Chapter 57: Leng Qingqiu’s Scheme

“Hmph, trash is trash, still talking tough—huh?!”

Xu Mengdie, caught off guard by Chu Huaizhou’s sincere gratitude, froze.
Her prepared retorts evaporated.

Usually, Trash Big Bro would shoot back something like:

“Who needs your help? Stop acting like that bratty gremlin, or I’ll give you a sword!”

Instead…
Nothing but earnest thanks.

Unprepared, she batted his hand away, backstepping in midair.

One hand twirled her golden ponytail, the other waved awkwardly.

“W-Well… no big deal! As long as you’re fine, Big Bro. I’ve got stuff to do—see you at the Sacred China Secret Realm!”

She sprang back atop her talisman crane,
Cast a spell—
And was a thousand miles away before he could respond.

Leng Qingqiu and Xia Baiqian kept their faces neutral.
But inside? Gleeful.

They knew the truth of his bond with Xu Mengdie—
No dao partnership possible, sure—
But the casual physical contact and those cryptic private jokes between them…

It stoked an envy that had smoldered for centuries.

Bai Li didn’t care.
Her time with Chu Huaizhou matched Xu Mengdie’s in depth.

Her focus?
Still on the Snow Soul Silver Cloud Leng Qingqiu had confiscated.

She’d eaten it before—its taste was rivaled only by kissing Human.

If Chu Huaizhou knew her thoughts, he’d probably say:

“Kiss all you want, just don’t eat that—it’s rare!”

…

The sky stretched endless and cloudless, a boundless pale blue.
Majestic peaks floated like drifting islands thousands of feet up.

At the lowest point, an ancient gate stood—
Etched with cryptic sword runes,
Radiating a sharp aura that turned away evil wills.

Chu Huaizhou, great sect master of the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect,
Returned to his loyal home.

With Leng Qingqiu’s mastery of spatial laws,
Long-distance return was effortless—
No grand teleportation arrays required.

As the last sect masters departed,
Leng Qingqiu flicked her fingers,
Ripping space open.
It folded them neatly back onto Heavenly Sword Peak.

There, a young woman awaited—

Ye Feng, dressed in a black training outfit, high ponytail swaying,
A bulging travel pack on her back.

“Oh! Sect Master, Master Leng, Master Bai, and… this sister—good afternoon!”

Ye Feng bowed nervously, hands pressed to her thighs.

Chu Huaizhou:

“Ye Feng, heading out?”

She nodded briskly.

Alone atop the peak, she’d been restless—
Knowing her Foundation Establishment stage was weak.

Determined, she’d taken a sect mission to train herself,
Hoping one day to help her sect master directly.

Her talent, and her connection to Chu Huaizhou,
Had drawn whispers in the sect hall.

Even Gu Changtian—once scheming with Elder Gu to snatch first place in the entrance exam—
Now fawned over her, ignorant of who had once suppressed him.

She’d accepted his offer to join the mission.

Chu Huaizhou had no objections.
Training mattered—staying in the sect forever bred stagnation.

He remembered…
In his early days, before he had disciples,
He’d taken mission after mission outside the sect.

Only after his system allowed cultivation and insight gains at home
Had he slowed down.

His disciples, however, still went often.

Wait—

His thoughts jolted.

His memory…
Had recovered—smoothly, without pain—
To late Golden Core level, just before the Sacred China Secret Realm arc.

So seamlessly,
He might forget he’d ever been amnesiac—unless he actively focused on it.

What’s going on?

The thought lingered—
Was it the healing pills?

No use speculating.
He’d just ask Emperor Xiaoyao once the upper-realm powerhouse woke.

Ye Feng and Xia Baiqian finished introductions.

Learning Ye Feng was the sect master’s second disciple—the famed Gu Immortal—
Ye Feng’s eyes widened with awe, bowing again.

Xia Baiqian and Leng Qingqiu exchanged a glance.
Confirmed: Ye Feng wasn’t a romantic rival.

“Keep it up! I’m rooting for you—you’ll carry the sect’s mantle someday!”

Xia Baiqian patted Ye Feng’s shoulder,
Sneaking a gu insect onto her for tracking.

They watched Ye Feng depart,
Then Xia Baiqian returned to her hut.

The Calamity Plague Emperor fight had burned through her gu stockpile.
Without replenishment, she felt vulnerable—
Especially with Senior Sister Qingqiu as competition.

Chu Huaizhou retreated to his quarters,
Finally allowing exhaustion to swamp him.

Today had been… too much.

Hugging Bai Li against him,
He fell swiftly asleep.

Leng Qingqiu, seeing his fatigue, refrained from lingering in his room—
This time.

But she stood in the courtyard,
Her icy phoenix eyes fixed on his back
Until he disappeared indoors.

…

The sun sank.
Night’s cool shadow settled over Heavenly Sword Peak.

Chu Huaizhou stirred,
Finding Bai Li sprawled face-up beside him—
Legs in a starfish sprawl, nine tails spread protectively over her belly.

He chuckled silently, easing himself up—
And slipped outside.

The stone path lay bathed in silver moonlight.
The lone paulownia tree cast long shadows.

At its base, Leng Qingqiu sat gazing at the moon.

Sensing him, she turned—
And for once, her icy mask melted.

A gentle smile curved her lips.

Her fingers brushed pale silver-white hair behind her ear,
Phoenix eyes warm as starlight turned on him alone.

“Master, you’re awake. Rested well?”

Moonlight traced the lines of her profile—
Sharp as if carved from winter ice,
But softened now with a tenderness for him alone.

Unlike the cold, untouchable figure shown to others,
Her every movement here radiated quiet affection.

Those eyes—once indifferent to countless deaths—
Now brimmed with care.

Her blood-stained hands, folded softly on her arm,
Resembled the posture of a virtuous wife waiting at home.

Gulp—

Chu Huaizhou swallowed hard.