What a mess, all I ever wanted was to live a peaceful life and slack off...

Retracting his gaze, Xiao Lin sighed inwardly but nodded earnestly, "Disciple understands."

By now, he was certain that Leng Youxue definitely knew about the masked man.

Yet the reality was frustratingly helpless. Even though he knew she knew, and she knew he knew she knew, neither could openly acknowledge it. If earlier, Xiao Lin had considered defying the masked man's warning to subtly hint to Leng Youxue, now that she had spoken, he wouldn't say another word.

"Anything else you want to ask?" Leng Youxue finished the apple in her hand, and a bluish flame enveloped her hand to cleanse it.

"Well, about my cultivation method, is there anything Master can tell me?" Xiao Lin pondered for a moment and asked tentatively.

"What's wrong with the cultivation method?" Leng Youxue extended her hand, examining her nails.

"Uh, actually, it's like this..."

Xiao Lin immediately recounted the process of how he performed the Thunder Strike of the Ultimate Invincible World-Dominating Thunder Sword during yesterday's sparring.

"...So I wanted to ask, as the creator of the 'Beat Whoever You Dislike' cultivation method, what do you think about this?" Xiao Lin concluded with this question.

"Hmm, my cultivation method is connected to your mark? Oh my, how could this be? Truly surprising."

"......"

"Why aren't you speaking?"

"Master, if you had sounded even a little less calm, I might have believed you."

"Tsk, don't be so demanding... Use a bit more strength, and don't just focus on one spot, move around." Leng Youxue directed Xiao Lin, then continued, "Anyway, just know that this cultivation method will greatly benefit you."

"Sigh." Xiao Lin moved to the side, reaching out to massage Leng Youxue's jade arm, "Master, can't you reveal anything to me?"

"You'll find out sooner or later, and this time, it'll be much quicker than before," Leng Youxue said calmly.

A quick look at "pawread.com" will leave you more fulfilled.

"This time? Before? Master, what does that mean?"

"I don't know."

"Tsk."

Watching Leng Youxue shake her head with her eyes closed, Xiao Lin was tempted to apply more pressure to her arm.

However, recalling the feeling of having his spiritual energy sealed and being thrown off the mountain, Xiao Lin ultimately abandoned the thought and began to ponder Leng Youxue's words.

Could it be that I have some reincarnation plotline?

With just a little thought, Xiao Lin quickly associated it with such a cliché storyline.

But before he could delve deeper, Leng Youxue spoke, "If you have no more questions, then let me say a few words."

"Please, go ahead."

"What are you talking about? Never mind, as I mentioned before, I need to leave the Flowing Cloud Sect for a while... I'm setting off now."

"What? So suddenly?" Xiao Lin paused his massage.

"It wasn't supposed to be this soon, but now time is a bit tight." Leng Youxue glanced at Xiao Lin, who immediately resumed the massage with understanding.

"Thank you, Master, for going through so much trouble for me."

"Don't be too confident, I'm mainly going to buy books."

"Whatever Master says."

Xiao Lin chuckled, about to say something, when he suddenly remembered the fiend beast halfway up the mountain, and his heart tightened, "Um, Master, shouldn't you wait a bit, about what Third Junior Brother mentioned last time, I checked it..."

"I personally confirmed it was fine, do you still need to verify?"

"Tsk."

Seeing that he couldn't deceive Leng Youxue, Xiao Lin immediately prepared to come up with another excuse, but then heard Leng Youxue say, "I'll check again before I leave."

Master, you're the best...

Xiao Lin was deeply moved and immediately massaged with even more effort.

"And as I said before, while I'm away, take care of those on the mountain. If anything happens, go find Li Yuhuan and the others. Here's the sect leader's waist token." As Leng Youxue spoke, a dark green waist token, carried by spiritual energy, floated in front of Xiao Lin.

"Master, you're not planning on not coming back, are you?"

Looking at the token that represented the sect leader and could mobilize the sect's grand formation, Xiao Lin was instantly flustered.

Master, don't go, I'm scared.

"Can't you say something nice with that mouth of yours?" Leng Youxue rolled her eyes, speechless, "I'm just worried that if something requires the sect leader's decision and you can't reach me, you can use this token to resolve it."

"What? Me?"

Hearing Leng Youxue's explanation, Xiao Lin breathed a sigh of relief, then realized, pointing at himself in shock.

No, Master, what have I done to deserve this?

"Train yourself a bit, you're my senior disciple, and the position of sect leader will be yours in the future."

"Master, I remember telling you before, I don't want to be the senior disciple..."

"Silence! Rebellious disciple! I don't like what you're saying! Take it back!"

"......"

"Alright, alright, stop massaging, come here."

Leng Youxue turned around, and after Xiao Lin put away the sect leader's waist token and walked over, she said, "You performed well in this sparring, what reward do you want? Speak."

"Master, actually..."

"If you dare say you don't want to be the senior disciple, I'll throw you out right now."

"......"

After a moment of emotional turmoil, Xiao Lin thought for a while and realized there wasn't anything he particularly wanted at the moment—spells, techniques, magical treasures, weapons, even if he asked for them usually, Leng Youxue would directly give him a bunch, so he didn't need to use this rare reward opportunity.

Hmm... since resigning isn't an option, then...

After a brief thought, Xiao Lin stepped back, and under Leng Youxue's puzzled gaze, he bowed seriously, "Then I ask Master to promise me one thing, to return safely from this trip."

"......"

Leng Youxue looked at the bowing Xiao Lin, first stunned, then her eyes widened slightly.

Scenes both similar and different suddenly flashed before her eyes, and voices with different tones but equally familiar followed in her ears—

"Master, don't worry, I'll come back safely this time."

"Master, I won't be in danger, rest assured."

"Master, look at you, what's with that expression? I'm not not coming back, don't worry, I'll return safe and sound."

"Master, wait for me, I'll be back soon."

"Master..."

...

"Master? Master?"

"Hmm?"

Returning from some distant memories, Leng Youxue looked at Xiao Lin in front of her, her breathing slightly rapid.

"Master? What's wrong? Don't scare me..." Xiao Lin looked at the unusual Leng Youxue, concerned.

Oh no, what's happened to my invincible Master? Is the world about to end?

"Hmm... it's nothing, just got a bit distracted."

Leng Youxue quickly adjusted her state, waving her hand.

...

(Gift, thank you all)