Page 49

The call from outside interrupted the atmosphere in the courtyard.

Yuyan sat up straight, first putting on her shoes, then picking up the brocade robe she had just taken off and draping it over her shoulders. Finally, she gave Yino a strange gaze.

Yino had no objections and obediently went to open the door for Yunjin.

The 2,700-meter altitude of Ranmo Peak had left the young girl's face flushed with exertion. Her legs were slightly trembling from the climb, but the fact that she could make it up on her own already impressed Yino.

Yino supported Yunjin into the courtyard and sat her down, then took the teapot from in front of Yuyan and poured a cup of hot tea for the panting girl in Taoist robes.

"Thank you, Brother Yino."

Yunjin held the hot tea and looked up gratefully.

But soon, she noticed the immortal in a banner skirt sitting formally behind Yino, and hurriedly stood up to bow: "G-good morning, Senior Sister Yuyan!"

"No need for formalities, sit down and rest."

Yuyan didn't mind, still sitting in her original spot with her legs crossed elegantly.

Now that Yunjin discovered the senior sister had been home all along, she was too scared to speak loudly. She and Yino beside her exchanged glances, and although they didn't say anything, both of their faces reddened with embarrassment.

Yunjin first looked at Yino, then glanced at Yuyan out of the corner of her eye, signaling with her gaze.

Yino shrugged and pouted, also glancing at the beautiful sword immortal lady sitting with perfect posture not far away, as if complaining about something.

"Pfft..."

Yunjin couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.

Because she felt the current atmosphere was strangely similar to visiting a friend's house as a child, only to arrive just after the friend had been scolded by their mother. While she felt some sympathy for Yino, she found more comedy in the contrast.

After all... That night, Yino had acted so mature.

Yunjin couldn't have imagined that the young master of the Grand Tutor's Mansion, who had once spoken so confidently in front of her, would become such a pitiful puppy-like figure when scolded by his cold senior sister at home.

"Wait, why are you all looking at me like that?"

Yino furrowed his brow, feeling that Yunjin might have misunderstood something, and both Yuyan and Yunjin were staring at him with strange looks.

Yino scratched his head in confusion and looked back, only to see that the previously stern-faced icy girl had finally broken into a light laugh.

"Heh~"

Yuyan curled her ruby lips, looking at Yino with a somewhat playful gaze.

After a moment of silence, she also reined in her mischievous smile from earlier, cleared her throat, and then said in an unprecedentedly gentle tone: "Yino, since Miss Yunjin has come all this way to invite you... you should get moving too. Go wash your face and get ready, don't keep her waiting too long."

"Huh?"

Yuyan's sudden gentle expression, changing faster than turning a page, left Yino stunned.

"But Senior Sister, didn't you just say you were worried about me going down the mountain..." the young man asked sheepishly.

But Yuyan turned her face away, saying casually:

"I was worried about you going alone, but now that Yunjin is with you, naturally I have nothing to worry about."

"Th-thank you for your trust, Senior Sister!"

Yunjin, sitting nearby, hurriedly stood up and bowed again, looking flustered.

Yuyan nodded with a smile, indicating that Yunjin need not be so polite.

But as they chatted, she beckoned Yino to come closer to her—

"Since Yunjin has already come to the door, it wouldn't look good to stand her up now. You should go down the mountain with Yunjin and have a good few days of experience."

"However, before you leave, I have three things to tell you."

Yuyan's voice was soft and gentle, only heard to Yino.

Yino nodded silently, and tactfully leaned in closer, bringing his face nearer to Yuyan's lips.

Yuyan's posture remained unchanged, only her beautiful eyes blinked slightly:

"First, when you leave Wuji Sect, you must reach the Snow Village ruins before dark. Don't wander off on the way, don't go back to the Grand Tutor's Mansion, and especially don't take Yunjin to any unsavory places!"

"Wait... Do I really seem that bad in your eyes?"

Just with the first point, Yino's brows furrowed tightly, feeling very wronged.

If he had known he couldn't escape the fate of going to Wuji Sect anyway, Yino wouldn't have needed to go to Phoenix Pavilion and damage his image in the first place.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"You even dare to flirt with an immortal like me. Who knows what you might do to other innocent girls once you leave Wuji Sect?"

Yuyan's beautiful eyes were both resentful and cold, showing conflicting feelings of both appreciation and disdain for the young man before her.

She pinched Yino's ear and brought her ruby lips close again, enunciating each word in warning:

"I'll be personally checking on this Snow Village mission... If you dare to run off halfway, when I catch you, you'll never be allowed to leave Ranmo Peak again for the rest of your life!"

"Don't worry, Senior Sister. I don't have that kind of courage."

Yino nodded obediently.

Yuyan's serious tone had scared him enough that he didn't dare to joke around anymore.

"Second, when Yunjin first came to Wuji Sect, I was the one who received her grandparents and promised the elderly couple that I would take good care of her... So, when you reach Snow Village, you must stay with Yunjin and protect her. You have the jade pendant; if you encounter any danger, inject spiritual energy into the pendant, and I will arrive within seven breaths."

"Understood."

"Third, for this mission, you can take Wangxue to Northern Snow Mountain for a look. After researching in Wuji Sect these past few days, I've discovered that there are no wild snow deer species in the natural ecology of Wuji Sect's back mountain secret realm! Perhaps... Wangxue's origins might be connected to the fall of Northern Snow Village!"

"Understood..."

Hearing the third point, Yino couldn't help but swallow hard and nod seriously.

He glanced at the little deer not far away, only to see it looking back at him with an equally pitiful expression.

After explaining the important matters, Yuyan released Yino's ear and gently stroked the young man's face with her beautiful hand. Her ruby lips curved up slightly in satisfaction, offering comfort:

"Yino, you look much more reliable now than when you were at the Grand Tutor's Mansion."

"Although this might sound like needless worry, to be honest, with your unpredictable personality, I was really concerned that you might devise a flawless plan and use this village search as an opportunity to defect back to Luo City's Grand Tutor's Mansion... After all, you didn't come here voluntarily, but were forcibly brought up the mountain by me."

"So, for this mission, I hope you can be more obedient and let me worry a bit less... Right now, everyone at Wuji Sect looks down on you. They've advised me to take on more disciples and stop wasting time and energy on a useless pampered young master... But precisely because of this, Yino, you need to prove yourself and not let down the sword techniques I've taught you these past days!"

"Of course, if my junior brother performs well, I won't skimp on your reward when you return~"

As she finished speaking, Yuyan pursed her lovely lips and smiled coyly.

She raised her other hand and affectionately rubbed the young man's cheeks with both hands.

This was a gentleness and trust that Yino had never felt from Yuyan in all their days together on Ranmo Peak.

With the atmosphere built up to this point, Yino couldn't help but nod obediently.

He was about to get up and go back to his room to pack, but Yuyan called out to him once more:

"By the way, don't you want to know why your senior sister values you so much?"

"Because keeping me here allows me to play chess with you."

Yino answered honestly, as he had always known deep down and wasn't really that conceited.

But this time, Yuyan couldn't help but smile and raise an eyebrow:

"That reason probably only accounts for half of it now."

"Half?" Yino frowned.

"Actually, during this week of interaction, I've found that you're becoming more and more special."

Yuyan said thoughtfully.

She looked up at Yino, her proud, gorgeous eyes reflecting an unusual expression of appreciation:

"I believe your potential has been greatly underestimated by others."

"Of course, I also know that you're intentionally playing dumb. Although I don't know why you're doing this, every day I spend with you, I discover something new about you..."

"Perhaps this is also the joy I find in wanting you to stay on Ranmo Peak."