The senior was merely playing in the mortal world

Qian Laifu was trembling violently, his mind a muddled haze.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the sect master would visit a place like Servant Disciple Peak!

Had he not been fortunate enough to catch a distant glimpse of the sect master once before, he would have been finished today.

This was the supreme master of the Heavenly Dao Sect! Even in the Northern Mystic Cultivation World, the sect master was a prominent figure whose fame was soaring.

In the past, even outer sect stewards and elders rarely visited Servant Disciple Peak, let alone someone of the sect master's standing.

The two servant disciples knelt prostrate on the ground, holding their breath and not daring to move.

At that moment, Nangong Yao said nothing, but his silence only piled more pressure onto Qian Laifu and the two disciples, soaking them in sweat.

Qian Laifu said in a trembling voice:

"S-Sect Master, your presence on Servant Disciple Peak is an honor to us all. This humble servant will have the disciples gather everyone at once..."

"No need."

Before Qian Laifu could finish, Nangong Yao cut him off.

"Y-Yes." Qian Laifu hurriedly complied.

Nangong Yao said evenly, "When I entered this pavilion just now, the first thing I heard you say was that you wouldn't let the senior off?"

Huh?

The senior?

What senior?

Qian Laifu's eyes were blank with confusion.

Then his pupils abruptly contracted. Could the sect master be talking about Chen Xun?

This...

Qian Laifu's mind went numb.

Chen Xun was just a deranged mortal. Why would the sect master call him a senior?

As for the two disciples, their minds had been blank from the outset. They had not taken in a word.

Panic filled Qian Laifu's heart, and he instinctively tried to explain.

But before he could speak, Nangong Yao said coldly, "What insolence."

Qian Laifu jolted, so frightened that he repeatedly knocked his forehead against the ground. "Spare me, Sect Master! Please spare me!"

Nangong Yao gave Qian Laifu an expressionless glance, then turned to Chen Xun and bowed. "Senior, how would you like him dealt with?"

Hearing this, Qian Laifu was instantly seized by terror!

Yet even if he racked his brains until they burst, he could not understand. Had there been some mistake?

Chen Xun was just a deranged mortal. That was absolutely certain!

But right now, Qian Laifu had no time to ponder any of that, because his life was in Chen Xun's hands.

Chen Xun chuckled and yawned. "Aaah~ This humble scholar hasn't had enough sleep yet."

Nangong Yao gave an awkward smile, then looked at Qian Laifu. "Since the senior wishes to rest, take me to see where he lives."

Seeing that Chen Xun did not intend to pursue the matter, Qian Laifu had just breathed a huge sigh of relief. But when Nangong Yao said he wanted to see Chen Xun's quarters, his heart turned cold again.

I'm done for, done for. I'm afraid this little life of mine is beyond saving.

Although he still did not understand what was going on, Chen Xun's standing in the sect master's eyes was already abundantly clear.

If the sect master saw that Chen Xun lived in a shabby thatched hut in the remote western area... the consequences would be unimaginable!

"Yes, Sect Master. This humble servant will take you to Chen... the senior's quarters at once," Qian Laifu said respectfully. Despair had already filled his heart, and he faced death as though returning home.

Qian Laifu had considered taking Nangong Yao and Chen Xun to a nicer residence and claiming it was Chen Xun's home. After all, Chen Xun was a madman; perhaps he could bluff his way through.

But faced with Nangong Yao's imposing presence, Qian Laifu would not have dared lie even with a hundred men's courage.

Then, with Qian Laifu leading the way, Chen Xun and Nangong Yao left the pavilion and headed west.

Meanwhile, the two servant disciples remained kneeling there, unable to recover their senses for a long time.

A short while later.

The western side of Servant Disciple Peak.

"You actually made the senior live in a place like this?"

Nangong Yao looked at the thatched hut before him and drew a deep breath.

Qian Laifu knelt on the ground and wept in terror. "Sect Master, please spare me! I was told that Senior Chen was merely a mortal whom Senior Brother Zhao Ting brought back from the mortal world! Steward Shen He said it would be enough to keep him fed and give him somewhere to stay. I never imagined that Senior Chen had any connection to you, Sect Master! Boohoo!"

