Each to Their Own Hall, No More Contact

Even Sister Lian and the others had cried. After hearing of Jiang Beiran's background and experiences, Li Fucheng was even more deeply moved. He forcefully wiped away his tears and said excitedly, "No wonder I felt such a sense of kindred spirits the moment I saw you, Brother Jiang! Who would have thought we'd have such similar experiences? I... I wonder if I might dare call you Big Brother?"

As soon as Li Fucheng finished speaking, three more options popped up before Jiang Beiran's eyes.

[Option One: Agree. Completion Reward: Spirit Attachment Emperor Method (Mysterious Grade High Rank)]

[Option Two: Change the subject. Completion Reward: Ghost True Flower (Yellow Rank High Grade)]

[Option Three: Refuse directly. Completion Reward: Random Basic Attribute Point +1]

Not bad. As expected of a man with a Protagonist Template—he triggered two dangerous options in just a few sentences. He's completely on par with all these pretty Junior Sisters around me.

Without hesitation, Jiang Beiran chose the third option and shook his head. "I can't accept being called Big Brother. I already said it just now—we merely met by chance, so there's no need for us to become too deeply acquainted. And let me offer you one sincere piece of advice: don't invest too much emotion in someone you've only just met, much less bare your heart and soul to them. You don't even know my real name."

Upon hearing Jiang Beiran's response, everyone behind Li Fucheng was stunned.

No way!? The atmosphere had reached this point, and he actually refused? And so coldly, at that.

But not only Li Fucheng's companions were dumbfounded. Even the Junior Sisters who knew something of Jiang Beiran were all frozen in surprise. They knew their Senior Brother was aloof most of the time, but he was actually quite easy to talk to. They truly had not expected him to reject someone so firmly this time.

Naturally, Li Fucheng had not expected such a forceful rejection either. He was speechless for quite a while, but after carefully pondering Jiang Beiran's heartfelt advice, he respectfully bowed. "Fucheng has been taught."

Jiang Beiran nodded in satisfaction, then Gathered Closer to Li Fucheng's ear and said, "Meeting is fate. Let me give you a piece of advice: becoming stronger doesn't necessarily mean practicing martial arts. Mysterious Doors and Hidden Armor also contains a vast universe."

As he spoke, Jiang Beiran took a copy of Eight Palaces Four Luo Book from his Universe Ring and handed it to Li Fucheng. "Try reading it. Perhaps it'll inspire you."

Since he knew the other man was very likely someone with a Protagonist Template, and the system had specifically assigned him to lend the man a hand, Jiang Beiran naturally wanted to forge a good connection. Besides, he felt that he had probably encountered the Demonic Sect Young Master at his lowest point. From here on out, he would most likely stumble upon one fortuitous encounter after another.

Before Li Fucheng could decline, Jiang Beiran stuffed the book into his arms, turned, and walked away, leaving behind only the words, "Until fate brings us together again."

Though the five junior sisters were still somewhat lost in the clouds and mist, they immediately turned and followed their Senior Brother.

Touching the Eight Palaces Four Luo Book in his arms, Li Fucheng watched Jiang Beiran depart and sighed. "Brother Jiang truly is an extraordinary man."

"He already said that wasn't his real name," Tang Tingshuang immediately pointed out from beside him.

"A name is only a designation." After saying this, Li Fucheng looked at Tang Tingshuang and asked, "Come on. Let's find somewhere to tend to your wound first."

"Senior Brother, why did you come save those people from the Demonic Sect this time?"

"Senior Brother, how did you tell they weren't from the Azure Cloud Sect?"

"Senior Brother, what did you give him before you left?"

Jiang Beiran had only walked a hundred meters when, after they shouted "Report," the Yu Family Three Sisters impatiently fired off their questions one after another.

"No comment." Jiang Beiran answered the Three Sisters' questions with four words.

"Mm, Senior Brother, just tell me. I'll massage your back."

