After Crossdressing and Provoking Long AoTian

Ye Chenyan stared at the vagrant-like cultivator in front of him. “Aren’t you his senior brother?”

He deliberately tilted his head with a smile. “‘Senior Brother Du Heng of Fire Cauldron Sect.’ Why not meet openly and honestly?”

Even though his identity had been exposed, Du Heng did not panic. Instead, he smiled and shook his head. “You even eavesdrop. Isn’t that even more inappropriate?”

Ye Chenyan withdrew his spear and raised a brow at him. “You’re that pill cultivator.”

“Ah.” Du Heng sighed and touched his messy hair. “I clearly disguised myself. Why does it feel like everyone can see through me?”

“I heard the old Pill King of Fire Cauldron Sect is in poor condition and will soon enter death seclusion. He isn’t seeing anyone.” As Ye Chenyan mentioned the old Pill King, Du Heng’s casual expression gradually sank.

“The old Pill King’s former chief disciple is wandering outside. It really does look suspicious.” Ye Chenyan withdrew his gaze. “But it isn’t convenient for us to meddle in another sect’s affairs... unless you have a bargaining chip that can move me.”

Du Heng laughed despite himself. “What you want to know is nothing more than his ‘secret.’”

Ye Chenyan looked at him deeply. “How about a trade?”

Du Heng narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, then suddenly laughed. “Forget it.”

With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left with easy elegance. “In my life, what I hate most is the ungrateful. This ‘little junior sister’ of mine from another sect said he would help me. If I turn around and tell you his secret, I’m afraid I’d be unworthy of being his senior brother.”

As the two brushed past each other, Ye Chenyan did not stop him. He only laughed once. “That’s fine. There are some things I prefer investigating myself.”

“It isn’t convenient for us to meddle in Fire Cauldron Sect’s affairs, but I’ll have my Master write the old Pill King a letter. Perhaps it can deter them a little.”

Du Heng stopped in some surprise, then shook his head with a helpless smile and tossed a small bundle behind him.

Ye Chenyan reached out and caught it. Inside were a number of bottles and jars.

“Courtesy demands reciprocity.” Du Heng smiled. “These really are sweet.”

“And...”

He looked back at Ye Chenyan deeply. “Junior Brother Ye, if you think you’re a cat playing with a mouse and victory is already in your grasp, be careful you don’t lose the whole game.”

Ye Chenyan tightened his grip on the medicine bottle in his hand, a subtle displeasure crossing his face.

But Du Heng had already vanished into the night. Ye Chenyan put away his spear and lightly knocked on Yu Qingtang’s tightly shut window.

Not long after, Yu Qingtang opened the window with a helpless, somewhat sleepy expression. “Why are you back again...”

When he saw who was in front of him, he froze for an instant. “It’s... it’s you.”

Ye Chenyan asked him with a smile, “Who came back again?”

Yu Qingtang’s eyes shifted. He pointed behind Ye Chenyan. “A little bird.”

“A little bird knocked on my window just now.”

“Oh—” Ye Chenyan propped his chin on his hand, the smile on his face fading slightly. “Only a little bird came looking for you tonight?”

Yu Qingtang felt guilty, but he still clung to a fluke. “And... and you.”

Ye Chenyan raised a brow, let out a soft scoff, and casually tossed Du Heng’s bundle to him.

Yu Qingtang caught it in a flustered scramble, then opened it in confusion and took a look. “What is this? More medicine?”

He became visibly wary. “What weird flavor is it this time?”

Ye Chenyan raised a brow. “Sweet.”

Yu Qingtang paused, opened a bottle, and sniffed it. It really was sweet, just like candy beans.

Yu Qingtang lifted his eyes to look at him, a little embarrassed. “Did you... buy these?”

“No.” Ye Chenyan’s expression was unpleasant. “Your ‘senior brother’ gave them.”

“Senior brother?” Yu Qingtang did not react right away. He paused, then looked behind Ye Chenyan. “My senior brother came looking for me? Which senior brother?”

Ye Chenyan took a deep breath. “How many senior brothers do you have?”

“Huh?” Yu Qingtang looked baffled. “I’m ranked twentieth in the sect. Aside from three senior sisters, I have sixteen senior brothers.”

“You can’t even count that?”

Ye Chenyan closed his eyes, then lifted the corners of his mouth in a smile that did not reach his eyes. “It’s not just sixteen.”

Yu Qingtang was confused. “Hm?”

That shouldn’t be right. Even if more people joined the sect, they would be his junior brothers. Where was he supposed to find even more senior brothers?

