The more you like, the more you want to possess.

"Senior Sister, haven't you noticed that Master has been acting a bit strange lately?"

Cui Hao stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the corridor railing, asking Li Yingling beside him.

"Just a bit?"

Li Yingling raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone somewhat teasing.

A knowing expression also appeared on Cui Hao's face as he whispered:

"Well then, Senior Sister, what do you think it is?"

"What else could it be?" Li Yingling replied with a slight curl of her lip.

The two stood by the covered walkway, their gazes simultaneously directed towards their own master and Master Lingyu, who both wore exceptionally gentle smiles.

Master had been maintaining this state for several days now.

Furthermore, even though the illusion had already been dispelled, Master Lingyu had instead started visiting even more frequently and familiarly.

Master had also clearly become much more physically affectionate with Master Lingyu.

Li Yingling naturally understood her own master—full of smooth talk, but his actions were always the most honest.

Things he shouldn't do, things he shouldn't touch, he would never recklessly engage with.

But this kind of demeanor...

Tsk tsk.

"Senior Sister? Fifth Junior Brother?"

Li Xingtian had just rounded the corner when he saw Li Yingling and Cui Hao wearing rather... lewd smiles, their eyes fixed directly on their master's direction.

Li Yingling didn't even turn her head, just waved a hand behind her.

Li Xingtian hesitated slightly but still walked over to stand beside his senior sister.

Li Yingling tilted her head, gesturing: "Second Junior Brother, don't you think Master has been very odd lately?"

Li Xingtian was taken aback by the question, his gaze turning somewhat puzzled as he looked towards their master.

He looked for a long while but couldn't see anything unusual, so he shook his head gently.

Cui Hao seized the opportunity to interject, raising an eyebrow: "Senior Sister, asking Second Senior Brother this question is a bit unfair, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Li Yingling's smile widened, and she returned Cui Hao's raised eyebrow.

Li Xingtian, seeing the two openly teasing him, could only shake his head in resignation.

Looking at Li Xingtian's expression, Li Yingling sighed softly, then raised her hand to give her foolish second junior brother a light elbow nudge to the chest:

"Haven't you noticed that Master and Master Lingyu seem to be more... well... affectionate?"

Li Xingtian nodded gently: "Yes, I have."

"Then do you think Master and Master Lingyu might... ahem!"

Li Yingling didn't finish her sentence, instead raising her eyebrows suggestively.

Only then did Li Xingtian understand why his senior sister and fifth junior brother had been looking so sneaky—they were gossiping about Master behind his back.

But what was so special about this gossip?

Li Xingtian said calmly:

"Isn't that bound to happen sooner or later? Moreover, it's a good thing, isn't it?"

Li Yingling looked Li Xingtian up and down, asking in confusion:

"Huh? Didn't you say that lust is a bone-scraping knife? So quickly it's a good thing again?"

"That's what you said, Senior Sister. I only said one shouldn't indulge in women's charms."

Then why don't I ever see you with someone? Afraid of becoming obsessed with women?

Naturally, yuanfen (fate/predestined relationship) hasn't arrived yet. We cultivators strive for the Great Dao. If we can advance side by side, wouldn't that be a good thing?

Li Xingtian's expression was calm, with a hint of confidence.

Li Yingling looked at her second junior brother, who acted like a relationship expert, and simply scoffed, turning her gaze to Cui Hao—This sort isn't worth me speaking to personally, you handle it!

Cui Hao obediently nodded, looking at Li Xingtian:

"Second Senior Brother, to ask what love is in this world..."

Cui Hao's words got stuck in his throat halfway. Chen Baiqing was now standing outside the walkway, looking at him with an exceptionally calm gaze.

Even calmer than Second Senior Brother.

Li Yingling also sensed that something was amiss. Glancing sideways and seeing Chen Baiqing, she immediately wiped all traces of a gossipy expression from her face, adopted a perfectly natural demeanor, and gave Chen Baiqing a slight nod:

"Third Junior Sister, you're here too."

