152: I'm staying tonight.

Chen Qingxuan was startled awake.

At this moment, Ji Qianyou was squatting by the bedside, her jade-like hand propping up her chin as she seemed to be observing the soundly sleeping Chen Qingxuan. It was unknown how long she had been there.

It wasn't until Chen Qingxuan let out a loud shout that she also stood up in a panic;

But before she could speak, Chen Qingxuan had already sat up. "Qian You, why are you here?"

A hint of guilt flashed in Ji Qianyou's eyes, then she said righteously, "Who told you to wake up so late... I have something to ask you."

Chen Qingxuan didn't think much of it. "What is it?"

"When will my mother be resurrected?" Ji Qianyou got straight to the point. Looking at her Revered Master's current form, she worried about what her mother would look like after being resurrected.

"This..."

Chen Qingxuan was at a loss for words.

In the past, he would have naturally revealed the truth without hesitation and then held her to comfort her as her Revered Master.

But now... he could somewhat understand the feelings of The two women.

It was truly difficult to speak of!

Seeing this, Ji Qianyou was no fool and seemed to guess something instantly. "Did my mother... actually consume the lotus of life or not?"

"Qian You, don't get excited yet."

At this point, Chen Qingxuan could only brace himself and say, "Your mother and Senior Luo's remnant souls are both inside the heavenly phoenix pearl. They are being well-protected now... they aren't truly dead."

"So she didn't eat it?"

Ji Qianyou's mind buzzed.

In an instant, decades of anticipation... turned into empty bubbles.

It would be hard for anyone to accept.

Although his experience last night had caused Chen Qingxuan to lose his usual composure when facing his Beloved Disciple, at this moment, he still braced himself and reached out, pulling Ji Qianyou—who was taller than him—onto the bed. He then gently patted her shoulder with one hand to comfort her.

"Susu and Qingxue didn't lie to you on purpose. Just like the Madam back then, they were only afraid you wouldn't be able to accept it. This kind of thing can only be told to you by me... Although you might hate me right now, Qian You, I can promise you that in the future, I will definitely find a way... at least to awaken their consciousness."

"I..."

Ji Qianyou turned to look at him, hesitating to speak;

Looking at the tender yet mature little Revered Master before her, she bit her lip... and in the next moment, she suddenly chose to release the Secret Technique that maintained her physical form.

Instantly, the originally somewhat strange scene became harmonious and beautiful.

"Qian You?"

Chen Qingxuan's eyes lit up;

Although he didn't know why she had suddenly become smaller, he didn't waste the opportunity and immediately pulled his Beloved Disciple into his embrace.

Although it wasn't like the past where he was big and she was small, allowing him to fully embrace her little body, it was much more natural than before.

At this time, Ji Qianyou raised her small face and said with reddened eyes, "Revered Master... actually, I don't hate you."

"Hmm?"

Chen Qingxuan was slightly stunned;

Looking at his Beloved Disciple's exquisite and beautiful little face, at this moment, it felt as if he had returned to the past.

After confirming that yesterday was just an exception and that his Beloved Disciple was still the same Beloved Disciple, Chen Qingxuan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, revealing a lucky smile.

"Qian You, you really scared me to death. Yesterday, I thought that after several decades... our bond as a master and disciple pair had faded!"

"That's because you..."

Ji Qianyou raised her small face, wanting to say something;

But as the words reached her lips, she lowered her eyes and changed her tune, "I don't like you lying to me... Revered Master, you're not allowed to lie to me anymore."

"Rest assured, rest assured." Chen Qingxuan hugged his little disciple in surprise and agreed repeatedly, "I will never lie to you again; there's nothing left to lie about."

"Mmhmm~"

Ji Qianyou pursed her small mouth and nodded.

At this moment, she also revealed a smile from the bottom of her heart.

Or rather, the emotions suppressed for a day and a night were finally released, making her unable to stop herself from throwing herself into Chen Qingxuan's arms to be affectionate... but today was different from the past.

Chen Qingxuan exclaimed, "Take it easy, Qian You... I'm still a child... my current small body can't handle your roughhousing... you're too enthusiastic."

"Hmm?"

Ji Qianyou raised her blushing little face;

Her long black hair was already messy, scattered disorderly across her pink cheeks and ears, yet it added a touch of adorable charm to her stunning appearance... Chen Qingxuan was momentarily dazed.

Perhaps because the perspective was different; in the past, he had always looked down at his Beloved Disciple. She was cute, but it wasn't as shocking as looking at her at eye level now... "Revered Master?" Ji Qianyou's heart raced under his gaze, and she asked nervously, "Is something wrong?"

"N-nothing."

Chen Qingxuan snapped out of it and said with a smile, "I just suddenly realized... you're even more beautiful than I imagined... I actually never noticed before."

"What?"

Beautiful... Ji Qianyou was instantly stunned.

Such a direct compliment instantly made the young girl blush. "Revered Master is so mean... I haven't changed; I've always been like this."

Chen Qingxuan laughed heartily. "Your mother also said I was mean... Cough, I mean, in the past, I didn't have eyes that could discover beauty... it was my fault."

"..."

Ji Qianyou blushed even harder hearing this;

In the next moment, she suddenly looked up and questioned, "Did you use to fool my mother like this too?"

Chen Qingxuan's expression froze, and he waved his hands repeatedly. "No, absolutely not! Your mother and I were... Qian You, let's not talk about this."

Halfway through, Chen Qingxuan stopped himself in time.

After all, his Beloved Disciple was so resistant to him being with the Madam. Now that their Revered Master-disciple relationship had finally mended, there was no need to discuss unpleasant matters.

Ji Qianyou didn't dwell on it either.

A moment later.

Chen Qingxuan remembered something. "Qian You, where is your Aunt Xuan Ling?"

"Why are you looking for her?"

"I have some things I want to entrust her with."

"Oh, okay!"

...Not long after.

A beautiful figure rushed angrily into the Sleeping Hall; it was none other than Xuan Ling.

Before Chen Qingxuan could speak, Xuan Ling rolled up her sleeves and cursed, "You Bitch... don't think I'll tolerate you just because you look small now... I have no class... I love bullying little brats the most."

"..."

Chen Qingxuan was speechless;

Before he could speak, Ji Qianyou spoke up first, "Aunt Xuan Ling, don't scold my Revered Master... he only asked you because he trusts you."

"He trusts me, so he's sending me to Beiming?" Xuan Ling looked like she was questioning her life and retorted, "I think he's up to no good... always trying to trick me into going to that ghostly place."

"That's where you're wrong," Chen Qingxuan said solemnly. "Back then, I left the divine phoenix sword and other things in Beiming. I must find a chance to retrieve them... if not for my lack of strength, I would have gone myself."

"Then wait until you grow up and go yourself!" Xuan Ling said crossly. "I think you just want to get back at me."

"Why would I want to get back at you?"

"Because..."

Xuan Ling hesitated;

In fact, she had already heard about the confrontation between the master and disciple pair yesterday. It was because of her guilty conscience that she hadn't shown her face until now.

Otherwise, given her past experience of being bullied by Chen Qingxuan, now that he had turned into a helpless young boy... how could she not come to tease him a bit?

"Hmph, wait until I get back... you'll see how I deal with you!"

After dropping a threat, Xuan Ling left in a huff.

The master and disciple pair looked at each other and smiled.

Night fell.

Chen Qingxuan looked at his Beloved Disciple. "Qian You, do you want to go back and rest?"

"Revered Master, I'm staying tonight!"