Chapter 820 - 460: Saving Face for Each Other (Double - , Part 2)

After all, everyone knows that the one from the Sword Hall is not easy to invite.

So, Zhu Pingniang understands Li Zhibai too well. Where does she think she would lead the students astray? It’s purely because... she’s lazy.

After all, Li Zhibai hasn’t paid attention to Wen Li for years. If she were to guide Wen Li now, then with Li Zhibai’s extreme seriousness, she would surely first need to thoroughly understand Wen Li’s current cultivation status, nature of True Yuan, and Spiritual Power meridians...

Which would take some effort.

And with Li Zhibai having already started drinking tea, it’s not so simple to get her to muster up the energy to do serious work.

Her Ah Bai seeks nothing more than a taste of fine tea, half a day’s leisure.

Unless, it’s an order from the Sect Leader, or they bring Xu Chang’an over to show his face now, it wouldn’t be so easy to dispel her laziness.

Zhu Pingniang glanced at the window of the inner room.

This is not quite appropriate.

How should Wen Li say, she’s the future Senior, and she should be given face. Besides, Wen Li is not an outsider. She was brought up hand in hand by Li Zhibai.

A bit too inhumane.

If others were to know, they might feel that Li Zhibai has lived on Muyu Peak for so long yet still hasn’t integrated, even refusing a small request from the Senior.

Mainly, Zhu Pingniang felt a bit embarrassed.

Not long ago, she was bragging about her Ah Bai in front of Wen Li, talking about how perfect, gentle, and caring for the younger generation she is, only for Li Zhibai immediately to slap her face by refusing such a small request.

This might affect Li Zhibai’s image in Wen Li’s heart.

Zhu Pingniang frowned.

This mustn’t happen.

Li Zhibai must appear lazy in front of Wen Li, which she’s already dissatisfied with. She can’t let Wen Li’s years of admiration for Ah Bai be shattered.

At this moment, the matter of salvaging Li Zhibai’s image in Wen Li’s heart... is urgent.

Zhu Pingniang pondered, thinking if there’s a way to restore Wen Li’s admiration.

After a while, she took a deep breath, opened her mouth, and said to the outside of the house.

"Ah Bai, I’ll leave the matter of evaluating Ah Li to you."

She spoke this way.

"...?"

Outside the room, Li Zhibai, who had already started having tea with Wen Li, was stunned, then feeling helpless—this girl doesn’t even dare to show her face, yet wants to direct me?

Wen Li was also stunned.

Aunt... is speaking for me?

——

Sensing the atmosphere outside had frozen, Zhu Pingniang calmed her emotions, trying to make her breathing even.

Indeed, requesting Li Zhibai’s involvement is not easy no matter who asks, but... what if it’s her requirement?

Zhu Pingniang knows very well how indulgent her Ah Bai is toward her. As long as it’s her request, even if it breaks her leisurely moments, Li Zhibai wouldn’t mind.

Or rather, she can’t even remember how many times she has disrupted Li Zhibai’s rest.

This time... just give Li Zhibai a proper reason, and she would agree to evaluate Wen Li.

Zhu Pingniang spoke aloud, trying to make her voice close to the coolness of Zhu Tongjun from years ago.

"This girl wants to give up the Sword Dao, I don’t understand much about swords... you evaluate her for me, to confirm that pausing her cultivation at her current Realm won’t affect her future path, then I’ll make a dossier and submit it to Steward Hall." Zhu Pingniang voiced with a hint of troubled tone: "I can’t return to the mountain now, this matter... I have to entrust it to you as well.

Li Zhibai: "..."

A bit helpless.

Tong Jun might not have noticed, she intentionally restored the coolness of her past voice, but now she can’t go back, so there’s a faint, repressive coyness in the voice.

Instead, there’s a bit of deliberate teasing seriousness.

’She can’t go back,’ Li Zhibai shook her head, simultaneously puzzled.

Tong Jun really managed to find a reason.

Li Zhibai wasn’t quite sure why Tong Jun insisted on evaluating Wen Li, knowing that this should be meaningless. Wen Li’s cultivation status would surely be meticulously recorded in Steward Hall, why would she need to go to such lengths?

