Chapter 19
Qin Youzhou woke early. The bed on the other side was already empty.
He had another very brief dream the previous night, in which Du Xiao repeated the words he had said countless times—
“I want to become your junior brother.”
Qin Youzhou’s lips pressed together unnaturally.
Ying Weiye was only his Shizun. Naturally, he ought to be allowed to accept other disciples.
But Qin Youzhou was someone who cherished old ties and followed rules. He had long grown accustomed to Xuanxing Peak belonging to just the two of them.
He should not care so much about something that had not even happened.
Still, it was better for Dai Yang’s deep obsession with joining Xuanxing Peak to remain hidden in his own heart. Shizun did not need to know.
Suppressing his guilt toward both of them, Qin Youzhou walked into the courtyard and saw Ying Weiye watering the spirit herbs.
Ying Weiye had clearly sensed him approaching, yet he waited a moment before looking up.
“Youzhou, did you sleep well last night?”
“I slept very well.”
Qin Youzhou took the bucket from his hand.
“Shizun, let this disciple do it.”
Ying Weiye kept his hand on the wooden handle for a moment before finally letting go.
Qin Youzhou found the atmosphere strange.
Ying Weiye was behaving oddly today, almost as though he were deliberately avoiding him.
But before long, he returned to his usual lazy manner.
“I’ve heard about the deaths in the sect. I’ll examine the corpses tomorrow.”
Ying Weiye casually flicked one of Jiezi’s leaves, frightening the little ginseng into fleeing without a trace.
“You don’t need to concern yourself with it. Focus on overseeing the examinations.”
He was excluding him again.
After trying to argue a few times, Qin Youzhou familiarly and numbly nodded in agreement.
But in secret, the notes hidden inside his cabinet continued to pile up.
Perhaps because the first half had been so eventful, the latter half of the examinations passed remarkably peacefully.
Naturally, Dai Yang did not place first. He only barely managed to enter Qingyue Peak.
For a genius to perform no better than an ordinary cultivator was already a stain.
As someone receiving special attention, his thoroughly mediocre performance quickly spread among the cultivators.
So even a cultivator with a heaven-grade spiritual root could fail to hold a sword steadily and burst into tears after being struck too hard during a spar.
What kind of cultivator was that?
He was clearly some pampered young master from a wealthy family!
The rumors never reached Qin Youzhou, who disliked gossip, but they reached Dai Yang’s ears early and made him cry again from anger.
Yet because every word was true, Dai Yang could not refute them. He could only hide beneath his blankets and sulk.
At the new disciples’ induction ceremony, Dai Yang, who had been listless for several months, repeatedly looked around but ultimately failed to see the person he wanted.
Ying Weiye had never attended these ceremonies. Qin Youzhou always came in his place and sat through the three-hour event.
But this year, the one who arrived was unexpectedly Ying Weiye.
He was unusually dressed in the green robes representing Xuanxing Peak, making him appear slightly more respectable.
Ying Weiye sat with his long legs crossed, arms folded against his chest as he leaned back in his chair. His eyes remained half-lidded throughout, as though nothing around him had anything to do with him.
Meanwhile, Qin Youzhou, who should have occupied the personal disciples’ seats, was nowhere to be seen.
The moment Dai Yang saw Ying Weiye, an inexplicable blaze of anger rose in his heart.
Over the past several days, he had already attached himself to a few senior disciples and roughly learned about Yinxiao Sect’s internal circumstances.
Sect Master Lü’s personal disciple, He Zhuoying, only possessed dual spiritual roots. He had always wanted someone to replace her, and the master and disciple were at odds.
Second Elder Lin Zhiwei devoted herself entirely to pursuing longevity and remained in seclusion year-round, leaving Li Minglu in control of Qingyue Peak.
The Third and Fifth Elders each had fairly good relationships with their personal disciples.
As for Fourth Elder Ying Weiye, his bond with his personal disciple Qin Youzhou was especially close.
It was said that Qin Youzhou obeyed him completely and did not dare disobey a single word from Shizun.
Dai Yang spent several days thinking with his not particularly intelligent mind before suddenly realizing the truth.
For a refined gentleman like Qin Youzhou to treat him so coldly, Ying Weiye must have incited him!
He hated Ying Weiye from the bottom of his heart.
But when Ying Weiye’s scrutinizing, condescending gaze fell upon him, Dai Yang could only shrink his neck and lower his head like a quail.
Only after a long while, when Ying Weiye’s chilling gaze finally moved away, could he breathe normally again.
Meanwhile, in the alchemy room on Xuanxing Peak…
Qin Youzhou sat before the furnace, holding the medicinal tea Ying Weiye had brewed before leaving that morning, yet he had no desire to drink it.
Flames crackled inside the furnace.
Apart from that, there was no sound.
