“Thank you for hosting us, Patriarch Yin. It’s getting late, so we shan’t hold you back any longer.” Lonemoon put down the contract and raised his wineglass to toast the host who was seated at the main seat.

　　“Ah! Huh?” Yin Feng had still been silent, thinking about the unequal contract, yet Lonemoon was already planning to leave.

　　“Let’s go.” Lonemoon pulled Shen Ying to her feet.

　　“Oh.” Having eaten her fill, Shen Ying dusted off her hands and got to her feet. “That, what’s-your-name… thank you. Goodbye!”

　　Yin Feng had no choice but to send his guests off. There was no use regretting. He could only put on a smile and walk his guests to the front door.

　　“Farewell to the two of you, Patriarchs!” Lonemoon cupped his fists and put on his best businessman smile.

　　“Take care, Fellow Daoists!”

　　The few of them were just about to walk to the transportation array. Yin Yuanfei, who had been hovering around Sister Si Yu the entire night, suddenly exclaimed, “Miss Si Yu!”

　　Everyone paused and turned around. Si Yu subconsciously frowned, asking, “Is there anything else?”

　　“This… this…” Yin Yuanfei blushed. He couldn’t bear to let Si Yu go, yet he couldn’t think of any reason to ask her to stay.

　　He was born into the Yin Family and was the son of the patriarch no less. He also possessed a rare lightning-elemental Spirit Root. Having true talent, his cultivation journey had been smooth and he had always been the best disciple. There was hardly anyone who was his match in his sect and even among the four aristocratic families. It was for the first time that he experienced being on the lower hand, and the one who put him in that position was a female cultivator who was at the age when she was ready for romance. Naturally, she had moved his heart. However, she looked frail and was not at all interested in him romantically.

　　“You… you be careful on the way home. First thing tomorrow morning… I’ll go to your small yard to look for you.”

　　“What do you want to come to our small yard for?” Si Yu stepped forward unhappily. She wasn’t that familiar with this man.

　　Yin Yuanfei hesitated and blushed even redder. He nervously scratched his head, then thought of a reasonable excuse. “Well… isn’t the Yin Family going to buy Invincible Sect’s spirit herbs? I’ll… I’ll go down tomorrow to deliver the deposit!”

　　Yin Feng: “…”

　　Xuan Yuanyu: “…”

　　Prodigal!

　　Wow, we still have this silly teammate. Lonemoon celebrated inside his heart. He hadn’t intended to charge a deposit, but now he rushed forward and said, “I’ll get ready to host Young Master Yin tomorrow then.”

　　He did not want to give the Yin Family a chance to go back on their word, so he turned around and rushed everyone away once he had finished speaking. Yin Yuanfei was left standing there, waiting for the group of people to disappear into the horizon. His expression was one of admiration.

　　—————————————

　　Ever since the competition amongst the sects had ended, Lonemoon seemed to have found his new life goal. He made everyone else stay for a few more days in Yin Skycity. Each day, he went out early in the morning and came back late at night, but nobody knew what he was up to. It had been a long time since he threatened Shen Ying with her allowance.

　　Shen Ying was utterly bored.

　　“Sect… Sect Master.” Sister Si Yu suddenly walked into the room. Her eyes were troubled and she was hesitant. “I… I have something to ask you.”

　　“Alright!” Shen Ying was bored anyway. She patted the seat next to her and said, “Sit. Do you want some melon seeds?”

　　“Thank you, Sect Master.” Si Yu respectfully bowed to her and sat down excitedly.

　　“What’s the matter?”

　　“I…” She suddenly lifted her head to look at Yi Qing who was next to Shen Ying, and then she bowed her head in embarrassment again.

　　Shen Ying understood what she had to do. She cleared her throat, saying, “Er… Chef, can you go and prepare lunch?”

　　“Master, it’s not yet lunchtime.” Yi Qing stayed rooted at his spot, glaring at Si Yu. No way was he leaving.

　　“Then can you make some pastries?”

　　“I have already made pastries.”

　　“Then get me some tea.”

　　“The tea in your room is still hot.”

　　“…”

　　The corner of Shen Ying’s mouth twitched. She had no choice but to make it clear. “Just go somewhere else for awhile. We want to talk about female matters.”

　　Yi Qing hesitated, looking wounded. He asked, “Can’t your disciple listen?”

　　“Er…” You’re not a girl. “This is an order. Listen.”

　　“… Yes, Master.” Yi Qing started to walk out, but not without turning back every few steps. Just before he stepped out of the door, he glared at Si Yu coldly. Little girl, trying to steal my master again!

　　“Go ahead. What’s the matter?” Shen Ying asked after waiting for Yi Qing to reach a distance away from the room.

　　“Sect Master.” Si Yu bowed her head. After a moment, she whispered, “In the future… will I never be able to meet Young Master Yin again?”

　　“Young Master Yin?” Who’s that?

　　“The young master of the Yin Family, Yin Yuanfei.”

　　“Oh…” That masochist. So this is a relationship problem. “What’s wrong, you don’t like him?” Ever since the banquet, Yin Yuanfei had been coming up to their sect every single day to look for Si Yu and giving rotten excuses to take her out. At first, he had wanted to deliver the deposit. After that, he said he gave too little deposit. Then, he wanted to pay the full sum…

　　Father Niu really likes this young man!

　　╮(╯▽╰)╭

　　“Young Master Yin… is great.” She lowered her head further. “It’s just that we’re not suited for each other. After all, I used to be a human cauld-”

　　“Little Green!” Shen Ying frowned and interrupted her immediately. “No one can change their past but you can change your future. I think you’re great. You need to think you’re great too so that other people will think you’re great. You must learn to love yourself before you can love others.”

　　“But…”

　　“Sometimes, it’s not good to over-complicate things.” Shen Ying stuffed a pastry into her mouth and continued, “As long as you’re happy, you should do what you want. If he minds your past, then he’s not worth your effort. If you like him, then get together. Otherwise, split up. What’s the big deal?”

　　“… Is that so?”

　　“Of course!” Shen Ying nodded furiously. “I’ve gone through this before. It’s normal for a man and a woman to get together and separate. You just have to learn to take things lightly. We can’t be too inflexible and stubborn. We have long lives ahead of us, so we have to try things out sooner or later. You’re still young and that’s why you’re still struggling with whether you should even like him.”

　　“Sect Master, have you been cultivating for a long time?”

　　“Of course, I’ve been cultivating for almost thirty years.”

　　“Thirty?” Si Yu hesitated. “Sect Master, your words are so deep. I have been cultivating for 60 to 70 years, yet I still cannot fully understand.”

　　“Er…” Shen Ying paused to clear her throat. “Er, you should work harder. When you grow up, you won’t struggle so much with whether you should like a person or not anymore. You’ll be more concerned about whether you should go for him.”

　　“This… is this possible?” Si Yu felt like she was seeing a whole new world.

　　“Of course. Trust me, this is how relationships work.”

　　“But…” Si Yu’s eyes had lit up. “He is the young master of the Yin Family, after all. If I offend him, would it be detrimental to our sect?”

　　“Don’t worry, I’m here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

　　“Okay. You’re right, Sect Master. I understand now!” She had renewed her determination as she said this. She stood up aggressively, saying, “I’m going over right this second!” She immediately walked out the door.

　　“Er…”

　　Wait a moment!

　　Where is she going?

　　What did I just say?

　　(⊙o⊙)