It's strange to say, but Xiao Lin couldn't quite explain why he was afraid of Li Qingjiu. If he had to put it into words, it would come down to a feeling—every time Li Qingjiu looked at him, it was as if she wanted to devour him.

Don't get the wrong idea; there was no romantic tension involved. It was purely a metaphor, like a hungry wolf eyeing a large piece of meat.

A simple desire.

...As for why Li Qingjiu could see people with her eyes wrapped in red cloth, let's just say it's best not to meddle in the affairs of cultivators.

In any case, whenever Xiao Lin interacted with Li Qingjiu in the past, he always felt like "a big piece of meat," which troubled him greatly. He had no idea how to bring this up with Li Qingjiu—he couldn't exactly ask, "Aunt Li, why do you desire me?"

Xiao Lin once consulted Leng Youxue about it, but all he got was, "Don't be so full of yourself. Why not say all the women in the world desire you?"

As a result, over time, Xiao Lin began to reduce his encounters with Li Qingjiu—after all, being targeted by a big shot from the Upper Three Realms was not a pleasant experience, especially when he didn't understand why Li Qingjiu looked at him that way.

But now, since his master had ordered it, he had no choice but to go.

Led by a guiding disciple, Xiao Lin arrived in front of a bamboo house.

Come to think of it, Aunt Li is quite a character...

Looking at the clean and tidy bamboo building, Xiao Lin recalled stories about Li Qingjiu—

This woman, with her eyes wrapped in red cloth, was a top-notch battle maniac. Even when she was in the Spirit Soul Realm, she dared to draw her sword against a Tribulation Realm monster cultivator just because "that monster cultivator looked strong."

Friends, this is a Middle Three Realms cultivator challenging an Upper Three Realms cultivator, two major realms apart. What kind of behavior is this? It's the kind that seeks a swift end.

Fortunately, the Tribulation Realm monster cultivator found Li Qingjiu beautiful and wanted to capture her as a bride, so he only severely injured her, sparing her life... Then, the monster cultivator was reduced to ashes by a passing Leng Youxue, and Li Qingjiu was successfully rescued and joined the Flowing Cloud Sect.

This story tells us that lust is a dangerous thing... Ahem, no, it tells us that although Leng Youxue rarely goes out, every time she does, she gains something. That's someone who truly knows how to seize opportunities... Hmm, that doesn't sound quite right either?

In any case, after a few deep breaths, Xiao Lin took out the last plan and lightly knocked on the door.

As soon as his hand touched the door, the bamboo door automatically opened, revealing Li Qingjiu, dressed in simple red attire, her eyes wrapped in red cloth, and a long sword on her back.

"You're here?"

Li Qingjiu, sitting behind a table, spoke calmly.

Xiao Lin didn't respond to Li Qingjiu but quickly bowed and said at a rapid pace, "Greetings, Aunt Li. I'm here to deliver a message from my master. It's like this, my master..."

"Have some tea."

...He was interrupted by Li Qingjiu before he could finish.

"Uh... Thank you, Aunt Li, but I'm not thirsty. This time, I..."

"Come over and have some tea first."

"..."

Watching Li Qingjiu skillfully brewing tea, Xiao Lin reluctantly said, "Aunt Li, I actually don't like tea..."

Though it sounded like an excuse, he truly didn't enjoy tea—despite often joking, "Forget cultivation, it's time for tea," he usually drank spirit tea in large gulps just to quench his thirst.

"No, you like it," Li Qingjiu responded earnestly.

A question mark appeared above Xiao Lin's head.

What kind of domineering CEO line was that?

"Aunt Li, let's get back to business..."

"You can talk while drinking tea."

"..."

Seeing Li Qingjiu turn her gaze to him, Xiao Lin remained silent for a moment, unable to come up with an excuse like "I'm allergic to tea." Reluctantly, he sat down across from her.

To be fair, even with part of her face covered by the red cloth, Li Qingjiu's facial features alone were enough to tell she was a beauty.

And a beauty brewing tea was indeed a picturesque scene.

...It's just a pity that Xiao Lin had no thoughts of admiring beauty at the moment.

From the moment he sat down, the feeling of being "a large piece of meat eyed by a hungry wolf" resurfaced, even stronger than before.

There wouldn't be any knockout drugs in this tea, right...

As he looked at the teacup Li Qingjiu pushed over, Xiao Lin couldn't help but think.

"Drink," Li Qingjiu said, taking a sip from her own cup and looking at Xiao Lin.

"Alright..."

With the thought that it wouldn't be a loss if he really lost himself here, Xiao Lin downed the tea in one gulp.

"How's the tea?" Li Qingjiu didn't scold Xiao Lin for his lack of appreciation but asked softly.

"Um..." Xiao Lin smacked his lips and, after a long pause, said, "The tea... is a bit hot."

"..."

Hearing this, Li Qingjiu was silent for a moment before nodding, "The simplest things are often the most profound. It seems Nephew Xiao understands this well."

See, this is the difference between being cultured and not...

Xiao Lin's mouth twitched slightly, finally deciding to get straight to the point. He handed the last plan to Li Qingjiu with both hands and said, "Thank you for the tea, Aunt Li, but I'm here specifically to deliver a message from my master. Please take a look."

To Xiao Lin's relief, Li Qingjiu accepted the plan without hesitation and began to review it seriously. He took the opportunity to relay Leng Youxue's plan.

"Since it's the sect master's request, I will comply," Li Qingjiu said succinctly, placing the plan on the table.

"In that case, I'll report back to my master. Aunt Li, farewell." Xiao Lin said, preparing to make a hasty exit.

"Wait."

...But Li Qingjiu's "wait" made him sit back down.

"Aunt Li, is there anything else?" Xiao Lin asked with an awkward yet polite smile.

"Nephew Xiao, you haven't visited Soaring Immortal Peak in a long time," Li Qingjiu said, gently rotating the teacup in her hand. "Remember to come by more often."

"Uh, Aunt Li, I've been quite busy lately, so it might be difficult to find the time..." Xiao Lin was ready to refuse.

"Then I'll come to find you, Nephew Xiao."

"But since Aunt Li has said so, I'll make time no matter how busy I am."

Xiao Lin forced a smile, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "But Aunt Li, why do you want me to visit Soaring Immortal Peak?"

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Since Li Qingjiu had said this, he naturally wanted to seize the opportunity to ask why.

"Because I want to see you."

"?"

Hearing Li Qingjiu's calm and ordinary tone, Xiao Lin thought, Aunt, what are you up to?

Just as he was about to continue questioning, Li Qingjiu waved her hand, "Alright, off you go, and remember to visit often."

"But..."

"No need to see me out."

"…"

Seeing Li Qingjiu's firm tone, Xiao Lin suddenly felt like he was being toyed with by a heartbreaker—called when needed, dismissed when not, and kept hanging.

However, being a respectful disciple, Xiao Lin didn't say more despite his curiosity. He got up, bid farewell, and left.

Watching the door close again, Li Qingjiu took a sip of spirit tea, her gaze falling on the teacup Xiao Lin had used.

Out of sight, but clear in mind.

With her eyes wrapped in red cloth, she saw things others couldn't—like when she looked at Leng Youxue, she saw an endless abyss, and when she looked at Zhang Xinzhu, she saw a half-sharpened, blood-stained long knife.

But when she looked at Xiao Lin, she saw a broken sword enveloped in thunder.

Though the sword was broken, its spirit was unyielding, vibrant, and eternal.

This was precisely the path Li Qingjiu had been pursuing.

To break and then establish, to seek life through death.