“What?”

At these words, both Chen Qingyuan and Han Shan were taken aback.

On second thought, considering they were within the territories of the Misty Sacred Ground, it seemed quite normal.

“I’ll tell Miss Liu about this later and advise her to give up the idea of entering the ancient tomb.”

The Dao Techniques and practices of the Academy were not to be imparted without the elders’ permission, a rule that Chen Qingyuan could not breach. However, he could provide Liu Lingran with some cultivation resources so she wouldn’t have to run around alone.

“Absolutely not!” Zhangsun Fengye hurriedly interjected, “Since Miss Liu has discovered the location of the ancient tomb, it means she is fated with our Misty Palace. She has traversed countless Star Domains to get here; it would be a shame for her to return empty-handed.”

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Chen Qingyuan and Han Shan looked at Zhangsun Fengye with strange expressions, sensing something unusual.

Years ago, Han Shan had met Liu Lingran but unfortunately, they were not fated to be together. Han Shan, being a man of sentiment, had always hoped to find a woman who loved jasmine flowers, but Liu Lingran showed no interest in them.

Why did Han Shan have such a thought?

Perhaps it was because he had smelled the fragrance of jasmine flowers at the moment of his birth!

The place of his birth must have been surrounded by a beautiful garden filled with jasmine flowers.

“Why are you two staring at me like that?”

Feeling uncomfortable under their intense gaze, Zhangsun Fengye chuckled awkwardly.

“Madman, have you taken a fancy to my junior niece?” Chen Qingyuan asked bluntly.

“I…” Zhangsun Fengye opened his mouth, unsure of what to say, then quickly changed the subject, “Fengzi? When did I get this nickname?”

He thought it meant ‘abundant harvest,’ but Chen Qingyuan was referring to ‘madness.’

The second personality of Zhangsun Fengye was indeed that of a complete madman.

“Just a nickname I’ve coined for you,” Chen Qingyuan replied, pressing on, “Don’t change the subject, be honest.”

After hesitating for a moment, Zhangsun Fengye gritted his teeth and nodded, “Hmm.”

“No way!”

Getting a definite answer, Chen Qingyuan was dumbfounded, and Han Shan was equally shocked.

“Sometimes, fate arrives in the most coincidental ways.”

Since the situation was clear, Zhangsun Fengye no longer hid his feelings.

“But this is only the first meeting!”

Chen Qingyuan was astonished.

“One glance for a thousand years, you wouldn’t understand,” Zhangsun Fengye said, holding a folding fan, his eyes shimmering as if reminiscing about Liu Lingran’s figure and appearance.

“Hey! Get your head straight, Miss Liu is my junior. If you’re after her, shouldn’t you consider my feelings?”

Chen Qingyuan was displeased with Zhangsun Fengye’s frivolous demeanor.

Instantly, Zhangsun Fengye lost his composure and hurriedly approached Chen Qingyuan, smiling broadly, “Brother Chen, you’re quite close to Miss Liu and surely know her preferences and past. Could you share some of that with me?”

“Now you’re trying to butter me up?” Chen Qingyuan raised an eyebrow.

“We’re good friends, you wouldn’t refuse, right?”

Zhangsun Fengye poured a cup of tea for Chen Qingyuan, trying to ingratiate himself.

“First, call me Junior Master and let’s hear it.”

Chen Qingyuan teased.

“Ah?” Zhangsun Fengye was taken aback.

“Just kidding. You two haven’t even started anything. Call me Junior Master, and don’t be reluctant; this matter also depends on whether you’re fortunate enough.”

Chen Qingyuan snorted lightly, taking the tea from Zhangsun Fengye and sipping it.

“Hehe, I’ll definitely have that fortune in the future.”

Seeing Zhangsun Fengye’s sincere attitude, Chen Qingyuan began to recount Liu Lingran’s story, from her initiation to becoming the chief disciple of Jade Bamboo Peak.

Zhangsun Fengye listened intently, afraid of missing any detail.

Unwittingly, Chen Qingyuan mentioned the arranged meeting between Han Shan and Liu Lingran.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the elegant pavilion turned heavy, Zhangsun Fengye’s smile vanished, and he shot a sharp look at Han Shan, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

“Calm down, there’s nothing between them; neither has any interest in the other,” Chen Qingyuan explained.

“Brother Han, you don’t fancy Miss Liu?”

However, Zhangsun Fengye, missing the point, became anxious and questioned Han Shan.

“This… it’s not about fancying, it’s the lack of fate,” Han Shan felt as if he was being crushed by a mountain, struggling to breathe.

“Brother Han,” Zhangsun Fengye suddenly turned serious.

“What?”

Han Shan had a bad premonition.

“I’d like to spar with you, if you’re willing?”

Zhangsun Fengye proposed.

“I refuse,” Han Shan’s body moved back slightly, his throat tightening.

“You don’t have the right to refuse.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhangsun Fengye assumed a battle stance.

Han Shan was on the verge of tears, what kind of situation was this!

“Old Chen, won’t you say something?” Han Shan looked at Chen Qingyuan with hopeful eyes, wishing for him to defuse the situation.

Unexpectedly, Chen Qingyuan didn’t play by the rules and turned to Zhangsun Fengye, “Find another place to spar, don’t destroy the surrounding buildings. And go easy.”

“Alright,” Zhangsun Fengye nodded.

Whoosh—

Before Han Shan could speak, Zhangsun Fengye grabbed him, turning into a streak of light and disappearing.

“It’s not my fault!”

Han Shan’s voice came from afar, causing Chen Qingyuan to shiver.

Thinking about it, it really wasn’t much related to Han Shan. Originally, Chen Qingyuan wanted to tease Han Shan, which led to the pretend meeting between Liu Lingran and Han Shan.

Half an hour later, Zhangsun Fengye and Han Shan returned.

One was refreshed and beaming.

The other was disheveled and slightly embarrassed.

This was not a spar but a one-sided thrashing.

With Han Shan’s ability, even twenty more of him couldn’t beat Zhangsun Fengye.

The number one Heaven’s Pride of the Northern Wilderness was not an empty title.

While being beaten, Han Shan explained everything.

However, Zhangsun Fengye didn’t dare to trouble Chen Qingyuan; he would still need Chen Qingyuan’s help in the future and couldn’t afford to offend him.

To thrive in the cultivation world, one must understand the complexities of relationships.

“Brother Chen, you liked this sword of mine, right? I’ll give it to you.”

Zhangsun Fengye took out a black sword, which he had lent to Chen Qingyuan during a previous spar at the Song Family’s front hall and later reclaimed.

Now, to get closer to Liu Lingran, Zhangsun Fengye didn’t care about any Dao Treasure.

“Are you willing to part with it?” Chen Qingyuan raised an eyebrow, seeing that Zhangsun Fengye was truly smitten.

“For you, of course.”

One cannot catch a wolf without risking the sheep.

“I don’t need it now.”

Chen Qingyuan had his own preferred weapon and was not interested in Zhangsun Fengye’s sword.

Most importantly, such a small resource was not enough to make Chen Qingyuan betray Miss Liu.

From her initiation to becoming a core disciple, Chen Qingyuan had guided Miss Liu, providing her with resources and Spirit Stones. Though nominally her Junior Master, he was also like a brother and a teacher.

“This…” Zhangsun Fengye was at a loss and reluctantly put the sword away.

“The ancient tomb in the Wanxu Mountain Range is the resting place of an ancestor of the Misty Palace. If we enter, will there be any issues?”

Chen Qingyuan needed to clarify this matter to avoid offending the Misty Sacred Ground.