That Annoying Second Uncle!

Li Daoxuan led his four junior brothers inside, feigning ignorance as he smiled and said, "What a coincidence. I never expected Junior Brother Zhou and Junior Sister Shi to be here today as well!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Li, Senior Brother He, Senior Brother Ning!"

"Greetings, Senior Sister Shi!"

Everyone exchanged courteous bows.

Zhou Qing, seated at the inner table, had no choice but to follow suit.

Li Daoxuan said, "Today is Old He's birthday, and we're celebrating. Why not join us?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing and Shi Zhen hurriedly offered their congratulations to Senior Brother He.

He Han, Divine Peak's second disciple, smiled faintly. "Thank you, Junior Brother and Junior Sister. We're merely fooling around."

Then, the surroundings gradually fell quiet.

The people from Divine Peak secretly glanced at Shi Zhen, then looked at Zhou Qing.

What exactly was the relationship between you two now?

What, did sneaking a look at someone bathing lead to feelings?

Heart Insight Points +5

Zhou Qing watched helplessly as the "So Dominant" above Lu Yaoyao's head visibly changed into "So Disloyal." He nearly choked on his own breath.

Heart Insight Points +6

Before long, the "her little junior brother" above Shi Zhen's head also gradually changed into "Popular Junior Brother Zhou."

Zhou Qing was utterly speechless.

Sis, which eye of yours saw me being popular?

These sister-protecting maniacs were practically ready to swallow me whole.

Heart Insight Points +5

Another voice rang out. Zhou Qing looked at Li Daoxuan, who wore a smile as he invited him, while his eyes challenged Zhou Qing: "If you've got the guts, come and try it."

The "Lecherous Rogue Who Can't Stop Eating Shit" label above his head was also slowly changing into "Lecherous Rogue Like a Sticking Plaster."

Zhou Qing felt exhausted.

How had I become a sticking plaster again?

I didn't even know you people were here, and it just so happened you were next door.

You make it sound like I specifically came to cling to your junior sister. As long as he doesn't come looking for me, I'll thank heaven and earth.

Seeing the entire Private Room sink into an awkward silence, Zhou Qing suddenly slapped his forehead.

"Oh! I nearly forgot something important. No wonder Third Senior Brother rushed off in such a hurry just now. Senior Sister Shi, Senior Brothers, please continue eating. I have something to take care of, so I'll be leaving first. Let's get together another day!"

After saying that, Zhou Qing quickly left with an apologetic expression.

Everyone looked at one another.

Aside from Shi Zhen and Lu Yaoyao, the other six burly men all nodded in satisfaction.

At least he knew what was good for him!

After leaving Jade Cuisine Hall, Zhou Qing hurried home. He did not know whether it was merely his imagination, but he kept feeling that someone was secretly following him.

"Fourth Child!"

At that moment, Yan Xiaohu suddenly leaped down from a tree at the side. Already jumpy as a startled bird, Zhou Qing jolted at the sudden movement.

"Third Senior Brother, can't you act a little more proper for once?"

Looking at the golden label above his head, Zhou Qing leaned against the nearby tree with lingering fear.

Yan Xiaohu chuckled and stepped forward to throw an arm over Zhou Qing's shoulder. "I was just messing with you. You were acting all sneaky. Did you do something guilty? Don't lie to me—I ran into Senior Sister Shi when I came down the mountain."

Hearing Yan Xiaohu's words, Zhou Qing became even more certain that the person at Jade Cuisine Hall earlier had not been him at all.

That annoying Second Uncle!

After steadying his emotions, Zhou Qing said, "I didn't do anything guilty. How was I acting sneaky? Senior Sister Shi merely treated me to a meal while we were at it."

Yan Xiaohu gave an "Oh" and did not think much of it. Soon, he remembered something else and pulled Zhou Qing along to look at the junk he had collected.

After all, the Five Sects Treasure Exchange Gathering would begin the day after tomorrow.

"Wait, why do you keep looking down there?"

"I'm checking whether it's standing up."