Jiezi sat against Qin Youzhou in the exact same posture. It was already so sleepy that it swayed from side to side.
【Host.】
The system spoke cautiously.
【It seems your Shizun has placed you under house arrest again.】
The moment the host returned to the peak after finishing the selection, Ying Weiye ordered him not to leave Xuanxing Peak for three months, claiming he needed to watch the alchemy furnace.
Watching the furnace was probably only an excuse.
The real reason was that Ying Weiye did not want him going outside.
“…Alchemy requires complete concentration. It simply isn’t suitable for me to go out.”
【You can lie to me, Host, but don’t lie to yourself!】
The system was bitterly disappointed in him.
If this was not imprisonment, what was?!
Qin Youzhou’s throat moved.
“Shizun must have a reason for doing this.”
With a righteous expression, he continued staring at the flames.
“When Qixi arrives, I will naturally find a way to leave.”
The prerequisite for ruining the date was attending it, so he needed to go out and meet Dai Yang.
If he failed to appear, innocent people might once again become involved.
Thinking of the lightning tribulation Shizun had suffered during his previous breakthrough, Qin Youzhou still felt guilty.
【Host’s solution isn’t going to be begging your Shizun to let you go again, is it?】
The system sounded exhausted.
“Begging him will no longer work.”
Qin Youzhou lowered his head and stared at the light brown medicinal tea.
After he went out last time, both he and Shizun had become involved in trouble. Shizun had clearly been displeased.
Moreover, Qin Youzhou had already tested the waters yesterday. Shizun’s position was extremely firm. Convincing him to agree to let Qin Youzhou leave alone again would be nothing short of impossible.
“I remember that your… shop contains certain spiritual treasures that could help me leave without being detected.”
Qin Youzhou still sounded awkward when using the unfamiliar term.
“When the time comes, I can exchange points for one.”
For Shizun’s safety and to prevent his fellow disciples from becoming involved, he could only resort to such a plan.
【That’s actually a good idea.】
The system sounded greatly relieved.
【Host has finally learned to adapt. I thought you were going to beg your Shizun again and then return to confess your wrongdoing.】
Qin Youzhou remained silent for a long time before saying, “Since I will deceive him, I naturally must confess. But that will have to wait until after I resolve the Qixi plot point.”
Even if he was required to write a thirty-thousand-character self-criticism afterward, he would complete it conscientiously.
The system: …
So the host still intended to remain an honest person in the end.
【Host, your personality puts you at a serious disadvantage.】
It lamented bitterly.
【When completing missions, we need to be cautious and suspicious. If you tell Ying Weiye everything and his intentions differ from yours in some way, what will you do?】
“Shizun would never harm me.”
The system: .
Ha. He was beyond saving!
“There is one more matter.”
Qin Youzhou considered it briefly.
“I have never been on a date and know nothing about how one should be ruined.”
He humbly asked for advice.
“Do you have any clever strategies?”
【Well…】
For once, the system was speechless.
With any other host, there would have been countless methods.
Getting drunk and causing a scene, pretending to be foolish, appearing slovenly…
But given Qin Youzhou’s personality, none of those approaches suited him.
Perhaps that was one of the mission’s difficulties.
【I can’t think of anything either.】
The system sighed helplessly.
【There’s still plenty of time. We can think about it slowly.】
Watching an alchemy furnace was easy but boring.
Qin Youzhou used the opportunity to plan earnestly for three days and came up with many ideas.
But every method was far too subtle and gentlemanly, and the system rejected them one by one.
【I’m sorry. You’re a good person, but we aren’t suited for each other…】
The system sounded utterly drained.
【Host, saying something like that to Dai Yang would have absolutely no effect!】
The host simply did not know how to reject people, nor was he good at making others uncomfortable.
Just as Qin Youzhou exhausted all his ideas, Yu Jia happened to visit.
He brought news from within the sect and temporarily distracted Qin Youzhou from his troubles regarding the “date.”
“I heard there’s a depraved cult operating in secret lately. They’re exploiting hostility between different races to manipulate demons’ minds and control their thoughts. They even eat demon flesh and drink demon blood.”
“Every sect is trying to catch them, but no one can find any useful leads. They don’t even know the cult’s name. All they know is that its members bear markings resembling a flying serpent.”
Yu Jia cracked sunflower seeds as he spoke.
“Apparently, the cultivator who killed himself in our sect had already joined them. He wanted to use the period when we were overwhelmed to abduct some demon cultivators.”
Qin Youzhou controlled the furnace’s flames.
“Has anyone in our sect been assigned to investigate?”
“The Sect Master doesn’t want me to go.”
Yu Jia sighed helplessly.
“Isn’t Eldest Senior Sister returning soon? He’ll probably send her out again.”
Qin Youzhou looked at him and frowned.
“She is half-demon. Investigating this matter could be dangerous for her.”
“I told the Sect Master the same thing, but he refused to listen.”
