**Chapter 260: Too Baby-ish!**
When Yun Zhonghe and Mu Jixue slowly woke up, they didn’t notice anything strange.
Qin Hongye had already been considerate enough to tidy their clothes, smoothing out every wrinkle with the care of a press agent in a fashion magazine.
She had to erase any signs of a crime!
Before long, a light-footed sound broke the tranquility of the room as Master Youyue strolled in.
She entered with an air of authority that was impossible to ignore, mingling with a sense of otherworldliness.
Upon seeing Master Youyue, the three of them immediately stood up, “We pay our respects to the Master!”
Master Youyue nodded, taken aback to find Yun Zhonghe here, her gaze softened involuntarily.
“You’re here too.”
Mu Jixue immediately went on high alert!
Her Master never spoke to anyone so politely.
But she didn’t dare to challenge Master Youyue, opting instead to hold her tongue.
Yun Zhonghe naturally clasped his hands in reply, “Today, Miss Qin invited me as a guest.”
However, Master Youyue didn’t say much, merely scanning the surroundings—nothing odd appeared to catch her attention.
She had a nagging feeling earlier that something was off with Mu Jixue, but couldn’t pinpoint what was amiss.
Seeing that Mu Jixue was fine, she figured it was probably just her being overly sensitive, so she decided to let it slide.
She said, “Disciple, it’s time for us to leave.”
It seemed Master Qin had already returned to the sect, and Master Youyue wanted Mu Jixue to meet him.
Reluctantly, Mu Jixue bid farewell to Yun Zhonghe.
Inside, she felt a strange flutter, as if the two of them had just shared an awkward romantic encounter that was too embarrassing to put into words. Though she couldn’t quite grasp what had happened, that feeling was strikingly real and just a tad embarrassing.
But… she didn’t dislike it.
As Mu Jixue followed Master Youyue farther away, the latter quickly caught on to the suspicious flush on her cheeks.
Recalling her earlier premonition, a look of concern flickered in Master Youyue’s eyes as she asked softly, “Xue’er, did something happen?”
Mu Jixue shook her head, with an innocent smile, “Nope! Just went to have some tea.”
“Is that all?” Master Youyue persisted, her eyes probing.
“Yep!” Mu Jixue’s answer was pure as the driven snow, without a hint of concealment.
Gazing into Mu Jixue’s clear, watery eyes, Master Youyue felt uneasy but couldn’t find any flaws.
After all, she was a godly cultivator, a spellcaster at that, and her Spiritual Energy reached the heavens. She sensed a subtle springtime aura around Mu Jixue but couldn’t quite capture any signs of abnormalities.
Just as Mu Jixue suddenly rubbed her chest and commented on feeling a bit strange.
“Maybe your chest is gonna grow again!”
Master Youyue remarked, with an air of detached nonchalance.
“Eh!!!”
Mu Jixue’s face fell.
She didn’t want her chest getting any bigger; she wanted to grow taller!
What she dreamed of was to grow tall and have those enviable long legs!
……
Watching Master Youyue take Mu Jixue away, Qin Hongye silently heaved a sigh of relief.
She gently patted her chest, as if to dispel the tension and fear she had just felt, and her face gradually returned to calm.
Luckily, she had decisively stopped the magic mirror at a critical moment. If Master Youyue had entered this room and sensed the unusual fluctuations from the mirror, the aftermath could’ve been disastrous.
Master Youyue had reached a level of Spiritual Energy that could see through the fabric of reality. It was unlikely that the magic mirror could affect her or twist her will.
However… if it had managed to break that barrier and created a mess, what would happen to Yun Zhonghe then? That scene was too terrible to imagine.
Qin Hongye reflected deeply on this and decided that moving forward, she would have to be more careful, ensuring the environment was utterly safe before pulling out her mysterious little toys.
Though all these dramatic developments seemed thrilling to Qin Hongye, to Yun Zhonghe, it was merely a lighthearted scene where Qin Hongye, Mu Jixue, and he sat together, leisurely sipping tea and enjoying dainty snacks.
Nothing too serious, right?
Yet, having lingered at Qin Hongye’s place for a while, Yun Zhonghe felt it was time to reveal his true intentions.
He explained the situation with the Su sisters and Wang Gu City’s Su family, detailing his thoughts and plans, hoping to enlist Qin Hongye’s help.
