Seeing Xie Liufeng appear, the scene fell into an eerie silence.

After a few moments of silence, some people finally reacted and quickly ran off.

The group fled so hastily that Xie Liufeng had a hard time recognizing a few familiar faces from behind: “Why is Senior Brother Mo running? Did I offend him somehow?”

Someone nearby explained: “He’s probably just rushing to collect the dried salted fish he left outside your cave.”

Xie Liufeng nodded, then asked: “What about Junior Sister Chen?”

Another person responded: “Junior Sister Chen has a small vegetable garden at Qingjing Peak and also raises a few chickens. She’s likely going to clean up the area.”

Xie Liufeng: “…”

Well, now he understood why the sect had unanimously decided not to disband Qingjing Peak.

Since Xie Liufeng was present, no one dared to continue their artistic speculations about him. Everyone straightened up, adopting a serious expression, and began to seriously examine the profiles of the disciples they wanted to focus on.

Some people were still eyeing Chu Xinghui’s qualifications, not giving up on the possibility. One of them tried to ask Xie Liufeng directly: “Teacher Xie, is that young disciple named Chu your Dao companion? Though it doesn’t really matter, he’s still young, and it would be a good thing if he joined a sect and learned more. My place here would be a good fit for him, and it’s not far from Qingjing Peak. It won’t interfere with you two meeting.”

Xie Liufeng: “…”

Where on earth did these rumors come from? They were talking more absurdly than he himself ever had.

He calmly clarified: “Chu Xinghui is my disciple.”

The nearby peak masters, who had been keeping an ear out to intercept, all reluctantly withdrew their gazes.

What? Turns out, he’s just his disciple.

Upon hearing this, Xue Heng immediately looked over with a gaze full of shock, confusion, and a tinge of sadness, as though he had been deeply betrayed by Xie Liufeng. His eyes were full of accusations, as if Xie Liufeng had been some irresponsible scoundrel or a heartless lover who had abandoned the younger one.

Xie Liufeng felt Xue Heng’s gaze but was utterly confused as to how he had offended him.

However, considering Xue Heng’s tendency for overactive imagination, he chose not to pay it much attention.

The meeting continued for two more hours. By the time everyone had thoroughly studied the new disciples’ materials, they had secretly settled on a few names to follow up with.

Xie Liufeng figured the group at Qingjing Peak, who were probably drying fish and tending to the garden, had wrapped things up by now. He decided to find Chu Xinghui.

Chu Xinghui had arrived two days earlier than him to make sure he could register in time, but now, he wasn’t sure where he was.

The other attendees had already begun packing up and returning home.

Xie Liufeng sent a message to Chu Xinghui.

Xue Heng, sitting not far from Xie Liufeng, lazily packed up his things before walking over to him.

He gave Xie Liufeng a sideways glance.

Xie Liufeng, still preoccupied with locating Chu Xinghui, didn’t pay him any attention.

Seeing that Xie Liufeng wasn’t noticing him, Xue Heng deliberately circled around him a few times.

After finishing the transmission, Xie Liufeng finally noticed him and took the initiative to speak: ” Brother Xue, is there something on your mind?”

Xue Heng paused for a moment before asking: “Is that disciple named Chu really not your Dao companion?”

He had just overheard two people exchanging messages, and based on his simple understanding, the way Xie Liufeng communicated with Ming Xiao was quite different.

Xie Liufeng hadn’t expected anyone to still doubt him, so after a brief moment of silence, he just muttered: “Yes, yes, he’s my Dao companion.”

Xue Heng gave him a “I knew it” kind of look, pleased with himself, and walked off with a smug expression.

Xie Liufeng: “…”

Hardly anyone would truly believe such obviously nonsensical words.

Just as Xue Heng was about to leave his line of sight, Xie Liufeng quickly called out: “No, no, don’t believe me! It’s fake, fake!”

Though it was a joke, Xie Liufeng couldn’t help but care about his disciple’s reputation. While his own name might not matter much, Chu Xinghui was still young, and he couldn’t let these rumors tarnish his reputation.

*

The disciple recruitment process for the Beiyue Sword Sect was divided into two steps. Those who filled out their registration and passed the on-site review would move on to the next phase: the entry trial.

Each year, the entry trial for the Beiyue Sword Sect was different. Sometimes it involved a direct competition, other times it was a hunt for demon beasts in a secret realm, and at other times, it tested the disciple’s character rather than their strength.

The details for each trial were only announced the day before it started.

There were seven days between the registration and the entry trial, and many cultivators from distant places had set up camp nearby after their registration had been approved.

Chu Xinghui had also brought a tent with him. After two days of resting in the tent, he was pulled out by the energetic Ming Xiao, who insisted on showing him around the sect first.

Chu Xinghui had to remind him: “I haven’t passed the entry trial yet, so I might not even become a disciple of the Beiyue Sword Sect.”

Ming Xiao stared at him: “Can’t you have a little more confidence? If even I believe in you, don’t you believe in yourself?”

Chu Xinghui wasn’t lacking confidence in himself, but he preferred to take a steady approach to these matters: “There’s always the chance of failure.”

Ming Xiao continued to stare at him: “If you fail, we’ll cut ties.”

Chu Xinghui had no choice but to go with him.

The Beiyue Sword Sect was primarily composed of sword cultivators, and the sect’s layout was quite simple. The outermost layer was responsible for miscellaneous duties and teaching new disciples. Further inward were the main peaks, including the one where the Sect Leader resided, as well as the nine inner peaks, each representing one of the eight main sword styles of the sect. These nine peaks were not fixed, if one of the sword styles was lost, the corresponding peak could be abolished. However, if someone created a new sword style that gained recognition from other peak masters, they could establish a new peak and take disciples.

