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Ji Wang led his men back from the foot of the mountain to purchase wild fruits. After arranging the relevant matters, he carried a small basket of wild fruits into the disciples' residence and happily distributed them to everyone.

The senior sister took the small basket and teased with a smile, "Junior brother, didn't you say when you came down the mountain that there was a very nice sword that you wanted to buy? Now that you're back, why didn't you bring it to us to take a look?"

Ji Wang was distributing fruit to his fellow disciples when he heard this and looked up: "I didn't buy any."

The senior apprentice winked and asked, "Did Lord Bujiu think it was too expensive and impractical, so he didn't approve it?"

At yesterday's banquet, Ji Wang wanted to indulge in some wine, but Bu Jiu stopped him because his "injuries had not yet healed." Later, he wanted to drink some chilled beverages, but Bu Jiu stopped him again for the same reason.

Ji Wang was not angry at all; on the contrary, he obediently did as he was told. Thus, his reputation as a "henpecked husband" quietly spread.

Ji Wang picked out another fruit for himself, took a bite, and found the juice sweet and refreshing. After chewing a few times, he slowly looked up at his senior brother who had been teasing him, flashing an incredibly bright smile: "Senior brother, are you praising me?"

Everyone was taken aback. Praise him? Praise him for what?

Seeing their astonished expressions, Ji Wang's smile widened, and he began to count on his fingers with an air of self-righteousness: "Look, firstly, this shows that my Bu Jiu is good at managing a household and knows how to plan for the long term. That sword is beautiful, and its spiritual energy fluctuations are pretty, but its practicality is not as good as my old one, and it's ridiculously expensive. The fact that he wouldn't let me buy it shows that he has good taste and knows how to manage money, right?"

After he finished speaking, he looked around as if seeking approval.

Everyone: "..."

"Secondly," Ji Wang held up a second finger, continuing his twisted logic, "this shows he cares about me and keeps my cultivation in mind. He's afraid I'll be tempted by novelty and use an unsuitable weapon, which would hinder my cultivation and affect my foundation. This is incredibly considerate." Seeing no one respond, he immediately put on a "you don't understand" expression.

“Third, and most importantly—” Ji Wang held up his third finger, his voice rising slightly, “This shows he cares about me! He’s willing to go to the trouble of taking care of me, worrying about my affairs, even weighing whether buying a sword is worthwhile and appropriate for me. Isn’t that a sign of his deep affection for me? He wouldn’t bother with anyone else!”

He spoke with great conviction, his smugness practically overflowing from his face.

The senior student who had just teased him opened his mouth, but after a long pause, he managed to stammer out, "You have such a thick skin..."

"What's wrong with my thick skin?" Ji Wang interrupted him with a grin, taking another big bite of fruit. "You guys just don't understand. Having someone look after you is a blessing! Especially being looked after by someone you like, that's an incredible blessing!"

He patted the fruit crumbs off his hands, stood up, picked up the remaining half-basket of fruit, and walked towards his room. After a few steps, he turned back and winked at his fellow students who were still in a daze: "Alright, you can keep envying me. I have to go find my family's thrifty, considerate, and loyal Bu Jiu. If I'm late, he'll complain that I'm running wild again."

After saying that, he hummed a little tune and disappeared from everyone's sight with light steps.

The fellow disciples looked at each other in bewilderment. After a while, the senior brother shook his head and chuckled, sighing, "Well, I only meant to tease him, but he ended up showing off quite a bit...this kid."

Xuan Shi gazed in the direction Ji Wang had disappeared: "But then again, now that he says it, it actually makes some sense? Having someone like that managing you... it's actually quite enviable?"

After a moment of silence, everyone looked at the ordinary wild fruits in their hands, and then thought about the bright red fruits that Ji Wang had carefully selected and specially sent to Bu Jiu. Suddenly, they all felt that what Ji Wang had just said was indeed something to look forward to.

Ji Wang carried the half-basket of berries to the training ground. When he found Bu Jiu, Bu Jiu was sitting under an old tree with a scroll of the newly delivered cultivation progress records of the disciples from various sects spread out on his lap: "You're back? The disciples all made progress in their cultivation today."

Bu Jiu's attention had shifted from the book to Ji Wang's hands: "What did you bring back?"

He certainly saw the basket of fruit, but he also noticed the small cloth bag in Ji Wang's other hand. The bag was of ordinary color, yet he handled it carefully.

Ji Wang chuckled, first placing the fruit basket on the stone table beside him, then walking up to Bu Jiu and proudly displaying the small cloth bag as if presenting a treasure.

He pointed to carefully untying the ribbons and unfolding the slightly rough fabric layer by layer.

There lay there quietly, a pair of earrings.

The material wasn't particularly rare or precious; it was just a small, exquisitely translucent golden crystal. Under the light, it reflected a warm and dazzling array of tiny rays of light.

"Look." Ji Wang held his palm out again. "I spotted it at the market and traded it with a talisman from the stall owner. This color..."

He raised his eyes and looked into Bu Jiu's eyes: "They're exactly the same as yours. I think they suit you perfectly."

Bu Jiu's gaze followed these words and lingered on the pair of golden earrings. Then, he reached out and picked up one of them.

