It was already nine in the evening when Chu Huaian returned to the Hua Xia Sect.
At this moment, the Hua Xia Sect was brightly lit, with luminous pearls hanging on both sides of the roads, leading to every corner.
In the central square, people flowed like a tide, many players setting up stalls on the spot, their shouts echoing continuously.
In front of a cold drink shop, Chu Huaian saw Luo Xi and Xu Miao sitting together, chatting happily.
Xu Miao had changed a lot during this time; first, her attire: she wore light blue jeans and a loose knitted sweater.
Her face had light makeup, and two small pendants hung from her ears, giving her the appearance of a sophisticated urban woman.
Anyone who didn't know might have thought she was from Blue Star.
When Chu Huaian walked over, everyone stood up and greeted him.
"You're back so soon?" Xu Miao was slightly surprised.
She had witnessed the changes in the Hua Xia Sect during this period, and her initial shock at everyone's cultivation had now turned into numbness.
She knew that Chu Huaian had led the group to the Hehuan Sect and wasn't worried about their safety; she just didn't expect them to return so quickly.
Chu Huaian nodded gently, pointed behind him, and said to Luo Xi, "Fang Yuan brought back a Hehuan Sect woman whose soul is damaged. Go take a look."
"Okay." Luo Xi nodded and got up to leave.
"Xiao Xiao, there are a few new female disciples. Go arrange them."
"Alright!" Jiang Xiaoxiao skipped away.
"Xia Ling, go play with your Senior Sister Qinghan."
"No, Senior Sister Qinghan is so cold. I don't want to play with her."
Xia Ling hugged the Flower-Patterned Lightning Leopard in her arms, her feet swinging back and forth on the stone stool, a cup of beast milk in her hand.
"Then go find Sun Yiyi and the others."
"Okay!"
This time, Xia Ling agreed quickly, jumping off the stool and happily running away with the Flower-Patterned Lightning Leopard in her arms.
After sending the three away, Chu Huaian sat down in front of Xu Miao.
"What do you want to drink? I'll order it for you." Xu Miao showed a faint smile.
"Then I'll have a fruit milk tea, less ice, half sugar, thank you."
"Oh, right, there will be two more guests later. Add two more cups."
Xu Miao looked puzzled but still stood up to order.
Looking at Xu Miao's graceful figure, Chu Huaian smiled knowingly; indeed, Blue Star's attire looked more comfortable.
Soon, the milk tea was ready and placed in front of Chu Huaian.
Chu Huaian took a big gulp, then slowly began, "Not planning to go back?"
A gentle breeze blew, and strands of her hair fluttered in the wind.
Xu Miao reached out and tucked the hair on her face behind her ear, softly saying, "I have to go back, Senior Brother Chu. Can you spare the Falling Cloud Sect?"
"No." Chu Huaian leaned casually on the chair, speaking indifferently.
Xu Miao's eyes dimmed slightly, and she continued with reluctance, "I can stay here forever and help you manage the sect, just please spare the Falling Cloud Sect. Is that not possible either?"
"No."
"What will it take for you to agree?"
"I will definitely eradicate the Falling Cloud Sect, there's no doubt about that. If you can't bear to see your sect destroyed, then stay here. Become a Hua Xia Sect disciple, and you can use those secret realms to improve your cultivation."
Xu Miao didn't answer. She liked it here, she liked the freedom, she liked the life, and she especially liked the disciples here.
There was no scheming, no class hierarchy, only pure joy.
Of course, Chu Huaian was also here.
But she was a Falling Cloud Sect disciple; she couldn't bring herself to betray her sect.
Just then, two figures descended from the sky, landing beside the two.
Seeing the newcomers, Xu Miao immediately frowned, "Liu Meiqing? What are you doing here?"
Liu Meiqing glanced at Xu Miao, then looked at the composed Chu Huaian, "Is this the sect you created? Are all these people your disciples?"
Chu Huaian didn't answer, pointing to the stools on either side and saying, "Sit."
"Where's Meng Ke'er?" Min Hong didn't sit down but released her divine sense, wanting to survey the entire Hua Xia Sect.
However, as soon as she made a move, she was immediately bounced back by a mysterious force.
"Don't mess around. If you accidentally trigger the formation and die, don't blame me." Chu Huaian said indifferently.
Min Hong hesitated, then transmitted, "Where are Fang Yuan and Meng Ke'er?"
"Meng Ke'er is receiving treatment, and Fang Yuan won't be back for three days."
