Chapter 692 - 693: Where’s the Chunnuan?

Chapter 692: Chapter 693: Where’s the Chunnuan?

The days were long, yet also very short.

Joy was brief, time was long.

That day, many melon seeds were peeled, but in the end, they were all eaten clean.

The person who ate the most was surprisingly—second senior brother.

Chen Baiqing stayed for two simple days before ultimately bidding farewell to Chu Xingchen and heading to the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect.

Where there was a beginning, there had to be an ending.

Before departing, Chen Baiqing had brought up again her hope that second senior brother would accompany her to the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect—to swap out Cui Hao.

This suggestion had only made Chu Xingchen smile and ask—as a senior sister, shouldn’t you also look after your junior brother?

Hearing this, Chen Baiqing was naturally manipulated by Chu Xingchen once again.

Perhaps Chen Baiqing still remembered how her master had originally taken her to the Qingfeng Sect to see the world, and the first lesson her master taught her—there’s no need to feel guilty about bullying fools.

In any case, Chen Baiqing had nodded and agreed to her master again, bringing along her troublemaking junior brother.

Cui Hao hadn’t gone with her for now, instead remaining at Tianyan Sect, waiting for Chen Baiqing to make her next move before heading to the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect to rendezvous.

After all, Cui Hao still had an outstanding task—Zheng Zhaoling.

Although Zheng Zhaoling hadn’t actually specified by name that she needed to see Cui Hao at Tianyan Sect.

But for this kind of troublesome matter, if his own disciple could handle it properly, Chu Xingchen was happy to enjoy some peace.

Idle in the deep mountains, unaware of the passing days—watching the morning sun and admiring the moon at night.

Pearl Peak.

"Zheng... what’s-her-name..." Bai Xuanling paused, then continued, "the core disciple of Yunmeng Pavilion. Isn’t she coming to visit today? How do you still have time to come here?"

Chu Xingchen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the chessboard before him, smiling lightly:

"Does Sister Bai want to hear the truth or a lie?"

Hearing this, Bai Xuanling’s eyes narrowed:

"I remember the last person who talked to me like that was Lu Xuan, and he never dared to speak to me like that again."

Chu Xingchen coughed lightly: "I hoodwinked her last time, so it’d be awkward to meet again. If Cui Hao can handle it, he handles it. If he can’t, I’ll go myself."

"It’s just a pity that Xu Jin isn’t being decent—he promised something and then stood her up. Called him to come and he didn’t."

"Such a sincere brother back then, but now he’s changed his tune. Truly, the world isn’t what it used to be."

Bai Xuanling was puzzled: "That child shouldn’t be that kind of person. Even Lu Xuan said that child is honest. What did Xu Jin promise you?"

Xie Lingyu walked in from the doorway, holding several jade tokens, her tone rather helpless:

"Chu Xingchen promised on Xu Jin’s behalf that when Zheng Zhaoling arrives, they’d apologize to her together."

Bai Xuanling laughed at this:

"You caused the trouble and you’re counting on Xu Jin? If it were me, not only would I come, I’d beat you up in front of Zheng Zhaoling. Xu Jin isn’t completely stupid."

Chu Xingchen took the jade tokens Xie Lingyu handed him, his expression displeased:

"What kind of talk is that? We’re brothers. Should I watch my brother suffer? Is that even being a brother?"

Xie Lingyu reached out and lightly poked Chu Xingchen’s shoulder:

"Yet I don’t see you suffering with your brothers."

Chu Xingchen sighed, reaching his hand out toward Xie Lingyu:

"Naturally it’s because my brothers are doing better than me. Lady Lingyu, my life is bitter—come save me."

Hearing these shameless words, Xie Lingyu sighed helplessly and could only lightly pat Chu Xingchen’s shoulder.

Bai Xuanling held a chess piece between her fingers, looking at the two who had suddenly started being sweet, and snorted:

"Have you no shame! Don’t you know to show some respect around your elders?"

"Lady Lingyu, someone’s jealous."

"What nonsense are you spouting? What would I be jealous of?" Bai Xuanling gripped her chess piece.

Chu Xingchen looked up, smiling and blinking playfully:

"Eh heh."

