Chapter 35: Safe Return to Sect, Holy Maiden Visits Again

After leaving the auction house, quite a few people kept their eyes on Qin Xiao. After all, when he previously went to the third floor, many had seen him and remembered his appearance.

These were only small-time troublemakers. Those with real power would not keep watch here themselves; they had sent people to investigate Qin Xiao’s background.

Inside the Li Family.

“Ancestor, we have investigated. This Chu Sheng is the second senior brother of Tianyuan Sect’s Immortal Beast Peak, and his strength is comparable to Young Master Li Cheng.”

A servant sent to gather information was reporting back.

“So he’s a disciple of Tianyuan Sect. No wonder he dares to disregard our Li Family. Send word to Cheng’er. We can’t let this humiliation go. If he gets the chance, he must avenge it for our family.”

The Li Family Ancestor had originally intended to exact revenge himself, but upon learning that the offender belonged to Tianyuan Sect, he abandoned those thoughts. Fortunately, his clan also possessed talented disciples within Tianyuan Sect-specifically at the foremost Immortal Sword Peak-so opportunities to settle the score would eventually arise.

“Hmm? Why are my ears burning? Could someone be thinking of me?”

Chu Sheng was currently in secluded cultivation, preparing for the Abyss Secret Realm, when he suddenly felt a heat in his ears.

“Could some junior sister be thinking of me? Ah, being too handsome really is a burden.”

Chu Sheng indulged in a brief moment of self-admiration before dismissing the thought and resuming his cultivation.

City Lord Tan Wang had also contemplated taking action, but upon spotting Manager Wu of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, he immediately abandoned the plan. That was a figure beyond his ability to provoke.

“That brat gets to keep his wretched life. I should head back too.”

Seeing Manager Wu, Ye Tianyi decided against lingering further and turned back toward the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion.

Facing no trouble along the way, Qin Xiao and Yun Man arrived safely outside the sect gates.

“Manager Wu, thank you for escorting us all the way to the entrance. Please convey my gratitude to your young lady.”

Qin Xiao had originally intended to part ways at the foot of the mountain, as no one would dare brazenly assault Tianyuan Sect disciples on sect territory-an act that would amount to a direct provocation against the entire sect.

Yet Manager Wu had insisted on accompanying them right up to the entrance. Not wishing to refuse a free bodyguard at the late Soul Formation stage, Qin Xiao gladly accepted.

“This old man will take his leave.”

Manager Wu was a man of few words; he dropped a single sentence and turned back.

“Disciple, look at him. His flying sword is so steady, and he keeps a comfortable speed. You need more practice.”

Once Manager Wu departed, Qin Xiao began critiquing Yun Man’s sword flight technique.

“Aiya, Master, this was my first time carrying a passenger, so I was simply unaccustomed to it. I guarantee you won’t feel dizzy next time.”

Yun Man had previously been at Foundation Establishment and had only flown on a sword occasionally. Though she had quickly reached Golden Core, her sword flight skills did not improve automatically with her cultivation. Carrying someone else made it even harder for her.

“Very well, you must practice more when you have the time. After all, whenever Master needs to travel far in the future, I will be relying entirely on you.”

Qin Xiao gave Yun Man’s head a satisfied pat. This was the proper attitude.

Safely returning to Seven Stars Peak, Qin Xiao activated the formation. Everything within the courtyard remained unchanged, and he reclaimed his usual rocking chair. With daylight still lingering and cultivation not pressing, he decided to rest for a moment. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping . com.

“Junior Brother Qin, you have returned.”

Hearing of his arrival, Lin Shimeng made her way over.

Now at the Nascent Soul stage, she needed time to stabilize her foundation and felt no immediate rush to enter secluded cultivation. Because Qin Xiao had shouldered the fallout of their previous conflict entirely on his own, a lingering sense of embarrassment prompted her to offer compensation.

“Senior Sister Lin, why have you come again? We already conceded defeat.”

Recognizing Lin Shimeng, Qin Xiao’s face fell instantly. Surely she wasn’t here for another bout?

“Junior Brother Qin, you misunderstand. I am not here to fight.”

Lin Shimeng walked right up to Qin Xiao and gestured for him to move aside, clearly intending to take a seat.

“Please sit, Senior Sister Lin. If you’re not here to fight, what brings you here?”

Qin Xiao obediently gave up his seat, but he was still curious about why Lin Shimeng had come.

