Chapter 476 – My Master Is Not Human – Wherever You Go, I Go (23)
Daoist Jiayi had suffered the devastating loss of his beloved daughter. Overwhelmed with grief, he said to the Grand Elder, “Pei Boyi must be involved somehow.”
The Grand Elder frowned. “Jiayi, I know you’re heartbroken, but before the truth comes out, we cannot falsely accuse anyone.” More importantly, there was the relationship between the Dianxing Sect and the Le’an Immortal Sect. If Pei Boyi really was the murderer, how would the two sects handle it?
The Dianxing Sect had just accepted fifty Soul-Returning Jade Pills from the Le’an Immortal Sect. Taking benefits from them one moment and turning around to condemn them the next—if word of that spread, even if Dianxing Sect was in the right, it would still damage the sect’s reputation.
After the Grand Elder left, Daoist Jiayi suddenly seemed to age several decades. He slumped into his chair in despair, staring blankly into the distance. His eyes were unfocused and frighteningly empty.
After all the disciples had dispersed, Xiao Qiu suddenly returned and knelt before Daoist Jiayi.
“Sect Master, I know who harmed Miss.”
The scattered look in Daoist Jiayi’s eyes instantly sharpened again. He asked anxiously, “Who? Tell me quickly! Who harmed my Zhenzhen?”
Thinking of how kindly Zhenzhen had always treated her, Xiao Qiu gritted her teeth and pushed all the blame onto Pei Boyi, the man Zhenzhen had loved but could never have.
“It was Fellow Daoist Pei. Miss was feeling depressed, so before dawn she went to the back mountain to watch the sunrise and clear her mind. Who would have thought Fellow Daoist Pei would also be there to watch the sunrise? When he saw Miss there, he thought she had come to pester him again. To avoid future trouble, he decided to strike first and harm Miss…”
Xiao Qiu’s story was riddled with holes, yet Daoist Jiayi, consumed by grief for his daughter, desperately needed an outlet for his emotions. On top of that, Pei Boyi had publicly rejected him at the banquet the night before, causing him to lose face. Between a stranger he had only just met and someone who had served his daughter for years, Daoist Jiayi naturally chose to believe Xiao Qiu.
“Pei Boyi… Pei Boyi…” Daoist Jiayi gritted his teeth as he repeated the name. “You harmed my daughter. I swear I’ll tear you to pieces.”
As Daoist Jiayi immersed himself in hatred, Xiao Qiu, still kneeling below, secretly curled her lips into a smile.
In the bustling streets of the mortal marketplace, crowds of people moved back and forth in lively streams. Stalls lined both sides of the road, and the fragrances of all kinds of food mixed together in the air.
The young man had a candied hawthorn skewer in his left hand and a small bag of crispy peanuts in his right, with two strawberries stuffed into his cheeks.
Suddenly, he spotted a stall ahead spinning cotton candy. He hurriedly swallowed the strawberries and turned to the man behind him.
“That… that… cotton candy…”
The man gently touched his hand and took the bag of crispy peanuts from him. Then, as naturally as breathing, he took his hand in his own.
“Come on, let’s go buy some cotton candy.”
Bai Tang was in charge of eating: whenever he saw something he liked, he bought it and ate it. Pei Boyi was in charge of paying, following behind Bai Tang like a little attendant. After leaving the Dianxing Sect, the two of them had not returned to the Le’an Immortal Sect. Instead, they came to the mortal world to wander around and enjoy themselves. They had already been strolling around for two days, and Bai Tang was becoming more and more enthusiastic about it.
True masters were hidden among common people. He had tasted so many delicious foods. Aside from lacking spiritual energy, the flavors were no worse than those found in the cultivation world. Some were even better, making him want to swallow his tongue from how delicious they were.
“Boss, one cotton candy skewer, please.”
“Alright! Young master, please wait a moment.”
Most of the customers gathered around the stall were children. Even the adults there had mostly been dragged over by kids who pestered them into buying cotton candy. As for adults who genuinely wanted some themselves, Bai Tang was probably the only one.
After realizing this, Bai Tang, standing behind the children in line, quietly blushed. There were also passersby glancing at them repeatedly because of their striking looks. Those gazes made Bai Tang feel awkward. Leaving the line felt wrong, but staying in line also felt embarrassing, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to do.
