Face-saving

  Apart from fans, there are other cute but useless weapons for sale here - Ah, calling them "weapons" makes Autumn feel that the two words are being humiliated to tears.

  Among the remaining items, there is a weapon that looks like a flute and can be blown, a silk ribbon that looks like it's used for tying hair but is said to be able to transform into a thin sword, and two ring-shaped bracelets, but it's said that inside them, thin steel wires as sharp as blades can be drawn out.

  It's really a mess, with nothing unusual or uninteresting. Autumn watched and sighed in amazement. If you say it's interesting, then they're all quite interesting, but if you talk about practical value... it's still that barking dog knowing nothing, selling cuteness as a toy is fine, but using it to fight enemies might make people laugh their teeth off.

  Jing Lu Shixiong obviously thought that Qiu Qiu was the smallest disciple on the mountain, and she would definitely like these cute things.

  Qiu Qiu was really at a loss for words, but since it was Huang Zhanglao's intention, Jing Lu looked at her with a treasured expression, and not taking it would be impolite.

  "Which one does Master Brother think is better?" She directly kicked the ball back.

  Jing Lu thought for a moment, then picked up the hair tie: "This one is not bad." He lowered his voice and said sincerely: "Although it's not as good-looking as those others, the materials used are the best. Inside, there's golden finch feather and cold silkworm silk mixed in, and the edges are woven with moon silver. It's impervious to water and fire, and after infusing spiritual energy, it'll make a great sword. Besides, you're still young and weak, Sister Apprentice, this one suits you just fine."

  Qiu Qiu thanked him and picked up the hair band. It just so happened that she didn't have anything tied on her head, so she threaded the band through her hair and tied a bow, which looked very suitable.

  Other things, Qiū Qiū originally didn't think much of them either. They were too impractical as weapons and too flashy as decorations. She wasn't particularly fond of such flashy things.

  After coming out of the warehouse, Jinglu still had to go and work, Qiuqiu followed him to help. She hadn't been in contact with alchemy before, so she could only help with errands and miscellaneous tasks, but even so, it saved Jinglu a lot of effort.

  Because Huang Changlao didn't have much oil and water, his temper was also impatient. He rarely stayed on the mountain all year round. This place wasn't as lively and prosperous as other Changlao or Zhenren's places. Some disciples wouldn't think of walking this path unless they had no hope in swordsmanship. Jing Lu felt that having a obedient and clever helper would be great, otherwise he could go back and discuss it with Huang Changlao. He decided to leave Jing Qiu Shizi here. He thought that this Shizi was very honest and down-to-earth, and talent wasn't the most important thing in alchemy. As long as one could persist, they would achieve something.

  Qiu took the opportunity to borrow several books on this topic from him.

  Not seeking to master every skill, but at least have some understanding of them.

  She quietly went back home to read books, and indeed after noon the weather changed again, dark clouds like lead, snow falling finely and lightly.

  The light of the phosphorescent stone was a bit insufficient for reading, so Qiuqiu lit a lamp.

  The faintly flickering flames seemed to dispel the dense and unyielding cold air around me.

  She read a few pages. There were some places that she really couldn't understand, so Qiuqiu would make a note and ask Shou'er or go ask Jinglu Shixiong when she got back.

  Just as I closed the book, someone knocked on the door.

  Qiu Qiu was slightly surprised and heard someone outside the door ask: "Is Jing Qiu Shimei in the house?"

  "In." Autumn replied in a low voice, she could tell it was Qing Yuan's voice. She walked over and opened the door.

  The distant mountain is indeed serene and quiet.

  "Master Jingyuan, how did you come? Please come in quickly."

  Jing Yu went into the house and looked around.

  "Master, please sit." Qiu Qiu poured a cup of tea and handed it to him - this time she used the teacups that were originally in the house, the things in her storage bag were either for her own use or for picking up.

  Jing Yuan didn't feel like he was receiving different treatment. After sitting down, there was a low table between him and Qiuqiu, with the tea in the teacups still emitting wisps of heat that wafted gently through the air.

  The dim yellow light made the cover of the book that Qiuqiu was reading earlier turn into a faded pale yellow color.

  "Are you reading?"

  "It's nothing. Just flipping through." Qiuqiu said: "Jinglu Shixiong lent me a book to relieve boredom."

  Jing Yu nodded slightly and picked up her tea to take a sip.

  "I went to look for you and found that you had already left Lianhua Peak. After inquiring, I just knew that you moved here to live."

  Qiu Qiu nodded slightly.

  Although she left Lianhua Peak without even saying goodbye at that time, the situation did not allow it. Those people saw her as if they had seen an enemy and didn't let her get close.

  "Yes, I didn't have a chance to tell my senior brother, it was my fault. Jingyue Shixiong happened to be patrolling and passing by, he said that I was alone there and it wasn't safe, so he brought me here to temporarily stay with Huang Changlao."

  "It was actually Jingyue Shixiong... Thanks to his careful consideration."

  Jingyuan actually had no grounds to pursue the matter of Qiūqiū moving away. In fact, Qiūqiū didn't owe Lianhuafeng anything, and even this time, it was Jingfei who dragged her down the mountain, not that Qiūqiū wanted to go with them. But after something happened, both Yushui Zhenren and other disciples of Lianhuafeng were resentful towards her, watching coldly from the sidelines.

  If it weren't for Qiū Qiū herself speaking up for her own sake at the main peak, she would have been wronged to death and no one would have stood up for her.

