When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

The Moon-Viewing Platform on the other side was still bustling with activity.

Wei Jin was drinking with others when he caught a glimpse of someone returning out of the corner of his eye. The person looked distraught and lost all composure.

He thought he must have misread it, and tentatively called out, "Yi Chen?"

no respond.

Yi Chen seemed not to hear.

"You've gone to the wrong place," Wei Jin said with amusement as he watched him walk straight ahead and about to bump into the table. "That's your seat over there."

Yi Chen nodded slowly and took his seat.

However, after taking his seat, he fell into a long silence. The pale yellow light shone on Yi Chen's face, as if painting him with a layer of earthy charm, forcibly pulling people back from the sky to the ground.

Wei Jin's curiosity grew even stronger, and he leaned closer, about to ask something else, when he saw Yi Chen raise his hand and pick up a wine glass from the table.

Wei Jin: ? ? ?

"Hey, you've got the wrong one, that's alcohol!"

Everyone knows that Immortal Lord Jixue is so self-disciplined that he is almost harsh. He believes that drinking and merrymaking are of no benefit to cultivation, and he has never touched alcohol, which is a thing that disturbs the mind.

However, Yi Chen did not bring the cup to his lips. He simply maintained the posture of holding the cup, as if he were holding not wine, but a magical artifact to help stabilize his mind.

The words I heard behind the artificial hill, and the long, suffocating silence that followed, still echoed in my mind.

I'm unwilling to believe it, yet I can't help but believe it.

...Therefore, when he emerged from seclusion, the disciples' awkward and restrained behavior was merely to suppress their forbidden thoughts, fearing that he would see through them.

Then... why didn't you cover it up afterwards?

Did she think she had concealed it perfectly, certain that she wouldn't notice? Or... did she gradually become more and more reckless, taking advantage of his indulgence?

Yi Chen's gaze slowly darkened.

This concerns the bottom line. If Chu Xianlan truly harbors immoral and unethical thoughts, then as her teacher, having taken on the responsibility of teaching, he should fulfill his duty and pull his disciple back from the wrong path.

Even if it means imposing severe punishments on disciples like other elders, the goal is to completely change the boy's inappropriate thoughts.

How should this be handled? Reprimand? Discipline? Expel?

No matter which method is used, it will likely cause the boy to show a hurt expression, and his once bright and intelligent eyes will dim from then on.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Yi Chen recalled that day in the bamboo forest, when his disciple stood under the dappled bamboo shadows, his cheeks flushed, and the timidity and unease in his voice were hard to conceal. At the time, he hadn't noticed... that such feelings were being suppressed within him.

And in the days since, Chu Xianlan has been eagerly surrounding him, her lively and open expressions of goodwill have never offended him in the slightest. How could she possibly be the type to harbor evil intentions?

wrong.

It was clearly my suggestion that allowed him to act on his own whim.

Thinking of this, Yi Chen's tense nerves gradually relaxed, and he made a decision.

...Severe punishment is ultimately inappropriate.

Speculation alone proves nothing. Perhaps we should wait and see, pretend we don't know anything, and then find a suitable opportunity to subtly inquire later.

If it's a misunderstanding, clear it up; if there's a real deviation, it's not too late to guide them slowly.

After that, Yi Chen waited absentmindedly for a long time, but still did not see his disciple.

Chu Xianlan was completely unaware of the turmoil in his master's heart, because he had encountered a little trouble.

"This is... a snake?" Qu Ling peeked out from behind Chu Xianlan.

A slender, snow-white shadow slowly emerged.

Chu Xianlan was also taken aback.

With its round white head, vacant eyes, and slow movements, the more you look, the more certain you become—it's the little snake you saw at the market a few days ago.

"Go back to Lanyue Terrace first," Chu Xianlan said, withdrawing her spiritual power. "This little snake is a spirit pet sold at the market. It may have broken free of its restraints and gotten lost. I'll take it back."

Qu Ling nodded, somewhat worried, "Senior brother, be careful, it would be troublesome if it were poisonous."

Chu Xianlan tentatively extended a hand, and the little one first touched his palm with its head to make sure there was no danger, then quietly wrapped its arm around his wrist.

"It doesn't seem afraid of you, senior brother." Qu Ling found it quite amazing.

Chu Xianlan was also a little surprised. The little snake was very light, soft and cool, and felt quite comfortable against her skin. The tip of its tail trembled.

"Then come with me." He chuckled.

The man and the snake set off, and before they even got close to the market, Chu Xianlan could hear a commotion.

The sounds of howling, breaking objects, shouting, and cursing rose and fell, creating a chaotic mess.

At this hour, everyone is feasting and making merry; the market shouldn't be this lively.

As he rounded the mountain pass, he saw a colossal creature swiftly fly past him.

"Catch them!"

"Don't run! Hey! Don't step on my foot!!"

