A man from the Big Dipper, starting his charlatanship at Mount Tai.

"Ok?"

Just as she was getting anxious, Ji Ziyue suddenly noticed Qin Yao, who was also looking for something.

What is Qin Yao looking for?

Ji Ziyue took less than a second to come to the conclusion: Qin Yao was looking for something else entirely!

Ye Fan!?

She's looking for Ye Fan?!

Compared to her own clumsy older brother, Ji Ziyue felt that Qin Yao was more likely to have ruined Ye Fan's plans!

"Um, brother, I suddenly feel like I need to use the restroom. Keep looking, okay? Let me know when you find it!"

After saying that, Ji Ziyue jogged away, gradually disappearing from Ji Haoyue's sight amidst her puzzled gaze.

......

On Qin Yao's side.

She was extremely anxious because she couldn't find him.

"That's strange, where did Ye Fan go?"

"There's no one in the sacred ground, the secluded cultivation area, or on the immortal mountain. Pang Bo said he didn't know either... Maybe... I should go find Little Ancestor instead."

Qin Yao felt that it was bad enough that they couldn't find anyone anywhere, but the most crucial thing was that even Pang Bo didn't know Ye Fan's whereabouts!

Even if others didn't know, did she not know the relationship between Pang Bo and Ye Fan?

These two are both from Earth and are absolute best buddies. Even Pang Bo doesn't know Ye Fan's whereabouts, which means that the probability of Ye Fan being in trouble is extremely high!

Left with no other choice, Qin Yao had to resort to her trump card.

"There's no other way but to ask our young master for help!"

If possible, Qin Yao would not want to alarm Lin Xiu, after all, Lin Xiu was her superior, but... in times of emergency, she could not care about anything else when Ye Fan might be in trouble!

Having made up her mind, Qin Yao quickly headed towards the back mountain where Lin Xiu was.

However.......

She had just set off when a beautiful figure in purple blocked her way.

The visitor was none other than Ji Ziyue.

Ji Ziyue pretended that she was just casually striking up a conversation and asked with a smile:

"Sister Qin Yao, do you seem to have something urgent to tell me?"

Qin Yao frowned: "The little girl from the Ji family?"

"I'm sorry, I have something urgent to attend to right now. If you have something else to do, you can come find me after I've finished."

After saying that, Qin Yao turned sideways and walked forward, preparing to go around Ji Ziyue.

Ji Ziyue: "........."

Seeing that Qin Yao was determined to go to the back mountain, Ji Ziyue had no choice but to use her last resort.

"Sister Qin Yao, you must be worried about Ye Fan, right?"

"Um!?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yao immediately stopped in her tracks and slowly turned to look at Ji Ziyue.

"Miss Ji is so calm and composed, could it be that...?"

Qin Yao meant that she had always felt something was wrong, and now she finally realized it.

She was so anxious because she couldn't find Ye Fan, but why did Ji Ziyue act like nothing was wrong? There must be something fishy going on!

"Yes, you guessed right, I do know Ye Fan's whereabouts," Ji Ziyue nodded in acknowledgment.

That's right, this is her final showdown!

Anyway, Ye Fan's matter is almost settled, so it doesn't matter if others know his whereabouts.

Want to confront Ye Fan? Then go to Wanlong Nest! ...You can also bring Ye Fan back with you.

Qin Yao: "......."

Qin Yao frowned so deeply that she almost squeezed her eyebrows off.

She hadn't expected that even though she and Ye Fan were so close, Ye Fan would still only contact Ji Ziyue when something important happened... Did he really want to advance and get ahead of her?

"Where is Ye Fan?" Qin Yao asked in a deep voice.

Ji Ziyue: "I'm exploring a secret realm, and I'll be back soon."

"Sister Qin Yao, could you please keep this a secret from Immortal Lin?"

Qin Yao frowned again: "Why? Could it be that he's still hiding something from Xiao Zu?"

Ji Ziyue nodded helplessly:

"Yes, Ye Fan thinks it's not appropriate for Immortal Lin to know about this."

"However, Sister Qin Yao, please understand one thing: Ye Fan didn't tell you about this for your own good."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yao snorted and asked, somewhat amused and annoyed:

"Oh? I'd like to hear how he's doing it for me."