"Mm." Chen Baiqing walked over, asking pointedly, "What are Senior Sister and Fifth Junior Brother doing?"

Li Yingling cleared her throat softly, her gaze drifting away as she said with a rather sentimental tone:

"Naturally, reflecting on the development inside and outside the sect, and feeling happy that Master has broken free from the illusion spell. Our conversation just got a bit... miscellaneous."

Chen Baiqing first responded to her senior sister's words with a smile, then shifted her gaze horizontally to Cui Hao:

So, Junior Brother's "what love is" must be a personal reflection, then? Have you perhaps met some good person—a suitable match?

Cui Hao's expression shifted, and he shook his head repeatedly:

"No, no, it was just discussion."

Li Yingling coughed lightly to interrupt the topic:

"Master said there's a full-sect gathering tonight. I'm the organizer and had almost forgotten—there are still things I haven't prepared. I won't keep Third Junior Sister chatting. See you tonight."

With that, Li Yingling left without even glancing at Cui Hao, who was shooting pleading 'help me' looks at her.

Cui Hao watched Li Yingling leave with extreme disappointment, then faced Chen Baiqing's interrogative gaze, stammering out a few rare, unclear words:

"I... I..."

Chen Baiqing said:

"You should go help Senior Sister too."

"Right away!" Cui Hao replied as if granted amnesty, immediately turning to leave.

Li Xingtian watched Senior Sister and Cui Hao leave, his gaze finally settling on Chen Baiqing, now the only one remaining.

Chen Baiqing walked forward slowly, standing beside her second senior brother. Her gaze also calmly turned towards their own master, who was currently laughing and joking with Master Lingyu.

Neither of them spoke.

Li Xingtian pondered for a moment, then suddenly said:

"You don't want Master and Master Lingyu to be together?"

Chen Baiqing shook her head slightly: "Master Lingyu has a very good temperament, and Master likes her very much. As a disciple, I am naturally happy for Master."

"I thought Second Senior Brother would see things more clearly than Senior Sister and the others."

Li Xingtian looked puzzled:

"See what more clearly?"

Chen Baiqing said calmly: "Senior Sister likes watching the commotion and always wants to view things in the most dramatic way. Cui Hao also likes to add fuel to the fire and watch the fun. But sometimes, the facts aren't like that."

Chen Baiqing looked towards the horizon:

"I just want a sect with a Master, a home with a Master. Just like how Second Senior Brother also hopes to always stay by Master's side."

Hearing this, Li Xingtian also nodded in understanding.

Chen Baiqing suddenly asked: "Second Senior Brother, if we started calling Master Lingyu 'Shiniang' (Master's Wife) now, do you think she would be shy?"

Li Xingtian actually gave this question proper thought before replying:

"She probably would."

A smile appeared on Chen Baiqing's face. She suddenly called out loudly towards Xie Lingyu's direction:

"Shiniang, does Baiqing need to come make tea?"

The voice was loud.

At least Xie Lingyu in the distance heard it.

She looked up at Chen Baiqing, showing no hesitation, and nodded in response:

"Yes!"

Having received her answer, Chen Baiqing glanced sideways at Li Xingtian with a smile:

"Looks like Second Senior Brother guessed wrong."

With that, Chen Baiqing walked quickly towards Xie Lingyu.

Li Xingtian remained standing where he was.

Watching his third junior sister join them so naturally, he could also tell.

Third Junior Sister had never held any aversion towards Master Lingyu.

It's just that matters of the heart have always been hard to separate clearly. To like is simply to like, and if you like something, you want to possess it alone.

Like a child who loves its mother and cannot bear to see the mother be good to others.

The more you like, the more you want to possess.

Li Xingtian was perhaps the same.

"Xingtian, what are you standing there for? Come join us!"

"Coming, Master."

Li Xingtian nodded in response.

After all, who wouldn't want to be the absolute best/closest to a Master like this?