When Golden Finger Meets Salted Fish

Through their conversation via the communication jade token, neither could persuade the other. Most importantly, Peak Master Qingyu returned at an opportune moment, and the little white tiger didn't dare act impudently in her presence, quickly changing the subject when she returned.

After a year apart, besides demanding an explanation, Jiang Mo naturally had many questions to ask Yun Qingyue.

For instance, how she had fared during the past year, where she was now, and when they could meet... However, her change of subject was too abrupt, and Yun Qingyue, being far from foolish, naturally detected something unusual. So after answering her questions in a few words, she asked, "Jianbing, has Master returned?"

Before the little white tiger could answer, the communication jade token in her paw was taken by Peak Master Qingyu: "This master is here. Qingyue, how are things in Xihe Town? Is there any change regarding the news about Mingzong Mountain?"

When Yun Qingyue heard the voice change in the communication jade token, her previously somewhat relaxed attitude immediately turned serious, and she promptly replied: "Reporting to Master, Xihe Town remains relatively peaceful for now, though more and more rogue cultivators are gathering. This morning, this disciple even spotted some figures from small sects, likely attracted by the rumors. As for Mingzong Mountain, the secret realm hasn't appeared yet, and currently, no new information has emerged."

The cultivation world was vast and boundless. Though divided into righteous and demonic paths, it certainly couldn't be encompassed by merely a few sects. Setting aside the demonic path for now, the three righteous sects were indeed powerful, but beyond them were numerous small sects, with forty-eight of them having enough reputation to be ranked.

These forty-eight sects followed the lead of the three major sects, but only to this extent—the three major sects wouldn't interfere in other sects' affairs.

When Peak Master Qingyu heard that small sects were involved in this matter, her brows immediately furrowed slightly: "This master understands. Stay in Xihe Town for now and observe which sects are getting involved. In another two days, we will arrive as well."

The Mingzong Mountain Secret Realm was discovered by Tiandao Sect, which invited disciples from Xuanqing Sect and Buddha Sect to explore together, without notifying the affiliated smaller sects. It wasn't that they were too proud to bring disciples from smaller sects along, but rather that exploring unknown secret realms was inherently fraught with danger. Large sects had abundant talent and could afford to take the risk; even if they lost disciples inside, they could bear it. But small sects were different—their disciples' talents and resources couldn't compare to those of large sects, and they might have invested everything they had to nurture just one or two talented individuals.

Specifically, the Mingzong Mountain Secret Realm limited the age of entrants, possibly being a legacy secret realm. But a legacy secret realm didn't guarantee safety, after all, legacy recipients still needed to be chosen from among the best, and tests were inevitable. Obtaining a legacy was naturally an enormous opportunity, but how many could actually acquire it? If a disciple that a small sect had painstakingly nurtured perished inside, it would be a devastating loss, even severely crippling the sect.

Both Yun Qingyue and Peak Master Qingyu understood this principle, but they also understood human greed and the gambling nature of people. If the news truly leaked, with such a great opportunity presented before them, few wouldn't be tempted.

However, at this point, further discussion was futile. Yun Qingyue responded: "Yes, Master."

The little white tiger, ears perked up listening to their conversation, had slightly brightened eyes. She neither knew nor cared about rogue cultivators or small sects. But what could compare to meeting face-to-face? According to Peak Master Qingyu, would she be able to see her Senior Sister in just two days?!

The little white tiger flexed her paws eagerly, just waiting for Peak Master Qingyu to finish discussing important matters, hoping to get the jade token back to chat with her Senior Sister a bit more. Even if she couldn't discuss important matters in front of Peak Master Qingyu, she could talk about anything—even just hearing her Senior Sister's voice would be enough.

However, Peak Master Qingyu was extremely concise when speaking with her disciple. After discussing the important matters, she didn't even ask about Yun Qingyue's current cultivation or her experiences during the year of tempering, but directly ended the communication. The little white tiger reached out to stop her but couldn't, watching helplessly as she put away the communication jade token, without the courage to ask for it back.

After storing the jade token, Peak Master Qingyu looked up to see the little white tiger with a raised paw, gazing at her with eager eyes, seemingly hesitant to speak and slightly aggrieved. She raised an eyebrow slightly and asked: "What is Jianbing doing?"

The little white tiger immediately became timid, quickly withdrawing her paw and answering: "Nothing."

After a while, she cautiously glanced at Peak Master Qingyu again and moved closer to ask: "Peak Master, earlier you told Qingyue that we would arrive in two days. Does that mean we can see her in two days?"

Peak Master Qingyu neither confirmed nor denied, but her attitude seemed to imply agreement. Then she glanced at her and said: "Change back."

The little white tiger's mind was full of thoughts about meeting her Senior Sister soon, and she didn't immediately understand: "What?"

Peak Master Qingyu impatiently said: "Whatever form you were discovered in, that's the form you should appear in before others. Our journey this time is for important matters, and I don't want any complications." After speaking, she cast a glance at the little white tiger, with an implicit threat in her eyes.

The little white tiger shuddered, understanding the implication, and immediately transformed back into the form of a little white cat, tilting her head innocently and obediently.

At the same time, from the corner of her eye, she suddenly glimpsed a light orb flickering in the corner, and unexpectedly heard that repeating mechanical voice in her head again: "Not a cat, not a cat, not a cat..."

