Fairy Explosion Was Furious

After a moment's thought, Zhou Xuan raised his head and met Zhang Ling's expectant, puzzled gaze.

He bowed respectfully and said in a sincere tone, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Sister. It's an honor to have you think so highly of me."

He offered her a compliment first, then shifted the conversation.

"It's just that I'm used to working at the Miscellaneous Affairs Department, and I still have some things to take care of there. For now, I don't plan to leave."

Afraid she might lose her temper, he quickly added, "But please don't worry, Senior Sister. If you ever need anything, just send word, and I'll come right away. I won't refuse!"

He had put it as tactfully as he could: he'd made clear that he didn't want to leave the Miscellaneous Affairs Department, while promising to keep helping her. It was the best of both worlds he could think of.

Yet the moment Zhang Ling heard his answer, the expression on her lovely face froze.

Her eyes widened slightly, as though she couldn't believe she'd heard him right.

"What did you say?"

Zhang Ling furrowed her brows, a note of disbelief in her voice.

"You... want to turn me down?"

In all her life, she had never invited anyone to join her before—and she had never been rejected to her face, either.

And the one rejecting her was a Chore Disciple who, in her eyes, needed this opportunity more than anyone.

Zhou Xuan groaned inwardly. He could only lower his head and say, "I wouldn't dare, Senior Sister. It's just..."

"It's just what?"

Zhang Ling cut him off. Looking at Zhou Xuan's deferential, downcast manner, her confusion gradually turned into a nameless anger.

Then she seemed to realize something. She looked at the charred stone wall by the Pill Room entrance, then back at Zhou Xuan, and smugly decided she'd found the reason.

"Hmph, I get it."

Zhang Ling snorted, planting her hands on her hips as she huffed, "You don't want to come because you're afraid you'll die in my Pill Room, don't you?"

Zhou Xuan was dumbfounded. He had never expected her thoughts to veer off in that direction.

Afraid of dying?

He wished he could camp out here every day and wait for you to blow up your furnace!

But he didn't dare say that aloud. He could only keep quiet and pray the young lady would cool off soon.

As Zhang Ling's expression grew darker, as if she might blow up at any moment, Zhou Xuan decided it was best not to linger.

He quickly bowed and took his leave. "Senior Sister, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

With that, he tried to slip away as fast as he could.

"Stop!"

Zhang Ling's crisp shout rang out behind him.

Zhou Xuan stiffened, then slowly turned around, forcing a smile more painful than a grimace.

Seeing how desperately he wanted to get away, Zhang Ling grew even angrier.

A flash of cunning and stubbornness glinted in her bright, almond-shaped eyes. She snorted and said, "Fine! Since you don't want to come, since you're so afraid of dying, I'll blow up my furnace every day and come get you every day!"

"I want to see whether you'll come or not!"

She stamped her foot in a huff, turned, and strode into her Cave Abode. With a bang, she slammed the stone door shut.

That left Zhou Xuan standing there alone, staring blankly, utterly bewildered.

Blow up the furnace every day?

Come get me every day?

What kind of bizarre threat was that?

He couldn't make sense of the way this Fairy Danhuo's mind worked. A chill crept up his back.

He shook his head, not daring to linger, then hurried off Pill Peak.

He rushed all the way back to the familiar Desolate Valley behind the mountain.

Only when he caught the distinctive smell of rot and medicinal dregs from the Miscellaneous Affairs Department did his taut nerves finally relax.

Compared to the Spirit Qi swirling around Main Peak, this was the place that made him feel at home.

He had just entered the valley and was about to resume treasure-hunting in his assigned area when he spotted Zhou Ye, tools on his back, preparing to leave the Miscellaneous Affairs Department and return to his lodgings at the Chore Servant Courtyard.

"Zhou Ye," Zhou Xuan called.

Hearing him, Zhou Ye quickly turned around. When he saw Zhou Xuan, the numbness on his face gave way to a respectful expression touched with excitement.

"Brother Xuan!" He hurried over.

Zhou Xuan's gaze swept over him, quietly taking in his appearance.

Though they'd only been apart a few days, Zhou Ye's entire demeanor had changed dramatically.

His skin, once like that of a withered old tree, had regained some of its luster, and a touch of color had returned to his sallow face.

Most importantly, the eyes that had once been lifeless now burned with a light called hope.

Zhou Xuan's heart stirred. He carefully sensed the fluctuations in the aura around Zhou Ye, and surprise flashed in his eyes.

The fifth layer of Body Forging!

In just a few days, Zhou Ye had actually reached the fifth layer of Body Forging!

That cultivation level had already met the Sect's minimum requirement for Chore Disciples, completely lifting the threat of being expelled.

Zhou Xuan immediately understood what had happened.

The Pill Poison that had plagued Zhou Ye for years must have not only eaten away at his body, but also blocked his meridians like shackles, holding back his cultivation.

In truth, Zhou Ye had cultivated diligently, and his accumulation had long been enough for a breakthrough.

Now that the Pill Poison was gone and the shackles were removed, his suppressed cultivation had naturally broken through, as water flowed into its proper channel.

As Zhou Xuan pondered this, Zhou Ye nervously glanced around. Then he hurried forward, grabbed Zhou Xuan, and pulled him into the shadows beside a pile of scrap.

"Brother Xuan, you're finally back!" Zhou Ye whispered, his voice full of urgency.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Xuan asked, seeing how tense he was.

"Something's happened!"

Zhou Ye leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Something strange happened this morning."

"An Inner Sect Disciple came to our Chore Servant Courtyard, saying he wanted to pick an attendant."

Zhou Xuan raised an eyebrow and gestured for Zhou Ye to continue.

Zhou Ye went on.

"That Inner Sect Disciple asked for you by name!"

A flicker of surprise passed through Zhou Xuan's mind.

Since when had he become so popular?

First Senior Brother Zhao Zhen, then Fairy Danhuo Zhang Ling, and now someone else?

But he immediately sensed something was off.

Zhao Zhen and Zhang Ling had sought him out because he'd helped them, and they'd had direct dealings with him.

But where had this third person come from?

No!

This probably wasn't someone looking to make a friend. They were here for revenge.

A name immediately surfaced in his mind.

"What was the other person's name?" Zhou Xuan asked calmly, his voice turning serious.

Zhou Ye tried to recall, then said uncertainly, "I was far away and didn't hear clearly. But the senior brothers around me were talking. I think they said his name was Zhao Long!"