Secrets

Everyone: Holy shit!

Madam was actually serious!

So, so thrilling!

Elder Chang was scared out of his wits, his old tears streaking his makeup. His wife was going to... in front of all these people. He might as well die!

"Ah!!"

"Help! Heeelp!!"

The old man screamed until his voice cracked. Who could look at this scene and not say he deserved it?

Seeing things turn bad, Immortal Lord Moonfall had long since fled without a trace. No one dared interfere in an elder's domestic affairs. Nervous and excited, everyone watched those scissors reach between the elder's legs.

Someone was so excited they held their breath.

Just then-

"Stop!"

A clear shout rang out. A man in blue robes flew before the crowd and stopped Madam's fatal snip. "Madam, calm down!"

At the sight of him, Elder Chang reacted as though he had seen his savior, weeping torrents of tears and snot. "Qingyun, quick, save me!!"

The newcomer was Sword Lord Qingyun, one of the main peak's three elders, a man renowned throughout the sect as a gentleman. His blue robes hung gracefully, his bearing open and easy. "Madam, today is the sect master's birthday banquet. For the sect master's sake, this matter should not be blown out of proportion. Why not let the sect rules determine Elder Chang's punishment for his offenses?"

Behind him, Mu Liuyun strolled over in red robes, accompanied by Immortal Venerable Wanghan. Across the crowd, the immortal venerable spotted his little disciple at a glance.

Qiaoqiao's eyes curved as she called out brightly, "Master." It seemed things really had gotten out of hand. Even the sect master and her master had come.

[Master is so handsome. What immortal lord or sword lord could compare to even half of him?]

Xiao Tingyu and Wen Zhi exchanged a glance, feeling their little junior sister had a very good point.

Standing among the crowd, Immortal Venerable Wanghan had the bearing of a crane among chickens. His features were exquisitely refined, like thin ice and cold snow. Even Mu Liuyun, renowned as a beauty, was overshadowed somewhat by him.

After a few words of persuasion, Sword Lord Qingyun finally convinced Madam to put down her scissors for the time being. Elder Chang, a sight both indecent and painful to the eyes, was taken away by the Law Enforcement Hall.

As for his failures of personal virtue, the sect master would decide his punishment after the birthday banquet.

Whatever happened, he certainly could not remain grand elder.

After today, the entire Cultivation World would probably know that Elder Chang of the Flowing Cloud Sect was a scumbag who liked wearing women's clothes to rendezvous with his lover. He had lost every last shred of face and dignity.

With the matter settled, the spectators gradually dispersed. Madam Chang walked up to Qiaoqiao. The others had simply followed the crowd, but Madam Chang alone had noticed that, as the group passed her, this little girl had looked at her with clear, bright almond eyes and asked whether she wanted to watch the commotion surrounding Elder Chang.

If not for Qiaoqiao, she would almost have missed this fine show.

The dao companion she had spent centuries with was actually so filthy behind her back, carrying on with a lover without her knowledge... Just thinking of that scene made her sick enough to vomit.

She took out a smooth white jade token and handed it to Qiaoqiao. "You're the little disciple from Ethereal Peak, aren't you? Thank you for earlier."

Qiaoqiao smiled shyly.

Such an adorable little girl. The more Madam looked at her, the fonder she grew. "Bring this white jade token to me, and in the future, I will treat three people for you, sparing no expense."

Mu Liuyun said, "Who knows how many cultivators would die of envy to hear that you secured such a promise from the Apricot Medical Immortal?"

"You flatter me, Sect Master," Madam said.

Under the envious gazes of those around her, Qiaoqiao accepted the jade token.

Beside them, Sword Lord Qingyun looked thoughtful. He studied her for a moment, his manner gentle. "You're Qiaoqiao, the disciple who took first place in this year's trial?"

Qiaoqiao raised her eyes and stared at him without blinking.

At her expression, her senior brother's and senior sister's hearts both lurched.

Surely not?

Could Sword Lord Qingyun have juicy gossip too?

Wasn't Sword Lord Qingyun a famously upright gentleman in the sect?

Both the grand elder and second elder of the main peak had juicy gossip. Was their Flowing Cloud Sect really all right?

Chapter 22: Secrets

Amid everyone's complicated, shocked gazes, Qiaoqiao nodded and slowly withdrew her gaze.

Her senior brother and senior sister both breathed sighs of relief. Thankfully, nothing had happened.

What had just happened was far too thrilling. They still needed time to digest it.

With the sect master's birthday banquet about to begin, Sword Lord Qingyun said no more.

The group headed toward the Flowing Cloud Grand Hall. Fu Fengyuan hesitated, wondering whether he should leave first. He had never attended occasions like this, and no one would care whether he was there.

Just as he was about to leave, Immortal Venerable Wanghan looked back. "Fengyuan, come here."

Fu Fengyuan froze for a moment.

Master was calling him!

Did Master still acknowledge him as a disciple? He could no longer even lift a sword...

He had not seen his master once since his master entered seclusion. He had once asked Elder Ning, who said his master would be in seclusion for at least twenty years this time. He had never expected his master to emerge early.

As his thoughts wandered, a cold sensation touched his wrist. He abruptly looked up to see his master's long, white-jade-like fingers resting on it. A chill traveled along his meridians, but upon reaching the blockage, it could go no farther.

Fu Fengyuan could not help feeling disheartened. Could even his master not help clear his meridians?

Bai Fu withdrew his hand and said mildly, "Wait calmly for a turning point."

He froze, then wild joy surged into his heart. What his master meant was... could he still have a chance of recovering?

True Person Yao had said his condition could not be treated with medicine. Could he really still recover?

"Fourth Senior Brother, if Master says so, you definitely can!" Qiaoqiao leaned over, her smiling eyes curved. "Look at our new Junior Brother Yue. His black-hearted father drove him out of the family because of his Five Spirit Roots, but now he's Xiaoyaozi's successor. So anything is possible!"

Fu Fengyuan and Yue Tingxi exchanged a glance. The latter moved his lips, wanting to protest that he was not her junior brother, but held back.

Fu Fengyuan's heart was no longer cold. His junior sister was right. Anything was possible...

"Qiaoqiao."

"Come here."

Qiaoqiao obediently shuffled over to his side, her eyes darting about. She hadn't run off anywhere. Did Master still see her as a little child and think she would get lost in the crowd?