“Forget it.” Ye Chenyan stood. “Go to sleep.”

With a subtle, inexplicable displeasure, he turned and stepped along the roof eaves toward his own room.

“Hey—” Yu Qingtang hurriedly called him back. Ye Chenyan turned his head. “What else do you have to say?”

Yu Qingtang thought for a moment, then lifted the bottles and jars in his hands. “You don’t want to split some?”

Ye Chenyan turned his head away. “I don’t want them.”

“I just love sour and spicy things.”

Yu Qingtang opened his mouth, unsure where this person’s temper had come from. But since Ye Chenyan had said so himself, Yu Qingtang had no choice but to reluctantly put away the sweet pills. Casually, he agreed, “That’s pretty good. Sour for sons, spicy for daughters—means you like either one.”

Ye Chenyan’s steps paused. He turned back to glare at him, only to find that this guy had already shut the window and returned to his room one step ahead of him.

“You!” Ye Chenyan took a deep breath, dove into his own room, lay flat on the bed, and gritted his teeth. “Fine.”

“Not one true word in that mouth of his.”

...

When Yu Qingtang came downstairs the next day, Ye Chenyan had already ordered food below.

Their gazes met. Ye Chenyan smiled as he always did. “You’re up? Come eat breakfast.”

Yu Qingtang observed his expression. “You’re not angry anymore?”

Ye Chenyan raised his brows in confusion. “Was I angry?”

Yu Qingtang was even more confused than he was. “You weren’t?”

Ye Chenyan laughed and lifted two buns. “Meat or vegetable?”

Yu Qingtang honestly raised his bowl. “Both.”

Ye Chenyan laughed despite himself and pressed both buns into his bowl. “Just eat.”

His gaze passed over Yu Qingtang’s shoulder as he quietly studied the people coming and going through the inn so early in the morning—they looked like an escort team.

Yu Qingtang noticed his gaze and curiously turned his head as well, only for Ye Chenyan to swiftly turn him back with quick eyes and quicker hands.

“Tsk.” Ye Chenyan clicked his tongue lightly. “Who stares like that?”

“Oh.” Yu Qingtang shifted on his seat, scooted to his side, and lowered his voice to ask, “What are you looking at?”

Helpless, Ye Chenyan could only tell him. “The leader of that escort team is a married woman. It’s rare to see a woman running escorts, so I looked a few more times.”

“Oh—” Yu Qingtang drew the sound out and asked him, “Is she pretty?”

“I...” Ye Chenyan choked, about to deny it, then suddenly paused. The corners of his mouth curved up, and he deliberately said, “She is.”

“Heroic and valiant. Worthy of admiration.”

Yu Qingtang slowly leaned back. He knew it. Long Aotian’s nature was hard to change!

“What’s with that look?” Ye Chenyan stuffed a bun into his mouth. “I’m wholeheartedly devoted to Miss Yu. Have you forgotten?”

Yu Qingtang: “...”

He really had almost forgotten.

“It’s fine.” Yu Qingtang patted his shoulder. Anyway, Long Aotian’s wholehearted devotion was always just a phase. Yu Qingtang did not believe it.

“I only noticed they’ve run into some trouble.” Ye Chenyan folded his arms. “Their escort team only has four or five cultivators. Aside from that married woman, who is at Golden Core, the others barely count as having entered the path.”

“But from what I can tell, that woman seems injured and in poor condition. She looks hurried, and as if she’s avoiding enemies.” Ye Chenyan looked thoughtful. “I’m afraid they’ve gotten into trouble.”

Before he even finished speaking, the escort team that had been preparing to withdraw from the inn seemed to be blocked head-on by their enemies and slowly retreated back inside.

A sinister laugh came from outside the door. “Heh heh. Run. Keep running!”

“Don’t push people too far!” The members of the escort team formed a circle in the main hall to defend against the enemy. The only Golden Core woman held a long whip, her beautiful eyes full of anger.

Yu Qingtang slowly took the half-eaten bun out of his mouth, turned to look at Ye Chenyan, and lowered his voice. “Does this count as you having a crow’s mouth?”

Ye Chenyan shrugged innocently. “I merely saw the situation clearly.”

“Mother!” While the two of them were still talking, a girl of fourteen or fifteen suddenly rushed down from upstairs.

“Lulu, go back!” The woman’s face showed anxiety, and in that instant, she revealed an opening. The attackers outside did not pass up such an opportunity and directly launched an attack.

