It was at this moment.
"Qinglan, don't waste your time on one person. You need to focus on the bigger picture."
"I know you suffered some losses because of him, but suffering losses is also a form of growth."
The plump figure behind the curtain seemed to see something in her martial niece's eyes and softly advised her.
Her voice carried a faint melancholy, full of the maturity of someone who had been through it all.
"Martial Uncle, I—I don't know what I should do. I can't get over this hurdle in my heart."
Ye Qinglan was jolted awake by that voice and asked in a low tone.
She knew her state of mind was wrong, but she did not know how to adjust it, so she could only seek guidance.
"Put your attention on the upcoming Fish Dragon Banquet. That is what you should be focusing on."
"When the nobles gather and Heaven's Chosen assemble, it will also be the perfect opportunity to verify the worth of the True Dragon."
"And to verify all that, you need a whetstone. Do you understand?"
The mature voice held a hint of contempt for that young man.
In her eyes, the so-called Young Master of the Realm Protectorate was nothing more than one part of the entertainment.
After hearing this, Ye Qinglan's eyes became thoughtful.
"As the Goddess of this generation of Sacred Purity Mountain, you should have a pride of your own."
"It isn't worth wasting too much energy on someone destined to be a stepping stone."
The voice came from behind the curtain once more.
Her voice carried a touch of gentleness, clearly offering careful comfort.
No matter how one looked at it, she seemed like a good Martial Uncle who worked tirelessly for her martial niece and took meticulous care of her.
In the Realm Protectorate.
Su Qing sneezed several times and suddenly sensed a burst of malice, which left him somewhat displeased.
Smack, smack, smack!
His palm rose and fell repeatedly, and his thoughts became much clearer.
"I didn't do anything at all! Why are you punishing me?!"
Chen Chu Ci covered the places where she had been struck and cried out indignantly.
Although she had just been released, she was still unable to resist because of the effects of the drug.
"I feel like someone is badmouthing me. You're the prime suspect."
Su Qing gave her an utterly satisfying answer.
After hearing this, the bratty girl ground her teeth so hard they creaked.
Only today had she finally discovered an existence even more malicious than herself!
If she could, she wanted to bite him hard.
"Tell me where the remaining members of the Heavenly Principles Sect are in the capital, and whether they have any further plans."
Su Qing ignored her gaze and asked directly.
He did not mind the malice of his partner, as long as she was obedient.
He had the initiative now, so there was no need to worry about her causing trouble.
The next part was question time.
He did know quite a lot about the Heavenly Principles Sect.
But that knowledge was limited to some major events and key figures.
He was not very clear on certain scattered details, so he needed to use the Saintess to consolidate the intelligence.
He could see what information might be useful and even use it to claim credit directly.
He might as well farm the side-quest rewards.
They were free, after all!
Elsewhere.
A trace of suspicion flashed through Chen Chu Ci's eyes.
You have a high-level mole in the Heavenly Principles Sect. How could you not know about these operations?
No, that's not it. He's clearly testing my attitude!
Once the information from both sides is compared, if what I say is wrong...
Thinking of the rocking chair from earlier, she felt a chill run down her back.
The Saintess quickly corrected her attitude and began to speak.
She was determined to tell him everything she knew. How could she dare hide anything?
Seeing that the young man's expression had not changed at all, the bratty girl grew increasingly wary.
"Finished? That's all?"
Su Qing raised an eyebrow and asked.
"That's all the information I know."
Seeing that he seemed somewhat dissatisfied, Chen Chu Ci hurriedly explained.
She had held nothing back and had basically told him everything she knew.
Moreover, she had not made a single mistake, afraid that he would notice some flaw and bully her mercilessly.
"All right."
Su Qing exhaled the two words with some disappointment.
This candidate Saintess did not seem to be at a high enough level. None of her intelligence was particularly important.
That even included the assassination at the Fish Dragon Banquet... Forget it.
This information was more than enough to farm Yan Emperor's rewards, so he was at least barely satisfied.
"Young Master Su, what kind of attitude is that? Aren't we partners?"
"Partners should show equal sincerity. Where is your sincerity?"
Seeing the somewhat reluctant expression on the young man's face, Chen Chu Ci complained.
She had told him so much in one go. Wasn't it his turn to show his sincerity now?
She looked up at the young man, but the moment their gazes met, she could not help shrinking her neck.
"Eldest Miss Chen, I didn't hear what you just said clearly. Why don't you repeat it?"
Su Qing spoke with a gentle smile on his face.
The handsome young man's expression could make any woman who saw it lose her soul.
"I... I'll give you three days at most. You have to give me an explanation."
Chen Chu Ci's tone weakened by three points at that moment.
She had to admit that he was indeed a very good-looking young man.
He also seemed very approachable when he smiled, but she still felt a cold wind blowing behind her.
The room fell briefly silent.
No one spoke for a while, and the bratty girl quietly swallowed.
In this silence, the pressure seemed to grow greater and greater.
But I have limits too! This is a partnership, not me working for you for free...
Knock, knock, knock.
The door was knocked on at that moment.
When Chen Chu Ci heard the sound, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As expected of my good big sister. She showed up at the critical moment, like divine aid!
"Chu Ci, are you in there?"
Qin Lan Shan's concerned voice sounded from outside the door.
The Shopkeeper had originally wanted to go to her best friend's room and chat with her, but she had not found her there.
Because of their earlier conversation, she immediately thought of where the other woman might be.
She would ask first. Surely that could not hurt.
"I'm here."
Chen Chu Ci hurriedly reined in her emotions and pulled over a chair before sitting down properly.
For some reason, she felt a strange sense of guilt.
It was as if... she were doing something bad behind her best friend's back.
When Qin Lan Shan heard the voice from inside, she immediately pushed open the door.
She glanced inside and saw the two people sitting at the table.
Su Qing went without saying, while her best friend was leaning against him.
The two were extremely close—so close that it could even be called dangerous.
Her friend still looked like an elegant and reserved talented woman, but Qin Lan Shan felt that something was off.
How should she describe it?
There was none of her previous clinging behavior. She leaned against him like a girl next door.
She had regained her earlier calm, which was certainly a good thing.
But this kind of calm seemed even more frightening, because her friend knew exactly what she was doing.
Before you continue