"Hahaha, did you see Qin Beixuan's expression just now? It cracked me up." While leaping from roof to roof, Zhao Chen'an was happily dissing Qin Beixuan. "If he had told those disciples that I showed up in his courtyard just now, I'd immediately spread a rumor that Qin Beixuan invited me for a tryst in a corner."
"..." The system inexplicably felt sorry for Qin Beixuan.
Host, please be a decent person and do some good deeds.
Suddenly, the system thought of something. It said, "Host, I sensed a strange yet familiar fluctuation on Qin Beixuan at that time."
Zhao Chen'an stopped in his tracks and asked, "A strange yet familiar fluctuation... Could it be the string of data the headquarters mentioned?"
The system paused for a while and said, "I'm not sure. That fluctuation was very weak, and the strength of my ability is matched with your spiritual power level, host."
Zhao Chen'an: "..."
Zhao Chen'an, who felt subtly insulted, was speechless.
Rustle, rustle, rustle—
There were a few brief knocks on the door. Hearing the sound, Zhao Chen'an flashed to a position under the roof and looked down.
It turned out that the disciples who had been looking for him had returned.
Disciple A: "Second senior brother, are you in there?"
Disciple A: "Second senior brother?"
He couldn't be discovered, or it would be bad.
Zhao Chen'an looked around and flew onto a big tree next to the confinement room.
No one knew that this tree was a Chinese parasol tree, but it was older than any of these disciples. It was said that it was planted by the Phoenix Divine Lord, Qiu Chang.
It was too late for Zhao Chen'an to enter the confinement room now, so he decided to create an illusion that he had slept on the tree all night.
Zhao Chen'an adjusted his posture, leaned against the tree trunk, and drawled lazily, "You've woken me up from my sleep. What do you want from your senior brother?"
Suddenly hearing Zhao Chen'an's voice, the disciples were startled. Looking up, they saw him reclining on the tree.
Disciple A asked, "Second senior brother... Did you sleep here all night?"
Zhao Chen'an raised his eyebrows, as if acquiescing. He fully exuded the lazy aura of someone just waking up and said, "Is there a problem?"
The system silently admired him. The host was really wasted if he didn't become an actor.
Disciple A's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for Zhao Chen'an to hear. He said excitedly, "As the first senior brother said, the second senior brother really likes to sleep in out - of - the - way places."
Zhao Chen'an: "???"
Out - of - the - way places? Sleep? Me? Qin Beixuan must be crazy!
My dear senior brother, I'll remember this rumor you spread about me.
A clever idea flashed through Zhao Chen'an's mind. He pretended to recall and said, "I really miss the time when I slept in out - of - the - way places with your first senior brother."
"???" Sleep together?!
Disciple A was completely stunned!
What did the second senior brother just say? Sleep with the first senior brother... in out - of - the - way places...
What could one do while sleeping in out - of - the - way places... So everyone understood and kept it to themselves.
Within two days, various versions of the story about Zhao Chen'an and Qin Beixuan sleeping in out - of - the - way places spread on Purple Star Mountain.
Naturally, Qin Beixuan also heard about it.
Time flew by. A month later, Zhao Chen'an's confinement finally ended. Just as he was finally liberated, he was urgently summoned by his master to the Purple Star Hall.
"I never get a moment's peace..."
Zhao Chen'an silently complained as he stepped into the Purple Star Hall.
After entering, Zhao Chen'an looked around and saw that besides his master, there were two other disciples—his senior brother Qin Beixuan and junior brother Zhu Heyu.
According to the pattern Zhao Chen'an had observed, whenever Ji Qingchen summoned all his disciples to the Purple Star Hall, there must be something important to entrust.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Ji Qingchen coughed lightly and said, "Yesterday, the master of Hun Tian Palace, an affiliated sect of Purple Star Mountain, was killed."
As soon as Ji Qingchen said this, all three of them frowned. Zhao Chen'an was the first to say, "Master, the master of Hun Tian Palace is dead. Why does this have anything to do with our Purple Star Mountain?"
Qin Beixuan looked at Zhao Chen'an and said, "The master of Hun Tian Palace had a cultivation level equivalent to that of an elder in our Purple Star Mountain. So the only ones who could have killed him are from Purple Star Mountain."
Zhao Chen'an snorted and said, "No, there's another reason."
Sure enough, Ji Qingchen then said, "The Phoenix Seal has been stolen."
Zhu Heyu looked shocked. "What?!"
Zhao Chen'an's expression also turned solemn.
The Phoenix Seal was the inner core of the Phoenix Divine Lord. During the ancient battle between gods and demons, the Phoenix Divine Lord's soul was damaged and he entered reincarnation. When he passed the thunder tribulation this time, the Phoenix Seal would be returned to him.
Everyone knew that the Phoenix was Zhu Heyu. Now that the Phoenix Seal was lost right under Zhu Heyu's nose, this matter could not be taken lightly.
Moreover, there was a rumor that whoever obtained the power of the Phoenix could unify the world and become a true god above all others!
Was there something wrong with the plot... In the previous ninety - nine missions, Zhao Chen'an had never experienced this Hun Tian Palace side - quest.
"If someone with ulterior motives obtains the power of the Phoenix, the world will surely be in chaos. Now that the seal of chaos is a little unstable, the Phoenix Seal must not have any mishaps." Ji Qingchen said, "You should go and investigate this matter thoroughly. Report any progress immediately."
