……

That’s it.

The Venerable Binglan had only recently asked the Venerable Changchun for the Fruit of Longevity, which naturally meant she had only recently developed such a need.

And it was also recently that Ancestor Long Yan was preparing to return to the sect. The Venerable Binglan wanting the Fruit of Longevity was most likely for Ancestor Long Yan.

Of course, this was only Wang Shouzhe’s speculation, she might have other plans.

Immediately, Wang Shouzhe bowed and said, “Venerable, we can discuss this matter first. But I can’t guarantee that I will definitely sell it to you.”

Venerable Binglan was silent for a while, obviously digesting her displeasure.

Judging from her past behavior, she was not a good-tempered person.

She asked a junior to buy something, and this junior actually kept refusing, how could she be pleased?

Moreover, this junior was acting high and mighty on their Xuanbing Palace, even the Fruit of Longevity was obtained by suppressing their Xuanbing Palace.

After a long time, she finally digested and suppressed her anger, and said calmly, “In that case, let’s go to my Xuanbing Pavilion to discuss this matter.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Shouzhe, guided by his senior brother in the Xuanbing Palace, entered the Xuanbing Pavilion from the main hall.

Not to mention that he didn’t have the ability to fly directly to the high Xuanbing Pavilion, even if he had the ability to fly, if he dared to fly up, he would probably be slapped down by Venerable Binglan.

Seeing this, Venerable Changchun followed Wang Shouzhe into the Xuanbing Pavilion.

As soon as Venerable Binglan saw Venerable Changchun, she frowned, “Changchun, what are you doing here?”

Venerable Changchun seemed to ignore her anger, looking around and sighing, “Binglan, it’s been two hundred years since I last visited your Xuanbing Pavilion. It’s nostalgic. Don’t worry, I have no other intentions, I just came in with my disciple to support him, afraid that he might be taken advantage of.”

“Hmph,” Venerable Binglan sneered, “If I want to take advantage of him, can you stop me?”

However, for some reason, she didn’t drive Venerable Changchun out in the end, but stared at Wang Shouzhe with cold and majestic eyes.

Facing this pressure, Wang Shouzhe remained calm as usual, as if he was not affected at all.

He bowed and said, “Wang Shouzhe, pays respect to Venerable Binglan.”

At the same time, he glanced at Ancestor Long Yan and the extraordinary Fang You’an out of the corner of his eye.

The former gave him a sideways glance, as if to say you really know how to play, even daring to provoke my master.

The latter, however, nodded slightly at him, showing a gentle smile, as if to show goodwill.

Seeing that her gaze had no effect on Wang Shouzhe, Venerable Binglan had to withdraw her sharp gaze and said, “Tell me, what price do you want to sell it for?”

The age difference between the two was too great, she had no face to exert her powerful aura to intimidate him.

Wang Shouzhe, however, said neither arrogantly nor humbly, “Let’s not talk about the price for now. I want to know, who is the Venerable planning to use the Fruit of Longevity for?”

Venerable Binglan was quite annoyed.

As a Venerable, do I need to inform you who I’m buying the Fruit of Longevity for?

But her eyes glanced slightly at Ancestor Long Yan next to her.

With this, Wang Shouzhe was almost certain.

Immediately, he shook his head and said, “In that case, I’m afraid I can’t sell the Fruit of Longevity to Venerable Binglan.”

“You!”

Venerable Binglan’s eyes sharpened, and she said in a bad tone, “Boy, even your master wouldn’t dare to play me like this!”

Venerable Changchun on the side was also sweating coldly.

You could have just refused to sell it to Venerable Binglan directly, why are you going back and forth like this, isn’t this inviting hatred?

“If you don’t give me a satisfactory explanation.” Venerable Binglan said coldly, “I will, I will… I will beat up your master!”

Poor Venerable Changchun was so shocked that his beard stood on end, “If this boy doesn’t explain to you, why are you hitting me?”

Venerable Binglan gave him a sideways glance.

If she didn’t hit him, could she actually fight with a boy who was more than five hundred years younger than her? She couldn’t afford to lose that face.

Secondly, Xuanbing Palace had just suffered a big loss at the hands of Wang Shouzhe, and it would be suspected of private retaliation if she beat him up now, which would be detrimental to the reputation of Xuanbing Palace.

Wang Shouzhe almost couldn’t help laughing.

