The one she knew the least about was this third disciple, who possessed a gentle and pure character.
Youwei, this child, has always thought of others first since she was young. She buries any grievances deep within her heart. Forget me, even the 'Music Sage' she's closest to doesn't truly know what's on her mind...
Still, precisely because she is well-read, courteous, gentle, and considerate, perhaps… she's the most suitable Daoist companion for Xiao'er?
Xiao Hongling silently mused.
At the same time, an inexplicable sense of melancholy deepened in her heart.
Alas, it seems there are quite a few women who both like Xiao'er and are suitable for him...
At this moment, under the gazes of the three young women, Chu Youwei stepped forward gracefully, curtsied to her Master, and then spoke gently, "Master, the way I see Eldest Senior Brother might be somewhat different from how others see him."
Hearing this, all three women were taken aback.
Xiao Hongling's phoenix eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. "Oh? Do tell, what is your Eldest Senior Brother like in your heart?"
"I won't repeat what Senior Sister and Junior Sister said about his kindness and gentleness," Chu Youwei said with a gentle smile, offering a rare glimpse of her cute canine teeth. "In my view, Eldest Senior Brother's true nature is extremely endearing. He is worldly-wise yet not cynical, refined but not vulgar. He might occasionally act in quirky ways, but he's never inappropriate or improper, always maintaining the demeanor of a true gentleman."
"Most importantly, he's soft-hearted but pretends to be tough. He often complains and grumbles in his peculiar hometown dialect, seemingly criticizing and ridiculing others. However, when it truly matters, he always compromises and takes care of every junior sister. A man like that, whose actions don't always match his words, who appears frivolous on the surface but is actually gentle and kind underneath—isn't he adorable?"
When she finished speaking, Guo Yourong and Lu Yingying, her rivals in love, couldn't help but smile and applaud in agreement!
They couldn't help it; their Eldest Senior Brother truly was the most lovable man in the world!
At this moment, even the beautiful woman in the seat of honor, Xiao Hongling, tossed aside the wine jar in her hand. She roared with laughter, her long, beautiful legs shaking with mirth.
"Ah, yes, yes, yes! You're absolutely right! I also think your Eldest Senior Brother is incredibly adorable. It's just... *cough cough*, I haven't read as many books as you, Youwei, so I'm not as good at expressing it. But that's basically what I mean!" Xiao Hongling affirmed once again.
Lu Yingying chimed in, "Exactly! A man as adorable as Eldest Senior Brother probably attracts all the girls, right?"
As she said this, her clear, bright eyes swept over her two senior sisters beside her.
Xiao Hongling continued, "Siya has a point. That boy certainly is popular with women. After all, even I... Scratch that. I mean, even your Senior Sister Zhu from next door probably has feelings for him."
At the mention of "Zhu Wanning," the smiles vanished from the three girls' faces, and they instantly turned serious.
There was a palpable air of shared animosity among them!
Yes, the three of them could compete fairly for Eldest Senior Brother, but they would absolutely not allow an outsider to try and get a piece of the pie!
"Alright, I'll get straight to the point about why I summoned you today." Xiao Hongling pursed her lips, mulled it over for a moment, and finally said, "I want to... find a Daoist companion for your Eldest Senior Brother, so they can marry soon."
Upon hearing this, all three girls stared, their eyes wide with astonishment.
"Chairman, there's trouble!"
Just then, Feixue, the chief steward of the mountain, burst in to report, "Just now, I went to invite Chief Lin as the Chairman ordered, but I found out that he…"
"What happened to Xiao'er?" Xiao Hongling asked, her expression tense.
"Chief Lin is missing!" the steward relayed anxiously. "Not only that, but he also left a letter. It said he went to Beacon City alone to meet the North Territory Queen, considering the greater good. He also requested that the Chairman not worry, swearing he would return safe and sound!"
"What nonsense!" Xiao Hongling's expression changed drastically. She jumped to her feet.
"Master... Master, where are you going!?" the three girls asked.
"Where else would I go? To Beacon City, of course! To discipline your future husband! And also—to teach that ignorant North Territory Queen a lesson!"
