However, the maid didn't bring in the dinner plates. Hongye slowly said, "Before the meal, don't you have anything to say?"
Hongye slightly raised her eyes and looked at Xichu who was sipping tea. But no one at the table said a word. Even Xiaoxi kept silent.
"Ling'er, did you have a good time last night? Did anything happen?"
Yong Shanling shook her head but didn't answer.
Sister Hong gently raised her hand, and then the maid started serving the dishes. "Since nothing happened, let's just forget about last night. Xiaoxi, you should spend more time on your recent promotion. Don't always just play around."
"Yes." Xiaoxi replied to Hongye.
Then the group started having their meal. A man walked past them. He was wearing a black long - sleeved T - shirt, loose trousers and lazy slippers. With each step he took, there came a "pat - pat" sound.
Suddenly, everyone stood up, and she stood up too.
"Master of the sect."
The group suddenly uttered in unison, just like a command. The man in front was wearing a mask. He walked to one side, slowly took off the earphone from his left ear, nodded at them, picked up a cup of coffee and then walked away.
Yong Shanling watched the man walk past. There was no sign of Gu Li on him. Finally, she sighed and said, "It seems I can only set my target on Nan Min."
After the man left the dining hall, the group sat down again and continued their meal. After the meal, Xiaoxi took her to sit on the lawn and enjoy the sun.
"Ha, I think the atmosphere is always so depressing when the master of the sect is around. I really don't like it."
"Then why do you still follow him?" Yong Shanling looked at the girl lying beside her.
"Because... Hee - hee, guess. It's a secret."
"Hey, do you want to know?" Suddenly, a puff of hot air blew into her ear. Xiaoxi immediately blocked her right side.
"Girls don't like clingy men." Xiaoxi glared at Xichu discontentedly.
Yong Shanling watched the two arguing in front of her. Suddenly, she felt a bit confused about what she was doing.
"Xiaoling! Xiaoling! Xiaoling!"
It was not until Xiaoxi kept calling her that she came back to her senses.
"Hmm? What's up?"
Xiaoxi waved her phone. "Nan Min is calling you over. He's waiting for you in the pavilion."
Yong Shanling nodded and walked towards the pool. The scenery that greeted her next made her eyes widen in surprise. There was an endless lotus pond full of red lotuses that looked like flames.
Several small boats were swaying in the pond. A red pavilion was located in the middle of the pond. Yong Shanling walked up to Nan Min excitedly. Looking at the red koi in the pond, there was a glint of surprise in her eyes.
"The season for lotus blooming is over. Why are they still in bloom here?"
Nan Min looked at the red lotuses and slowly said, "Xiaoxi is specialized in reversing to ancestors. Everything will change as she wishes. The master of the sect likes red lotuses, so this lotus pond has red lotuses blooming all year round."
"It's so beautiful... What do you want to talk to me about?"
Yong Shanling looked at the man beside her and asked in confusion.
Nan Min sat down, poured two cups of tea, and then slowly began.
"Does Mu Yijie know that you're here?"
Yong Shanling paused for a moment while holding the teacup, then took a sip and smiled indifferently.
"It has nothing to do with him."
"You came here to look for Gu Li, right?"
"Yeah."
"After you find him, what will you do? Will you abandon Mu Yijie?"
"I'll compensate him with everything I have. But... I can't be separated from Uncle Shu. If this short - term separation can bring about a long - term togetherness, I'd rather endure the long - term pain all at once."
She finished the tea, slowly moved the teacup in front of him, and said firmly.
"If Gu Li hopes that you'll always be with him, will you agree?"
Hearing Nan Min's question, she was at a loss for words for a moment.
"After all these years, if he's still alive, maybe he has already met the one he wants."
Nan Min poured her a cup of tea bitterly and murmured, "If only it could be that simple."
"So, can you tell me something about him now?"
"The time isn't right yet. I'll tell you when the time comes."
Suddenly, Qingyuan and Qingsui appeared beside them.
"It's been a long time since I last came out. The scenery here is really nice, little guy."
"The tea is also of good quality, of course." Qingsui picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup of tea.
Nan Min met Qingsui's eyes and immediately looked away. "Is this the ultimate spirit beast that's in a contract with you?"
"Yeah."
Yong Shanling nodded and looked at the two beside her helplessly. Qingyuan picked a red lotus. Immediately, it withered, then turned into ashes and disappeared in her hand.
"The scenery is nice, but it's a pity that it's all virtual."
Qingyuan patted the remaining ashes on her hand and got up to leave.
"Are all those at the twelfth rank so leisurely?" Yong Shanling felt that such a leisurely life was a bit too laid - back.
"Of course not. We're going to the Misty Forest this afternoon."
Hearing about the Misty Forest, Yong Shanling seemed to remember something. She slapped her head in hatred. "Qingyuan! I forgot about Liu Ming."
"I knew you'd forget about her. So after you left, I told her to come here. But she may not have taken a plane, so it'll take her some time to get here."
Qingyuan looked at her with a soft smile.
Hearing her words, Yong Shanling finally put her mind at ease. Nan Min didn't say a word beside them.
After watching her leave, he met Qingsui's eyes. "I didn't expect you to end up with her."
"So what?"
"Nothing. I thought you wouldn't follow the master of the sect's words. Does Qingyuan know?"
"She doesn't need to know. After all this is done, it'll all come to an end."
"But she may have noticed something."
"I'll cover it up."
"No wonder you're Sister Hong's person."
Hearing Nan Min's last words, there was a hint of uneasiness on Qingsui's face. Then she disappeared in front of him.
"Wow, it seems there are quite a few spies around Shanling." Xichu sat on one side and looked at Nan Min with a smile.
"You clearly know you can't touch something, so why do you still want to?"
"Because I'm different from you... Cowards."
As he said this, there was a hint of hatred on Xichu's face, but also a touch of regret.
"How long has it been since Xiaoting's incident? When will you stop dwelling on it?"
After Nan Min said this, he left the pavilion. Xichu looked at the lotus pond. Somehow, a tear rolled down his face.
"How could I forget..."
In the afternoon, everyone gathered on the lawn. Sister Hong issued an order. Mist suddenly surrounded them. After the wind blew, the group arrived at the entrance of the forest.
"What are we going to do in the forest?"
Nan Min walked forward with her. "It's also a kind of improvement. Generally, when entering the forest, one has to complete tasks, and then the levels are assigned."
"So there are high, medium and low levels, right?"
"Yeah. We're currently at the low level."
"What will happen if we reach the highest level?"
"You'll know more about the master of the sect."
Yong Shanling thought for a while. For Gu Li, if she wanted to know about him, for now, she could only break through from the master of the sect.