Pioneering Road

Thank you for your great kindness, Senior Sister.

In front of the mountain gate of the Tianyan Sect, Cui Hao hurriedly cupped his hands to thank Chen Baiqing with a face full of gratitude.

Cui Hao naturally understood his master's intention in having him follow by his Third Senior Sister's side. Even if he really had to stand Zheng Zhaoling up, he couldn't leave his Third Senior Sister's side.

Therefore, during the journey back, he hadn't thought about the multiple-choice question Chen Baiqing had given him.

Instead, he very decisively made his choice: I want it all!

Chen Baiqing looked quite helpless.

This Cui Hao had truly utilized his identity as a junior brother to the extreme. Even if I am shamelessly embarrassing, you are my senior sister; if I act so shamelessly, wouldn't you lose face too?

Along the way, Cui Hao used all kinds of flattery and threw tantrums, acting as if to say: If you really don't care whether your junior brother lives or dies, then I'll just die right in front of you.

Cui Hao even used their master as leverage: Aren't you concerned about how Master's injuries are recovering, Senior Sister?

Chen Baiqing had no choice but to go to the Xuanqing Heaven Sect first. After wrapping up the remaining matters, she decided to take some time to bring Cui Hao back to the Tianyan Sect.

Naturally, this wasn't solely because Cui Hao's pleas were effective; Chen Baiqing had her own calculations.

Although her Fifth Junior Brother wasn't stupid, his way of doing things was a bit too scattered, and sometimes it was hard to refuse him in name.

Second Senior Brother was more reliable. If possible, she would rather swap Cui Hao for Second Senior Brother.

After all, Zheng Zhaoling wasn't the only one who could use this as an excuse; she could also claim that Cui Hao was holding them back in this matter.

Although their master's intention definitely wasn't to expect Cui Hao to provide any real assistance, and he might not actually agree to it, everything depended on human effort.

Chen Baiqing glanced at Cui Hao, who had a Senior Sister is the best expression on his face, and said calmly:

Forget about the great kindness. You had better count on Zheng Zhaoling showing you great kindness when she arrives.

Cui Hao smiled and leaned closer, saying:

That is different. Senior Sister is one of our own, while Zheng Zhaoling is an outsider.

Chen Baiqing didn't reply and just headed towards Loving Family Peak on her own.

Cui Hao's flattering words had become like a catchphrase; she just needed to treat them as nonsense.

Seeing that Chen Baiqing ignored him, Cui Hao wasn't displeased at all—after all, his goal had been achieved.

The two turned into streaks of light and flew straight to Loving Family Peak.

In front of the main entrance, the two revealed their figures and walked inside together.

Counting the days, it has been almost half a year since we went out, Cui Hao said, looking at the falling snow. I wonder if Master missed me after not seeing me for so long.

Chen Baiqing led the way towards the large courtyard, replying at the same time:

Master will naturally worry when we are away from home. Previously, when Second Senior Brother went out to gain experience and didn't like writing back, Master scolded him for just taking off and never learning to write a letter to put people at ease, saying he wasn't even as smart as a dog.

Hearing this, Cui Hao paused, his footsteps slowing down slightly:

Senior Sister... did you write to Master during this trip?

A faint smile appeared on Chen Baiqing's lips as she said naturally:

When I had some free time, I had the Xuanqing Heaven Sect send one.

Cui Hao's eyes widened. Senior Sister! How could you not remind your junior brother about something like this?!

Chen Baiqing stepped into the small courtyard, tilted her head slightly, and chuckled:

Those without heart cannot be taught. Junior Brother has to comprehend this on his own.

Cui Hao hadn't even had the chance to condemn his Third Senior Sister's petty scheme to vie for their master's favor.

Chu Xingchen's slightly surprised voice rang out:

Baiqing is back?

Yes. Is everything well with you, Master?

I have nothing to do, so naturally, I am very well. By the way, why is there someone else standing at the door? Could it be that he has no face to see anyone?

