"You’re back." Floating Cloud Master put down his teacup and smiled at his disciple.

The elderly man was as kind as ever. His affection for Chu Xuan was truly like treating him as his own.

Chu Xuan could well imagine the pressure his master faced when the elders in the sect discovered the ancestor’s portrait missing from the hall these days. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

In truth, Chu Xuan was a bit puzzled too. He had asked his master before: Why are you so good to me?

This surpassed the scope of "don’t use someone you distrust; don’t distrust someone you use." Like this time, when Chu Xuan went to save someone, it was his personal matter, yet Floating Cloud Master was willing to use the sect’s resources to assist.

Back then, Floating Cloud Master’s response was simply: "Beyond care for a disciple, mainly because I believe you’ll lead the sect forward in the future."

"With your personality, you’re not necessarily suited to be the leader, handling daily mundane affairs."

"But I believe, as long as you have any strength left, you won’t stand by as the sect falls into crisis."

"Chu Xuan, I hope that when you grow up, you can become the sect’s Guardian; this isn’t a demand, but my personal expectation of you."

After listening, Chu Xuan nodded solemnly. He was a simple person; you treat me well, I’ll treat you well.

If his master unconditionally supported him, he would naturally repay the sect unconditionally in the future.

When he returned, Chu Xuan first took out the ancestor’s portrait, hung it back in the hall, and only then returned to the main hall.

Floating Cloud Master didn’t ask if his disciple’s rescue went smoothly, just brewed him a cup of tea as always.

Perhaps he realized, as Chu Xuan returned alone, the result was self-evident.

Chu Xuan sat beside his senior sister, sipping tea with a relatively calm tone, recounting the experience of this trip.

After listening, Floating Cloud Master just nodded and said: "Don’t think too much about it; your actions and decisions weren’t wrong, even if the final result wasn’t ideal, you gave your best effort."

Qin Mengyao wanted to comfort Chu Xuan but didn’t know what to say. She wanted to hold his hand, but feared he would reject it, so she could only say, "Master is right; it’s all over now."

Suddenly, she felt she was too despicable, to actually feel secretly pleased because Chu Xuan’s rescue wasn’t successful.

Chu Xuan nodded, "Next, I have to visit the East Sea; the node repair task has been delayed repeatedly, I’m very sorry."

This task was given to him by the sect when he traveled down the mountain, and he should have gone long ago.

"Then go," Floating Cloud Master said, "I initially said to complete it within three years, but..." he frowned slightly, "recent circumstances don’t seem too optimistic. You’ll know once you see it for yourself."

Saying this, he casually glanced at the ancestor snoring beside him.

Chu Xuan also looked at Yiyi, "Master Ancestor doesn’t know about this yet, does she?"

Floating Cloud Master nodded, "Since she returned from the secret realm, she was preoccupied with that stone for two months. Once she confirmed it was a dead object unable to hatch anything, she lost interest completely."

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but reach out and touch Yiyi’s head, a hint of tenderness emerged from his originally saddened gaze, "That’s good, I hope she can always stay carefree."

Just then, Qin Mengyao offered, "I’ll go with Junior Brother; repairing nodes can be quite dangerous, and I have more experience."

Floating Cloud Master then looked at Chu Xuan, seeming to ask for his opinion.

After hesitating for a moment, Chu Xuan still nodded in agreement, which made Qin Mengyao breathe a sigh of relief.

She decided privately to see if she could mend her relationship with Junior Brother during the trip, at least make him understand that they can be more than just senior and junior sisters...

Yes, Qin Mengyao regretted it; she no longer wanted to say things like, "My heart is solely for the sword, unaffected by external things." She realized she actually had feelings for Chu Xuan.

At the very least, she couldn’t bear to watch Junior Brother fall into another woman’s arms with her own eyes.

With that, Chu Xuan no longer lingered. He stood up and said, "Master, please tell Haitang that I’ll visit her when I get back."

Floating Cloud Master nodded slightly.

And there’s Gu Haitang; Qin Mengyao felt heavy inside, hoping she wouldn’t suddenly hurt Chu Xuan.

Compared to Gu Haitang, who has always been good to Chu Xuan despite previously rejecting him, does she still stand a chance?

Chu Xuan naturally knew nothing of his senior sister’s dilemma, merely brought her along, leaving the sect straight for the East Sea.

...

On the road, Qin Mengyao took on the posture and attitude a senior sister should have and chatted about the past with Chu Xuan.

Especially their experience hunting the Poison Blood Profound Crocodile together, talking about fighting side by side, being ambushed by a gang of villains afterward, how they counterattacked and returned.

"After using the ’Celestial Immortal from Beyond’ move at that time, I was so mentally exhausted, I was unable to move temporarily. You carried me back, do you remember?"

With the revival of pleasant memories, the originally expressionless Chu Xuan showed a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, "Of course I remember."

During those days, Chu Xuan was still immersed in the hurt caused by Ji Mingyu, and it was his senior sister who gave him gentle comfort, which was the beginning of his fondness for her.

Qin Mengyao seized the moment, her pair of long, white and straight legs tensed up and jumped! Suddenly jumping onto Chu Xuan’s sword light, startling him.

What concept is this? Two people flying at high speed in the sky, with terrifying speed entirely supported by the sword light to protect its owner against the outer wind pressure, and suddenly someone next to them "jumps off the vehicle" over.