The little white cat flicked her ears and turned her head away, pretending not to see, pretending not to have said that, pretending not to remember.

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Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Knowing they were about to reach their destination, and that even though Master had discovered her identity, she didn't seem inclined to immediately pack her up and send her back to the sect, the little white cat's courage suddenly increased considerably. She no longer stayed obediently in Peak Master Qingyu's room to cultivate but found an opportunity to sneak out, even appearing brazenly before Zhong Heng, giving him a white eye to contemplate.

Zhong Heng didn't know whether to laugh or cry, not understanding how Jianbing had managed to get on the spirit boat when she clearly hadn't caught up when it departed! But judging by her smug appearance, Master probably already knew she was on the spirit boat and had no plans to send her back to the sect.

So did Master know Jianbing's identity or not? Should he go to Master and give a reminder?

Zhong Heng agonized over this for a full two days, and then he discovered that the spirit boat, which had been flying for half a month, finally stopped. The disciples walked out of their rooms and gathered on the deck, looking outside the spirit boat, but they did not see the high mountain named Mingzong. Instead, below the spirit boat was a small town, presumably because the Mingzong Mountain Secret Realm had not yet opened, and the sect had decided to temporarily settle here.

This was somewhat unexpected. After all, though the spirit boat was a flying treasure, it was fully equipped with houses, and cultivators practicing abstinence from food had no need to eat. They could have flown directly to the foot of Mingzong Mountain and waited for the secret realm to open while living on the spirit boat.

But soon, their confusion was explained.

Not long after the spirit boat stopped above Xihe Town, a streak of light rose from the town below, quickly coming to meet them. When everyone took a closer look, who else could it be but Mount Mingxia's Senior Sister Yun Qingyue, whom they hadn't seen for a long time, already approaching on her flying sword?

Zhong Heng's eyes brightened, and he was the first to step forward to greet her: "Senior Sister!"

At this moment, the defensive barrier outside the spirit boat was also opened. Yun Qingyue leaped onto the deck, her robes fluttering, and nodded slightly to her junior brother: "Junior Brother, it's been a long time." After the greeting, she asked: "Where is Master now?"

Just as her words fell, Peak Master Qingyu also appeared on the deck. She wore plain clothes, with a cold and imposing aura around her, no different from before. Everyone bowed in greeting when they saw her, but most cultivators were sharp-eyed, and while bowing, they didn't miss today's difference in Peak Master Qingyu—she actually had a cat in her arms, and it looked like the one that had been thrown onto Mount Tianyang's square earlier!

Not everyone had seen the little white cat that had been parading around, so many people were surprised at this moment. And even those who had seen the little white cat, like Zhong Heng, hadn't expected to see her in his master's arms.

Peak Master Qingyu and a cat—they didn't match at all!

Yun Qingyue glanced at the little white cat while bowing, feeling strangely familiar with it, but didn't think too much about it. However, the little white cat, upon seeing her Senior Sister, was extremely excited, her cat eyes bright and shining. If Peak Master Qingyu hadn't pressed her down in time, she might have already pounced into her Senior Sister's arms!

"Disciple greets Master," Yun Qingyue bowed properly.

Peak Master Qingyu nodded and, without wasting words, directly said: "Come with me, I have questions for you."

Yun Qingyue acknowledged and, seeing that Master had turned to leave after speaking, stepped forward to follow. However, as she followed, her gaze quickly swept across the spirit boat, but she didn't find that familiar small figure. Then she thought of something and suddenly looked up ahead, meeting the gaze of the little cat who was clawing at Peak Master Qingyu's arm and looking back.

The little white cat had a pitiful expression and stretched out her paw as if wanting to be held, but she was quickly pressed back down, paw and all, by Peak Master Qingyu. Thinking about the cat's familiar gaze, surprise and understanding flashed through her glaze-like eyes.

As the master and disciple left one after another, the spirit boat, having picked up its passenger, didn't immediately set off for Mingzong Mountain but remained hovering in mid-air.

The disciples looked at each other, finding that no one knew the current situation, and agreed to seek out the elders to inquire. Zhong Heng also went along, but after seeing his Senior Sister, he set aside the matter he had been agonizing over for two days—after all, Jianbing wasn't close to him either. He planned to inform his Senior Sister about Jianbing later, and whatever arrangements Senior Sister and Master would make for Jianbing afterward would no longer be his concern.

On the other side, Yun Qingyue didn't need Zhong Heng's information, nor did Peak Master Qingyu. As soon as the master and disciple entered the room, the little white cat could no longer contain her excitement and broke free from Peak Master Qingyu's restraint, pouncing directly into Yun Qingyue's embrace.

The next moment, the little white tiger's tender, childish voice sounded: "Senior Sister, Senior Sister, I've missed you so much. Did you miss me?"

As she spoke, the little white cat sat up straight and nuzzled against Yun Qingyue's cheek incessantly, with an enthusiasm that didn't resemble either a cat or a tiger. Even in front of her master, Yun Qingyue's eyes softened at the nuzzling, and she instinctively reached out to pat her head: "Alright, alright, I did miss you, and I've prepared a gift for you." After a pause, she added: "But why have you taken on this appearance?"

As Yun Qingyue's words fell, the little white cat suddenly heard the system's "pfft" "pfft" laughter in her mind, which inevitably made her think of that line again: "Not a cat, not a cat, not a cat..."

Darn it, was this something she'd never live down?!