"Little old man, this Ming Xuan is quite something."
Chen Liushang leisurely sipped her wine and woke up, probing the Fourth Elder beside her with a relaxed and carefree expression. Her delicate face, glowing like Liúlí Light, also wore an earnest look as she watched the flashing swords and shifting forms below. No longer hiding, she casually picked up the cup of tea nearby, imitating the Great Elder to sip tea and watch the show.
"Indeed. My disciple Ming Xuan is not bad."
The Great Elder had not yet noticed her presence, and still replied with a look of satisfaction.
"This voice? Why is it so unfamiliar? Why have I never heard it before?"
He turned his head to look, startled. How could this distinguished guest have arrived? Feeling somewhat undignified, he immediately bowed deeply to Chen Liushang.
"I did not know the distinguished guest was arriving. Please forgive my discourtesy, Immortal."
"No matter, no matter. I see that every one of your disciples is fascinating and possesses extremely high talent—this is all thanks to you. You must have put a lot of effort into this."
The Great Elder replied with a touch of shame, "Naturally, naturally. These few are the young masters and young mistresses of our Xiuxian Continent, entrusted to me by the four Pavilion Masters, so I must naturally do my utmost."
Hearing this, Chen Liushang felt that this little old man was not a bad sort and could make a capable assistant. Involuntarily taking another sip of the light tea, she said with lingering fascination, "Interesting, interesting."
Seeing her appreciative expression, the Great Elder felt considerably more at ease. He turned his gaze back to the stage to watch the duel between the youths.
"Senior Sister, look! Junior Brother is so amazing! I didn't expect him to improve so fast; he must have been practicing hard in secret!"
Fendai pulled on Zheyue's sleeve and said happily. Zheyue's brows were tightly knitted in deep worry; her gaze remained fixed on Moran, not leaving him for a single instant.
"Mmm."
She bit her lip, a look of worry on her face, and replied distractedly.
"Though that girl in pink is somewhat noisy and lively, she possesses a distinct immortal grace. The young mistress has a bright and captivating appearance, and she is also a person of deep affections."
Chen Liushang watched their swordsmanship. Ming Xuan's skills were indeed far superior. Finding the tea rather bitter, she once again poured a carefree mouthful of Liúlí wine into her petite mouth, shifting her gaze to the noisy girl in pink from a moment ago.
"The young mistress of Qianchen Pavilion—though her temperament seems headstrong, her face reveals a loyal and deeply affectionate nature. It seems my manual will have a worthy successor. She can study together with Biluo; the Book Spirit should approve of their characters."
"Xuan'er, have you been practicing in secret to improve this fast?!"
Straining against his opponent, Moran looked at the effortlessly fighting Ming Xuan and voiced his question.
"Guess? Senior Brother, I haven't slacked off on my practice at home."
Suddenly, with a sweep of Ming Xuan's sword, Moran's hands trembled slightly, and he crouched heavily to the ground.
"Alright. Junior Brother, I concede."
Ming Xuan looked respectfully at his senior brother and bowed.
"It's over! Junior Brother is amazing!"
Fendai shouted loudly toward Zheyue, who was smiling at her side. Blushing, Zheyue replied, "Senior Brother Moran was not bad either."
"Mm-hmm."
Seeing that the sword fight was drawing to a close, and realizing that these individuals were the key figures of the Xiuxian Continent—some skilled in swordsmanship, some in immortal techniques, not to mention the purple-robed girl entangled in the flower of affection—Chen Liushang lost interest. She drank her little cup of wine alone and quietly vanished, leaving the scene.
"Ahem! Very well. This duel goes to Xuan'er in first place. Next, let me introduce you to..."
Seeing that the trial match had ended and intending to introduce Chen Liushang, the Great Elder turned around only to find that she had already gone far away.
The Great Elder said with some astonishment, "How does the Immortal come and go like a ghost?"
Seeing the Great Elder's strange reaction, the youths were somewhat baffled and looked at each other in dismay.
Finding the situation rather awkward, the Great Elder cleared his throat and said, "Today's sword practice ends here. Class dismissed."
"Yes, Master."
"Yes."
