CHAPTER 84
Who Messed With the Holy Maiden?!
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Shi Mingyi briefly inquired about the situation when Ye Qinghan knocked on the door: "Shiyao? Want to go out and have some fun with your senior sister?"
Li Shiyu leapt up from the table: "Yes! Senior Sister! Wait for me!"
Opening the door, Ye Qinghan stood poised in her business attire. The two together radiated an aura that could both be devastatingly beautiful and utterly serene, leaving Shi Mingyi feeling his blood surge…
"Master is waiting downstairs for Shiyu. He said he went to buy sugar-coated hawthorn for her."
"Why didn't you say so sooner, Senior Sister? I'm going to catch up with Master!" Li Shiyu didn't even bother to say goodbye to Shi Mingyi. She practically leaped off the second floor to find her master…
At this moment, Ye Qinghan felt no urgency. She still had matters to discuss with Shi Mingyi.
"Qinghan greets Elder Shi." She gave a slight bow, showing ample respect to her junior sister's family.
"Fairy Qinghan, you're too kind." Compared to Ye Qinghan, Shi Mingyi bowed slightly with his hands pressed together.
Gesturing for Shi Mingyi to sit, Ye Qinghan leaned lightly against the table. That air of arrogance clung to her like a shadow. Though her face bore a gentle expression and her words were soft, what shone through most was the innate aura passed down through generations of the Lingxian Hall.
Shi Mingyi had sensed a hint of it earlier in Li Shiyao as well.
【Second Elder, what are your intentions?】
As those words left her lips, Li Shiyao too bore Ye Qinghan's shadow. In that instant, a palpable killing intent filled the air—genuine, deadly intent. He hadn't paid it much heed before.
But now, as Ye Qinghan stood before him once more, face to face, that unique aura belonging to Lingxian Hall jolted him awake.
As the saying goes, "Those who associate with the virtuous become virtuous; those who associate with the wicked become wicked." Following Ye Qinghan and Su Cheng, the Holy Maiden felt her former timidity gradually recede, replaced by a peculiar aura reminiscent of a smiling tiger.
Looking back now, she felt fortunate that Li Shiyao still recognized her as the Second Elder…
But Shi Mingyi didn't know this wasn't an innate quality—it was the sense of security Lingxian Hall provided its two disciples.
With their master by her side, Ye Qinghan feared nothing—gods, demons, monsters, immortals—every last one of them. Anyone who dared challenge her was welcome to try!
As for Li Shiyu, she didn't know why she felt fearless either. All she knew was that she feared nothing under heaven!
"Master knows Shiyao's temperament—she's the type who can't hide her feelings."
Ye Qinghan smiled as she poured Shi Mingyi a cup of tea before continuing.
"Master also knows Shiyu may not be able to fully explain the implications to Elder Shi, which is why he sent Qinghan to clarify matters for you."
Shi Mingyi wasn't a fool. Wasn't this clearly an attempt to intimidate him?
"Heh, Sect Leader Su worries too much. Since the Holy Maiden has joined the Lingxian Hall…"
Before Shi Mingyi could finish, Ye Qinghan cut him off.
"Qinghan has often heard Shiyao speak of Elder Shi. I imagine Elder Shi dotes on her greatly. However, Lingxian Hall has its own rules."
"These rules exist to protect our disciples. Shi Yao is still young and may not fully grasp their purpose. I trust Elder Shi understands the greater good. Surely there's no need for Qinghan to elaborate further."
Ye Qinghan's smile was enchantingly charming, like a gentle spring breeze caressing one's face—utterly natural and not the slightest bit off-putting.
"Your words are wise, Fairy. This old man will remember them. Please forgive me, Fairy. This is not the Holy Maiden's fault. It's just that the Holy Mountain is deeply concerned about her well-being, so…"
"Shiyao is my junior sister, the second direct disciple of our Master. To Qinghan, she is blood kin; to our Master, she is flesh and blood. Our Master understands her destiny, and Qinghan knows her nature. How could we blame her?"
Shi Mingyi's heart jolted. He wished he could kneel on the ground and kowtow twice to Ye Qinghan!
