This time, their eyes met, and her pretty face instantly flushed crimson, stammering, unable to speak.
Fortunately, Yi Jiang very enthusiastically introduced herself.
When she started praising her Senior Brother, the two found plenty of common ground, but Yue Ling'er was, after all, a bit weaker and quickly grew tired, snuggling into Yun Ming's arms.
But she didn't want to fall asleep.
Her light blue hair fell by his hand, and Yun Ming gently rubbed the girl's small head as if coaxing a child to sleep; her long eyelashes fluttered, casting a butterfly-like shadow.
Her skin, which was so pale it looked cold, was now very delicate.
With a hint of baby fat on her face, she kept talking about what she had done these past two days, mostly boring topics.
But Yun Ming listened very attentively.
Staying in the mountains was always dull for the girl, so there weren't many new things to talk about. Instead, once Yun Ming started speaking, it was as if he couldn't stop, continuously telling fascinating stories.
It wasn't until Yue Ling'er slowly drifted off to sleep that Yun Ming stopped, turning to slowly ask, "Yi Jiang, aren't you going to find your younger sister?"
"I can't get through, Master is surrounded by people, and Yi Xuan is in Master's arms..."
Yun Ming looked towards Master, and sure enough, the girl was sniffling, having just cried not long ago... clearly frightened.
Xuan Mingzi held her in his arms, while the younger Junior Brothers beside him enthusiastically greeted her; some hesitated for a moment but still gave their snacks to Yi Xuan.
He spoke with the air of a Senior Brother, giving instructions.
"This time, Senior Brother treats you; next time, you'll have to grab it yourself."
Pfft~
Yi Jiang watched her sister's predicament and couldn't help but laugh, occasionally casting a pleading look at her.
Her Yi Xuan was indeed the cutest girl in the world.
Suppressing the urge to go find her sister, she turned her gaze back to the two people in front of her, looking at the girl, who was even younger than herself, with a hint of heartache.
"Ling'er Senior Sister..."
"You don't need to be so formal, just call her Ling'er. She's the youngest child on Yun Kui Mountain. Of course, if you're willing to call her Senior Sister, you'll definitely become good friends with her~"
"Hmm, so Senior Sister has Aether Erosion Syndrome?"
"Our sect has its own methods to deal with it; by now, it won't be life-threatening."
Yun Ming lowered his eyes, pushing aside Yue Ling'er's long hair, revealing scale-like dark green Aether crystals on her slender, swan-like neck.
It was very abrupt... Although the sect had methods for eradication and alleviation, by the time Yun Ming found Yue Ling'er, she was already critically ill, with Aether fused with her body.
Even Xuan Mingzi could only alleviate it; complete eradication might only be possible when Ling'er herself cultivated to the peak of the Yun Zhuan Realm.
"Silly girl..."
He murmured, then turned to Yi Jiang and said.
"Wait for me here for a moment. I'll take Ling'er back to her room. Later, the Eldest Senior Sister will take you to your living quarters. Don't worry... Senior Brother and Senior Sister are both very kind people."
"Mm... Senior Brother is a good person!"
Yi Jiang secretly glanced at Yue Ling'er's sleeping face; it was a very peaceful smile, just like when Yi Xuan slept in her arms.
"A good person, huh..."
A slight smile appeared on Yun Ming's lips. He suddenly reached out and messed up Yi Jiang's already disheveled hair, turning it into a bird's nest.
"Hahaha~ Don't speak carelessly if you can't speak properly. Don't just hand out 'good person' cards to Senior Brother."
"Wait patiently; I'll go find Eldest Senior Sister."
He stood up and walked out, but then heard the girl suddenly call out from behind him.
"Can Yi Xuan and I live with Senior Brother?"
Yun Ming froze for a moment, then turned to look at the pretty, white-haired little girl with a strange expression, "Are you serious?"
Yi Jiang's face flushed; she had accidentally blurted it out.
"I mean, can we live a little closer to Senior Brother?"
Yun Ming readily agreed. This would also make it easier for him to teach these two exceptionally talented children daily. A slight smile played on his lips as he turned and walked away.
His voice also drifted back softly.
"Don't worry, leave it to Senior Brother!"
Hearing this, Yi Jiang obediently sat down leaning against a pillar. She felt that Senior Brother was a bit too easy to trick, achieving her goal so effortlessly.
She also couldn't help but feel that the earlier kiss was well worth it.
Having nothing to do, she turned her gaze to the hall adorned with long cloths. Perhaps they weren't just cloths... Names were written on them, along with dates and locations of death.
They were spirit banners... The north wind howled, and the sound of wind chimes echoed. The hung spirit banners fluttered, as if people were mourning, creating a somewhat desolate atmosphere.