"Why would it stand up for no reason? Are there pretty junior sisters nearby?"

"Senior Brother, is my face red?"

"No. You're just a pale pretty boy."

The two returned to Little Spirit Peak together. Zhou Qing did not sense anything strange about himself, so it seemed he had indeed been overthinking it.

I shouldn't have left so quickly. At the very least, I should have packed some food back for Third Senior Brother.

"Senior Brother, take a look. Is this wine poisonous?"

Zhou Qing took out the two bowls of wine, and their rich fragrance immediately drew Yan Xiaohu's attention.

As a seasoned drunkard, Yan Xiaohu darted over and took a deep sniff. His eyes instantly lit up.

"Fine wine, truly fine wine! Where did you get this?"

He snatched the bowl and drained it in one gulp.

The wine went down his throat, releasing a chill that made him shudder.

Then he excitedly cried "Good!" three times in a row.

Next came the second bowl that Shi Zhen had drunk from.

Before Zhou Qing could react, Yan Xiaohu grabbed him, his eyes full of longing.

"Fourth Child, what kind of wine is this? I feel like I'm riding an ice python, soaring freely over snowy ground beneath biting cold winds, but it seems I can't drink too much of it..."

Before he could finish, his entire body suddenly stiffened. Frost appeared across him at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Under Zhou Qing's horrified gaze, he became like an ice pop and toppled straight over.

"Third Senior Brother!" Zhou Qing reacted swiftly and caught him at once.

If he hit the ground like that, wouldn't he be smashed into pieces?

"Master, save us!"

Feeling the icy cold spreading through his hands, Zhou Qing anxiously hoisted his frozen Third Senior Brother onto his shoulder and flew his sword toward Little Spirit Peak...

"Achoo! Achoo—"

Inside the room, Yan Xiaohu hugged his blanket and sneezed repeatedly, occasionally slurping the snot that had reached his lips back up his nose.

Yet his eyes were full of infatuation as he constantly savored the lingering taste in his mouth.

"What kind of wine made him end up like that?" Mo Xingjian asked from nearby, frowning.

Zhou Qing looked embarrassed. He awkwardly scratched his head and lied, "I don't know either. I picked it up by the roadside."

"You picked it up? The two of you really are something—one dared to pick it up, and the other dared to drink it!" Mo Xingjian was completely speechless after hearing that.

How had he taken in these two living treasures?

At this moment, he suddenly missed the eldest and Second Girl.

"You two..." Mo Xingjian ground his teeth, pointing at this one and then that one. Finally, he flung his sleeve and stormed away.

Couldn't they settle down for even one day?

Did they think their master had a long life, and if they did not cause trouble for him every day, their hearts would itch?

Seeing their master leave, Yan Xiaohu sniffed and hurriedly jumped out of bed. "Fourth, did you really pick up that wine?"

"Of course!"

"Where did you pick it up? Take me there quickly."

"At the foot of the mountain. There were only those two bowls, so stop thinking about it."

"Ah, after drinking that wine, I finally understand what the things I drank all these years were supposed to be."

Flame Dragon City was the largest city at the foot of Taiqing Sect's mountain, and it had always been extraordinarily bustling.

With the Five Sects Treasure Exchange Gathering being held here this time, the flow of people in the city had nearly exploded in a short period.

When Zhou Qing and Yan Xiaohu passed through the somewhat dim tunnel beneath the city gate, deafening clamor crashed over them head-on.

As far as the eye could see, crowds surged in a dense tide, packing Main Street so tightly that not even water could pass through. Shouts of every kind rose and fell one after another.

The towering, magnificent buildings in the distance possessed an especially imposing air.

People dressed in the uniforms of different sects moved back and forth among them. The various items on display were strange and bizarre, opening one's eyes.

Some people fiercely haggled with stall owners, trying to exchange the fewest spirit stones for the most valuable treasures; others crouched down and carefully examined the authenticity and worth of the goods.

The cries of hawkers, bargaining, and quarrels tangled together, making this Treasure Exchange Gathering all the more lively.