In the grand hall.
Ning Qianqian served tea to everyone before turning to leave the chamber.
Once she stepped outside, she glanced back inside.
The four within the hall were eerily silent, each wearing different expressions, yet none spoke a word.
Zhang Yuanshan, who had laughed until he spat blood, had explained that it was due to other reasons—not because he found things that amusing.
Though Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao nodded in understanding, their expressions made it clear they didn’t buy it.
Clearly, Zhang Yuanshan hadn’t reached Cui Hao’s level of composure.
His bizarre fit of laughter, resulting in blood-spitting, wasn’t much better than the two who had mistaken their senior brother.
In fact, it might have been worse.
So now, Zhang Yuanshan hid his face behind his teacup, shielding his embarrassment.
Lin Luoyu kept her head down, staring at her boots.
Li Xingtian, having lived an extra lifetime, managed to sip his tea with a calm expression.
Only Cui Hao remained unbothered, his gaze casually sweeping over the other three’s awkward faces.
When Ning Qianqian had interacted with Li Xingtian before, she hadn’t found him as foolish as the senior sister had claimed. Instead, he seemed experienced and formidable.
So when rumors called Li Xingtian an idiot, she hadn’t believed them.
But now that Li Xingtian had just returned, why were the usually composed Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao…
Also acting a bit strange?
Ning Qianqian didn’t dwell on it. Suppressing the urge to cringe, she turned and walked away without hesitation.
She couldn’t stay any longer. When the sect master returned, his skills would surely dissolve the awkwardness.
Inside the hall.
Cui Hao waited for a long moment, but even after Li Xingtian finished his tea, he remained silent—staring at the tea leaves as if searching for something unusual.
Realizing his second senior brother was too reserved, Cui Hao, as the junior, decided to ease the tension.
With a smile, he offered a topic:
"Second Senior Brother, I’ve heard the Central Continent is brimming with prodigies and endless opportunities. Was your journey there smooth?"
Li Xingtian understood his junior brother’s intent. He reflected briefly—aside from an early mishap while grave-robbing that caused trouble for their master, he had been cautious the rest of the time.
But his excessive wariness made the whole ordeal seem… overly paranoid.
Hardly a thrilling tale.
The only real deviation was Zhang Yuanshan.
But Zhang Yuanshan was even more embarrassed than he was. Bringing him up would only worsen things.
After a pause, Li Xingtian simply nodded. "Mm."
Silence fell again…
Cui Hao quietly picked up his tea.
Fortunately, the awkwardness didn’t last long. Soon, a playful voice echoed from outside.
"Second Junior Brother, finally back?"
The four turned to see three figures at the entrance.
At the forefront stood Chu Xingchen, smiling at Li Xingtian.
To his left, Li Yingling gazed at her second junior brother with quiet joy—happy he had returned.
On the right, Chen Baiqing flashed him a sweet smile.
Li Xingtian quickly rose, bowing deeply to Chu Xingchen with utmost respect. "Master, have you been well?"
Chu Xingchen strode forward, lifting him with a chuckle. "Since when do you speak so formally to me? Have we grown distant after just a short separation?"
Touched, Li Xingtian looked up—only to see his master subtly wink.
The words—Between us, you and I are the closest—seemed to echo in his ears again.
A faint smile tugged at Li Xingtian’s lips.
Chu Xingchen then turned to Zhang Yuanshan. "And who might our guest be? Care to introduce us?"
Zhang Yuanshan, eyeing the youthful yet unfathomably powerful sect master, hastily clasped his hands.
"I am Zhang Yuanshan, a friend of Brother Li. I came seeking the sect master’s expertise… for a medical consultation."
Introducing oneself first often left a better impression.
Medical consultation?
Chu Xingchen shot Li Xingtian a dubious look, transmitting his voice:
"Didn’t I tell you? I refine pills—I don’t treat illnesses!"
Li Xingtian replied via transmission: "It’s not exactly an illness—just some poisoning. A quick look will do. If you can’t treat it, I’ll compensate him with spirit stones so he can find another physician."
Compensate with spirit stones?!
Chu Xingchen straightened, eyeing Zhang Yuanshan. "Shall I take a look?"
Zhang Yuanshan bowed to the man who appeared far younger than himself. "I’d be grateful, Elder."
With permission granted, Chu Xingchen’s divine sense pierced through Zhang Yuanshan’s defenses without hesitation.
Inside, he found the man’s body already a battlefield—two opposing bloodlines locked in fierce combat. One carried a terrifyingly infectious force.
This must be the poison Li Xingtian mentioned.
Withdrawing his senses, Chu Xingchen remarked, "Lucky for you, you came early."
Zhang Yuanshan brightened. "Elder, you have a cure?"
Chu Xingchen shrugged. "I’m no healer. Your insides are a warzone. There is a way, but if I intervene, your death will be on my hands."
"…Then, Elder, where’s the ‘luck’ in that? Just an early grave?"
"The luck is that the real expert hasn’t left yet."
Chu Xingchen glanced at Li Yingling, signaling her with his eyes.
Understanding, Li Yingling swiftly exited.
Zhang Yuanshan looked to Li Xingtian, only to find him equally bewildered.
Clearly, even his friend had no idea who this "expert" in the sect was…
Li Xingtian was thoroughly puzzled. Had the sect changed this much in his absence?
Since when did they have someone surpassing even their master?
Soon, the answer arrived.
Outside, Li Yingling followed a woman in white robes.
Bai Xuanling strode in with a faint frown, scanning the unfamiliar faces before locking onto Li Xingtian.
She tossed a pill bottle his way.
"You must be your master’s second disciple. A meeting gift."
Li Xingtian caught it cautiously, inspecting the bottle.
As if reading his mind, Bai Xuanling added, "I refined these, not your master. Safe to consume."
Li Xingtian flicked a glance at his unfazed master but dared not respond. He simply pocketed the pills.
Lin Luoyu, witnessing this, felt her ears burn.
Bai Xuanling had recognized her senior brother at a glance—yet she, his own junior sister, had mistaken someone else for him.
After handing over the gift, Bai Xuanling turned to Zhang Yuanshan.
Narrowing her eyes, she cut straight to the point:
"Can you handle pain?"
Zhang Yuanshan cautiously replied, "Uh... n-not too afraid?"
Immediately after, he noticed Chu Xingchen's face twist into an expression that clearly said, "Rest in peace."
A terrible premonition surged in Zhang Yuanshan’s heart, and he hurriedly tried to backtrack:
"Wait! I—"
But before he could finish, an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy locked onto him, sealing his voice shut.