"..."
What about those two cedar trees that had been cut down?
Tian Ling'er thought about it for a moment, but ultimately decided not to voice this question. Those two cedar trees were as thick as a wrist, and it would be very difficult for an ordinary cultivator to make the cuts so smooth. Only a master at the Jade Purity Realm Layer 4 or above who excelled in swordsmanship could pull that off.
Zhang Yuan was just a blind man. Even if he knew how to cultivate, he couldn't possibly be at Jade Purity Realm Layer 4! How could he possibly manage that?
Asking would be a waste of breath.
If it were Lu Xueqi from Xiaozhu Peak, there might be a slight chance.
"..."
Zhang Xiaofan fell silent, staring at the Fire-Cooking Stick on Zhang Yuan's back. The more he looked, the more familiar it felt; that connection in their very blood could not be wrong.
Yet...
That weapon wasn't his!
How could he covet Zhang Yuan's weapon? Zhang Yuan was his big brother, and a blind man at that, who didn't understand cultivation at all. Perhaps if he asked, Big Brother would give this Fire-Cooking Stick to him? Unable to suppress the turmoil in his heart any longer, Zhang Xiaofan paused, put aside his shame, and blurted out, "Big Brother Zhang Yuan, you're my good big brother. I really like the Soul-Devouring Staff, and since you don't know anything about cultivation, the staff is useless in your hands. Why don't you give the Soul-Devouring Staff to me? I'm sure I can bring out its full potential..."
Who gave you the nerve?
You're asking me for it directly? Do you honestly think I'll give it to you just because we both share the surname Zhang?
Zhang Yuan paused and shook his head. "Xiaofan, you really are childish. You open your mouth and ask other people for their weapons—do you think people just hand over their weapons like that? Next time you open your mouth, please use your brain first."
"..."
Tian Ling'er fell silent at these words. Originally, she hadn't thought Zhang Xiaofan was childish, but hearing Zhang Yuan put it this way, she really did think Zhang Xiaofan was terribly childish.
Her favorability toward him plummeted straight down.
Sometimes Zhang Xiaofan's behavior truly fell short of a blind man's.
Zhang Xiaofan's face instantly flushed crimson red, and he felt somewhat ashamed enough to die.
Damn Zhang Yuan, why is he calling me childish again? Especially in front of my beloved Senior Sister Tian Ling'er, making me lose all my face.
This made him extremely unhappy.
You're a blind man and you can't even use a weapon, so isn't it normal for me to ask you for it? How did I suddenly become childish? Zhang Xiaofan was furious inside. He initially wanted to have a showdown with Zhang Yuan, but after a second thought, he decided against it. Because he had already guessed what Zhang Yuan would say next: [Xiaofan, why are you so childish? When people won't give you what you want, you pick a fight with them. Are you still a little kid?]
What a demon! The mere thought made Zhang Xiaofan want to fall apart.
Especially right in front of his beloved Senior Sister Tian Ling'er.
"Ling'er. We've been out for a while now, we should head back. If we don't go back soon, Master will worry." Zhang Yuan turned his head, looking at Tian Ling'er with those cloudy eyes, even shamelessly letting his gaze drift toward her chest, looking as open and blatant as could be.
I'm a blind man who can't see anything anyway, what kind of bad intentions could I possibly have?
"Mmm." Tian Ling'er summoned the Amber Zhu Silk and smiled, not feeling at all that there was anything wrong with what Zhang Yuan was doing. He was just a blind man who couldn't see, after all; she shouldn't be so petty.
Seeing Zhang Yuan's actions, Zhang Xiaofan was once again so enraged he wanted to vomit blood. Can a blind man really do whatever he wants? I really want to be blind too.
"Zhang Yuan, get on."
Tian Ling'er gave a light leap, landing upon the Amber Zhu Silk, and thoughtfully lowered its height, coming to a stop right in front of Zhang Yuan.
"Alright, Ling'er."
Zhang Yuan fumbled around, deliberately missing the direction and trying for a moment, simply unable to board the Amber Zhu Silk.
Tian Ling'er looked at Zhang Yuan, furrowed her brow, and then, as if thinking of something, hurriedly reached out her right hand and took the initiative to hold Zhang Yuan's hand.
