A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

Bai Jie's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, then swept over his slightly disheveled clothes.

"The sect leader orders you to go to the main peak in twenty days to participate in an assessment. The content is..."

"Low-grade Profound Rank, Qi Condensation Pill."

Her voice remained cold and indifferent, as if it were merely a mechanical transmission.

Those eyes were always glancing at Midozhi, seemingly casually.

Luo Fan remained unmoved, having personally heard the assessment content that day.

The so-called assessment is just a formality. If the sect leader wants to keep him, he will definitely help him.

What Luo Fan was really concerned about at that moment was Sister Bai's calm tone.

And that seemingly casual gaze, which actually lingered on him for quite some time.

Then there was the soft touch of the junior sister beside him, almost touching his arm.

"Don't worry, senior sister, I will do my best."

Luo Fan bowed and agreed.

Bai Jie's beautiful eyes flashed with surprise.

He... just casually?

Without the slightest surprise?

It was as if he had already guessed it, or was he confident that he could refine a Xuan-grade pill?

Perhaps I don't know this little rascal well enough.

We need to deepen our understanding of each other so that we know each other well and it will be easier to move forward in the next step.

Gradually, Bai Jie's breathing became rapid.

I don't know what's wrong with me, but I start having all sorts of wild thoughts whenever I see him.

"Um."

She tried to keep her voice calm, but did not leave.

His gaze shifted to Midozhi with a coldness that carried a hint of hostility...

Where did this vixen come from?

It seems to be that little girl from the outer sect.

She seemed quite familiar with this little rascal, and then there was the pill in her hand.

understood!

This little girl also learned about Luo Fan's secret.

When did this happen?

After thinking it over, she realized that the little girl had only come into contact with Luo Fan during the few days she was away.

What a little brat! Trying to take advantage of her absence and undermine her?

The hostility in Bai Jie's eyes deepened slightly.

Midozhi blinked.

It seems my previous guess was correct; there was indeed something fishy going on between her and Senior Brother Luo.

but....

She won't lose until the dust settles!

She has all the qualities that Senior Sister Bai has!

"Is there anything else, Senior Sister?"

She met Bai Jie's gaze without flinching, and straightened her soft, alluring curves.

She even moved closer to Luo Fan, as if she wanted to squeeze into his arms.

She smiled sweetly, "If there's nothing else, Brother Luo Fan will also be instructing me on the uses of the elixir~"

"No guidance is needed for the elixir; its effects will be known after taking it."

Bai Jie's eyes flickered slightly, her gaze sweeping between the two of them for a moment.

She paused, then looked back at Midozhi's face. "Aren't you leaving? Do you want me to see you off?"

The air seemed to have gotten a few degrees colder.

Midozhi's smile remained unchanged. "Senior Sister didn't leave either, did she?"

"I have something to discuss with Junior Brother Luo, and it's not appropriate for a third person to be present."

Bai Jie glanced at Midozhi, "Junior Sister, if there's nothing else, please make yourself at home."

"Tsk tsk tsk, I've long heard of the inner sect senior sister's grand style and imposing presence. Seeing her today, I can confirm she's truly extraordinary."

She shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. "I just don't know, Senior Sister, when did your Hall of Affairs become allowed to interfere in the affairs of Dan Peak?"

These words made Bai Jie frown slightly; she hadn't expected the little girl to be so sharp-tongued.

Her expression remained unchanged. "The outer disciples of today really need to be trained in terms of discipline. If Elder Kong doesn't know how to teach his disciples, I think the Discipline and Law Enforcement Hall would be very willing to take over."

"you!"

Midozhi stood with her hands on her hips, her big, round eyes fixed on Bai Jie.

She's definitely a difficult woman!

She, Midozhi, has never been bullied before.

Got it!

Her eyes sparkled, and she shook Luo Fan's arm. "Little brother~ Senior sister looks down on me because of my lowly status, and won't let me tell the truth~"

"If that's how you think, there's nothing I can do about it."

Bai Jie stood with her hands behind her back, truly an ethereal fairy untouched by worldly concerns.

She stood in the sunlight, glancing sideways at Midozhi, "As a disciple of the sect, you got into a fight with someone in public. Even if Elder Kong finds out, you still won't escape punishment."

"Leave now, and I'll pretend nothing happened."

Bai Jie glanced at her one last time.

How dare you wield a hoe against a mere little girl who hasn't even grown her first hair?

