I courted death and then tried to escape, so the whole sect wants to get rid of me.

According to Song Yao's experience, Chen Qingqiu usually cries all night after drinking, so she probably won't be able to sleep tonight.

I might as well take care of other things while I still have time.

She put away the jade pendant and, before pushing open the door to leave, said considerately to Chen Qingqiu, "Take your time crying, don't be shy, just make yourself at home. I'm going out for a bit."

Then, after wrapping himself in his cloak, he headed north towards another courtyard of the Yao Sect.

Chen Qingqiu looked up with tears in her eyes, but the room was empty.

It's empty.

Only the hot tea in my hand was still steaming.

She gripped the cup tightly, staring blankly for a long time, then suddenly curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile.

She's really crazy.

Feeling that the girl resembled Song Yao somewhat, he ran to her room without a care and cried, pouring out a bunch of inexplicable grievances to her.

This girl is indeed just like Song Yao.

Never lingering over anyone's tears, he would turn around and skip out the door.

Let her cry slowly...

When their master used Song Yao as an example to teach them a lesson, he said that the reason why Song Yao was able to cultivate so quickly was not only because of her talent, but also because her mind was as clear as a piece of unpolished jade.

Like a deity descending to earth, one is not easily bound by worldly love and affection, but cultivates the Great Way.

She just wanted to know why such a celestial being would fall for Ye Chang'an...

I've already indulged myself this time; anyway, no one else saw it.

She brushed aside the teacup and took out a pot of osmanthus wine.

-

When the gate was knocked on, Ji Duchuan, who had just woken up from his dream, began to question the meaning of life.

When he shuffled open the courtyard gate and saw Song Yao with a polite and well-behaved expression, he became even more doubtful about life.

Song Yao reminded him, "Greetings, Senior Ji. We've met before. You just took my Qi-replenishing pill, and I said I'd come to see you later. You haven't forgotten me, have you?"

Ji Duchuan: "..."

Forgetting is actually quite unforgettable.

but……

Was her lateness a sign that she was coming to see him in the middle of the night?

It's only the hour of Yin (3-5 AM) now, right?

If someone were to visit him, they wouldn't send an invitation three to five days in advance, nor would they come at this time, would they?

The brain circuits of children at Jiushengtang are truly unfathomable.

He paused for a moment, then stepped aside.

Before crawling inside, Song Yao, considering that she was no longer the vicious supporting female character she once was, asked again with a pleading look, "Won't I offend you?"

Ji Duchuan: "..."

Ok.

She's a bit more obedient than her legendary third senior sister; at least she can reflect on her own actions.

Although it has no practical use.

He resignedly replied, "No."

"That's good."

Song Yao felt relieved and entered the courtyard.

On the stone table in the corner of the courtyard, an unfinished game of chess still lay on the board, the black and white pieces glistening with night dew.

Ji Duchuan sat down on the stone bench, rubbed his temples, and asked wearily, "Have you decided how you want me to pay you?"

"I've made up my mind."

Song Yao stood opposite the stone table, took out a carved wooden box from his mustard seed bag, opened the lid with a click, took out the Golden Scale Snake Grass inside, and handed it over.

Ji Duchuan immediately had a bad feeling.

The next second, Song Yao said earnestly, "I've heard that Senior Ji's alchemy skills are top-notch. Please help me refine this Golden Scale Snake Grass into Golden Scale Snake Pills."

Ji Duchuan: "..."

What an outrageous demand!

Does this child even know how troublesome it is to refine herbs of this grade into pills?

Just as he was about to say something, Song Yao rummaged through his mustard seed bag again and pulled out a bunch of Qi-replenishing pills, placing them in front of him along with the Golden Scale Snake Grass.

The pile of Qi-boosting pills, forming a small mountain, was quite a sight.