He cleared his throat, then controlled his expression and said calmly, “Venerable, this Fruit of Longevity is prepared for my family’s ancestor. My family’s ancestor was injured in a fight when he was young, which shortened his lifespan. He urgently needs this sacred fruit to make up for the deficiency.”

Venerable Binglan’s eyes faltered, but she waved her hand irritably, “Considering your filial piety, I won’t argue with you. Go, go~ For both of our sakes, don’t let me see you again. I’m afraid I can’t help but beat someone.”

“Pfft~”

Upon hearing this, Ancestor Long Yan finally couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

She glared at Wang Shouzhe fiercely and said, “You little rascal, you came to the Xuanbing Hall just to oppose me and make my master angry, didn’t you?”

“Hehe~”

Wang Shouzhe chuckled dryly, and bowed to Ancestor Long Yan, “Ancestor, this is really fate playing tricks on us, the world is so unpredictable~ If I had known earlier that Master Binglan wanted to get the longevity fruit for you, why would I have gone through all this trouble?”

“You went through trouble?”

In front of her master, Ancestor Long Yan seemed to have become much younger. She glared at Wang Shouzhe and said, “I saw you fighting with Mingyu quite happily, there was no sign of hardship at all. Hmph~ I’ll settle the score with you later.”

While speaking, she quickly bowed to Master Binglan, who was already stunned, and said, “Master, this little rascal is my great-great-nephew, who has been stubborn since childhood. He has offended you this time, please forgive him. Shouzhe, apologize to the master quickly!”

Upon hearing this, Master Binglan looked surprised, and Fang You’an also looked slightly shocked.

This powerful young man was actually a descendant of Long Yan’s family?

Hearing the ancestor’s reprimand, Wang Shouzhe quickly composed himself and sincerely apologized to Master Binglan, “I have offended you earlier, I hope you can forgive me.”

Master Binglan’s eyebrows twitched twice.

She really wanted to not forgive this kid, but he was Long Yan’s descendant, could she really hold a grudge against him?

Helplessly, she narrowed her eyes slightly, “Is this longevity fruit for Long Yan?”

“Yes.” Wang Shouzhe answered honestly, “That’s why I couldn’t sell the longevity fruit to you, Master.”

“That’s just as well.” Fang You’an smiled and tried to smooth things over, “Both Master and Shouzhe want to give it to Long Yan, isn’t that a win-win situation?”

“Who told you it’s a win-win situation?” Master Binglan glared at him coldly. “What I give to Long Yan is my gift, what he gives to Long Yan is his gift, don’t mix them up.”

“Master, you’re right.” Fang You’an broke out in a cold sweat and naturally didn’t dare to speak.

Having followed his master for many years, he understood her temper.

At this moment, she must be holding back a lot of anger. Due to her cultivation level and seniority, she couldn’t vent her anger on Wang Shouzhe, but it would be perfectly reasonable for her to beat him up to vent her anger.

“Here are a thousand spirit stones, consider it as an overpayment for your longevity fruit.” Master Binglan threw out a large bag of spirit stones and said coldly, “This longevity fruit is more useful for those below the Heavenly Human Realm, its total value is much lower than that of a sixth-grade pill like the Marrow Cleansing Pill.”

“Master, that’s not quite right.” Wang Shouzhe smiled bitterly, “I’m also giving it to my ancestor, isn’t it the same? Why should you spend more?”

“This sacred fruit is a gift I prepared for my disciple to return to the sect, and it is something she urgently needs.” Master Binglan said calmly and assertively, “If I give it to you, what will I give? Take the spirit stones and give me the fruit.”

Master, you make so much sense. Even a forced sale is so imposing!

Wang Shouzhe looked helpless. Under her intimidating gaze, he obediently handed over the longevity fruit.

After receiving the longevity fruit, Master Binglan handed it to Ancestor Long Yan and said, “Long Yan, back then, I was unable to help you much due to the rules of the academy. Consider this as a way for me to make up for my guilt.”

“Master, you mustn’t!” Ancestor Long Yan hurriedly said, “The things that happened back then were all my fault. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s me for being too impulsive. Besides, if it weren’t for your letter back then, my Wang’s Clan would have been long gone.”

Master Binglan didn’t try to persuade her with words, she just gave Fang You’an a cold glance.

Fang You’an quickly understood and persuaded, “Long Yan, our master has been thinking about you all these years. But as you know, our Zifu Academy has a series of strict agreements with the Daqian Imperial Family, so we couldn’t help you much.”

