Xiao Zhan gave a dry cough and was about to speak to ease the tension, but Yun Yun spoke first.
She raised her teacup and gently blew on the froth, her tone cool.
"Gu He, you are the foremost alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire. Your title as a Six-Rank Alchemist resounds throughout the empire."
"Yet today, you have condescended to visit this little Wutan City to seek out a junior of the Xiao Clan."
"If word of this got out, it would inevitably invite criticism."
Yun Yun's words sounded polite, but in truth, they concealed needles in silk.
Gu He heard what she meant. His smile remained unchanged as he shook his head.
"You misunderstand, Sect Master Yun."
"I did not come to make trouble for young friend Xiao Baichuan."
He turned toward Xiao Baichuan, his gaze lingering on him for a moment, his tone even.
"I merely have a few questions I wish to ask you in person, young friend."
Xiao Baichuan stood in the hall, his expression betraying nothing, though inwardly he had already cursed Gu He every way he could.
What normal Six-Rank Alchemist would come knocking in person after his disciple took a one-sided beating and say he had "a few questions to ask"?
Alarm bells rang wildly in his mind.
This was clearly even more troublesome than coming to make trouble.
If Gu He had come to make trouble, at worst, they would fight.
If he had come to ask questions, he was surely planning to dig out all Xiao Baichuan's secrets.
At that moment, Xiao Baichuan could no longer worry about the risk of exposure and rapidly called out to Yao Chen in his mind.
Old man, he's here for me. He wants to probe my secrets.
Yao Chen's voice came from the jade pendant, his tone just as grave.
Don't worry. I'm listening.
Xiao Baichuan drew a deep breath, still maintaining a courteous smile as he cupped his hands toward Gu He.
"Please speak freely, Senior Pill King."
"This junior will tell you everything he knows."
Though he said he would tell everything he knew, what he thought was-tell you, my ass. I won't say a single truthful word.
As Gu He watched his composed demeanor, the interest in his eyes deepened.
A teenager could face the combined pressure of a Dou Emperor and a Six-Rank Alchemist without a change in expression.
Such strength of character did not look like an act.
Gu He watched Xiao Baichuan in silence for a moment, then spoke.
"In your battle with Liu Ling that day, the palm strike you used could unravel the Qi sea and detonate Dou Qi."
"In all my years refining pills, I have never seen such an exquisite method of controlling Dou Qi."
His tone was even, but his eyes stayed fixed on Xiao Baichuan.
"Would you perform it on me once more, young friend?"
At this, everyone in the hall reacted differently.
Xiao Zhan frowned. Several Xiao Clan elders exchanged glances, each seeing displeasure in the others' eyes.
Gu He claimed he had not come to make trouble, yet the moment he opened his mouth, he demanded that someone reveal the ultimate technique kept at the bottom of their chest.
Xiao Baichuan shook his head without hesitation.
"My apologies. My teacher passed this down to me and forbade me from passing it on."
At those words, the hall fell silent for a moment.
Everyone caught an important piece of information: his teacher!
There really was an expert backing Xiao Baichuan.
Yun Yun set down her teacup, her gaze sharpening slightly.
A gleam flashed through Gu He's eyes, and he quickly pressed on.
"Then might I meet this teacher of yours?"
Xiao Baichuan shook his head again.
"My teacher is not in Wutan City at present."
After two refusals in succession, the smile on Gu He's face finally faded a little.
As the foremost alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, he was ordinarily an honored guest wherever he went.
Today, repeatedly rejected by a junior of the Xiao Clan, he could hardly avoid losing face.
Gu He pressed his lips together slightly and was about to say something more when Yun Yun spoke first.
"Since you have finished your questions, Mr. Gu He, is it my turn now?"
Gu He glanced at Yun Yun and swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.
Yun Yun placed her teacup on the table and raised her eyes to Xiao Baichuan, her tone a little gentler than before.
"Xiao Baichuan, would you be willing to join the Misty Cloud Sect?"
