Chapter Eighty-One: Junior Brother Xiao Huai

The delicate vine shook violently, and in an instant, its round tendrils transformed into sharp diamond shapes, all aimed at Ning Xianyu. Their intent was clear—no longer to tickle her as before, but to pierce her through like a sieve.

“Ancestor, save me!” Ning Xianyu cried out desperately. She had exhausted her only trick and had no other options left.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan clicked his tongue, leaping up and swinging his claws. Yet, with his cultivation suppressed in this place, his movements were limited; he simply couldn’t make it in time.

He shouted, “Quick, suppress your cultivation! Gather all your spiritual power, conceal it completely, so they can’t sense your energy!”

Huh?

“How do I do that?” The only thing she had learned during this period was how to display her spiritual power; she’d never been taught how to control it or gather it inward. She couldn’t possibly master that in such a short time.

She fumbled hurriedly, but the more she tried, the stronger her spiritual energy became, and the vines attacked even faster.

Just as the vines were about to pierce into her body, she cursed the system for ruining her and promptly fainted from fright.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan looked at her with disdain, then flew toward her chest.

At that moment, several streaks of sword light flashed by, slashing at the vines wrapped around Ning Xianyu.

A cold glint flashed in Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s eyes as he landed lightly on the ground and easily walked out of the forest.

When Ning Xianyu awoke, she found herself cradled in the arms of a man.

She opened her eyes to find the man rather handsome, dressed in the robes of an inner disciple of Jade Immortal Sect—a white Daoist robe with a dark belt.

This was the lowest rank among inner disciples, but still, he was an inner disciple.

Seeing her awake, the man smiled, gentle as spring breeze. “Senior Sister Xianyu, you’re awake?”

Ning Xianyu was stunned for a moment, then struggled out of his arms to sit up, discovering they were not far from the delicate vine forest.

With lingering fear, she scooted a bit further away. “You know me?”

The man smiled, his face bright and amiable. “Senior Sister Xianyu’s name is known to almost everyone in Jade Immortal Sect, I’d wager.”

Well, she was indeed famous, though her reputation was less than stellar.

Seeing her still trying to distance herself from the woods, the man said, “I am Xiao Huai, disciple under the Third Elder of the inner sect. There’s no need to worry, Senior Sister—the vines won’t leave the forest.”

---

Ning Xianyu’s fear was obvious, but she felt no embarrassment. She was indeed scared; there was no point denying it.

Getting to her feet, she thanked Xiao Huai, then started searching for something.

Xiao Huai asked, “Are you looking for your spirit beast, Senior Sister?”

She confirmed.

Surely the great devil hadn’t abandoned her and run off alone?

Xiao Huai explained, “Your spirit beast headed that way. He was quite brave. When I arrived, he was guarding your chest.”

Could the great devil really be so kind? Surely it was a misunderstanding.

She thanked him again, anxious to find the great devil.

Xiao Huai offered to lead the way and asked about her teammates.

Ning Xianyu replied they were gathering water grass: “By the way, what about your teammates?”

Xiao Huai smiled sheepishly, “I came alone. My main task this time is to find the Astrolite. I wanted to surprise the Elder by finding it myself.”

He scratched his head, his smile honest and sincere. “But I’m not skilled enough. I’ve been running around like a headless fly, and haven’t accomplished anything.”

Ning Xianyu waved off his concerns. “You’re already impressive for coming in alone. Besides, you’re an inner disciple—why so humble?”

Those who entered the inner sect were all talented, and even the lowest-ranked inner disciples were far stronger than outer disciples.

The inner disciples she’d met before all had their noses in the air, each more arrogant than the last. This was the first time she’d met one so modest—it was a bit disconcerting.

Xiao Huai looked at her gratefully. “Senior Sister, you’re so kind.”

He possessed an elegant bearing, like a young scion raised in a noble family, his gentleness and refinement making his sincerity all the more endearing. The way he called her ‘Senior Sister’ opened the first page of Ning Xianyu's harem plans.

A soft, adorable junior—truly an essential addition to any harem.

Ning Xianyu instantly wanted to sling her arm around his shoulders and say: “Don’t worry, little brother, your Senior Sister’s got your back.”

But as soon as the thought arose, she felt a sharp pain atop her head—a certain great devil suddenly appeared, jumping onto her head and nearly knocking her off balance.

“You’re too heavy,” she complained inwardly. “Ancestor, where did you go just now?”

Xuan Yuan Tunhan meowed twice, “Don’t ask. Let’s go, back.”

Ning Xianyu smiled, “Junior Brother Xiao Huai, we’re heading out now.”

---

Xiao Huai quickly asked, “Senior Sister, may I go with you? After entering here, I realize coming alone was too reckless.”

He glanced around nervously, his ears turning red as if gathering all his courage to speak.

Ning Xianyu, entirely forgetting he had once saved her, felt an overwhelming urge to protect him. “Let’s go together. By the way, how many Astrolites are there?”

Xiao Huai replied, “Just one.”

Ning Xianyu hesitated. She wanted the Astrolite for the divination reward and didn’t wish to give it up.

If they found it, how would the reward be divided?

Xiao Huai seemed to sense her thoughts and quickly reassured her, “Senior Sister, don’t worry. I study divination under the Third Elder and don’t need to ask him to divine my future. Just being able to train with you is already an honor.”

So straightforward—good!

“All right, let’s go together.”

The two returned to find Lin Kaishu and the others, Xuan Yuan Tunhan perched atop her head, silent throughout.

Yet from time to time, he glanced at Xiao Huai, his whiskers twitching as if mocking something.

Xiao Huai kept chatting with Ning Xianyu, introducing the surroundings and explaining what was valuable or useful.

“Everyone’s searching for the Astrolite, wandering around like headless flies. But I actually know a clue about the Astrolite and a treasure. Would you like to hear it, Senior Sister?”

Afraid she wouldn’t believe him, he spoke with utmost sincerity.

Ning Xianyu agreed that without direction, everyone was searching blindly, unsure when they’d ever find the stone.

She had hoped to rely on the great devil’s cheat-like abilities, but he only ordered her around and never explained anything, so she couldn’t press him.

Now, with Xiao Huai as her new cheat, things would be much easier.

“Of course, what clue do you have?”

Xiao Huai produced a map: “I found this in the Secret Records section of the Library Pavilion. It’s a map of the Spirit Pivot Secret Realm, detailing the distribution of various spiritual plants and beasts.”

“Look, Senior Sister—two circles are marked here. One is the location of the Astrolite, and the other is the legendary treasure left behind by a predecessor.”

Ning Xianyu glanced at the treasure’s location—it was the manor in the Misty Swamp she had just visited.

She’d seen the treasure, but rumor had it whoever took it would die, so she hadn’t dared claim it.