By the time Chi Muyao recovered, he had already been spirited away to another location.

The area was surrounded by trees as well as steep hillsides. You could faintly see the nine-ridged roof of houses in the shadows cast by the bamboo.

He was clearly no longer in an area that the third house disciples' usually frequented.

Chi Muyao looked around after steadying himself. The person holding his arm released his before poking him in the forehead with her index finger. "You're a bold one, aren't you?"

Chi Muyao looked at Zhi Shan Heavenly VenerableSahl: If, like me, you're wondering who the hokey hey this lady is (cause you might have, er...forgotten) - this is the He Huan Sect Master (Chi Muyao's old sect)., who was standing beside him. He wanted to greet her, but didn't out of an abundance of caution. He lowered his head and explained, "I just gave in to a moment of haste."

"Although Xian Yue's character is not very good, she's still a Nascent Soul stage cultivator. If I hadn't saved you after you provoked her like this, you would've been caught by her divine sense and exposed on the spot."

"I made preparations to leave before using the concealed weapon."

"Can you really outrun a Nascent Soul stage cultivator?"

"Xi Huai would've helped me stop her..." Chi Muyao was certain of that.

Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable looked at Chi Muyao. Contrary to her usually gentle and virtuous appearance, she now had her hands on her hips with one eyebrow raised. She seemed to be examining him.

He could only lower his head and stand straight, letting her examine him as she wished.

However, Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable brushed past this point. "Speaking of which, Xi Huai did cause trouble last night and I was the one in charge of dealing with it. At least all this commotion means that I don't have to deal with people from the fifth house. Not bad."

"Xi Huai didn't do it on purpose. You would've been justified even if you had to go..." Chi Muyao grumbled quietly.

Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable had a woeful expression on her face. "How could I be justified when he caused such a big ruckus?"

"My little shijie from the Yu Chong School heard there was something going down at the fifth house and ran there to watch for quite a while. She said that it was the fifth house disciples who wouldn't leave Xi Huai's group alone, and that they threw the first punch. Golden Core stage disciples fighting with Song Weiyue who is at Foundation Building stage is bullying pure and simple. That's why Xi Huai had no choice but to summon the Hui."

"But he burned down a gazebo.”

"The Hui is this big!" Chi Muyao gestured with his hands exaggeratedly. "And its attacks are all fire spells, which tend to be destructive and overbearing. Also, Hui Dragon Flames can't be extinguished by normal means, meaning that just a few attacks can burn down the whole mountain. Xi Huai was actually holding back a lot since he only burned down a gazebo."

"Pei." Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable was amused to hear that. "You call burning down a gazebo holding back?"

"...Perhaps not." Chi Muyao took a quick glance at Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable before continuing his explanation, "The buildings of the Nuan Yan Pavilion are scattered with no clear boundaries to speak of. Xi Huai's group may have wandered onto the neighbouring fifth house, but they were just sitting in a gazebo, not causing trouble. It was the fifth house people who started things. Moreover, Xi Huai wanted to compensate them with spirit stones but they refused saying things like he was humiliating them. I think there's something wrong with their heads..."

"En, en." Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable nodded perfunctorily as Chi Muyao repeatedly defended Xi Huai. She suddenly leaned over and asked him, "How did it feel to do it with the Young Master of the Qing Ze Sect?"

Chi Muyao blushed immediately. His ears were red enough to drip blood.

He frantically backed away, his eyes looking anywhere else but her as he stammered, "N-no, that's not... I had no choice under the circumstances. I-I-I..."

"Speaking of which, I still need to go teach Yao Weng a lesson. Unfortunately, Xian Yue keeps me under too tight a watch for me to leave without my identity being exposed. But then I thought about how you would've probably died if he hadn't arranged things the way they were. So I'll just take it as him helping indirectly and go smash a couple of his pill furnaces when I have time."

"Oh...Sect Master, you don't need to bother avenging me."

Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable looked at Chi Muyao like he was very interesting. She reached out and squished his cheeks. "And now you've become the number one beauty of the three realms."