Xiao Hongling's willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed coldly. With a flick of her sleeve, her seductive, sheer nightgown instantly transformed into a majestic, fire-red robe embroidered with golden phoenixes. At the same time, the Azure Phoenix Immortal Sword, as if summoned, shot through the air and hovered at the entrance of the Blessed Abode.
At this moment, everyone, including the steward Feixue, was stunned!
This was the second time they had seen their usually lazy Master display such a worried and tense expression!
The previous time was during the Five Branches Martial Competition, when Ye Chen had broken Eldest Senior Brother's arm, and he was being targeted by everyone present!
"Master, please allow me to accompany you to rescue Eldest Senior Brother!" Chu Youwei was the first to speak up.
Guo Yourong, not to be outdone, declared, "I wish to go too!"
"If I fly to the border on my sword using Sword Control at full speed, it will take only six hours. Bringing you along would slow me down and we might lose precious time," Xiao Hongling said, biting her lip. "However, if you insist, my Azure Phoenix Sword can carry one extra person…"
"This…" Chu Youwei and Guo Yourong glanced at each other. For a moment, neither seemed willing to yield.
Just then, a heart-wrenching sob from a young girl echoed, "Master, Yingying… I miss Eldest Senior Brother so much! If anything happens to him, I don't want to live anymore!"
"I don't care who Eldest Senior Brother marries! I just want him to be safe and sound! BOO HOO HOO…"
Hearing their junior sister's heart-rending cries, even Guo Yourong and Chu Youwei, who were just vying with each other, felt a pang of sympathy.
Chu Youwei began, "Senior Sister, perhaps…"
Before she could finish, Guo Yourong nodded. "I agree! Let Yingying go see Eldest Senior Brother. She's just a child, after all! As for you and me, we can settle things later!"
Seeing the two older girls come to an agreement, Xiao Hongling crouched down to the petite young girl, who only came up to her chest, and said gently, "Alright, Yingying, stop crying. I'll take you to find your Eldest Senior Brother now! Don't worry, no one can harm a disciple of Xiao Hongling!"
"Oh, okay… Yay! Thank you, Master! Master is the best!" The young girl wiped her tears, her face breaking into a smile.
At the same time, her small, delicate hands unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her skirt, and her slender legs, clad in white stockings, inexplicably pressed together.
Eldest Senior Brother, of course I believe you'll be fine! I just want to get away from my two senior sisters and be alone with you! And also… Eldest Senior Brother, you don't know this yet, do you? I've secretly cut a part of these white stockings. You'll definitely like it. Recalling those moments in the washroom at Hongyan Pavilion, a heat rose within her. My dear senior sisters! Eldest Senior Brother… has long been mine, you know!
「Beacon City.」
The carriage had just entered the city gates when Lin Xiao suddenly woke up.
He was surprised to find he had fallen asleep on Ye Xuan'er's lap.
"What's wrong, Brother Xiao?" Ye Xuan'er softly asked.
"No, I'm sorry. I just had a dream… I dreamt my Master was coming for me." Lin Xiao broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly wiped it away and sat up. "My apologies, Xuan'er. We're already in the city, and I was sleeping on your lap, the North Territory Queen. How rude of me."
"It doesn't matter. Who decreed that a queen cannot be close to the man she likes?" Ye Xuan'er said, gracefully tucking a strand of her ice-blue hair, her smile as radiant as a flower.
Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned.
Perhaps because she had been on battlefields from a young age and was used to grand occasions, this main female protagonist from the original novel was not shy like Zhu Wanning or his junior sisters. She was remarkably candid and natural in her interactions.
"Uh… In any case, we should still be more careful in front of others," Lin Xiao said, forcing a smile.
"Then… what about when it's just the two of us alone, my dear Brother Xiao?" the young queen pouted, tilting his chin up with her fingers. A playful smile spread across her beautiful face.
"This…" Lin Xiao could clearly feel her steering the conversation in *that* direction again!
Truth be told! In the more than ten years since he'd transmigrated, he, Lin Xiao, had always been the one playing the scoundrel, teasing women with suggestive remarks. Never before had a woman flirted with *him* so openly! Ye Xuan'er was the first!
"Well, about that…" Just as Lin Xiao was about to speak, his lips were suddenly sealed by hers!
"Brother Xiao, the royal embroidered bed I had brought from the North Territory… it's quite large, you know~"
Lin Xiao was utterly speechless.