"What on earth is going on?!"

The demon guards and several stall owners ran around chasing after the purple-eyed white fox that had been licking its fur at the spirit pet stall. Its size had swelled several times over, making it look like a furry giant beast. It leaped up and down, and with a sweep of its tail, it overturned two stalls.

Chu Xianlan's lips twitched. She refused to let the monster perform, but she couldn't resist the monster's insistence.

Not only the purple-eyed white fox, but all the spirit pets were released from their restrictions and escaped.

Everything that flies in the sky, runs on the ground, and swims in the water—it's all there.

Several golden monkeys, larger than gorillas, hung from the eaves by their tails, drinking wine. Unruly and ill-mannered, they threw empty jars down violently. The three-tailed phantom cat was no longer clingy and obedient. It opened its blood-red mouth and howled shrilly, its dense teeth gleaming coldly, smashing craters into the floor.

The aquatic pets were alright, but once out of the water, they couldn't move and just thrashed around in place.

During the day, they are all very docile, but now they are all running wild in the market, causing chaos and disorder. I don't know what's wrong with them.

No wonder the little snake came out; the market was in complete chaos.

"Fellow Daoist, come lend a hand!!"

Chu Xianlan looked up at the sound and saw a demon merchant being held upside down in the air by a fire sparrow by the ankle, waving his hands and calling for help.

Chu Xianlan thought for a moment and recognized that this was the owner of the spirit pet stall. After all, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. He stuffed the little snake into his arms and took out a magic weapon.

Binding Immortal Rope.

A must-have for every home, with a wide range of uses, capable of binding heaven, earth, and all things; it has been the number one best-selling religious artifact for years.

"Come on!" Chu Xianlan stepped onto the flying artifact, using spiritual power to rise into the air, squinted her eyes, found the right angle, and prepared to throw the ring.

Aerial combat is inherently inconvenient; the best course of action is to trap the enemy first.

"You, you, you, aim right!"

"Hmm... Shh, don't speak." Chu Xianlan held her breath and licked her lips.

Just as the Binding Immortal Rope was thrown out, the Firebird sensed someone approaching, turned its head, and spat out a ball of flame from its sharp beak.

The intense heat brushed against his face as the boy leaped into the air and landed back on the flying artifact.

Goodness, I originally thought these spirit pets were just cute and cuddly, but I never imagined they would attack so mercilessly when they went berserk.

"Are you alright?" the demon shouted from afar.

"It's nothing, why did all your spirit pets come out?"

"You're asking me?! Who should I ask?!" the merchant cried in despair. "I just went to the banquet and had a bite to eat, and when I came back I found all the restrictions on my spirit pets had been lifted! I don't know which bastard did it! I'm going to kill him! Ah—!"

Chu Xianlan shook her wrist to regain her balance and raised the Immortal Binding Rope again, aiming it at the spirit pet merchant.

He lost it, he dodged it.

He throws it again, he hides it again.

"Why are you trying to dodge my Immortal Binding Rope?!" Chu Xianlan said, finally losing her temper. "Do you still want me to save you or not?!"

"I can't help it, the instinctive reaction when I see this thing is to run away!"

"..." Hearing him say that, there was no other way. The Binding Immortal Rope was swung out again. The merchant was so frightened that he closed his eyes and screamed, but he did not get the restraint he expected. He only heard the firebird shriek to the sky, and the force that was holding his ankle suddenly loosened.

Looking up in shock, they saw the Immortal Binding Rope firmly around the Fire Sparrow's neck.

The boy pulled back on the rope, and the firebird flapped its wings but couldn't fly far, looking both fierce and comical.

A person and a bird, like flying a kite in the sky.

The firebird, already wild and untamed, was now gripped by fate. Its wings flapped wildly as it charged and crashed about, spewing out bursts of fire that exploded like fireworks in the sky.

Since he needed to capture the bird alive, Chu Xianlan couldn't kill it. Just as he was considering whether to knock the firebird unconscious, the bird suddenly thrashed its body violently.

"Be careful!!" The pet merchant below watched with trepidation.

Chu Xianlan never expected that this beast, which was clearly a bird, had the strength of an ox. With a flick of its tail, the flying artifact under his feet wobbled, and he fell from mid-air.

The next instant, the air, like the fresh scent of snow after a snowfall, entered my nose, and I fell into a comforting and familiar embrace.

Steady and steady.

Chu Xianlan's head rested against the other's firm chest, the steady and powerful heartbeat entering her ears through his clothes. The arm that caught her body was as steady as a rock, bringing an unparalleled sense of security.

The sudden embrace startled Chu Xianlan, who looked up in surprise. Their eyes met, and the person who had held him in their arms looked down at him, their deep gray pupils filled with helplessness and a hint of... reproach.

Since things had come to this, all I could do was give an awkward smile and say, "Hi, Master."