Luo Ci's eyes had indeed reddened with tears from the provocation.
Lin Qi began playing the soft approach again.
"Junior Brother, do you know what your biggest problem was today?"
After being provoked, Luo Ci truly did not want to pay Lin Qi any mind, yet he could not suppress his curiosity.
He awkwardly edged closer and asked in a booming voice, "What?!"
"You were far too impulsive! The moment you encountered someone, you charged in without a care, never using your brain to think things through. That was why you fell into such an absurd trap!"
The first two sentences were fine, but the last one sent Luo Ci straight through the roof. He immediately drew a line in the dirt and declared their friendship severed.
"Second Senior Sister, you're too infuriating! I'm breaking off our friendship for three days!"
Then he went to complain to Senior Sister Yuan Xi. "Eldest Senior Sister, Second Senior Sister is bullying me too much!"
Tears of grievance even welled in his eyes.
Senior Sister Yuan Xi had a gentle nature, but this time, she did not indulge Luo Ci.
In a mild tone, she said, "Third Junior Brother, you cannot panic or act rashly when trouble arises. Fortunately, Master did not learn of today's matter. Otherwise, you would likely have suffered quite a bit."
True Monarch Qingyun might be gentle, but she had never gone easy on her disciples during training. Over this past month or so, Luo Ci had surely felt that most deeply.
Luo Ci immediately drooped his head and said weakly, "Eldest Senior Sister, I know I was wrong!"
Senior Sister Yuan Xi calmly took a Memory Stone from her robes. "The Memory Stone recorded your performance in today's battle. Watch it a few more times yourself. Figure out what you did poorly, and strive to improve next time."
Luo Ci stared blankly at the frenzied figure within the Memory Stone, hacking wildly about, then shouted in disbelief, "Is that really me?!"
Yuan Xi and Lin Qi watched him with smiles but said nothing.
Who didn't know the truth in their own heart?
Rubbing her chin, Lin Qi sighed. "Master once said that Junior Brother was born with a lucky constitution, able to turn misfortune into fortune and escape danger at critical moments. Now, I've witnessed it with my own eyes."
Senior Sister Yuan Xi shot Lin Qi a glance and asked with a smile, "What mischief are you plotting again?"
"Nothing of the sort!"
Lin Qi hurriedly defended herself. "I was only thinking that wherever we go in the future, we can't leave Third Junior Brother behind."
Senior Sister Yuan Xi nodded solemnly. "What you said does make sense."
Luo Ci raised his head aggrievedly, looked at Lin Qi, then at Senior Sister Yuan Xi, and suddenly felt that the world was an exceedingly unfriendly place.
As they neared Luo City, Luo Ci should have been growing more relaxed and at ease.
Unfortunately, because of that humiliating fight, he spent the entire journey reviewing it with the Memory Stone. He also had the privilege of watching the recording of Lin Qi's battle against the Grey-robed Daoist countless times.
The stark contrast struck Luo Ci again and again, until all the restlessness and impatience in him had completely faded away.
Lin Qi did not even need to drop deliberate hints. He began diligently cultivating of his own accord.
When Senior Sister Yuan Xi saw this, she could not help letting out a sigh of relief.
After leaving Zonglei Peak, Luo Ci had indeed become somewhat carried away. She was not a strict person, and it was difficult for her to manage him with a heavy hand.
If Lin Qi had not been at the side, knocking some sense into him, she truly feared that she would have no face to see Master after returning to Zonglei Peak.
When the Luo Family saw Luo Ci cultivating so diligently, they were secretly thrilled. Within days, word of his diligence and hard work had spread throughout the Luo Family.
Upon hearing these reports, the Luo Family Head wept tears of joy and excitedly came out in person to receive them.
Only after arriving in Luo City did Lin Qi learn just how profound the foundation of the Southern Continent Luo Family, one of the five great families, truly was.
Every successive City Lord of Luo City had been chosen by the Luo Family Head, and they had to be descendants of the Luo Family.
With Luo City at its center, nearly all the cities radiating outward in every direction belonged to the Luo Family's sphere of influence.
By comparison, the Lin Family of Desolate City that Lin Qi came from truly was a small place.