"That's just nonsense someone else said!"

After all, Chi Muyao looked exactly like this before he transmigrated and no one used to say he was the most beautiful man on Earth. At most, people asked for his WeChat ID. However, people of both genders asked him for that...

"Well I agree with them!" Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable smiled. "That's why I took you in back then. I've lived for centuries without seeing a face as beautiful as yours."

"P-please don't tease me anymore. I'm already in my nineties so I shouldn't be teased like a child anymore."

"You'll always be a child in my eyes." With that, Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable took a step back. "And I'm glad that you're the most beautiful person in the three realms. That Xian Yue has long since been getting on my nerves. Her head's so full of water you can hear it sloshing around when she walks. She just goes around all day feeling like she's as beautiful as an immortal fairy while slacking on her cultivation for so long that her eyes grew wrinkles. What beauty. I almost wanted to impart the He Huan Sect's cultivation method to her."

Chi Muyao knew that Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable and Xian Yue Heavenly Venerable were old rivals in love. He didn't say anything, as it wasn't his place.

Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable warned him again, "I saved you this time, but don't provoke Xian Yue again in the future. She's the type to hold a grudge. I'm not a particularly good person myself, so I have nothing to fear. At most I'll take her to the grave together. But you're different. Your cultivation is low and you're a bit of a dummy. If she kills you in secret, I wouldn't be able to even find a reason to take revenge."

If Xian Yue wanted to kill him, not a trace would be left.

And without proof, no one would be able to avenge him.

Chi Muyao nodded obediently.

Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable asked him, "So you've decided to participate in the extra credit tests. Do you need Master to help you out?"

"No need.” Chi Muyao didn't panic when this was brought up. "I'm sure I can handle taking a test with a group of children."

Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable concurred. "You have mediocre qualifications but are very smart. Your luck isn't too bad either. But I don't quite understand this game of hide-and-seek between you and the Qing Ze Sect's Young Sect Master."

Chi Muyao was a little embarrassed, but he explained, "I don't want to be with him..."

"Why not? He's such a good furnace and he's head over heels for you. Why not use him?"

"He's a good furnace, yes, but...he might be too much for me. He's a weight I can't accept in this lifetime."

Yet instead of empathising with him, Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable just went, "Wow."

His face became even redder.

It was rare for the He Huan Sect to produce a disciple who might be tempered by their furnace.

But Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable and Chi Muyao's Shifu didn't teach him too diligently either. After all, what would they know of the affairs between men?

It was already a miracle that Chi Muyao had successfully built his foundation.

Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable was just about to leave when she remembered to ask something, "Was it you who hurt the Cheng Yu Pavilion disciple?"

"En. He molested Lou Qiongzhi."

"You should've entered the Nuan Yan Pavilion back then. I would've been able to look after you."

"Someone with my qualifications wouldn't have been able to enter the third house. I'm afraid that the care you could provide would be limited by distance. So why not go to the Yu Chong School and be free?"

Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable didn't say any more on the subject. "I know. Be careful from now on. I'll be leaving."

"En, en. Goodbye Master."

Zhi Shan Heavenly Venerable disappeared in an instant.

Chi Muyao stayed in the forest, a little worried. He didn't have a flying artefact since he usually bummed off Yi Qianxi's.

After thinking about it, he would have to walk down the mountain.

When he got back, pushed open the door and saw someone sitting inside, Chi Muyao immediately backed out and shut the door.

While he was deep in thought looking at the room number, the door opened from the inside. Xi Huai dragged him in before shutting the door again.

Chi Muyao didn't even have time to struggle before he was taken inside like a little chick.

He helplessly looked up at Xi Huai. This was one of those rare encounters between the two of them.

He was a little flustered. "D-do you need something?"

Xi Huai was much calmer than him. He even spoke like a parent admonishing their child for coming home late. "Where have you been?"

"I went to the back of the mountain."

"What were you doing there?"

"Catching bugs to feed my bird."

“...”