Pei Boyi smiled, took Bai Tang’s candied hawthorn skewer from him, and held onto his hand without letting go.
“I want cotton candy. Tang Tang, buy it for me, okay?”
The man’s voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the people nearby to hear.
The people in front turned around and glanced at them. There was every kind of expression—amazement, confusion, envy, contempt. But their relationship looked pretty clear: Pei Boyi was clinging to Bai Tang, acting spoiled and shamelessly insisting on buying cotton candy. Such a grown man, yet he was behaving like a child.
Pei Boyi accepted everyone’s stares calmly. They weren’t stealing or robbing anyone; they were just lining up to buy something. What was there to feel embarrassed about?
The old craftsman making the cotton candy worked quickly, handing one cotton candy after another to the children in line. Before long, it was Bai Tang and Pei Boyi’s turn.
“Young master, what shape of cotton candy would you like?”
Bai Tang’s moist, innocent eyes filled with curiosity as he asked in surprise, “You can make different shapes?”
The old craftsman laughed heartily. “Of course! This old man has been doing this for decades. As long as you can name it, I can make it.”
“Then could you make a squirrel?”
The old craftsman said nothing and simply moved his hands skillfully, quickly creating a squirrel-shaped cotton candy according to Bai Tang’s request.
“Wow~”
Bai Tang stared in amazement. The squirrel was exquisitely made, lifelike and vivid. You could even see the adorably silly expression on its little face.
“You’re amazing~” Bai Tang praised generously as he accepted it, unable to put it down.
Pei Boyi smiled slightly and handed over the payment. “Thank you for your hard work, sir.”
“Thank you for your hard work, sir~” Bai Tang echoed cheerfully. Grinning, he held the squirrel-shaped cotton candy up to Pei Boyi’s mouth.
“Here. Since you’ve followed me around for so long, I’ll give you the first bite.”
In truth, Bai Tang had selfish motives. He was certain that he liked Pei Boyi. Giving him the first bite of the little squirrel carried a hidden meaning—he was willing to entrust himself to him.
Pei Boyi immediately understood the meaning hidden beneath Bai Tang’s actions. He took a small bite of the squirrel-shaped cotton candy. Whether it was intentional or just a coincidence, he bit off the squirrel’s mouth.
That instantly reminded Bai Tang of the kiss they had shared a few days earlier in the guest room at Dianxing Sect.
“Y-You…”
“The cotton candy is really good. Thank you, Tang Tang.”
Judging by Pei Boyi’s expression, he seemed completely unaware of anything unusual, but Bai Tang’s face had already turned red. Turning his head away, he muttered softly,
“You’re welcome.”
Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. The old craftsman, who had witnessed everything from the side, understood perfectly well. Smiling as he packed up his stall, he said,
“Young people, a little squabbling is fine, but don’t let small things cost you something important.”
There was a deeper meaning behind the old man’s words. Bai Tang looked confused, but Pei Boyi smiled and replied,
“That won’t happen.”
The old craftsman packed up and went home. Bai Tang absentmindedly nibbled on his cotton candy, his thoughts wandering, when suddenly Pei Boyi called out to him.
“Ah?” Bai Tang responded.
Pei Boyi pointed to the spot where Bai Tang had been eating and said,
“This part is especially sweet.”
Bai Tang lowered his head and looked. At some point, he had unknowingly started eating from the place where Pei Boyi had bitten the cotton candy, and he had already eaten nearly half of it.
Wouldn’t that mean…
Wouldn’t that count as an indirect kiss?
At that moment, Bai Tang wanted nothing more than to cover his face. He hurriedly shoved the cotton candy into Pei Boyi’s hands.
“I-I’m going to look around up ahead!”
Before he had even finished speaking, Bai Tang had already run off.
The little squirrel had run away, so naturally Pei Boyi had to chase after him.
On the narrow street, the two men ran one after the other. Their movements were so agile that they didn’t bump into a single passerby. Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought they were martial arts masters and marveled at their extraordinary skills.
