Chapter 230

After carefully inspecting the mountain’s protective array, Yun Jiao looked up to find that night had already fallen. She didn’t linger at the Heavenly Master Hall any longer and made her way straight back to Qingyang.

The day’s events had given her a clearer understanding of the power balance within the Celestial Realm—and compared to that, the strength of the Xuanmen was pitifully weak. Strengthening the sect’s overall cultivation had become an urgent matter. By the time she reached home, she was already outlining a ten-year development plan for the Xuanmen in her head.

She was eager to get inside and put it all into writing when—

A flash of white light appeared in front of her. She bumped right into someone.

Someone whose entire face practically screamed “I’m very upset.”

“Grandmaster?” Yun Jiao blinked, looking at him. Though his expression was calm and detached, for some reason, he reminded her of a puffed-up, sulking balloon. “What’s wrong?”

Ye Yuan said nothing. He just stared at her, the “balloon” swelling even more.

“Grandmaster’s not happy?” she tried tentatively.

His brows furrowed tighter. After a long silence, his voice came out low and cold.

“Why did you go to Ying Lun?”

“Ying Lun?” Yun Jiao blinked, then quickly realized what he meant. “Oh—you’re talking about today’s situation at the Heavenly Master Hall?”

His frown deepened further. “Why… did you go to him?”

(Whose disciple are you, exactly?)

“Yours, of course!” Yun Jiao immediately caught his meaning and answered without hesitation. Clearly, that talkative Ying Lun hadn’t been able to keep his mouth shut—pretending to be all mysterious earlier, then probably spilling everything to Ye Yuan the moment he got back.

So Grandmaster was mad that she had sought Ying Lun’s help instead of calling for him.

Yun Jiao sighed softly, grabbed his hand, and pulled him to sit beside her on the steps. “Come on, Grandmaster, sit. Let me explain properly.”

Ye Yuan hesitated, but his body obeyed her instinctively. He sat down beside her, his expression still one of quiet, brooding displeasure.

“The truth is,” Yun Jiao began carefully, “Ying Lun was really the only one who could handle that situation.”

Ye Yuan’s head snapped toward her, eyes flashing cold. His face darkened instantly.

“You think I’m less capable than him?”

He should have killed that guy when he had the chance!

“Of course not!” Yun Jiao quickly caught his sleeve, keeping him seated. “Let me explain.”

She took a breath. “The Soul Origin Pearl incident was too big. Tens of thousands of lives were involved. Even if we knew who was responsible, the mortal realm would still have to bear the loss—and that could easily trigger a war between realms. The Xuanmen alone, with our current strength, couldn’t possibly go against even one Celestial Court.”

She glanced toward the mountain behind them and went on, voice calm and logical.

“Zhu Yan came down to provoke us, but no matter how it ended, it would’ve blown up. Once news spread, it wouldn’t just be the Southern Court—every Celestial Court would pay attention to the mortal world. And if that happened, they’d notice us. Even if we avenged those souls, we’d only expose ourselves before we were ready. One tiger might fall, but a whole pack of wolves would come next.”

Just because the Southern Court dared to act didn’t mean the others wouldn’t.

Yes, she could have destroyed Zhu Yan’s forces, but the aftermath would have been a disaster. Once the Celestials saw the Xuanmen as a threat, they’d quietly erase it from existence.

“That’s why I had to turn to the Underworld,” she said. “Tens of thousands of humans died—that means tens of thousands of souls vanished too. The Underworld has as much right to act as we do. The Celestials may not care about the mortal realm, but they won’t lightly provoke the Lord of the Dead. With Zhu Yan captured by the Yama Kings and the Southern Emperor struck down by the Underworld’s King himself, the Celestial Realm will think he was simply unlucky—he crossed paths with a newly awakened ruler of death. After this, they’ll tread more carefully. No one will dare attempt another Devouring Beast incident.”

“And as for the Xuanmen,” Yun Jiao smiled faintly, “we didn’t do anything. Just a helpless little sect caught in the middle. The Celestial Courts won’t even bother noticing us. We’ll still be the weakest ‘mortals’ in their eyes.”

She clasped his hand earnestly.

“Grandmaster, the Xuanmen can’t afford celestial hatred right now. We need time to grow quietly—to develop in the shadows.”

The Underworld needed to assert dominance.

The mortal world needed to survive.

It was a win-win.

That was why she’d turned to Ying Lun.

Ye Yuan’s brow finally relaxed a little—but he still scowled, his pride prickling.

“So troublesome! I could have gone myself.”

If a few came, he’d kill a few. Problem solved. Her logic was sound, but his heart still felt… irritated.

“I know Grandmaster is powerful,” Yun Jiao said quickly. Then, without thinking, added softly, “But… you don’t like seeing people from the Celestial Realm, do you?”

“…”

Ye Yuan stiffened. The air grew colder around them. He pressed his lips together, voice low and sulky.

“Next time, I’ll go.”

“Alright, alright—next time I’ll definitely bring Grandmaster,” Yun Jiao said quickly, coaxing him with a smile. After a pause, she reached into her pocket. “Here, have a cookie.”

Ye Yuan: “…”

After a moment of brooding silence, he muttered, “Not the plain ones.”

“Let me see…” Yun Jiao rummaged through the small bag. “What flavor do you want?”

“…Spinach.”

“I’ve only got peach and nut flavors left,” she said, still searching.

“I have some.”

Before she could answer, Ye Yuan reached out and held a green cookie before her lips.

Without thinking, Yun Jiao leaned forward and took a bite. Crunch, crunch. Her eyes lit up in surprise.

Her grandmaster’s baking had improved again—crispy, fragrant, perfectly balanced. Honestly, even better than her own.

“Mmm, delicious! Grandmaster, your cookies are amazing!” she said sincerely, feeling an odd sense of pride—like a teacher seeing her student excel.

Only then did Ye Yuan’s expression finally soften. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he immediately offered her another piece.

“There’s more.”

“Thank you, Grandmaster.” This time, Yun Jiao didn’t bite from his hand. She took the cookie herself and ate it slowly, savoring each bite.

For some reason, Ye Yuan felt a twinge of disappointment. His fingers brushed together idly. When she finished, he seized the moment to hand her yet another piece.

After several cookies, Yun Jiao noticed he hadn’t eaten any himself.

“Grandmaster, you should eat too,” she said, blinking. “Weren’t you the one who wanted cookies?”

“Mhm.” He nodded absently, his gaze fixed on her.

His eyes dropped to the small crumb clinging to the corner of her mouth. “You’ve got a bit stuck… right there.”

“Huh?” Yun Jiao froze.

Before she could react, he leaned in.

Startled, she instinctively tilted back—but seeing his hand reach toward her face, she stopped herself, realizing he was only trying to wipe it away.

His fingers brushed her cheek, and then—an unexpected thought flashed through his mind.

The cookies she’d eaten just now… somehow seemed sweeter than the rest.

He wanted to know what that sweetness tasted like.

Following the impulse, his hand slid from her cheek to her chin, tilting her face upward.

He bent down.

Their lips met.

Soft. Warm. Sweet.

So sweet.

—The “Grandmaster’s Little Sweet Cookie” you were all waiting for.

(End of Chapter)