When he arrived on Sheng Ling Island, Xi Huai noticed that it was completely empty. No one lived here. Even a simple two-storey log cabin was already an impressive sight on the island. 

No matter how you looked at this pitiful sight, it seemed to be mocking them.

So of course Xi Huai's group was unhappy when Chi Muyao tried to go back to the Yu Chong School with Yi Qianxi. 

Yi Qianxi tucked the Hundred Item Brocade into her clothes before putting her hands on her hips and answered confidently, "Aren't you here to be guests? All guests of our Yu Chong School are entertained here. Besides, this place is more than enough to evade the Cheng Yu Pavilion people." 

Zong Sichen was so angry he slapped his own forehead. Who would've thought that a back-trodden place like Pu He had so many islands?

Mistakes were made. 

Zong Sichen said quickly, "We wanted to go with you guys to see some spirit beasts."

Yi Qianxi pointed deeper into Sheng Ling Island. "There's plenty on the island!"

"Then will this little Shidi of yours come by occasionally?" Zong Sichen asked. 

"If you need something delivered he might. Just send us a Sound Transmission Talisman."

Xi Huai stood by the shore, gloomily watching Chi Muyao and Yi Qianxi leave by boat. 

In the boat, Chi Muyao looked back at them and quickly locked eyes with Xi Huai. Scorched by Xi Huai's burning gaze, he turned away and sat properly.

 Even a passing glance made him feel very guilty.

Only after they were far away from Sheng Ling Island did Chi Muyao say to Yi Qianxi, "If I'm not on that island, they'll definitely sneak their way over to the Yu Chong School."

"And if I had outright refused, they would've come anyway. We might as well accept the food since we can't control those three." Yi Qianxi sat down and sent a voice transmission to Chi Muyao, "We'll have to hide the little deer well then." 

"En!"

Hao Xia was somewhat surprised to see Chi Muyao and Yi Qianxi back at the Sect. "Why're you back so early? Could it be...you guys got marks so bad they chased you out early?"

Isolated from the world, the Yu Chong School didn't even know something had happened at the Nuan Yan Pavilion.

Hao Xia and Yi Lan were both dumbfounded when Yi Qianxi explained. Then they repeatedly checked Chi Muyao's physical condition.

Yi Qianxi tossed the Hundred Item Brocade onto the table and sat down in the chair with swagger. Snacking on sunflower seeds, she asked, "So how's the hole digging going?"

The two elders gathered together to inspect the Hundred Item Brocade. Hao Xia took a moment to answer, "It's done for the most part. The Yunfei Jade has also been carved."

Hao Xia's soulbound spirit beast was Tutu. He wasn't a bad elder considering he lent them Tutu before because he was afraid they would be in danger. It's just that he wasn't very reliable most of the time.

Now that the little Colourless Yunni Deer was at their Yu Chong School, they couldn't rest easy. That's why Hao Xia had Tutu dig a hole and remain inside to hide the little Colourless Yunni Deer's presence.

This way, outsiders wouldn't be able to detect the little deer's presence even if they came to the Yu Chong School.

Afraid that the little deer would be inconvenienced by staying in a hole most of the time, the two elders spent the time Chi Muyao and Yi Qianxi were at the Exam to decorate the cave and make it more suitable for the little deer.

Yi Qianxi was relieved. Then she pointed at Chi Muyao. "A Young Sect Master from the Demonic Faction has taken a fancy to my Shidi." 

Hao Xia and Yi Lan were beyond moved when they looked at the Hundred Item Brocade. If they gave such expensive gifts at will, even their alignment could be set aside for now...

Hao Xia asked her in a huff, "Can't you work harder and make him fall for you?!"

Yi Qianxi wasn't pleased to hear that. "Is this something hard work can change? If you blame anyone, blame my dad for not making me a guy! That Young Sect Master is a cutsleeveYou all probably know - slang for gay.!" 

Hao Xia quickly glanced at Chi Muyao. Seeing that he seemed unwilling, he could only sigh. "Then...then...forget about it."

Yi Qianxi nodded along. "That's what I think too. Scoring this one time is already good."

Yi Lan started rifling through the Holy Spirit Grass inside, muttering under his breath, "All of this should be left to the Divine Deer! We can finally pamper it like it deserves, wuwu..."

 With that, he burst into tears.

 He really didn't seem like a sect master like this.

 Chi Muyao had been regarding them with a very wary expression, afraid that they would marry him off to the Qing Ze Sect in exchange for spirit beast food. 

