“It was your Fourth Junior Brother. I ran into his men, and they hid me in their place. Your master was also there at the time.”
Song Yao had been handed a small spoon by her to eat the grapes. Hearing this, she turned it over in her mind.
Her master had delayed taking action back then, and her Fourth Junior Brother had kept a group of capable men hidden, watching the tragic state of the Nine Saints Hall with cold detachment. It must have all been to avoid alerting the enemy so they could flush out the person behind Ye Chongguang.
She hadn't expected that they would also save Chen Qingqiu in the process.
Expecting that they probably wouldn't tell her, Song Yao rested her chin on her hand and asked, “Where is their place?”
Chen Qingqiu shook her head. “I don't know. They blocked my divine sense before bringing me in. They probably didn't trust me and were afraid I would reveal their location.”
This was indeed her Fourth Junior Brother's style.
He had always been very cautious.
Song Yao reflected that although her current relationship with Xie Zhou was a bit awkward, it was generally quite good. She wondered if he would tell her if she asked.
Beside her, Chen Qingqiu's gaze repeatedly swept over her face.
After a moment, she finally couldn't help but speak: “At first, I didn't intend to be so ruthless to Master. I didn't know this parasite would make her suffer so much. I had no other choice... This is the only parasite technique I know.”
Song Yao was startled, not understanding why she was suddenly explaining this to her. “A parasite is just a tool. If you can achieve your goal using a parasite you know, then that is your own capability. There is nothing wrong with that.”
Chen Qingqiu gave a low murmur of assent. “I know. I was just afraid you would think I am vicious...”
“You're already a Sect Master now. How can you still care so much about what others think?”
Song Yao picked up her teacup, waved it at Chen Qingqiu, and smiled. “You won't have to be bound by others in the future. Your suffering is over, and happiness has come. Speaking of which, I really should toast you. How about you have someone empty out Feng Qing's wine cellar and bring it over?”
Seeing her standing so full of life before her and speaking such carefree words, Chen Qingqiu couldn't stop her heart from racing. Not daring to meet her eyes, she sent out a transmission before saying to Song Yao, “Alright, I'll have someone bring it over.”
Song Yao had been constantly restricted by others in the Nine Saints Hall, so she had expected she would have to spend quite some effort to persuade her. She hadn't expected it to be this easy. Her mood instantly became exceptionally cheerful, and she praised her on the spot, “I knew Sect Master Chen and I are the most like-minded. No one understands me better than you.”
“...”
Chen Qingqiu's cheeks grew even hotter. Hearing these words, she lowered her head slightly.
Seeing her reddened earlobes, Song Yao couldn't resist reaching out. Her fair, jade-like fingers gently pinched Chen Qingqiu's earlobe as she blinked her beautiful eyes playfully. “How can you still be so easily embarrassed after becoming the Sect Master?”
The sensation was vivid. Chen Qingqiu's entire face instantly flushed a bright red, completely stripping away her previous cold and aloof demeanor.
Standing up in near panic, she paced around the sleeping palace a couple of times before finally recovering her composure slightly.
Song Yao really didn't understand why she had such a huge reaction. “This weakness of yours is a bit too obvious. If you're fighting someone in the future and they tease you or touch your face, and you get this embarrassed, wouldn't it be very easy for you to make a mistake?”
“Besides, you're the Sect Master now. If the two sects go to war or something, does it mean you'll lose the moment someone pinches your ear?”
Chen Qingqiu: “...”
Forcing herself to calm down, she walked back to Song Yao. “It doesn't work like that with just anyone.”
Song Yao didn't believe her. “Then why does it work when I do it?”
Chen Qingqiu: “It only works with you.”
Song Yao raised an eyebrow. “Am I that incredible?”
Chen Qingqiu: “...”
Feeling slightly helpless, her lips curved into a soft smile after a moment, and she nodded. “Yes, only you are this incredible.”