"Mother!" The moment Luo Ci saw the Luo Family Head, he excitedly sprinted over and threw his arms around her leg.
The Luo Family Head was a gentle-looking woman with kind features, and her smile was remarkably approachable.
With one hand, she lifted Luo Ci up and inspected him carefully twice before praising him with a smile. "Good boy, not bad, not bad! You've only been apprenticed for less than two months, yet you've already reached the Fourth Stage Qi Refining. It seems letting you take True Monarch Qingyun as your master was a very correct decision on my part."
Lin Qi silently took back the words "kind and gentle."
She followed Yuan Xi in greeting the Luo Family Head, only to be forcibly dragged back to the household by the warm and hospitable Luo Family Head.
When the Luo Family Head looked at Lin Qi, her gaze was particularly blazing.
Upon learning that Lin Qi was Luo Ci's Senior Sister, the Luo Family Head slapped Luo Ci on the backside.
"You little brat, have you been slacking off in cultivation at the sect?!"
The Luo Family Head wore a smiling face, but judging by Luo Ci's wolfish howl, one could roughly guess how much strength she had used.
Luo Ci's legs flailed nonstop. He felt terribly wronged.
"I haven't! I've been working very hard!"
He cried out indignantly, "I didn't even dare sleep at the sect! Every day, the moment I opened my eyes, I cultivated; when I closed them, I was still cultivating. I'm practically a cultivation maniac!"
Senior Sister Yuan Xi could not bear it and kindly stepped in to help him out.
"Aunt Luo, Little Qi and I can testify that Third Junior Brother cultivated extremely diligently while he was at Zonglei Peak. Otherwise, he could not have broken through to the Fourth Stage Qi Refining so quickly."
With his Senior Sisters vouching for him, Luo Ci puffed out his chest righteously. "Exactly! Mother, you're completely unreasonable!"
Who would have expected the Luo Family Head to give a cold snort? "Then you started slacking off the moment you left the sect! Do I not know what sort of person you are? The moment no one keeps you in check, you're like a wild horse freed from its reins—no one can control you!"
Luo Ci immediately recalled the embarrassing events from the road. He no longer dared struggle, instead lying there like a well-behaved corpse and allowing his mother to torment him.
Later, the Luo Family Head somehow learned the truth, and Luo Ci still failed to escape a beating.
Lin Qi was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard at midnight when Luo Ci suddenly let out a miserable scream, startling her so badly that she nearly lost her grip on her sword.
Senior Sister Yuan Xi slowly emerged from her room and raised her eyes to look at the full moon overhead.
Usually gentle and radiant, she now seemed somewhat pale and lonely. The envy in her eyes was tinged with faint sorrow.
Lin Qi felt a pang in her heart. "Senior Sister, what's wrong?"
Senior Sister Yuan Xi smiled softly and gently stroked Lin Qi's head.
"It's nothing. I simply remembered some old matters."
Lin Qi felt that the smile in her eyes was like flowers in a mirror and the moon in water, ready to shatter at the slightest touch.
Luo Ci's howls continued beside them, occasionally accompanied by the Luo Family Head's vigorous scolding.
It seemed the Memory Stone had been discovered. After watching it, the Luo Family Head grabbed Luo Ci by the ear and taught him how he should have handled the situation.
Naturally, there was no lack of complete chaos, with chickens flying and dogs jumping.
Seeing Senior Sister Yuan Xi's expression, Lin Qi thought she had been stirred by the scene before her, so she put away the Small Wooden Sword.
"Senior Sister, let's set out for Ming City tomorrow."
"We came to complete a mission, yet now we're spending every day at Luo Ci's household, eating and drinking for free. I feel terribly embarrassed."
As Lin Qi spoke, she handed a handkerchief to Senior Sister Yuan Xi and skillfully lifted her face.
Relying on her young age, she acted with complete abandon. "Senior Sister, help me wipe off my sweat!"
Senior Sister Yuan Xi habitually took care of her. Her movements were especially gentle, and the smile in her eyes became a little more genuine.
"What, Little Qi? Are you in a hurry to leave?"
"A little. Eating and drinking for free at someone else's household makes me feel uncomfortable all over."
