You Are Abusing Your Private Authority!

In the dead of night, Jiang Beiran headed toward Blue Heart Hall with light steps. Along the way, he looked up at the sky and saw it studded with sparkling stars, scattered across the night like fine flowing sand.

This starry night view never gets old.

Silently praising it, Jiang Beiran lifted the Wine Gourd at his waist and took a swig of Jade Flower Dew.

His steps grew even lighter as Jiang Beiran quickly returned to his little dwelling. But just as he was about to open the door, a familiar voice rang in his ears.

"Senior Brother."

Turning around, Jiang Beiran spotted Lin Yuyan hiding on the small slope opposite him at a glance, thanks to his excellent night vision.

"Something wrong?" Jiang Beiran replied through Secret Sound Transmission as well.

"I just got back from South Gazing Prefecture. I brought Senior Brother some local specialty and left it at the Old Place."

"That was thoughtful of you. Thanks." As Jiang Beiran spoke, he lifted the lid of the nearby water vat and took out an exquisitely wrapped Brocade Box.

"Then I'll head back first, Senior Brother. Good night."

Watching Lin Yuyan's figure swiftly vanish into the darkness, Jiang Beiran, already accustomed to this sight, turned and pushed open his door.

He placed the Brocade Box on the somewhat worn wooden table beside him and gently lifted the lid.

Nine Leaf Mica Ganoderma... I can't believe she managed to find this...

Looking at the Umbrella Shaped Purple Ganoderma in the box, faintly giving off green fluorescence, Jiang Beiran could not help sighing inwardly. Then, seeing the thick layer of Spirit Powder on its cap, he already knew what medicine he would refine in his next batch.

Closing the Brocade Box again, Jiang Beiran considered what gift he should return to this Junior Sister in the coming days.

As a Top Beauty who had once triggered even the lowest, Yellow Grade option, Jiang Beiran had actually been quite wary of this Junior Sister for a long while. Yet her cleverness and initiative had been beyond anything he expected.

She's getting better and better at avoiding system options.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuyan, having just met Jiang Beiran, was walking back in complete satisfaction. Her eyes shone with a light that even the night could not conceal.

Senior Brother said a whole seven characters to me today! And he took out the gift I gave him right in front of me. This must mean our hearts are joined in mutual affection, right!? Ah! At the thought, Lin Yuyan slapped the camphor tree beside her, shaking its leaves down with a rustle.

Over the past four years, through all sorts of cautious long-distance observation and repeated analysis, she had gradually figured out her senior brother's likes and dislikes.

She had learned that she could not approach him when there were many people around, could not call out to him in public, and definitely could not suddenly rush out to surprise him just because she thought there would be no problem. Otherwise, he would stare at her with an utterly terrifying gaze.

For that reason, she had specially trained in Secret Sound Transmission for an entire year.

But all of this is worth it!

Lin Yuyan clenched her fist, brushed the leaves from her body, and silently repeated ten times, 1:15 a.m. is one of the times when Senior Brother is in the best mood.

Only after thoroughly memorizing it did she continue on her way back.

The next morning, Jiang Beiran went to Blue Heart Xuan as usual to pay his respects to Cheng Li Hall and play several games of chess with him.

Only after amusing Cheng Li Hall until he was thoroughly satisfied and laughing heartily did Jiang Beiran rise to take his leave. But the moment he opened the door, he saw Junior Brother Jun Yu standing outside.

"Senior Brother, the Hall Master sent me to summon you."

After hearing this, Jiang Beiran first sighed inwardly before saying, "All right. Lead the way."

Following Junior Brother Jun Yu all the way to Purple Glow Garden within the hall, the two stopped before a sandalwood door and knocked.

"So Beiran is here. Come in."

Hearing Zhang Heqing summon him from inside, Jiang Beiran pushed open the door and walked in.

"Greetings, Hall Master."

Zhang Heqing, seated at the crescent moon table, first took out a cup and poured some Emerald Snail Tea into it. Then he beckoned Jiang Beiran over. "No need for formalities. Come sit and taste some tea with me."

"Yes."

After answering, Jiang Beiran sat opposite Zhang Heqing and accepted the tea cup he handed over.

But as he took the cup, Jiang Beiran suddenly caught sight of an additional jade tea cup on the rosewood shelf behind Zhang Heqing. Having been here several times, Jiang Beiran was certain he had never seen it in any position before.

Could it be...

Jiang Beiran instantly recalled that Protector Yu had been served with this very jade cup when she visited last time. And he was ninety-nine percent sure that the cup had not been washed...

Hall Master! Don't do this to me!!!

After roaring inwardly, Jiang Beiran accepted the tea cup without betraying a thing on his face.

"Thank you, Hall Master."

Watching Jiang Beiran finish the tea, Zhang Heqing proactively refilled his cup. "Beiran, how is the matter I asked you to handle last time progressing?"

Wondering why the Hall Master was being so attentive today, Jiang Beiran nearly wanted to spit the tea he had just drunk right back out.

I can tell, you really are desperate, old man!

Though Zhang Heqing had asked him to handle quite a few matters before, under these circumstances, how could Jiang Beiran fail to understand? He was asking whether Jiang Beiran had gone to see Protector Yu.

But only one day has passed!

After cursing wildly in his heart for a while, Jiang Beiran answered, "Hall Master, if I suddenly went to see Protector Yu like this, I wouldn't even know what to say."

"Didn't I tell you last time? Deepen the relationship between our two halls and develop together."

Hall Master... I didn't teach you that phrase so you could use it here...

Forcing himself to maintain a smile, Jiang Beiran continued, "But our hall studies Chess Skill, while Water Mirror Hall excels in music. How can those two develop together?"

"Why can't they? They are both elegant pursuits, so there must be something they have in common. Besides, you can spar in Martial Arts. Water Mirror Hall's Myriad Dance is well worth learning from."

"Hall Master, but this..."

"Enough." Seeing that Jiang Beiran was still trying to decline, Zhang Heqing said directly, "Consider it the Hall Master asking you for a favor. If this works out, didn't you say last time that you wanted to apply for another cultivation ground on the Back Mountain? I approve it."

You're abusing your authority, hey!

There were so many disciples in the Returning Heart Sect, and every one of them wanted to apply for a cultivation ground on the Back Mountain. The spiritual energy there was abundant, making it highly suitable for practicing Martial Arts. Jiang Beiran liked the Back Mountain because he wanted to use its spiritual energy to nourish the herbs he grew and some "little pets" he kept there, so naturally he found the space insufficient. But every time he applied, the Hall Master would give him a thorough scolding, saying that granting him one place was already an unprecedented exception, yet he still dreamed of having a second!

Jiang Beiran had thought he would only have a chance to succeed once the opportunity he had been waiting for finally ripened. But he had not expected...

Bootlicking... love really is fucking incredible.

Although Zhang Heqing's offer was extremely tempting, the moment Jiang Beiran thought of those Junior Sisters from Water Mirror Hall who could trigger Earth Rank options at the drop of a hat, he still decided to painfully give up what he loved. But just as he was about to speak, three options appeared before his eyes.

[Option One: Refuse Zhang Heqing again. Completion Reward: Heavenly Fire Divine Seal (Mystic Middle Grade)]

[Option Two: Use the matter of Gu Poison to change the subject. Completion Reward: Whirlwind Seal (Yellow Rank High Grade)]

[Option Three: Agree to Zhang Heqing's request. Completion Reward: Random Basic Attribute Point +1]

Ah, I knew it...

Seeing the expected options trigger, Jiang Beiran let out a deep sigh in his heart.