As soon as he finished, Qin Hongye nodded without hesitation, decisively agreeing to his request.
“Ten million Spirit Stones, right? I can have a word with my father about it; it shouldn’t be a problem.”
For her, it was just a matter of lifting a finger.
Forget ten million; she felt she could handle a billion Spirit Stones without an issue.
Upon hearing that, Yun Zhonghe couldn’t help but beam; joy bubbled up in him like a spring, unable to hide his delight.
With Qin Hongye’s words, this whole affair had pretty much reached the finish line.
“Then I truly thank you, Miss Qin!” Yun Zhonghe stood up promptly, clasping his hands deeply, expressing his sincere gratitude.
Qin Hongye, seeing this, couldn’t help but flash a charming smile. She playfully waved her hand, a hint of blush rising to her cheeks, her fingers unconsciously twining around her fiery red hair, appearing both playful and alluring: “Oh, Young Master Yun, no need for such formality! Just drop by more often for a chat, and I’ll be satisfied!”
Yun Zhonghe keenly sensed something was off.
Unbeknownst to him, he felt Qin Hongye’s gaze lingering a little too long, giving off a feeling that was reminiscent of the way Lin Zhongyu had looked at him!
An ominous thought struck him suddenly.
No way… you’re not thinking of plotting against me too, are you?!
With that thought, Yun Zhonghe’s scalp tingled, but then he recalled the friendly atmosphere between Qin Hongye and Mu Jixue just moments ago. Surely, there couldn’t be any issues…
She liked Mu Jixue, right? She liked Mu Jixue, right?!
But worry grew like weeds, becoming harder and harder to shake off.
In the end, Yun Zhonghe simply made an excuse, saying he had urgent matters to attend to, and hurriedly left Qin Hongye’s side.
……
A few days later, Yun Zhonghe finally received the good news from Qin Hongye.
Master Qin, after fully understanding Yun Zhonghe’s intentions and plans to advance ten million Spirit Stones, not only showed no hesitation but also expressed high praise for Yun Zhonghe’s character and bravery. He generously announced that Yun Zhonghe didn’t have to worry about advancing the Spirit Stones; they would be a gift from him!
Master Qin understood the importance of relationships, so when Yun Zhonghe actively sought his help, he couldn’t let such an opportunity slip away!
It seems Master Qin also has his share of yellow-haired tendencies!
And Yun Zhonghe… I never knew I could be so loved?!
Master Qin assured him that he would prepare the ten million Spirit Stones over the next few days, so Yun Zhonghe wouldn’t have to worry and that they would be delivered in full.
With Master Qin’s assurance, Yun Zhonghe’s burdensome rock finally fell away.
At last, Su Xiaoxiao’s issues could be thoroughly resolved.
Wang Gu City’s Su family…
The Su family’s old residence was located in a serene mountain valley, surrounded by lush greenery, making it particularly tranquil and beautiful.
In the study of the Su house, the old master sat upright as two other elders with paternal ties flanked him. Their faces were serious, clearly discussing something important.
Recently, they had received word that Su Xinghe had successfully broken through to the Yuan Ying Stage and would soon return to the Su family to discuss matters regarding Su Xiaoxiao.
“Never thought that little girl would really break through to Yuan Ying.”
One of the elders, stroking his gray beard, snorted, obviously both shocked and wary of Su Xinghe’s rapid progress.
Despite all their restrictions on her, she still managed to break through!
Su Xinghe reaching Yuan Ying wasn’t good news for them.
They had initially chosen Su Xinghe as the heir due to her youth and ease of manipulation, intending to use her to bring the Su family of Suzhou under their control. They never expected this little girl would show such incredible determination and talent, breaking through at such a crucial moment.
Originally, they had planned to deal with Su Xiaoxiao while Su Xinghe was still establishing her foundation and weak in strength.
But now, Su Xinghe had outpaced them, disrupting their plans.
“Hmph, so what if she’s reached Yuan Ying? A mere novice in the stage; we’re not worried about her!” one elder whose hair showed some thinning sneered, his tone filled with disdain.
However, despite his strong words, he couldn’t hide the thin veil of concern in his eyes.
The Su family’s old master remained calm and composed. He glanced at the two, his murky eyes glinting with sharp light, as if he could see right through them: “What do you think we should do about this?”