Ji Ziyue: "Sister Qin Yao, think about it, isn't your Qinglian lineage on good terms with Immortal Lin?"

"If you know about this matter but do not report it to Immortal Lin, wouldn't that be disloyal to Immortal Lin?"

“I’m different. I’m a member of the Ji family, and my status in the Ji family is quite good. I won’t have any moral issues because I didn’t inform Immortal Lin.”

Qin Yao: "......."

Qin Yao hesitated, but Ji Ziyue's words, though seemingly sophistical at first glance, actually made perfect sense upon closer examination!

"Alright, I can keep it from you for now, but in exchange, I want you to tell me everything you know! Especially where Ye Fan went and when he'll be back!"

“Okay, no problem. Perfect timing. I figured he’s almost done with his business.”

Ji Ziyue nodded with satisfaction, pleased that she had temporarily stopped Qin Yao.

However, just as she was about to speak... a male voice suddenly came from the rocks on the mountain path!

【What's so good about it!】

Those two on the mountainside plotting in broad daylight? Come to my office!

"Um?!"

Ji Ziyue and Qin Yao both froze on the spot.

If they weren't mistaken, that was... Lin Xiu's voice?

Why would they suddenly hear Lin Xiu's voice? Were they hallucinating?

The two women exchanged a glance and realized that the other person was also reacting... which meant... it wasn't a hallucination?!

The next second, the sound continued to come from the rocks by the mountain path.

What are you all standing there for? Do you expect me to go and fetch you?

[You dare to team up with Ye Fan to deceive me? You've got some nerve! Huh?!]

Now, Ji Ziyue and Qin Yao heard it clearly...

Holy crap! Lin Xiu actually set up a device on the mountain path that can listen to conversations nearby?!

"Let's go~ We have no choice but to obey the young master's orders."

Qin Yao sighed, glanced at Ji Ziyue, and continued walking towards the back mountain.

Ji Ziyue also looked miserable and had no choice but to follow.

........

A few minutes later, in Lin Xiu's private office, "Immortal Venerable Pavilion".

Qin Yao and Ji Ziyue filed in.

The more the two looked at the attire, the more familiar it seemed... Damn! Did Lin Xiu just bring over his own setup from the Miaoyu Nunnery?

Qin Yao guessed correctly. There was no way around it; Miaoyu Nunnery was far too adept at "making cultivators enjoy themselves." Fortunately, Lin Xiu had some knowledge of "transportation," so he simply physically moved the Immortal Venerable Pavilion over.

As the two approached, Lin Xiu put down the student list in his hand and cast a piercing gaze at them.

"Immortal Lin! We were wrong!"

Ji Ziyue quickly backed down without the slightest hesitation. First, she gave Lin Xiu a big bow, then she scurried over to Lin Xiu's side and filled his cup with spiritual tea.

This series of incredibly smooth operations left Qin Yao completely stunned.

She suddenly realized that she had underestimated Ji Ziyue. She hadn't expected that Ji Ziyue was not only clever but also quite talented in the path of progress.

Isn't Lin Xiu her little ancestor? Why does Ji Ziyue seem even more skilled than her?

[However, upon reflection, it makes sense. I only just found out, while Ji Ziyue clearly knew all along! If she shouldn't apologize, then who should?]

Even so, the next second, Qin Yao immediately admitted her mistake:

“Little Ancestor, I was wrong too. My vigilance was too low. I failed to inform you of the matter as soon as I discovered it.”

"Besides being vigilant, I shouldn't have cooperated with the evil Ji family, which led me to this predicament."

Qin Yao felt that the Ji family was truly wicked!

The elder brother, Ji Haoyue, actively picks fights with her princess, and the younger sister, Ji Ziyue, is also vying with her for a man. Is this the way of life according to the Great Emperor's tradition?

Ji Ziyue: "......."

Ji Ziyue didn't expect Qin Yao to directly shift the blame onto her, but upon closer reflection, she realized... she really had nothing to refute! Qin Yao had only just found out about the situation; even if she wanted to share the blame, she couldn't get much of it.

Lin Xiu glanced at the two of them, and finally looked at Ji Ziyue.

"Tell me, where exactly did Ye Fan go?"

Ji Ziyue: "......."

"Ten Thousand Dragons' Nest".