On Green Lotus Peak, there was a small waterfall.

The thin stream of water, reflecting a silvery light, cascaded down the rocks like a silver ribbon dancing and leaping between the stones.

A young man sat cross-legged on a rock beneath the waterfall.

He was slightly thin, with a youthful appearance that still showed hints of sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. Notably, if one looked closely at his features, they would sense an incongruous maturity and determination, which seemed rather peculiar.

This was Lu Xingqiu, Xiao Lin's Third Junior Brother.

"Hey! Xingqiu! Practicing, are you?"

Seeing Lu Xingqiu meditating from afar, Xiao Lin raised his hand in a friendly greeting.

Lu Xingqiu, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, opened them upon hearing the voice. Seeing who it was, he immediately sprang up and left the rock beneath him.

"Senior Brother."

Landing on the shore, Lu Xingqiu looked at the approaching Xiao Lin and bowed respectfully.

Seeing Lu Xingqiu's respectful demeanor, Xiao Lin nodded in satisfaction.

Among his four junior siblings, although he admired Ning Yunmiao the most for her laid-back attitude, if he had to choose someone to hang out with, it would be Lu Xingqiu.

After all, this kid was the most respectful towards him among the four, perhaps even in the entire Flowing Cloud Sect, to the point where Xiao Lin found it a bit hard to get used to.

But once he got used to it... it was quite enjoyable.

"Alright, alright, we're all fellow disciples, no need for all this formality," Xiao Lin said, looking Lu Xingqiu up and down, raising an eyebrow, "Judging by your aura, are you about to break through?"

"Yes, thanks to Senior Brother's guidance, I should be able to reach Core Formation soon," Lu Xingqiu replied softly, standing respectfully beside Xiao Lin.

"Oh, come on, it's your own diligent practice," said Xiao Lin, who spent his free time on Green Lotus Peak eating, sleeping, and doing nothing, never having taught Lu Xingqiu a single move, "No need to credit everything to me."

"No, observing Senior Brother's every word and action benefits me greatly, helping me improve a lot," Lu Xingqiu answered earnestly.

"You really are something..."

Xiao Lin couldn't help but admire Lu Xingqiu's ability to flatter, but he was slightly puzzled.

Hmm? I haven't heard any inner thoughts yet. Could it be that Third Junior Brother is actually normal? Is his respect for me truly genuine?

After waiting a bit longer and confirming no inner thoughts were heard, Xiao Lin decided to ask directly, "Third Junior Brother, I came here to ask you a question."

"Please ask, Senior Brother."

"Would you be willing to take my place and become the Senior Brother?"

"Please don't joke about such things, Senior Brother."

"I'm serious..."

Before Xiao Lin could finish, Lu Xingqiu quickly knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and said loudly, "Senior Brother! In my heart, no one but you is worthy of the title of Senior Brother! Please take back what you just said!"

"......"

Watching Lu Xingqiu kneeling and refusing to rise, Xiao Lin's mouth twitched, and he quickly said, "Get up already."

"I won't get up unless Senior Brother takes back those words!"

"Alright, alright, I won't ask you to take the position."

"Senior Brother must also promise to continue being the Senior Brother of Green Lotus Peak!"

"I..."

Xiao Lin looked at Lu Xingqiu, who had his head lowered even further, took a deep breath, and said, "Alright, alright, I promise you, now get up!"

Only then did Lu Xingqiu rise from the ground, quickly resuming his respectful stance beside Xiao Lin, "Senior Brother, may I ask why you want to give up the position of Senior Brother?"

"Ah, it's a long story, let's not talk about it," Xiao Lin waved his hand.

"Alright." Lu Xingqiu didn't ask further.

This excuse always worked with Third Junior Brother... but something feels off, very off...

Xiao Lin looked at the young man standing beside him, surprised that he still hadn't heard any inner thoughts.

After experiencing the trials of Second Junior Sister and Fourth Junior Sister, Xiao Lin increasingly felt that something was off with Lu Xingqiu... This kid didn't even show this level of respect and trust towards the master, was this really normal?

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "p𝑎wread.com".

Was this reasonable?

But up until now, Xiao Lin still hadn't heard any inner thoughts from Lu Xingqiu, which was hard for him to accept.

So he decided to give Lu Xingqiu another chance.

"Xingqiu, want to hear a joke?" Xiao Lin asked directly.

Hearing this, Lu Xingqiu's expression slightly tensed, then he showed a thoughtful look before tentatively asking, "Does Senior Brother think I want to hear it or not?"

Are you kidding me?

Xiao Lin looked at Lu Xingqiu, who seemed a bit nervous, with a blank expression.

Is it really necessary?

"What do you mean by what I think? I want to know what you think! Do you want to hear a joke?" Xiao Lin had to ask again.

Seeing Xiao Lin insist, Lu Xingqiu hesitated for a moment before nodding, "I do."

"Alright then, listen up," Xiao Lin rubbed his hands together, chuckling, "Once, there was a fisherman who caught a fish. The fish begged the fisherman to let it go. The fisherman said, 'I'll ask you a few questions, if you answer them correctly, I'll let you go.' The fish, surprised, asked, 'Is this a test?' The fisherman replied, 'You could say that.' The fish immediately perked up and said, 'Then test me!' So, the fisherman cooked the fish."

"......"

"......"

"......"

After Xiao Lin finished the joke, there was a brief silence.

Then, Lu Xingqiu let out a laugh that couldn't have been more fake.

"Uh... if it's not funny, there's no need to force a laugh," Xiao Lin said, unable to bear seeing Lu Xingqiu's extremely stiff smile.

Hearing this, Lu Xingqiu immediately stopped his fake laughter and put on a serious expression.

Damn it...

Xiao Lin raised his hand to cover his face.

However, if even this didn't bring out any inner thoughts...

Looking at the unsmiling Lu Xingqiu, Xiao Lin had to accept that his Third Junior Brother seemed genuinely different from Second Junior Sister and Fourth Junior Sister.

Oh well, it's a good thing.

Thinking this, Xiao Lin said, "Alright, I mainly came to check on you, and also to remind you to take the breakthrough seriously. The Core Formation Realm is the first of the Middle Three Realms and is the foundation, so it must be treated with caution."

Having completed a few tasks and successfully breaking through to the Core Formation Realm, Xiao Lin finished speaking, patted Lu Xingqiu on the shoulder, and then turned to leave.

It seems that Fifth Junior Sister might not have any issues either...

[Senior Brother, rest assured, in my past life, I didn't heed your advice and made a grave mistake. In this life, whatever you say, I will do! I will treat it with utmost seriousness!]

...or not.

Xiao Lin stopped in his tracks, turned back to look at Lu Xingqiu.

"Xingqiu."

"Yes, Senior Brother?"

"I think you'd look great with white hair."

"Is... that so?"

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Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan