Tattoos?

"Master, you're back."

A young man hurried into Gu He's courtyard, his voice tinged with excitement.

Upon hearing the voice, Gu He naturally knew who it was.

Apart from Xiao Yi Xian, the only one who could call him Master now was his eldest disciple, Liu Ling.

"So reckless and unruly. What kind of behavior is this?"

Without even turning around, Gu He rebuked Liu Ling, who had just entered.

Normally, Gu He was not particularly strict with Liu Ling, maintaining the demeanor of a kind teacher.

But today, Gu He had returned with Xiao Yi Xian.

Before this newly accepted disciple, Gu He did not want to leave the impression that his sect's discipline was lax.

Therefore, seeing Liu Ling's discourteous and reckless manner, Gu He could not help but criticize him.

"Uh..."

Liu Ling, who had rushed into the courtyard with an excited look on his face, froze at Gu He's rebuke. Then he gave an awkward laugh. "Master, it's just that I haven't seen you in so long. I got a little too excited."

At that, Gu He kept a stern face as he slowly turned around. Yet when he saw Liu Ling's appearance, he could not help frowning. "What the hell is that thing you're wearing?"

A black mask covered half of Liu Ling's face.

What was this brat up to?

Xiao Yi Xian also turned her gaze toward Liu Ling and studied him curiously.

So this is Master's eldest disciple, my senior brother?

Why does he look a little... not too bright?

Looking at Liu Ling's reckless manner and the half-mask on his face, Xiao Yi Xian muttered to herself.

"Master... I..."

Hearing the displeasure in Gu He's voice, Liu Ling subconsciously touched the mask on his face, then smiled bitterly. "Master, you can't laugh at me after I take it off."

Gu He was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Laugh at you? Why would I laugh at you? Did you grow a sore on your face?"

"Isn't this because of the Purple Eagle Flame you gave me, Master..."

Liu Ling shook his head, then slowly removed his mask under Gu He's gaze.

On Liu Ling's right cheek was a vividly imprinted purple flying-bird pattern.

"You..."

Seeing the pattern beneath Liu Ling's mask, Gu He paused. Then the corners of his mouth twitched as he held back his laughter. "A Purple Eagle pattern? How did you end up getting it on your face?"

What was this?

A tattoo or something?

Xiao Yi Xian was also stunned for a moment, before a smile appeared on her pretty face.

This senior brother was a little too... interesting, wasn't he?

"I don't know what happened either... Anyway, after refining the Purple Eagle Flame, I found this thing on my face."

Seeing Gu He struggling to suppress his laughter, Liu Ling's face darkened. He immediately put his mask back on.

Gu He could not help but laugh at that.

He was not surprised by Liu Ling's Purple Eagle pattern.

The Purple Eagle Flame was a rather unique Beast Fire. Anyone who refined it would have a Purple Eagle pattern left on their body.

Back when Gu He had refined the Purple Eagle Flame, there had been a Purple Eagle pattern on his chest.

What surprised him was how Liu Ling's Purple Eagle pattern had appeared on his face.

Normally, didn't it appear on the chest?

"Master, you promised not to laugh at me..." Liu Ling protested quietly when he saw Gu He's gloating smile.

"Uh... Ahem!"

Gu He immediately wiped the smile from his face and consoled him, "It's fine. It's just a pattern, isn't it? It actually looks pretty good."

Gu He was telling the truth. The Purple Eagle pattern was not ugly; it looked quite nice.

If it appeared on someone's chest or shoulder, it would absolutely give off an air of mystery.

But the problem was that Liu Ling's Purple Eagle pattern had appeared on his face.

Even more absurdly, the eagle's beak extended all the way to the tip of his nose.

That was no longer mysterious. It was downright frightening.

A huge bird tattooed on his face—what a sight.

"Really?" Liu Ling was slightly stunned by Gu He's words and asked seriously.

"Really. If you don't believe me, ask her." Gu He nodded while holding back his laughter, not forgetting to drag Xiao Yi Xian, who was watching the show from the side, into it.

Hearing that, Liu Ling hurriedly turned to Xiao Yi Xian, expectation filling his eyes.

Xiao Yi Xian was stunned for a moment. Her beautiful eyes blinked as she looked at Liu Ling's expectant gaze. She slightly restrained her smile and nodded against her conscience.

"Does it really look good?" Seeing both of them nod, Liu Ling could not help touching the mask on his face, feeling puzzled.

However, when he looked at Xiao Yi Xian before him, he quickly came to his senses. He looked at Gu He in confusion and asked, "Master, who is this?"

"Oh, I forgot to introduce you."

Gu He also came to his senses and pointed at Xiao Yi Xian. "This is the new disciple I've taken in. From now on, she'll be your junior sister."

Then he turned to Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Good disciple, this is your senior brother, Liu Ling."

Xiao Yi Xian also completely wiped the smile from her face. She solemnly greeted Liu Ling, "Greetings, Senior Brother."

A newly accepted disciple?

My junior sister?

Liu Ling was a little dumbfounded.

Master had gone out for a trip and returned with a junior sister?

"What are you standing there for? Your junior sister is greeting you." Gu He's mouth twitched as he watched Liu Ling stand there foolishly.

What was with this brat embarrassing himself all day?

Hearing Gu He's rebuke, Liu Ling snapped out of it as if waking from a dream. He looked awkwardly at Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Hello, Junior Sister."

After thinking for a moment, he took out a luminous pearl from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Yi Xian. "Junior Sister, this is our first meeting. Please accept this luminous pearl as a small token of my regard. I hope you won't find it lacking."

Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes lit up when she saw the luminous pearl in Liu Ling's hand.

What a beautiful pearl!

Just as she was about to reach out and take it, Gu He's voice suddenly rang out. "A mere worthless pearl is your meeting gift?"

"As the senior brother, are you really going to be this stingy?"

Gu He's tone was full of dissatisfaction and disdain, as though the luminous pearl in Liu Ling's hand were nothing but trash.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian immediately withdrew the hand she had been about to extend.

Seeing that, Liu Ling's mouth twitched slightly, and his face was filled with embarrassment.

He looked at the luminous pearl in his hand and began to question his life.

A worthless pearl?

Was this luminous pearl really as terrible as Master said?

He had specifically bought it to give to Junior Sister Nalan.

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Ling awkwardly put the luminous pearl away.

"Um... Junior Sister, I'm truly sorry. Senior Brother didn't prepare anything beforehand. How about I make up for this meeting gift tomorrow?" Liu Ling said with an embarrassed laugh.

"Don't wait until tomorrow. Your junior sister happens to need a suitable medicine cauldron. Why don't you just give her your medicine cauldron?"

At that moment, Gu He's voice rang out again.