Central Province, Heavenly Derivation Sect.
Pearl-Gem Peak.
Xie Lingyu brewed tea, then poured a cup each for Chu Xingchen and Bai Xuanling.
Bai Xuanling reached for her teacup.
"This was all rather rushed. I didn't prepare a gift for your breakthrough."
"You didn't give me one last time either, so it doesn't matter if you don't this time," Xie Lingyu said calmly. "As long as you're safe and sound, Master."
Bai Xuanling nodded in satisfaction at that.
"You've certainly become much gentler than before. Lingyu is a mighty Deification Realm cultivator now, too."
Xie Lingyu wasn't sure whether this counted as teasing from her master. She looked up at Chu Xingchen across from her. He was all smiles.
Chu Xingchen, who used to love teasing her, had become much quieter since losing his hearing.
Watching Xie Lingyu, Bai Xuanling raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Hurry up and tell him what's in your heart while you can. It's not as though the brat can hear you."
"What's in my heart?"
"Something like, 'You little brat, being liked by me, Lord Lingyu, will use up ten lifetimes of your accumulated blessings. You'll have to spend your next ten lifetimes working like an ox and a horse for me to repay it.'"
"Master!" Xie Lingyu stood up, bracing a hand on the table.
Seeing such a large movement from Xie Lingyu, Chu Xingchen glanced over in confusion and asked, "What's wrong?"
Bai Xuanling raised an eyebrow and lifted her hand to write.
But the moment she lifted it, Xie Lingyu reached out and pressed it down.
"Master!" Xie Lingyu called out with utmost seriousness.
At that, Bai Xuanling withdrew her hand, her tone a little flippant.
"If you like him, you like him. I don't even mind this brat rooting you up like