"Junior Sister, how can this person act like this?"
Fendai wore an expression of utter disgust on her pretty face. She gave Chen Liushang a push, sending her tumbling straight into Zheyue's arms while muttering sweet-sounding words.
"Zheyue, my good disciple, my good disciple."
"Quick, quick, take your new master to the main hall to rest."
Startled out of her wits, the Great Elder hurriedly called out to Ming Xuan, Xuanjing, and the others inside the main hall.
"It's her?"
Ming Xuan snatched the half-intoxicated Chen Liushang away, a look of worry crossing his face. Keeping his eyes locked on the Great Elder, he cradled Chen Liushang against his chest and strode quickly into the main hall, carefully laying her down upon the cushioned couch.
At that moment, the main hall was illuminated by Chen Liushang's Liúlí Light, casting a dazzling, jeweled radiance across the room. The usually austere hall was now glowing with brilliance, and Chen Liushang lay fast asleep within it, still half-drunk.
"Junior Brother, who is this?"
Mo Ran asked in astonishment. How could someone in this world possess such wondrous magic? The celestial light radiating from her was simply too miraculous! He stared blankly at Chen Liushang's pretty face, his eyes lighting up as he scanned the colorful spiritual glow emanating from her entire body.
"Could this be that woman you picked up, Junior Brother? Hiding a beauty in your golden house, are you?"
Xuanjing swept his gaze over the sleeping Chen Liushang and questioned him teasingly.
"How could that be? It's just that her health has always been delicate."
"Master, why bring her here?"
Ming Xuan looked skeptical, his face etched with intense dissatisfaction and a cold expression. His eyes were fixed dead on the panicked Fourth Elder.
"Ahem, ahem. This person will be your master from now on."
The Great Elder stammered out his words, nervously stroking his beard while casting an awkward, feeble glance at Ming Xuan's face.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Ming Xuan grabbed the sleeve of the Great Elder's black robe and demanded in a low voice.
"Young Lord, this was a joint decision made by me and the Pavilion Master. If you don't believe me, you can go ask your father."
Ming Xuan furrowed his brows deeply, unable to comprehend his father's actions for a moment. He gazed intently at the half-intoxicated Chen Liushang, the corners of whose mouth still bore traces of wine, filled with boundless incomprehension and worry.
"Senior Sister, she actually became our master."
Fendai wore an incredulous look. Even though her beauty was alluring, it wasn't enough to make her their master! She stared doubtfully at Chen Liushang, who was enveloped in a wine-soaked haze, her heart filled with confusion.
Zheyue's usual cold and detached expression also revealed a trace of incomprehension. She looked at her master and shook her head.
Hesitating slightly, she said, "Perhaps Master has other arrangements."
"Fine wine, fine wine."
Sound asleep, Chen Liushang mumbled in her dreams as she half-slumbered, listening to their inner thoughts. Suddenly, her eyes flew wide open, and she sat up straight with an aloof expression. Everyone was startled, followed immediately by Biluo's melodious voice ringing out like a bell.
"Lady."
"Master."
"Junior Brother Ming Xuan."
"Junior Brother Xuanjing."
"Junior Sister Zheyue."
"Junior Sister Fendai..."
Biluo walked gracefully into the main hall, poised and elegant, performing a formal student's bow. Her gaze never left Chen Liushang's slightly flushed face, and with a slight look of surprise, she half-knelt.
"Biluo, you're here."
Chen Liushang's face immediately lit up with joy as she pulled Biluo into a tight embrace. She had finally waited for her.
"Lady, why are you here? Are you alright?"
Biluo took Chen Liushang's small hand, looking at her anxiously as she spoke softly.
Fendai, acting somewhat willful, was thoroughly displeased by her arrival. Wearing a sour expression, she silently looked down on her in her heart: "It's just this impoverished wretch. If it weren't for Master and Xuan'er taking her in, how could she ever be my Senior Sister?"
Fendai's utter disdain and petty schemes were heard by Chen Liushang without missing a single detail.
Upon noticing this, Chen Liushang immediately took Biluo's hand and said, "Biluo, come here. As your teacher, I want you to sit right in the center and listen carefully as I impart the Immortal Technique of my ten thousand years of cultivation."
She pulled Biluo's hand and seated her in the very middle position, offering a comforting, gentle look while radiating Liúlí Light from head to toe.
"Lady, I'm afraid this is improper."
Biluo looked uneasy, speaking in a low voice to Chen Liushang.
"You, sit next to Biluo."
Chen Liushang pointed a small finger at the arrogant Fendai, her expression a mix of coldness and amusement.
