Chapter 69: The Three Senior Brothers Gather

Mu Baiyun was quite surprised by Ji Yao's question. Instead of answering immediately, he posed a question to her.

“As far as I know, Master Uncle has already taken you as a disciple in all but the formal ceremony. Other than not having officially bowed and paid respects, there’s little difference. Why not address her directly? You could even call me... your senior brother.”

This question had actually been raised by Situ Jing as well. Ji Yao had reflected on it carefully and, in the end, could only sum it up in two words—being affected, or more bluntly, just being difficult.

She simply couldn't get over herself. Had it been anyone else, they would have been moved to tears, kneeling to serve tea in gratitude, not still hung up on a matter of address. Wasn't this just being needlessly fussy? It made even those who cared for her sigh inwardly.

But she was riding a tiger and couldn't easily get off now. If she went back on her word after what she’d said before, Ji Yao thought that would be even worse.

“But I promised my master,” she said.

“Do you think Master Uncle, sincerely wishing to take you as her disciple, would really mind such things? Don’t belittle yourself; you are outstanding.”

Ji Yao’s eyes widened. She looked at Mu Baiyun earnestly, falling silent for a moment.

After holding her gaze with Ji Yao for a while, Mu Baiyun finally admitted defeat. The girl’s eyes were simply too bright, too candid—such a thing was rarely seen in the cultivation world, where most people were adept at hiding their true thoughts.

Mu Baiyun, having long dealt with people from outside the sect, had seen all sorts, but this kind of direct, unadulterated gaze was a rarity. Turning his head, he pointed at Gu Qiu. “Isn’t he, proud as he is, someone who acknowledged you early on?”

Ah, with Gu Qiu mentioned, Ji Yao’s thoughts, which had been led astray, finally returned to the point—wasn’t she the one who had asked the question?

Since things had reached this point, there was no need to keep up the pretense. With a smile that lit up her eyes, Ji Yao said straightforwardly, “Senior Brother Mu! So now, can you tell me about you and Second Senior Brother?”

“Master Uncle is usually busy with many affairs. You could say Gu Qiu grew up following me and Lu Ming. For some reason, he always saw me as a rival to challenge,” Mu Baiyun replied, his tone tinged with helplessness.

Could that really be it? Ji Yao doubted the truth was so simple. Things often required seeing past the surface—just as she had observed. “But I think Second Senior Brother is your little fanboy.”

Little—Mu Baiyun could understand; compared to their ages and the time they joined the sect, Gu Qiu was indeed much younger. But a fanboy?

All right, she had misused the term again. “No, what I mean is that he respects you deeply and pays special attention to you.”

What Ji Yao truly wanted to say was: you are his goal, the one he strives to catch up to. But such sentimental words were not hers to say.

“Is this just your guess?” Mu Baiyun looked at Gu Qiu, not turning his head.

You can see it with your eyes! Ji Yao didn’t answer. “He tries so hard, taking burdens from the master, always considering the good of Tianlu Peak. Even when he comes to me, it's with the same thought. He pushes his limits not out of stubbornness, but because he admires your excellence.”

At present, he has no reputation in the sect. This is exactly when he should focus on cultivation, to amaze everyone with one feat, rather than choosing the harder path just to keep up with you.

Ji Yao knew Gu Qiu had volunteered to enter the Yunqi Secret Realm—he must have discovered something after returning to the sect that prompted him to take on this mission.

A silence fell. Mu Baiyun had always thought that the child who grew up behind him and Lu Ming was just driven by similar spiritual roots and circumstances, always struggling to maintain his pride. Had they really overlooked something?

After a long pause, Mu Baiyun finally looked at Ji Yao again. “I’ll speak to Master Uncle about Gu Qiu.”

Ji Yao neither agreed nor disagreed, only emphasizing one thing. “Don’t let him know I told you this.”

The man across from her gave Ji Yao a long, searching look, as if he wanted to say something but finally swallowed it, nodding quietly.

“Did you discover anything before this? Or rather, after the secret realm incident nine years ago, did you uncover anything?” Ji Yao couldn’t decipher the meaning in Mu Baiyun’s gaze, so she ignored it and asked the question she cared most about before entering the secret realm. If she was right, Gu Qiu should have guessed this as well.

“There were some traces near the Qixian Secret Realm. The original scene was thoroughly destroyed, leaving only some markings on the ground that no one could decipher. To be safe, the sect had people make rubbings of the patterns, and the records have been kept in the Hall of Enforcement ever since.”

Having witnessed the last incident at the Hall of Enforcement, Mu Baiyun could not forget the shock this young woman’s analysis had given him, so he naturally explained everything he knew in detail.

After listening, Ji Yao folded her left arm, propped her chin with her right hand, and paced a few steps. “After Gu Qiu returned, didn’t he say those marks were very similar to the altar arrangement we found this time?”

Mu Baiyun shook his head. “Not similar—absolutely identical.”

Then it must be true. This time, the Yunqi Secret Realm was bound to mirror the Qixian Secret Realm from nine years ago; a sixth-rank demon beast would inevitably appear.

This was truly not good news. She needed to confirm Gu Qiu’s thoughts later and make a proper plan.

“Before Gu Qiu and I set out, did you find any other altars?”

By now, Mu Baiyun wasn’t surprised Ji Yao could deduce this and answered directly, “We found two. One had already been completed and activated; the other was unfinished.”

“The demonic cultivator we caught in Fuling City was found near the unfinished altar.”

At that moment, Ji Yao thought of the woman named Xuan Yi, who had apparently addressed the man as senior brother?

If so, did this demonic cultivator know her too? Ji Yao was deeply relieved that she hadn’t been discovered by him, and that the woman named Xuan Yi had vanished before she and Mu Baiyun entered Fuling City.

This matter was growing ever more complicated. Ji Yao had a feeling that she and Xuan Yi would cross paths often in the future.

“Senior Brother Mu, do you have the altar’s diagram with you?”

Mu Baiyun once again gestured toward Gu Qiu. “Didn’t he tell you? You two set out early precisely to study and analyze that altar.”

Gu Qiu had never explained the purpose of their early departure!

And when did she ever study such things? That was nonsense!

An hour passed quickly. Ji Yao woke Gu Qiu from his meditation before Mu Baiyun did.

As Gu Qiu opened his eyes, he immediately noticed something odd between the two standing before him.

Ji Yao, for one, always wore her feelings openly. For instance, right now, she looked at him as if he were a child—how strange! Even Senior Brother Baiyun’s eyes held an indulgent smile. Something suspicious was going on.

Ji Yao wanted to say, “Who would have thought you, Gu Qiu, were such a classic adolescent?” Of course, she didn’t dare offend him so bluntly—she only thought it.

The three of them set out again. What would normally have taken three days was reduced to just a day and a half with Mu Baiyun’s escort.

Their flying sword had barely touched down when, in the blink of an eye, Ji Yao—who had just been gazing around leisurely—was suddenly snatched off by a newcomer, scaring her half to death.

It took all her effort to calm her pounding heart before she looked up at the person responsible for pulling her from the flying sword.

Just one look and Ji Yao was stunned. If Dongfang Shun could be described as a refined nobleman, then this newcomer was the very image of a prince.

Sensing Ji Yao’s gaze, the newcomer turned and smiled radiantly.

“Junior sister, it is an honor to meet you for the first time. I look forward to your guidance!”