He would have to go on the run again if that was the case.

 Luckily, these people seemed to have a conscience.

 He finally spoke, "Let me see the ledgers from while I was away."

 Hao Xia immediately replied, "I was digging the hole."

 Yi Lan coughed lightly. "I was supervising digging the hole."

So Chi Muyao had no choice but to check things out himself and then record it.

He also took the opportunity to visit the little deer. He was able to survive this time in large part thanks to the Colourless Yunni Deer's ability, but he wasn't able to stay by the little deer's side due to various reasons. Feeling very guilty, he planned to visit and accompany the little deer for some time. 

While Chi Muyao busied himself, Yi Qianxi waved Yi Lan and Hao Xia over. "Shidi doesn't even have a flying artefact. That's so inconvenient. Let's buy him one." 

Yi Lan was astonished. "He still doesn't have one? Shouldn’t his Shifu give him one?" 

Hao Xia was a little embarrassed. "I don't have anything like that."

Yi Qianxi continued, "Shidi's eighteenth birthday is almost here. Let's give it to him then. In a few days, I will go to the market to commission a custom one. What would be good?" 

Hao Xia quickly replied, "A sword, of course."

Yi Lan shook his head. "Our Yu Chong School doesn't teach swordsmanship. Xixi, you've been with Yaoyao the longest. What does he like?"

"He's interested in formations, but I don't think he needs a compass. Let's commission a formation needle for him to use while breaking formations or something."

A formation needle was an artefact that could be used to quickly pierce the eye of a formation. Its front was shaped like the head of a spear, and there were some tassels at the end tied to gems, which increased the attack power. 

Chi Muyao used a hairpin to break the formation this time. She remembered this minute detail and felt that her Shidi was truly wronged. 

The three quickly reached an agreement.

They would go with this.

Sure enough, Xi Huai's group came to the Yu Chong School on the second day. They walked in directly without even knocking on the door. 

Them not flying directly to the main courtyard gate was already giving the Yu Chong school face.

The little disciples in the yard were a bit flustered to see them and hurried inside to report.

Hao Xia stuck his head out of the shack to take a look. He shouted, "They're catching pigs in the back of the mountain!" 

Xi Huai was stunned to hear that. He discovered that Hao Xia was filling in a hole in the floor of the shack. Obviously, the pigs dug said hole and ran out after breaking the formation, and Chi Muyao and the others went to catch them.

Zong Sichen didn't want to go after hearing this. "It's insulting to my scholarly image." 

In the end, Xi Huai still dragged him by the back of his collar to the back mountain.

After searching for a while, they soon found Chi Muyao.

However, Chi Muyao didn't have the time to spare on them right now. He was busy holding the hem of his clothes up and corralling a little wild boar in the forest with Yi Qianxi.

The little wild boar was a spirit beast of the cultivation world, much smarter and faster than its mortal counterpart. It had also experienced many battles and knew how to avoid capture artefacts.

Xi Huai wanted to talk to Chi Muyao, but as soon as he walked over the little wild boar charged him. He quickly dodged.

Chi Muyao ran over and exasperatedly asked, "Why did you dodge?"

"What else was I supposed to do?" Xi Huai asked, astonished.

"Catch it, ah!"

"You want me..." Xi Huai pointed at himself, "to catch a pig?"

"Then back off and get out of my way."

"I'm in your way?!"

"Well, you're no good at catching pigs!"

"I'm no good?!" Xi Huai couldn't believe it. Did someone just say he was no good??

Without wasting another word, Chi Muyao leapt away to continue chasing the pig.

Chi Muyao and Yi Qianxi weren't good at fighting, but they were experts at capturing spirit beasts. Agilely manoeuvring through the forest, they tossed capture-type artefacts at the spirit beast.

Their aim was practised and true.

Song Weiyue sighed as he watched them catch the pig. "I thought Chi Muyao's movement skills were fast before because of the He Huan Sect. Now it looks like he's that fast because he trains like this everyday." 

He still doubted Chi Muyao was A-Jiu.

After all, Chi Muyao looked even more ignorant than him.

Xi Huai's heart ached a little at the sight of Chi Muyao running in the forest, so he ordered, "You two go and help."

Zong Sichen repeatedly shook his head. "A refined person like me is not suitable for such a brutish task."

Song Weiyue also shook his head, "I might slip and accidentally slap that little pig to death."

Xi Huai was torn for a while, his expression becoming more savage than it usually was. In the end, he finally leapt into action to help Chi Muyao catch the pig. 

