Their handiwork, it must be said, was quite good.
Everyone at the table ate their fill, completely satisfied.
Not long after breakfast, someone knocked on the gate of the small courtyard.
With no servants available, Yuan Hao simply went to open the door himself.
A moment later, Shen Xiaoyan and the others saw Yuan Hao return, accompanied by the long-unseen Elder Mu.
Elder Mu greeted everyone in the room with a smile, and finally looked at Yuan Heng with excitement, his lips trembling, unable to speak.
Yuan Heng was clearly very emotional as well, his stern eyes already reddened.
Fortunately, he had a hearty disposition. With a whoosh, he stood up and strode to Elder Mu's side, extending his hand and punching him lightly on the chest.
Hearing the muffled thud, Shen Xiaoyan felt as if her own shoulder had been sharply pierced, causing intense pain.
She leaned close to Zheng Wei's ear and whispered, "Is this how men greet each other, with such violence?"
If they were young men, perhaps it would be understandable. But both of them were already quite old. To see such a blow exchanged within the room...
Yuan Heng was still strong and healthy; one could only imagine the force of his blow. She wondered if Elder Mu could withstand it.
As Shen Xiaoyan was lost in thought, she heard Yuan Heng say indignantly.
"Yan Yatou is too heartless. I treat her so well, but look at her – her every thought is of you, you old fossil."
He was speaking to Elder Mu.
Elder Mu, however, seemed unfazed by being called an old fossil by Yuan Heng, instead showing immense joy on his face. "I think you're simply envious and jealous."
After speaking, he stroked his beard and suddenly let out an 'oh' of realization.
"I know why Yan Yatou doesn't like you. Was it because you dragged them out of bed early this morning again, making them practice boxing with you?"
Shen Xiaoyan looked at Yuan Heng at his words and saw a rare hint of shyness on his face.
But despite his shyness, he still said stubbornly, "So what? I'm doing it for their own good. They're all young, and their time is being wasted sleeping. I'm looking out for them! Who knew these brats would be so unappreciative of my efforts? They don't understand my intentions at all."
His speech was quite dramatic, making Shen Xiaoyan and the others feel a bit embarrassed.
After all, no matter what, Yuan Heng was acting for their benefit, driven by a fatherly affection. If they didn't accept it, they would truly be unfeeling.
However, unexpectedly, Elder Mu suddenly spoke, his tone full of disdain.
"Hmph, you shameless old man, don't flatter yourself. You've had this habit of practicing boxing every morning since you were a child. You'd grab anyone and make them practice with you. Now you dare to put on a righteous front and praise yourself? I think you're becoming more shameless with age."
Shen Xiaoyan and the others finally understood. So, they had been tricked!
Yuan Heng had been playing the emotional card just now, and it was laughable that they had all fallen for it.
Shen Xiaoyan felt like crying.
For some reason, ever since arriving at the Holy Spirit Continent, she felt that her intelligence was often negative. This was truly not a good sign!
Elder Mu and Yuan Heng hadn't seen each other for many years, and they had a lot to catch up on.
But the problem was, if they wanted to talk, why did they have to keep the others from leaving?
They really didn't want to be third wheels, did they?
It would have been so wonderful if the two elderly gentlemen had just taken a pot of wine and some small dishes, eaten from morning till night, and then cried on each other's shoulders until dawn!
But no matter how much Shen Xiaoyan grumbled internally, they still ended up sitting there for the entire morning.
It wasn't until Shen Xiaoyan felt like her bottom had been flattened that Yuan Heng and Elder Mu finally began to wind down their conversation.
Shen Xiaoyan watched the two men fall silent, but she didn't feel happy.
Because during that morning, she had experienced several instances where it seemed like the conversation was about to end, only for them to start talking again.
Having been tricked so many times, she naturally became cautious, unwilling to be fooled again.
Fortunately, heaven was not unkind to her. Perhaps her silent pleas were finally heard. Just as the two were about to embark on a new round of discussion, it was time for lunch.
After lunch, Shen Xiaoyan and the others still couldn't leave.
Shen Xiaoyan rubbed her ears, which were about to develop calluses, and decided to unleash her ultimate move.
However, before she could make any move, a young disciple with a clear and handsome face rushed in through the gate of the small courtyard.
Seeing the approaching young disciple, Yuan Heng's expression darkened.
He knew that from today onwards, there would be countless matters concerning the Medicine Emperor Valley waiting for him to handle.
But he had wanted to relax a little longer. He had said he would deal with the valley's affairs tomorrow and that no disciples were to disturb him today.
But now, it was clear that someone had disregarded his words.
As he thought this, the young disciple had already entered the room and stood in the center of the living area.
"What is it?" Yuan Heng's tone was somewhat displeased. He disliked people who disobeyed him the most.
The young disciple was also clever. Hearing Yuan Heng's tone, he knew that Yuan Heng was likely angry. Therefore, he dared not breathe too heavily and quickly explained the matter.
It turned out that this morning, Bai Ge'er and Long Xuan had gone to find Long Hao to eat. They went to Long Hao's room, but no one was there.
The two assumed that Long Hao had gone ahead to the dining spot. However, when they arrived, they found that Long Hao hadn't shown up.
This had greatly alarmed them.
Afterward, they went to find Wang Dahong.
Although Yuan Heng had instructed Wang Dahong not to manage the valley's affairs anymore, he was still an elder.
Long Hao and the other two's residences had been arranged by him. With one person suddenly missing, he naturally had to take responsibility.
Therefore, he took Long Xuan and Bai Ge'er to search for the person throughout the Medicine Emperor Valley.
But after searching for most of the morning, they couldn't find anyone.
Just as they were about to give up, someone suddenly spoke up, saying that there were two places left to search.
Wang Dahong quickly asked where these two places were. He heard the person say the Valley Master's small courtyard and Xi He's residence.
The Valley Master disliked Long Hao and the other two, so Long Hao naturally wouldn't go to the Valley Master's courtyard.
That left only Xi He's place.
Thinking that Xi He had also saved the three of them before, it was possible that Long Hao had gone to talk to Xi He.
However, to be sure, everyone rushed to Xi He's small courtyard together.
Upon entering the courtyard, they heard a woman's moaning sounds.
There were no monks present, and everyone there was quite experienced.
Just hearing the sound, they knew what was happening inside.
They all recognized the woman's voice as Xi He's.
Although they didn't know who Xi He was with at the moment, given Xi He's status, they didn't dare to cause trouble for her. Thus, they thought it best to simply leave.
But before they could move, they heard a man's voice.
The voice clearly reached everyone's ears, making their heads spin.
Although they didn't know how Long Hao, who was so much younger than Xi He, had ended up in Xi He's bed, everyone was intelligent and didn't intend to disturb their intimate moment. They prepared to leave.
However, just as they turned to leave, they suddenly heard Long Xuan exclaim with grief and indignation.
"Although Long Hao's identity is somewhat unsavory, he is still someone from my Sunheat Sect, and he was assigned to me by my father. Now, without a word, he has climbed into someone else's bed, and an older woman than my father at that! No, I absolutely cannot tolerate this."
After speaking, she rushed into the courtyard before anyone could react.
When Wang Dahong turned around, he only saw her disappearing figure.
He had been relieved that Xi He would at least have set up a barrier, and with Long Xuan's abilities, she shouldn't be able to cause much trouble.
But then, thinking of the clear sounds he had just heard, his eyes widened instantly.