Chu Mingqi used all her patience to softly say to the group, “Demonic cultivators have infiltrated the secret realm.
It’s dangerous everywhere now.
Can I go with you guys?”
“Even though I’m not as strong as you, I can still help in a fight.”
“That’s not necessary.
You’d just slow us down if you joined.
If it weren’t for the sake of the Chuyun Peak Master, I wouldn’t even bother with you.” Li Youxi never cared about saving face for others, especially people she didn’t like—she always said whatever was on her mind.
Wen Jiayin patted Li Youxi’s shoulder.
Even if it was the truth, couldn’t she be a little more tactful? She’d experienced this little princess’s personality firsthand back on the Immortal Boat.
Li Youxi’s mouth was just too much—if she kept talking like this, she’d offend someone to death.
Even if they didn’t expect this little princess to be an ally, there was no need to make her an enemy, right?
“Tch.” Li Youxi stopped talking.
She just couldn’t stand Chu Mingqi’s way of gathering people around her and putting on a show.
It was so fake and disgusting, pretending to be kind while throwing scraps to the outer sect disciples.
If she hadn’t caught Chu Mingqi looking down on the outer sect behind their backs, she might’ve actually thought she was a good person! Just thinking about how she’d been fooled for a while made Li Youxi really annoyed.
Honestly, none of them wanted to bring this little princess along.
Normally, they’d avoid her like the plague.
But now, with the demonic cultivators causing such a crisis, they couldn’t just let a fellow disciple who’d been separated from her group—and just attacked by demonic cultivators—go off alone.
They were worried their teachers would scold them when they got back, and besides, Chu Mingqi hadn’t shown any signs of being dangerous enough to refuse, so they just let her join.
But ever since this little princess joined, the team’s atmosphere had gotten really weird.
Bai Hansu naturally treated her like air, and didn’t get close to the other two either, only occasionally talking to Wen Jiayin and mostly staying silent.
Li Youxi walked right at the front, keeping as much distance from Chu Mingqi as possible.
Zhi Chang’an would answer Chu Mingqi’s questions, but only briefly, hiding what needed to be hidden and never starting a conversation.
It was really hard for Chu Mingqi to fit in with this little group.
Not that she wanted to join them, but she had no choice—she needed their protection to get out of the secret realm alive.
In her eyes, Wen Jiayin and the others were just tools to be used and tossed aside.
She just wanted these tools to work well and protect her when it mattered, so she forced herself to be friendly.
She gave up on communicating with Li Youxi, that muscle-brained idiot, and Zhi Chang’an, the half-demon, was just as stubborn.
What was there to be proud of? Who was it that used to grovel on the ground, wagging her tail and begging? She just got lucky and happened to have a bit of phoenix blood! A half-demon is still a half-demon—who knows if she’s really loyal to the human race? If Chu Mingqi ever got evidence of her colluding with the enemy, she’d make sure to strip off that ugly fur of hers!
On the surface, Chu Mingqi kept her perfect smile, unfazed by Zhi Chang’an’s coldness.
Then… she set her sights on Wen Jiayin and the unfamiliar woman beside her.
From Zhi Chang’an’s words, she learned that this woman was at least late Foundation Establishment stage, very powerful, and had killed several demonic cultivators on her own.
But she wasn’t from their sect—just a rogue cultivator.
But so what if she was strong? Without a powerful sect backing her, she’d have a hard time in the cultivation world unless she was ridiculously lucky.
Chu Mingqi figured this woman wanted to stick with Wen Jiayin’s group because she was eyeing Jingdao Sect.
Whether she wanted to join or get some benefits, Chu Mingqi could give her what she wanted! So this woman should be easier to deal with than the other three.
With that in mind, Chu Mingqi tried to get close to Bai Hansu, immediately revealing her identity as the Chuyun Peak Master’s personal disciple.
Bai Hansu glanced at her coldly, spitting out her name like she had ice in her mouth: “Bai Hansu.”
Chu Mingqi didn’t sense any danger.
Instead, she put on her cutest, most innocent act and kept chattering behind Bai Hansu.
