You Two Are Ganging Up on Me

Qin Nanyue looked at Lin Ying, who was plainly acting as though she had something to hide, and frowned slightly.

Having known her for years, she knew Lin Ying all too well.

The girl was usually calm and gentle, soft-spoken and graceful in her conduct. She never acted like this...

Her eyes darted about, her cheeks were flushed, and she jumped at every question, just like a young wife whose secret thoughts had been discovered.

Qin Nanyue glanced at Lu Yang beside her.

Needless to say, it had to have something to do with this Junior Brother Lu.

Come to think of it, Yingying's heart had long been set on this boy.

Lu Yang was even more handsome than the last time they met, and a swarm of wild bees and butterflies had surrounded him in the square just now, trying to strike up conversations. It was only natural that Yingying felt a little uncertain.

Qin Nanyue felt she understood. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and her voice took on a teasing note. "What's wrong? Can't stand seeing Junior Brother Lu surrounded by a swarm of wild bees and butterflies?"

"Huh? N-no!" Lin Ying didn't understand at first, but once she did, she hurriedly shook her head and waved her hands, her movements flustered.

At the same time, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, Nanyue didn't notice the real reason.

To Qin Nanyue, Lin Ying's reaction only confirmed her suspicions.

She glanced at Lu Yang and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Lu, Yingying is feeling nervous because of you. Don't you have anything to say?"

Lu Yang felt a subtle sense of strangeness.

Senior Sister Qin had no idea why Senior Sister Lin was really nervous, but he had no intention of clearing up the misunderstanding.

Playing along, he turned to Lin Ying with a smile, his voice gentle and open. "Don't worry, Senior Sister Lin. I've kept my distance from those senior sisters. You're the one in my heart."

Lin Ying's cheeks instantly turned scarlet, and even her neck took on a faint pink hue.

She opened her mouth, but couldn't manage a single word, her fingers unconsciously twisting the fabric of her sleeve.

Qin Nanyue nodded in satisfaction.

Junior Brother Lu really is a good one. He can speak so openly even in front of me. Yingying should be able to put her mind at ease now.

Lu Yang stole a glance at the panel.

He discovered that what he had just said had actually raised Qin Nanyue's favorability by five points, from twenty-five to thirty.

It seemed Senior Sister Qin really cared about Senior Sister Lin's feelings. Seeing how sincerely he treated Lin Ying, she had come to approve of him a little more as well.

The three of them chatted as they walked side by side out of the outer sect square and followed the mountain path toward the market.

Pines and cypresses stood verdant on either side of the path. The morning mist had yet to fully disperse, and wisps of white gauze lingered among the treetops, nearly fading from sight.

Along the way, the outer disciples who passed them wore all sorts of expressions when they saw the three walking together.

Some were surprised, some curious, and quite a few had undisguised jealousy and anger flashing in their eyes.

Lu Yang was somewhat bewildered by their stares. What are these senior brothers and sisters jealous of? he wondered.

Unfortunately, they all seemed to be communicating through voice transmissions, so he had no way of finding out.

The three continued chatting as they walked.

Lu Yang took the opportunity to bring up his questions about the exchange privileges for Sect Contribution Points.

He had originally planned to visit the Treasure Hall and the Scripture Pavilion himself to ask, but since Lin Ying and Qin Nanyue were both there today, he might as well ask them directly.

Lu Yang's guess had been right.

Qin Nanyue came from a Golden Core Aristocratic Clan and was herself one of the top outer disciples, so she knew all about these matters.

From her, Lu Yang learned that outer disciples' exchange privileges were divided into clearly defined tiers.

Ordinary outer disciples occupied the lowest tier and could only exchange points for low-grade Profound Grade cultivation methods and Law Techniques.

The rules for Law Treasures and pills were somewhat less strict. As long as they weren't supreme-grade, anything of the second tier or below could be exchanged for.

The top ten thousand outer disciples occupied the second tier. Their privileges extended to middle-grade Profound Grade cultivation methods and Law Techniques, but were no different from those of ordinary disciples in other respects.

The top hundred outer disciples had much greater privileges. They could exchange points for high-grade Profound Grade cultivation methods and Law Techniques, as well as supreme-grade first-tier pills and Law Treasures.

As for the top ten outer disciples, they occupied the highest tier. They could exchange points for supreme-grade Profound Grade cultivation methods and Law Techniques, and even supreme-grade second-tier treasures were within their reach.

Lu Yang's eyes grew brighter as he listened.

Supreme-grade Profound Grade cultivation methods and Law Techniques!

If he could make it into the top ten, he could exchange contribution points for them directly. There was no need to wait miserably outside the auction house and try his luck.

After all, the items at each auction were different. Sometimes, even after waiting several years, he might not come across what he needed.

But within the sect, as long as he had enough contribution points, these things were all there for the taking at any time.

