As an outsider, a third person in this strange situation, Zhi Ruo could actually see several questionable issues crystal clear.
Strong?
This wasn't even a question anymore! Being able to stand unharmed in the middle of this world of ice and snow, was that not a strong, glaring answer to her question?
If a person without dense cultivation were to be stranded here, he or she would have turned into an ice statue in just several breaths of time!
"Miss Xiao Yin can call Ruo'er old lady if that is to your liking, though it is Ruo'er's blessing if the miss calls her sister instead."
Zhi Ruo offered a gentle smile at the little girl with a giant pout. With her position, she did not need to speak politely to a mere little girl, but the fact that this smart girl already had a cultivation base warranted this kind of treatment.
It was respect to a genius, as well as a respect to this girl's mysterious background!
Zhi Ruo had long played with politics, being able to climb up inside the treacherous hierarchy of Ming Yue Sect. She prided herself on her ability to judge people. One look at Little Yin, and she could see so many points that made her worthy of being befriended.
"You speak in a funny way." Little Yin made a face at her. "Ugh. Reminds me of those uppity people in the palace."
This piece of information did not escape both Zhi Ruo's and Ye Mo's attention. Ye Mo did not say anything, pretending that he heard nothing, while Zhi Ruo kept this information for future use.
Orphan?
Could this information be false?
This girl could not be underestimated.
"Ruo'er has not even been properly summoned to the Blessed Palace, how can I observe and emulate the grace of the Qing Imperial Family?" Zhi Ruo shook her head, looking a little awkward. "This lowly one does not even have the heart to dare claim that I have the manners of the imperial family, so I beg Miss Xiao Yin to not make fun of me."
"Please, please speak a little simpler."
Little Yin was about to use her little finger to clean her ears, but Ye Mo was quick to swat her hand away, preventing the rude gesture. Little Yin got the message.
Despite the silent rebuke in Ye Mo's eyes, Little Yin relented to withholding the act, but continued to speak like a rogue. "I'm a kid, you know? If you talk for too long, I'll fall asleep."
Ye Mo wanted to cry. "You little brat! Can you not really clean your mouth? That is the third princess you are talking to. Show a little respect for seniority. Even I have to treat her like a little ancestor."
"A princess, no wonder she speaks gibberish." Little Yin then blinked innocently. "I'm your little ancestor too, you know."
"You—"
Seeing her probe fail, Zhi Ruo tactfully changed the flow of conversation because with the way the weird father-daughter combo were arguing, nothing would ever be resolved.
"Ruo'er is dull, but I can be the testament to Elder Ye's worry about Miss Xiao Yin, so please forgive him for going overboard. Though Ruo'er does not mind how Ruo'er is called, he surely has your best interests at heart."
The little girl gave Ye Mo an exasperated look.
"Is she your friend?"
Ye Mo thought for a while before nodding. "She is."
Zhi Ruo's amiable smile froze. What's with the overly long pause? This whole time, was their friendship one-sided?!
"If all your friends are like her, do not ever let me meet more. My poor brain can't keep up."
With that, Little Yin extended her hand.
"Before we forget, your spatial storage container, hand it over. We need to clean this up before the reinforcements come."
She even moved her fingers as emphasis. Really a rogue.
"If we stay too long, people will know we have plenty of treasures. I know there is a saying, 'Human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food'. I do not think your Ye Sect can even afford the retaliation of this sect, or else I know you would not have been alone in here this entire time."
"How did you know I've been alone?" Ye Mo wryly smiled. "Never mind. We will have a long talk once we return home. Leave those spatial pouches here. Those are not yours."
"No!" Little Yin looked like an angry tiger. "These are my spoils of war! No one is returning anything!"
Ye Mo groaned. "If you don't return it, how can the Saintess of Ming Yue Sect pretend to close her eyes to this daylight robbery?"
"Saintess?"
Ignoring the little girl's questioning gaze, Zhi Ruo finally made her dissatisfaction show. "Elder Ye, what made you think Ruo'er is going to cover up this incident?"
"Er, you will not?"
"Why should I?"
"Well, you helped me this entire—"
Yin was intelligent, and she could somehow understand where things stand despite not knowing all the details. Who would have guessed that instead of the usual ants, a bigshot actually came before she could harvest her spoils of war?
Worse, this bigshot was someone the old fogey considers a friend. However, for some reason, the dumb old fogey unknowingly offended her.
Yin decidedly interrupted them. "Stop bickering. I have a solution."
This statement got the two sword cultivators to pause their argument.
"If the two of you become husband and wife, the problems here will be solved. I can keep these three spatial storage containers, yeah? Besides, you are this sect's saintess, just treat these treasures as your dowry."
The two adults could only stare aghast at the righteous-looking little girl.
"Plus, when you two are married, you can bicker for the rest of your lives every freaking hour of every day of every week if you want. It's basically hitting two birds with a stone. Is this not a perfect solution?"
Ye Mo and Zhi Ruo could only vomit blood in anger!