Chapter 20

Zhai Wangyou pushed open the door, danger showing in her eyes. Junior Sister Guanlan seemed to have been far too idle these past two days.

Guanlan nervously swallowed and hurriedly said, “Eldest Senior Sister, this time it’s Hall Master Qingchuang from the Deacon Hall visiting. She’s a woman, not here to propose marriage.”

The Deacon Hall?

Zhai Wangyou subconsciously looked toward the Dream-Entering Grass on the table.

A moment later, she said nothing. She only lightly raised that snow-white wrist of hers. Her meaning was self-evident.

Xi Zhou rolled her eyes inwardly. Before, Zhai Wangyou would draw her sword at every turn. Now she suddenly remembered to bring her along?

She shook her pale purple leaves, expressing a little dissatisfaction, then reluctantly wrapped herself around Zhai Wangyou’s wrist.

Forget it. She was magnanimous. She would just treat it as going to watch the excitement…

Eldest Senior Sister’s days really were not peaceful. Breaking through in cultivation did not necessarily seem like a good thing.

But before they could head to the reception hall, they saw a middle-aged woman slowly walking over under a disciple’s guidance.

“I have long heard of Fairy Wangyou’s name. Seeing you today, you truly are a heavenly beauty. Your reputation is well deserved.”

Hall Master Qingchuang looked about thirty years old and wore black brocade robes.

“This junior, Zhai Wangyou, greets Hall Master Qingchuang.” Zhai Wangyou nodded.

Hearing this, Qingchuang quickly shook her head and smiled. “Although I am a little older than you, we look about the same generation. Wangyou, there is no need to call me Senior. You can just call me Sister Qingchuang.”

Zhai Wangyou frowned slightly and said calmly, “This junior does not dare offend. Hall Master Qingchuang.”

Qingchuang smiled awkwardly. “Call me whatever you like, Wangyou.”

As the Hall Master of the Deacon Hall, she had already lowered herself and chosen not to fuss over such things. She had not expected the other party to give her no face at all. To put it nicely, Zhai Wangyou was inexperienced in worldly affairs. To put it harshly, she did not know what was good for her.

Zhai Wangyou had no intention of chatting idly, so she asked, “May I ask what important matter Senior has come to find this junior for?”

The smile on Qingchuang’s face stiffened. “Can I not visit Fairy Wangyou if there is no important matter?”

There was faint displeasure in her tone. Guanlan, standing at the side, listened with fear and trepidation. This Hall Master was at late Nascent Soul cultivation. Eldest Senior Sister’s words were too blunt. At the very least, her attitude should be a little gentler.

Zhai Wangyou lifted her eyes and nodded. Her meaning was obvious: if there was no important matter, she would not accompany her.

Qingchuang laughed in anger. “It is nothing important. I merely have some information about Elder Beishan. Does Wangyou not plan to listen?”

She wanted to see whether this Fairy Wangyou, who cared about her master’s whereabouts, was truly concerned about Elder Beishan or only pretending.

Zhai Wangyou’s eyes Read on BaiLianTales changed slightly, carrying a trace of scrutiny. “Senior has news of my master?”

Could it be that her master was still alive?

Qingchuang’s gaze swept over her left wrist, then she smiled again. “What? Are you not going to invite me up to sit?”

When Guanlan heard this from the side, she immediately understood that she was unnecessary and tactfully excused herself.

“Senior, please.”

Zhai Wangyou turned and walked back. Qingchuang followed closely behind.

Xi Zhou moved her leaves. Why did she feel that Hall Master Qingchuang’s gaze just now had been a little strange?

She looked back and happened to meet Qingchuang’s eyes. The other party even smiled at her.

Xi Zhou’s heart jolted. She was currently inside the Dream-Entering Grass. Would ordinary people make expressions at a blade of grass? Did this person know she could transform?

Did she even know she was a person?

Impossible, right…

The room was quiet. There was only the sound of Zhai Wangyou pouring tea.

After they sat facing each other, Zhai Wangyou said calmly, “Senior, please speak.”

