Explosion Fairy Is Very Angry

After pondering for a moment, Zhou Xuan raised his head to meet Zhang Ling's eyes, which held a mix of anticipation and confusion.

He bowed respectfully and said in a sincere tone, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Sister. It is my honor to be valued by you."

He offered a compliment first, then shifted the tone of the conversation.

"However, I have grown accustomed to the Miscellaneous Affairs Department, and there are still matters there that require my attention, so I do not intend to leave just yet."

Once he finished, fearing she might fly into a rage, he quickly added, "But please rest assured, Senior Sister. If you ever have any needs in the future, just send someone to pass a word, and I guarantee I will arrive whenever called, without any hesitation!"

This phrasing was as tactful as possible; it clearly stated his stance on not wanting to leave the Miscellaneous Affairs Department while promising to continue serving her, which was the best win-win solution he could conceive.

However, after hearing his words, the expression on Zhang Ling's pretty face instantly froze.

She widened her eyes slightly, as if she had never expected to hear such an answer.

"What did you say?"

Zhang Ling's brows furrowed, her tone laced with disbelief.

"You... are refusing me?"

In all her years, this was the first time she had extended an invitation to someone, and even more so, the first time she had been rejected to her face.

Furthermore, the one rejecting her was a chore servant who, in her eyes, needed this opportunity the most.

Zhou Xuan felt miserable inside, but he could only bite the bullet and lower his head. "I wouldn't dare, Senior Sister, it's just..."

"Just what?"

Zhang Ling cut him off. Watching Zhou Xuan's submissive posture, the confusion in her heart gradually transformed into an inexplicable fire.

She suddenly thought of something, looked at the charred stone wall at the entrance of the pill room, then back at Zhou Xuan, and smugly concluded she had found the reason.

"Hmph, I understand now."

Zhang Ling snorted, placed her hands on her hips, and said indignantly, "You don't want to come because you're afraid of dying in my pill room, aren't you?"

Zhou Xuan was stunned upon hearing this; he never expected her train of thought to veer in this direction.

Afraid of dying?

He was dying to stay here every single day, just waiting for her to blow up her cauldron!

But he dared not say that, so he could only remain silent, praying for this young miss to calm down quickly.

Seeing Zhang Ling's complexion growing increasingly ugly, as if she were on the verge of an outburst, Zhou Xuan felt this was no place to linger.

He quickly bowed to take his leave: "Senior Sister, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

With that, he prepared to grease his heels and slip away.

"Stop!"

Zhang Ling's crisp shout came from behind him.

Zhou Xuan's body stiffened. He turned around slowly, forcing a smile onto his face that looked worse than crying.

Zhang Ling looked at his desperate desire to escape, and the fire in her heart burned even brighter.

A flash of cunning and stubbornness crossed her bright, almond-shaped eyes as she snorted, "Fine! Since you don't want to come, and since you're so afraid of death, then from now on, I will blow up my cauldron every day, and every day I will summon you here!"

"I want to see if you come or not!"

After saying this, she stomped her foot in a huff, turned, and walked into her cave dwelling, slamming the stone door shut with a loud bang.

She left Zhou Xuan standing there alone, dazed and bewildered.

Blow up the cauldron every day?

Summon me every day?

What kind of strange threat was this?

He couldn't fathom the thought process of this Fairy Danhuo at all, only feeling a chill creeping up his spine.

He shook his head, not daring to stay any longer, and hurried away from Pill Peak.

Traveling at high speed, Zhou Xuan quickly returned to the familiar, desolate valley behind the mountain.

Only when he smelled the unique scent of decay and medicinal dregs in the Miscellaneous Affairs Department did his hanging heart finally settle completely.

Compared to the main peak, which was saturated with spiritual energy, this was the home that made him feel at ease.

He had just walked into the valley and was preparing to head to his assigned area to continue treasure hunting when he happened to see Zhou Ye carrying his tools, preparing to leave the Miscellaneous Affairs Department and return to his quarters in the Chore Servant Courtyard.

"Zhou Ye," Zhou Xuan called out to him.

Hearing the voice, Zhou Ye turned his head quickly. When he saw it was Zhou Xuan, his originally numb face immediately revealed a look of respect mixed with a hint of excitement.

"Brother Xuan!" He hurried over.

Zhou Xuan's gaze swept over him, observing him calmly.

After not seeing him for a few days, Zhou Ye's entire spirit had undergone a earth-shattering change.

His skin, which had once been like a withered old tree, had regained some luster, and his sallow face now had a hint of color.

Most importantly, the light of hope had been rekindled in his once-lifeless eyes.

Zhou Xuan's heart stirred. He carefully sensed the fluctuations of aura coming from the other person, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.

Body Forging Level 5!

In just a few short days, Zhou Ye's cultivation realm had actually leaped to Body Forging Level 5!

With this level of cultivation, he had fully met the sect's minimum requirement for chore disciples, completely shaking off the crisis of being expelled.

Zhou Xuan immediately understood the crux of the matter.

It stood to reason that the years of Pill Poison had not only eroded his body but had acted like shackles, blocking his meridians and restricting his cultivation.

In reality, given Zhou Ye's diligent cultivation, his accumulation had long been sufficient for a breakthrough.

Now that the Pill Poison was gone and the shackles were removed, his previously suppressed cultivation had naturally broken through, just as water flows to form a channel.

Just as Zhou Xuan was deep in thought, Zhou Ye looked around nervously, then stepped forward quickly and dragged Zhou Xuan into the shadows of a scrap pile nearby.

"Brother Xuan, you're finally back!" Zhou Ye lowered his voice, his tone sounding extremely anxious.

"What happened?" Zhou Xuan asked, seeing his demeanor.

"Something went wrong!"

Zhou Ye leaned into his ear and whispered, "Just this morning, a strange thing happened."

"An inner sect disciple came to our Chore Servant Courtyard, saying he wanted to pick a servant."

Hearing this, Zhou Xuan raised an eyebrow, signaling for Zhou Ye to continue.

Zhou Ye's voice continued.

"That inner sect disciple specifically named you, saying he wanted to see you!"

A flash of surprise crossed Zhou Xuan's mind.

Since when had he become so popular?

First it was Senior Brother Zhao Zhen, then Fairy Danhuo Zhang Ling, and now another one?

But he immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Zhao Zhen and Zhang Ling had sought him out because he had helped them, and they had direct contact with each other.

But where had this third person popped up from?

No!

This likely wasn't someone coming to build a good relationship, but someone coming to seek revenge.

A name immediately surfaced in his mind.

"What is the other person's name?" Zhou Xuan's voice also sank as he asked calmly.

Zhou Ye tried hard to recall, saying somewhat uncertainly, "I was standing far away and didn't hear it very clearly, but the fellow disciples around were all discussing it; it seemed to be Zhao Long!"