When Chi Muyao and Xi Huai returned to the altar, everything was already settled.

The Luo Sha Sect's main target this time was Xi Huai. Xi Huai once again eviscerated the corpse puppets and eradicated as many Luo Sha Sect disciples as his divine sense could find.

Without them causing trouble, this event could be considered over. 

Chi Muyao came over in time to hear someone say, "The miasma really dissipated. It seems that it was indeed generated by the Blue Sacrifice. We buried the bodies of the blue foxes and destroyed the altar, so the miasma shouldn't appear again."

They did not know that the reason for the miasma's dissipation was actually Chi Muyao treating the blue fox, which caused it to lose interest in dealing with irrelevant people anymore. 

However, the appreciation of the cultivators was not necessary. After all, Chi Muyao's healing ability could not be exposed.

Yet the other cultivators were not still happy. Instead, they said worriedly, "What about the red moon in the sky...?" 

“Heaven's anger has not been placated. I'm afraid there will be calamities to come." 

Yu Yanshu looked up at the sky at the red moon, which was half covered by the clouds. He also had a worried look on his face. 

However, he could only comfort the crowd, “We buried the blue fox bodies and dealt with the miasma. Anything else can wait until we leave the...Ling Que mountain range." 

He did not want to mention the Grand Array sealing the mountain. Every time he thought about how they were sealed in the mountains by their sect elders, he would still feel sad even if he understood their intentions.

Heaven's anger was still present, but they couldn't do anything about it. It was best to focus on the present. 

Only after the group dealt with the blue fox corpses did Chi Muyao walk to the centre of the altar with several other disciples and lay down a formation to temporarily seal it.

After that, everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the miasma continued to stay away.

Now Chi Muyao had the time to go see Xi Huai. 

He walked over to see that Xi Huai was looking up at the red moon. He was probably also worried. 

Strange phenomenon in the skies meant trouble. It was unknown whether they would be implicated. 

Yi Qianxi noticed something was off with him and came over. "Shidi, what's wrong with your cultivation?"

"I just forcibly sealed the altar, so—" 

"Are you a fool?! It was so hard to reach mid Foundation Building stage, now..." Yi Qianxi was very sad. 

“It's okay. I can still cultivate.”

“Does your seclusion have to be postponed then? You haven't gotten the pill anyway, and who knows when the Exam will resume." Yi Qianxi adjusted the blue fox's position in her arms. "Why did it suddenly become heavier? It's not like it ate anything on the way, ah. It feels like it's grown."

Chi Muyao could only answer vaguely, "Well it is still growing."

They decided to go down the mountain immediately after a short break. After all, this wasn't a good place to stay for a long time.

The cultivators found secluded places to use the Simple Washing Technique to tidy up their appearances. Some even changed clothes.

Chi Muyao did the same. However, his new clothes were still ordinary and plain. 

While resting, Yi Qianxi noticed how Chi Muyao kept peeping at Xi Huai, who seemed to be ignoring him.

How the tables have turned. 

She couldn't help but whisper, "What's the matter with you guys?"

“There was a little misunderstanding." Chi Muyao indicated with his thumb and index finger. 

Yi Qianxi changed to divine voice transmission. "What's going on?"

"Shijie, do you know how to pursue a boy?"

"..." Yi Qianxi sighed after giving Chi Muyao a look. "I can't believe you asked! Would you go to a veterinarian if you're sick too??" 

"Alas, love is so difficult." 

Yi Qianxi quickly noticed something was wrong and asked, “You're chasing him now ? I thought he likes you?"

“It's a long story. When he liked me, I didn't think I liked him. I even told him many times that I didn't like him. Then, after we went our separate ways, I realised I often thought of him and blushed when doing so, meaning I do like him. However, when I brought that up he no longer believed me." 

"Oh how the tables have turned."

Chi Muyao glanced at Xi Huai, very embarrassed. "All I can think about now is how to let him know that I really like him."

"Just walk up and say that."

"He doesn't believe it though!"   

Yi Qianxi's head hurt. She waved her hands. "I'm not good at this. If he's a spirit beast, I can help you observe when he goes into heat and tell you what season is suitable for mating, but he's a human."

"Then I'll try to think of something."

After resting, something happened on Xi Zihe's end.

He could only walk with the bead since he couldn't use any artefacts within its radius.

The other cultivators definitely wanted to descend the mountain using artefacts so they could quickly reach the bottom. Naturally, no one was willing to walk all that way with Xi Zihe. 

At this time, Chi Muyao realised that this artefact was really powerful, but also cumbersome.

Without a way to temporarily put it away, it was like a hot potato. 

Xi Zihe insisted on taking the bead, but how was he supposed to get back to the Nuan Yan Pavilion? By horse? It'd take months to get back. 

Xi Zihe also didn't want to cause trouble for everyone, so he took the initiative to say, "You guys don't have to wait for me. I will walk down the mountain on my own and find a way to return to the Nuan Yan Pavilion."

Tang Ming felt a sense of schadenfreude. "This bead's useless now, right? Why don't you put it back so it doesn't weigh you down." 

