Chapter Five: Senior Brother, I Do!

Li Mingzheng's slightly provocative voice reached him. Although displeased, Pei Yuhan suppressed it, his tone turning frigid. He no longer looked at the person before him, who was shorter than himself.

"This is not something Junior Brother needs to worry about."

"Haha, why must Senior Brother say that?"

Li Mingzheng looked at Pei Yuhan with disdain, his eyes constantly appraising him from head to toe.

"Senior Brother was once a true disciple. No matter how down on your luck, you don't need to work this hard."

"I've heard that some Senior Sisters, and even some sect elders, can offer Senior Brother assistance, as long as..."

Swish!

A flash of white light streaked past, followed by the sound of air being cut. Li Mingzheng's long hair at his temples fell away.

"Junior Brother, I already have a plan for the spirit stones. Please return."

Li Mingzheng froze, clearly still recovering from the sword light that had flashed by.

Immediately, he felt a chill down his spine, breaking out in a cold sweat. His expression stiffened, and his tone became extremely respectful.

"Then... then please, Senior Brother, make it quick. Junior Brother will take his leave now."

With that, Pei Yuhan watched the disheveled figure quickly flee.

He didn't know what the sect was thinking, letting such a useless person fill the position of true disciple.

Pei Yuhan clenched his fist hidden in his sleeve. The sect's suppression of Shiyuan Sword Manor was intensifying, and many people were eyeing this spirit-rich cave dwelling.

Even though he had downgraded the fourth-tier spirit vein to third-tier, its original foundation made this third-tier spirit vein far stronger than other third-tier spirit veins.

After all... the Shiyuan lineage only had himself, a Gray Core cultivator, and his Junior Sister, a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Innocence is no protection against the crime of possessing a treasure.

To send such a useless person to test him...

Pei Yuhan cursed inwardly, his mind involuntarily drifting to his master's image.

Back then, he had never been subjected to such difficulties, and his Junior Sister wouldn't have to suffer with him...

If only Master were still here...

The thought brought a pang of bitterness to Pei Yuhan's heart, a wave of unspeakable sadness, helplessness, and grievance washing over him.

He had to help his Junior Sister form her core quickly. Otherwise, how could he protect this last memory of his master?

"Senior Brother~"

A sweet female voice called out, and Pei Yuhan felt an impact on his chest.

This was followed by a soft sensation, and a faint, unique fragrance of a young girl tickled his nose.

"Senior Brother, have you found a solution?"

The sweet, gentle voice came, like a spring breeze, seeming to melt and wash away the turmoil within Pei Yuhan.

Pei Yuhan looked down at the young girl currently reaching just below his chin, her arms tightly wrapped around him.

It was his Junior Sister, Lu Qingqing.

She was an orphan his master had taken in when he was in the late stage of Qi Refining. Pei Yuhan still remembered when the little girl first arrived, barely reaching his thigh, only about six or seven years old.

Feeling the softness in his embrace, Pei Yuhan gently stroked the girl's head, tucking a strand of her raven-black hair behind her ear.

"Junior Sister has truly grown into a beautiful young lady. Could you let Senior Brother go for now?"

Pei Yuhan's voice was gentle, like an elder brother's, with a hint of teasing.

"Sen... Senior Brother, you pervert! Bad guy!"

Hearing her Senior Brother's teasing, Lu Qingqing, who had been burying her face in his chest and greedily sniffing his scent, suddenly blushed crimson.

The blush spread all the way to her ears, as if she could bleed. She quickly released her tight embrace.

"Senior Brother always teases me!"

Hearing the girl's shyly indignant voice, the previous bitterness in Pei Yuhan's heart was enveloped by a gentle spring breeze, allowing him to temporarily forget his troubles.

"Junior Sister, Senior Brother has found the resources for you. You can prepare to form your core!"

Pei Yuhan remembered the most important matter. He then handed over the storage ring from Rao Yuexi, placing it in the center of Lu Qingqing's open palm, and firmly held it.

"Junior Sister, Senior Brother will let you use the best materials for forming your core this time!"

Pei Yuhan's voice was filled with excitement and the joy of providing for someone dear to him.

In contrast, Lu Qingqing's already flushed cheeks turned even redder. She bit her lip tightly, unable to utter a single word.

Senior Brother... Senior Brother is holding my hand!

And... he even gave me a ring!

What does this mean? Is it what I think it is in my heart?

Senior Brother... Senior Brother is confessing his love to me (Ò﹏Ó)?

Lu Qingqing felt her vision spinning, as if stars were circling her head.

I... I think I'm going to faint~

"Qingqing? What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

"I... I'm willing! Senior Brother, Qingqing is willing!"

"Willing for what? Didn't you hear what Senior Brother was saying?"

Pei Yuhan showed a surprised expression. Could it be that his junior sister was so happy about him forming his core that she was about to faint?

"Ah... Oh..."

Lu Qingqing's originally excited and joyous tone turned somewhat disappointed.

So it was just about forming a core...

"Junior Sister, this time Senior Brother will let you use the best spiritual item for core formation! Let those gossips know that Junior Sister isn't without resources either!"

Pei Yuhan tightly clenched the hand that had just held Lu Qingqing, his voice full of joy and pride.

Seeing the foolish Senior Brother in front of her, who always had a gentle demeanor and comforted her, Lu Qingqing also revealed a genuine smile she hadn't shown in a long time.

Her expression involuntarily brightened.

Silly Senior Brother, he only formed a Gray Core himself, yet he's so happy about others forming theirs...

Lu Qingqing used her spiritual sense to scan the spirit stones in her storage ring and was inwardly shocked. There were a full fifty thousand spirit stones!

Thinking that all these spirit stones were for her core formation, she wondered how many missions Senior Brother had taken...

Lu Qingqing's shocked expression turned a bit strained.

Junior Sister, I don't really want to form a core anymore...

What Qingqing wants isn't core formation~

As long as Senior Brother can stay with Qingqing, even being a mortal for a lifetime would be fine!

"Senior Brother..."

"Hmm? What is it, Qingqing?"

Pei Yuhan noticed that his junior sister seemed unhappy about forming her core?

"Senior Brother... how many missions did you take for this? Was it dangerous?"

Pei Yuhan's happy expression almost faltered. His heart, which had been filled with warmth, was now occupied by a sour emotion.

Missions...

How many missions would it take for me to gather fifty thousand spirit stones? Ten years?

Wouldn't that mean Qingqing's best period for forming a core would have passed long ago?

Of course...

Pei Yuhan thought of that Uncle-Master's scheme, and his heart was filled with conflict.

Even though it was given to me and Junior Sister, I don't have to return it... is that possible?

A bitter smile appeared on Pei Yuhan's lips.

I don't want to drag anyone else down anymore.

His thoughts raced. Pei Yuhan forced a smile, pinched Lu Qingqing's tender little cheek, and then squeezed it again as if venting.

"Senior Brother... it hurts..."

Lu Qingqing's wronged voice came through, accompanied by a soft whimper.

Her previously fading cheeks turned red again.

"It's all my fault, Senior Brother. Your face is all red!"

"Hehe."