Cui Hao took a light breath and stepped into the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, his Third Senior Sister had already familiarly taken over the task of brewing tea.

Eldest Senior Sister was cracking melon seeds, while Second Senior Brother beside her was shelling melon seeds by hand. He had already accumulated a whole plate, looking as if he had been shelling them for quite some time—if he was only using his hands.

Fourth Senior Sister was holding an envelope in her hand, her gaze fixed on it. It was unknown who had sent it.

Oh, so it is my beloved disciple Cui Hao. Their master's teasing arrived as expected.

Hearing this, Cui Hao naturally replied:

Your beloved disciple is back. Did you miss me, Master?

Chu Xingchen looked at him teasingly and said:

I am alright, but someone else misses you more and even specifically asked to see you.

Cui Hao naturally knew who his master was talking about. After all, he had borrowed her name and actually had her do something for him, so he naturally owed her a favor.

However, putting it that way was a bit boring.

Ah, that is just how it is when Master is so charming. Cui Hao waved his hand with a natural expression and familiarly leaned against the chair closest to Chen Baiqing, preparing to freeload the first cup of tea. He then looked at Chu Xingchen and said:

Master's charm is far superior to mine. Do you have a trick or two to teach your disciple, so that I don't always get missed by people when I go out?

Hearing this, Li Yingling laughed so hard that melon seed shells flew out of her mouth.

Chu Xingchen reached into the plate of shelled melon seeds that Li Xingtian had prepared, grabbed a small handful, and showed an empathetic expression, saying:

Your master is also a bit troubled. Being too charming is indeed a troublesome matter.

Li Yingling shot a disgusted look at her master, as if to say: Master is also shameless.

At the same time, however, perhaps tired of cracking them herself, Li Yingling also reached out and grabbed a handful of the melon seeds Li Xingtian had shelled, tossing them into her mouth one by one, her expression becoming leisurely again.

It seemed that Eldest Senior Sister had been living very comfortably lately.

Li Xingtian didn't say a word, just keeping his head down and silently shelling melon seeds.

Seeing this, Cui Hao asked somewhat strangely:

Why are you only using your hands to shell them, Second Senior Brother? Wouldn't it be faster to use spiritual energy?

With Li Xingtian's Nascent Soul cultivation base, using spiritual energy to shell melon seeds would probably be fast enough to keep up with Qinghe's swallowing speed. Why was he still shelling them slowly by hand?

Hearing Cui Hao's question, Li Xingtian sighed with a helpless expression:

They said my spiritual energy has a smell.

Hearing this, a guilty look appeared on Cui Hao's face, and he somewhat regretted asking this question.

He naturally knew what kind of smell Li Xingtian was referring to—a crimson, bloody scent.

Second Senior Brother, let me do it, Cui Hao said as he reached out, intending to take over Li Xingtian's task.

This could be considered making up for his slip of the tongue just now.

Li Xingtian didn't decline. After handing the melon seeds to Cui Hao, he also took the teacup handed to him by Chen Baiqing.

Cui Hao didn't use spiritual energy to shell them either, but similarly used his hands.

If he used spiritual energy to shell them right in front of his Second Senior Brother, how would that be any different from showing off to his face?

As he shelled the melon seeds in his hands, he looked at his Fourth Senior Sister, who was still staring at the envelope, and asked casually out of curiosity:

Fourth Senior Sister, is that a letter from Teacher Li? How has she been lately?

Lin Luoyu moved her gaze away from the envelope and pursed her lips lightly, saying:

Teacher is... walking the Path of the Sub-Sage. This letter contains the latest news.

Hearing this, Cui Hao was taken aback and subconsciously expressed his confusion:

Ah...?

As a former prodigy Confucian cultivator, Cui Hao naturally knew what the so-called Path of the Sub-Sage for Confucian cultivators meant.

It referred to the path of pioneering.

A pioneering path forged so that those who came after could walk further.

Furthermore, there were no shortcuts on this path.