He turned his head to the side, raised his hand to bring the earring close to his earlobe, and the simple action of fastening it, when he did it, had a unique elegance.

Instead of taking the other one, he turned his face to one side, fully exposing his empty right earlobe to Ji Wang.

This is an invitation that couldn't be clearer—come.

Ji Wang nodded blankly, gently pinching the earring in his palm, his fingertips trembling slightly at this sudden request for intimacy.

His movements were much slower and clumsier than when he put it on himself. He was completely focused, afraid of hurting the other person, and even tried twice before he could fasten it securely.

The moment the earrings were on, Ji Wang finally let out a long breath. The earrings swayed gently beside Bu Jiu's face, the refracted light falling into his eyes of the same color, making him breathtakingly beautiful.

Bu Jiu tilted his head slightly, letting his earrings sway gently in sync with his movement. He looked at Ji Wang, who was standing close by: "How is it?"

Ji Wang's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was incredibly sincere: "Beautiful... a million times more beautiful than I just imagined."

Just then, a series of unhurried footsteps came from not far away, followed by Xun Jing's voice: "Sect Leader Ji, Lord Bu Jiu, I apologize for disturbing you."

The tender and intimate atmosphere was interrupted by this sound, and the two subtly created some distance between them. Ji Wang turned around and saw that Xun Jing was almost in front of him, and there was more thought in his eyes than before.

"No need for formalities," Ji Wang said with a smile. "Is there any new progress?"

Xun Jing first bowed respectfully in the direction of Bu Jiu, then nodded and said, "Reporting to Sect Leader Ji, the outer defensive formation, the division of disciples among the various sects, and the basic early warning system have all been arranged according to the results of the discussion during the day, and are operating smoothly. The disciples have also settled down and begun their shifts for rest."

"Very efficient, thank you all for your hard work," Ji Wang sincerely praised.

“These are all part of my duties.” Xun Jing nodded slightly, then changed the subject, “However… when we were setting up the last node just now, the disciple in charge of the southeast direction reported that he found some… somewhat unnatural traces by the stream about five miles away from the valley.”

Ji Wang's expression hardened: "What is it?"

Xun Jing paused for a moment, seemingly considering his description: "It's not the remnant of a battle, nor the work of wild beasts. It's a few blue stones, placed in a specific orientation, with very faint runes carved on them, not from the common schools of today. According to a junior brother in my sect who is an expert in ancient runes, the meaning is obscure, but vaguely related to 'spying' and 'marking.' Moreover, there is a very faint... Yin energy left in the cracks of the stones, unlike ordinary ghosts."

He looked at Ji Wang and Bu Jiu: "Although the lingering aura was faint, it made us uneasy. Considering what Sect Leader Ji said about the strange behavior of the 'Lord' and his subordinates during the day, we feel that this may not be a coincidence."

"Therefore, I have taken the liberty of coming here to ask the sect leader and Lord Bujiu for further advice—regarding this 'Lord,' besides his profound array schemes and strength, does he have any subordinates who are particularly skilled in such methods of concealment and tracking? We need to know ourselves and our enemy in order to perfect our defenses and avoid any oversights."

Bu Jiu's eyes narrowed slightly, and the gentle aura around him instantly vanished: "It's Ling Gu. He's skilled in tracking and assassination, and even more adept at setting up various restrictions and tracking marks."

Ji Wang's heart sank. He picked up the conversation and said to Xun Jing, "They arrived faster and more patiently than we anticipated. Please immediately notify the leaders of each team to strengthen their defenses, paying particular attention to any subtle, hard-to-detect clues or abnormal spiritual energy. Also..."

Ji Wang looked at Bu Jiu, and the moment their eyes met, no words were needed; their hearts were already in sync.

Ji Wang said in a deep voice, "We need to find out how many other 'eyes' they've left elsewhere besides here. I'm afraid it will be hard for you, Bu Jiu..."

Before he could finish speaking, Bu Jiu calmly replied, "I'll go right now."

Ji stepped forward, stopping him, her brow furrowed with worry: "If you really encounter them, call me immediately. Don't get entangled with them; it might backfire on you..."

"Don't worry," Bu Jiu replied. "I know what I'm doing."

Before he could finish speaking, his figure vanished from the spot, leaving only a lingering trace of demonic power in the air and a faint glimmer of light from his earring as he turned away.

Ji Wang stared at the empty stone table before him, forcibly suppressing his worries. He turned to Xun Jing, who had been waiting quietly by his side: "Let's not sit idly by. Xun Jing, lead the way and take a look at that mark. Any rune, once carved, must leave a trace. Perhaps we can deduce something useful from it."

Xun Jing's expression turned serious, and he immediately stepped aside to lead the way: "Sect Leader Ji, please follow me. I have already ordered my men to temporarily seal off the area where the traces were found, and I dare not make any moves."

The two of them hurried towards the stream in the southeast direction of the valley, one after the other.

The sun had already sunk below the mountain ridge, leaving only the orange and red afterglow on the horizon, and the light in the valley quickly dimmed.

Along the way, they encountered several groups of disciples changing patrols. Upon seeing Ji Wang, they all bowed, their eyes showing not only the proper respect but also the tension of a newcomer and a vague unease about the unknown traces.