“Regarding what happened last time, I share the blame for leaving you to bear it alone. I intend to offer some compensation. Besides, the rewards from the Sect Competition were never formally handed over due to our hasty departure.”

Though proud and prickly, Lin Shimeng was not unreasonable. She had gone to considerable expense, asking her father for a drop of Spirit Liquid to compensate Qin Xiao and show where she stood.

“Ah, Senior Sister Lin is too polite. Compensation is unnecessary, but what are these rewards you mentioned?”

Only then did Qin Xiao recall that the rewards for the competition had never been distributed before the crowd dispersed.

“The rewards are some Spirit Stones and pills, and a Top Grade Spirit Weapon. Oh, and a Nascent Formation Pill. Your disciple has already reached late Golden Core, so she should need it soon. Everything is in this Storage Bag.”

Lin Shimeng briefly detailed the contents before producing a Storage Bag.

“I see. Then I thank the sect for nurturing us.”

While Qin Xiao cared little for such modest rewards, proper courtesy still required an expression of gratitude.

“Now that you have the rewards, this drop of Spirit Liquid is my compensation to you.”

Seeing Qin Xiao accept the Storage Bag, Lin Shimeng retrieved a small vial containing a single drop of Spirit Liquid.

“Really, there is no need. Senior Sister Lin is being far too polite.”

Qin Xiao really had no use for a single drop of Spirit Liquid. Besides, accepting compensation would hardly be worth it if he offended Lin Shimeng. Someone could offer compensation, but that did not mean you should actually accept it.

“No. I must compensate you.”

When Qin Xiao refused, Lin Shimeng’s tone grew firmer.

“There’s really no need, Senior Sister Lin.”

Qin Xiao was at a loss. A token gesture was enough; he knew she meant well. If she kept this up, she would be going too far. The source of this chapter is novelping dot com.

Qin Xiao considered himself well versed in social etiquette. Usually, after someone refused once or twice, you took the chance to let the matter drop. Why was she still insisting on compensation?

“I need a suitable excuse, or she will keep pushing this. I cannot simply take it.”

After a brief pause, Qin Xiao formulated a tactful rejection that would allow both parties to preserve their dignity.

“Senior Sister Lin, I have plenty of this. It really isn’t anything special to me, so take it back. We’re fellow disciples. Talking about compensation makes it sound as though we’re strangers.”

He felt the explanation hit the right note.

“What do you mean? Are you trying to humiliate me? Is one drop of Spirit Liquid not good enough for you?”

Lin Shimeng flared up instantly. She had come out of good intentions, only to feel mocked. Did he mistake her for someone easy to push around?

“Huh? What did I say wrong?”

Qin Xiao was baffled by her sudden anger. What was going on? This was not how he had expected things to turn out.

“Since you claim to have an abundance of them, I will not make things difficult for you. If you fail to produce five drops of Spirit Liquid right now, I shall take it as a deliberate insult and tear down this wretched courtyard of yours!”

Consumed by indignation, Lin Shimeng felt her goodwill had been entirely unappreciated.

“Here, take these five drops.”

Qin Xiao knew there was no point explaining now, so he simply took out five drops of Spirit Liquid.

“What? It truly is Spirit Liquid?”

Accepting the vial with a glare, Lin Shimeng checked the contents and fell momentarily speechless.

“See? I wasn’t trying to humiliate you. I really don’t need compensation. If it will ease your anger, Senior Sister, please take these five drops as a token of my respect.”

Seeing that Lin Shimeng had calmed down, Qin Xiao hurried to explain and offered her the Spirit Liquid. He just wanted to get her to leave. Her unpredictable moods frightened him a little.

“You’re really giving them to me?”

Lin Shimeng asked, hardly daring to believe her ears.

“Yes, they’re yours. If you have nothing else to do, Senior Sister, you should go back and cultivate. Take time to stabilize your realm. In twenty-odd days, I’ll be counting on you to look after me in the secret realm.”

Qin Xiao nodded repeatedly, eager to see her off.

“Very well. I shall consider this a debt and repay you in the future.”

Though she had intended to refuse, her pressing need for Spirit Liquid overrode her pride. With those words, she turned and left.

“That was a close one. She is finally gone.”

Qin Xiao closed the courtyard gate and activated the formation. With a little over twenty days left, he also needed to consolidate his Body Refinement Second Layer.