The competition for favor has begun.

She extended her lily-white finger and pointed in the direction Su Ye had just flown from.

That was the Back Mountain.

Although it was usually deserted, it was also the only path to the other Peaks.

Su Ye followed her finger with a glance, then retracted his gaze, his expression becoming somewhat strange.

He fell silent for a moment, seemingly considering how to speak.

This hesitant appearance, in Lin Waner's eyes, immediately became ironclad proof of a "guilty conscience."

"Aha! Senior Brother, you really are hiding something from me!"

Lin Waner instantly blew her top, tears welling up in her eyes at a moment's notice.

"Waaah... Senior Brother, you don't love Waner anymore..."

"You must have gone out to hook up with some other little vixen..."

"Are the Junior Sisters of Purple Bamboo Peak not enough to satisfy you anymore..."

Seeing that this girl was about to start a flood again, Su Ye sighed helplessly.

It seemed that without some heavy-hitting news, he wouldn't be able to suppress this jealous brat.

"Alright, stop wailing."

Su Ye reached out and pinched her baby-fat cheeks, pulling slightly to stop her crying.

"I went to pick someone up."

"Pick someone up?"

Lin Waner blinked her eyes, teardrops still hanging from her eyelashes, her face full of confusion.

"Pick who up? Is there anyone else from our Purple Bamboo Peak outside?"

Su Ye looked at her adorable, dazed appearance, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly into a mysterious smile.

"What do you think?"

"Aside from the Second Junior Sister who is still out training in the Endless Sea, which other little ancestor of our Peak has been wilding outside all this time?"

Hearing this, Lin Waner froze for a moment.

Then, as if she had remembered something, her expression changed slightly, her small mouth opening a crack, revealing a look like she had seen a ghost.

"Sen... Senior Brother, are you saying..."

"That's right."

Su Ye nodded, his gaze turning toward a courtyard not far away where the lights had just flickered on, his tone leisurely:

"Your Fourth Junior Sister, Ye Linglong."

"She's back."

The night air was slightly cool, and the evening breeze of Purple Bamboo Peak swept up a few bamboo leaves, which swirled and fell in the air.

"Four... Fourth Senior Sister?!"

Lin Waner's voice suddenly rose an octave, her originally soft and sweet voice now carrying a distinct tremor, like a cat that had its tail stepped on, her fur practically standing on end.

To others in the Taichu Holy Land, these three words might just mean that hot-tempered, exceptionally talented favored daughter of heaven.

But to Lin Waner, this name was no different from a bolt from the blue, ten times more terrifying than Su Ye's sudden appearance behind her just now!

Her large, watery eyes were now wide and round, staring fixedly at Su Ye with a look as if she were seeing a devil who had just announced the end of the world.

"Senior Brother... you... you're not joking, right?"

Lin Waner swallowed hard, her slender hands instinctively clutching the lapels of Su Ye's robe, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"That... that little... uh, Fourth Senior Sister, she's really back?"

She had originally wanted to say "that little witch," but when the words reached her lips, her survival instinct forced her to swallow them back down.

After all, the psychological shadow that Fourth Senior Sister had left on her was simply too great.

Su Ye looked down at the little Junior Sister in his arms, who was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, the playful smile at the corner of his mouth growing even more pronounced.

He reached out and unhurriedly helped her tidy up the stray hairs at her temples that had become messy from the shock, his movements gentle yet carrying an indisputable sense of control.

"When has Senior Brother ever lied to you about such things?"

Su Ye's voice was as mellow as wine, sounding exceptionally alluring in the silent night.

"Just now, at the Back Mountain's Lava Cave."

"I not only picked her up but also... well, gave her body a 'thorough' check-up and helped her Awakening her Physique along the way."

Boom—!

Su Ye's words were like a heavy bomb, exploding directly in Lin Waner's mind.

Back Mountain!

Lava Cave!

A lone man and woman!

And then adding a phrase full of suggestive undertones like "checking the body"!

Lin Waner felt her vision go dark, nearly fainting on the spot.

No wonder!

No wonder there was a faint burnt smell on Senior Brother just now; it was the aura of Earth Fire!

No wonder that beneath the scent of Earth Fire, there was an extremely special fragrance hidden—it was the unique scent of Fourth Senior Sister's Red Lotus Karmic Fire Physique!

That scent was searing and overbearing, yet it carried a soul-hooking fragrance, just like Fourth Senior Sister herself; once tainted by it, it could never be washed away!

"It's... it's over..."

Lin Waner wailed in her heart, her entire body going limp as if her bones had been removed, leaning weakly against Su Ye's chest, her eyes instantly becoming hollow and lifeless.

"The most terrifying rival... is back!"

