"Kid, I hope you have something important to discuss. I’ve been quite busy lately. If you want to cut off Qinghe’s horns, you don’t need my permission—just go ahead and do it."
Bai Xuanling held a teacup, first nodding with a smile as Chen Baiqing handed her the tea, then speaking in a solemn tone.
Chu Xingchen hadn’t even reacted yet.
But Qinghe’s little head shot up in shock as she stared at Chu Xingchen and Bai Xuanling in disbelief.
Qinghe wasn’t usually afraid when anyone else mentioned cutting her horns—even if Xie Lingyu said it with a straight face, she’d just treat it as a joke.
But there was one person whose words made her feel like her horns were already being sliced off the moment they were spoken.
Qinghe had thought she was just tagging along with Grandma Bai to have some fun, reunite with the long-unseen Chen Baiqing, and savor some tea she hadn’t had in ages.
But now they were here to cut off her horns?!
Having had her horns cut before, Qinghe quickly set down the teacup she’d been longing for and protectively covered her two horns, exclaiming,
"No! You still need my permission!"
Xie Lingyu, sitting beside Qinghe, took a calm sip of tea before saying in a composed voice,
"Master was just teasing you. No one’s going to cut your horns."
Qinghe immediately turned her grateful gaze to Xie Lingyu.
"You’re the best! Qinghe will stay your number one forever."
Chu Xingchen glanced at Qinghe, a smile tugging at his lips—she was still the same Qinghe.
As for Bai Xuanling’s remark, it was clearly just meant to tease her. Ignoring it, Chu Xingchen cut straight to the point:
"Any progress on tracking the Buddhist sects? Any concrete leads?"
Bai Xuanling shook her head slightly. "Barely anything. If what you’re saying is true, the Buddhist sects have been extremely discreet. There’s no definitive evidence yet. With only the Tianyan Sect and the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect’s claims, it’s unclear whether other immortal sects will even take the warning seriously. At this point, applying more pressure on the Buddhist sects has limited effect."
She paused, then suddenly smiled. "But it’s fine. At least we’re prepared. So, have you discovered something new this time?"
Chu Xingchen pulled out a vial containing a faint trace of strange energy that Chen Baiqing had preserved.
"Something has stolen divine authority and is conducting experiments—just like in Zhou Village back then."
Bai Xuanling waited, but when Chu Xingchen didn’t elaborate further, she quickly understood his implication.
The thing stealing divine authority to conduct experiments was most likely the very "Demons" she had been investigating.
If the demons overseas were just decoys to divert the attention of other immortal sects…
Then the demons conducting experiments must be the core. And… this matter had likely slipped beyond the Buddhist sects’ control.
After all, why would the Buddhist sects hand over something of such high importance to demons instead of handling it themselves?
Bai Xuanling fell into brief contemplation before asking seriously,
"Are you sure? It’s those things running the experiments?"
The usual gentle smile faded from Chu Xingchen’s face as he replied with equal gravity,
"I can’t say for certain, but the probability is very high."
If the system hadn’t triggered a side quest for this, aside from the possibility that it was just being stingy with rewards, it was likely because this had already been folded into the main storyline.
Moreover… when Chen Baiqing reconstructed the auras of those two shadowy figures, there had been a faint reaction.
The kind that made you think, "Hah… what trash is disturbing my sleep?" after just a glance.
Regardless, this involved divine authority, and whatever experiment they were running didn’t seem like it would end well. Investigating it thoroughly was the right move.
Bai Xuanling studied Chu Xingchen for a moment before taking the vial from him.
"I’ll look into this as well."
"And next time, don’t bother sending those filthy things to Zhuji Peak. Just deliver them straight to the Punishment Hall. Mention my name, and they’ll know what to do."
"As for those two main entities, they’re puppetry constructs. The caster is at least at the peak of the Unity Realm, and the constructs themselves are pretty low-grade. The scale of the experiments might not be small, but we’re still tracking them down. More details are being tested and verified—I’ll update you if anything else comes up."
Chu Xingchen sighed in admiration. "As expected of Sister Bai. Saving the world truly relies on selfless powerhouses like you."
Bai Xuanling didn’t even bat an eyelid, completely immune to his flattery.
"Save that for Qinghe—she loves hearing it. If you have any other leads, feel free to reach out. Thanks to you, my workload keeps piling up. Next time you come to me, make sure it’s with good news."
Qinghe’s eyes immediately turned to Chu Xingchen, brimming with expectation, as if genuinely waiting for him to praise her.
Facing her gaze, Chu Xingchen—though his moral flexibility was well-documented—found it hard to muster any words of praise for her at the moment.
Still, he knew exactly how to handle Qinghe.
"Stick around a little longer. I’ll take you out for something delicious tonight. Let’s see if you’ve been skipping meals lately."
"Wow…" Qinghe’s eyes sparkled even brighter. "You’re so observant! I haven’t had an appetite in ages… Unlike a certain someone who never even noticed."
She caught herself mid-sentence, quickly adding with a sudden clarity in her gaze,
"Unlike some people who don’t care at all."
Bai Xuanling narrowed her eyes at Qinghe, who instinctively forced a smile under the scrutiny. Fortunately, Bai Xuanling didn’t press further.
Finishing her tea, she stood. "Enjoy your meal and your fun. I have matters to attend to, so I won’t keep you company."
Her gaze swept over Xie Lingyu and Qinghe.
All her years of relentless cultivation—aside from her past grand ambitions and pursuit of the Dao—were ultimately about protecting those she cherished.
So they could live freely, eating and drinking to their hearts’ content.
Chu Xingchen quickly rose as well. "At least stay for a meal?"
Bai Xuanling looked at him, lips parting as if to say something, but in the end, she simply shook her head and turned away.
Chu Xingchen might seem unreliable at times, but when it truly mattered, he never faltered.
If the great calamity truly couldn’t be stopped, Bai Xuanling only hoped that the one destined to bear it wouldn’t have to.
Being the "Chosen One" might sound glorious—like a fated hero whose name would be remembered for eternity.
But the reality was far from it.
Then again, someone as lazy as him probably wasn’t the Chosen One anyway.
Bai Xuanling’s gaze sharpened briefly before she transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the distance.
Xie Lingyu let out a soft sigh and set down her teacup.
Chu Xingchen retracted his gaze and picked up the teapot, refilling Xie Lingyu’s empty cup himself.
Seeing this, Qinghe tilted her head, glanced at her own empty cup, and promptly thrust it forward.
"Pour one for Qinghe too."