Zheng Xiaofeng's first reaction was not one of joy.
His initial instinctive thought was—who in their right mind would like the Tianyan Sect for no reason?
But when he saw the ambiguous smile on Chu Xingchen's face, he suddenly snapped back to reality, his heart pounding.
If that's what you mean, then who wouldn't like it?
Even being a lackey at the Tianyan Sect would be worth it!
"You... you..." Zheng Xiaofeng stammered, "Are you talking about me?"
Chu Xingchen confirmed, "Yes, I'm talking about you."
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly replied, "Then of course I like it!"
Glancing at Zheng Xiaofeng's excited expression, Chu Xingchen drawled,
"Is the 'like' you're talking about the same kind of 'like' I'm thinking of?"
Faced with such an irresistible temptation, Zheng Xiaofeng firmly said, "It's definitely the kind of 'like' you're thinking of!"
Hearing the confirmation, Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction, then took out a Blood Qi Spirit Stone from his spatial ring and tossed it to Zheng Xiaofeng.
Instinctively catching the flying Blood Qi Spirit Stone, Zheng Xiaofeng looked down at it in his hand.
A sense of foreboding washed over him.
Chu Xingchen sighed, "Xiao Zheng, guess why I didn't take out this spirit stone in the main hall?"
Zheng Xiaofeng, being a reception elder, was quick on the uptake. With just a moment's thought, he understood.
It was probably something within the sect...
But understanding didn't mean he could say it out loud.
He played dumb, "It must be because you have your own plans."
"Is that so..." Chu Xingchen nodded lightly, using his spiritual power to retrieve the Blood Qi Spirit Stone from Zheng Xiaofeng's hand and returning it to his spatial ring.
Chu Xingchen turned around and continued walking forward, his tone displeased,
"Now it doesn't matter if you like it or not. The Tianyan Sect doesn't like you anymore."
Zheng Xiaofeng watched as the two figures gradually walked away, feeling as though he had missed a life-changing opportunity.
But all he could do was sigh. To this day, Zheng Xiaofeng still didn't know the names of the two Tianyan Sect disciples.
Just two sentences, and they wanted him to take such a risk? Impossible.
Forget it, he'd just been played by them.
Zheng Xiaofeng hurriedly took two steps forward to catch up with the two.
However, the recent interaction made Zheng Xiaofeng realize that the seemingly casual and handsome young man before him was probably not some naive sect disciple.
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly prepared himself mentally. In the upcoming actions, he would have to remain unshakable, steady as a mountain.
He didn't need to do anything extraordinary, just enough to avoid being questioned by the sect leader upon his return.
But what happened next took him by surprise.
Chu Xingchen simply wandered around the Qingfeng Sect with Yaoqin, and the questions he asked Zheng Xiaofeng were not sensitive at all.
In fact, they had nothing to do with demonic cultivators.
Chu Xingchen leisurely asked, "Xiao Zheng, does your Qingfeng Sect have any good food?"
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly clasped his hands and replied, "I've been fasting for many years... so I really wouldn't know."
"Then are there any scenic spots nearby?"
"...There aren't any particularly good views around here."
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen turned back, displeased, "Xiao Zheng, you're narrowing your path."
Just as Zheng Xiaofeng was about to decline again, Yaoqin's icy gaze fell upon him.
Remembering the terrifying sword strike from the woman before him, Zheng Xiaofeng quickly said, "There... there's a small stream nearby. The scenery there is quite pleasant!"
"Lead the way!"
Zheng Xiaofeng hurriedly took a few steps forward, walking ahead of the two to guide them.
The small stream wasn't far from their current location.
The three Golden Core Masters arrived in no time.
A gently rippling stream, no more than ten feet wide and knee-deep.
The banks were open, with no large trees, just a green meadow dotted with wildflowers of various colors.
Looking into the distance, it was quite beautiful. The stream water was especially clear, and you could see thumb-sized fish playing in it.
Chu Xingchen patted Zheng Xiaofeng's shoulder in satisfaction, then took off his shoes and dipped his feet into the stream.
"Hmm... this counts as a vacation, Senior Sister."
Yaoqin took two steps forward. Unlike Chu Xingchen, she didn't dip her feet in the water but instead sat down beside him.
"Xiao Zheng."
"What can I do for you?"
Chu Xingchen lay down on the grass, his tone lazy, "Go catch two wild rabbits."
Without hesitation, Zheng Xiaofeng turned and left to hunt rabbits for Chu Xingchen.
For a Golden Core Master, catching two rabbits was as easy as pie. In no time, Zheng Xiaofeng returned with two live rabbits—whether you wanted them dead or alive, he could accommodate.
Chu Xingchen glanced at them, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "Wild rabbits are quite cute. Let them go."
By now, Zheng Xiaofeng fully understood that this was all about messing with him.
But Zheng Xiaofeng remained unperturbed. Had all these years of playing the lackey been for nothing?
In terms of mindset, who in the Qingfeng Sect could match him? Today, he'd show this Tianyan Sect brat what a strong mindset really was.
Zheng Xiaofeng maintained a good attitude, "Sure, which direction would you like me to release them?"
Chu Xingchen casually said, "Release them to the west. Let them hop in that direction."
With that answer, Zheng Xiaofeng immediately released the two rabbits, using his spiritual power to force them to hop westward.
For the rest of the afternoon, Chu Xingchen lay leisurely on the grass, occasionally saying things like:
"Xiao Zheng, doesn't that tree look a bit annoying?"
"Xiao Zheng, do you see that grass? It seems to be glaring at me."
"Wow! Xiao Zheng, look at that bird. It's so arrogant!"
"Xiao Zheng..."
The entire afternoon, Zheng Xiaofeng's ears were filled with—Xiao Zheng!
Now he truly understood what it meant when your boss gives an order, and you run your legs off!
As the sun began to set.
Chu Xingchen finally spoke with satisfaction, "Xiao Zheng..."
Zheng Xiaofeng instinctively responded, "Yes, what is it..."
"Let's head back. I had a pretty good day today. Does your Qingfeng Sect have rooms for me and my senior sister to sleep in?"
"Of course. Would you like to head back now?"
"Should I lie here a bit longer?"
Please, no more torment! Even a lackey has their limits!
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly said, "No... you can check the rooms first to see if anything's missing. I'll prepare whatever you need."
"Senior Sister, shall we go?" Chu Xingchen looked at Yaoqin, who had been sitting beside him all afternoon.
Yaoqin also nodded lightly in satisfaction, "Let's go."
Chu Xingchen and Yaoqin leisurely made their way back to the Qingfeng Sect.
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly arranged the best guest rooms for the two.
Qingfeng Sect, First-Class Guest Room.
Yaoqin had already settled into one of the rooms.
In the other room, Chu Xingchen looked around at the luxurious decor and said with satisfaction, "Not bad."
"I'm glad you're satisfied." Zheng Xiaofeng breathed a sigh of relief. Just don't cause any more trouble, please.
Chu Xingchen casually waved his hand to dismiss him, "You may leave. Be at the sect gate early tomorrow to wait for me and my senior sister."
The relief Zheng Xiaofeng had just felt was now replaced with tension. Was he going to have to go through this again tomorrow?
But with the situation being what it was, Zheng Xiaofeng could only nod helplessly in agreement.
Zheng Xiaofeng, filled with an overwhelming sense of humiliation, had just stepped out of the guest room.
He saw the Sect Leader standing in the distance, gazing at him with those familiar eyes...
Zheng Xiaofeng understood the look in the Sect Leader's eyes—"Xiao Zheng! Isn't it time to explain yourself?"