"This..." A faint blush rose to Peacock's face as she said, "I was distracted by some thoughts. It wasn't what Master thinks!"
"What does Master think?" Abbess Jingfan asked in return.
"Master, you're teasing me again." Peacock did not take the bait, though there was a trace of irritation in her tone.
"Hehe." Abbess Jingfan smiled. "It's nothing. You're not so young anymore; having such thoughts is perfectly normal. There's no need to hide them from Master. That was part of why I sent you to Mochou City this time. Why be shy about it?"
"But... Master, if it really were as you said, then admitting it would be one thing. It's just..." Peacock was truly embarrassed, and somewhat bewildered as well. After all, Zhang Xiaohua was nominally the Incense-Passing Cult's future son-in-law, and merely an immature youth of fifteen.
Seeing Peacock like this, Abbess Jingfan did not press her. She only smiled and said, "All right. If you do not wish to speak of it, how could Master force you? Just tell Master about this trip. I myself have not been to Mochou Lake for decades, and I wonder whether it has changed."
"Master... it isn't that this disciple refuses to tell you. I truly don't know how to explain it. Well, then this disciple will tell you all about it."
Afterward, she recounted everything that had happened during this journey to Mochou City and Hui Chun Valley, from beginning to end. Naturally, she revealed rather more than she had when reporting to the Cult Master previously. The added part, of course, concerned Zhang Xiaohua.
Abbess Jingfan's reaction resembled that of Abbess Jingyi, the Cult Master of the Incense-Passing Cult. She did not interrupt Peacock midway. Only after Peacock had finished did she nod and ask, "Your injuries have