The young girl spoke softly and gently, and began to paint a rosy picture: "The Golden Scale Snake Pill is for curing my second senior sister's illness. Although I am very poor and have no money, my senior brothers and sisters are all very wealthy and powerful. If you are willing to help, they will definitely be extremely grateful to you in the future, and they might even go through fire and water for you."

After she finished speaking, she looked at him expectantly and said, "Isn't it a great deal?"

Ji Duchuan: "..."

No.

Is this little girl trying to harm him?

Doesn't he know what those disciples of the Nine Saints Hall are like?

The eldest brother has gone mad and his whereabouts are unknown. The third brother is being ordered to be killed in the underworld. The fourth brother has suffered a qi deviation and it's unclear whether he's recovered. The fifth brother is somewhat normal, but he's probably in dire straits himself...

Would these people go through fire and water for him?

Are you sure you don't want to kill him?

He coughed lightly, not reaching for the Golden Scale Snake Grass, but instead picking up two black pieces to examine the unfinished game on the chessboard. He said unhurriedly, "Young friend Lin, this is the Northern Shake Sect. Would it be inappropriate for me, a guest of the Northern Shake Sect, to help you heal your senior sister?"

Song Yao sat down in front of him, holding a handful of white stones in his hand: "What's wrong with that? I'm just a guest, not someone who's going to join the Northern Shake Sect."

Ji Duchuan paused for a while before he noticed the clues in the game. After placing a piece, he smiled and said, "Since we are temporarily their retainers, it's natural not to upset them."

Song Yao then placed a white piece: "It's just refining a pill, what's the big deal? Doesn't Senior Ji want to treat everyone fairly?"

Ji Duchuan was genuinely taken aback.

He pondered for a long time before finally solving the black pieces' predicament.

This girl just casually blocked it with a single card?

He paused for a moment, then slowly raised his eyes to look directly at Song Yao.

She looked back at him, her eyes seemingly innocent: "Senior Ji, do you really not want to be the great benefactor of my senior brothers and sisters? They are the most grateful people, and they might even serve you like a slave in the future. Moreover, if there is an opportunity, you can also be a guest of honor at the Nine Saints Hall."

Ji Duchuan looked at the white piece on the chessboard, then at her, and finally chuckled softly in resignation.

She actually managed to control his lifeline, even though he was just a kid.

indeed.

Medicine King Valley has always advocated not getting involved in worldly disputes.

He broke the rules of Medicine King Valley by coming down the mountain to the Northern Yao Sect to refine pills for them because of a personal relationship.

If one truly wants to clear one's name in front of the Nine Saints Hall, one should indeed step in to treat everyone fairly.

Otherwise, if both sides suffer heavy losses in the end, the Nine Saints Hall might also consider him a thorn in their side.

Furthermore...

He felt that this child was quite unusual.

To have cultivated to the Golden Core stage at such a young age and to have won first place in the Myriad Bone Forest Secret Realm, one's future is limitless.

It wouldn't be bad to do her a favor.

Although she herself did not seem to intend to accept this favor, and instead pushed it directly to her group of senior brothers and sisters who were far away.

This is a very familiar operation.

Like her third senior sister, whom everyone hates.

Does the Nine Saints Hall even need this to be passed down through generations?

He shook his head, not thinking about it any further, and put away the Golden Scale Snake Grass: "Come back in two days to pick it up."

Expected.

Song Yao stood up and awkwardly bowed to him: "Thank you, Senior Ji. Then this junior will not disturb you any longer."

"etc."

Seeing that she was about to turn and leave, Ji Duchuan couldn't help but call out to her.

Song Yao turned around, puzzled: "Is there anything else?"

Ji Duchuan tapped the chessboard: "Who taught you to play chess?"

The person who guided her to this point must also be a master.

I wonder which senior it is.

He's really interested in getting to know him.

Song Yao remained silent for a moment, then asked incredulously, "Does this even need to be taught?"

Ji Duchuan: "?"

Song Yao: "Isn't this Gomoku (Five in a Row)?"

Ji Duchuan: "??"