Yu Qingtang’s hands moved faster than his brain. “Save them!”

The two of them flew out at the same time. Yu Qingtang grabbed the girl called Lulu, and the Dragon-Crane Zither rose into the air, its invisible sound waves blocking the attack outside.

Lulu stared at him blankly. Yu Qingtang lifted his head confidently—finally, he had also gotten a chance to look cool!

Filled with fighting spirit, he carried the zither. “Ye Chenyan, I’m here to help you!”

He had only stepped out the door when, outside, Ye Chenyan stood with his long spear held horizontally. The pursuers had collapsed all over the ground in crooked heaps, and the only one who could still move was kneeling and begging for mercy.

Yu Qingtang silently pulled his foot back. “...Forget it. Pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Ye Chenyan’s eyes curved with his smile. “Having the thought is enough.”

Yu Qingtang squatted down to look at the unlucky fellow on the ground. “Where did these villains come from now? Robbing people in broad daylight?”

“They’re just desperadoes from the Wealth-Gathering Sect.” At the inn entrance, Lulu supported the woman as they came out together. The woman gratefully saluted them. “I am Jin Linglong of Jinwei Escort Agency. Many thanks to you two prodigies for lending your aid!”

Ye Chenyan raised a brow. “Wealth-Gathering Sect?”

“Swindlers and cheats, all snakes and rats in the same nest.” Jin Linglong laughed bitterly. “Running into them this time can only be called our bad luck.”

After hearing this much, Yu Qingtang scratched his head in confusion. There did not seem to be such a segment in the original novel.

Wealth-Gathering Sect, Jinwei Escort Agency—he had no impression of any of them.

But in the original novel, the stretch of road where Ye Chenyan and Miaoyin Xian traveled to Qingzhou had used the great time-skip method. Now that he was personally experiencing it, there would always be a bit more than what was in the book. Thinking about it that way, it was normal.

Ye Chenyan looked thoughtful. “Are you heading for Qingzhou?”

“Yes.” Jin Linglong’s eyes lit up. “Could it be that you two are also...”

Ye Chenyan saluted politely. “We’re going to Qingzhou for the Golden Core Competition.”

Jin Linglong came to a sudden understanding. “Young heroes of your age and talent naturally wouldn’t miss such a grand event.”

She pondered briefly, then suddenly walked closer and saluted them solemnly. “I’ll be honest. The reason those people targeted us this time is because of an immortal grass.”

She raised her hand and revealed a silver-white immortal grass wreathed in lightning. “I wonder whether this Thunder Spirit Grass would be enough payment to ask you two to travel with us to Qingzhou?”

Yu Qingtang’s eyes slowly widened.

Thunder Spirit Grass. Wasn’t this the thing Long Aotian was supposed to obtain back at the Qi Refining stage? How had it ended up here?

Ye Chenyan’s expression shifted slightly. He was somewhat tempted, so he turned to discuss it with Yu Qingtang. “Miss Qingtang, this Thunder Spirit Grass is useful to me. My spirit pet Lightning happens to lack this particular immortal grass. How about...”

Yu Qingtang came back to himself and nodded blankly. “Oh, oh. I’m fine with it.”

But the plot seemed to have developed a major problem.

...

They decided to travel together.

Yu Qingtang sat in the carriage with his chin propped on one hand, thinking about life. Ye Chenyan had gone out to scout the surroundings, and after he returned, he sat directly beside him. “What are you thinking about?”

Yu Qingtang slowly leaned over to Ye Chenyan and whispered by his ear, “I helped you ask around clearly.”

“Hm?” Ye Chenyan was somewhat confused.

“Madam Jin was widowed young and raised her daughter alone. She’s not yet forty now.” Yu Qingtang patted his shoulder lightly. “Her family property is substantial.”

Ye Chenyan slowly narrowed his eyes.

Yu Qingtang continued, “I think you can consider marrying into this family, but there’s one thing.”

He raised one finger, his expression solemn. “You cannot make a move on her daughter. A person has to have a bottom line.”

He knew some Long Aotians did not have much of a bottom line. He hoped Comrade Ye Chenyan still had one.

Ye Chenyan took a deep breath and slowly revealed a smile carrying a faint hint of killing intent. He tightly pinched Yu Qingtang’s finger. “Miss Yu.”

“I am whole. Heart. Ed. Ly. Devoted. To you.”

Author’s Note:

Next, let us invite Ye Chenyan to perform a song for everyone—How Many Good Senior Brothers Do You Actually Have? Applause!

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