Han Qingyuan was very unhappy to hear that and retorted, “If you were recognised as this bead's master, would you not want it? Besides, since it has recognised Xi Zihe, it's his. What do you mean by ‘put it back’? We still don't know how to use it, but the Sect seniors may have some ideas. Keep your useless opinions to yourself, alright?"

Tang Ming snorted coldly and did not speak again.

Han Qingyuan walked over to comfort Xi Zihe. "It's okay, I'll walk down the mountain with you."

Xi Zihe was very moved and nodded. 

Han Qingyuan said to the others, "Thank you for all your help this time. We'll see you back at the Nuan Yan Pavilion."

Chi Muyao recognised this as an opportunity for the male and female leads to grow closer, so he did not disturb them. After nodding to them, he walked towards Xi Huai.

Xi Huai noticed his arrival and tilted his head at him. 

He looked at Xi Huai with pitiful eyes and asked, "Xi Huai, my spiritual energy is still unstable. Take me with you?" 

"En, okay." Xi Huai took out an artefact from his Myriad Treasure Bell that could be used by two people. 

Chi Muyao quickly got on and stood up properly. He only turned to look back at the Xiang Huang Pavilion when Xi Huai steered the artefact off the ground. 

The originally brilliant sect was now in ruins. The dead air was heavy and even flying birds were unwilling to stay too long in this place.

He couldn't help but feel contempt. The Xiang Huang Pavilion doomed themselves by being too greedy.

He retracted his gaze and grabbed Xi Huai's sleeve, taking the initiative to ask, “Let's familiarise our divine senses so we can send transmissions in the future." 

Him taking the initiative made Xi Huai a little uncomfortable. 

However, Xi Huai had always wanted this. Naturally he wouldn't refuse. "Oh, okay.” 

While controlling the artefact, Xi Huai infused his index finger with spiritual energy and tapped Chi Muyao's forehead.

Chi Muyao also called on his spiritual energy. Seeing how Xi Huai cooperatively lowered his head, he happily tapped the man's forehead.

Afterwards, their divine senses converged like rivers flowing into the sea. They could sense the other's mood and state at this moment.

Xi Huai could confirm that Chi Muyao was particularly happy right now.

His joy seemed to be infectious, causing Xi Huai to also relax. His previous mood lessened by a lot.

Since Chi Muyao and Xi Huai could now use divine sense transmission, of course they had to try it out. So Chi Muyao asked shyly, "Xi Huai, my spiritual energy is currently unstable. When we leave the Ling Que mountain range, can we...dual cultivate?"

"En?!" Xi Huai was so shocked he responded out loud. He looked over in astonishment.

Chi Muyao was embarrassed by his gaze. He quickly added, "If you feel tired, you can just lie down. I'll do all the work." 

The flying artefact was windproof, but Xi Huai coughed like no tomorrow. 

Chi Muyao quickly went to pat him on the back. 

Xi Huai's heart was in chaos right now.

Just what was going on with Chi Muyao? Why was he taking the initiative now?

He suddenly recalled how the last time Chi Muyao was so forward and even kissed him, then he fed him wine and ran away for two years. 

Now that he was proposing dual cultivation, did he have some other way of escaping?

Chi Muyao came up with something new after learning the Huanwu Jade could be countered?

What other escape methods did the He Huan Sect have? He should've asked Zong Sichen ahead of time. 

How overwhelming!

Was it because he was jealous and angry just now? Did Chi Muyao feel so annoyed he planned to use some trick to leave him again?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me...  Something was definitely up.

So Xi Huai clenched his fists, pushed down his grievances, and apologised first, "I was wrong." 

"Huh?" Chi Muyao didn't understand.

"I won't get angry all of a sudden again."

“...” 

Chi Muyao could not help but lower his eyes. 

Xi Huai really was angry, so angry he didn't want to bother anymore. He even rejected Chi Muyao's offer to dual cultivate.

...Was this his retribution for not realising his feelings sooner and shooting Xi Huai down so much? 

Chi Muyao could only try again, "Xi Huai, my cultivation has regressed. It will be difficult to form a golden core. When we leave the mountain, I'll go back to the Yu Chong School to check on the Yixian Grass, then I'll go back to the Qing Ze Sect with you, all right?"

Xi Huai fell into deep contemplation. 

Coming to the Qing Ze Sect of his own initiative...could there be something there like a secret passage I don't know about for Chi Muyao to flee?

Since he did his best to stay out of the Sect before, this really was a possibility.

Xi Huai could only avoid this topic. "Why would we go there for no good reason?"

Chi Muyao was shocked. He wasn't even allowed to go to the Qing Ze Sect anymore??

Was Xi Huai this angry?

Chi Muyao really couldn't think of anything else off the bat. He held Xi Huai's arm and leaned on him, coquettishly saying, "My head hurts." 

Xi Huai raised his head subconsciously. He was afraid Chi Muyao would use some illusion while approaching him, distracting him long enough to escape. 

He needed to stay calm and sober at all times to prevent Chi Muyao from leaving him again.

He must not be deceived by Chi Muyao's schemes!

You can have fun while awake, but when you sleep you lose. 

Xi Huai—fighting!