The scene was momentarily silent.
Zhang Yuanshan looked somewhat uneasy at the unfamiliar Qi Condensation cultivator bowing before him.
He quickly glanced at Li Xingtian beside him, his eyes questioning—what was the meaning of this?
Could it be that they weren’t here for treatment, but to join the sect instead?
Before even meeting the person, they’re already calling him "senior brother"?
Li Xingtian, who had been about to present gifts, now hesitated, his hand frozen mid-motion.
Ning Qianqian swiftly assessed the situation and let out a loud, deliberate cough.
Cui Hao looked up at her, only to see her brows tightly furrowed, her eyes darting frantically toward Li Xingtian beside her.
Huh?!
Had they mistaken their senior brother?!
Cui Hao seamlessly pivoted on his feet, turning the direction of his bow from Zhang Yuanshan to the slightly awkward-looking Li Xingtian.
Lin Luoyu, unlike Cui Hao, lacked his impenetrable thick skin and couldn’t simply shrug off embarrassment.
She straightened up, offering Zhang Yuanshan an awkward smile before properly bowing to Li Xingtian.
Her voice tinged with discomfort, she said, "Second Senior Brother… I’m the fourth junior sister."
Hearing the commotion beside him, Cui Hao remained unperturbed, as if Lin Luoyu’s mistaken bow had never happened.
Calmly, he added, "Second Senior Brother, I’m the fifth junior brother, Cui Hao. Please forgive any shortcomings on my part."
Li Xingtian studied Cui Hao. Based on that flawless, effortless pivot just moments ago, he already had a good idea of what kind of person this fifth junior brother was.
Still, his hand, previously stuck in his spatial ring, finally managed to retrieve the gifts.
He took a deep breath and handed each of them a few artifacts and tools he had obtained from a secret realm.
"First meeting gifts from your senior brother," he said.
Cui Hao eagerly accepted them—when an elder bestows a gift, it would be disrespectful to refuse. Taking it was a sign of respect.
Lin Luoyu, still visibly embarrassed, took the items from Li Xingtian.
Looking at the two Qi Condensation cultivators before him, Li Xingtian gave a slight nod.
Cui Hao discreetly observed Li Xingtian. He realized he had been too trusting of their eldest senior sister’s words.
In her eyes, aside from their master, everyone else was probably an idiot.
This second senior brother, with his calm yet murderous aura, was anything but a fool—more like a Bai Xuanling, ready to draw blood at the slightest provocation.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yuanshan had finally pieced together what was happening.
How could Li Xingtian’s own sect members not recognize him? And how could they mistake someone else for him?
Was this the "deep bond between master and disciple" Li Xingtian had spoken of?
But then again, Zhang Yuanshan reasoned, a strong master-disciple bond didn’t necessarily mean strong bonds between fellow disciples.
They could each have their own relationships without conflict.
Still, the thought made it hard for Zhang Yuanshan to suppress his laughter.
Especially seeing Li Xingtian—normally unshakably composed—wearing an expression of indescribable awkwardness.
This was hilarious! Brother Li!
He clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to burst out laughing. Doing so would be incredibly rude.
The young man might handle it—his face seemed thick-skinned enough—but the girl, whose ears were already turning red, would probably blush furiously.
Lin Luoyu glanced at Cui Hao, who stood there completely unbothered, and felt a pang of inadequacy.
He had spoken so smoothly, even introducing himself by name, while she had only said she was the fourth junior sister.
Steeling herself, she forced down her embarrassment and spoke again:
"Second Senior Brother, my name is Lin Luoyu. I joined the sect recently. I hope you’ll guide me well."
Li Xingtian hastily nodded with a strained smile. He had little experience with sect dynamics, and now that his junior siblings were introducing themselves, he realized—
Their master, with his lazy and carefree nature, had probably never even told them his name.
Li Xingtian knew he didn’t exactly look approachable. Even Little Baiqing, usually so obedient, sometimes gave him a "you’re scaring me" look.
But now, the sect felt more like a warm home to him, and Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao like his own younger siblings.
He didn’t want to act stern or imposing—that was for outsiders.
Taking a deep breath, he awkwardly added:
"I’m… Li Xingtian. Your second senior brother."
Zhang Yuanshan’s eyes snapped shut. He had clearly seen it—Li Xingtian’s ears had reddened, just a little!
This was Li Xingtian we were talking about!
The sheer absurdity of the situation, the contrast, was too much.
He had closed his eyes to steady himself, but the moment he did, Li Xingtian’s awkward face flashed in his mind again.
The harder you try not to think of something, the more it forces itself into your thoughts.
Especially when your eyes are closed.
Zhang Yuanshan lost it.
He burst into uproarious laughter, slapping Li Xingtian’s shoulder repeatedly, his guffaws unrestrained.
Lin Luoyu’s ears burned crimson. Li Xingtian’s face twisted into something resembling a pained mask.
That laugh—it was just as grating as the one their master had let out after asking why he had been reborn before leaving that day.
Ning Qianqian looked mildly embarrassed. Only Cui Hao remained unshaken, as steady as a rock.
Having been caught drawing… less-than-proper illustrations before, Cui Hao thought—this was nothing.
But soon, even his composure cracked.
Zhang Yuanshan, still laughing, suddenly coughed violently—and sprayed a mouthful of blood.
Cui Hao stared at him in horror.
Was it really that funny?!
He’s laughing so hard he’s vomiting blood?!