Everyone from the Xiao Clan in the hall drew a sharp breath in unison.
A Dou Huang expert, the Misty Cloud Sect Master, had personally come to recruit him.
Such treatment was a first since the Xiao Clan's founding.
The eyes of several Xiao Clan elders instantly grew eager, and they all looked toward Xiao Baichuan.
With the Misty Cloud Sect at their back, the Xiao Clan's standing in the Jia Ma Empire would be altogether different.
Yet Xiao Baichuan cupped his hands and spoke without hesitation.
"Thank you for your generous regard, Sect Master Yun."
"But this junior already has a teacher and cannot readily enter another school."
The eagerness on the Xiao Clan members' faces froze.
Yun Yun did not mind in the slightest. Instead, she leaned forward slightly, her tone calm.
"That is no obstacle. Your teacher may join the Misty Cloud Sect as well."
At those words, Gu He's expression changed.
Having known Yun Yun for so many years, he knew well that she was cool and reserved and never readily extended goodwill.
Back when he had tried several times to draw closer to the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun had always treated the matter strictly as business.
Now, for a junior of the Xiao Clan, she was actually willing to yield this far?
An emotion Gu He could neither name nor explain rose within him, and his gaze toward Xiao Baichuan grew a little colder.
Standing behind Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran thought Xiao Baichuan would surely agree this time.
Her master had personally invited him and was even willing to accept his teacher. Who could refuse such treatment?
Yet Xiao Baichuan cupped his hands once again, his tone respectful but firm.
"My teacher and I are accustomed to living like drifting clouds and wild cranes. We will refrain from troubling your honored sect."
A trace of disappointment flashed through Nalan Yanran's eyes.
Gu He finally could not hold back.
He gave a cold snort, his tone carrying a measure of reproach.
"Xiao Baichuan, Sect Master Yun has personally invited you, yet you keep refusing. You truly fail to appreciate what is good for you."
His words sounded lofty and righteous, as though he were standing up for Yun Yun.
But no one present was a fool. Gu He was clearly just using a pretext to vent his displeasure and teach Xiao Baichuan a lesson.
Yun Yun's brows drew together slightly. She glanced at Gu He, her tone cool.
"Gu He, you do not seem to be a member of the Misty Cloud Sect."
"Since when has an outsider like you had any say in the affairs of my Misty Cloud Sect?"
Gu He's expression stiffened.
He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, only to realize that he truly had no standing.
Yun Yun withdrew her gaze and looked back at Xiao Baichuan, her tone becoming gentle again.
"Since you are unwilling, I will not force you."
Looking at Yun Yun, Xiao Baichuan felt somewhat embarrassed.
He had refused her twice in succession, yet she had still rebuked Gu He on his behalf.
He cupped his hands in a bow, his tone sincere.
"Thank you for stepping in, Sect Master Yun. This junior will remember this favor."
Yun Yun nodded slightly, the faintest hint of a smile rising at the corners of her mouth.
"There is no need for courtesy."
"If you change your mind in the future, you may come find me at the Misty Cloud Sect at any time."
This time, Xiao Baichuan did not refuse. After all, refusing again would make him seem lacking in sense.
"All right."
Yun Yun rose, her blue-green skirt trailing along the floor, and turned to glance at Nalan Yanran behind her.
Nalan Yanran kept her head lowered, her expression downcast and her lips lightly pressed together, saying nothing.
Seeing the disappointment on her disciple's face, Yun Yun sighed inwardly. Without saying more, she led Nalan Yanran out of the hall.
Gu He remained standing where he was, his expression ugly.
Not only had he failed to uncover Xiao Baichuan's secrets today, but he had also lost face before Yun Yun.
But now that Yun Yun had repeatedly defended the boy, and with so many Xiao Clan members present, he had no way to make further trouble for Xiao Baichuan.
In the end, he could only cast Xiao Baichuan a cold glance, sweep his sleeve, turn around, and stride away.
Before you continue