“Moreover, you know our master’s personality. If you don’t accept it, she might not be able to get over it.”

With things said to this point, Ancestor Long Yan had no choice but to kneel and thank her, “Disciple thanks Master for the gift.”

She took the longevity fruit, her expression a mix of excitement and joy. Not because of the fruit, but because of her master’s deep concern for her.

With that, the cloud in Master Binglan’s eyes finally cleared.

Both master and disciple were overjoyed.

Wang Shouzhe watched from the side, his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

This Master Binglan really had a strange logic and operation. It was clearly for Ancestor Long Yan, but after a roundabout, he ended up with a thousand more spirit stones!

Since she liked it this way, Wang Shouzhe didn’t hesitate to put them into his storage ring.

At this moment.

Binglan sighed regretfully, “It’s a pity, Long Yan. You want to guard your family, but due to the rules of the academy, I can’t give you the position of a direct disciple.”

Long Yan, the Ancestor, also said, “I am already fortunate to be accepted back into the sect by the master. From now on, I will be an outsider disciple, but I am still a disciple of the master.”

Hearing this, Wang Shouzhe, who was standing by, suggested, “Ancestor, you can ask Binglan to accept you as a nominal direct disciple.”

A nominal direct disciple?

Binglan and the others were slightly taken aback. What kind of disciple was this?

“I also need to guard my family and can’t stay in the academy for a long time. But the master really wants to accept me as a disciple, at least in name. So, after this battle, he accepted me as a nominal direct disciple,” Wang Shouzhe explained. “We don’t need the resources of the academy, but the master can provide some. In this way, there is no need to guard the academy.”

“If the academy needs help in the future, we can also contribute, like an upgraded version of an outsider disciple.”

Binglan’s eyebrows twitched at the sound of this!

An upgraded version of an outsider disciple?

You two really know how to play.

But this nominal direct disciple.

It certainly sounds much better than an outsider disciple, and it also brings us closer.

Very well, Binglan agreed happily.

After settling this matter, Binglan was in a good mood.

She looked at Wang Shouzhe and said coldly, “For Long Yan’s sake, I reluctantly forgive you. But my Xuanbing Palace will not forgive you. I will let Ji Mingyu practice hard and regain his dignity.”

Wang Shouzhe didn’t care.

Ji Mingyu couldn’t beat him now, and the gap between them would only grow wider in ten or eight years.

At this moment, Ji Mingyu, who had just been treated, came to apologize.

Just as he reached the door, he heard his master’s bold words.

His face, which had just regained some color, turned pale again. No way, the master still wanted him to regain his dignity. The bloodthirsty vine was too terrifying?

Ji Mingyu, who had almost been sucked dry, really didn’t want to fight Wang Shouzhe again.

“You little brat, get out of here.” Binglan, after her harsh words, began to impatiently shoo Wang Shouzhe away. “Go as far as you can, and don’t let me see you again.” She was really afraid that she wouldn’t be able to control her temper and give this brat a good beating.

“In that case, I bid farewell to the master.” Wang Shouzhe was used to her fiery temper, and bowed respectfully before retreating towards the door of Xuanbing Pavilion.

Seeing this, Changchun quickly followed, planning to sneak away.

But he heard Binglan shout, “Where are you going, Brother Changchun? It’s not easy for you to come here. You should at least have a cup of tea before you leave.”

“Brother? Sister Binglan, you’re finally willing to call me brother again!!” Changchun trembled with excitement. “After so many years, you’re finally willing to forgive me.”

Wang Shouzhe, who had just reached the door, couldn’t help but gasp.

He thought to himself, so there was such a complicated relationship between Changchun and Binglan.

“Forgive you, heh.” Binglan sneered. “I will never forgive you in this lifetime. But since you, as my senior brother, have come to my Xuanbing Pavilion, I, as your junior sister, should entertain you properly. Come, follow me inside.”

Inside? Wang Shouzhe was stunned. The pace of these masters was quite fast.

“Inside?”

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Changchun showed no joy. Instead, he trembled and quickly shook his head, “No, no, I have something else to do, I’ll leave first.”

“If you don’t want to go, then let’s go to the entrance of the Changchun Valley and have a good talk about the unforgivable things you did to me back then.”

So explosive?

Wang Shouzhe’s ears perked up.

Just as he was about to listen to the details, he was grabbed by Long Yan, the Ancestor, and dragged out of the Xuanbing Pavilion.

…