To have such a master and such a partner—the Holy Maiden truly has a blessed fate! Not only did Dongfang Jue envy her, but even Shi Mingyi felt a pang of envy at that moment!
He knew Ye Qinghan treated Li Shiyao well, but he never imagined she would regard her as blood kin.
Ye Qinghan observed Shi Mingyi's expression and merely smiled. "Elder Shi, your look suggests Qinghan has uttered some shocking revelation. Rest assured, Elder Shi. As long as the Holy Mountain stands by Shiyu, even if she were to pierce a hole in the heavens, my master would mend it."
Shi Mingyi understood perfectly. This statement was even more explicit than the previous one—it plainly meant that as long as the Holy Mountain didn't do anything foolish, Su Cheng would protect the Holy Maiden's safety.
What Shi Mingyi didn't know was that Ye Qinghan's "punching a hole in the sky" wasn't a metaphor, nor was "patching it up" an exaggeration…
But if the Holy Mountain did act foolishly, the Holy Maiden would inevitably be caught in the middle. With her master at Lingxian Hall, she had nothing to fear. Ultimately, it would be the Holy Maiden left to clean up the Holy Mountain's mess.
It was a veiled warning: keep your nose out of Lingxian Hall's affairs.
Still, Ye Qinghan's attitude was remarkably gracious. Not pressing the Ling Frost Sword against Shi Mingyi's throat was already showing considerable leniency.
"Naturally. Since the Holy Maiden has joined Lingxian Hall, the Holy Mountain would never do anything to put her in a difficult position."
"I suppose the Holy Mountain merely wishes to know of my junior sister's well-being. Qinghan also feels she may have overthought matters. Heh."
Translation: You've seen how the Holy Maiden is faring. As for the rest? Heh.
After quickly handling matters here, Ye Qinghan descended the stairs to find his master and Li Shiyao.
"Qinghan, I just saw you come out. Why did you go back?" Su Cheng looked suspicious. After leaving the Lingxian Hall, why did Ye Qinghan seem busier than himself?
[I'd love to chain you to my side—how did you vanish in the blink of an eye?]
"I just met Elder Shi and exchanged a few words." Though Ye Qinghan didn't believe Shi Mingyi would harm Shiyu, she felt it necessary to give him a gentle reminder—after all, Shiyu was her junior sister.
Hearing Su Cheng's inner thoughts, Ye Qinghan's heart blossomed with delight. If her master desired it, she had no objection—though she suspected it would be the master who ended up blushing in embarrassment~
The pleasant jingle sounded again as Li Shiyu ran over from the side, holding two sugar-coated hawthorn sticks.
"These are for you, Senior Sister," she said, handing over the candied haws with a beaming smile.
"Your senior sister didn't spoil you for nothing. But didn't you buy any for our master?" Ye Qinghan ruffled Li Shiyao's hair, asking with a playful smile.
Shi Mingyi, who had been strolling over leisurely, happened to overhear this exchange. He thought to himself, It's already impressive that our Holy Maiden remembered to buy one for her elder sister!
Upon hearing Ye Qinghan's words, Li Shiyao instantly lost her smile…
But then something completely unexpected happened!
After a moment's hesitation, Li Shiyu actually handed the sugar-coated hawthorn in her hand to Su Cheng. Though her face showed reluctance, she still offered it.
"This… is something Shiyu… bought for her master."
Su Cheng smiled, glancing at Qinghan. He couldn't help but think this fox spirit was a little mischievous!
Had Qinghan offered it, Su Cheng might have declined. But this was Li Shiyu's candy stick—if he refused, she'd likely never think to buy him one again!
So he accepted it without hesitation. Though he wasn't particularly fond of sweets, he took it anyway.
For some reason, Su Cheng felt a pang of guilt, as if he were bullying a child.
But Shi Mingyi, standing behind him, was genuinely terrified!
Did you torture the Holy Maiden? How did she become like this? That's impossible!
We nine elders spent over a decade failing to teach her respect for her seniors, and now this Holy Maiden still calls the Seventh Elder "that kid"!
After just a few days of apprenticeship, you've turned the Holy Maiden into this!
She's even learned to share like Kong Rong giving away his pears!
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