Only after Feng Xi finally stopped chattering did Jing Yan suddenly realize that she was standing very close to him. He frowned slightly and switched seats with Jiang Ji, who was across from him.
Feng Xi pretended not to notice and began chatting animatedly with Xiao Baidao instead.
Jun Wen chimed in occasionally, and even Jiang Ji, who normally didn't like speaking, smiled and added a few comments.
Already sensitive and suspicious by nature, Jing Yan felt like an outsider, utterly out of place.
His brows furrowed even tighter.
Suddenly, Feng Xi turned to him, "Fourth Senior Brother, did you encounter anything interesting while you were away? Tell us about it!"
Jing Yan replied coldly, "No."
Then said nothing more.
Jun Wen rolled his eyes. If Xiao Baidao wasn't here, he would've definitely jabbed Jing Yan with a few sarcastic remarks.
Little Junior Sister was talking to him out of goodwill, why was he acting so aloof?!
But then Feng Xi smiled brightly and said, "Fourth Senior Brother, do you know why you didn't encounter anything interesting?
Because you didn't take me with you!
Next time you go out, bring me along. I guarantee you'll be smiling every single day."
Jing Yan's expression stiffened for a brief moment.
Jun Wen silently raised a big thumbs-up!
There was no conversation in the world that Little Junior Sister couldn't continue!
Xiao Baidao coughed twice, "If you have nothing else, return to cultivate. Xiao Xi, stay behind, I have something to tell you."
After Jiang Ji and the others left, Xiao Baidao said gently, "Xiao Xi, your Fourth Senior Brother has a solitary temperament and holds some prejudice toward women, don't take it to heart. That child's heart is warmer than anyone's, he's just poor at expressing himself.
He specially brought you a gift and asked me to give it to you."
He handed her a small wooden rabbit that was exquisitely carved.
"It's carved from the heartwood of Qingxin Wood, it has the effect of clearing the mind and refreshing the spirit."
Feng Xi accepted it with a smile, "Master, Fifth Senior Brother already told me about Fourth Senior Brother. It's fine if he's thin-skinned, I'll just be a bit more thick-skinned!"
Xiao Baidao: "..."
His precious disciple's thought process was always so unconventional!
"Xiao Xi, I had someone purchase Jiaoluo Silk, a dressing mirror, and two sets of clothing for you. See if you like them."
He brought out the items.
Feng Xi froze for a moment, then her eyes reddened.
"Master, didn't I tell you? I don't need these things…"
Xiao Baidao waved dismissively, "When elders give you something, you shouldn't refuse! Take them!
Other families cherish their daughters like pearls and treasures. Yet at such a young age, you've shouldered the burden of supporting the household for your master, your master has wronged you.
When my finances are better in the future, I'll buy you even better things."
Feng Xi sniffed but accepted them in the end.
As soon as she left Xiao Baidao's courtyard, she ran straight to Jun Wen to show off.
Jun Wen: "..."
Why are you sprinkling salt into my wounds?!
She was doing it deliberately, there's no such thing as a secret that never leaked, it's better to bring it out into the open.
Although Jiang Ji and the others wouldn't mind, human hearts were too complicated. When the time comes to maintain harmony, it's better to do so properly.
After showing off, Feng Xi thumped her small chest proudly, "Fifth Senior Brother, next time we go out, I'll buy you, the other senior brothers, and master each a fine outfit!
We will all wear pink!
We'll definitely attract everyone's attention!"
Jun Wen: "..."
Of course we'll attract attention with four grown men dressed in pink!
Leaving Jun Wen's place, Feng Xi went to Jing Yan's courtyard and knocked.
Jing Yan opened the door with a dark expression, "What is it?"
"Fourth Senior Brother, we would greet master every morning. I was worried you didn't know, so I came to tell you."
She hesitated, then kicked a small pebble with her shoe, "And thank you for the little rabbit you gave me. I really like it."
With that, she darted off.
Jing Yan closed the courtyard gate expressionlessly and returned inside.
Then he took out another piece of heartwood and slowly began carving…
Back in her own courtyard, Feng Xi pondered. In the book, Fourth Senior Brother had become entangled with Shen Zhilan after being poisoned with an aphrodisiac in a secret realm.
It would be best to refine some antidote pills in advance. Even if Jing Yan didn't need them, perhaps the other senior brothers might be able to use them.
Unfortunately, the jade slip in her sea of consciousness contained very few pill formulas of that type, probably because they were obscure categories that hadn't been unlocked yet.
It's a pity that Elder Ji, the sect's alchemy expert, was still out gathering herbs. She wanted him to examine the pills she refined at Beast-Taming Sect, but had no opportunity, let alone consult about pill formulas.
Just as she was worrying, her sea of consciousness trembled, the jade slip from before revealed additional pill formulas.
After reading them, Feng Xi was overjoyed, because among them were precisely the antidote formulas she needed.
But as she read further, her expression grew strange.
The pill she had casually refined before seemed to have effects similar to aphrodisiacs!
And its potency was several times stronger than comparable pills.
To verify her guess, this rascal went to the back mountain.
Previously, she had accidentally smoked many low-level spirit beasts unconscious while refining pills. Now she could help them reproduce.
She crushed a pill, mixed it into meat buns, and tossed them to the spirit beasts.
Soon, indescribable beastly roars echoed throughout the entire back mountain!
Feng Xi spat!
"The alchemists at Beast-Taming Sect are so indecent! They're actually refining such pills!"
Unbeknownst to her, thousands of miles away, the alchemists of Beast-Taming Sect were still racking their brains over the formula, nearly pulling out all their hair…
Since the jade slip didn't contain an identical formula, Feng Xi named the pill herself...Fertility and Fortune Pill.
Then she began refining the jade slip's antidote pills.
After refining a whole basin full, she distributed them one by one to her senior brothers.
Jiang Ji and Jun Wen were already accustomed to such things and weren't fazed.
But Jing Yan's gloomy face turned into a giant exclamation mark!
Pills are stored in a basin?!
During his absence from the sect, what exactly happened?
Did Xuantian Sect reach this level of wealth already?!
Although Feng Xi claimed she had refined them herself, Jing Yan didn't believe a word of it, he just assumed she was saying nonsense.
Feng Xi also didn't bother explaining and happily ran to find Xiao Baidao.
Although Xiao Baidao was older, who knew? He might get poisoned as well, it's better to be prepared.
Xiao Baidao found it a bit absurd and was speechless but accepted the pills.
He had always assumed these pills were "begged" from other sect disciples by Feng Xi.
So he said, "Xiao Xi, although you're on good terms with disciples from other sects, don't fleece them too much!"
Feng Xi: "... Master, I really refined these pills myself!"
Xiao Baidao smiled, "Alright, alright. Master understands. Just keep your limits in mind."
Feng Xi: "..."
Fine then, just think whatever you like!