"The Divine Revelation Academy is ungrateful!"
Rong Bugui slammed the table in anger, the hard white jade stone table turning into powder.
Elder Liu immediately knelt on the ground, "Sect Master, please calm your wrath!"
Rong Bugui could not calm his wrath.
Previously, they had begged Bai Shengyi to cure Rong Xuelan, causing both the Xile Sect and himself as Sect Master to lose a great deal of face. He still harbored resentment from it!
Furthermore, although Rong Xuelan had recovered and was lively, her temper had become even more irritable and neurotic. She also constantly complained to Madam Rong, making it difficult for him to manage the Xile Sect smoothly during this period.
He was fed up with these two women, but out of respect for Madam Rong, he dared not act rashly. Therefore, he vented all his frustration onto Bai Shengyi, who came from a small place!
A mere young girl with no background, he refused to believe he couldn't make her suffer!
So, as soon as he heard that Qishan Pavilion and Dongyang Mountain's Red Clay Alchemist had taken action against Bai Shengyi, he dispatched Elder Liu. One purpose was to seize the opportunity to humiliate the Divine Revelation Academy and regain his dignity; the second was that he wanted to obtain the Ninth-Rank Snow Lotus Flower.
Did he not know that the old man and the youngster from Qishan Pavilion helped Hong Ni precisely for the Ninth-Rank Hanshen Pill!
But now, all his schemes were in vain.
"Useless!" Rong Bugui kicked Elder Liu.
He showed no mercy in his kick, sending Elder Liu sprawling onto his back!
Elder Liu scrambled to his feet and knelt, "Sect Master, please calm your wrath! Sect Master, listen to your subordinate. That little girl won't be able to gloat for long. When I returned, I just received news that the Jinxia Sect is planning to make a move against that girl!"
He smiled ingratiatingly at Rong Bugui.
Rong Bugui's foot stopped, "Is that true?"
"It's true!" Elder Liu nodded. "You know the secret realm that Miss Yun found? The Jinxia Sect has already leaked the news to the Divine Revelation Academy."
"Qi Fei, you fool!" Rong Bugui cursed. "Is he trying to deal with Bai Shengyi or send her an opportunity? Forget it, his brain has always been dull. If it weren't for Sect Master Li's appreciation..."
Rong Bugui paused, his gaze suddenly sharp, "How did Qi Fei know about the secret realm?"
Back then, Yun Youyue disappeared in the Sanghai Secret Realm, followed by celestial phenomena. Rong Bugui had assumed Yun Youyue was dead and paid no mind. Who knew that a few days ago, Yun Youyue suddenly contacted him again, claiming to have found a brand new secret realm.
Rong Bugui was overjoyed and reported this news to the Supreme Sect just the day before yesterday.
Logically, Qi Fei shouldn't have known so soon.
"This... this subordinate does not know."
"Investigate!" Rong Bugui gritted his teeth. "If it was Yun Youyue's doing, you know what to do."
Elder Liu quickly agreed and hurried away.
Rong Bugui sat alone for a while longer, his expression gradually calming. He put on a loving smile and went to another courtyard.
"Madam, how is Lan'er today?"
Seeing Madam Rong feeding Rong Xuelan medicine, he stepped forward and took the spoon, "Let me do it."
Madam Rong snorted, "You're so considerate now."
Rong Bugui chuckled twice, appearing honest and simple.
However, the moment his medicine spoon touched Rong Xuelan, she screamed and struggled.
"Get out! You slut, get out! I'll kill you..."
"Lan'er, Lan'er, don't get agitated. This is your father," Madam Rong pushed Rong Bugui away, not even noticing the overturned bowl of medicine in his hand.
She hugged Rong Xuelan and gently comforted her. After a while, Rong Xuelan finally quieted down.
Madam Rong turned to Rong Bugui and ordered, "What are you still standing there for? Go and boil another batch of medicine for Lan'er!"
Rong Bugui concealed the fleeting murderous intent in his eyes and looked up, appearing as a loving father again.
"Madam, I see that Lan'er hasn't shown much improvement after taking the medicine for several days. Why don't we invite another alchemist to examine her?"
"Then why aren't you going quickly!" Madam Rong cursed angrily.
Rong Bugui immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes, Madam, please calm your anger."
Madam Rong, however, showed no regard for Rong Bugui's feelings, pointing at him and scolding him unceremoniously, "Useless good-for-nothing! If it weren't for your incompetence, how could Lan'er suffer like this! I don't care, Rong Bugui, you must kill Bai Shengyi to avenge Lan'er!"
A flash of anger quickly crossed Rong Bugui's face, but he soon changed his demeanor and, with a fawning smile, tried to appease Madam Rong.
"Madam, I want to as well. But Bai Shengyi is an alchemist. My subordinates are at most at the Nascent Soul cultivation level. How can they compare to the guards your father left you? Perhaps Madam could help me?"
...
"Attention all sects and participants, this year's Divine Revelation Grand Gathering will continue in ten days. The finals for the alchemy competition are scheduled for the eleventh day, the finals for talismans are scheduled for... The preliminary rounds for martial arts have changed their rules and will begin on the fifteenth. All sect leaders are requested to resubmit the list of participants..."
On the peak of Qianxiao Peak, where the wind seemed to never cease, Bai Qingjiang found her halfway up the mountain. He saw a woman in a deep cyan robe making hand seals, and lines of text appeared in mid-air.
She seemed to favor wearing brightly colored dresses. In the few days on Qianxiao Peak, every time he saw her, she was either in red, deep blue, or orange-yellow, like a brightly blooming flower, radiant and magnificent.
"Father? Are you looking for me?"
Bai Qingjiang's gaze was too conspicuous, like a sigh or regret. Bai Shengyi immediately sensed it.
She didn't ask Bai Qingjiang what he was thinking.
Bai Qingjiang snapped back to attention and instinctively glanced at what Bai Shengyi was holding.
"It's some matters regarding the Divine Revelation Grand Gathering," Bai Shengyi did not hide it from him, but she also did not elaborate.
Bai Qingjiang gave an "Oh" and said, "I mentioned before that I would take you to the Summer Night Plum Blossom Forest. Today is just the right day. Do you have time?"
Bai Shengyi narrowed her eyes and smiled in agreement, "Yes, Father. Please wait for me for a moment, I'll change my clothes and then we can go."
Not long after, Bai Shengyi was ready.
"Father, let's go."
Bai Qingjiang glanced behind Bai Shengyi, where a gray shadow was following discreetly. If one didn't pay attention, they wouldn't even notice someone there.
Bai Shengyi explained, "Master Qinglan didn't allow me to use my spiritual power, so Si specifically sent him to protect me."
It was quite unfortunate. She couldn't use her Reincarnation Brush or Heavenly Mechanism Sword now, nor could she communicate with the Qingshuang Vine. The only thing to be thankful for was that the Qingshuang Vine had been obediently following her, and if she encountered any truly urgent matters, she could still use her mental energy.
Bai Qingjiang couldn't help but ask, "Qin..."
He was somewhat unsure how to address Qin Si.
If he were to call him a junior, his status was rather special.
"You can call him Qin Si, he won't mind," Bai Shengyi seemed to understand his hesitation and resolved the situation.
Bai Qingjiang understood then.
He said gently, "Is Qin Si very good to you?"
As a father, he never trusted those brats who wanted to snatch his precious daughter.
Bai Qingjiang was no exception.