"Yes! Disciples obey."
Zhao Chen'an rarely went down the mountain, but this time he went down with such a huge mission on his shoulders. Zhao Chen'an, who had thought he could relax, was really disappointed!
Watching the street vendors shouting cheerfully about how delicious their food was, Zhao Chen'an's mouth watered.
He usually liked snacks. Now that he saw them, he couldn't move his feet. After all, he had been craving them for a month.
But he had come down in such a hurry that he didn't bring any money. What should he do?
So Zhao Chen'an tugged at Qin Beixuan's sleeve. His eyes were shining like stars and he said pitifully, "Senior brother, I want to buy a sugar figurine."
Qin Beixuan had never seen Zhao Chen'an so obedient before. For a moment, he didn't know how to deal with him. He said dryly, "Why are you asking me if you want to buy a sugar figurine?"
"I didn't bring any money. Lend me a few coppers, okay?" Zhao Chen'an's lips curled up slightly. He smiled very handsomely. "Senior brother?"
The rising tone of this "senior brother" made Qin Beixuan's heart itch.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Qin Beixuan's head. The figure of Zhao Chen'an in front of him seemed to overlap with a figure deep in his memory.
Enduring the headache, Qin Beixuan directly reached out and threw his money bag to him. "Buy whatever you want."
Zhao Chen'an immediately cheered and went to buy the sugar figurine. This scene made Zhu Heyu very angry.
After Zhao Chen'an left, Qin Beixuan looked up and rubbed his temples, thinking about what had just happened.
Zhu Heyu walked up to Qin Beixuan and said softly, "I never noticed before that the first senior brother is so kind to the second senior brother. It seems the rumor is true." Then he pursed his lips.
Zhu Heyu was fair - skinned. His facial features were delicate and three - dimensional. He didn't have a cold look at all. Instead, he exuded a lot of gentle and elegant aura, which made him look more approachable.
At least more approachable than Qin Beixuan.
If one were to say who was the most good - looking on Purple Star Mountain, it would surely be Zhao Chen'an. If one were to say who was the most elegant, it would be Zhu Heyu. If one were to say who was the most steady, it would be Qin Beixuan. And Qin Beixuan was always unpredictable, the most difficult one to get close to.
"How much truth can there be in rumors? Don't believe them easily, junior brother." Qin Beixuan glanced at Zhu Heyu sideways. "If you want to eat candy, just ask your second senior brother to buy it for you."
Zhu Heyu suddenly laughed. He joked, "Senior brother has really forgotten. Heyu hates candy the most."
Qin Beixuan was stunned. This junior brother had grown up under his watch, but he didn't even know his preferences. Looking at Zhu Heyu, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
"Senior brother will remember this time."
Only then did Zhu Heyu grin happily. Their conversation happened to be heard clearly by Zhao Chen'an, who had just come back with the sugar figurine.
Zhu Heyu looked at Zhao Chen'an triumphantly and raised his head. But Zhao Chen'an didn't care at all. He just ignored Zhu Heyu's provocation and walked straight over to stuff the other sugar figurine in his hand into Qin Beixuan's hand.
Zhao Chen'an lifted Qin Beixuan's chin and teased, "Brother Heyu is really something. He doesn't even know that senior brother likes sugar figurines. Unlike me, who only knows how to feel sorry for senior brother."
Zhu Heyu: "???"
Qin Beixuan: "..."
What on earth was this guy up to... And how did he know that I like sugar figurines?
A trace of doubt flashed through Qin Beixuan's mind. He looked into Zhao Chen'an's eyes, slightly curled his lips, and smiled. "Thank you." Then he took a bite of the sugar figurine.
The straight - laced guy actually smiled? So just giving him sugar would make him smile? It was that simple?!
Zhao Chen'an couldn't believe it. His efforts over ninety - nine times had been defeated by a single sugar figurine. He should have invited Qin Beixuan to eat sugar every day before...
Fortunately, they arrived at Hun Tian Palace before evening. Now that the old master of Hun Tian Palace was dead, his younger brother, Yi Huachi, had taken over.
Yi Huachi was a very kind and upright person. He treated the family members of his late elder brother, Yi Bowen, with respect. He didn't act like a master at all.
This was Zhao Chen'an's first impression of him.
"You noble immortals must be tired from your journey. Please have dinner here with me and stay for the night to rest?" Yi Huachi said with a kind smile.
Qin Beixuan bowed his hands and said, "Thank you for your trouble."
Then they were arranged to stay in a side courtyard by Yi Huachi. After Zhao Chen'an returned to his room, he immediately summoned the system.
Zhao Chen'an questioned, "Little thing, what's going on with this Hun Tian Palace side - quest?"
"..." The system said seriously, "Host, actually I wanted to tell you on the way. According to the original plot, this part of the story was supposed to appear after Zhao Chen'an's death."
That meant... the plot had been advanced!!!
Zhao Chen'an had no idea whether the advanced plot was a blessing or a curse. It meant that what he was going to experience next had become unknown to him.
"Is it because of that string of data that slipped away?" Zhao Chen'an asked.
The system paused for a few seconds. "Sorry, the host's question is beyond my scope of authority."
"..."
So what's the use of this system? I can't even kill it for food during the New Year. I might as well tell the headquarters to scrap it.
System: "..."