"You don't think so?"

Yan Qiubai chuckled, his tone becoming inscrutable, "That's even more troublesome... I'm afraid this person is harboring ill intentions and preparing for revenge."

Shen Zhaozhao: "Revenge???"

That's even more outrageous.

Shen Zhaozhao really couldn't figure out what kind of revenge Xie Linyuan could come up with, given his brain.

"I don't know the specifics."

Yan Qiubai said lazily, a hint of wicked amusement suddenly creeping into her voice: "But if this were me, I would first pretend to be very obedient and compliant, and treat that scumbag very well."

"Let him feel like I'm completely under his control, until he can't live without me and loves me to death—"

Yan Qiubai chuckled: "I'll kick him again! Let him taste what it feels like to be used and then abandoned, to fall from grace! Tsk, just thinking about it is exciting!"

Shen Zhaozhao: "..."

After listening to Yan Qiubai's explanation, Shen Zhaozhao tried to imagine it. Xie Linyuan still had that aloof and untouchable appearance, like the cold moon in the sky. However, his peach blossom eyes, which always held a distant and clear light, were now filled with a coldness. The corners of his lips were curved with a smile that she had never seen before, which was three parts mockery and seven parts indifference.

He looked down at me, his voice like the clashing of ancient ice, each word resounding and powerful—"Shen Zhaozhao, you deceived me, humiliated me, and denied it in the past. Today is the day you pay the price."

"..."

Shen Zhaozhao shivered violently, and then immediately said decisively, "Impossible, his brain can't handle such a high-level operation."

After all, Xie Linyuan had almost no bottom line in front of her, and that worthless attitude of "I'll do anything as long as you pay attention to me," so why would she want revenge?

She even suspected that if she were to actually abandon him one day, he would most likely not be able to carry out the kind of "glorious revenge" that Yan Qiubai had described.

More likely, Xie Linyuan would be looking at her with red eyes, clutching her clothes tightly, with the wet, abandoned look of a large dog, asking her with a mixture of grievance and obsession, "...What's wrong with me? Tell me, I can change."

On the other end of the communication talisman, Yan Qiubai gave a cold snort with an ambiguous meaning, his tone incredibly irritating: "Is that so? Then you... oh no, your friend, just wait to be kicked out by your... uh, her sect leader~ Don't blame me for not warning you then~"

"???"

Shen Zhaozhao's temple throbbed with a vein: "I'll say it again, this is my friend's business!"

From Yan Qiubai's side came the sound of him cracking sunflower seeds, accompanied by his extremely perfunctory tone, as if he were coaxing a child: "Oh right, your friend, your friend."

But his tone clearly conveyed, "We're like family, why are you pretending?"

Shen Zhaozhao was so angry that she almost crushed the communication talisman.

However, before she could get angry, Yan Qiubai changed the subject, his tone suddenly becoming slightly more serious: "Ahem, well, let's get down to business. For a Nascent Soul cultivator like your uncle, time is very precious. You've taken up so much of my time, you have to pay some price, right?"

After emphasizing again that "it's her friend's business," Shen Zhaozhao gritted her teeth and said, "...Let it go."

"Actually, it's nothing serious."

"I've been observing the celestial phenomena lately, and I feel that Qingxuan's destiny star is a bit dim and unstable. I feel that this kind-hearted guy... might have some bad luck or run into some trouble recently."

Yan Qiubai paused, a hint of seriousness creeping into his voice: "But Qingyi isn't feeling well lately, so I have to stay and take care of her. I really can't leave."

"So I'd like you to keep an eye on the movements of the Tianyan Sect. Just in case... I mean, just in case there's any suspicious activity, please let me know as soon as possible."

The man's voice carried a rare hint of awkwardness: "You know, I had a bit of a falling out with him before. I'm afraid that if something really happens, given his pride and tendency to suffer for it, he won't be able to bring himself to come to me."

Shen Zhaozhao frowned, keenly catching the fleeting information in his words: "You found Senior Sister Qingyi? What illness does she have? Is it serious?"

There was a momentary pause on the other end of the communication talisman, followed by an even louder, more obvious "crunching" sound of sunflower seeds being cracked, clearly an attempt to cover up the misunderstanding. Yan Qiubai's voice also became erratic: "Ah? Ah... It's nothing serious! Just, just a minor ailment! Don't ask questions like a child!"

As if afraid that Shen Zhaozhao would continue to ask questions, he quickly changed the subject: "Oh right, I forgot to tell you, Qingyi and I are now a proper Daoist couple, the kind that is certified by heaven and earth!"

"However, Qingyi is quiet by nature and doesn't like to show off, so the marriage ceremony and banquet haven't been held yet. We'll wait... uh, wait until she's feeling better, then we'll go back to the sect to hold the banquet, and we'll definitely invite you! Remember to prepare the change-of-address fee in advance!"

Shen Zhaozhao: "???"

"What the hell?!"

"Junior Uncle, isn't your progress a bit too abnormal?!"

"While that brat Murong Xiao is still plotting how to tie up and imprison his brother, you've already got a Daoist partner?! And...and you'd better be more stable?!"

The amount of information was so overwhelming that Shen Zhaozhao almost performed an ascension on the spot!

On the other end of the communication talisman, Yan Qiubai was silent for two seconds, then let out an undisguised and extremely contemptuous "tsk".

"Listen to what kind of people your sect has?!"

"One slept with someone and then denied it, while the other never bothers to cultivate properly and only thinks about the dregs of forced love!"

"Tsk, from now on, my kid... oh no, from now on, Qingyi and I will have to stay away from your sect's people, lest they be led astray!"

"Alright, alright, I'm not going to argue with you anymore. Remember to keep an eye on Qingxuan's side for me!"

Yan Qiubai's voice became urgent: "Qingyi is calling me~"

Before the words were even finished, the light on the transmission talisman snapped and went out.

Shen Zhaozhao stared in disbelief at the suddenly dimmed communication talisman, frozen in place.

Yan Qiubai, you really have some impressive skills!

You already have kids?!

...

at the same time.

On the other side.

Inside Murong Xiao's ebony pavilion.

The little brat was happily wrapping the new Immortal Binding Rope that Qin Zhenzhen had helped him forge, adorned with two golden bells, with red silk.

As he wrapped the rope, he couldn't help but imagine his brother wearing it, his pale wrists contrasting against the bright red silk, the bells jingling softly with each movement...

Just thinking about it made Murong Xiao's heart race and his cheeks burn. He wished he could go and "invite" his brother back right now.

However, just as he was immersed in his wonderful fantasy, the light in front of him suddenly dimmed—