Zong Sichen was stunned. "The Sect Master must never learn of this matter, or all our lives are forfeit." 

Song Weiyue sighed for a long time. "He's gone mad, mad I tell you." 

One of the wonders of the world: the young master catching a pig. 

Preparing to help, Xi Huai took out an artefact from his Myriad Treasure Bell. Chi Muyao saw it and hastily stopped him. "Don't use this kind of consumable or else we won't be able to compensate you if we give you the entire island. If you can't catch it, just hide in the trees and stay out of the way." 

On the contrary, Xi Huai became even more adamant. "I can catch it!"

"Oh...that's nice." With that, Chi Muyao quickly passed him and left. 

Xi Huai's dignity received a heavy blow. 

He was the veritable Young Sect Master of the Qing Ze Sect, unafraid of Heaven and Earth. No task has been beyond his capabilities before, certainly not catching a pig. 

There's nothing he couldn't do!

Nothing!

Xi Huai arrived in the forest and blocked the boar's path. But he hesitated just as the boar was about to pass him. "Am I supposed to grab it with my hands?"

Even Chi Muyao was helpless. "What else are you going to use, your hidden pair of wings?" 

"What wings?" Xi Huai didn't understand.

The transmigrator Chi Muyao shut up again.

Chi Muyao didn't know if Xi Huai was here to help catch the pig or cause trouble. In the end, it was Yi Qianxi who caught it.

Carrying the boar in her arms, Yi Qianxi looked disdainfully back at Xi Huai. Her eyes seemed to say: Shidi, this guy can't even catch a pig. I don't approve of a disciple brother-in-law like him. 

Chi Muyao was also a little embarrassed. He pointed to the foot of the mountain and said, "Let's go back."

"Oh..." Xi Huai was a little upset. He followed Chi Muyao down the mountain with a sullen expression.

At the foot of the mountain, Chi Muyao entertained the three of them in the main hall and poured tea for them. However, the process was harder than expected.

After the first cup was poured, Hao Xia came in and asked, "Yaoyao, ah. Where are the formation pegs in the shack?"

"Oh, they're hanging on the wall of the accounting room. The third Qiankun bag from the right."

Hao Xia turned and left.

While the third cup was being poured, Yi Qianxi came in carrying the boar in her arms to show him. "Shidi, take a look. Is its hoof injured? Where is the medicinal powder?"

"In the granary inside that emerald green Qiankun bag.”

So Yi Qianxi carried the boar out again.

Xi Huai looked at Chi Muyao and asked, "Do you do this every day?"

Chi Muyao set down the teapot and shook his head. "Boars don't run away every day."

"Then what do you usually do?"

"Eat, sleep, fish, accounting...ah. That seems to be it." 

"..." Don't you cultivate?

At this time, Qiuqiu flew in from the door. It jumped on the table excitedly after seeing Xi Huai.

Chi Muyao reached out and scooped it up, intending to take it away. However, Qiuqiu flew out of his grasp.

It wasn't long until Qiuqiu returned with several bugs in its beak, which it dropped in front of Xi Huai.

Xi Huai looked at the bugs and then at Qiuqiu, asking, "Is it provoking me?"

Chi Muyao hurried to explain, "It's trying to welcome you with its favourite food."

"Then do I have to thank it?"

"No need."

Xi Huai felt a wave of disgust when he looked at the bugs. He wanted to get rid of it using a spell, but he couldn't bear to in the end.

Then he looked at Qiuqiu, who had been doggedly staring at him the entire time.

He pointed at Qiuqiu and asked, "Why does it keep looking at me for?" 

Chi Muyao replied, somewhat embarrassed,  "It...wants to watch you eat..."

Zong Sichen covered his mouth with one hand, trying to not make his amusement too obvious.

Song Weiyue managed to hold back a smile and say, "First time I realised the downsides of being liked by a bird." 

Chi Muyao could see Xi Huai's expression getting more and more stinky, so he quickly and patiently explained to Qiuqiu, "Qiuqiu, he doesn't eat bugs. He practises inedia and doesn't need to eat at all." 

"Qiu!"

"Aiya, why don't you understand? Only birds eat bugs, not humans." 

Qiuqiu spread its wings. "Qiu!" 

"He's not an animal just because he has horns on his forehead!"

"Qiu!!" Qiuqiu was busy cozying up to the fox in a chicken coop. It thought that Xi Huai was the same species as itself because they both have Hui Dragon Flames and he couldn't be convinced otherwise. 

