Lingyao was overjoyed to finally receive a response from Yin Ming.
Until he saw Chu Mu standing quietly at the entrance of the courtyard.
Looking at his face, which had turned as black as the bottom of a pot in an instant, Yin Ming felt, for some reason, finally feel a little better.
Having witnessed the unusual behavior of the two by those disciples, even a fool could guess that the news would spread tomorrow.
So how exactly did this happen...?
Recalling how Lingyao controlled his emotions so easily and even took the opportunity to grope him, Yin Ming felt more and more that this bastard was just acting.
Of course, it's not that Yin Ming doesn't want to go public with their relationship; it's just that life is his own, and he doesn't want to be overly scrutinized by unimportant people.
Who would have thought that when he saw Lingyao's pitiful expression, he acted impulsively...
This feeling of being manipulated is really unpleasant. How come I keep getting tricked by this kid without even realizing it!
This can't go on. We need to find a way to take the initiative and not let him lead us by the nose forever.
As the old saying goes, "He who strikes first gains the upper hand, he who strikes last suffers the consequences."
The positions are all fought for. So what if Ling Yao is the male lead? Yin Ming is determined to be the one on top!
"Junior Brother Yin."
Chu Mu's soft call pulled Yin Ming back from his chaotic thoughts.
Realizing belatedly what strange, indescribable thoughts he was having, Yin Ming blushed and coughed awkwardly. "Senior Sister Chu Mu, why didn't you come in and sit in the courtyard? Have you been waiting for us for a long time?"
Chu Mu simply shook his head slightly and went straight to the point: "Let's begin."
Yin Ming nodded slightly, composed himself, and walked with her toward the kitchen.
Lingyao, still with a dark expression, followed the two at a distance, watching them cook the whole process.
His expression softened somewhat only after Chu Mu left the courtyard.
While clearing away the dishes, Yin Ming chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Ah Yao, you seem to have a lot of issues with Senior Sister Chu Mu?"
Logically speaking, they shouldn't have any conflicts, right? Except for that incident last time.
But shouldn't it be Chu Mu who has a problem with him? How come it's Ling Yao who doesn't like her now?
Could it be because Yin Ming made him apologize to Chu Mu? But he should have apologized to Chu Mu in the first place.
Lingyao pursed her lips, her tone quite displeased, "She takes every opportunity to get close to Yin Ming, I'm afraid her motives are impure."
Hearing an answer that was completely different from what he had imagined, Yin Ming raised an eyebrow in surprise.
But he said Chu Mu's motives were impure? What motives could Chu Mu possibly have?
Thinking of something, Yin Ming suddenly smiled knowingly.
Got it, this kid's jealous. He thinks Chu Mu is learning to cook from Yin Ming to build a relationship with him.
Yin Ming immediately felt both helpless and amused. Did Ling Yao think he was some kind of heartthrob, assuming that every girl in the world who got close to him liked him?
Even Yin Ming didn't dare to be this narcissistic, but Ling Yao has become narcissistic for him.
Thinking of his feelings for her, Yin Ming's eyes softened.
Maybe that's what it's like when you like someone. Because you think the other person is so great, you think the whole world is trying to take them away from you.
To be honest, Yin Ming was also curious about why Chu Mu did this. So, in his spare time, he inquired with other disciples and learned that Chu Mu was actually the next goddess who had been chosen long ago.
With this crucial information, everything makes sense—
Chu Yi had already informed the sect leader and the six elders about what had happened in the Land of Forsaken Gods.
Although the six elders have not yet announced that they will no longer need to select goddesses, Chu Mu, as the sect leader's sister, should already know that she will no longer need to go to the so-called Temple of Prayer for Heaven.
Perhaps her previous aloofness was simply because she knew she would eventually leave the mortal world, so she didn't want to have too many entanglements with others and avoid the heartache of parting.
Now that she knows she can stay in this mortal world, she steps down from the altar she had built for herself and returns to a normal life.
After spending these days together, Yin Ming was 100% certain that Chu Mu was just seriously learning to cook and had no other motives.
Perhaps she simply enjoys cooking? After all, everyone has hobbies and interests.
Even if she did have some ideas, they wouldn't be related to Yin Ming, and Yin Ming knows that much.
Yin Ming told Ling Yao his inner thoughts and finally succeeded in calming him down.
While Yin Ming turned to wash the dishes, Ling Yao quietly left the courtyard.
Yin Ming didn't think much of it, assuming he had gone out on business.
Although he didn't know what it was about and couldn't tell him in advance, Yin Ming believed that Ling Yao would know what to do.
Yin Ming wasn't worried about any dangers he might face going out alone.
Putting aside the fact that no one could harm Lingyao with his cultivation level, the disciples of the Divine Realm now all know of his existence. Out of respect for Yin Ming, they would not make things difficult for him no matter what.
After all, Yin Ming is the most popular candidate for the championship in the next sect competition.
***
Compared to Yin Ming, Ling Yao clearly considered more possibilities from the details.
He followed Chu Mu stealthily and indeed found that her behavior was unusual.