  At that time, Jing Yuan was also watching from the side, and he didn't help this junior sister either. How could he possibly put on a strong front in front of her now?

  He fell silent, and the atmosphere became a bit awkward. Even the tea on the table had stopped steaming.

  It's really cold today.

  "I heard that the demon has been captured, those few real men are really impressive."

  "I've come over this time also to talk to my junior sister about this matter." Jing Yuan said softly, "Since Xue Xin Mo has already been caught, it's safe for Junior Sister to move back to Lian Hua Peak to live now."

  Autumn autumn slightly lowered her head.

  It's okay now, there's no danger, so it's fine to move back in.

  But when there was danger, how did those people treat her?

  This is when adversity reveals true feelings. Normally, everyone gets along on the surface, but once they're in a desperate situation, each and every one of them tears off their disguise and treats their fellow disciples like sworn enemies.

  "Shì yuǎn shī xiōng says it's right, however... Yesterday when I came to pay respects to Old Man Huang, he even asked me to stay for a few more days. Now saying we want to leave... It's somewhat too much like burning bridges and not giving face to Old Man Huang."

  Since Autumn has already brought out Huang Zhanglao's title, Jingyuan can't say anything about it.

  Besides... Master said to let Jingqiu return and live here, it's all about saving face. But how many people on Lianhua Peak really want to see Jingqiu? As soon as they see her, everyone will be reminded of the unpleasantness from a few days ago. Although this isn't Jingqiu's fault, people will inevitably misplace their anger.

  She won't go back... it's better this way.

  Jingyuan thought to himself that Jingyu Shixiong was being a bit too concerned about this little junior sister.

  To this master's first disciple, Jingyuan's psychology is complex.

  Even if he didn't want to compete with this senior brother at first, but after so many years, he couldn't help it.

  The master expected him to surpass Jingyue and become the first among the disciples of the Jing character, and even take over as the next head of the sect.

  The unfulfilled wish of his master in those years was now entrusted to him.

  And Lotus Peak's fellow disciples, whether openly or secretly, all harbored such hopes.

  He is also a outstanding figure among Jingzi's disciples, but... compared with Jingyue, he still lags behind by a narrow margin.

  He started further away than Jingyuan. Of course, when he first started practicing, there was already a difference. As the sect leader, Yuqing True Person naturally devoted all his energy to cultivating his own successor, and Yushui True Person also devoted all his energy to cultivating Jingyuan. However, the resources that the sect leader could obtain were naturally much more than those of a peak true person.

  Even if Jingyuan started without a competitive heart, after all these years, everything has been suppressed by Jingyue, and it's natural to have a strong desire to win.

  Now it's not just others, but also the matter of Qing Qiu Shifu. Obviously it was a matter of Lian Hua Peak, yet Jing Yue still had to intervene, and at the time when all the sects were invited to Wu Lou Mountain. When these people came, they couldn't help but mention Yu Xia Zhen Ren again, and then bring up her disciple. Once everyone knew that Yu Xia Zhen Ren was missing and her disciple was being neglected by Lian Hua Peak, it would still be someone from the main peak who took action to take care of things. Yu Shui Zhen Ren's face would truly be trampled on.

  Of course, Jing Qiu didn't understand these things. She was a young girl who was all alone and scared, so when Jing Yue stepped out to be the good guy, she was naturally grateful. She was being used by Zhu Feng.

  Jingyuan knew that just talking would not persuade her to return to Lianhua Peak with him, and if he said more, it would be counterproductive.

  "Then you take a good rest, I'll go first. Even if you're staying at Old Man Huang's place, don't fall behind in your cultivation practice, and don't slack off."

  Qiu Qiu obediently replied with an "en".

  Does she really not know the meaning of "coming from afar"?

  Qiu Qiu is not stupid.

  She's just a signboard showing the kindness of fellow disciples. After Yu Shui Zhenren brought her back to Lianhua Peak, he ignored her once he had saved face. Now that things have settled and there's no life-threatening crisis, it's time to put on a show again, so Yu Shui Zhenren has thought of her again, right?

  Of course, the master peak took care of her, and the reason was definitely not simple.

  Qiu Qiu sat down and picked at the wick of the candle.

  She didn't respond just now, firstly because of Old Man Huang, and secondly because of Shi Er. Shi Er said he would come back to look for her, so was she going to change places again and make him run an extra trip?

  However, Lianhuafeng still had to go back.

  Not for anything else, but because of that Round Moon Secret Realm - huh, this is the name Autumn herself gave to that space.

  The entrance is in Lianhua Peak, so Qiuqiu still has to go back.

  Compared with this great secret, the attitude of those people on Lianhua Peak is not worth mentioning.

  They took advantage of her, but Qiuqiu wasn't letting them take advantage of her for nothing either.

  Well, it's mutual use, I suppose?

  Qiu Qiu was certain that she wouldn't be staying in the sect for much longer. Xiuyuan Mountain had an abundance of spiritual energy and rich resources, but to Qiu Qiu, her master was more important.

  The child wants to take her to find her master.

  But before they leave, they have to figure out that secret realm. Maybe there's something good to dig up.

  Autumn is a lonely word, and courage may not be strong, but with children, it's different.

  She herself may not be aware of it, but as soon as the child arrives, Qiuqiu immediately falls asleep soundly, speaks stiffly, and has three thoughts in her mind, with the child appearing at least once.

  PS: Tomorrow I'll be on the road all day, including a 6-hour layover at the airport... Sweating. Will try to update continuously, but tomorrow's updates might be later and fewer than usual.