Xi Huai looked Chi Muyao over. Chi Muyao wasn't wearing shoes that had been refined, so there was some dirt on the sides, suggesting he did indeed go to the back of the mountain.

He spoke again, "There's no way you went to the back of the mountain and back with how long your stride is. How did you come back so quickly?"

"It's not like I needed to go in too far. There's bugs to catch even by the outskirts."

Xi Huai decided to just snatch Chi Muyao's Qiankun bag. This kind of low-level Qiankun bag could be opened by anyone just by passing spiritual energy inside. There was no function to recognise an owner.

He saw that Chi Muyao's Qiankun bag was full of books, bedding and other daily necessities.

The other one he snatched was specifically for Yu Chong School use. It was full of bugs, Hundred Flavour Grains...

It was kind of shabby, to be honest.

It's hard to imagine this was the entire net worth of a Foundation Building stage cultivator.

He gave the Qiankun bag back to Chi Muyao. Because he didn't find any concealed weapons, he asked, "Why do you have so few spirit stones? Did you give some away or something?"

"Don't you know how expensive Hundred Flavour Grains are? I bought some before I came to the Nuan Yan Pavilion."

"..." Xi Huai didn't get it. Hundred Flavour Grains weren't that expensive??

Perhaps because he felt that Chi Muyao was way too poor, Xi Huai took out a bag of spirit stones from his own Myriad Treasure Bell and tossed it to Chi Muyao. "Keep it."

"This...How can I accept your spirit stones for no reason?"

"I usually use these spirit stones to skip rocks on water. If you're too embarrassed to accept them outright, you can go pick them up in the water the next time I skip stones."

"..." So if he was in the water, was Xi Huai skipping stones or pelting him with them?

While he struggled with that problem, Xi Huai strode over to his bed, sat down and started taking off his boots. "Are you going to sleep now?"

"Er..." Chi Muyao looked at Xi Huai dumbfoundedly.

Since Chi Muyao so shamelessly refused to admit he was A-Jiu, Xi Huai planned on being just as shameless. He'd definitely find some sort of opening by shamelessly forcing his way into every situation.

Chi Muyao took out a book from his Qiankun bag. "I was planning on reading for a bit."

Xi Huai knew about Chi Muyao's habits. He read for several hours last time as well.

Xi Huai wasn't in a hurry so he sat cross-legged on Chi Muyao's bed and meditated. The two peacefully coexisted like this for a while.

Chi Muyao was a little bit worried as he glanced at Xi Huai. Should he ask one of the elders to drive him off?

If he did find someone, would this become a huge incident? Would Xi Huai add another building to his arsonist streak?

Chi Muyao diligently sat at his table and read until it was very late at night.

Xi Huai finally lost his patience after four hours. He asked, "Aren't you going to take a bath?"

Chi Muyao knew after hearing this that Xi Huai was in the room that day. He wasn't even pretending not to know anymore.

He answered. "I'll just use the Simple Washing Technique to wash up."

"Go ahead then."

“...”

Was there anyone who could be a more gracious guest than Xi Huai?

Chi Muyao remained motionless. "No need. If you want to rest here then feel free. I can keep reading."

"That's right, you're someone who can sit still in one place for a few days at a time."

"That...might be an overstatement.”

"You sure? Your willpower is quite something to not use such a good furnace sitting right in front of you. You even need me to extend an invitation."

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

"You're right. But does it really matter if you understand or not? With techniques that bad, it would be less shameful to pretend you didn't know anything at all."

Chi Muyao straightened his back as a rush of embarrassment overcame him. He could only look down and start reading again.

Xi Huai looked at him with an interested smile. "Do you love blushing so much? Why are you blushing this time? Embarrassed by how much your techniques suck? Or are you flustered because you've been lying so much?"

"All my life, I've blushed easily when talking to strangers."

"But we're far from strangers."

"We're acquaintances at best."

"En. That may be true. But you look different than how I imagined you would. You stand out too much, which isn't good."

Chi Muyao really didn't want to chat with Xi Huai anymore. Pursing his lips, he continued reading.