"I'll knead your shoulders!"

"I'll massage your legs!"

Seeing that the Three Sisters were about to start making a racket, Jiang Beiran said, "I'll count to three. Whoever keeps making noise will have her evaluation score deducted."

"One."

The Three Sisters immediately wilted at the sound of that and promptly lined up neatly behind Jiang Beiran.

Jiang Beiran nodded with satisfaction and led the Junior Sisters out of the forest.

They encountered no more mishaps on the journey back, and Jiang Beiran brought the five junior sisters all the way to the foot of the sect's mountain in one go.

"Before we return, I need to lay down Three Laws with you."

Beneath the Returning Heart Sect's stone archway, Jiang Beiran turned to look at the five junior sisters as he spoke.

After hearing him, the five junior sisters all stopped and looked toward Jiang Beiran.

"First, you may appropriately mention what you learned, but don't tell anyone what I did."

"Second, don't recommend me to others as an Iron Seal." As he said this, Jiang Beiran glanced at Liu Zijin.

Senior Brother glared at me again... So scary, but also...

Liu Zijin could not help pressing a hand to her chest, because her heart was beating far too fast.

Seeing Liu Zijin trembling in fear, Jiang Beiran was quite satisfied. He thought that his gaze attack, imbued with spiritual power pressure, really was useful.

He continued, "Third, after returning to the sect, we'll each return to our own halls. Unless there's business, we won't associate with one another anymore."

"Ah!?"

The five junior sisters cried out at once. Though the first two rules were somewhat strange, they could accept them. But wasn't the third one far too heartless?

"Of course, I have no means to force you to follow them. I only hope that we can respect one another, gather well and part well, and not make things so bad that we can't even remain acquaintances in the end."

The Five Sisters' hearts trembled again after hearing that. So, in their Senior Brother's eyes, they were merely acquaintances—not even friends.

"Alright. I hope you'll remember those three rules. Let's return to the sect."

The atmosphere was somewhat gloomy as they climbed the mountain. Though they had not spoken much while hurrying along earlier, the mood had not been nearly as oppressive as it was now.

They climbed to the mountaintop in silence, and Jiang Beiran led them to the pavilion where they had stayed before setting off.

"Return the Straw Hats, Straw Shoes, and Sun-scorched Cloth to me."

The Junior Sisters showed no reluctance whatsoever, because they knew these items were anything but ordinary—indeed, they were exceptionally powerful. They all answered, "Yes," and returned the Invisibility Three-piece Set to Jiang Beiran.

After storing the Invisibility Set back in his Universe Ring, Jiang Beiran took out the Jade Bottle they had seen before. "Before we set out, I said I would reward the best performer with a bottle of Hundred Flowers Honey. But honestly, all five of you performed far better than I expected, especially Junior Sister Liu."

Jiang Beiran extended the small bottle of Hundred Flowers Honey toward Liu Zijin. "You displayed great captain demeanor throughout the journey, and you were also very proactive whenever we encountered a problem. Such qualities are rare and precious. I hope you'll keep them up."

"Ah? For me?" Liu Zijin was extremely surprised. She had thought her Senior Brother must surely dislike her, yet he was praising her like this in the end.

"Mhm." Jiang Beiran nodded, then looked toward the other four. "I trust none of you have any objections?"

"None at all!" The four Junior Sisters shook their heads vigorously at the same time. Sister Zi Jin had been taking the scoldings for them the whole way, and they had always felt terribly sorry about it.

"Then... I'll accept it with respect rather than stand on ceremony. Thank you, Senior Brother." Liu Zijin accepted the Jade Bottle with both hands after speaking.

Yet she found it strange that although she had clearly been praised, she did not seem particularly happy.

Without observing Liu Zijin's slightly complicated expression, Jiang Beiran walked out of the pavilion and called, "Alright, let's go. We're heading to the Law Enforcement Hall to report back."