The three of them walked along the small path for no more than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, when they saw a young girl in a goose-yellow dress in the medicinal field ahead, watering the plants with a thin-spouted watering can.
The bright sunlight fell upon her, outlining her in a golden halo, making her face like a peach blossom and her eyes like spring water.
Upon seeing her, Wang Yang immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, "Junior Sister, I'm back!"
Hearing her senior brother's voice, Chi Xiaoxi looked up in surprise, her gaze instantly going blank.
Why was there another girl behind her senior brother? And that girl was holding a little girl in her arms. Could it be…
Chi Xiaoxi threw the watering can to the ground, ran in panic towards the mountain gate, and shouted, "Martial Uncle, Senior Brother, this is bad! Senior Brother has caused trouble!"
Wang Yang watched Chi Xiaoxi flee with her skirt held up, his outstretched arm frozen, a look of bewilderment on his face.
When had he caused trouble?
Xu Yi, on the other hand, felt a sense of foreboding. She glanced at the dazed Xiao Yi, a wry smile on her face.
That junior sister must have mistaken her for a romantic entanglement Wang Yang had gotten himself into outside, right?
The people from the Huofu Sect arrived quickly. In fact, ever since Wang Yang hadn't returned the previous day, they had been uneasy.
Wang Yang had said he was invited to stay as a guest by the Old Ancestor of the Jian family and would return the next day.
However, they had heard that the Old Ancestor of the Jian family rarely kept guests, especially a junior like Wang Yang, who wouldn't warrant such grand hospitality.
But no matter how much they questioned him, Wang Yang refused to say anything. They had been worried sick until now, only to hear Chi Xiaoxi say that Wang Yang had caused trouble.
How could they possibly sit still? They rushed over in a frenzy.
However, upon seeing Xu Yi and Xiao Yi, they too were stunned.
"Martial Uncle Bei, Martial Uncle Nan, let me introduce you, this is…"
Wang Yang was delighted to see the people from the Huofu Sect and immediately wanted to introduce Xu Yi to them. However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Martial Uncle Bei.
"Wang Yang, you have disappointed your Martial Uncle greatly!" Martial Uncle Bei said with great grief.
The seven or eight disciples behind him also glared at Wang Yang with condemning eyes.
Wang Yang: ?
Xu Yi: …
Martial Uncle Nan also looked disappointed. "Wang Yang, Senior Brother once taught you that you must bravely take responsibility. How could you… alas!"
Wang Yang: ???
Xu Yi: …
"No, Martial Uncle Bei, Martial Uncle Nan, what are you talking about? I don't understand what you're saying!"
Wang Yang felt that everything that had happened today was too strange. He had only left the sect for two days, and now he returned to find himself unable to understand their words.
"This… fellow Daoist, please rest assured, we will definitely make Wang Yang give you an explanation."
Martial Uncle Bei looked at Xu Yi with a mixture of guilt and sympathy, and at Wang Yang as if he wanted to tear him to pieces.
Xu Yi saw Wang Yang's wronged expression and knew she couldn't let them misunderstand any longer. She put Xiao Yi down and said with a smile, "Greetings to you both, esteemed Daoists. I am Xu Yi, a disciple of the Xuanji Sect. This is Xiao Yi, a disciple of the Mingyue Pavilion. We were invited by Wang Yang to visit the Huofu Sect. This is our first visit, and we have caused some disturbance. Please forgive us."
Silence. Deathly silence.
The northern and southern Martial Uncles hadn't experienced such an embarrassing situation that made them want to cover their faces and flee for a long time.
Behind them, the disciples of the Huofu Sect had strange expressions on their faces, their brows furrowed tightly, as if they were struggling to suppress laughter.
"Martial Uncles, Senior is greeting you."
Wang Yang couldn't help but remind them when the two Martial Uncles remained silent.
He had finally managed to invite the Senior to the Huofu Sect, why weren't the two Martial Uncles happy? He absolutely could not let the Senior misunderstand.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist Xu."
"Please forgive us, fellow Daoist Xu, please forgive us."
The two Martial Uncles' faces turned red, and they quickly returned the greetings, wishing they could drag Chi Xiaoxi out and beat her.
If it weren't for this unlucky child speaking nonsense, would they have misunderstood?
Chi Xiaoxi also knew that she had misunderstood. She quietly shrank to the back of the group, not daring to show her face, but her eyes were fixed on Xu Yi, who was conversing with the two Martial Uncles.
So, she was Senior Xu. She was so beautiful and had such an imposing presence.
Ever since Chi Xiaoxi heard Wang Yang talk about what happened at the Alliance of Heavenly Masters exchange meeting, she had developed an immense liking for Xu Yi and had been looking forward to meeting her.
Today, her wish was fulfilled, and she felt that Xu Yi was exactly as she had imagined.
No, perhaps even stronger and better.
Chi Xiaoxi looked at Xu Yi and thought wistfully, I wonder what kind of flowers Senior likes?
"Fellow Daoist Xu, this way please."
Martial Uncle Bei exchanged a few pleasantries with Xu Yi and led her towards the Huofu Sect's council hall.
Behind them, Wang Yang was surrounded by a group of junior brothers and sisters.
"Senior Brother, you actually invited Senior Xu back and didn't tell us!"
"Exactly, I was stunned when Senior Xu introduced herself just now!"
"Senior Xu is so young!"
"…"
Although the chattering voices were suppressed, they were still clearly heard by Xu Yi and the two Martial Uncles.
Martial Uncle Bei stroked his beard unnaturally, saying somewhat embarrassedly, "Our disciples are unruly, I'm afraid fellow Daoist Xu has been amused."
"Your sect's disciples are simple-minded and honest. I can only admire your sect's excellent guidance."
Xu Yi's praise was not just politeness this time, but a heartfelt sentiment.
Judging from Wang Yang, although the Huofu Sect was not as prosperous as it used to be, they had not relaxed their discipline regarding their disciples.
Thinking of Chi Xiaoxi, who had an excellent affinity with spiritual plants but had never been known outside, Xu Yi knew that the Huofu Sect was worth befriending.
Because the Huofu Sect's current number of disciples was far fewer than before, most of the palaces were left vacant. Only the Sect Master's Hall in the center was in use, and the council hall was located within the Sect Master's Hall.
When Xu Yi and the northern and southern Martial Uncles stepped into the council hall, Wang Yang wanted to follow, but was stopped by Chi Xiaoxi.
Wang Yang was a little anxious. "Junior Sister, if you have something to say, you can tell me later. I need to go in and serve now."
"Senior Brother, I only have one question. Answer me, and I'll let you go immediately." Chi Xiaoxi tightly grasped Wang Yang's sleeve, her face pleading.
Wang Yang had always been unable to refuse his junior sister, so he asked, "Alright, then ask quickly."
"Do you know what kind of flowers Senior likes?"
"Ah?" Wang Yang was stunned, then he really thought about it for a moment and shook his head, "I don't know."
He had only met the Senior twice in total, and they had spent no more than twelve hours together. How could he know the Senior's preferences?
"Then do you know what she likes? Delicacies? Spiritual flowers and herbs?"
Wang Yang stroked his chin, suddenly remembering something, and whispered, "I know Senior really likes eating spiritual fruits. She also keeps a small bug that loves to eat spiritual fruits."
"Spiritual fruits? Spiritual fruits?" Chi Xiaoxi repeated a few times, then turned and ran towards her medicinal field. "I know, thank you, Senior Brother."
Wang Yang shook his head and hurried into the council hall.