Chapter 693 - 694: The Sky Has Fallen

Chapter 693: Chapter 694: The Sky Has Fallen

Cui Hao left with a stiff expression, giving Qinghe—who was stuffing fruits into his mouth as if losing even one fruit would be a loss—a look before departing—keep an eye on her.

Qinghe shook his head while gnawing on a fruit, as if he understood.

Zheng Zhaoling took all of this in but didn’t say anything more.

She simply listened to Cui Hao’s promise to get the Chunnuan, watching his figure walk away.

Then Zheng Zhaoling’s gaze shifted to San Dong, who was eating melon seeds.

Since Cui Hao had given Qinghe a look, he was naturally counting on Qinghe to provide a safety net.

But flower spirits were inherently simple-minded, and from the way she was eating seeds, it was clear—like a little mouse, her mouth was stuffed full.

Zheng Zhaoling’s face showed a gentle smile as she looked at San Dong and asked with a smile:

"Are you a flower spirit?"

With Cui Hao gone, San Dong’s confidence wasn’t as strong, but this was her home turf after all—showing weakness would embarrass the sect master.

San Dong swallowed the seeds, then nodded firmly:

"San Dong is a flower spirit."

"I have a few flower spirit friends too." Zheng Zhaoling’s smile was gentle, her tone peaceful. "They’re all pure-hearted, and I always feel relaxed when I’m with them."

"If you don’t mind, I’d like to get to know San Dong."

As she spoke, Zheng Zhaoling gently reached out, her index finger condensing a point of spiritual energy at its tip.

San Dong paused, then her expression brightened with joy as she similarly gathered a point of spiritual energy at her index finger and touched it to Zheng Zhaoling’s.

The spiritual energies met, transforming into faint fluorescent light that drifted and scattered.

San Dong tilted her head, her tone joyful:

"You know how we flower spirits greet each other?"

Zheng Zhaoling withdrew her hand, smiling lightly:

"A flower spirit friend taught me. They said this is how good friends greet each other."

San Dong’s eyes lit up:

"Then San Dong is also very happy to meet you."

Zheng Zhaoling smiled and nodded: "My name is Zheng Zhaoling, the current core disciple of Yunmeng Pavilion."

San Dong also stood up, her expression proud as she announced:

"My name is San Dong, the unparalleled, peerless sect-protecting mascot under Sect Master Chu’s command, from heaven to earth!"

Hearing this extremely long prefix title,

although Zheng Zhaoling was somewhat puzzled in her heart, her eyes showed a very impressed expression.

Qinghe, eating fruits, glanced sideways at the proud San Dong. After a moment’s thought, he still felt a bit of pity as he picked up a fruit from the table and stuffed it directly into San Dong’s arms:

"Guests are here. Why not offer them spiritual fruits? Later people will think your sect master is stingy."

Qinghe wasn’t truly stupid—he naturally understood that Zheng Zhaoling trying to get close to San Dong must have another purpose.

Since Cui Hao had promised to treat him to a meal, he needed to make sure Cui Hao knew the meal wasn’t for nothing, or there wouldn’t be a next one.

One full meal versus meals forever—Qinghe understood that much.

This interruption also broke Zheng Zhaoling’s conversational rhythm.

San Dong instinctively caught the fruit, and hearing Qinghe’s words, thought they made a lot of sense.

Offering friends spiritual fruits was naturally a good thing.

San Dong offered a fruit to Zheng Zhaoling:

"Try one. The spiritual fruits here are all delicious. San Dong likes eating them too."

Zheng Zhaoling naturally couldn’t refuse, so she reached out and accepted San Dong’s kindness.

Qinghe again picked up another spiritual fruit from the table with some reluctance and stuffed it into San Dong’s arms:

"The guest ate one, so you should eat one too. You’ve seen your sect master often accompany people with tea and wine, right? Now you have nothing, so represent your sect master and accompany her with a fruit."

Holding the fruits in her arms, San Dong nodded with some bewilderment.

Right now, she was the only one here, so naturally she should handle these matters on behalf of the sect master.

San Dong raised the fruit in her hand with effort:

"Come! San Dong will eat one with you."

Zheng Zhaoling laughed helplessly, picked up a fruit, tapped it against San Dong’s, and took a bite.

