Since they had reached a conclusion, the three of them went their separate ways.

Yu Qiaoxi left the courtyard to continue her research.

Xiao Lin left to begin his cultivation.

Ning Yunmiao left to find a good place to sleep.

Then, that evening, they gathered again in the courtyard, and this time Lu Xingqiu and Luo Qingyan joined them.

It wasn't because they suddenly realized the importance of unity and friendship and decided to have dinner together, but because Leng Youxue had summoned them.

"Hmm, is everyone here?"

Ning Yunmiao had just taken out a food box to distribute the Spirit Cuisine when she heard Leng Youxue's voice. She immediately put the box down and sat back down properly.

For the full version, visit [ pawread.com ].

Holding a novel in her hand, Leng Youxue sidestepped a few steps to stand behind Xiao Lin.

"You, get up."

"?"

Xiao Lin turned around, puzzled.

"What? Do you want your Master to stand while speaking?"

"……"

Xiao Lin looked at Leng Youxue's expression, which seemed to say "you rebellious disciple," and his mouth twitched slightly.

Initially, there were no chairs around the stone table in the courtyard. Then, whenever Leng Youxue took on a disciple, someone from Hundred Rivers Peak would send over a chair, so now there were exactly five chairs, leaving no place for Leng Youxue to sit.

But what did that matter? Xiao Lin was a good disciple who respected his Master!

He quickly stood up and stepped aside, patting the chair as he did so, then bent over respectfully, "Please, Master."

"Mm." Leng Youxue was clearly pleased, nodding as she sat down in Xiao Lin's chair.

[Senior Brother is such a bootlicker, hehe]

[Respectful Senior Brother, I like it!]

[It really feels like the relationship between Master and Senior Brother is closer than in the previous life]

[What does Master want to say? I'm at a critical point in my research, can I leave first?]

Hearing these thoughts, Xiao Lin couldn't be bothered to respond and simply moved a large stone over to sit behind Leng Youxue.

"This time, I've gathered you here to hear your opinions on something," Leng Youxue said calmly, looking at her four disciples.

"Please speak, Master," Xiao Lin's voice came from behind Leng Youxue.

"This matter is quite important. A few days ago, when that old lady from Mysterious Maiden Peak sent me a letter, I should have discussed it with you," Leng Youxue said, taking out an apple from who knows where and taking a bite, "But I was about to finish reading a novel at the time, so I forgot about it."

"……"

The four sitting together, plus Xiao Lin a bit further away, exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond.

After all, forgetting something important because of a novel's ending was one thing, but Leng Youxue's way of referring to the senior from Mysterious Maiden Peak made it hard for them to continue the conversation—

As "One Peak" in "One Sect, One Academy, One Temple, One Peak, Two Sacred Lands," Mysterious Maiden Peak, composed entirely of women, was rich in heritage and powerful, and its current sect leader was a Human Immortal of the Human Immortal Realm, a true powerhouse.

So while Leng Youxue could call the powerhouse an old lady, Xiao Lin and the others didn't dare to casually follow suit.

Fortunately, Leng Youxue didn't say anything like "you all should call her old lady too," and continued, "That old lady has a closed-door disciple, you know?"

"Gu Qingqing."

Luo Qingyan answered immediately.

"?"

Everyone looked at Luo Qingyan in surprise, amazed that someone usually so sparing with words had spoken up.

Xiao Lin was also surprised.

But what surprised him was...

[Senior Brother once brought up that wretched woman on his own and even praised her in front of me! I'll never forget that name!]

"?"

Xiao Lin was dumbfounded upon hearing this thought.

What? I just praised her? Second Junior Sister is slandering me! She's slandering me!

Just as he was internally protesting, Xiao Lin paused.

Because he suddenly recalled some fragments from his past related to the name "Gu Qingqing"—

"Second Junior Sister breaks through realms really fast, I thought I was finally catching up to you."

"Just lucky."

"I heard that recently, Gu Qingqing from Mysterious Maiden Peak also broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. So among the younger generation, I'm ranked fourth again. Sigh, that Gu Qingqing is really impressive."

These were the fragments of Xiao Lin's memory concerning Gu Qingqing.

Heaven knows, back then he was just young and reckless, with a competitive spirit that hadn't yet faded, so he paid some attention to the younger generation's standings. At that time, according to his own rankings, Gu Qingqing from Mysterious Maiden Peak was ahead of him, so he mentioned her.

As for praising her... with the System, he couldn't level up as fast as Gu Qingqing back then. Was there a problem with him praising her? Absolutely not.

Who knew that his casual mention and praise back then would leave such a deep impression on Luo Qingyan?

Sister, I'm begging you, let me off!

Xiao Lin lamented internally.

[Gu Qingqing? That name sounds familiar, I think it appeared in a novel...]

[Gu Qingqing... one of the unrequited loves of Senior Brother in the previous life, among those loves, Gu Qingqing was the most devoted to Senior Brother. I wonder if things will change in this life.]

[Why isn't this over yet? I want to go back to my research...]

Hey, hey, hey, Third Junior Brother, you can eat indiscriminately, but you can't talk nonsense. How is she an "unrequited love"? And "one of them"? And "among those loves"? What? Was I a central heating system in my past life?

Xiao Lin's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

"Yes, that Gu Qingqing." Leng Youxue nodded while munching on her apple, "According to that old lady, Gu Qingqing might have some issues with her mental state, so she wants to spar with my disciples."

"Uh... she has some issues with her mental state, so she wants to spar with us?" Ning Yunmiao blinked her bright eyes, "What's the connection?"

"This is a long story, and I don't want to waste my breath. You'll find out eventually," Leng Youxue waved her empty hand.

"Why?" Luo Qingyan's voice carried clear dissatisfaction.

"Second Junior Sister means, why should we help people from Mysterious Maiden Peak?" Compared to before, Xiao Lin, now acting as the "Second Junior Sister Translator," was much more confident and composed in his translations.

...After all, now he was simply reading out the thoughts.

"Oh, I have a pretty good relationship with that old lady. Since her disciple has such a need, I naturally can't refuse," Leng Youxue said righteously.

"Is that all?" Xiao Lin's doubtful voice came from behind Leng Youxue.

"What else? Are you questioning me?"

"Not at all, not at all..."

Xiao Lin quickly shook his head in denial.

Unfortunately, he couldn't read Leng Youxue's mind, or he would have heard her add, "Since the old lady softened and called me sister, and even offered a few rare novels, I naturally have to give her some face."