Fifty-one, in the card

  "Great Uncle ordered me to entertain Mr. Zhuge, Mr. likes tea, and I heard that the 'Red Sleeve Fragrance' here is a rare treasure, so I brought Mr. here to taste it fresh. Seeing Autumn Clearness, I thought I was seeing things, but it's really my sister hosting guests," Liu Lanke said, casting her gaze on Xiao Yao, warmly and gently saying: "Sister, this Taoist friend is..."

  "In a soft and gentle tone," Xiao Yao simply reported her name and clarified: "Since I have nothing to do today, I invited Qian Yan to come here and taste tea and chat idly, passing the time."

  Chong Rou's face turned red as Liu Qianbi hastily introduced, "Chong Rou, this is my cousin, Liu Lankui. We grew up together since we were young, and even if we're not biological sisters, our relationship is even closer than that of real sisters."

  Liu Lankui heard this and glanced at Liu Qianbi's beautiful face, a hint of darkness flashing in her eyes, but she quickly covered it up with a smile. "So it was Heavy Soft Dao friend who invited my sister, I was rude to barge in, it was my fault." She said she was sorry, but her face showed no sign of apology, her attitude was neither cold nor hot, like a superior looking down on everything, after moving her gaze away, she didn't pay attention to Xiao Yao anymore, instead, she smiled and looked at Liu Qianbi: "Sister is really willful, yesterday Elder Brother issued an order, willing to let sister entertain Mr. Zhuge, didn't expect sister would go out early in the morning, finally had to let me replace her, if Elder Brother finds out that sister went to meet friends outside, sister might be punished again."

  "What? When did Father send the imperial edict?" Liu Qianbi showed a shocked, frightened and wronged expression, "I, I didn't receive anything!"

  "Didn't sister receive the token?" Liu Lanqiu also looked surprised, "I personally saw Eldest Uncle handing over the token to Lan Zhi and told her to give it to sister."

  "But Lanzhi didn't come yesterday," Liu Qianbi's eyes instantly reddened, "Lanzhi...she..."

  "Sister, don't worry, although I don't know what's going on here, maybe it's just Zhi sister being careless," Liu Lanke comforted in a soft voice: "When we get back, I'll vouch for you to Big Brother, you don't need to worry."

  Liu Qianbi's expression changed from sadness to joy, and she smiled, "I knew that Orchid sister would be the best for me. I'll leave this matter to you, sister."

  "Sister, you're being too polite. Everyone says we two are more like close sisters. How can Lan Ke abandon her own sister?" Liu Lan Ke smiled warmly and glanced at the jade plaque on the table, slightly surprised. "Sister, are you going to participate in the Refining Equipment Grand Competition?"

  Liu Qianbi shook her head, "Sister is joking, I don't have such skills, this jade token belongs to a fellow Taoist of Heavy Softness."

  "Does the Taoist friend want to participate in the weightlifting competition?" Liu Lanqiu's gaze fell on Xiao Yao again, seeing that this woman was dressed as a Taoist cultivator. It was rare for women to practice weightlifting in the world, let alone a Taoist cultivator. How could her weak and delicate body possibly lift a large hammer? She had originally thought that this woman just wanted to climb up the Liu family by borrowing Liu Qianbi's name, but now she looked at her with even more disdain, thinking that she was someone who lacked self-awareness and overestimated herself.

  "Yes," even if she heard the disdain in the other person's tone, Xiao Yao still replied calmly, she had never cared about others' opinions.

  At this time, a low male voice suddenly interrupted: "Who wants to participate in the Refining Equipment Grand Competition?" As soon as the words fell, a man with a bright yellow long gown, wearing a golden crown, with a goatee, and slender figure walked in.

  Looking at the newcomer, Xiao Yao and Liu Qianbi stared at each other, while Liu Lanke politely said: "Mr. Zhuge."

  The man with the surname Zhuge slightly raised his chin, with an air of superiority, not even looking at Liu Lanzhen, but staring at the jade plaque on the table, and asked again: "Just now, who was it that said they wanted to participate in the competition?"

  Xiao Yao's eyebrows slightly raised, thinking that this person was quite rude. However, considering Liu Qianbi's face, she still replied: "It is I, what guidance does this Taoist friend have?"

  Mr. Zhuge's chin remained high, but his eyes slightly shifted downward, seeing that the one who spoke was a female cultivator. He immediately rebuked her, saying: "A mere female Daoist cultivator dares to dream of refining instruments and gaining fame? How absurd! What do you think instrument refinement is?! This sacred craft, can it be handled by women who cannot even shoulder or lift it?! I thought it was some senior expert coming to ask for guidance, but instead, it's a great disappointment!" With that, he turned his sleeve and left.

  Xiao Yao was astonished. This person came uninvited, spoke a couple of sentences, and then stormed off with a huff, muttering to himself. Where did this live treasure come from?

  Liu Qianbi's face was flushed with shyness, but her eyes also held a hint of mystery. On the other hand, Liu Lanzhen cleared his throat and mediated: "This Mr. Zhuge is actually my sect's top disciple under the 'Wangshan Xianjun' gate, the number one alchemy master in our Jundu district. He was invited to be our guest just a few days ago. The gentleman is straightforward and speaks directly, but he doesn't have any malicious intentions. Please don't mind it, Rong Rou Daoist friend."

  As she spoke, she walked to Liu Qianbi's side, "Sister Qianbi, I'll take my leave first, the rest of the words can be discussed when you return to the mansion. Sister, making friends requires caution, younger sister bids farewell."

  She slightly lowered her body, whispered in Liu Qianbi's ear, and after finishing speaking, she nodded slightly, didn't even glance at Xiao Yao, and then turned to leave with an air of dignity.

  Although it was a low voice, Master Wuu's five senses were keen, how could he not hear it? It was as if she deliberately said it for others to hear. Xiao Yao blinked her eyes and watched the two women leave. After the door closed, she said: "Your sister always speaks like this, hiding needles in her words? She clearly doesn't get along with you, yet she insists on pretending to be close sisters."

  Liu Qianbi also returned to normal at this time, and she didn't mind arranging her own family members at all. "It's not just her, our whole family likes to beat around the bush when speaking. After all, without wearing a mask in that mansion, there is only one dead end. Even if everyone knows each other's bottom line, they still have to pretend to maintain face."

  Although her words were tinged with a hint of self-mockery, her eyes still revealed a trace of inescapable desolation. Xiang Yao shifted the topic and asked, "Is what she said just now important?"

  "It's not the first time, I can handle it, don't worry," Liu Qianbi also heard her concern and smiled at her: "Come on, let's talk about something else."

  After that, neither of them mentioned it again, but with this interlude, as Liu Qianbi had said earlier, they lost some interest and soon left ahead of time.

  Xiao Yao told Liu Qianbi before parting that she would study and practice her skills, preparing to close herself off for two years. Liu Qianbi listened and smiled: "Alright, temper yourself, don't lose to that strange person later on, I hope you can get selected."

  After settling two things, Xiao Yao was able to focus without distraction, putting in 120% effort and wholeheartedly devoting himself to the refinement of his magic equipment.

  When writing transitional paragraphs, I always lack passion and it's easy to get stuck...