Bai Xuan perhaps feared Xi Xi finding out. She sneaked back to her own room just as dawn was breaking while staying at Ye Chu’s place. Her guilty, thief-like cover-up made Ye Chu find it amusing. But knowing Bai Xuan was thin-skinned, he did not stop her.
Bai Xuan felt somewhat relieved. Not long after she returned to her room, Xi Xi burst in and then clung to her, insisting on going somewhere.
Ye Chu watched the three of them leave, smiled, and went to check on the madman in seclusion at the back mountain. Seeing there was still no sound from inside, he knew the fellow was still sleeping.
“Ye Chu, I suddenly thought of a way to make the entire Wuxin Peak look magnificent and beautiful.” Just as Ye Chu turned to leave and continue cultivating the black iron patterns in hopes of reaching the Primordial Spirit Realm soon, Ouyi jumped out from who knows where.
“No!” Ye Chu looked at Ouyi and quickly said, “Um… I think Wuxin Peak looks pretty good right now!”
Are you kidding? Who would dare use any method this madman came up with? If it did not turn Wuxin Peak into a complete mess, it would be a miracle. One Jin Wawa had already filled the place with gold ingot-shaped things. If another lunatic joined in, could Wuxin Peak still be lived in?
Ouyi paid no attention to Ye Chu’s words. He said mysteriously, “That lunatic Jin Wawa has been building gold ingots all over Wuxin Peak. What a vulgar person. I think we cannot add any more gold ingots to the mountain from now on.”
Ye Chu nodded deeply in agreement. “Second Senior Brother truly has insight. Have you considered tearing down all those gold ingot-shaped things?”
Ouyi thought for a moment, then said, “Never mind! I am a normal person. I will not stoop to arguing with a lunatic!”
“…” Ye Chu felt like he was about to suffocate. You are the only normal one?
“Um… I have some things to do, so I will go first…” Ye Chu did not want to stay long with this madman, fearing his own mind would become twisted too.
“Do not rush off! Let me tell you what I thought of.” Ouyi grabbed Ye Chu. “Though Jin Wawa is vulgar, his carving skills are not bad. I was thinking, since I am so handsome, if I carved myself into paintings or statues, would it not add so much charm to Wuxin Peak? The entire mountain would be enveloped in my handsomeness.”
“Holy…” Ye Chu could no longer endure this madman’s idea. Ignoring Ouyi completely, he turned and ran.
“Do not go… Do you not think my unparalleled handsomeness, carved onto Wuxin Peak, would instantly elevate its status to the extreme?” Ouyi tried to grab Ye Chu, but Ye Chu had already disappeared without a trace.
Watching Ye Chu flee, Ouyi muttered, “Ye Chu, that lunatic, does not understand either. Never mind him. First, I need to find a suitable tool. To carve my likeness, I must use the best carving knife to match me. Hmm, which peak on Qingmi Mountain has a suitable carving knife? Let me think!”
“…”
Ye Chu cursed inwardly. He thought: Sure enough, they are all lunatics. Ye Chu wondered if he should ask the old madman to rein them in. If these lunatics kept messing around like this, could Wuxin Peak still be lived in?
…
At the foot of Wuxin Peak, Yaoyao dragged Xi Xi running around. Yaoyao had a special fondness for flowers. The first time Ye Chu met her, it was because she wanted to pick a flower and fell into the lake, nearly dragging Bai Xuan down with her.
Qingmi Mountain had spring-like weather all year round. The plants around grew exceptionally well. Under the shade of large trees at the foot of the peak, various clusters of flowers bloomed. Yaoyao hopped among them, joyful and excited. Bai Xuan watched and could not help smiling, thinking how children’s worlds were always so pure and carefree, lifting everyone’s mood.
“Yaoyao, do not run too far!” Xi Xi called out as she saw Yaoyao running and jumping ahead. She hurried to catch up, wanting to hold Yaoyao.