His voice was deep and powerful, each word carrying a heavy weight.
The white-bearded elder, after a moment of contemplation, slowly replied: “That girl has just broken through to Yuan Ying and is eager to come to us. She must have a plan in her mind and is likely confident. I reckon she’s not just broken through but may have resources or treasures worth at least ten million Spirit Stones to offer to rescue Su Xiaoxiao.”
Upon hearing this, the head of the Su family silently nodded, a glimmer of approval flashing in his gaze.
To be fair, these old foxes had some sharp instincts.
However, their handling of Su Xiaoxiao was complicated far beyond a simple Spirit Stone transaction; the most important factor was the old master’s intent to suppress Su Xinghe substantially, aiming to solidify his and the direct line’s absolute authority in the Su family.
A waste who can’t even save her own sister shouldn’t receive any support.
If this plan succeeded, those already supportive of Su Xinghe would be weakened; even those who were neutral and had yet to choose sides might lean toward the direct line after this incident, thereby clearly signaling their own positions.
That was exactly the result the old master hoped to see.
The old master was definitely determined to sell Su Xiaoxiao, but if Su Xinghe could really come up with that kind of wealth along with her newly attained prestige, it would make any forcible sale of Su Xiaoxiao face scrutiny and opposition from many elders within the family.
After all, they could all profit from this transaction, and some wouldn’t want to offend a new Yuan Ying powerhouse with limitless potential, lest they invite unnecessary trouble.
A cunning glint crossed the white-bearded elder’s eye, as he narrowed them slightly: “How about we plan to publicly humiliate her? Let’s first knock her down a peg, so she loses face in front of everyone. Once that happens, no one will support her!”
The old master raised an eyebrow at this, a curious expression creeping onto his face: “Oh? What do you plan to do? Tell me more.”
If they could bring down Su Xinghe’s reputation, then surely they would reap even greater benefits.
The white-bearded elder’s lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes glinting with malice: “I have a grandson who possesses exceptional talent; though he’s currently at the Golden Core peak, he can easily challenge those of higher tiers—a piece of cake for him. I’ll make thorough arrangements for this; I guarantee that Su Xinghe will lose terribly!”
The old master nodded slightly in response, but his brow remained furrowed: “However, we mustn’t underestimate her; since she dares come, she likely won’t come alone. If she has helpers…”
Before the old master could finish, the balding elder chuckled through his worry, cutting him off: “Then we’ll take them all down together! A mere Su Xinghe, what strong allies can she possibly summon? How many people can she rally? This is the Su family’s territory! In a home match, what’s there to be afraid of? We’ll make sure they return downcast and defeated!”
The balding elder spoke with increasing excitement, seemingly envisioning Su Xinghe and her party fleeing in disgrace, delight and cruelty dancing across his face.
“Well then…” at this point, another bald elder seemed to have a flash of inspiration, a sly light shining in his eyes, “I have a friend—a bit weak but possesses a unique ability to swap things without anyone knowing. If Su Xinghe really manages to bring that ten million Spirit Stones or equivalent value to exchange for Su Xiaoxiao, we can pull a switcheroo…”
As he spoke, a sinister smile crept across the balding elder’s face, as if he could see Su Xinghe’s bewildered and enraged expression once she discovered the ruse.
Wow~ Is it really okay to bully a young girl like this?
But… they loved it and were so excited.
Hee hee hee!
A glint of enthusiasm sparkled in their eyes; it was as if the upcoming spectacle was the feast they had been eagerly anticipating.
With their bags full of wicked plans and no shortage of devious ideas, the old master nodded in agreement, an utterly sly smirk spreading across his face, as if a crafty old fox was about to showcase its cunning.
“Good! Good! Good!”
The old master reiterated the word “good” thrice.
Perfect timing to teach that naive little girl a lesson about the treachery and complexity of this world.
Not only would they cause Su Xinghe and her crew to lose face, they would also take the chance to pinch some of their money.
Wow~ Even they felt so wicked and shameless.
But in this world full of competition and schemes, being despicable often meant survival, it meant victory.
Only those who are willing to do whatever it takes, embracing the lowdown, will laugh last in this dog-eat-dog world and become the real winners.
The three old men exchanged knowing grins, their laughter filled with happiness and pride echoing through the room long after it had died down.