Not counting that high and mighty Revered Master Yun Yuzhen, who, although having an ambiguous relationship with Senior Brother, was still an elder in name.

Nor counting the Second Senior Sister Ji Ziyue, who was out training all year round and was as elusive as a dragon.

On this Purple Bamboo Peak, Lin Waner's greatest psychological shadow was never the Fifth Junior Sister Lin Qianxue, who spent all day with a cold face, only staring blankly at her sword.

It was this Fourth Senior Sister, Ye Linglong!

Lin Waner's thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to three years ago.

Back then, Fourth Senior Sister had not yet gone down the mountain to train.

Back then, Purple Bamboo Peak was practically Ye Linglong's domain!

That Fourth Senior Sister, relying on her Top-grade Fire Spiritual Root and her Red Lotus Karmic Fire Physique, had a fiery and straightforward personality, and her style of doing things was even more bold and pungent.

She would directly jump onto the Eldest Senior Brother's back in public and have him carry her all over the mountain, calling it "cultivating movement techniques."

When she encountered a Bottleneck in her Cultivate, she would directly slip into the Eldest Senior Brother's Immortal Cave and stay for an entire day, coming out with disheveled clothes and a flushed face, saying the Eldest Senior Brother was helping her "suppress her internal fire."

Back then, the one Senior Brother doted on most was her!

No matter what delicious spiritual fruits or fun Magic Treasures there were, Senior Brother always thought of Ye Linglong first.

Even the acting cute and being clingy that Lin Waner was most proud of appeared pale and weak in the face of Ye Linglong's direct-ball style of attack.

The other woman would directly snatch things, pounce on him to bite, and use her fiery figure to rub against him!

And herself?

She could only hide in a corner, biting her handkerchief, watching them show off their affection with teary eyes.

It wasn't until three years ago, when Ye Linglong's cultivation was stuck at the Foundation Establishment Stage Peak and she couldn't make a Breakthrough for a long time, that she had to indignantly go down the mountain to train to find an Opportunity and suppress the increasingly restless karmic fire in her body.

That day, when Ye Linglong left, Lin Waner almost couldn't help but set off firecrackers to celebrate.

She's gone!

That little witch is finally gone!

Purple Bamboo Peak is finally quiet!

Eldest Senior Brother finally belongs to everyone!

For these three years, Lin Waner felt she had lived her most comfortable days.

Without Ye Linglong's forceful suppression, she relied on the gentle-as-water characteristics of her Primal Water Body, combined with her painstakingly researched "Art of Coquetry," and finally succeeded in rising to the top.

She became the most intimate little companion by Senior Brother's side.

She could massage his shoulders and pound his legs when he was tired from training.

She could use her soft voice to coax him and make him happy when he was in a bad mood.

Even on certain dark and windy nights, with Senior Brother's half-willingness, she could enjoy some shy "special tutoring."

She originally thought these happy days would continue forever.

As for that Fifth Junior Sister Lin Qianxue?

Humph, she's just a block of wood!

Although she's beautiful and praised by outsiders as some "Ice Mountain Goddess," in Lin Waner's eyes, how could such a stiff and cold woman understand a man's heart?

Every time Senior Brother saw Lin Qianxue, it was either instructing her in sword techniques or instructing her in sword techniques; even a smile was rarely seen.

So, Lin Waner had never taken Lin Qianxue seriously.

She always felt that she was the "Empress" of Purple Bamboo Peak... uh, of course, provided the Revered Master was not present.

But now!

That nightmare-like figure is back!

Moreover, from what Senior Brother said, she not only came back but also awakened her Physique, and as soon as she returned, she had a "sincere and open meeting" with Senior Brother in the Lava Cave!

"This is simply cheating!"

The grievance in Lin Waner's heart was about to overflow like a river.

She felt her status was facing an unprecedented challenge.

Before, Fourth Senior Sister was already so favored; now that she has awakened a Saint-rank Physique and become even stronger, wouldn't she just ride over her head and look down on her?

Furthermore, the Red Lotus Karmic Fire Physique... women with that kind of Physique, she heard they are especially... especially proactive and passionate in that area, like a raging fire that can burn away a man's soul.

Then look at herself.

Primal Water Body.

Water... although gentle, although inclusive, although it can nourish things silently.

But where is water as stimulating as fire? Where is it as intense as fire?

Senior Brother is a normal man; he must surely prefer that kind of passionate feeling, right?

At the thought of Senior Brother being pestered by Fourth Senior Sister every day, running to that Lava Cave every day, and leaving her neglected in her cold Immortal Cave, Lin Waner couldn't help but feel a surge of sorrow.

"Waaah..."

This time, she was really crying.

Tears fell like pearls from a broken string, pitter-pattering down, instantly soaking the lapels of Su Ye's robe.

