The Inner Lake of Celestial Bright Peak is vast. On this Disciple Peak, thereâs a cliff split open by a sword, with water cascading down, forming a waterfall. The shimmering waves reflect an evening hue in oneâs eyes.
Various arrays surround the lake, indicating its importance to the ladies.
On a small boat, a young girl in cyan clothing stands at the bow, holding a bamboo pole, peering around and saying with a smile to the woman in the cabin, "Aunt Qin, Junior Brother has been standing there for a while, seems he has something to discuss with you."
Inside the cabin, Qinling, dressed in loose casual attire, kneels before a small table, takes out a small stove prepared in advance from under the table, and begins to heat wine after donning gloves.
"Whoâs your aunt," Qinling retorts gruffly, then looks towards Xu Changâan by the shore, saying to the girl, "Youâve seen him; why not go and check? Isnât he one of your mountainâs Inner Disciples? Are you willing to just let him stand there foolishly?"
"The Steward Hall has been resting these days, plenty of time," the girl in cyan shrugs, "Guess what heâs here for."
Qinling glances in the direction of Yun Qianâs residence and says, "Bah, I wonât guess."
"Itâs normal for a young couple to be inseparable," the girl in cyan sighs lightly, "Whatâs there to avoid? Itâs common to speak of othersâ affairs. You act shy... No wonder you canât hold your head high in front of Ms. Zhu. Sheâs seen plenty of such things in the brothel. So back then, Aunt Qin, you shouldâve listened to Ms. Zhu and gone to Muyu Peak, wouldnât that have been nice?"
"Stop it, I canât stand you girls," Qinling shudders slightly.
Laughing lightly, the girl in cyan leans on the bamboo pole, "Even Junior Brother can withstand it, and thatâs saying weâre letting Junior Sister Yun go up to the mountain. Speaking of which, I heard quite a bit about Junior Sister Yun today."
"Only someone like him, with a steadfast mind, would endure you fox spirits," Qinling scoffs.
"Thatâs because you like girls, and your mind isnât clean. Thatâs why you feel uncomfortable when you see us," the girl in cyan glances at the boy on the shore, who is gradually growing taller, and says seriously, "Junior Brother is dedicated, so he doesnât see those of us cultivating the Charm Technique."
"Stop it and hurry over; donât keep him waiting. Isnât this wasting time?" Qinling takes up the wine cup, "I called you to accompany me on a boat, not to hear you expose my shortcomings."
"Got it, got it, drink your wine." The girl in cyan sighs, "At your age, with no one to talk to, you have to find us juniors to accompany you."
Qinling: "..."
ââ
Xu Changâan: "..."
On the shore, Xu Changâan watched the small boat gradually approach, listening to the unabashed conversation of the two women on board, a dark line forming on his forehead.
He could hear everything clearly, as there was no intention from them to conceal it from him.
He couldnât help it; he originally intended to go to the Steward Hall to find Qinling, but upon reaching the lake, he heard Qinlingâs voice transmission.
Not being in the Steward Hall at this time, instead boating.
Xu Changâan wasnât very familiar with the girl in cyan on the boat, but she seemed familiar, known to be a senior sister from outside Three Officials Rock of Muyu Peak.
With such a close relationship, itâs no wonder the senior sisters of Muyu Peak say Qinling is one of their own.
The boat hadnât even gotten close when Xu Changâan heard the light clicks of embroidered shoes at the boatâs stern, and the girl in the distance shouted, "Junior Brother, if youâre planning to stay overnight, Aunt Qin has already approved."
"..." Xu Changâan, hearing this, thought to himself whether his thoughts were as obvious as Miss Yunâs? He hadnât said anything, yet the senior sister had already pierced his intentions.
The boat stopped at a place not far from the shore.
"Junior Master Qin, Senior Sister." Xu Changâan bowed slightly.
"You two have a really good relationship," Qinling said as she heated the wine.
She had witnessed everything since Yun Qian came up the mountain, thinking, "With Celestial Bright Peak having Tribulation Thunder lately, the Steward Hall has already been taken over by others these days, leaving me in peace. But North Garden is still under my control; if you want to stay, just stay, no need to report to the Steward Hall on purpose. They donât have time for an Outer Disciple right now."
Xu Changâan was slightly stunned, then found it made sense.
He just remembered that Qinling was of ordinary status as an Outer Sect Steward. With the possibility of Celestial Bright Peak being the place for the Sect Leaderâs tribulation, given the major events, various departments were likely temporarily taken over by major factions.
Xu Changâanâs affairs were handled extremely smoothly as Qinling treated him as a disciple of Muyu Peak and not like before, thinking he was indulging. She would naturally agree.
So, Xu Changâan was just going through the motions.
"Junior Master, Senior Sister, Iâll be going then..." Xu Changâan was about to leave when suddenly the girl in cyan stopped him.
"Junior Brother, donât be in such a hurry to leave; I have something to discuss with you, wait a little," the girl in cyan stopped Xu Changâan, then reminded Qinling, "Aunt Qin, although youâve been chased out of work, donât speak with such resentment."
"Kicked out with nothing to do, Iâm glad for the peace, no resentment, not at all." Qinling squeezed the wine cup.
"Your little hall was assigned to Tripod Heart Peak, wasnât it?" the girl in cyan blinked.
"You know, yet you ask?" Qinling snorted.
Sect Leaderâs tribulation?
She had been on Celestial Bright Peak for so long and hadnât seen the Sect Leader... Moreover, was it necessary for everyone to rush over just for a Tribulation Thunder?
"Tripod Heart Peak belongs to the Hehuan Sect; Muyu Peak is Muyu Peak, and Hehuan Sect is Hehuan Sect; donât lump them together. If thereâs resentment, donât vent it on me." The girl in cyan shrugged, smiling at Xu Changâan, "When Junior Sister Yun ascends the mountain, only then will the name Morning Clouds and Evening Rain suit the mountain, further separating it from Hehuan Sect."