"Senior Brother He, the Sect Leader insists you must come!"

You're puzzled - what kind of guests could Deng Rusong not handle without you?

"What do these guests look like?" you ask.

The disciple gives you a strange look: "Senior Brother He, they look like mother and daughter!"

"Mother and daughter?!" You don't recall ever being that wild.

But then it hits you: "Wan Qingluan and Yan Zhixue!"

You frown.

"Why would they come, and why must they see me?"

With questions in mind, you arrive at Danxia Sect's reception hall.

Sure enough, Wan Qingluan and Yan Zhixue are there.

Wan Qingluan wears a pure white dress, coolly observing you with curious eyes.

You nod slightly at this most familiar stranger.

Yan Zhixue is in a black dress, exuding gentle grace with her ever-present warm smile.

She carries none of the Extermination Sect leader's demeanor, appearing instead like a well-maintained noblewoman from a scholarly family.

You're perplexed - Yan Zhixue seems saner than anyone, hardly fitting as leader of those Extermination Sect lunatics.

Deng Rusong introduces: "He Yu, this is Extermination Sect Leader Yan Zhixue, and that is Extermination Sect Saintess Wan Qingluan."

"Greetings to both." You keep your tone measured.

Yan Zhixue immediately studies you, her voice soft yet magnetic: "Young Hero He is indeed talented, quite well-matched with our Qingluan."

You startle, completely thrown.

"Are they here to propose marriage?!"

You quickly say: "Sect Leader Yan, perhaps you've misunderstood my relationship with Heroine Wan?"

Yan Zhixue covers her mouth with elegant amusement: "Does Young Hero He feel unworthy of our Qingluan?"

Your eyebrow twitches indignantly.

Unworthy of her? You could outmatch her ten times over!

As a cheat character, you could match anyone.

You just don't want deep involvement with the Extermination Sect.

"I can't decide this myself - my guardian isn't home," you deflect.

"Where is your master?" Yan Zhixue asks.

"Underground."

Yan Zhixue: "?"

Deng Rusong glares: "He Yu! Stop talking nonsense!"

He politely explains: "Sect Leader Yan, He Yu's master - my junior brother Xie Huide - passed away over a year ago."

Yan Zhixue nods: "Since Young Hero He's master is gone, Sect Leader Deng can decide~"

You quickly interject: "Sect Leader Yan, let's postpone this discussion - I'm observing three years' mourning for my master!"

Wan Qingluan tilts her head: "What's three years' mourning?"

You explain: "It means maintaining solemnity for three years without smiling."

"What if you slip up?"

"Accidents don't count."

Wan Qingluan nods sagely: "You know so much!"

"My duty."

Deng Rusong can't tolerate your nonsense anymore. "He Yu, accompany Heroine Wan around Danxia Sect!"

You mentally curse - Deng's too scared of Yan Zhixue, so he sends you to charm her instead.

"Some sect leader - pah!"

While distracted, you feel a soft hand slip into yours.

"Let's go." Wan Qingluan's voice remains coolly matter-of-fact.

Your pupils contract: "Wait, what's this?"

Her bright eyes show confusion: "Wasn't it like this last time?"

"Lady, last time was because you..."

You stop mid-sentence.

Yan Zhixue is watching you two with a matchmaker's grin.

Even Deng Rusong's sporting a damn fatherly smile.

Hopeless, you grab Wan Qingluan's hand: "Fine, let me show you Danxia Sect's scenery."

As you stroll through the expansive, tree-lined sect grounds:

"Heroine Wan, what do you like about me? I'll change it."

Wan Qingluan squeezes your hand: "I never said I liked you."

"You brought your sect leader to propose marriage!"

"The Sect Leader came to see your leader. She just enjoys matchmaking - don't mind it."

You: "As an ancient person, you just said two letters."

Wan Qingluan: "Details aren't important."

"Did she come to request pill refining?"

"To romance your sect leader."

You: "Excuse me??"

Wan Qingluan arches her willow-leaf brows: "You didn't know?"

She explains Deng Rusong and Yan Zhixue were lovers in youth.

But as Extermination Sect's saintess, Deng's father forbade their relationship.

Deng buried his feelings and never married.

Only after his father's passing did he reconnect with Yan Zhixue.

Now as an Ultimate Grandmaster, Yan Zhixue's mind isn't affected by sect techniques, allowing their rekindled romance.

You're amazed.

Between your ambiguous relationship with Wan Qingluan and Deng's with Yan Zhixue...

"Danxia Sect's men sure have game!"

"No wonder they sent us away - we were third wheels!"

Wan Qingluan nods: "Exactly."

You smirk: "The Sect Leader really is... vigorous despite his age!"

Later at Xie Huide's grave, you burn spirit money together.

Returning to the hall, you find Deng Rusong setting Yan Zhixue down from his lap.

Wiping drool, he says: "Back so soon?"

You apologize: "Sorry for interrupting the making of Danxia's next heir."

Deng waves it off: "No matter."

As Yan Zhixue and Wan Qingluan depart, you and Deng watch them vanish into the horizon.

You muse: "Sect Leader, you wouldn't want people knowing about you and Sect Leader Yan, right?"

"Speak."

"Five eighth-grade pill recipes."