Sometimes not answering was even more infuriating than answering.

Bai Xuanling naturally didn’t indulge him, throwing the chess piece straight at Chu Xingchen’s head.

Chu Xingchen didn’t wait to get hit. Bai Xuanling hadn’t used spiritual energy, and the force wasn’t great—she probably still thought his injuries hadn’t fully recovered.

Chu Xingchen caught the chess piece with a raise of his hand, but didn’t make any additional moves in front of Bai Xuanling.

Xie Lingyu felt like she was playing peacemaker more and more often lately.

She changed the subject:

"Is it really okay to let only Cui Hao handle Zheng Zhaoling? Aren’t you worried Cui Hao will promise Zheng Zhaoling some condition, and then you’ll have to follow through?"

Chu Xingchen smiled: "If Cui Hao can do it, let him promise whatever he wants. If he can’t, it’s not like I promised it—let Zheng Zhaoling go find whoever she needs to."

"Besides, Cui Hao is very sharp. He’d be lucky to get something from Zheng Zhaoling—how could he let her take advantage?"

Xie Lingyu shook her head: "This Cui Hao is learning bad habits from you. When will he understand after taking a loss?"

Bai Xuanling listened to this exchange, her eyebrows raising slightly.

She turned at the same time, her gaze shifting toward the Peak of One Big Happy Family.

——————————

"Fellow Daoist Cui, we finally meet again."

Zheng Zhaoling sat in the same courtyard seat as last time, except last time she had been facing Chu Xingchen, Xu Jin, and Daoist Yuyang.

Now the people had changed... and a demon.

A flood dragon staring only at the fruits on the table, stuffing spiritual fruits into its mouth.

A flower spirit curiously observing her while eating melon seeds.

Cui Hao wore a gentle smile, pouring tea for Zheng Zhaoling while also attending to Qinghe and San Dong, whom he had somehow managed to coax over.

His master was unreliable and nowhere to be found. If his eldest senior sister came, she might end up helping Zheng Zhaoling. If his second senior brother came, he’d just be a door god—might as well not come at all. His fourth senior sister was concerned about Mr. Li. Yun Li was still cultivating at the gate.

Looking throughout the entire sect, he couldn’t find a single reliable person.

Meeting Zheng Zhaoling alone was definitely not a good idea.

Helplessly, Cui Hao could only find two mascots—one from Tianyan Sect, one from his own sect.

San Dong was responsible for being cute and warming up Zheng Zhaoling’s attitude.

Qinghe had cooperated when selling pills before—if things went wrong, he could still provide a safety net.

Although he’d have to treat them to a meal afterward, Qinghe’s appetite would definitely be much smaller than Zheng Zhaoling’s.

When playing dumb if things went wrong, he’d rely on Qinghe’s perceptiveness.

"Ever since I returned from the Northern Julu Continent, I’ve also been looking forward to meeting fellow daoist for a long time." Cui Hao’s smile was as warm as spring breeze, his tone gentle.

"Although you and my master should be of the same generation, and I should call you martial aunt, after working together in the Northern Julu Continent, I feel we share the same spirit, so I’d rather not call you martial aunt—it would seem too distant."

After he finished speaking,

Cui Hao looked up to find Zheng Zhaoling staring at him intently, not responding for a moment.

This... the tactic of building connections and appealing to friendship had failed?

Cui Hao adapted smoothly:

"I overstepped. Martial Aunt."

Zheng Zhaoling’s gaze shifted, looking at San Dong beside him, her tone calm:

"No need. Just call me fellow daoist."

Although Cui Hao found it strange, he didn’t stand on ceremony and continued his ingratiating smile:

"Alright, fellow daoist. I knew you weren’t someone who stood on small formalities."

Zheng Zhaoling’s expression didn’t change at the flattery. She looked at Cui Hao and suddenly asked:

"Where’s the Chunnuan?"

"Huh?"

"Fellow Daoist Cui, are you trying to bluff me?"

"Ah... no... how could that be?"

Seeing Cui Hao’s somewhat stiff expression, Zheng Zhaoling’s lips finally curved into a slight smile.

She said calmly:

"Then I’ll wait patiently."

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