You're Abusing Your Power!

Late at night, Jiang Beiran walked towards Blue Heart Hall with light steps. He looked up at the sky, where it was dotted with Sparkling Stars, spread across the night sky like Fine Flowing Sand.

This Starry Night View is truly never tiresome.

He praised inwardly and took a swig of Jade Flower Dew from the Wine Gourd hanging at his waist.

With increasingly light steps, Jiang Beiran soon returned to his hut. Just as he was about to open the door, a familiar voice sounded in his ear.

"Senior Brother."

Turning his head, Jiang Beiran, with his excellent night vision, immediately spotted Lin Yuyan hiding on the small hill opposite.

"Something wrong?" Jiang Beiran replied using Secret Sound Transmission.

"I just got back from South Gazing Prefecture and brought you a Local Specialty. It's at the Old Place."

"That's thoughtful, thank you." Jiang Beiran said, lifting the lid of the Water Vat beside him and taking out a beautifully packaged Brocade Box.

"Then I'll be going back now, Senior Brother. Goodnight."

Watching Lin Yuyan's figure quickly disappear into the dark night, Jiang Beiran, who was already accustomed to this scene, turned and pushed open his door.

He placed the Brocade Box on the somewhat old 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, which emitted a faint Green Fluorescence, Jiang Beiran couldn't help but sigh. Seeing the thick layer of Spirit Powder on the Cap, Jiang Beiran knew what he would be refining in his next batch of medicine.

He closed the Brocade Box again, pondering what kind of gift he should give this Junior Sister in return after some time.

As a "Top Beauty" who had previously triggered at least a Yellow-grade option, Jiang Beiran had been quite wary of this Junior Sister for a while. However, her intelligence and proactiveness were something he hadn't expected.

She's getting better and better at understanding how to avoid triggering the system's options.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuyan, having just met Jiang Beiran, was walking back with great satisfaction, her eyes shining with a light that even the darkness couldn't conceal.

Senior Brother spoke a full seven words to me today! And he took out the gift I gave him right in front of me. This must be mutual affection!? Ah! Thinking this, Lin Yuyan slapped a nearby Camphor Tree, shaking Leaves down.

For four years, through various cautious long-distance observations and multiple analyses, she had gradually figured out her Senior Brother's likes and dislikes.

She learned not to approach him when there were many people, not to call out to him in public, and definitely not to suddenly rush out to give him a Surprise when she thought it was okay, as that would earn her a terrifying glare from him.

For this, she had specifically practiced Secret Sound Transmission for a year.

But it's all worth it!

Lin Yuyan clenched her fist, brushed off the Leaves covering her, and silently recited "Chou Hour Quarter is one of Senior Brother's happiest times" ten times in her heart.

Only after memorizing it completely did she continue walking back.

The next morning, Jiang Beiran went to Blue Heart Xuan as usual to pay his respects to Cheng Litang and play a few rounds of chess with him.

After amusing Cheng Litang to his heart's content, making him laugh heartily, Jiang Beiran got up to leave. But as soon as he opened the door, he saw his Junior Brother Jun Yu standing in front of it.

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

Jiang Beiran sighed inwardly upon hearing this, then said, "Alright, lead the way."

He followed his Junior Brother Jun Yu all the way to the Purple Glow Garden in the hall. The two arrived at a sandalwood door and knocked.

"Ah, Beiran is here. Come in."

Hearing Zhang Heqing's summons from inside, Jiang Beiran pushed the door open and walked in.

"Greetings, Hall Master."

Zhang Heqing, seated at the Crescent Moon Table, first took a cup and poured some Emerald Snail Tea into it. Then, he beckoned to Jiang Beiran, "No need for formalities. Come sit and have tea with me."

"Yes."

After responding, Jiang Beiran sat opposite Zhang Heqing and took the teacup he was handed.

But as he took the teacup, Jiang Beiran's peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a 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 that spot before.

*'Could it be...' *

Jiang Beiran instantly recalled that this was the same jade cup used to entertain Protector Yu last time, and he was sure it hadn't been washed...

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

He roared internally, but outwardly, Jiang Beiran calmly accepted the teacup.

"Thank you, Hall Master."

Watching Jiang Beiran finish the tea, Zhang Heqing proactively refilled his cup and said, "Beiran, how is the progress on the matter I entrusted to you last time?"

Jiang Beiran, who was wondering why the Hall Master was being so solicitous today, felt like spitting out the tea he had just drunk.

'I see, you old man are really in a hurry!'

Although Zhang Heqing had entrusted him with many matters, in this situation, Jiang Beiran understood perfectly. He was asking if he had gone to see Protector Yu.

'But it's only been a day!'

After a torrent of internal complaints, Jiang Beiran replied, "Hall Master, if I were to approach Protector Yu so rashly, I wouldn't 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 word for you to use it here...'

Forcing a smile, Jiang Beiran continued, "But our hall studies Chess Skill, while Water Mirror Hall specializes in Melody. How can these two develop together?"

"Why can't they? Both are elegant pursuits, there are always commonalities. Plus, we can spar in Martial Arts. Myriad Dance from Water Mirror Hall is someone we can learn from."

"Hall Master, but..."

"Enough." Seeing Jiang Beiran still trying to refuse, Zhang Heqing directly said, "Just consider it me asking for your help. If this works out, didn't you say last time you wanted to apply for a new cultivation spot in the Back Mountain? I'll approve it."

'You're abusing your power, hey!'

There were so many disciples in the Returning Heart Sect, everyone wanted to apply for a cultivation spot in the Back Mountain because the spiritual energy there was abundant and perfect for training. Jiang Beiran liked the Back Mountain because he wanted to use its spiritual energy to nourish the herbs he grew and the "little pets" he kept. Naturally, he felt the space wasn't big enough, but every time he applied, the Hall Master would scold him, saying giving him one spot was already a huge exception, and he still dared to dream of a second one!

Jiang Beiran thought he would only have a chance to succeed when the timing he was waiting for finally arrived, but he never expected...

'Sucking up... Love is truly amazing.'

Although the condition offered by Zhang Heqing was extremely tempting, upon thinking of the Junior Sisters in Water Mirror Hall who could trigger Earth Rank options at any moment, Jiang Beiran decided to reluctantly give up. But just as he was about to speak, three options appeared before his eyes.

[Option 1: Refuse Zhang Heqing again. Completion Reward: Skyfire Divine Seal (Mystic Middle Grade)]

[Option 2: Change the subject with the Gu Poison matter. Completion Reward: Whirlwind Seal (Yellow Rank High Grade)]

[Option 3: Agree to Zhang Heqing's request. Completion Reward: Random Basic Attribute Point +1]

'Sigh, I knew it...'

Seeing the expected options trigger, Jiang Beiran sighed deeply in his heart.