"But Third Junior Brother has finally returned home after so long. He surely wants to stay with his family for a few more days." Senior Sister Yuan Xi was still hesitating.
Lin Qi answered without the slightest hesitation, "Then let him stay home alone. We'll leave!"
If Senior Sister Yuan Xi remained here every day, who knew if she would keep getting sentimental and making herself miserable?
"That won't do!"
Senior Sister Yuan Xi seemed able to see through Lin Qi's thoughts. Helplessly, she said, "Little Qi, you needn't worry about me. I was only stirred by the scene just now and felt a little emotional."
After speaking, Senior Sister Yuan Xi paused. Then, with a relaxed expression, she said, "Once, I too had a loving yet strict mother. Like Luo Ci, my greatest daily worry was being punished by my mother after causing trouble..."
She quickly pulled herself out of her low spirits and returned to her usual gentleness.
"Little Qi, people must always look forward. We cannot remain immersed in memories of the past for too long."
"I only feel that time slips away so easily. Third Junior Brother will not have much time in the future to spend with his family, so while he can have more of it now, he should."
Lin Qi's eyes remained fixed on Senior Sister Yuan Xi's still somewhat youthful profile.
A faint, waterlike smile rested on her fair face, like a breeze brushing over grass, or warm light blanketing the mountains.
Lin Qi had always thought Senior Sister Yuan Xi's personality was very similar to True Monarch Qingyun's, but the more time she spent with them, the more she felt that the two were vastly different.
Behind True Monarch Qingyun's gentleness lay strength and confidence, an unhurried composure toward all things, and absolute control over every matter.
Behind Senior Sister Yuan Xi's gentleness lay tolerance and kindness.
She was the sort who had once been drenched by rain herself, yet would rather be drenched again than fail to hold an umbrella over another person.
At every moment, she considered others first, embracing all of Lin Qi's and Luo Ci's shortcomings with gentleness, kindness, and tolerance.
Lin Qi thought that she must have been incredibly lucky to meet such a Senior Sister.
Suppressing her curiosity, she continued acting spoiled. "But we still have to leave tomorrow. Senior Sister, your mission scroll needs to be stamped in Ming City. If we arrive too late, it will be hard to avoid being questioned."
Although no one would dare question the chief eldest disciple of Zonglei Peak.
But Senior Sister Yuan Xi possessed an exceptionally strong sense of responsibility.
The moment she heard this, she began considering it.
Lin Qi continued offering suggestions. "Then let's ask Third Junior Brother first. If he wants to stay home, the two of us can go to Ming City together. If he wants to go, then we'll all go together."
Senior Sister Yuan Xi nodded. "That works too."
Early the next morning, Lin Qi rose as usual and prepared to practice her swordsmanship.
She had only begun a stance when she heard a scream.
"Someone's dead! Someone's dead!"
She frowned, suppressed her curiosity, sheathed her sword, and turned to return to her room.
Going to watch the excitement at a time like this was simply asking for a life that was too peaceful.
Yet Lin Qi wanted to avoid trouble, but trouble took the initiative to cling to her.
The little maid had likely seen the corpse. In her panic, she crashed through the gate to Lin Qi's courtyard.
The moment she saw Lin Qi, she grabbed her without a care and shouted, "Go call someone! Go call someone! There's a dead person in the well!"
Lin Qi's arm hurt from being pulled. Using a clever twist, she freed herself, then had no choice but to begin acting, deliberately pretending to be frozen with fright.
"A dead person?!"
The little maid spoke incoherently and nodded madly. "Yes, dead! Someone died! The face in the well has been soaked swollen!"
Lin Qi stood stunned for several breaths, then suddenly ran back into her room with a terrified expression, shouting, "Senior Sister, Senior Sister! Someone's dead! So scary! I'm so scared~"
Thank you to the lovely Su Yuqing AS, Rose Paradise, It's a Little White Rabbit, Blazing Sun, and Wood for your gifts.
This author worked very hard on writing today. There are still three thousand characters left, and the update will be posted before midnight. Please invest, send recommendation tickets, follow along, and all that—the new book has begun its PK, and I don't know whether it can make it to the next round. Keep going!
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