Even with the threefold difference in price when exchanging Spirit Stones for contribution points, it was absolutely worth it to him.

"Are inner disciples' exchange privileges even greater, then?" Lu Yang asked.

Qin Nanyue smiled. "Naturally. Inner disciples can directly exchange points for low-grade Earth Grade cultivation methods and Law Techniques. Core disciples, personal disciples, and even the sect's upper echelons have access to middle-grade and even high-grade Earth Grade cultivation methods and Law Techniques."

A look of anticipation appeared in her eyes, and her tone unconsciously grew more solemn. "Middle-grade and high-grade Earth Grade cultivation methods are sect-defining treasures even in a top power like the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect. Even my Qin Household can't produce anything of that caliber."

Lu Yang silently committed her words to memory.

Core disciples, personal disciples... If I want the best cultivation methods, I'll have to climb higher.

Only with a powerful cultivation method would the path to immortality truly open up before him.

While Qin Nanyue and Lu Yang talked, Lin Ying walked quietly beside them.

Her steps were light, and her gaze drifted toward Lu Yang from time to time—whenever he wasn't paying attention, she kept looking at him.

The young man's profile had clean, sharp lines in the morning light. Sunlight turned his eyelashes pale gold, and his brows lifted slightly when he spoke. His whole figure seemed wrapped in a layer of light.

Whenever Lu Yang suddenly looked her way, she quickly lowered her head, the tips of her ears quietly reddening a little more.

Before they knew it, the three had arrived at the Golden Rainbow Restaurant in the market.

Qin Nanyue led them up to the second floor with practiced ease and chose a private room by the window.

The market streets outside lay in full view. People came and went along the bluestone street, while spiritual lights and vendors' cries mingled throughout.

Qin Nanyue leaned back in her chair and waved a hand grandly. "Junior Brother Lu, today we're celebrating your entry into the outer sect! Order whatever you want. Don't hold back on my account."

Lu Yang naturally knew that Qin Nanyue had a powerful background and no shortage of Spirit Stones.

He cheerfully opened the menu and spoke without ceremony. "Then I won't hold back, Senior Sister Qin. Don't go crying poverty afterward."

Qin Nanyue raised a brow, looking confident. "Order whatever you like."

"Can I order second-tier Spirit Cuisine?" Lu Yang asked with a smile, looking up at her.

Qin Nanyue's expression visibly stiffened for an instant.

A single serving of second-tier Spirit Cuisine cost at least a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Even she couldn't bear to eat it normally.

The main reason was that Qi Refining Realm cultivators simply couldn't digest the medicinal effects of second-tier Spirit Cuisine. Most of its Spiritual Qi would dissipate, making it a complete waste.

But when she remembered how confidently she had just said "order whatever you like," she gritted her teeth and snorted. "Order it!"

"Then I won't hold back," Lu Yang said with a chuckle.

And he really did tick off a second-tier Spirit Cuisine dish on the menu.

Seeing that he actually dared order it, Qin Nanyue pursed her red lips, looking a little aggrieved. "Second-tier Spirit Cuisine is made with second-tier ingredients. Can you even digest it?"

Lu Yang blinked and looked at her innocently. "I'm not eating Spirit Cuisine for its medicinal effects. Isn't it about having a taste? I just want to see if second-tier Spirit Cuisine tastes any better."

Qin Nanyue's eyes went wide. "???"

Lin Ying was stunned too. "???"

Qin Nanyue's face darkened with black lines, and her voice rose a notch. "Who eats Spirit Cuisine just to taste it?!"

Beside her, Lin Ying saw Qin Nanyue's speechless expression and couldn't help pressing her lips together to stifle a laugh.

In all the years she had known Nanyue, this was the first time she had seen the girl left so speechless.

Qin Nanyue had sharp eyes and caught Lin Ying laughing on the sly at once.

Her tone immediately turned sour. "Oh, I see—you've got a sweetheart and forgotten your sister? Yingying, you're actually laughing at me too?! You weren't like this before!"

Lin Ying hurriedly waved her hands. "No! I wasn't laughing at you!"

Lu Yang chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Senior Sister Lin didn't deny that I'm her sweetheart."

Lin Ying's body stiffened abruptly, and her cheeks visibly burned red.

She let out an "Ah!" and covered her face with both hands, leaving only the tips of her ears exposed, red through and through. The skin visible between her fingers glowed crimson.

At the sight, Qin Nanyue's gloom vanished. She chuckled mischievously and drew out her words as she teased, "Ohhh, Yingying's dying of embarrassment."

Lin Ying kept her face covered, her muffled voice soft and aggrieved. "You... you two are ganging up on me!"

She lowered her hands and glared at them, but her eyes shimmered with tears, and her look wasn't intimidating in the least.

Lu Yang and Qin Nanyue exchanged a glance and both burst out laughing.