In the end, Xiao Lin didn't wake Ning Yunmiao.

After all, he had no legitimate reason to wake her up—if it were just Fourth Junior Sister, he could have managed to bluff his way through, but with Luo Qingyan there, it was a different story.

He couldn't exactly say he woke her just to chat, could he?

He decided to visit Fourth Junior Sister's room later...

With this thought, Xiao Lin finished the Spirit Fish Roasted with Red Jade Fruit with Luo Qingyan, barely tasting it, and then watched as Luo Qingyan carried the sleeping Ning Yunmiao back to her room.

"Well, I'm heading back to my room. What about you, Second Junior Sister?"

Watching Luo Qingyan exit Ning Yunmiao's room and close the door from the outside, Xiao Lin immediately asked.

"The same."

Luo Qingyan gave Xiao Lin a brief glance, then turned and walked straight to her room.

[Senior Brother, see you tomorrow! Love you! Miss you! I'll dream of you!]

Totally unnecessary.

Xiao Lin watched Luo Qingyan's beautiful retreating figure with a blank expression, responding internally to her heartfelt message.

Then, he pretended to turn and head back to his own room.

...After wandering around his room for a bit, Xiao Lin found himself back at Ning Yunmiao's door.

Without any intention of knocking, he pushed the door open—based on years of experience, he was quite certain that knocking wouldn't wake Ning Yunmiao; he had to do it face-to-face.

The girl's room was simply furnished, with basic furniture, some potted plants, and a heap of pink plush toys—a popular item at Waterside Ferry, said to have the effect of nurturing the meridians and calming the mind when hugged during sleep.

Though the room was a bit messy with clothes here and a sock there, it was actually quite clean, with a faint floral scent in the air.

"Tsk, can't Fourth Junior Sister tidy up her clothes?"

Catching sight of some rather private clothing tossed in a corner, Xiao Lin, though unfazed internally, averted his gaze and stepped toward the bed.

To his surprise, just a few steps from the bed, a figure suddenly appeared in front of it.

It was a white cat.

Xiaobai.

"Hey, you don't think I'm a bad guy, do you?" Xiao Lin was taken aback as Xiaobai stared at him. "I held you when you were little, remember? Even if you don't, we see each other every day when you deliver meals, so you should recognize me, right?"

Xiaobai made no sound, only narrowing its golden eyes.

Almost simultaneously, Xiao Lin narrowed his eyes as well.

It wasn't to mimic Xiaobai or confront it, but because he sensed a powerful and ancient aura emanating from the cat.

Judging by cultivation levels, it was probably at the Nascent Soul Realm... no, it was already verging on the Spirit Soul Realm...

The oppressive aura from such a high level instinctively made Xiao Lin summon his Paired Sword.

Just then...

"Huh? Senior Brother? Xiaobai?"

Ning Yunmiao's sleepy voice sounded.

"Meow~"

Xiaobai, which had been slightly leaning forward, immediately let out a soft meow and jumped onto the bed.

Xiao Lin, quickly retracting his Paired Sword, breathed a sigh of relief at the scene.

If he had been a moment slower, they wouldn't even need to fight; just releasing their battle intent would definitely draw those three over.

Yu Qiaoxi and Lu Xingqiu were manageable, but if Luo Qingyan saw... no, wait, so what if she saw? Second Junior Sister isn't sickly adorable; there's no need to be afraid...

Hmm, but what if she develops into a sickly adorable type later? She already shows signs of a split personality...

Xiao Lin suddenly felt a sense of crisis, even vaguely envisioning Luo Qingyan holding scissors, eyes filled with hearts.

"Xiaobai is so good, who's the cute little kitty? Who is it, who is it, oh, it's Xiaobai!" After petting the cat, Ning Yunmiao held Xiaobai in her arms and looked at Xiao Lin standing by the bed, blinking as she asked, "Senior Brother, were you looking for me?"

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep tonight, so I thought I'd find someone to chat with." Snapping back to reality, Xiao Lin replied straightforwardly, without any pretense.

"Oh, I see." Ning Yunmiao didn't doubt him at all, nodding knowingly, her big eyes blinking as she said, "No problem, I'm great at chatting."

[I thought Senior Brother wanted to have a midnight snack with me, but it's just to chat, sigh, a bit disappointed.]

See, unless it's about food, Fourth Junior Sister is simple-minded and easy to deal with, not even needing any tricks...

Thinking this, Xiao Lin casually pulled over a chair and sat down, just as Ning Yunmiao asked, "Speaking of which, what were you and Xiaobai doing just now? Why did it feel weird?"

"Oh, nothing, Xiaobai probably thought I was up to no good coming into your room in the middle of the night, so it wanted to warn me," Xiao Lin replied offhandedly.

"Huh? Xiaobai, how could you think that?" Ning Yunmiao immediately looked down at the white cat in her arms, seriously saying, "Senior Brother is a good person, you know? How could he be up to no good with me?"

[Even if he were up to no good, it would be with the snacks I have hidden under the bed!]

What kind of image do you have of me?

Xiao Lin's mouth twitched at the inner voice he heard.

"Meow~"

Whether it understood Ning Yunmiao's words or not, Xiaobai nestled closer to her.

...Then turned its head to glance at Xiao Lin.

Whoa! There's killing intent!

To read the uncut version, go to [p𝘢wread.com].

The look made Xiao Lin's hair stand on end, almost drawing his sword.

Tsk, not good, this cat seems to hold a grudge against me...

Startled, Xiao Lin was about to mention something to Ning Yunmiao when she spoke up, "Xiaobai is so good, remember, everyone on Green Lotus Peak is nice. When you grow up, you need to protect everyone on the mountain, besides me, okay?"

This time, Xiaobai was silent for a moment before meowing again.

With that meow, Xiao Lin felt a lot of pressure lift off his shoulders.

Phew... it felt like I just walked through the gates of hell. So this is a White Tiger? And it hasn't even fully grown yet... Look at that, starting with a White Tiger! And me? I have nothing!

Xiao Lin was silently lamenting the disparity between systems when Ning Yunmiao asked, "Does Senior Brother have something on his mind? Why can't you sleep?"

[I even gave up the Spirit Fish Roasted with Red Jade Fruit, what could keep Senior Brother up?]

You can't go three sentences without mentioning food, can you?

Xiao Lin shook his head with a wry smile, about to speak, when he noticed Ning Yunmiao's surprised expression, staring blankly at the air in front of her.

[Wait, what's going on? Why did the task to advance the plotline change to observing Lin Aotian joining the Flowing Cloud Sect? How could he join the Flowing Cloud Sect? Wasn't he supposed to join the Azurecloud Sword Sect? What's wrong with my system?]