Xi Huai couldn't wait any longer. He used more than a thousand Mandarin Sleeves again. Chi Muyao's body practically flew through the air to quickly attach to Xi Huai's.

Xi Huai was already prepared. He opened his arms and waited for Chi Muyao to fall into his embrace. Next, Xi Huai wrapped his arms around him and whispered into his ear, "Thank you for helping me today. Otherwise I would've painted the Nuan Yan Pavilion red with blood."

Xi Huai had a bad temper and couldn't bear the slightest grievance.

If Xian Yue Heavenly Venerable succeeded in warning him today, he would've definitely been enraged and escalated things.

At that time, it was hard to say whether it would cause a war between two realms.

Xi Huai let go after hugging him for a bit and recalled the Mandarin Sleeves. He lifted Chi Muyao onto the inner side of the bed. "Now go to sleep."

"B-but I still want to read..."

"Stop reading. You've already died from overworking once."

How come his memory's so good?

Chi Muyao could only lay in bed fully clothed. Even his hair was still in a bun.

Xi Huai looked at him from the side. Taking in his 'waiting to die' sleeping posture, he asked, "Aren't you going to use the Simple Washing Technique?"

"Oh..."Chi Muyao cast seals with both hands and used the Simple Washing Technique of the righteous sects.

Flawlessly at that.

But then Xi Huai opened his mouth again, "What about me? You didn't wash me yet."

"Y-you're shameless!"

"En. See how well you know me? I am indeed a shameless person." Xi Huai suddenly leaned over and added in a whisper, "I'm also wild when I want to be."

"I-I'm not doing it. Do it yourself.”

“Quickly do it or take a pill boosting gut function if you can't."

Chi Muyao had no choice but to use the Simple Washing Technique to clean Xi Huai too.

Actually, he was already very proficient at the technique, but he was still a little uncomfortable cleaning someone else's body in the outside world.

Xi Huai finally settled down. He lay down facing Chi Muyao and continued to stare at him.

Chi Muyao on the other hand tried his best to calm down and adjust his breath with spiritual energy to seem less nervous.

But then Xi Huai reached over and removed the hairpin holding together the crown on his head, sending his hair cascading down.

He reached for the hair crown and put it aside before going to sleep.

Xi Huai was still awake after Chi Muyao fell asleep. He rarely slept, so he could continue to silently observe Chi Muyao now.

He developed a crazed desire to know A-Jiu's appearance in the cave. The first time he saw Chi Muyao outside, his heart trembled. He was truly shocked and didn't know what to do for a moment.

He even hoped that A-Jiu was merely good looking. That way no one else would notice him and he could be monopolised by Xi Huai.

But if A-Jiu was like Chi Muyao now, it would be too ostentatious. Such a face had the power to move many hearts. What if he couldn't protect A-Jiu?

The reason he refused to enter closed-door cultivation and form his core was because he was afraid the increase in cultivation level would make it inconvenient to find A-Jiu.

After all, his current cultivation level made it more convenient to go on expeditions meant for Foundation Building stage cultivators. Some Grand Arrays had a restriction on cultivation levels and even Golden Core stage cultivators couldn't go in.

What happened today shook him again. Should he go back to the Qing Ze Sect and form his core after confirming Chi Muyao's identity? Otherwise he wouldn't be able to protect him if someone like Xian Yue Heavenly Venerable attacked him.

He picked up a strand of Chi Muyao's hair and sniffed it. It was a very elegant fragrance, different from the one in the cave.

He continued to play with this strand of hair, unable to set it down for some reason.

He could finally touch his A-Jiu. Even if it was just hair, he was happy.

At that moment, he noticed Chi Muyao using the Control Object Technique to pull his hair inch by inch out of Xi Huai's grasp.

Xi Huai immediately used the Mandarin Sleeves to make Chi Muyao's body move closer to his.

Chi Muyao quickly let his hair rest in the palm of Xi Huai's hand and went back to sleep.

He smiled and retracted the Mandarin Sleeves.