Song Yao didn't try to read any deeper into her words. Just then, the doors of the palace were pushed open, and Beiyao Sect disciples filed in carrying various exquisite wine jars, arranging them neatly all over the floor.
She clicked her tongue in admiration.
As expected of Feng Qing.
She truly had excellent taste.
And she was incredibly wealthy.
These were all rare, top-quality wines.
She stood up to take a closer look, but in the next instant, her eyes met those of Xie Zhou and the Third Elder, who were at the end of the line. She paused, then silently sat back down.
The Third Elder was shocked. “Sect Master Chen, what... what are these?”
The leading cultivator carrying the wine bowed to them. “These are all modest gifts from our Sect Master to Daoist Lin.”
The Third Elder: “...”
Gifts?
He didn't even need to think to know that Song Yao must have asked for them herself.
He really didn't want to meddle, but this girl never knew her limits. If she drank herself sick, the former Sect Master would worry when they returned. Thus, he could only cup his hands and say, “This is far too valuable. Just leave a small cup for Little Wood to taste, and please have your disciples take the rest back, Sect Master...”
Before he could finish, a chilling gaze swept over from the side, giving him a sudden feeling that his Artifact Refining Hall was in grave danger.
She wouldn't blow up his Artifact Refining Hall after they went back, would she...
The cultivator glanced at Chen Qingqiu and said, “Elder, there is no need to be polite. It is just a modest gift.”
As he spoke, he produced a spatial pouch, swept up all the wine on the floor, and presented it to Song Yao with both hands.
The Third Elder hesitated, but in the end, he could only helplessly cup his hands to Chen Qingqiu. “Then I must thank Sect Master Chen.”
Chen Qingqiu nodded slightly to him. She found a spot to sit beside Song Yao, showing no intention of leaving. She even unhurriedly summoned a servant to wash her hands in a porcelain basin, then resumed peeling grapes for her.
As the glistening grapes fell into the cup, the Third Elder became even more astonished.
Judging by this display, Chen Qingqiu must also know Song Yao's identity.
How did the two of them become so close?
When the news of Song Yao's death had spread previously, Chen Qingqiu had visited several times. Each time, she stood outside the mountain gate with red-rimmed eyes, gripping her sword. She wouldn't say a word when asked, and no matter how they tried to drive her away, she wouldn't leave.
They had thought she was there for revenge, but was she actually there to mourn?
With the two of them sitting together like this, the scene was inexplicably beautiful, leaving no room for anyone else to intervene.
The Third Elder looked at Xie Zhou beside him and said, “As long as she is fine, that's enough. Let's head out.”
Xie Zhou didn't answer him. He had already walked over, standing directly in front of Song Yao without saying a word.
Song Yao was taken aback. With two grapes stuffed in her mouth, she looked up in confusion. “What is it?”
Xie Zhou: “Official business.”
As he spoke, he cast a cool, indifferent glance at Chen Qingqiu.
Chen Qingqiu pursed her lips. After finishing the grape in her hand, she took a handkerchief from a nearby cultivator to wipe her hands. Nodding slightly to Song Yao, she led the Beiyao Sect cultivators out, closing the palace doors behind them.
Song Yao was puzzled. “What official business?”
The Third Elder was also a bit curious.
He watched as Xie Zhou retrieved some medicinal pills from his spatial pouch, poured a cup of tea, and pushed them both toward her. “It's time to take your medicine.”
Song Yao: “...This is the official business you were talking about?”
Xie Zhou nodded.
Song Yao: “Alright.”
Since they had come out, her Fourth Junior Brother had strictly adhered to the medication schedule and formula prescribed by their master, never delaying even by a second. How could that not be considered official business?
She swallowed the medicine, then looked at the speechless Third Elder who was preparing to leave. “Don't rush off. I have official business to discuss as well.”
The Third Elder squinted at her, clearly highly on guard.
Song Yao held her cup of tea, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, “I just saw Feng Qing.”
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