Back at the Le’an Immortal Sect—
The Grand Elder brought his senior disciple to the Le’an Immortal Sect. Following proper etiquette before resorting to force, they first sent in a formal visitation card. After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the Sect Master came out to receive them.
“The Grand Elder of Dianxing Sect has come, and I failed to greet you from afar. My apologies.”
The Sect Master’s voice arrived before he did. By the time the Grand Elder and the others turned around, he had only just slowly entered through the doorway.
“Sect Master Siyuan.” The Grand Elder cupped his hands in greeting and lifted his robes as he sat down at the Sect Master’s invitation.
“What brings the Grand Elder here today?” the Sect Master asked with a smile. Inwardly, however, he had already become cautious. These honored guests seemed to have come with ill intentions.
Perhaps the Grand Elder hid it well, because there was little hostility visible on his face. However, the disciple following behind him had eyes full of resentment, and his face radiated killing intent. Even though he tried his best to conceal it, he still could not escape the notice of the Sect Master, an old fox.
“It’s nothing major. I came specifically to thank Sect Master Siyuan and Daoist Heyi.”
The Grand Elder smiled cheerfully, never taking his eyes off Sect Master Siyuan’s face.
“A few days ago, Fellow Daoist Pei Boyi, the prized disciple of Daoist Heyi, came to Dianxing Sect to borrow the Radiant Pearl. Afterwards, Daoist Heyi himself also visited Dianxing Sect, though he only briefly showed himself before leaving. Some time ago, Daoist Heyi disappeared in the Daji Secret Realm, and everyone in the cultivation world has been concerned about him. I wonder, how is Daoist Heyi doing now?”
“You’ve seen He Yi?” The Sect Master suddenly stood up, knocking over the tea beside him.
Seeing that the other man’s expression did not seem fake, the Grand Elder was startled.
“Could it be… Sect Master Siyuan, are you unaware that Daoist Heyi has reappeared?”
A thought crossed his mind. Was Sect Master Siyuan truly unaware, or merely pretending not to know? If he really did not know, then what exactly had Pei Boyi and Daoist Heyi needed the Radiant Pearl for?
The Sect Master was overjoyed.
His junior martial brother had been found. Although he had not returned to the Le’an Immortal Sect immediately, judging from the Grand Elder’s words, his junior brother was currently together with Pei Boyi.
A smile spread across the Sect Master’s face.
“He Yi truly has not returned to the Le’an Immortal Sect. I only learned of his whereabouts today from the Grand Elder. Thank you for bringing us such good news. As for the Radiant Pearl, why not stay at the Le’an Immortal Sect for a few days? Once He Yi returns, you can ask him directly.”
“Then we shall trouble you for your hospitality.”
The disciple standing behind the Grand Elder wanted to say something, but the Grand Elder stopped him.
He turned and shot him a look, leaving the disciple no choice but to suppress his unwillingness and quietly await the Grand Elder’s arrangements.
The Sect Master ordered someone to take them to a guest room to rest. As for himself, he immediately sent a recall order to Pei Boyi and Bai Tang, urging them to return as quickly as possible. As long as the two of them saw it, they would definitely come back.
The good news of Bai Tang’s appearance spread rapidly throughout the Le’an Immortal Sect. The masters of the various peaks rushed out as soon as they heard the news. The entire sect, especially the disciples of Medicine Peak, was filled with joy, as if Bai Tang had already returned safely.
Meanwhile, the two of them, who were still traveling through the mortal world, received the Sect Master’s recall order.
“It looks like our journey through the mortal world will have to be put on hold,” Pei Boyi said.
Bai Tang had little impression of the Le’an Immortal Sect and replied indifferently, “Whatever. If you want to go, then go. I’m not going.”
The mortal world was much more fun. As for the Le’an Immortal Sect, he had no interest in it at all.
Pei Boyi casually said, “Medicine Peak has the freshest spiritual tea leaves. They’re picked at dawn while still covered in morning dew, then brewed together with pine nuts…”
Pine nut tea!
Bai Tang’s eyes lit up. The food in the mortal world was delicious, but his absolute favorite was pine nut tea.
“Fine then.” Bai Tang lifted his chin proudly. “Considering how long you’ve been following me around, I’ll reluctantly go with you.”