So... does Tong Jun want to curry favor with Wen Li?

What’s the point of having Wen Li in her favor?

Besides, if she asks me to do the task, in case of any favor, it would be Tong Jun owing me, right?

Li Zhibai couldn’t quite understand why Zhu Pingniang spoke for Wen Li.

However, since it’s a sister’s request, even if it’s an not serious sister worrying her, I have to take it seriously.

Putting down the teacup, Li Zhibai looked toward the inner room.

"Should I do it... Let me think..."

Li Zhibai pondered.

Beside her, Wen Li, who had given up showing her cultivation achievements, suddenly realized that things seemed to take a turn and looked at the inner room in surprise, then felt a bit of anticipation.

No matter what Aunt meant, if she can help me, I have to accept this favor.

Seeing Li Zhibai not responding for a long time, Zhu Pingniang inside the room became nervous.

Could it be that after not seeing her for so long, her words have... lost their effect with Li Zhibai?

Where is the tacit understanding between them?

Even letting Wen Li owe a favor isn’t good?

Zhu Pingniang lost all interest in makeup, staring hard at the window, afraid Li Zhibai would refuse her proposal, afraid of losing favor with Li Zhibai, afraid... Li Zhibai would be as ruthless to her as she was to Wen Li.

Fortunately, Li Zhibai still favors her.

"Alright, I got it," Li Zhibai said to the inner room.

’...Phew.’

Zhu Pingniang finally breathed a sigh of relief. If Li Zhibai really refused, didn’t give her face, she truly wouldn’t know what to do.

Mhm.

Zhu Pingniang smiled, thinking that considering Li Zhibai’s thoughtfulness, at the evening banquet... she’ll share some of her evening meal with her.

"Then prepare yourself," Zhu Pingniang said, continuing her makeup.

Her goal has already been achieved.

As long as Li Zhibai is willing to evaluate Wen Li, fulfilling Wen Li’s wish and not letting Wen Li leave with regrets, at least... it won’t affect Li Zhibai’s admiration in Wen Li’s heart.

Zhu Pingniang felt she preserved this admiration, and safeguarded Ah Bai’s gentle persona, being self-satisfied and pleased.

"... ..."

Coincidentally, Li Zhibai thought the same.

Agreeing to this matter at Tong Jun’s request... at least, Wen Li owes Tong Jun a favor.

In this way, no matter how unreliable Tong Jun may seem in Wen Li’s eyes, at least she is a senior who sides with her, willing to speak for her, isn’t she?

No matter the lifestyle, as long as they can assist juniors, seniors are helpful people.

Therefore, this time, it seems she’s protected Tong Jun’s reputation in Wen Li’s heart.

Li Zhibai was very gratified.

As long as Tong Jun doesn’t lose face, letting her be slightly busy for a while doesn’t matter.

Li Zhibai gently sighed, then stood up and looked at Wen Li, "Prepare yourself, I want to take a look at your sword."

Wen Li there still hasn’t understood anything; somehow her wish was fulfilled.

A bit strange.

Clearly, the teacher had previously refused so firmly, yet a word from Aunt and she agreed.

Wen Li thought back to the scene when Zhu Pingniang was boasting about Li Zhibai to her earlier and felt... if a teacher dotes like this on Aunt, no wonder Aunt likes the teacher so much.

"Teacher, can it really be?" Wen Li having the opportunity, still asked, "If it isn’t convenient..."

"It’s okay," Li Zhibai replied with a smile, "I happen to also want to see... your progress over the years."

"Then I’ll trouble you."

Faced with Li Zhibai’s smile, Wen Li felt relieved, with a slight smile appearing on her face.

The teacher is going to see her sword.

Ripples appeared in Wen Li’s eyes.

She has performed countless times on the stage, yet never seen the teacher’s figure below.

It’s time for the teacher to know how the girl she personally taught has grown.

A faint sword light appeared in Wen Li’s hand.

Sharp and unmatched, with a fierce aura.

Without a word, a sword light carrying intense coldness tore through space, mixed with a heavy aura, in an instant space was shredded, melted.

The searing sword light headed for Li Zhibai’s snow-white neck.