Qingchuang sneered, picked up the cup, poured out the tea inside, and played with the cup. “Wangyou, do you know there has never been such a thing as getting something for nothing in this world? I can tell you the information, but what can I get from you?”

The wrapping around Zhai Wangyou’s wrist suddenly tightened.

Zhai Wangyou curled her fingertips slightly. Was it for the secret method to improve cultivation again? Or for repairing inner cores?

No matter which reason it was, it came from the same answer: the Dream-Entering Grass currently wrapped around her wrist.

But she could not, and did not want to, let anyone else know.

“How do I know whether Senior’s information is true or false?”

Qingchuang set down the cup in her hand, took out a jade talisman from her storage ring, and placed it on the table. “Once Fairy Wangyou sees this, you will know whether it is true or false. Elder Beishan is not dead. And I know her whereabouts.”

The jade talisman on the table faintly emitted a fiery red color. Elder Beishan had a fire spiritual root, and her communication jade talismans were all personally made by her.

Zhai Wangyou’s heart was no longer calm.

It was her master’s jade talisman. Her master was not dead!

“What does Senior want from me?”

As long as it was something she could give, she would not hesitate.

Qingchuang curved the corner of her mouth, extended her right hand, raised one index finger, and pointed slightly downward. “I want her.”

Following the direction of her finger, Zhai Wangyou looked toward her own left wrist. Shock and suspicion were hard to hide in her eyes.

Her face turned cold, and the calmness in her eyes faded. “What does Senior mean by that?”

Had this person already seen through the relationship between her and the Dream-Entering Grass…

Had she discovered the secret of how Zhai Wangyou repaired her inner core…

Impossible!

Qingchuang raised her brows and smiled. “Is my meaning not clear enough? I want her. The Dream-Entering Grass currently wrapped around your wrist.”

Zhai Wangyou lowered her eyes without speaking.

So the secret had already been seen through?

Otherwise, why would she specifically want an ordinary-looking Dream-Entering Grass?

The air in the room suddenly seemed to still, making it feel suffocating.

Xi Zhou was so shocked she did not dare move. This woman really had been smiling at her earlier.

How exactly had she seen through it?

But would Eldest Senior Sister agree? Would she exchange Xi Zhou for Elder Beishan’s whereabouts?

She looked at Zhai Wangyou’s always calm and beautiful brows and eyes, waiting for the answer together with Qingchuang.

After a long silence, Zhai Wangyou still did not speak.

Qingchuang’s patience finally ran out. “What? Is your master’s life and death not even worth this one blade of grass? Since that is the case, then I have disturbed Fairy Wangyou today.”

So it did not work?

It seemed she would have to think of another way.

Zhai Wangyou’s heart trembled, and her lips pressed tightly into a line.

Was her master’s life and death not worth this one blade of grass…

She did not know. She wanted to divide them by importance, but at this moment, her mind was blank. She could not distinguish anything.

The wrapping around her finger tightened. The Dream-Entering Grass’s leaves patted the back of her hand, as though it had something to say.

Zhai Wangyou stood and said calmly, “May I trouble Senior to wait a moment?”

Qingchuang shrugged, picked up the cup, and continued playing with it, watching as she walked into the inner room and closed the door.

As soon as the door closed, Xi Zhou transformed into human form.

She stepped forward. There was only the distance of a fist between them.

“Why did you consider it for so long? Were you considering whether to hand me over to someone else?”

Zhai Wangyou’s breathing tightened slightly. She wanted to deny it, but not a single word came out.

Xi Zhou moved closer again. Their eyes met as she said, word by word, “Are you going to say no? Then does Eldest Senior Sister not care about the master who is like both teacher and mother to you?”

“I…” Zhai Wangyou opened her mouth. She wanted to say she cared about her master, but she could not say it.

They both understood what caring about her master meant at a time like this. So she did not know how to choose.

Xi Zhou stared into her eyes. Those clear, water-like eyes seemed to hide countless thoughts: hesitation, avoidance…

She gently stroked Zhai Wangyou’s brow.

“Use me as the bargaining chip and give me to her.”