Chapter 111: The Cunning Su Ye

Jimo shot him a furious glare and was just about to complain when Su Ye seemed to remember something amiss. His elegant brows drew together slightly, and he looked her up and down with a strange expression. The way he stared made her skin crawl, and she could not help asking, “Fourth Senior Brother, what are you looking at?”

“Nothing. I just suddenly thought of something.” Su Ye’s brows furrowed briefly before smoothing out again. “Little Junior Sister, does that young girl named Jiang Ping bear you some grudge?”

“Grudge? There shouldn’t be any grudge between us!” Jimo said, shaking her head in confusion. “Though she came to Zhao Family Village with me, she wasn’t actually from there. She was the village chief’s niece, and only came to the village three years before the Moon-Gazing Sect opened its gates. By then, I’d already become a fool, so we had no real dealings at all. In my memory, we’ve only met a handful of times.”

“No grudge? That is strange.” Su Ye’s brows lifted slightly. “Though she seems very close to you on the surface, I can somehow sense very strong killing intent from her toward you. Be a little more careful around that girl.”

Jiang Ping harbored strong killing intent toward her?

Jimo was startled. She did not doubt Su Ye’s words, because ever since the first time she met Jiang Ping, she had instinctively felt that Jiang Ping did not like her. Even stranger, Jiang Ping clearly disliked her, yet every time they met, she would put on an act as though they were very close.

At first, Jimo had thought it was merely her own wishful thinking. After all, she and Jiang Ping had no grievances between them. She had never offended Jiang Ping, so there was no reason for the girl to hate her. But now that Su Ye, who had met Jiang Ping only once, felt the same way, Jimo could not help but think more deeply. It was said that Jiang Ping had come to Zhao Family Village the same year her parents died.

The moment Jiang Ping arrived, her father and mother both died, and she herself became a fool. Could all of this have something to do with that girl?

The sudden thought flashed through Jimo’s mind and startled her. No—she hurriedly shook her head to deny it. Jiang Ping had not even stepped onto the path of cultivation back then. She had only been an ordinary mortal girl. What right did she have to accomplish so much?

Su Ye turned his head and saw her shaking her head furiously. Unable to help himself, he laughed and reached out to tap her lightly on the forehead. “What are you shaking your head for? Afraid you’ll shake yourself stupid?”

“Nothing. I just thought of some old matters and got a little confused.” Jimo came back to herself and made a face at Su Ye. “Fourth Senior Brother, let’s stop dawdling and hurry to the gathering point. I heard the one in charge of receiving the distinguished guests this time is the Grand Elder of Spirit Sword Peak. I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard his temper isn’t very good. If we arrive late, we’ll probably get an earful.”

“What’s there to fear?” Su Ye raised his brows, unconcerned. He curled his lip. “If he likes to lecture, let him lecture a few more times. We can just listen. It’s not like we’ll lose a piece of flesh.”

“Fourth Senior Brother, no wonder Senior Sister gives you that kind of评价. Such a waste of that fine skin of yours.” Jimo gave him a long once-over, her face showing the look of someone lamenting misfortune and resenting failure. She sighed again and again.

“Little ghost, I think you’ve learned nothing!” Su Ye lifted his brows and glared, then gave Jimo’s forehead another hard flick.

“Senior Brother, you can’t bully people like this. We’ve only walked how long, and my head is already full of bumps from your hits.” Jimo glared at him in outrage, rubbing the forehead that still throbbed faintly from the blow. She practically wanted to pounce on him and give him a beating, but after weighing the difference in strength between them, she could only suppress the thought and vent her grievance through her eyes.

“What, unconvinced?” Su Ye said shamelessly, casting her an oblique look. “If you’re unconvinced, you can hit me back. Of course, that’s on the premise that you’re sure you can beat me.”

Jimo was utterly speechless, while Little Gold, perched on her shoulder, laughed gleefully and rocked back and forth in delight. In the end, with one careless moment, it was once again swatted flying by Jimo...

“Little Gold, why don’t you just abandon your heartless master and come with me instead?” Su Ye said, glancing at Little Gold, who had been sent flying again. He wore a thoroughly ill-intentioned expression. Ever since he first laid eyes on Little Gold, he had been coveting it intensely.

The two of them bickered, joked, and laughed their way along at a leisurely pace. By the time they reached Spirit Face Peak, the others from the four remaining peaks had already assembled. The person in charge of this reception was indeed the Grand Elder of Spirit Sword Peak, Xiao Peng.

Seeing Jimo and Su Ye strolling up unhurriedly, with not the slightest trace of embarrassment at having arrived late, Xiao Peng’s face darkened before he could stop himself.

“Why are you only arriving now? Can’t you see everyone has been waiting for the people from Thunder Peak?”

Jimo and Su Ye lowered their gazes in perfect understanding, looking at their own toes as though they could somehow find flowers there. This only made Elder Xiao even angrier, but remembering that they were not from his own peak, he forced himself not to say anything harsher.

Drawing in a breath to calm his anger, he let the matter drop and changed the subject. “Listen carefully. I’ll briefly explain the arrangements for this reception: the sect tournament held once every thirty years is a great event for our Moon-Gazing Sect. Whenever it comes around, the other two fifth-rank sects of Cloudsea Dynasty and the royal family will send representatives to observe.”

“As hosts, we must never be rude in our reception. Though our Moon-Gazing Sect enjoys a certain standing in Cloudsea Dynasty, we still cannot leave others with the impression that we are arrogant, overbearing, and haughty. Therefore, I hope that when you follow me out to greet the guests, you will all pay special attention to your words and conduct...”

Every time the Canghui Sect, the Ancient Intent Gate, or the Cloudsea royal family came, the party would include not only a leader at the Nascent Soul stage, but also companions ranging from Qi Refinement disciples to Core Formation cultivators. Without exception, these people were the most outstanding geniuses of their respective powers. The strength of the Moon-Gazing Sect exceeded theirs by a fair margin, and being able to observe the Moon-Gazing Sect’s geniuses fighting at close range was also extremely beneficial to their growth.

To show respect for their guests, the Moon-Gazing Sect matched their reception standards. Usually, a Nascent Soul cultivator would lead the way, bringing the outstanding Core Formation and Foundation Establishment cultivators from the various peaks to receive them together.

Elder Xiao was in the middle of a passionate lecture when, boom, a deep and resonant bell tone suddenly drifted over from far away. Xiao Peng’s expression shifted slightly, and he stopped speaking at once. Leaning his ear toward the sound, he heard the bell ring twice more in quick succession. Elder Xiao lifted his long brows slightly.

“I won’t say more. The guests have already arrived at the mountain gates. Follow me to welcome them.”

To be continued...