A few days later, Lu Qingyun and his group had finally reached the vicinity of the Moon Demon Forest.
When they had arrived, thousands of cultivators from the hundreds of celestial clans had already set up camp in the place.
It did look like the majority of the core protégés and their escorts had already arrived and the entire vicinity was bustling with activities.
A female protégé of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa said as soon she saw the approach of their group, "Go to the white tent over there to register your names. A dwelling place will then be provided for you afterward."
Lu Qingyun was looking around when all of a sudden there was a pretty shout for him, "Brother Qingyun, you are finally here?"
He was startled by the voice and saw that it was Qian Jingjing who was giggling delightfully, "Brother Qingyun, we didn't see each other for a month now. So how have you been?"
Lu Qingyun laughed weakly, "It has only been one month. I am fine though. How have you been?"
"I'm fine too but I'm missing you very much." Qian Jingjing averted her eyes shyly and there was a slight flush on her.
Lu Qingyun: …
Yin Shisi, Ouyang Xue: …
Gongsun Ya: …
Gongsun Ya interrupted with a displeasure tone, "I wonder who this shameless maiden is, so it is the core protégé from the Spirit Sword Manor."
Qian Jingjing frowned lightly when she had recognized Gongsun Ya. But instead of talking back to her, she simply grabbed Lu Qingyun by his arm and said gently, "Brother Qingyun, let me take you to the white tent."
Yin Shisi, Ouyang Xue: …
All of a sudden Qian Jingjing had noticed that Yin Shisi and Ouyang Xue seemed to be following them. She asked politely, "I wonder how I may address these two golden celestials?"
In front of two golden celestials, she did not dare to be too impolite.
Lu Qingyun quickly introduced, "Erm…this one is my Elder Yin Shisi and this is Grand Elder Ouyang Xue."
Qian Jingjing was truly startled. She had thought that these two golden celestials were from the Alluring Blossoms Palace and instead they were from the Heavens Ridge Villa. No wonder they were following the two of them.
Ouyang Xue said coldly to her, "You should let go of his arm. He can walk by himself."
Qian Jingjing: …
She smiled weakly before she saw that Gongsun Ya was following as well so she said, "So who is the shameless one here? Why are you following us?"
Gongsun Ya hummed coldly, "What a laudable joke. Do you own this piece of road here? Can't you see that we are all here for the very first time and we are all going to report our arrival first? Or are you blind?"
Qian Jingjing: …
Once again she had put her arm around Lu Qingyun as she said, "Come, Brother Qingyun. We shall ignore her."
Ouyang Xue said, "Hey, your arm…"
But Yin Shisi had caught hold of her hand and gently shook her head. It was as though she was saying, let her be.
In a while time, Lu Qingyun and the other seven core protégés in his group had all entered the white tent and the protégés of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa had promptly recorded his arrival and had given him a tablet for his dwelling place.
The questions asked were really simple.
"Your name and celestial clan of origin."
"What is the size of your escort party?"
"Any golden celestials? What are their celestial titles?"
When he had answered that there was a Saintess Yin Shisi, all the protégés of the Heavenly Fragrance Villa were startled as they looked quietly in his direction.
A saintess was in the camp with them? This was a most astonishing thing!
When Lu Qingyun had left the white tent, he had immediately bumped into the twin sisters, Zhao Riyue and Zhao Xingye. When they saw Lu Qingyun, they simply greeted him softly. "Senior!" And they had quickly hastened their steps.
It was not because they did not want to see Lu Qingyun or to talk to him but there were too many eyes and ears of their fellow protégés around. That was why they had shyly greeted Lu Qingyun before they quickly went on their way.
Lu Qingyun was glad that there were some familiar faces that he knew in this place. He began to wonder if Lie Xingyuan and Leng Qiuyue may be around?
But he soon shook his head. It was because they were new protégés and it was unlikely that they would be given any new missions.
Qian Jingjing who was waiting for Lu Qingyun outside the white tent had witnessed the twin sisters talking to him and she had immediately jumped next to him, "You know them?"
Lu Qingyun nodded weakly before he said, "Maiden Qian, we are going to check our tents now. Why don't we chat later?"
Qian Jingjing giggled softly, "Then I shall follow you first. There are so many tents around. It will be quite troublesome for me to find you afterward, don't you think so?"
Lu Qingyun stole a glance at Ouyang Xue and Yin Shisi but they were all purposely looking the other way.
So he replied to Qian Jingjing, "Alright then."
Qian Jingjing asked him, "Brother Qingyun, did you meet with any dangers when you come? Or any interesting events? Hurry and share with me!"
As Qian Jingjing and Lu Qingyun walked away, Ouyang Xue muttered almost incoherently. "She is really too shameless. I didn't know that the Spirit Sword Manor has such a shameless core protégé."
Yin Shisi smiled, "On the other hand, I think that she is perfectly smart to know what she wants. I wish that I can as shameless as her."
Ouyang Xue was stumbled for words, "..."
She smiled weakly before saying quietly, "I have already given up on him. If that Maiden Qian Jingjing is smart enough, she ought to give up on him."
Yin Shisi said quietly, "You are hinting me something?"
Ouyang Xue said, "Senior brother has only one person in his heart and you should know who she is by now."
"Maybe it is only a one-sided thing that is from him." Yin Shisi said after a short hesitation. "The Great Saintess Fan Yuqing has a state of divinity that most celestials cannot hope to comprehend. She may not even appreciate him or have a place for him in her heart. But for me, I am willing to lower myself for his sake."
Ouyang Xue smiled faintly, "How do you know that she will not lower herself as well?"
"Because she is the Great Saintess Fan Yuqing. She has to carry the burden of her renown. She simply can't be with any lowly cultivator. That will be a great loss of her face." Yin Shisi said matter of fact.
Ouyang Xue was smiling weakly at the strong conviction that Yin Shisi had. She had wanted to say something but she had thought it was wiser not to tell anyone. After all, she was not supposed to discuss about the Great Saintess Fan Yuqing and moreover it was disrespectful to discuss about her sect leader behind the back.
She had thought, "How come sometimes I feel that Qin Keqin can be capable of disregarding her loss of face and doing some shameful acts on the sly?" She had questioned her old father about the events that had happened during the Core Protégé Tournament and was stunned that Qin Keqin had cheated with her old man so that the match would be in favor of Lu Qingyun.