Senior Brother wasn't here, and the cold instantly enveloped her whole body... Alone, it was indeed very cold. I should go find Yi Xuan~
..."Senior Sister, dancing with a sword in the snow on such a cold day, what an excellent pastime."
"You've arrived, Junior Brother..."
The cold gleam of the sword reflected the uniform expanse of heaven and earth. The wind and snow did not touch the woman as she performed her swordsmanship within this small space, like a celestial maiden dancing from the Nine Heavens.
Ye Qingxuan, the Eldest Senior Sister of Yun Kui Mountain.
She was also the dream lover of the Senior Brothers, but unfortunately, Senior Sister, that elder, had told Yun Ming that with her blood feud unavenged, she had no interest in matters of love.
Yun Ming could only wish the Senior Brothers good luck.
On a side note... peeking at Senior Sister meant peeking at her. Of course! It wasn't Yun Ming himself peeking.
When Yun Ming was playing with Yue Ling'er in the forest, he accidentally discovered that this courtyard was next to a cliff, and from a certain branch on the cliff, one could just see into Ye Qingxuan's room.
The angle was quite tricky, but one could only see a corner by the table, where Senior Sister often liked to sleep slumped over.
What a great opportunity to see Senior Sister's sleeping face!!
He immediately sold the information to the Eldest Senior Brother.
Xu Zhimo righteously declared that those Junior Brothers with ill intentions must not know, and decided to buy exclusive rights to the information, which naturally required paying a higher price.
Then, after confirming the accuracy of the information with clients during the day, he immediately installed a screen for his dear Senior Sister.
The Eldest Senior Brother indeed decided to sneak in that night. Yun Ming then informed the Eldest Senior Sister, and the outcome, of course, goes without saying.
Not only was a screen installed on one side of the window, blocking everything from view, but Xu Zhimo also successfully made eye contact with Ye Qingxuan, confirming their connection!
He was caught red-handed on the back mountain cliff in the middle of the night, with several accomplices, several binoculars as stolen goods, and several black trench coats.
He immediately ratted out Yun Ming, but then saw his Junior Brother winking at him from outside the door. Damn it, I even thought of you as my brother-in-law, but I fell for your trick!
Give me back my 1000 dinnar!
No, I can't help but laugh when I think about it. In the end, the money I got was split fifty-fifty with Senior Sister, and for some reason, Senior Sister still beat him up.
He even shared the spoils!
"Why are you spacing out today? Hmm... Ling'er is asleep? I told her it was cold today and she should just wait for you in this courtyard, but she insisted on going to the main hall."
"I take care of this girl every day, yet she's still closer to you..."
Ye Qingxuan sheathed her sword and walked towards Yun Ming, her brows slightly raised, then flicked his forehead with a 'brain-pop'.
Yun Ming didn't dodge, grimacing exaggeratedly in pain, and replied.
"What are you saying, Senior Sister? Ling'er talks most about how good Senior Sister is..."
"I'll put Ling'er back in bed first... Oh, right, I brought two more Junior Sisters up the mountain today. Their talent is excellent, and I'll have to trouble Senior Sister with arrangements."
"Excellent talent?!"
Ye Qingxuan was slightly surprised, but seeing her Junior Brother's rare serious expression, she couldn't help but sigh.
"Junior Brother, you really have a knack for picking up children... Let's talk inside. And I'll check which empty room in the Daoist temple is closest to you."
Yun Ming nodded slightly, entering the bedroom with his Senior Sister. Although he was already a frequent visitor here, it was always improper to trespass when Senior Sister was present.
There wasn't much furniture in sight.
One sword, one table, one bed.
Simple and minimalist. Through the window, one could just see the plum tree outside the door, blooming against the wind, and a faint fragrance wafted to his nose.
Ye Qingxuan opened the layout map of the Yun Kui Mountain Daoist temple on the table. Various labels, large and small, were marked on it: alchemy room, artifact refining room, storage room, kitchen... Residences: Xuan Mingzi, Xu Zhimo, Yun Ming... The entire Daoist temple was considered an inheritance left by past generations; they might be short on money, but not on rooms.
When Yun Kui Mountain was at its most prosperous, it had thousands of disciples, yet they could still live spaciously and comfortably, let alone now.
Yun Ming lived in a higher place, on a cliff top.
He liked peace and quiet, but wasn't too far from his Senior and Junior Brothers, and only about a hundred meters from Senior Sister's place.
"Where do you think is best to live, Junior Brother?"
"These two girls want to live in my courtyard, but the sect's affairs are naturally up to you, Senior Sister. Just arrange it as you see fit."
Ye Qingxuan said nothing, staring at her Junior Brother's feigned seriousness, then suddenly laughed.
"Oh, then the two little Junior Sisters can live next to me."
"Cough cough... Senior Sister, I think, well, about this matter..."