"He's really not dead?"
"That was just one of his clones. But with the clone dead, he suffered a backlash. He'll come out once his healing is complete."
As expected, that kid Fang Yuan wasn't dead.
A hint of glee flashed in Min Hong's heart. She immediately stopped being polite, sat down on the chair, looked at the drink in front of her, and took a curious sip.
Not bad.
Min Hong smacked her lips twice and took another sip.
"Chu Huaian, you still haven't answered my question." Liu Meiqing frowned and scolded.
Before Chu Huaian could speak, Xu Miao on the side suddenly snorted coldly, "Why should Senior Brother Chu answer you?"
"Xu Miao, are you also a disciple of the Hua Xia Sect?"
"No."
"If not, why are you interjecting? I'm asking Chu Huaian. Did I ask you?"
"You, a Hehuan Sect disciple, ran to the righteous path. Aren't you afraid you won't be able to go back?"
"You can try!"
"It's a good chance to see what's so different about the Saintess of the Hehuan Sect!"
Bang! The table shattered.
Chu Huaian and Min Hong immediately protected the milk tea in front of them and moved their chairs to sit a short distance away.
The surrounding players were attracted by the sound and rushed over to watch.
The two women quickly ascended into the air, and after a brief exchange, they landed back on the ground.
"I've already bought melon seeds and drinks, and set up my small stool. Why aren't they fighting anymore?"
"Exactly, exactly! It's rare to see some excitement, keep fighting!"
"Fight! Kill one, count one!"
Seeing the two stop, the surrounding players immediately became displeased and began to clamor.
Liu Meiqing's gaze swept over the players, and she suddenly noticed that several of them had unusual auras.
"Pure Yang Physique?"
"Extreme Yin Physique?"
These were the physiques that the Demonic Sect had always been searching for, and she hadn't expected them to appear here simultaneously.
Before she could be surprised for two seconds, a sharp sword intent from the crowd immediately caught her attention.
"Innate Sword Embryo!"
"The one next to him seems to be the Desolate Sacred Body!"
"The woman behind is... the Profound Ice Sacred Body!"
Liu Meiqing's figure froze, and she stared blankly at Chu Huaian.
"Master, Master! Sun Yiyi and Sun Yichen said they're going to drug Senior Sister Qinghan tonight and throw her into your room. They even told me to drug you too!"
Just then, Xia Ling ran to Chu Huaian, startled, and tattled.
"Oh no, that dead girl sold us out!"
In the crowd, the Sun Yiyi sisters secretly cursed and tried to slip away.
"Sun Yiyi, Sun Yichen!" A cold voice rang out.
The surrounding air instantly dropped to zero, and countless ice blades simultaneously blocked Sun Yiyi's path.
"Ahem, well... Senior Sister Qinghan, hear me out..."
"You all wait a moment, I'll be right back." Chu Huaian stood up, walked in front of Sun Yiyi, and without a word, picked her up and left.
"Senior Brother Chu, go easy on them." Xu Miao said with some worry.
After a while, screams echoed from the entrance of the main hall.
Liu Meiqing swiftly moved in front of Xia Ling, picked her up, and said softly, "Little sister, what's your name?"
"My name is Xia Ling. Sister, your eyes are so pretty, they're purple."
"As expected of the Chaos Body, she can even resist my charming eyes." Liu Meiqing murmured.
"Xia Ling, would you like to come with me? I can give you lots and lots of spirit stones, and lots and lots of cultivation techniques. Anything you want, I can give you."
"Sister, where are you taking me?" Xia Ling looked at Liu Meiqing with innocent wide eyes.
"To the Demonic Sect, to the Demon God Sect, to become a Saintess, how about that?"
"Oh, I understand. You're trying to kidnap me, aren't you?"
"No, you've misunderstood what I mean." Liu Meiqing immediately shook her head in denial.
"Liu Meiqing, what are you trying to do?!" Xu Miao flew over, trying to snatch Xia Ling away.
Liu Meiqing reached out to block, "Mind your own business!"
"Give Xia Ling back to me!"
"Elder Min, quickly take this child back to the Demonic Sect!"
Liu Meiqing said, casually tossing Xia Ling to Min Hong.
Min Hong was leisurely drinking milk tea at this moment, when suddenly, a little girl and dozens of gleaming swords and blades appeared in her arms.
Min Hong's expression stiffened. She put Xia Ling on the ground and forced a smile, "Don't be impulsive, I'm just here to watch the show."