Before Bai Hansu could even frown, Wen Jiayin was already feeling uncomfortable.
She never knew Chu Mingqi could talk so much, and why was she following Hansu around? Couldn’t she see Hansu didn’t want to talk to her?
“Chu… Elder Martial Sister, Hansu likes peace and quiet.” Chu Mingqi was a bit older than Wen Jiayin, so she had to call her Elder Martial Sister.
She thought she was being subtle enough, but Chu Mingqi just blinked her big innocent eyes and asked back,
“Hanshu likes quiet? But she didn’t say anything, and I saw you talking to her before, so I thought she didn’t mind.
Sorry, Hanshu, did I bother you? I didn’t mean to.
Good thing Junior Martial Sister Wen reminded me.”
As soon as she said that, Wen Jiayin’s blood pressure shot up.
So she’s a green tea bitch? Ugh, and calling her “Hanshu-jie”? There were some things Wen Jiayin could ignore, but this was not one of them! Especially when it was this disgusting! Did Chu Mingqi think she was the only one who could act all pitiful?
Wen Jiayin immediately grabbed Bai Hansu’s arm and, imitating Chu Mingqi’s syrupy tone, said, “Elder Martial Sister, don’t be so polite! We’re all from the same sect, no need to thank me.
I didn’t want to say anything, but you’ve been talking nonstop this whole time.
Hansu-jie is just too nice to say anything, but I can’t just pretend I didn’t notice.
Hansu-jie~ don’t you prefer things a little quieter?”
To really get the effect, Wen Jiayin made her “Hansu-jie” as sweet and sticky as possible, her voice trembling with fake affection.
Even she felt gross after saying it! She hoped Hansu wouldn’t throw her out!
Wen Jiayin was sure Bai Hansu would take her side—no way she’d embarrass her.
Wen Jiayin stared at Chu Mingqi, and so she missed the rare sight of Bai Hansu’s ears turning bright red.
“Yes, you’re very noisy.” Bai Hansu followed Wen Jiayin’s lead and said bluntly.
Chu Mingqi’s eyes reddened and she muttered, “Sorry, I’ll be quieter.”
But inside, she was seething with hatred for the two of them.
If she ever got the chance, she’d make them pay for what they said today!
Wen Jiayin saw that Chu Mingqi had finally shut up and let go of Bai Hansu’s arm.
She knew she’d offended Chu Mingqi, but she didn’t regret it.
Once they found her companions, they’d kick her out! Better to keep her away, especially from Hansu! Wen Jiayin guessed Chu Mingqi was trying to cozy up to Bai Hansu for protection, drawn by her strength.
That was normal—everyone wants to avoid danger.
But trying to make herself look better by dragging Wen Jiayin down in Hansu’s eyes? That was just nasty! Wen Jiayin wasn’t going to put up with it! If she tried it again, she’d just tie her up and gag her—as long as she didn’t die, it was fine!
The five of them traveled in an oddly quiet atmosphere.
With no one chatting, they made even better time and reached the edge of the misty area earlier than expected.
From a distance, they heard the sounds of fighting and thought it was a demonic cultivator attack, so they rushed over.
But it turned out to be just two teams fighting over a spirit fruit.
Wen Jiayin’s group had no interest in the ordinary fruit and planned to go around.
But then, someone in one of the teams suddenly pointed at them and shouted, “Here come some more!”
Wen Jiayin frowned.
They’d been careful to hide their presence—how did they get spotted? Wait… Wen Jiayin turned to look at Chu Mingqi, whose aura was a mess and completely exposed.
She was speechless.
“We’re not here to fight over the spirit fruit, don’t worry.”
Normally, that would be enough and the others would ignore them.
But the same person who pointed them out said, “Don’t listen to them! Maybe they’re just waiting to swoop in when we’re both exhausted!”
Wen Jiayin’s group could’ve just left, but now both sides were staring at them! …That person was either an idiot or a demonic cultivator spy! Stirring up trouble just to watch the chaos—did they want to wipe everyone out at once?!