Yu Jia set down the sunflower seeds.
“In my opinion, he merely wants her to remain outside longer so he can replace his personal disciple.”
He lowered his voice.
“Hey, when the time comes, should we secretly follow Eldest Senior Sister and investigate with her?”
Qin Youzhou naturally wanted to, but he could not be certain whether Shizun could hear their conversation.
He made a hand gesture toward Yu Jia while saying aloud, “Forget it. I temporarily can’t leave the peak.”
Yu Jia froze, then understood.
“Then forget it.”
He changed the subject.
“But since you aren’t going anywhere lately, are you not celebrating Qixi either?”
“What is there to celebrate?” Qin Youzhou’s face remained entirely calm.
“I have no Dao companion.”
“You don’t need a Dao companion to celebrate Qixi. Why are you so boring every year?”
“The city is extremely lively that day. It’s great fun.”
Yu Jia raised an eyebrow.
“Junior Sister Yun has already arranged to go shopping in the city with some female disciples. They don’t have Dao companions either.”
“I need to watch the furnace.”
Qin Youzhou remained unmoved.
“The furnace won’t explode merely because you leave it alone for one day.”
Yu Jia did not know whether to laugh or cry.
“We’d only go down for half a day. And we wouldn’t visit brothels or pleasure houses. Surely your Shizun wouldn’t be worried even about that?”
“I personally do not celebrate Qixi.”
“I understand now!”
Yu Jia suddenly looked enlightened.
“Does Junior Brother dislike that I’m a grown man and therefore not want to spend Qixi with me?”
“Senior Brother…”
Unable to endure any longer, Qin Youzhou finally looked at him.
“Please do not overthink it.”
“Fine, fine. It isn’t this and it isn’t that. You simply refuse to go.”
Yu Jia grinned.
“Then stay here and celebrate Qixi with your elderly Shizun.”
“My Shizun is not old.”
“Then stay with your young and beautiful Shizun. Is that better?”
Yu Jia had an energetic personality. Although usually cautious and tactful, once he spoke too much, he easily became carried away.
“But now that we’re talking about it…”
He leaned mysteriously toward Qin Youzhou.
“Junior Brother spends every Qixi immersed in medical studies. What kind of person do you actually like?”
“Senior Brother, this is the alchemy room.”
Qin Youzhou was genuinely afraid Shizun might suddenly appear and throw Yu Jia off the mountain.
He gestured for him to lower his voice.
He replied sincerely, “I have never liked anyone, so I do not know what kind of person I would like.”
But once Yu Jia’s curiosity had been aroused, a single sentence could not suppress it.
He continued asking, “Surely you know whether you prefer someone lively or reserved?”
Qin Youzhou replied, “Either is fine.”
“Tall or short?”
“Either is fine.”
“Older or younger?”
“Either is fine.”
Yu Jia looked dissatisfied.
“How can everything be fine? Could Junior Brother even fall in love with the welcoming pine tree outside?”
Unable to withstand the questioning, Qin Youzhou could only think about it more carefully.
Remembering that Dai Yang was younger than him, he answered, “Someone slightly older than me, perhaps.”
Yu Jia’s eyes widened.
“Honestly, I never would have guessed.”
He had assumed someone with Qin Youzhou’s personality would prefer someone younger.
He was about to ask another question when an icy voice came from the doorway.
“Martial Nephew Yu is asking such detailed questions. Are you planning to act as Youzhou’s matchmaker?”
Qin Youzhou’s mind buzzed.
It was over.
Shizun’s concealment abilities had improved again. Even Qin Youzhou only sensed his presence the instant before he spoke.
Yu Jia jolted all over and hurriedly lowered his head.
“E-Elder Ying.”
He laughed awkwardly.
“We were only joking. Junior Brother Qin is so diligent, serious, restrained, proper, honest, dependable, virtuous and gentle—no, talented and capable. Naturally, he should devote all his time to cultivation.”
He had vaguely grasped Ying Weiye’s temperament.
Whenever he offended him, as long as he praised Qin Youzhou relentlessly afterward, Elder Ying would not become too angry.
Sure enough, Ying Weiye chuckled.
“My temple is small. Your Shizun has asked you to return early.”
“I’ll leave immediately!”
Knowing he had caused trouble, Yu Jia fled faster than a rat.
But Qin Youzhou could not escape.
He could only pretend to concentrate on the furnace flames, stiffly moving his brush and recording several useless words.
Yet what was coming could not be avoided forever.
“Youzhou.”
Ying Weiye’s tone was difficult to interpret.
“Do you want to find a Dao companion?”
Qin Youzhou hurriedly replied, “Before attaining the Great Dao, this disciple has no interest in romantic matters.”
“Then why did you say…”
Ying Weiye’s gaze darkened inch by inch.
“That you like someone older than you?”
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