"Zhang Yuan, over here. I'll pull you up."
Hmph, hmph, hmph...
You're getting off easy.
If it weren't for the fact that you're my savior, I wouldn't let you hold my little hand! "Senior Sister, what about me?"
Zhang Xiaofan asked with a blushing face, feeling utterly depressed and wanting to cry... I'm the one who's injured! Every part of my body hurts, how come nobody is paying any attention to me? Wuu wuu...
"You have hands and feet, get up yourself!" Tian Ling'er said as if it were only natural.
"..." Zhang Xiaofan's heart was thoroughly broken. He decided that in his next life he shouldn't bother being a human; being a human was simply too bitter.
Zhang Yuan walked slowly back toward Xiaozhu Peak.
Though he had already reached the Jade Purity Realm Layer 4, he had no desire to fly on a sword. Because he didn't want to expose his cultivation; right now, everyone thought of him as good-for-nothing trash, and that suited him just fine.
At least it allowed him to see people's true colors clearly.
Who was good to him, and who wasn't.
Everything was crystal clear at a glance.
As soon as they stepped through the mountain gate of Xiaozhu Peak, Lu Xueqi stood there in her flowing white garments, a long sword strapped across her back.
Her chest had blossomed, gradually evolving toward dairy-queen status.
It was only a pity that Lu Xueqi remained somewhat guarded against her, constantly preventing him from witnessing her magnificent splendor.
"Zhang Yuan, your eyes can't see, why didn't you report to your senior sister before going out? How dangerous is that! Don't you know I would worry about you?" Lu Xueqi placed her hands on her hips, her delicate eyes carrying a hint of anger.
Her brows were curved, and her little mouth was pursed high up.
Truly worthy of being a fairy.
Even when she was angry, she looked so pretty.
Zhang Yuan thought to himself.
Yet his heart felt warm.
Although the dairy queen wouldn't let him kiss her or touch her, this care and worry were infinitely precious.
"I went to Dazhu Peak to find Zhang Xiaofan. I forgot to report it. I'll pay attention next time."
"Next time? You're still hoping for a next time?" Hearing this, Lu Xueqi grew even angrier and made to reach out and pinch Zhang Yuan's ear, but felt too shy to actually go through with it.
"Cough, cough... Then there won't be a next time."
"That's more like it."
Zhang Yuan's words left Lu Xueqi immensely satisfied.
The aura of an eldest senior sister sheltering her junior brother was dialed all the way up.
Suddenly.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."
A burst of monkey cries echoed.
A grey monkey stood in the distant bamboo forest, its gaze curiously sizing up Zhang Yuan and Lu Xueqi.
"Zhang Yuan... this monkey?"
Seeing the monkey that had followed Zhang Yuan back, Lu Xueqi looked somewhat surprised. The surroundings of Xiaozhu Peak were entirely filled with bamboo, which monkeys disliked, and normally no monkeys ever came here. Moreover, this monkey was no ordinary creature...
"Oh!"
"Its name is Little Grey."
"I took a trip to Dazhu Peak, and it just followed me back. By the way, do you have any good food like bananas? It must be hungry." Seeing the Three-Eyed Spirit Monkey trailing right behind him, Zhang Yuan knew he had acquired a spiritual pet. If the Three-Eyed Spirit Monkey hadn't wanted to acknowledge him as its master, it would never have followed him back. Since it had followed him back... that explained a great deal.
"I know... it's a monkey. But... that's not what I wanted to ask." At this point, Lu Xueqi's gaze gradually grew intense.
"Then what do you want to say?" Zhang Yuan asked.
"This monkey is called a Three-Eyed Spirit Monkey. It possesses extremely high intelligence and heaven-defying potential, making it easily one of the very top tier of spiritual pets for cultivators. Furthermore, Three-Eyed Spirit Monkeys are fiercely loyal: they either refuse to acknowledge a master at all, or once they do, they share life and death with them. Give me an honest explanation: how on earth did you go to Dazhu Peak and end up luring a Three-Eyed Spirit Monkey back?" Lu Xueqi asked in disbelief.
"Senior Sister, are you trying to ask how a Three-Eyed Spirit Monkey could possibly take a fancy to a blind man, right?" Zhang Yuan smiled and teased.