Aside from these, there were some special small mountains within the inner sect, such as those formed by powerful non-sword cultivators or the secluded Qingjing Peak where the Sword Sovereign lived alone.

Ming Xiao briefly introduced the sect, and then Chu Xinghui, still a bit curious, asked: “But aren’t there supposed to be eight major sword styles? How come there are nine inner peaks?”

Ming Xiao puffed up with pride: “Because Daoyuan Peak accepts formation cultivators.”

Chu Xinghui was still a bit puzzled about how formation cultivators ended up in a sword sect, but he nodded in acknowledgment.

The sect grounds were vast. Without flying swords, they had been walking since morning and, by noon, had barely covered half the area.

Finally, they found a pavilion to rest.

Ming Xiao, raising his chin, finally got to the point of why he had dragged Chu Xinghui out: “It’s a bit inconvenient to pitch a tent outside, but… if you want to stay in the Beiyue Sword Sect for a while, you can ask me. If I’m in a good mood, maybe I’ll let you stay in my cave and sleep on the floor.”

Chu Xinghui shook his head: “Thanks, but I’ll have a place to stay soon.”

After all, Xie Liufeng had already sent him a message.

Ming Xiao’s eyes bulged: “You… You already have other friends in the Beiyue Sword Sect?!”

He couldn’t believe that Chu Xinghui had been secretly making friends behind his back and hadn’t told him.

Before Chu Xinghui could answer, Xie Liufeng’s voice suddenly came from beside them: “He doesn’t have other friends here, but he has a brother here.”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

He hadn’t expected Xie Liufeng to emphasize this relationship again.

Chu Xinghui walked over to Xie Liufeng and, following his cue, asked: “Brother, are you here to take me home?”

Xie Liufeng smiled softly and gently ruffled his hair: “Yes.”

Ming Xiao: “…”

That familiar sense of excess presence returned.

Xie Liufeng turned to Ming Xiao: “Thank you for looking after our Xinghui. I’ll be taking him back now.”

Ming Xiao didn’t know how to respond and could only nod with a blank expression.

Chu Xinghui bode Ming Xiao farewell, and Xie Liufeng naturally took him away.

Ming Xiao stood there for a while, feeling a little awkward just standing there. Just then, he heard a familiar voice behind him: “So, you know both of them?”

Ming Xiao turned around and saw his master, Xue Heng.

Suddenly, Ming Xiao recalled something and asked: “Master, is Senior Xie from the Beiyue Sword Sect? I’ve never seen him before.”

Xue Heng looked at him with a strange expression: “You don’t know his name?”

Ming Xiao thought for a moment: “Isn’t it Xie Liufeng?”

That’s what Chu Xinghui had called him.

Xue Heng nodded: “Xie Liufeng? Oh, that’s his real name, but another name of his might be more recognizable.”

“He’s also known as Xie Qinghe.”

*

Meanwhile, Xie Liufeng had already led Chu Xinghui into the territory of Qingjing Peak.

He held Chu Xinghui’s hand, guiding him up the stairs: “Let’s go, let me show you our new home.

As they walked, Chu Xinghui couldn’t help but ask, remembering their farewell earlier with Ming Xiao: “Since most of the Beiyue Sword Sect disciples are sword cultivators, why would there be a peak specifically for formation cultivators?”

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment and replied: “Their lineage is a bit special.”

“Their ancestor was a very famous formation cultivator, one of the pioneers of the formation arts. But this master wasn’t very easy to get along with, often getting into verbal disputes and offending many people.”

“Back when the Beiyue Sword Sect was first starting to grow, they hired this master to build the sect’s protective formation. It’s said that when this master was frequently provoked by others, it was the sword cultivators of the sect who stood up for him and protected him, giving him the rare sense of… safety. So, the master decided to stay here, and over time, his lineage naturally became part of the Beiyue Sword Sect.”

Hearing this story, Chu Xinghui couldn’t help but ask: “So, is it true that they choose their disciples based on personality?”

Xie Liufeng thought of Xue Heng and Ming Xiao and couldn’t help but chuckle: “That’s certainly possible.”

By then, they had already reached the front of the cave.

Qingjing Peak had just been tidied up by the sect members. The area in front of the cave looked spacious and clean.

Xie Liufeng unlocked the protective formation and led Chu Xinghui inside.

The things from their previous residence in Wanling Valley had already been moved here, and the cave’s interior was still arranged as it had been before. The cave was much larger than their previous small courtyard and still had plenty of empty space.

Overall, it looked quite satisfying.

But…

As Chu Xinghui walked around, he came back to Xie Liufeng with a puzzled expression: “Where’s my flower?”

Xie Liufeng knew exactly what he was referring to and smiled mischievously: “Wasn’t it given to me? How is it suddenly your flower again?”

It was the osmanthus branch that Chu Xinghui had given him. He had kept it in a vase, nurturing it carefully with his spiritual energy. After the move, it hadn’t been placed back in its original spot, but Chu Xinghui noticed immediately.

Chu Xinghui quickly changed his phrasing and asked again: “Where’s your flower?”

Xie Liufeng opened the window: “It’s over there.”

The branch had been planted in the ground, and with the help of spiritual energy, it quickly took root and grew lush leaves.

Xie Liufeng admired it for a moment and suddenly became a bit nostalgic: “When it blooms next time—”

Chu Xinghui thought he might say something poetic or refined, so he looked up at him.

Xie Liufeng thought for a while, but couldn’t come up with anything and simply said: “Then it will just bloom.”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

 

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