Although the lodging was rather poor, Qian Laifu could honestly say that he had never shortchanged Chen Xun on food these past few days. Across the entire mountainside, no one ate more than Chen Xun. He had never cut back Chen Xun's portions; instead, he had told the dining hall to increase them.

Qian Laifu was drowning in regret. He had thought Chen Xun's connection to Zhao Ting was remarkable enough. Never had he imagined that Chen Xun was connected to the sect master too!

This was going to cost Qian Laifu his old life.

If he had done everything within his power to look after Chen Xun-no, Senior Chen-this might have been a fortuitous opportunity for a mere steward of Servant Disciple Peak like him. Now, not only had he ruined it all, but he might even lose his life.

At those words, Nangong Yao pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Nangong Yao was a sect master who knew right from wrong. He also understood that no one could have foreseen something like this. In truth, the steward of Servant Disciple Peak had done nothing wrong.

Nangong Yao turned to look at Chen Xun, who kept yawning beside him, and bowed.

"Senior, I did not know before that you had come to the Heavenly Dao Sect. Now that I do, I cannot possibly let you continue living on Servant Disciple Peak. Please come with me and stay on Heavenly Dao Peak."

Still kneeling, Qian Laifu's eyes widened at this, and his heart twitched.

Good heavens, Heavenly Dao Peak!

That was where the Inner Pavilion was located, and it was also the mountain where the sect master lived!

Normally, even the core elders lived on Heaven Mystic Peak. They could only ascend Heavenly Dao Peak when there were important matters to discuss.

Chen Xun swayed his head, gave Nangong Yao a suspicious look, then yawned again and rushed into the thatched hut. With one leap, he flopped onto the bed.

Chen Xun's impatient voice came from inside the hut:

"Go, go, go! This humble scholar is sleepy to death!"

Uh.

Nangong Yao froze, then smiled wryly.

He recalled how, atop Little River Peak, the senior had played a heavenly melody that drew countless butterflies. He had truly been carefree and beyond worldly dust.

His manner now was worlds apart from then-two utter extremes.

Nangong Yao said, "Senior, please come stay with me on Heavenly Dao Peak! How could my conscience rest if I let you remain in this dilapidated place?"

But the only answer Nangong Yao received was the sound of deep, sleeping snores from inside the hut.

Nangong Yao sighed helplessly.

Kneeling nearby, Qian Laifu watched with his heart pounding in terror. Who in the entire Heavenly Dao Sect dared treat the sect master like this? Only Chen... Senior Chen, surely. No wonder Senior Chen had emerged unscathed after causing trouble on Heaven Mystic Peak. It all made perfect sense.

After a long while, Nangong Yao finally bowed and walked away.

Seeing this, Qian Laifu breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly stood, and followed with his back bowed.

"Do not imagine that the senior truly is a mortal. He is merely playing in the mortal world."

On the mountain path, Nangong Yao spoke those words, then rose into the air and vanished.

"Farewell, Sect Master!"

Qian Laifu hurriedly saw him off with a respectful bow.

Only after a while did Qian Laifu straighten up and wipe his forehead, which was covered in sweat.

Seeing that the sect master had not punished him, Qian Laifu finally felt relieved. Yet he also understood that perhaps the sect master simply did not consider a steward of Servant Disciple Peak worth his attention. After all, what an exalted figure the sect master was.

Still, Qian Laifu began to feel proud. To have had the good fortune to speak with the sect master at such close quarters-he could truly die without regrets.

Recalling the words the sect master had spoken before leaving, Qian Laifu could not help trembling inwardly.

No wonder the sect master treated Senior Chen with such humility...

So Senior Chen wasn't a mortal at all... but a great figure living in seclusion!

Presumably, Senior Chen and the sect master shared some connection from the past.

Yes, I should have realized it long ago. With Senior Chen's terrifying appetite, what mortal could possibly eat that much...?

At that thought, Qian Laifu grew incredibly nervous again. After all, with such a great figure living on Servant Disciple Peak-someone even the sect master treated respectfully-it was hard not to be nervous.

At the same time, Qian Laifu resolved that from now on, he would spare no effort to attend to Senior Chen properly.