In the northwest of Yang Province lies a vast expanse of winding mountain ranges. Towering peaks pierce the clouds, rich spiritual qi fills the air, and mist swirls everywhere, creating a scene straight out of a fairyland.
This is where the renowned great power of Yang Province, the Azure Dragon Sect, stands.
After stepping out of the teleportation array, Lin Xiao and Bi Zhuang spent another two days flying before finally reaching the sect.
From afar, an area spanning several thousand li was shrouded in thick mist, making it impossible to see clearly.
The moment they entered the mist, several figures flew over to intercept them. Only after Bi Zhuang showed his token and explained their purpose were they allowed to pass.
It was not until they had flown roughly two or three thousand li deeper that rows of palace buildings finally came into view, perched atop a mountain peak.
Along the way, three separate groups came to question them. Upon learning it was Bi Zhuang, all let them through without further ado.
“The Azure Dragon Sect has nine branches. We belong to the Ninth Branch,” Bi Zhuang said, pointing to the right. “That’s our Ninth Branch over there.”
With that, he led Lin Xiao towards a cluster of buildings on a mountain peak to the front right.
At that moment, several young men and women stood in front of the palace. They appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, still very young, and were discussing cultivation insights and sparring with one another.
When they saw Bi Zhuang and Lin Xiao approaching, everyone stopped.
The group bowed respectfully to Bi Zhuang. “Senior Brother Bi!”
“Big brother!” A hoarse, slightly rough voice rang out. A woman about 1.78 metres tall and weighing two or three hundred jin came charging over and threw herself into Bi Zhuang’s arms.
Bi Zhuang caught her solidly, but the impact still forced him back several steps.
Even Lin Xiao inwardly winced. This tall, plump woman was Bi Zhuang’s younger sister?
They probably weren’t blood-related, right?
With Bi Zhuang’s short and skinny build, the two of them looked nothing alike.
“Bi Yao, show some restraint. There’s an outsider here, a little brother,” Bi Zhuang said as he set her down.
Lin Xiao winced again inside.
One short and thin called Bi Zhuang, one tall and heavy called Bi Yao; judging by the names, they had to be real siblings.
Still, whether Bi Yao was restrained or not had nothing to do with him, an outsider.
Yet at Bi Zhuang’s words, Bi Yao immediately pulled back, turned to glance at Lin Xiao, and a blush spread across her round face. She lowered her head shyly.
“This is Brother Lin Xiao, an honoured guest of our Azure Dragon Sect. Bi Yao, take him to the guest peak of our Ninth Branch.”
Bi Zhuang gave instructions to Bi Yao, then looked at a young man nearby. “Rong Hongliang, go inform the peak master at once. I’m heading to the main hall now to report on the Domain of Evil.”
“Yes, sir!”
The young man nodded quickly and flew off.
“Brother Lin Xiao, my apologies. I must report immediately, so I can’t entertain you right now,” Bi Zhuang said to Lin Xiao.
“Brother Bi Zhuang, you’re too polite!” Lin Xiao replied.
Bi Zhuang nodded, then turned back to Bi Yao. “Bi Yao, take good care of Young Master Lin.”
“Don’t worry, big brother!” Bi Yao answered timidly, her voice now soft and delicate, a complete contrast to before. As she spoke, she stole another glance at Lin Xiao.
With that, Bi Zhuang shot away towards the left.
“Young Master Lin Xiao, please follow me!” Bi Yao raised her head, half-covering her face with her sleeve, cheeks flushed crimson, and spoke in that same delicate voice.
“Pfft! Pfft!”
Several youths ahead covered their mouths and snickered, but when Bi Yao glared fiercely at them, they instantly swallowed their laughter. Their faces twisted as they tried to hold it in.
Lin Xiao paid it no mind and simply said politely, “Thank you, Miss Bi Yao.”
Bi Yao flew ahead. Despite her size, her movements were incredibly light and graceful, as if her body were not made of flesh but of flowing rainbow silks dancing in the wind. It gave the impression she might float away or start twirling elegantly at any moment.
The cultivation aura she emitted had actually reached the fourth-level Martial Emperor realm.
Given her bone age of only sixteen or seventeen, reaching this level at such a young age meant her talent far surpassed even Bi Zhuang’s.
“Little Brother Xiao, do I look pretty?” Bi Yao suddenly asked as they flew lightly along.
Caught off guard, Lin Xiao could only nod. “Yes, very pretty.”
Bi Yao giggled happily and spun several joyful circles in mid-air. “Everyone says I’m pretty, but Little Brother Xiao is the most sincere!”
“…” Lin Xiao.
He did not feel he had been particularly sincere.
He had seen plenty of beautiful women. Telling a woman who weighed two or three hundred jin that she was pretty did not come from the heart.
Yet to her, it somehow sounded like the highest praise?
Had he suddenly become that convincing?
Or had everyone else been far too perfunctory?
Still, Lin Xiao had to admit that although Bi Yao was large, she was not ugly or unbearable to look at.
On the contrary, aside from her figure, her face was round and adorable, and when she moved, she somehow gave off an inexplicable allure.
It was the kind of feeling that made one instinctively think, “She’s beautiful.”
Only the reality of her body snapped him out of it.
Bi Yao had probably cultivated some special technique or possessed a unique physique talent.
Something like a charm ability.
The thought made Lin Xiao inwardly shudder.
It was hard to imagine what it would be like if someone with her tall, plump appearance tried to use charm arts on another person.
“By the way, Miss Bi Yao, I’ve long admired Senior Long Tutian. May I ask which branch elder he is?” Lin Xiao changed the subject and seized the chance to ask.
Bi Yao smiled shyly. “Of course he’s in our Ninth Branch. Senior Long Tutian is my uncle-in-law. He’s very good to me.”
“If Little Brother Xiao wants to meet my uncle-in-law, I can help arrange it. But he’s currently in seclusion and won’t emerge for a little while.”
“Then I’ll trouble Miss Bi Yao. It would be my honour to meet Senior Long Tutian,” Lin Xiao said gratefully.
He was now certain: Long Tutian really was Bi Zhuang and Bi Yao’s uncle-in-law. If anything came up, he could just tell them directly.
But since Long Tutian was in seclusion, he would have to wait. Revealing his connection now would serve no purpose and might even cause complications.
“Senior Long usually emerges quite soon this time, within a month or two,” Bi Yao replied.
Lin Xiao breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
If it were going to be one or two years, or even several years, he would have to speak up earlier and see if someone could interrupt the seclusion.
Otherwise, he might never get to meet Long Tutian.
“Since Little Brother Xiao is so eager to see Uncle-in-Law, the moment he comes out, I’ll take you to him right away.” Bi Yao slowed down, pointed to a cluster of elegant, towering peaks ahead, and said, “That’s the guest area. Follow me.”
Each peak was crowned with a multi-storey pavilion, restrained yet luxurious, exuding a unique grandeur.
She led Lin Xiao to one of the pavilions and landed in front of it.
“Take the plaque by the door, and this whole peak will be yours while you’re our guest,” Bi Yao explained softly, pointing to the sign hanging at the entrance.
From beginning to end, she spoke to Lin Xiao only in that gentle, delicate voice.
“Little Brother Xiao,” she added, blushing furiously and looking utterly embarrassed, “can I stay with you?”
