Shen Liuxiang looked surprised for a moment but then put it on.
The young man’s phoenix-like eyes were exquisite, with a stunningly beautiful face. The crimson garment made him even more dazzling, and the smile on his lips seemed to make everything around him lose color.
Ye Bingran withdrew his gaze silently.
At midnight, when he returned to his residence, Ye Bingran noticed Lan Xiaosheng standing outside. “You’re cultivating so late, it seems like you get along well,” Lan Xiaosheng commented.
“Somewhat,” Ye Bingran replied ambiguously.
Lan Xiaosheng nodded in satisfaction. He knew that his eldest disciple didn’t like Shen Liuxiang initially, so hearing him say “somewhat” indicated some progress in their relationship, which pleased him.
“Have you had much conversation with him?” Lan Xiaosheng inquired.
Ye Bingran hesitated for a moment and answered, “Not much. He fell asleep.”
Lan Xiaosheng’s eyes lit up slightly, “Where did he fall asleep?”
“Leaning against a shoulder,” Ye Bingran replied.
Lan Xiaosheng’s face showed delight, thinking to himself that it had progressed quickly. He patted his eldest disciple’s shoulder approvingly, “Great, you have broad shoulders, which should make it comfortable for him to rest on.”
“Master misunderstood,” Ye Bingran confessed, “He was sleeping with his disciple’s shoulder as a pillow.”
Lan Xiaosheng felt his head spin, getting infuriated.
He couldn’t let this go on any longer!
Lan Xiaosheng thought about the divination results, shivered with fear, and after a sleepless night, made a firm decision to use drastic measures.
He arranged to meet someone at the Floating Obsidian Pavilion.
…
Under the scorching sun, Shen Liuxiang thought he was there to give the one thousand spiritual stones as agreed, humming a cheerful tune as he arrived early at the pavilion.
To his surprise, someone else was there even earlier.
It wasn’t Lan Xiaosheng but Ye Bingran, who was dressed up nicely.
With a beautiful jade crown securing his hair and wearing a pale white robe with a golden belt, he looked elegant and refined, his figure tall and slender from years of sword practice.
When he saw Shen Liuxiang, he was momentarily stunned, his cold and handsome face showing a trace of surprise.
“You look very attractive in this outfit,” Shen Liuxiang praised first, then spread out his hand, wiggling his slender fingers suggestively. “Sect Master Lan asked me to come and get the spiritual stones. It’s from you, right?”
Ye Bingran replied calmly, “Master only asked me to change into this outfit and come here.”
Shen Liuxiang furrowed his brows, wondering if the Sect Master of the Sword Sect was trying to shirk responsibility. He glanced at Ye Bingran again and suddenly realized what was going on.
He was being set up on a blind date!
“…” Shen Liuxiang looked around and sighed, “Stop hiding. Settle yesterday’s payment for me.”
Laughter sounded from the shadows, and in the blink of an eye, a figure appeared in the pavilion. “Aren’t you fond of my disciple? How come now you only care about spiritual stones?”
Ye Bingran’s expression changed, finally sensing Lan Xiaosheng’s intentions.
Shen Liuxiang smiled indifferently, “There’s nothing I can do. I have a prodigal disciple.”
Lan Xiaosheng’s face darkened, staring at the young man in front of him and pointing at Shen Liuxiu’s face, “Who’s this ‘my disciple’? Can he compare to him? Open your eyes and take a good look!”
“The Grand Swordmaster, famous at a young age, admired by countless people, this one is far from being comparable,” Shen Liuxiang replied calmly.
Lan Xiaosheng asked, “Is he suitable to be your Dao companion?”
Ye Bingran’s face changed suddenly, wanting to speak, but Lan Xiaosheng interrupted, “I didn’t ask you. Don’t speak.”
Shen Liuxiang raised an eyebrow and said righteously, “A gentleman does not snatch what others desire. Lord Lan doesn’t know, but the Grand Swordmaster and my Sect’s Lord Su have already made a private arrangement for life. As a witness to their affection, I will certainly offer my blessings and laughter.”
Lan Xiaosheng’s eyes darkened slightly, “Who is this Lord Su?”
Shen Liuxiang nudged Ye Bingran with his elbow.
Brother, don’t back down now. Otherwise, you won’t be able to claim the beauty as yours.
Ye Bingran hesitated, then firmly said, “He is the person I admire.”
Lan Xiaosheng was filled with anger, grabbing Shen Liuxiang and pointing at his face, “Who’s this Lord Su? Can he compare to him? Look at him carefully!”
Ye Bingran lowered his eyes, resolute, and said, “My mind is made up. Master doesn’t need to say anything further.”
Lan Xiaosheng became furious, “I think you’re delusional! You don’t recognize the gem in front of you! You will regret this!”
Ye Bingran remained silent.
Shen Liuxiang didn’t expect that the Sect Master of the Sword Sect was trying to play matchmaker and now was upset that it didn’t work out.
He was about to mediate the situation, but the temperature around the Floating Obsidian Pavilion suddenly dropped. Ning Runxin’s cold voice came, “Senior Brother, you’re quite interesting. You asking Master to let me stay for a few days, only to pave the way for Junior Brother Ye.”
Ning Runxin’s malicious gaze fell upon Lan Xiaosheng, and he smiled wickedly, “What a pity, it seems that my nephew has someone in his heart.”
He turned around and smiled at Ye Bingran, “Who is Lord Su? Since you two are in love, your shishu will definitely lend you a helping hand.”
“He is one of our sect’s elders,” Ling Ye walked leisurely out from the crossroad, smiling gently.
Shen Liuxiang applauded silently.
It seemed that his Senior Brother also admired Su Baiche, and it looked like there would be some hidden struggles between Ye Bingran and Su Baiche.
Unobtrusively, he stepped back and quietly summoned Zhou Xuanlan.
“Master?” Zhou Xuanlan questioned.
“Give me some melon seeds,” Shen Liuxiang opened his palm.
Zhou Xuanlan: “······”
He untied a storage bag and took out a bag of melon seeds, as well as various dried fruits and snacks.
Shen Liuxiang cracked open the melon seeds and muttered softly, “What a pity, Su Baiche isn’t here; otherwise, it would be much more interesting.”
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, the sunny sky darkened, and rolling dark clouds accompanied by a distant rainbow appeared in an instant.
Su Baiche wore a snowy robe, stained with a large amount of blood, and his delicate face was deathly pale. When he saw the group of people, he seemed to see a savior.
His gaze then fell to the ground.
Both Ling Ye and Ye Bingran’s expressions changed, and they both reached out towards him.
“Bai Che.”
“Su Baiche.”
At this moment, they saw a delicate and slender figure stumbling over and rushing past both of them, throwing himself into the arms of a handsome young man and hugging him tightly.
“Save me——”
After saying that, he fainted.
Melon seeds in Shen Liuxiang’s hand scattered all over the ground.