Chapter 26: Lao Zhou Still Surrendered

Chu Huaizhou felt like a beast was stalking him, his body ice-cold, as if plunged into a frozen cellar.
Wait, when did Qingqiu return?
Wasn’t she supposed to be handling things for three or four days?
How was she back in just two, and at this moment?
And how did she know he was watching Ye Feng? Mind-reading?

Instinctively, he stepped back, reaching for Bai Li on his shoulder for comfort.
But his hand grasped air—she’d slipped away.
Looking around, he spotted her in a corner of the sect hall, curled into a white furball, clutching her head with both paws, nine tails tightly coiled.
Damn it!
Haji Bai, why do you always bail at critical moments? Can’t you stand up for once?!

Meeting Leng Qingqiu’s gaze, Chu Huaizhou steeled himself to hide any guilt.
Showing weakness now would have her forcing him to his knees, demanding he be her “effort mouth tooth” or whatever!
“Qingqiu, when did you get back? You didn’t tell Master—I could’ve welcomed you properly.”
“As for Ye Feng, you mean the exam’s first place? Yeah, I think she’s got potential. Worth mentoring.”

Leng Qingqiu’s icy face softened into a faint smile. She stepped forward, linking her arm with his, her tone almost intimate.
“Your disciple missed you so much, Master, I rushed through my tasks to return. Please punish me for my lack of decorum.”

Her demure look almost convinced him her earlier question was casual.
“Haha, no need for formalities between master and disciple. Since you’re here, let’s check out the new disciples together.”

The two vice sect leaders didn’t turn but, with their heightened senses, knew exactly what was happening behind them.
They shook their heads, chuckling.
“People think the sect leader’s three disciples, off founding their own factions, would grow distant.”
“But their bond is tighter than ever—stronger than before.”

Having seen the sect leader often, they rarely saw his disciples.
They’d noticed Leng Qingqiu, the Hanyuan Empress, seemed distant yet subtly close to him in small ways, unlike her rumored cold, ruthless reputation.
Seeing her today, their bond seemed even stronger—a boon for the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect.
The older and middle-aged vice sect leaders exchanged smiles, resuming the ceremony without further attention to the pair.

Chu Huaizhou wanted to yell that they’d got it all wrong.
But he couldn’t spill that to outsiders—he’d have to swallow this bitter pill alone.
Thankfully, Qingqiu’s reaction suggested she might’ve just been testing him about Ye Feng.
As he relaxed, planning to delegate Ye Feng’s reward to the vice sect leaders, a chilling yet gentle voice echoed in his mind.

[Master, you’re breaking your disciple’s heart.]
[Since arriving at the sect hall, you’ve looked at that Ye Feng girl thirty-four times, the yellow-haired girl three times, the black-haired ponytail girl five times…]

Leng Qingqiu, mindful of Master’s reputation in public, kept her yandere tendencies in check, her face still icy.
But inside, she was heartbroken.
It was me first—first to be healed by Master, first to have him channel energy for me…
Last night, he’d done that to her puppet, driving her wild with longing.
She’d rushed through the sealing tasks to return, only to find him eyeing another woman.
Didn’t we agree you’d only look at me?

No matter his excuses, she wouldn’t fall for his sweet words today—she’d make him hers!
Chu Huaizhou, sweating buckets at her heavy yandere vibes, had to admit her words were terrifying.
Full-on yandere dependency now.
Before he could explain, Leng Qingqiu moved.
A subtle wave of spiritual energy from her formed a thin blue screen before them—not quite a mirror, its purpose unclear.
Then, her jade hand, with undeniable force, grabbed his and guided it toward her collar.

Chu Huaizhou: ???
Too bold!
Fresh from Hanyuan, she hadn’t changed into sect robes but wore her “Ice Phoenix Imperial Dress,” crafted by top seamstresses over three months.
Its gradient ice-blue hue shifted from pale dawn at the collar to deep abyss at the hem.
The outer robe, woven from thousand-year ice silk, bore intricate ice phoenix patterns.
The inner deep-blue robe, cinched at the waist, had a V-neck, secured by a silver sash with cold jade inlays, accentuating her slim yet strong waist.
Paired with her eternal icy face and unapproachable aura, she radiated inviolable divinity.

Yet now, she acted utterly unlike an empress, trembling slightly, eyes misty, a sickly flush and smile on her flawless face.
In the sect hall, behind the vice sect leaders, before countless disciples and elders, she did something so improper.
This is… way too off!

Chu Huaizhou wanted to resist, but Qingqiu was clearly upset. If he didn’t let her vent, it’d be harder to handle later.
Better to let her finish, then explain his interest in Ye Feng, making her feel guilty for easier handling.
Facing a hardcore yandere Leng Qingqiu, he dared not move.
Thankfully, she had some sense, knowing they were in the sect hall, and didn’t go too far.
Still, she pushed every boundary short of his absolute limits.

“Hah… hehe…”
After what felt like forever, Leng Qingqiu, satisfied, released his hand.
He stared at his left hand, lost in thought, wanting to wipe it on his robe but fearing her anger, so he hid it behind his back.
He could never look at this hand the same way again…

Thanks to the ice screen, no one noticed anything amiss. Their fervent gazes stayed on the sect leader, seeing only his smiling nods.
Only Bai Li, with her immense power, wasn’t fooled by the screen’s illusion but couldn’t see what they did inside.
She cowered in her corner, muttering, Can’t see me, meow, praying for Chu Huaizhou in her heart.

Finally, the vice sect leaders’ long speech ended.
The middle-aged one, Feng Lechen, smiled.
“Now, Ye Feng, first place in Sword Knocks at Heaven’s Origin, who do you choose as your master?”

Ye Feng, barely containing her excitement, gazed at Chu Huaizhou with burning eyes and declared:
“I choose the sect leader as my master!”