After working for both the righteous and demonic factions, I became a big shot.

In a tea room in Qinglongfang, Feng Qingyu put down a communication talisman and remained silent for a long time.

Feng Xiaoyu lay on the table, propping her chin up with her hand and tilting her head to look at her: "Senior sister, say something! Did you get the things?"

Feng Qingyu did not answer immediately, but looked at the communication talisman again before speaking softly: "He got it. It's the reward for the inner sect competition of the Divine Demon Sect. He exchanged his selection qualification for that sword manual."

Feng Xiaoyu sat up abruptly:

"He chose that sword manual? Wasn't it said that it had been sitting in the Divine Demon Sect for over a decade without anyone wanting to use it? He chose that one?"

She blinked. "Wait a minute, I remember you said he made it into the top eight this time. Logically, after everyone else has chosen, he should just take whatever's left. He actually gave up the reward for being in the top eight of the Divine Demon Sect?"

Feng Qingyu shook his head: "The informant said that he had the opportunity to exchange for something else. The Grand Elder personally said that he could exchange, but he did not hesitate and still chose this sword manual."

Feng Xiaoyu paused for a moment, then suddenly fell silent.

Although she was young, she knew what this meant. Shen An could choose a prize that was more advantageous to him and let the Sword Pavilion find another way to obtain the sword manual.

After all, his task was to examine the sword manual, not to obtain it.

But he didn't do that. When everyone was pessimistic, he stepped forward and chose the unwanted tattered scroll.

Feng Xiaoyu muttered under her breath, "Does this person really only have our Sword Pavilion in his heart?"

Feng Qingyu carefully put away the communication talisman, tapped his fingertips lightly twice on the edge of the table, and spoke in a calm tone, but a beat slower than usual:

"His choice of the sword manual shows that he took it to heart, even more so than his own interests. It was enough for me to have him confirm the location; he has no obligation to get it for us."

Feng Xiaoyu leaned closer: "Senior sister, are you a little touched?"

"I didn't," Feng Qingyu answered quickly, but her ears involuntarily turned red for a moment. "I just feel... we should all remember this."

It should be noted that the Divine Demon Sect had laid a tight net this time. If the people from their Sword Pavilion were to make a move, they would likely suffer either death or serious injury, resulting in many casualties. Therefore, they did not act rashly.

The teahouse was quiet for a while, and outside the window, the lights of Qinglong Market gradually lit up, while the sounds of wandering cultivators bargaining came from afar.

Feng Qingyu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then suddenly said, "The moment he stepped onto the stage, he probably already thought about how the people of the Divine Demon Sect would view him after he took this sword manual. A weakling in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, insisting on a tattered sheepskin scroll that nobody would even look at. He's probably going to be under a lot of pressure."

Feng Xiaoyu, resting her chin on her hand, asked, "Then why did he still choose it?"

Feng Qingyu didn't answer, but just looked at the dim twilight outside the window: "I don't know either."

Feng Xiaoyu was quiet for a while, then suddenly smiled: "Senior sister, your tone was a little softer than usual when you spoke."

Feng Qingyu glanced at her: "You misheard."

Feng Xiaoyu didn't expose her anymore, and whispered while leaning on the table, "Anyway, I think Shen An is a pretty good person, much better than those annoying guys who just loiter around the Sword Pavilion..."

Feng Qingyu didn't reply. She picked up the communication talisman again, rubbed it between her fingertips, as if she was thinking about something.

Finally, she tucked it into the deepest part of her sleeve, placing it together with the communication talisman Shen An had given her. Night deepened outside the window, the lamplight casting swaying shadows on the paper. She picked up the now-cold tea and took another sip, saying nothing more.

But that boy was deeply etched in her heart.

........

After the competition, Shen An rested for ten days before continuing to be Fairy Lan Yue's personal disciple.

This time, however, the entire sect treated him with utmost respect, and his fame had spread throughout the entire Divine Demon Sect.

In this atmosphere, Youmingzi and Mo Wuyai came to visit hand in hand.

Shen An had just returned to his cave that day, and before he could even sit down, two coughs came from outside the door.

"Is young friend Shen here?"

He recognized the voice, pushed open the door, and saw Elders Mo Wuyai and You Mingzi standing side by side at the door. One was stroking his beard and smiling, while the other had his hands behind his back and looked as usual, as if they had made an appointment.

Countless thoughts flashed through Shen An's mind in an instant, but on the surface he only bowed in surprise and said, "Elders? Please come in quickly. This place is humble and simple, and I'm afraid I might have slighted you."

Mo Wuyai waved his hand: "No need to rush, I'll just say a few words and then leave."

He entered the cave and looked around, saying, "This place is quite quiet and suitable for cultivation."

Youmingzi added from the side, "It's a pity it's a bit small."

While pouring tea for the two, Shen An smiled and replied, "This disciple's cultivation is too low; a place that's too big won't be able to contain me. A smaller place is better."

He placed the teacups in front of the two men, not in a hurry to ask their purpose, and waited for them to speak first.

He had probably guessed some of it, but he didn't expect that these two would wait until now to come to him.

Mo Wuyai took a sip of tea and put it down, then said without beating around the bush, "Shen An, I've come today to ask you another question: are you interested in visiting my Wuyai Peak?"

Shen An paused for a moment as he held the teacup.

Wuyai Peak is one of the three main peaks of the Divine Demon Sect, a whole level higher than Lanyue Peak. Its peak master is Mo Wuyai himself, a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator. His words carry considerable weight.

Youmingzi added from the side, "Don't overthink it, I'm just here to watch the fun."

As he spoke, he picked up his teacup and took a sip, clearly indicating that he knew beforehand that Mo Wuyai was trying to poach his people.

Shen An put down his teacup and said sincerely, "Elder, your kindness is overwhelming. However, I have already become a disciple of Fairy Lan Yue, and I have not yet repaid your kindness..."

Mo Wuyai seemed to have expected this: "I know you are a disciple of Lanyue Peak. But your performance in this competition has been seen by the entire sect. Staying on Lanyue Peak certainly offers a future, but with your talent and ambition, you should aim for higher places."

"I can personally speak with Lan Yue; I won't make things difficult for you."

He paused for a moment and then said, "This time, I intend to take you as my personal disciple. You don't need to leave Lanyue Peak; you can just be a nominal disciple."

Shen An quickly calculated in his mind that being a direct disciple of Wuyai Peak meant a higher status and more resources within the sect, but it also meant having to dedicate some time and energy to the affairs of Moyuan Peak.

But this might not be worthwhile for him. He already has enough on his plate: the relationships with Lanyue Peak, Qinglong Market, Yuqing Dao Sect, and Sword Pavilion, plus his status as a direct disciple of Wuya Peak. Not every additional task is a good thing.

Before he could even think of a better way to phrase it, Youmingzi chuckled and interjected, "Old man Mo, what are you saying? Shen An currently controls the Azure Dragon Market, and his monthly income is more than your Mo Yuan Peak earns in a year. You think you can lure him away just by using the title of his personal disciple?"

He turned to Shen An and said, "I have something I'd like to ask for your help with. It's related to the market, and it's not about asking you to become my apprentice."