Too inexperienced.

Let it be a few more years!

"Brother Luo Fan~ Senior Sister is so fierce~ She scared me~"

She tilted her head to look at Luo Fan, her eyes innocent yet cunning. "Tell her the truth, is she so eager to get rid of me because she wants to... give you some pointers?"

She dragged out the word "guidance," carrying an ambiguous tone that was hard to define.

He wanted to use this test to see how far the two of them had progressed.

Have we broken through that final barrier?

Bai Jie could easily tell that the little girl was testing her.

Her ears turned slightly red, but she forced herself to remain calm. "As I said, Junior Brother Luo and I have important matters to discuss, which are not convenient to tell outsiders."

This time, Bai Jie's tone carried an undeniable coldness.

"Is that so, Brother Luo Fan?"

She bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears. "I've already sold myself to you, and you still consider me an outsider?"

What the hell!

A thousand words cannot compare to a single phrase of national essence.

Luo Fan was in a real bind.

Why did I sell myself to him? How come he didn't know about this?

This little devil is a killer who doesn't shed blood!

as predicted.

When Bai Jie heard the phrase "selling herself," her once indifferent gaze turned even colder.

It almost froze Luo Fan into an ice sculpture.

"Uh... Junior sister, don't joke around. I'm the one who begged Senior Sister Bai to come out with me to do something. It's very dangerous."

He quickly said, "Junior sister, you might as well go back, so that Elder Kong won't worry about you."

Midozhi could no longer feign her grievances.

At this moment, I truly felt wronged.

"Hey bro, are you kicking me out too?"

She shook Luo Fan's arm, "Please take me with you~ I don't want to be a burden to you~"

And...take me with you, and I can...fight for you and protect you!

She tilted her little face up, her eyes full of determination.

It was that last sentence that sounded somewhat lacking in confidence, yet he stubbornly refused to back down.

"How do we protect it?"

Bai Jie's red lips curved slightly. "Fourth level of Qi Refining?"

"So what?"

Midozhi's pretty face flushed red. "What you can do, I can do too. And what you can't do, I can also do, for example..."

She thought for a moment, then continued.

"I'm very good at taking care of people. As an inner disciple, my senior sister has a noble status and only focuses on cultivation. She may not have paid attention to these things."

She winked at Luo Fan again, "Little brother~ please consider it~"

The two of them, a man and a woman alone, might just be dry tinder meeting a raging fire.

By the time they return, little Luo Fan might already be growing inside them.

No!

Absolutely not! She has to come with me, and she has to stay by my side every step of the way!

"Junior sister, I appreciate your kind gesture."

Luo Fan smiled and nodded, "It's just that this trip is too dangerous. If I encounter any trouble, I'll be in deep trouble and I won't be able to explain it to Elder Kong."

"you--!"

My eyes are really red from holding my breath.

She glared at Luo Fan, then looked at Bai Jie, feeling even more aggrieved.

Why bring Bai Jie but not her?

Senior Sister Bai is just relying on her higher cultivation level.

So, just because someone has high cultivation level doesn't mean they can bully people like this.

"Brother Luo Fan, are you really not taking me with you?"

Looking at her reddened eyes, Luo Fan sighed inwardly, "You should cultivate diligently in the sect. I'll refine a few more batches of pills for you when I return, how about that?"

Midozhi remained silent, her head bowed as she twisted the hem of her clothes.

It took her a while to lift her head, forcing back her tears.

"Okay...I'm leaving."

Seeing that Luo Fan did not try to stop her, she turned and ran out of the courtyard.

She ran to the door but stopped. "Brother Luo Fan, come back safely! I'm waiting for you!"

Only the two of them remained in the courtyard.

Peach blossoms fluttered down, carrying their fragrance and a faint hint of grievance.

Luo Fan gazed at the empty courtyard gate and sighed again.

"Reluctant to part with it?"

Bai Jie's tone was extremely indifferent.

Luo Fan fell silent, then forced a smile and said, "Then, I'll have to trouble you, Senior Sister."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jie turned and walked away, but after taking two steps, she turned back and said, "Aren't you coming with me?"

She didn't even ask Luo Fan where he was going.

Luo Fan snapped out of his daze and immediately followed with a smile.

—Where peach blossoms flutter, demons surge in the shadows; a sword flies southwest, two shadows follow closely.

(This is the author indulging in a pretentious, artsy style; please ignore it.)