"Yes, Master."
The group dispersed just like that.
As soon as Ming Xuan returned home, he immediately searched for the girl glowing like Liúlí Light. Though he usually had his studies, he would come to catch a glimpse of her every time class ended; otherwise, he would feel an empty ache in his heart, as if he had lost something.
Finding Chen Liushang absent from the room, a wave of panic washed over him. Brandishing his sword nervously, he shouted aloud, "Biluo!"
"Young Master, I am here."
Startled, Biluo looked around the great hall and stammered, "The young lady was right here just a moment ago. Why is she gone now?"
"She drank so much wine—who knows if she has sobered up yet?"
"Young Master, I... I... It's my fault for not taking good care of the young lady."
Biluo's eyes suddenly reddened, and crystal-clear green tears hung beneath her bright green eyelashes. Anxiety consumed her.
"Young Master, I'll go look for her immediately!"
With a leap, Biluo transformed into a streak of green shadow and vanished. Hovering mid-air, she swept past pavilion after pavilion, gazing earnestly into every single place.
"Young lady, where are you?"
Ming Xuan suddenly clenched his fists, his stern brow furrowed in a deep scowl. Consumed by burning anxiety, he bolted out of the grand hall and searched frantically.
Meanwhile, Chen Liushang, having fled the Trial Ground, had wandered off to the base of an old tree elsewhere and started acting wildly from the alcohol.
"Good wine, good wine! Old tree, would you like a drink?"
With a flushed face and a glowing, childlike complexion, Chen Liushang giggled drunkenly as she hugged the ancient tree outside the Cultivation Hall. Babbling incoherently, she prepared to splash her Liúlí wine onto the tree trunk.
Suddenly, a flurry of blossoms fell from the old tree, and Chen Liushang sank into a half-drunken sleep right beneath its roots.
Even in her sleep, her lips kept murmuring a single name: "Liuxian."
"Young lady, are you alright?"
With a flash, Ming Xuan rushed forward and caught the drunken Chen Liushang. He looked anxiously at her flushed face, his heart gripped by worry.
"Liuxian... Liuxian... Liuxian, you've come to find me again..." She muttered continuously, alcohol staining the corners of her lips in a dazed stupor.
"Hmm? Who is Liuxian?" Baffled, Ming Xuan and Biluo quickly carried her back to her room.
As Ming Xuan cradled her in his arms, Chen Liushang felt a sudden wave of warmth. She fluttered her slightly red, Liúlí-colored eyes open and babbled drunkenly:
"This master permits it, this master permits it. Qingchan... Qingchan..."
Her flushed face lightly slapped against Ming Xuan's stern and anxious cheeks.
With a worried expression and a trace of doubt in his heart, Ming Xuan asked, "Permits what? What master?"
Feeling quite helpless, he scooped up the half-intoxicated Chen Liushang and hurried back.
Before long, the three of them reached the chamber. Ming Xuan gently laid her on the bed and looked down at her with a helpless expression.
"She's so heavy! What kind of person is this girl? She can really drink." Though exasperated, a hint of tenderness tugged at his heart; he couldn't bear the thought of her disappearing from before his eyes.
"Biluo. Biluo."
"Young Master."
Biluo walked briskly into the hall, thoughtfully carrying a cup of sobering tea.
"Young Master, the sobering tea."
Ming Xuan lifted Chen Liushang, whose face was still tinged with red, and slowly helped her drink the tea. Pulling a thoroughly unwilling expression, Chen Liushang glanced at the brew, finding it utterly foul-tasting. Making a face of stubborn defiance, she babbled drunkenly, "I'm not drunk! I'm not drunk! Do you have any idea what I'm drinking? This is my, the Spirit Lord's, demon-repelling wine! Hahahaha..."
Seeing her like this, Ming Xuan and Biluo concluded that she was merely spouting nonsense because she was utterly plastered.
Ming Xuan snatched the cup of sobering tea and carefully coaxed her into drinking it down.
"Young Master, that's enough. The young lady doesn't like drinking this."
Standing beside Chen Liushang with a worried look, Biluo spoke softly.
"Very well then. Take good care of her..."