Fendai looked utterly incredulous. Shocked, she snapped at Chen Liushang, "On what grounds? She's just a servant! She doesn't deserve to sit on equal footing with me."
A cold glint flashed in Chen Liushang's eyes, her small face turning stern. With a wave of her hand, a surge of Liúlí Light erupted from her body, violently dragging Fendai over to sit right beside Biluo and firmly pinning her in place beside her.
"Just you wait! I'm going to tell Grand-uncle about this!"
She stared daggers at Chen Liushang, looking as though she wanted to devour her alive, and wailed with grievance.
"Zheyue, my good disciple, you sit next to Mo Ran."
Zheyue hurried over on hurried little feet, her face blushing slightly as she slowly sat down beside Mo Ran. Mo Ran, for his part, maintained a calm and collected expression as he looked at Junior Sister Zheyue.
"Xuan'er, you sit with Senior Brother Xuanjing."
Ming Xuan and Xuanjing both took their seats slowly, maintaining composed and upright demeanors.
"From now on, this is your seating order."
After that, the main hall was filled with Chen Liushang's bewitching voice.
After speaking a few words, she handed the rest over to the Great Elder.
"I leave it to you."
The Great Elder looked dazed. Guided by Chen Liushang's eyes, she stepped up to the front of the hall and began the lesson. Meanwhile, Chen Liushang slumped toward the back of the hall, her colorful skirts pooling on the floor as she drank a little wine and grew drowsy.
"Class dismissed. Ahem."
The Great Elder intentionally raised her voice, purposely waking Chen Liushang up.
"Good wine."
Chen Liushang slowly stood up. Having gained a rough understanding of their temperaments, cultivation, and backgrounds, she walked slowly out of the main hall in a semi-intoxicated state, turned her back to them, and said leisurely:
"Tomorrow, the Qianxuan Lake trial."
The group exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what this person was up to.
Holding her small flask of wine, half-drunk and half-sober, she strolled out of the main hall.
Seeing her stagger along like this—he had fallen for her at first sight upon meeting her, and having taken care of her for many days besides—Ming Xuan naturally felt a lingering reluctance to let her go. He followed her all the way, standing behind her with a blushing face as he asked,
"I have yet to ask for the Lady's honorable name?"
"Disciple, my good disciple."
Chen Liushang lurched forward and crashed directly into his arms. She looked up at Ming Xuan's stern face, and in her hazy state, she seemed to see the shadow of Qingchan. Unconsciously reaching out to stroke him, she babbled over and over, "Qingchan, Qingchan."
Provoked thus, Ming Xuan blushed fiercely, his body growing hot all over. Gazing at her intoxicated face, he wondered in confusion, "Who is Qingchan? Is he the man she loves?"
Then, with a push of her right hand, she pulled away from Ming Xuan's embrace and wandered off crazily toward the chambers of Qianchen Pavilion.
Seeing her act like this, Ming Xuan assumed she was drunk again and hurried to give chase.
Suddenly, Chen Liushang stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes turned cold and ethereal; she put down her wine bottle, turned her back to Ming Xuan, and gave a cold reply.
"I am Chen Liushang, Spirit Lord of Wanzhong Heaven."
As soon as she finished speaking, she collapsed.
Ming Xuan rushed forward to catch her. Shocked and helpless at the sight of her flushed face, he called out:
"Biluo, Senior Sister, come quickly! She's collapsed from drinking again."
Hearing this, Biluo hurried over. The rest of the group watched Ming Xuan's lovestruck appearance and began to tease him.
"When have we ever seen Xuan'er act so infatuated with a woman?"
"This woman's origins are unknown. For Junior Brother to be like this is practically straying into demonic obsession. In the past, he never went near women—even when they were practically handed to him, he wouldn't take them," Mo Ran added with a teasing laugh.
Meanwhile, Fendai kept staring at the retreating figure, feeling a deep sense of grievance. Standing in the main hall with tears welling in her eyes, she clutched Zheyue's sleeve and tearfully complained, "Senior Sister, she was bullying people."
"Alright, I'm sure this is Master's arrangement. Just bear with it."
Zheyue held Fendai's hand, offering full comfort while gazing into the distance at Chen Liushang's retreating figure bathed in glowing light, her heart filled with bewilderment: Just what background did this person have?
The next day, under the continued care of Biluo and Ming Xuan, Chen Liushang slept peacefully until the sunlight hit her eyes, at which point she finally woke up.
Thinking of the ruthlessness of the Demon race and the hatred tied to Liúlí, a wave of melancholy and confusion washed over her heart. She immediately got up and headed toward Qianxuan Lake.