But just as Xi Xi caught up and was about to pick Yaoyao up, a pair of hands suddenly appeared and scooped Yaoyao away. Yaoyao was held by a strange man.
Xi Xi froze, looking at the man opposite her. Her face paled. “Yong Jing, let her go!”
Xi Xi had no choice but to change colour. Yong Jing was an entry-level disciple of Yong Peak, with high status there. He was one of the key disciples Yong Peak was focused on nurturing. He had often troubled her before, but she had always avoided him, so he had never managed to do anything to her.
“Stinky girl, I thought you would hide forever on top of Wuxin Peak and never come down. Finally caught you this time, huh?” Yong Jing looked at Xi Xi with smugness and menace.
Two days ago, Yong Peak’s enforcement elder and several disciples had their legs broken by Wuxin Peak. They had been guarding the foot of Wuxin Peak ever since. A rundown peak like Wuxin Peak dared to go against Yong Peak. If they did not teach them a lesson, they would think Yong Peak was easy to bully.
“Let me go, let me go!” Yaoyao cried, kicking and punching. In the end, she even spat at Yong Jing and bit his arm hard.
“Seeking death!” Yong Jing felt pain and loosened his grip. He raised his hand to slap her. Seeing this, Xi Xi rushed forward, hugged Yaoyao, and took the slap herself. A red, swollen handprint appeared on her face, five clear fingerprints visible.
“Xi Xi!” Bai Xuan saw it and ran forward, glaring at Yong Jing. She reached out to hold Xi Xi and pulled both girls behind her.
Yong Jing looked at Bai Xuan, stunned by her beauty. Greed flashed in his eyes. “When did Wuxin Peak get such a stunning beauty? Is this the outsider the enforcement elder mentioned was brought in? Beauty, how about spending a night with me?”
After Yong Jing finished speaking, he and the group behind him burst into loud laughter.
Xi Xi knew how powerful Yong Jing was. She pulled Bai Xuan, who was glaring furiously at them. “Sister Bai Xuan, let us go!”
Bai Xuan looked at the badly swollen red mark on Xi Xi’s face, tears welling in her eyes. She felt useless, letting Xi Xi suffer such humiliation because of Yaoyao.
“Go? Wuxin Peak broke the legs of Yong Peak’s enforcement elder. I will not make things difficult for you. Just break your legs and we will call it even.” Yong Jing snorted and said to one of his companions, “Go! Break this stinky girl’s legs!”
“Yes…” Several companions grew excited. They were indeed afraid of Wuxin Peak’s lunatics and did not dare go up the mountain. But since they had come down on their own, they could not blame anyone. Break their legs, hide on Yong Peak, and who could do anything about it? Even if Wuxin Peak’s old madman came, he would have to endure it. Yong Peak’s grudge would finally be avenged.
One companion grabbed a wooden stick and swung it toward Xi Xi’s legs. Bai Xuan saw it and threw herself forward, shielding Xi Xi. The stick struck Bai Xuan’s back hard.
A crisp sound exploded in the air. The stick broke. Bai Xuan cried out in pain and was sent crashing to the ground. Splinters from the broken stick flew outward.
“Sister Bai Xuan!” Xi Xi screamed, eyes bloodshot. She tightly held Bai Xuan, refusing to let her collapse completely.
“Auntie!” Yaoyao wailed loudly, hugging Bai Xuan, her voice filled with sorrow. Tears fell onto Bai Xuan’s clothes.
Yong Jing looked at Bai Xuan lying on the ground and thought what a pity it was for such a beauty to suffer. Seeing Xi Xi’s blood-red eyes and the way she looked like a wild beast ready to fight desperately, he actually felt a trace of fear.
Yong Jing looked at Xi Xi’s blood-red, beast-like eyes and feared she might go all out. He did not dare truly kill Xi Xi. He snorted and said, “This time I will let you off. But from now on, whenever you see anyone from Yong Peak, stay far away.”
With that, he laughed loudly and swaggered away.