But! How can a man say no!

He raised his chin proudly and said, "I am not talented; I should be an eighth-rank official."

"Wow! Eighth rank!!! An eighth rank at nineteen!" Qiyue was truly stunned.

[What a prodigy!]

Lou Xuanzhi felt a sudden discomfort. Logically, he should be happy that his disciple was being praised, but now he couldn't feel happy at all.

Does the little guy think he's not as good as that half-dead guy, Xiao Qi?

Or perhaps... a fleeting image of Qiyue silently nagging Xia Wuxin as he left in Sunset Forest flashed through his mind, and he understood!

"Are you blaming me? As your master, how could I let you be bullied today? How could I be so cowardly and do nothing?"

Under the setting sun, Lou Xuanzhi paused and turned to look at Qiyue, his eyes filled with the message that his master was not such a coward.

"ah?"

Qi Yue was somewhat bewildered by Lou Xuanzhi's sudden words.

[Why are you asking this all of a sudden? Are you trying to set me up?]

Thinking to herself, Qiyue said, "I don't think Master is inactive or cowardly. On the contrary, I think Master is rational and it's right that Master didn't fight with the two major sects for my sake. Hengyang Sect and Holy Sect are of the same ilk and are now the leaders of the righteous path."

"If we were to injure these two people over a trivial matter, it would only cause more trouble and arouse resentment from various sects of the immortal sects. Even if Master and his senior brothers and sisters win temporarily due to their great influence, everyone would be in danger, and the whole world would condemn them. That would not be worth it."

"..." Lou Xuanzhi didn't speak, only the slight upturn of his lips showed how much he admired this little apprentice at this moment.

Xie Ji'an and the others looked at Qiyue with even greater admiration.

"I never expected that you, Junior Sister, who seem so silly and stupid, would see things so clearly," Sixth Senior Brother Gu Xingchuan said with a sharp tongue, slapping his fan.

Le Luoxi immediately pinched his ear: "How can you talk about your own junior sister like that? You're asking for a beating!"

"Senior sister, I won't do it again!" Gu Xingchuan quickly begged for forgiveness with a fawning smile.

"Hahaha, senior brother, I never thought you'd beg for mercy." Qi Yue was amused, and the others also burst into laughter.

However, Yun Huai nudged Qi Yue's elbow and said, "If you want to learn alchemy, you can find a master. Your master is a tenth-grade alchemist."

Qiyue's eyes widened immediately.

[Damn, I always thought Master was at most a ninth-rank, but I never expected this... But, never mind for now, it's not like it's for my own sake.]

Jumping up and hooking her arm around Yun Huai's shoulder, Qi Yue whispered, "To be honest, when I left Hengyang Sect, I met someone with exceptional talent on the road. If you take him as your disciple, he will surely be..."

"Okay." Before Qiyue could finish speaking, Yun Huai agreed without hesitation.

Then, seeing Qiyue's surprised expression, he smiled happily and said, "As long as it's something you say, Junior Sister, Senior Brother will agree to it."

That unwavering tone and expression instantly broke Qiyue's heart. Her face betrayed no emotion, and even her voice lowered.

Aren't you afraid I'll get you into trouble?

"I'm most afraid of dying, but I don't think you would hurt me, junior sister."

Yun Huai smiled calmly, his sincerity and trust in his eyes almost overwhelming Qi Yue like a vast ocean. Then he walked forward and hooked his arm around Zhuo Ziyu's shoulder.

Looking at the eight figures ahead, Qiyue stopped in her tracks, suddenly feeling a tightness in her chest.

At that moment, a voice came from ahead, connected to the spirit.

"Little one, what are you standing there for? If you don't come soon, we're leaving!"

"Junior sister! If you don't come soon, we won't wait for you anymore~".

"They're here!"

[Am I stupid? I'm the stupid one! Everyone will survive!]