San Dong also started gnawing on her spiritual fruit.

The fruit was big, San Dong was small—a perfect match.

If they ate slowly, it should last until Cui Hao returned.

Qinghe reached out, picked up another fruit from the table, and took a bite—I’m truly brilliant. One meal from Cui Hao won’t be enough for this. I need two.

Zheng Zhaoling took a bite, then shifted her gaze to Qinghe.

Qinghe met her gaze without backing down, swallowed the fruit, and slowly spoke:

"My name is Qinghe, the flood dragon of Pearl Peak."

Qinghe had already found out that his Bai Laolao had passed her lightning tribulation and was now the only living True Immortal in the world.

His already strong background was now hard to the point of panic!

Zheng Zhaoling nodded in understanding, showing little reaction.

At least not the scene Qinghe had imagined—where upon hearing the title, Zheng Zhaoling would be terrified and call him Lord Qinghe.

Zheng Zhaoling slowly finished her fruit, glanced at San Dong who had only eaten half, and looked at Qinghe:

"I came to find Chu Xingchen. Is he specifically afraid to meet me?"

Qinghe’s eyes flickered: "I don’t yet know of anything Chu Xingchen is afraid of. Perhaps he won’t see you because you’re not worth his time."

Zheng Zhaoling nodded in understanding, her tone calm:

"I thought the flood dragon of Pearl Peak would have decent insight. I was planning to share a drink with you after Cui Hao brings the Chunnuan. But it seems I misjudged. This wine..."

"You’re right!" Qinghe suddenly interrupted, his expression sincere. "Chu Xingchen has the smallest guts of anyone. Seeing you come with such momentum, how would he dare to meet you? So he sent the most useless Cui Hao to brush you off."

Hearing this, San Dong became unhappy, stopped accompanying the fruit-eating, and spoke up:

"That’s not right! The sect master isn’t that kind of person."

Qinghe ignored San Dong’s displeasure. He’d been craving Chunnuan for more than a day or two.

Even Bai Laolao was reluctant to drink it much, and Qinghe could only occasionally sip a cup’s bottom.

Qinghe looked at Zheng Zhaoling with genuine eyes:

"I can see you’re also a heavenly prodigy. Today, let me share the Chunnuan with you, and we can discuss the great principles of the world!"

Zheng Zhaoling first comforted San Dong, then replied to Qinghe:

"In that case, naturally I can’t refuse."

Qinghe nodded with great satisfaction.

He wasn’t stupid—he’d keep his mouth shut about useful information.

He cursed Chu Xingchen often enough anyway, so he wouldn’t be shy about it now.

This was basically trading a few curses at Chu Xingchen for unlimited Chunnuan. The deal was insanely worth it.

Zheng Zhaoling picked up another spiritual fruit, tapped it against San Dong’s, and smiled lightly as she started eating.

A mere Cui Hao truly underestimated her.

Expecting a glutton and a simple flower spirit to brush her off.

Had the Northern Julu Continent matter really given Cui Hao so much confidence that he dared to look down on her like this?

——————————

The cold wind blew.

Cui Hao’s expression was tense as he tightly clutched a small jar of Chunnuan.

He naturally wasn’t stupid enough to ask his own master for Chunnuan—he had gone to Lu Xuan instead.

But clearly, Chunnuan wasn’t something you could just ask for and get.

Fortunately, Lu Xuan was easier to deal with than Lord Wanban—although "easier" was a very relative term.

At least when Cui Hao called out "Lord Lu," Lu Xuan had pulled out the Chunnuan with a face full of bad luck.

Oh well, face wasn’t everything. Occasionally not having it was normal.

Cui Hao’s thoughts gradually slowed. Now he could only hope Qinghe would come through.

He stepped toward the small courtyard, looked inside, and stopped.

In Cui Hao’s sight,

Qinghe was pouring tea for Zheng Zhaoling with an extremely ingratiating expression, while San Dong hugged spiritual fruits, laughing heartily, looking at Zheng Zhaoling with joyful eyes.

Cui Hao’s eyes widened.

This...

The sky had literally fallen.

Zheng Zhaoling noticed Cui Hao, turned her head slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

Cui Hao found that smile blinding.

Wasn’t this blatant mockery?!

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