"This fish is really picky—won't eat this, won't eat that, but insists on eating my divine ability?"
A small stream fed into the river, warm grass and flowers blanketing the ground in every direction. Chu Xingchen stood at the riverbank, casting a fishing line into the current.
If you stripped away cultivation and techniques and talked about fishing skill in the strictest sense—Chu Xingchen genuinely had none.
He could basically share a table with young Lin Luoyu—whether he caught anything depended entirely on whether the fish was stupid enough.
Obviously, in this place where spiritual energy was reasonably abundant, the fish weren't that stupid.
Chen Baiqing wore a gold-gilded flower-patterned plain white skirt and sat down elegantly on the grass beside Chu Xingchen, holding a candy painting she hadn't eaten in who-knew-how-long—this small candy painting was shaped like a little cotton-padded jacket.
She took delicate sips of it, her gaze teasing as she looked at Chu Xingchen, laughing softly as she spoke:
"Master just doesn't know how to fish."
Chu Xingchen propped one hand on his hip, fiddling with the fishing rod:
"I haven't fished in ages—not since the day I fished up a person."
Chen Baiqing savoring the honeyed sweetness of the candy painting, then aimed the sleeveless candy painting at her master. In her mind's eye, she seemed to slip the missing-sleeved candy painting right onto Chu Xingchen's body.
"Master loves making excuses."
"If I don't find fault with others, am I supposed to find fault with myself?"
"Hmph hmph, Master really is a shameless scoundrel—so Baiqing learning to be bad must be Master's doing."
"Hmph hmph, I won't admit that. Your master is brilliant and valiant, upright and光明磊落 [open and aboveboard]."
"Master is still trying to fool Baiqing."
"Hm? Isn't Master exactly this sort of person in your eyes?"
"That's only from my perspective. Master's current nickname just changed from Fierce Devouring True Lord to Yanxing True Lord."
"What does that nickname mean? Sounds like an evolution though—Li Xingtian can't catch up to me even if he rode a horse."
"It means wherever Master goes, the place experiences world-shattering calamity, like a walking King of Hell. Your reputation has already surpassed Old Bai's. Even if Second Senior Brother wanted to surpass your current fame, he'd probably have to start killing on the spot."
Chu Xingchen laughed speechlessly, then shook his head helplessly.
If someone in the know heard this, they'd probably call him a walking version of that certain … right now.
Though Chu Xingchen had no choice but to stir things up actively, while the other could only passively accept it—in some sense the gap was still huge.
The most speechless thing was that he'd somehow, without realizing it, earned a nickname comparable to an evil cult leader.
Li Xingtian's blood qi was so thick he couldn't hide it, yet he didn't get this title—while Chu Xingchen, a cultivator carrying Haoran Qi, got it first.
Yanxing True Lord… truly, when it came to playing with memes, neither side fell behind.
Chen Baiqing took another bite of the little cotton-padded jacket candy painting, her voice muffled:
"But don't think that just because Master bought candy today, you can completely buy me off! I've already sent Master's performance from that day to Eldest Senior Sister."
"After Li Xingtian's 'brainless,' the next one will be 'helplessly posturing' Chu Xingchen."
"Every stupid thing Master does will be mercilessly mocked by us in the future."
Chu Xingchen shrugged indifferently: "If it can make you rebellious disciples laugh a couple of times, I'm fine losing face."
"Shameless," Chen Baiqing muttered softly.
Master really was good at coaxing people—a candy painting she hadn't eaten in ages was enough to smooth her temper completely.
Chu Xingchen gently tugged the fishing hook:
"That's precisely because Master knows how to be shameless, so occasionally I forgive you for being shameless too."
"You came rushing over this time—did you cause trouble for Shiniang?"
Chen Baiqing waved the candy painting: "I would never make things unpleasant with Shiniang. Baiqing doesn't want to make things too difficult for Master either. I just told Shiniang I had an urgent matter I needed to discuss with Master in person."
"I don't believe that."
"Shiniang probably didn't believe it either, but she still told me where Master went. Maybe Shiniang understands me—she just told me not to make things too difficult for Master."
"Is that so?" Chu Xingchen smiled knowingly.
Sometimes intelligent people subconsciously became too forceful—because smart people usually couldn't tolerate stupidity.
Stupid people were too stubborn, never learning to bend—even though bending wouldn't cost them anything.
Lingyu had always been smart, but she could also accept others' lack of smarts.
Because she was smart, she knew when to bend and didn't cling rigidly to one死理 [stubborn principle].
So.
Lady Lingyu really was the best—and that wasn't just Chu Xingchen's perfunctory compliment.
Chen Baiqing glanced at the cotton-padded jacket that was now half-gone, a little reluctant to finish it. She looked at Chu Xingchen and asked:
"So, Master sending us all to the Southern Zhanbu Continent—was this all for handling these matters?"
"You underestimate Master too much." Chu Xingchen reeled in his rod. The Primordial Chaos Twin Spirit Beads' aura surged outward in all directions, enveloping them both.
Chen Baiqing watched Chu Xingchen turn around, while his own aura began climbing from Nascent Soul all the way to Spirit Transformation.
And the Dao resonance kept rising.
After Integration, Chen Baiqing could no longer accurately gauge her master's cultivation.
Until the Dao resonance emanating from Chu Xingchen reached a level that seemed nearly about to manifest Heavenly Dao inscriptions.
Chen Baiqing stared blankly—that should be at least Tribulation Transcendence cultivation.
The next moment, Chu Xingchen's aura contracted, returning to Nascent Soul.
Chu Xingchen continued: "Naturally, Master has Master's plans. Your current cultivation is far from enough, and your experience is lacking too."
"I've never underestimated any of you. When you're truly prepared, with the ability and the qualifications, some matters will naturally be entrusted to you."
"Little Baiqing, after all, you know just how lazy your master really is."
"Besides, the Southern Zhanbu Continent matter in my eyes is actually far greater than this place. If Li Junzi truly becomes a Sub-Sage and Vast Righteous Qi appears again, her words might genuinely change the situation."
"Your Eldest Senior Sister has already reported your situation to me. I've given you the chance you wanted."
"As for why I've been hiding my true cultivation—surely clever Baiqing doesn't need me to explain."
"Now you've seen Master's true strength. I'm not actually gambling with my life. Do you plan to return to Southern Zhanbu Continent, or stay here?"
Chen Baiqing twirled the candy painting gently: "Going to Southern Zhanbu Continent would just be a distraction, with Eldest Senior Sister watching me so I don't act rashly."
"Then stay." Chu Xingchen cast his line again. "There's actually a task similar to a secretary's job—I need someone meticulous whom I can trust, and you're a perfect fit."
"But when Eldest Senior Sister finishes her business and comes back to spank your little behind, hiding behind Master won't help you."
Chen Baiqing sighed softly:
"Is Baiqing just too stupid? Getting lectured by Eldest Senior Sister is only natural."
Then her tone shifted, and she laughed lightly:
"That is, if Master is willing."
Chen Baiqing raised the half-eaten candy painting high.
She knew Master had always been fair in important matters.
But these occasional little bits of favoritism that nobody else knew about—those really did make one happy.
Favoritism.
Sweeter than honey.
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