Fairy, please have some self-respect. I am not the reincarnation of your deceased husband.

The next day at noon, at the West Garden outside the outer gate.

"call--"

After finishing her morning cultivation and drawing her daily talisman, Chen Lianshu put the newly made talisman into her storage ring.

"It's time to go find that kid Xu Yi."

"Otherwise, he would be hugging his legs and crying his eyes out again."

Just thinking about that carefree figure gave Chen Lianshu a headache.

He had been delayed by something before evening, and Xu Yi came to his door that afternoon, fearing that he would find someone else to sell the talismans.

Judging by the time, if we don't go soon, that guy will probably block the door by noon.

"well--"

With a soft sigh, Chen Lianshu pushed open the door and went out.

Although both of them were in Xiyuan, the journey was not short.

The West Outer Gate is a vast and sparsely populated area, and the disciples' residences are scattered, so it takes about the time it takes to burn an incense stick to walk there.

"..."

Looking at the greenery along the road, Chen Lianshu gradually fell into deep thought.

The system repair is progressing, but at an extremely slow pace.

However, the resources provided were enough for him to cultivate to the Golden Core stage.

The rewards for the [Master-Disciple Path] which was suddenly launched yesterday are quite generous.

And as expected, all the items obtained came with the same favorability display as Pei Wanyun.

Based on yesterday's situation, this line is extremely likely to trigger a repair.

Perhaps we can temporarily shift our focus to this line.

I wonder to what extent the system will recover after the progress of the tribulation is completed.

Will I be able to recover my memories related to this "master-disciple relationship"?

While they were pondering this, they had already arrived outside Xu Yi's courtyard.

Before I could even raise my hand to knock, the door creaked open from the inside.

"Senior Brother Chen! You've finally arrived!"

Xu Yi's face peeked out from behind the door, his eyes shining with a relieved joy:

"If you don't come soon, I, your junior brother, will really have to come knocking on your door!"

He stepped aside and waved repeatedly:

"Please come in, please come in!"

Chen Lianshu stepped into the courtyard.

Compared to his well-maintained courtyard, Xu Yi's place seemed much more casual.

Scattered on the stone table were fragments that hadn't yet been gathered up, and some unidentified junk was piled up in the corner...

That does suit the owner's carefree personality quite well.

"Please have a seat, senior brother. Let me make you some tea!"

Xu Yi quickly wiped away non-existent dust from the stone bench and turned to fetch the tea set.

"No need for that."

Chen Lianshu stopped him and handed him a storage ring.

It was the very one the other party had given him yesterday.

"These are the same talismans as before, both in type and quality."

"Junior brother is here, thank you very much, senior brother!"

Xu Yi took the storage ring and put it away without even looking at it.

"Aren't you going to check it?"

Chen Lianshu was quite surprised.

This kid in front of me is known for his shrewdness in the outer sect. This time, he even skipped the inspection of the talisman?

This is not like him at all.

"I trust Senior Brother Chen's character."

Xu Yi chuckled, then took out a half-full spirit stone bag and presented it with both hands:

"This is the deposit for this transaction."

"Um."

Chen Lianshu took it and scanned the number of spirit stones inside with his divine sense:

"There are more now."

"Not much, not much!"

Xu Yi rubbed his hands together and chuckled.

He leaned closer and lowered his voice:

"To be honest, Senior Brother, there's a guy surnamed Li in the East Garden who's been buying talismans lately, and he's offering quite a high price..."

"But I, your junior brother, can guarantee that no one is more honest than me!"

"Like I said, consider this your junior brother's buyout fee."

"?"

However, Chen Lianshu was not concerned about the disciple surnamed "Li", but rather about the junior brother in front of him.

"you…"

He frowned instinctively, leaned back, and pushed the other person away.

Because Xu Yi was surrounded by a particularly strong scent of rouge.

Even just by smelling it, you can tell it's not the smell of cheap cosmetics.

A grown man carrying this fragrance...

"Who did you see at noon?"

This inevitably leads to speculation.

"what?"

Xu Yi, who had been pushed away, looked completely bewildered.

"Junior brother, I've been waiting for senior brother to deliver the goods, but I haven't seen anyone else do it!"

"Why do you ask, senior brother?"

"Since I've never seen anyone before... how come you smell of rouge?"

Chen Lianshu's gaze toward Xu Yi became increasingly complex, even carrying a hint of wariness.

"Could it be..."

Does this kid have some kind of unusual fetish?

"Oh! Senior brother, you've misunderstood!"

Seeing the increasingly strange look in the other person's eyes, Xu Yi hurriedly began to explain:

"How could my junior brother be someone who likes cosmetics?"

"Junior brother has recently expanded his business a bit. The rouge and the like only arrived this morning. It must have been accidentally tainted with some of the scent during the inspection."

"I hadn't even noticed unless my senior brother mentioned it."

"So that's how it is. I thought you..."

Although neither said it explicitly, they both understood each other implicitly.

"Alright, now that I've handed over the talisman, I'll head back."

Chen Lianshu did not linger any longer.

"Just let me know if you need anything."

"Senior brother, won't you stay for a simple meal?"

"No need."

After saying this, he turned around and was about to leave, but Xu Yi stopped him with his hand.

"etc!"

"Is there anything else?"

"As usual, I'll give you the new product; it's a token of my junior brother's appreciation."

A box of exquisitely packaged, obviously expensive, high-quality rouge was handed to me.

"What's wrong with you...?"

Chen Lianshu was taken aback and quickly refused:

"I don't have that kind of fetish."

"Oh! Senior brother has misunderstood again!"

Xu Yi waved his hands repeatedly:

"This is not for your personal use, but for you to give away."

"Give it away?"

"After all, there have been rumors lately..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Lianshu raised his hand to stop him:

"Stop, this is a misunderstanding."

But Xu Yi, without saying a word, shoved the rouge into his hand:

"Alright, even if you don't give it to Senior Sister Mu, Senior Brother will accept it anyway."

"Whether you give it away or resell it is entirely up to you."

"well--"

Chen Lianshu finally accepted it and turned to leave.

Apart from Mu Qianxue, he really couldn't think of anyone else he could give this gift to.

only…

I recall that serene, pure white figure, and that face that seemed never to have been adorned with makeup…

Giving this as a gift is probably not appropriate.

……

He had just returned to his own yard.

"Knock knock knock—"

A knock on the door caught Chen Lianshu's attention.

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives…

He wasn't on duty today, so the person who came must be Mu Qianxue.

The door opened in response.

But what came into view was not that aloof and solitary figure in pure white.

Instead, it was Pei Wanyun, dressed in a lotus-colored long dress, with a gentle temperament and a red lotus heart on her head.

"Master?"

Chen Lianshu let out a soft question.

"What's wrong?"

Pei Wanyun smiled, her voice gentle:

"Is it strange that I've come?"

"No, it's just..."

"Did I disturb you?"

"No, Master, please come in."

Chen Lianshu stepped aside and invited the other party into the courtyard.

"Please wait a moment, I will make you a pot of tea."

"There's no rush yet."

But Pei Wanyun gently raised her hand and tugged at the hem of his clothes.

Her gentle and kind smile remained unchanged, yet it sent a chill down one's spine.

Although the tone was gentle, it contained a hint of sharp questioning:

"May I ask you something..."

"Where did you go just now?"

"Or did you meet someone?"

She leaned forward slightly, gently sniffing her disciple's sleeve, her gentle phoenix eyes narrowing slightly:

"Why do you smell so strongly of rouge?"