"Senior Brother... you're biased..."

Lin Waner buried her face in Su Ye's chest, crying so hard she looked like a pear blossom bathed in rain, her shoulders twitching, looking incredibly pitiful.

"You must be tired of Waner..."

"Tired of Waner not being passionate enough... tired of Waner only knowing how to cry..."

"Waaah... Fourth Senior Sister is so powerful, her figure is so good, and she can play with fire... what does Waner have to compete with her..."

Su Ye looked at the little Junior Sister in his arms, who was about to cause a flood, with a mix of amusement and helplessness.

This girl's train of thought was as peculiar as ever.

However, hearing her mutterings filled with thick jealousy and a sense of crisis, Su Ye didn't feel annoyed; instead, a strange sense of satisfaction rose in his heart.

As a man, who wouldn't want their women to be jealous over them?

Especially seeing his usually soft and weak little Junior Sister showing this kind of protective-beast-like appearance to fight for his favor; it really had a unique cuteness.

" Okay, okay， It's getting more and more outrageous.."

Su Ye reached out and gently patted Lin Waner's back, as if soothing a startled kitten.

With his movement, the Supreme Bone vibrated slightly, and a gentle, warm spiritual energy flowed from his palm into Lin Waner's body.

This spiritual energy contained a trace of Pure Yang Qi, instantly dispersing the stagnation of Qi and blood caused by Lin Waner's emotional agitation.

That warm feeling allowed Lin Waner's originally panicked and cold heart to settle down slightly.

She looked up, her small face covered in tear tracks still filled with grievance and accusation.

Her eyes, washed by tears, were as clear as a pool, reflecting Su Ye's helpless, smiling face.

"Who said I was tired of you?"

Su Ye lowered his head, his forehead gently pressing against hers, their noses touching, their breaths intertwining.

Such close proximity caused Lin Waner's originally pale face to instantly flush with a layer of crimson, and even her crying stopped, with only an occasional hiccup remaining.

"You are water, and she is fire."

Su Ye's voice was deep and magnetic, as if carrying some kind of magic that could strike the softest part of one's heart.

"Fire may be intense, but without the nourishment of water, it will ultimately be a flash in the pan, or even lead to self-immolation."

"While water, though weak, can embrace all things and nourish the heart."

As he spoke, Su Ye's finger gently brushed over Lin Waner's porcelain-like cheek, finally resting on her ruby-red lips, lightly stroking them.

"Junior Sister Waner, your Primal Water Body is the world's top cauldron... cough, auxiliary Physique."

"That kind of silent, nourishing gentleness, that coolness that can embrace all my violent aura, is something no one else can replace."

"Really?"

Lin Waner blinked her eyes, her long eyelashes still carrying crystalline teardrops, her gaze shimmering with a light of hope.

She sniffled and asked somewhat uncertainly:

"Senior Brother... you really won't stop liking Waner just because Fourth Senior Sister is back?"

"Of course not."

Su Ye chuckled and gave her perky nose a light flick.

"Not only not, but on the contrary..."

He deliberately dragged out the end of his sentence, a mischievous light flashing in his eyes.

"On the contrary, what?" Lin Waner asked eagerly.

"On the contrary, I feel that tonight's Junior Sister Waner is exceptionally cute."

Su Ye leaned into her ear and whispered in a low, wicked voice:

"Especially the way you were peeking through the door crack just now, and your current look of being so jealous you're crying..."

"It really makes me unable to resist wanting to... bully you ruthlessly."

"Ah!"

Lin Waner let out a startled cry, her face turning so red it looked like it might drip blood.

Ashamed and indignant, she buried her head in Su Ye's chest, her two small hands clenched into fists, lightly pounding his chest a few times.

"Senior Brother is so bad! You only know how to bully me!"

Although she said so, the heavy stone in her heart had finally landed.

Good.

Senior Brother was still that same Senior Brother.

Although Fourth Senior Sister had returned and the threat of that "Devil King" still existed.

But at least for now, Senior Brother still doted on her.

As long as Senior Brother was still willing to coax her and say these shy, sweet words to her, it meant she still had a place in his heart.

However... Lin Waner secretly peeked her eyelids up, glancing at Su Ye's well-defined jawline, and made a firm decision in her heart.

No!

I can't let my guard down!

That little vixen Fourth Senior Sister has many tricks; I absolutely cannot just sit and wait for death!

Since I can't beat Fourth Senior Sister in being "hot" and "proactive," then I must achieve the ultimate in "gentleness" and "consideration"!

I must make it so Senior Brother cannot leave my water!

I must make it so that as soon as Senior Brother feels hot, he only wants to find me, this clear spring, to cool down his fire!