482: Chapter 482 Your older sister will teach you all well.

In the courtyard.

Yue Xinlan sat by the stone table, her silver ornaments glinting with fragmented light in the morning sun. Yu Lingshuang stood by her side, the hem of her moon-white skirt lifted slightly by the morning breeze. Huang Yutong and Hua Youyou stood side by side, with Chi Shuying and Tushan Bailing also present.

Yue Xinlan wrinkled her nose, her gaze sweeping over Ling Hao with disdain.

Ling Hao coughed lightly, feeling a bit awkward. "Is this scent... really that strong?"

The corners of Yu Lingshuang's lips curved slightly; she did not step in to help him.

Ling Hao steadied himself and walked over to Huang Yutong and Hua Youyou:

"Ahem, I'm taking Ling Shuang with me. The Moonshadow Sect is in your hands now."

The two women bowed in unison. "Yes! We will not fail the Sect Master's trust."

They understood that this was a test—whether the Moonshadow Pavilion could truly function depended on whether they could uphold the Sect's affairs during this time.

Yu Lingshuang stepped forward and instructed:

"If you encounter matters that are difficult to decide, set them aside and wait for my return to handle them. Also..."

She paused, glanced at Ling Hao, and then looked at the two women. "On the fifth of every month, send a message in the direction of Fusang Province. If there is an emergency, use an emergency transmission talisman."

Huang Yutong and the other nodded, noting it down.

Yu Lingshuang nodded slightly, a hint of gratification flashing in her eyes.

Just then, three small figures came sprinting from under the corridor of Haoran Tower.

"Male Brother—!"

You Ruo was the first to pounce, grabbing Ling Hao's left leg. Her tiger ears stood up, and her eyes were brimming with tears:

"I want to go too! Take me with you, Male Brother!"

Hua Lian followed closely behind, hugging his right leg. Her pink hair fell, and her little face was buried against his knee:

"Brother... don't leave us behind..."

Jin Linger did not hug his leg; she just stood before him, looking up. The water shimmered in her purple-gold slit pupils, her lips pressed tightly together, saying nothing.

You Ruo's tiger tail flicked back and forth anxiously behind her, Hua Lian's long pink hair was a mess, and Jin Linger was barefoot, her tender little feet stepping on the cold bluestone ground.

Ling Hao looked down at the three little ones and sighed:

"You all stay in the Sect and Cultivate well. Follow Senior Sister Xiao He and the others; there will be opportunities later."

Chi Wanhe stood not far away and smiled slightly upon hearing this:

"That's right, don't worry. Big Sister will teach you all well."

The three little ones exchanged glances, but did not let go.

You Ruo blinked her eyes and suddenly said: "Male Brother, we don't have to go. But you have to... you know... do the same thing as those Senior Sisters. Old Ancestor said, little babies..."

Hua Lian and Jin Linger nodded vigorously from the side.

Ling Hao held his forehead and interrupted her: "No. I don't have time."

"How can you not have time? Don't you have the Heaven-Reaching Tower?" You Ruo held onto his leg tightly and wouldn't let go.

Hua Lian also hugged him tighter: "Brother is lying..."

Jin Linger reached out and gently tugged at his sleeve. She didn't use force, but that finger was like a hook that he couldn't shake off.

The three little ones acted spoiled, held his hands, hugged his legs, and pulled his sleeves. With crying, soft words, accusations, and pleas, Ling Hao was so pestered that he finally surrendered.

"Wait for me to return."

He said, his voice filled with helplessness and a smile,

"When I return from Fusang Province, alright?"

The three little ones looked up simultaneously, their eyes as bright as three lanterns.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Pinky swear!" You Ruo extended her little finger. "One hundred years, no changing!"

Hua Lian and Jin Linger also extended their little fingers. Ling Hao bent down and hooked his little finger with their three tiny ones.

"Pinky swear, promise, one hundred years, no changing."

The three little ones broke into smiles through their tears, let go, and ran happily back under the corridor, waving from afar.

Ling Hao straightened up and met Yue Xinlan's gaze directly.

That gaze, how should he put it—

Ling Hao looked back expressionlessly, pretending he saw nothing.

"Let's go."

Three figures took to the air, turning into streams of light, and flew toward the east.

In the courtyard, Chi Wanhe watched as the three streams of light disappeared into the horizon, the smile on her face slowly fading. She turned her head, her gaze falling eerily upon the three little ones.

The three little ones were holding hands under the corridor, jumping happily. You Ruo's tiger tail was held high, Hua Lian's eyes were curved into crescents as she smiled, and even the corners of Jin Linger's lips lifted in a faint arc.

Suddenly, they all shivered at the same time.

That feeling... it was like being targeted by some natural predator.

Chi Wanhe looked at them with a smile. The smile was exactly the same as before, gentle, kind, and amiable—but the three little ones inexplicably felt that something terrifying was hidden beneath that smile.

"You three little ones,"

Chi Wanhe's voice was soft, "Big Sister will teach you all well."

Thinking about such things at such a young age, what will they be like when they grow up?

The three little ones shrank their necks and subconsciously huddled together.

She had said the same thing just now. But why did it sound... so terrifying now?

Chi Wanhe withdrew her gaze and turned to walk toward Haoran Tower. When she reached the doorway, the morning light happened to shine obliquely onto half of her face, while the other half was hidden in the shadows of the swirling spiritual mist.

As if thinking of something, amidst the interplay of light and shadow, the corners of Chi Wanhe's lips slowly curled into an arc, and she whispered:

"Revered Master's first child... can only be mine."

The morning breeze blew past, scattering these words into the spiritual mist.

...

Golden Crow Holy Land, Saintess Peak.

Under the corridor of the courtyard, Saintess Yan Xueyuan stood still for a long time. She turned slowly to face the west—that was the direction of the Moonshadow Sect.

Moon Shadow Sect Master? Can I trust him? She asked herself.

The wind blew through the eaves, and the bells chimed softly.

Saintess Yan Xueyuan shook her head.

No. That Moon Shadow Sect Master is just like those other people; what he surely wants is her own Supreme Dao Fruit.

And a big pervert too!

A female Disciple hurried over and bowed:

"Lady Saintess, the Saint has ordered that you prepare to accompany him to the Fusang land of Tanggu Kingdom in two days."

Saintess Yan Xueyuan lifted her chin, her tone indifferent: "Understood."

The female Disciple received the reply and hurriedly retreated.

The corridor returned to silence.

In the shadows not far away, a figure frowned.

A loose, plain-colored Daoist robe wrapped around her figure, the collar buttoned tightly to under her chin, revealing not a sliver of skin.

Zhu Xuanni stood in the shadows, her gaze lingering on Saintess Yan Xueyuan for a moment.

She felt it was a bit strange; the Saintess before her had her usual arrogance between her brows, her dress was as fiery red as flames, and everything was no different from usual.

But Zhu Xuanni always felt that something was missing—that sharpness in her bones, that touch-and-explode prickliness, seemed to have been quietly dulled by something.

Zhu Xuanni shook her head; perhaps it was just an illusion.