Chapter 21: The Sect Leader’s Sixth Sense

On Xinglin Peak, the young boy Chu Yi pushed open the door to the pharmacy and brought lukewarm tea to Daoist Changyan and Lin He.

“In short, don’t get involved in anything related to that girl—it’s already troublesome enough as it is. Can’t you just stay on the mountain and enjoy your retirement?” Lin He drained his cup in one gulp, his brows furrowing in impatient annoyance as he spoke.

Chu Yi knew that although Lin He never seemed to take anything seriously, he almost never lost his temper without good reason. Seeing Lin He now, struggling to contain his anger, Chu Yi guessed he’d been arguing with someone for a long time without any satisfactory outcome.

The boy glanced at Daoist Changyan, who stood with arms crossed, chin lifted defiantly toward the rafters, looking every bit the most aggravating person in the world. Chu Yi thought to himself, with his head held so high, isn’t he afraid he’ll lose his balance and break his neck?

“I’ll do whatever I please—who needs your meddling? Even if I decide to adopt that girl as my goddaughter, no one would dare utter a word against it,” Daoist Changyan retorted angrily. He turned to leave, but his path was suddenly blocked by a vine that sprang up beneath his feet, and at his first step, he stumbled and landed on his knees.

Changyan thought it was lucky he was nimble; a less agile person would have fallen face-first. Feeling a mysterious relief, he shouted at Lin He, the culprit, “What are you playing at? I am the Grand Elder of Qingyu Sect, and you, a mere healer, dare try to harm me!”

“Oh, this humble healer can no longer produce the advanced Peach Blossom Rejuvenation Pills. From now on, you’ll have to buy them from Shennong Valley,” Lin He said, pouring himself another cup and swallowing two cooling teas to quench the irritation caused by the stubborn old man in front of him.

A head may be broken, blood may flow, but youth and beauty must never be lost. Hearing Lin He’s threat to withhold the Rejuvenation Pills, Changyan immediately backed down, kneeling obediently as he gazed at Lin He.

“I just slipped by accident earlier, no harm done, haha…” Changyan laughed awkwardly. “Everyone in the immortal sects knows Lin He of Qingyu is one of the finest healers in the world. Those old women in Shennong Valley can't compare to you.”

Lin He finished his tea, popped a pastry into his mouth, and said, “Don’t forget, my master is from Shennong Valley, and I’ve never truly belonged to Qingyu Sect. I’m here out of pity because your grand sect had no physician.”

“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right! Your arrival has lit up all of Qingyu, your presence makes our humble sect shine!” Changyan flattered.

Lin He’s plan was working. He nodded and asked, “So you should listen to me, shouldn’t you?”

For the sake of his beauty, Daoist Changyan readily abandoned the dignity of an elder, grinning, “Of course! If you say east, I’ll never go south.”

“Very good. Now you may return to Guiyun Peak and admire yourself in the mirror,” Lin He pointed at the door, indicating he could roll away.

Changyan quickly stood, dusted off his robes, smoothed his hair, and asked nervously, “About next month’s Rejuvenation Pills…”

“Go, go! I’ll bring them to you at the start of next month,” Lin He said, tossing a pastry at the Flower Peacock, who dodged nimbly and hopped outside.

Satisfied with the answer, Daoist Changyan fluttered off, waving his fan blissfully.

In the pharmacy, Chu Yi picked up the pastry Lin He had thrown to the floor and blew on it carefully.

“If it’s fallen, just leave it; there’s plenty more here,” Lin He assumed the boy was trying to save the pastry and eat it himself. But to his surprise, the next moment Chu Yi shoved it straight into his mouth.

Task finished, Chu Yi patted his hands and looked at Lin He, whose cheeks were puffed and eyes round, and said, “Who said I was going to eat it? If you throw away a pastry, you eat it yourself. Is that such a hard concept to grasp?”

Lin He silently swallowed the pastry from the floor. It tasted surprisingly good.

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Daoist Changyan, flying from Xinglin Peak, suddenly changed direction just before reaching Guiyun Peak, heading instead toward the main mountain of Qingyu Sect.

Lin He, you fool—just because you tell me to go home, do I have to obey? You’re not my father, Changyan thought smugly, landing outside the hall where new disciples were being initiated. Summoning a half-moon water sphere, he checked his perfect appearance before ascending the steps into the hall.

Inside, all the new disciples except Ling Qiqi had chosen their preferred mentor. Most stood before Senior Brother Huang—ten out of twenty-nine, a testament to his exceptional charisma. Next were Senior Brothers Green and Red, each with seven disciples, and the remaining five had chosen the stern Senior Brother Orange.

Ling Qiqi alone stood her ground, refusing to pick any of the elders, staring resolutely at Ling Xiaozi, as if her watery gaze could force him to surrender.

“Doesn’t she look like she’s about to devour you?” The coldness that usually clung to the little uncle seemed to dissipate in the presence of the bold child; he even chatted casually with Er Gou in front of the entire crowd.

Ming Shuang, well aware who was being spoken of, felt the pressure from the future dazzling heroine’s gaze. Yet his uncle still had time to tease him—uncle, you’ve changed, you no longer love your Ling Xiaozi.

“As long as she doesn’t fall for someone else, I won’t sleep a wink,” Ming Shuang said with a bitter smile. “If she insists today, my life is forfeit.”

To the little uncle, Ling Xiaozi often wore an expression as silly and adorable as Er Gou’s. Like now, Ming Shuang’s face was set in a supposedly tragic, but actually rather comical, grimace.

Seeing Ming Shuang had no intention of cozying up to Ling Qiqi, the little uncle breathed a sigh of relief. He reached out to pat the dog’s head, but with so many people present, he settled for Ming Shuang’s shoulder, patting him and saying, “It’s not that bad. Before she kills you, I’ll zap her first.”

Will you zap her with a hundred thousand volts, or with your beauty and electric gaze? Ming Shuang dared not voice such dangerous thoughts.

Daoist Pingxu noticed Ling Qiqi had been staring at Ling Xiaozi with eyes full of admiration, remarkably similar to how Senior Sister Yunxia had looked in her youth.

Oh dear, could this girl really be… But wasn’t Senior Sister Yunxia traumatized and sent herself to the demon cult years ago? The sect leader pondered Ling Qiqi’s identity, dismissing his su