After leaving Yin Ming's courtyard, she did not go directly back to her own disciple's courtyard, but instead strolled leisurely to the area where the Divine Realm's side rooms were located, wandering back and forth aimlessly.
Her expression was so indifferent that even when she made such a move, others would only think that she was just taking a leisurely stroll.
However, her frequent glances back betrayed her true intentions.
Lingyao knew she was waiting for someone.
Sure enough, when that annoying face appeared, Chu Mu's expression changed subtly, even revealing a hint of barely perceptible joy.
"Junior Sister Chu Mu, what are you doing here?"
Long Cheng, carrying a pile of delicious food, passed by the path on the left side of the room. Upon seeing Chu Mu, he immediately went up to greet him familiarly.
Chu Mu merely nodded perfunctorily, then glanced at the food in Long Cheng's arms and casually asked, "Just passing by. What's this, Senior Brother Long Cheng?"
"These are some snacks I just bought. Would Junior Sister Chu Mu like to eat some with me?" Although Long Cheng was a foodie, he was very happy to share.
His personality was one factor, but more importantly, he had already eaten his fill in the cafeteria and bought these things just to try them out.
After all, others get full after eating a little, but he can eat a billion more even when he's full.
Chu Mu shook her head in refusal, but raised her clean hand, and a soft and sweet cake suddenly appeared in her palm.
"This is a cake that I learned to make from Junior Brother Yin. There's one piece left. Senior Brother Long Cheng, would you like to try some?"
Although her tone was calm, her hands, which were behind her back, were trembling slightly, indicating that she was not as composed as she appeared.
Long Cheng stared at the cake, his mouth practically watering. "Then thank you, Junior Sister Chu Mu!"
He quickly reached out and took the cake, then his eyes lit up instantly after he took a gentle sniff of its aroma.
I learned to make this from Brother Ming, and it looks so good, it must taste delicious too!
"Junior Sister Chu Mu, would you like to come to my room for a while?" He couldn't wait to go back to his room and enjoy the delicious food.
"...Senior Brother Long Cheng, can you tell me how it tastes now?" Chu Mu lowered his eyes and asked slowly.
Only Lingyao, hiding in the shadows, could see that her hands were clenched tightly behind her back, and she seemed extremely uneasy.
"I need to practice a few more times when I get back, so I'd like my senior brother to help me check if there's anything I need to improve."
Finally, she added, as if worried that Long Cheng might think her request was too impolite.
Long Cheng didn't think much of it, just nodded, put the rest of the food in his hand into his spatial ring, and then picked up the cake Chu Mu made and took a bite.
"Delicious! Just as delicious as what Brother Ming makes! Junior Sister Chu Mu, you're amazing!"
The cake tasted exactly like the one Yin Ming made, and the texture was even more delicate. Long Cheng swallowed the cake in a few bites, and then licked his thin lips with lingering satisfaction.
"Junior Sister Chu Mu's cooking is so delicious, there's definitely not enough to eat."
Remembering what Chu Mu had just said, Long Cheng perked up again; when it came to food, his mind always worked quickly.
"Junior Sister Chu Mu, you just said you'd be making another cake later?"
Chu Mu did not reply, but simply nodded slightly.
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Long Cheng rubbed his hands together, his expectant look evident on his face. "Then, if you finish making it, can you share some with me?"
Realizing that he was essentially taking advantage of someone else, Long Cheng immediately added, "I won't take advantage of you. If you need any help, feel free to ask me..."
Watching the two chat happily about food as they walked further and further away, Lingyao slowly curled the corners of her mouth.
Chu Mu really does like Long Cheng—
Yin Ming had never shown his culinary skills to outsiders before, so how could Chu Mu know that he could make those novel dishes, and why did he ask Chu Mu to focus on learning them?
It could only be that Long Cheng, that good-for-nothing, let slip at some point, making Chu Mu, who had been paying attention to him, take it to heart.
In addition, Chu Mu had also said that she hoped this matter could be kept secret and that Yin Ming should not allow anyone else to enter the courtyard while she was studying.
But usually only Long Cheng would come and go from the courtyard, so who else could this requirement be to keep out of?
Lingyao guessed that she probably wanted to learn it secretly and then give Long Cheng a surprise.
That's very interesting.
Lingyao crossed his arms, a playful smile curving his lips.
If these two eyesores can really get together, then no one will bother him and Yin Ming anymore.
***
After that, Long Cheng and Chu Mu met much more often, and they would always bump into each other no matter where they went.
What's more, Chu Mu always happened to make some pastries each time, and they were all things that Long Cheng liked to eat.
For a long time, Yin Ming could hardly see Long Cheng.
Sometimes, when he was invited to eat a lavish meal, he would surprisingly refuse, which led Yin Ming to believe that the boy had changed his ways.
Little did he know that Chu Mu had prepared more and more abundant dishes that day, so Long Cheng naturally chose the one where he could eat his fill.
Of course, that's a story for another time.
At this moment, Chu Mu, who had just returned to the disciples' courtyard, stared at the letter that had appeared out of nowhere on the windowsill and fell into deep thought.
What was written on it was Long Cheng's detailed daily schedule.
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