After Ning Xiaoxiao finished eating and let out a satisfied burp, Ning Ke habitually took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands.
But Ning Xiaoxiao noticed he seemed unhappy and asked cautiously, "Brother, did I eat too much? Can you not afford to feed me anymore?"
Looking at the goofy, sunshine-like female lead, Ning Ke's expression twisted, relaxed, twisted, then relaxed again. In the end, he couldn't help saying, "You silly girl, take your brother's advice. Stay away from men, or you'll end up miserable."
"Except me, of course."
Ning Xiaoxiao nodded without quite understanding, then grinned. "Okay. You're a good person, Brother. I'll listen to you."
Ning Ke couldn't change the plot at will, but he truly didn't want to watch a girl who looked just like his own little sister turn into a lovesick fool over that brat Lou Yunxiao!
The female lead was perfectly fine shining on her own!
Let me play the lovesick fool instead!
Leave my sister out of it!
Traveling aboard Gao Ze's small flying ship, the group soon arrived at the Sword Sect.
Although the Sword Sect was poor, it had everything it ought to have, and none of it was shabby.
Several mountain peaks stretched into the distance, with palaces and cave dwellings perched upon them, appearing and disappearing among the clouds. The main peak stood among them like a stone sword thrust straight into the heavens. Even from afar, they could feel its intimidating sword intent.
Gao Ze handed the newly arrived little youngsters over to the disciples in charge, beckoning only Ning Ke and Ning Xiaoxiao over.
"You two, come with me."
Before leaving, Ning Ke heard the other disciples talking.
"Those two are really talented. The sect master probably took them as personal disciples."
"I'm so jealous. We'd be lucky just to get into the inner sect. I wouldn't even dare dream of becoming a personal disciple."
"But I heard Sect Master Gao took that guy from the Lou Family as a disciple a while ago. Isn't that ridiculous?"
"Even if he used to be incredibly talented, the Lou Family has fallen, the Flowing Cloud Sect has been wiped out, and he's gone blind. He's doomed to never ascend. And now he practices demonic cultivation, too. Keeping him around is just asking for trouble!"
"If he goes mad one day, we'll be the ones who suffer..."
"Stop talking. The elder in charge is looking at us."
"They're talking about your eldest senior brother, Lou Yunxiao."
Walking ahead of them, Gao Ze volunteered an explanation.
"Is our eldest senior brother a demon?" Before Gao Ze could continue, Ning Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "Will he go mad?"
"That remains uncertain." Gao Ze didn't speak in Lou Yunxiao's defense, only emphasizing one thing.
"But since I've accepted you as disciples, you two are now his junior brother and junior sister. When you see him, you must observe the proper courtesies. As for everything else, judge for yourselves."
Ning Xiaoxiao nodded uncertainly, then turned to find Ning Ke beside her, solemnly feeding her nonsense in a hushed voice. "I think he's definitely a demon, and he might go mad one day. He might even eat people! So don't provoke him. If he needs anything, have him come to me first. Understand?"
[...Host, you realize you're liable to derail the plot like this, don't you?]
Ning Ke replied, Who cares? As long as I'm here, no pig is getting its snout into my precious cabbage!
Xiao Yuan had also realized that Ning Ke was acting so strangely because of Ning Xiaoxiao's appearance. Laughing helplessly, Xiao Yuan asked, [Then you'll let him get his snout into you instead?]
Ning Ke replied, ...Oof. Give me a little more time to process that.
The Sword Sect had limited resources. Even Gao Ze's personal disciples were only assigned a single courtyard to share, though at least everyone had a room of their own.
Lou Yunxiao was currently confined in the Demon-Sealing Pagoda, so Ning Ke and Ning Xiaoxiao were the only two people in the residence.
Gao Ze distributed their personal disciple uniforms, tossed them their disciple handbooks, and was about to leave when Ning Ke stopped him.
The young man looked around the decidedly run-down courtyard and said to Gao Ze,
"Master, I'd like to renovate this place."
Gao Ze's steps faltered. He gave a dry cough and chose his words carefully. "Recently, the sect may be..."
"I'll pay for it myself."
"No problem." Gao Ze immediately changed his tune, turned around, and left.
He was afraid Ning Ke would change his mind if he didn't get away fast enough.
Ning Ke was speechless.
"Brother, why do we need to renovate?" Ning Xiaoxiao walked up to her room, happily touching everything around her. "I think it's already good enough. It's way better than the leaky mud walls back home!"
Hearing that, Ning Ke nearly wiped away tears.
He patted the stray tuft of hair on top of Ning Xiaoxiao's head and said, "Kiddo, remember this: a man who's willing to spend money on you is a good man."
"Since I'm looking after you, I'll give you the best."
"Girls should be raised in comfort. Understand?"
Ning Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, then obediently nodded. "Understood!"
Money could move mountains. Ning Ke casually rummaged through his Storage Ring and hired an entire construction crew.
They renovated the residence into a secluded paradise.
He also decorated Ning Xiaoxiao's room until it sparkled, filling her dressing table with jewelry and her wardrobe with beautiful clothes.
He even personally made Ning Xiaoxiao plenty of modern-style plush toys. Watching the girl happily hug them, unable to put them down, he smiled with the satisfaction of a doting father.
He spent quite some time eating, drinking, and playing happily with Ning Xiaoxiao before Xiao Yuan mentioned in his mind, [Lou Yunxiao has been released.]
Only then did he suddenly remember the major fact he'd left forgotten in a corner: his mission target was the male lead.
At the time, Ning Ke was sparring with disciples on the training grounds, sword in hand. From afar, he spotted Lou Yunxiao being led by the elder in charge, walking toward the main peak one step at a time.
The young man's wrists and ankles were shackled, and the Moon-White Sash Ning Ke had given him covered his eyes. He was slightly thinner than when they had parted in the Demon Abyss.
His lips were pressed tightly together, and with no expression on his face, his entire presence seemed cold.
Judging by the time that had passed, Lou Yunxiao must have been confined by the Sword Sect for over half a year now.
He had clearly returned to the Human Realm, yet instead of concern and care, he had faced the Four Sects' Trial and imprisonment.
And the cold looks and wariness of his own kind.
With no one he could confide in, either, such a change in Lou Yunxiao's temperament was only natural.
With a flick of his hand, Ning Ke knocked the sword out of his fellow disciple's grasp.
He turned to the disciple with a smile and said gently, "Thank you for the match."
"No, no, you're just too strong, Senior Brother."
The disciple belonged to the inner sect, but he still had to address a personal disciple as senior brother.
He had watched Ning Ke knock his sword away while distracted.
The difference in their strength was plain to see.
"Xiaoxiao." Ning Ke nodded to him, then beckoned to Ning Xiaoxiao, who was sparring with a female disciple nearby.
The young girl immediately ran over and asked, "What's up, Brother?"
Ning Ke instructed her, "Stay with the inner sect disciples tonight. Come back tomorrow."
"Okay." Ning Xiaoxiao turned to leave, then remembered something and doubled back, asking slyly, "Brother, are you secretly bringing someone home behind my back? Are you sending me away so I won't find out?"
"..." Ning Ke wondered how the sect's disciples had managed to lead this little girl so far astray. She hadn't accomplished anything else lately, but she'd certainly grown crafty.
He waved a hand. "Go have fun. Stop making wild guesses."
With that, he left the training grounds and headed straight toward the main peak where Lou Yunxiao had gone.
Before you continue