Song Weiyue laughed aloud, "Young Sect Master, this...kindness is not something you see everyday. Why don't you play along and have some?"

"Fuck off!" Xi Huai replied grumpily. 

In the end, Xi Huai could only take out a small octagonal box from his Myriad Treasure Bell which was carefully carved and inlaid with gems. It was usually used to store important items.

The quality of pills stored inside could be maintained, and even living creatures could survive within. 

He used the Control Object Technique to put the bugs in the box. "I'll keep them, alright?"

The storage box of exceptional quality ended up being used to keep bugs.

Qiuqiu looked back. "Qiu!"

Chi Muyao quickly translated, "It's very happy."

Chi Muyao didn't entertain them all the time.

Since he just returned to the Yu Chong School, there was a pile of work that had built up to keep him busy.

Xi Huai followed him out of the main hall. He saw Chi Muyao sitting in the gazebo with Yi Qianxi, making spiritual pet food with an artefact. 

Some special spirit pets needed them to plant certain vegetation to feed on. Petals were one kind of spirit beast food, while leaves were another. Some only ate seeds and rhizomes that had been processed, which was a task left to them. 

Xi Huai sat in the gazebo and watched as Chi Muyao got a second wind. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing slender arms. 

He quickly used the Control Object Technique to lower Chi Muyao's sleeves and hide his arms.

Chi Muyao was startled. He looked at Xi Huai.

Xi Huai said with disdain, "I was afraid you'd be cold.”

Chi Muyao: "..." 

It's summer right now, sir! 

Chi Muyao's birthday was four days later.

The Yu Chong School organised a small birthday banquet for Chi Muyao, which was quite grand.

The Yu Chong School cultivators didn't practise inedia, meaning they would eat from time to time. The little disciples within the Sect whipped up more than a dozen dishes, one of them being the jujube cakes Chi Muyao had always been partial to.

The Yu Chong School didn't have much in terms of decorations, so they hung lanterns to celebrate the occasion. 

Chi Muyao was very pleasantly surprised. Though he would be happier if Xi Huai's group wasn't here. 

Xi Huai's group had indeed practised inedia for many years and didn't need to eat. They just sat at the banquet table without even picking up their chopsticks. Everyone around them felt a sense of pressure.

Conversation between Chi Muyao and Xi Huai often reached awkward dead ends.

For example, Xi Huai looked right into his eyes and sincerely said, "I once missed the 90th birthday of an old friend, which I regretted dearly for the longest time. Being able to attend your 18th birthday banquet isn't bad either. It's very memorable."

Chi Muyao tried his best to squeeze out a smile. "En, what an honour!"

"You should feel honoured. I've rarely attended the birthday banquets of anyone growing up. What was the exact number again...? Sigh. I can't remember. My memory's declined as I've grown older. After all, I'm already in my twenties. Not like you, who is only eighteen." 

"Haha..." Chi Muyao laughed with great difficultyDon't forget Chi Muyao might be physically 18, but mentally he's much older..

If you don't know how to speak, please shut your mouth. 

Yi Qianxi couldn't understand what Xi Huai was on about. She only solemnly took out the artefact they had prepared for Chi Muyao: the formation breaking needle. 

"We custom ordered this and had the floral patterns you like carved on it!" 

This needle was entirely silvery white and conical in shape. Indeed, there were intricate flowers and birds carved on it, Chi Muyao's favourite design. The artefact sported a silver-white tassel on one end, which was tied to a sapphire-blue gem.

Chi Muyao was very pleasantly surprised. He looked at it for a long time after receiving it, and obviously liked it very much. "Thank you all."

After glancing at it, Xi Huai took out a pendant from his Myriad Treasure Bell and snatched away the formation breaking needle from Chi Muyao. He took off the tassel and attached his pendant to it.

This pendant was a silver coloured round carved cage with a blue crescent-shaped gemstone inside, suspended in the air. It looked luxurious and intricate, a perfect match for the formation breaking needle. 

Finally, he reattached the tassel and returned the needle to Chi Muyao. 

Chi Muyao accepted the needle again. "Thank you..."

He could feel the abundant spiritual energy contained within the pendant now that it was in his hands. He felt quite guilty accepting a probably very valuable object.

Yet Xi Huai just couldn't say one nice thing. "No need for thanks. I'll give you a better one at your centenary birthday banquet." 

"..." Please shut up, sir. Or else I can't be happy!