Xiao Yi tugged at Lü Shaoqing's sleeve again. "Second Senior Brother, this isn't a good idea."
"Don't disturb Senior Brother. He won't be happy."
Deep down, Xiao Yi didn't want Xiao Qun to meet Ji Yan.
Xiao Qun, displeased, snapped, "Xiao Yi, what do you mean by that?"
"What? Is it wrong for me to pay my respects to Ji Yan? Who do you think you are? What right do you have to stop me?"
Xiao Yi retorted proudly, "I'm his junior sister—his actual junior sister, from the same sect."
She puffed out her chest, feeling a sense of pride.
However, hearing this only made Xiao Qun angrier. "That's because you took what was rightfully mine! If your uncle hadn't favored you, would you have been able to join Tianyu Peak?"
"This was all supposed to be mine."
Turning to Lü Shaoqing, she demanded, "Take me to see Ji Yan."
"If you help me, I'll make sure you're rewarded. My grandfather is a Nascent Soul stage expert. Help me, and you'll have my favor."
Lü Shaoqing's eyes lit up, and a wide grin spread across his face as he rubbed his hands together like a sycophant.
"Oh, Miss Xiao, you're too kind."
"Talking about favors makes us seem distant. We're all family here. Helping each other is only natural."
Xiao Yi, frustrated, stomped her foot. Right now, her Second Senior Brother looked like a complete sycophant.
"Second Senior Brother, why are you acting like this?" she said, feeling both angry and disappointed.
Could it be that her Second Senior Brother was really afraid of the Great Elder?
But he was just a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. What's so impressive about that?
Xiao Yi continued, "Second Senior Brother, you shouldn't be afraid. So what if he's a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator?"
Lü Shaoqing frowned. "What do you know about mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, little girl?"
"Do you even understand how powerful that is? Even Master isn't on that level."
"Step aside. Let the adults talk. Children shouldn't interfere."
Xiao Yi felt even more disheartened, stomping hard enough to leave a small crater in the ground.
"Let's go, Miss Xiao. Ignore her. She's just a child who doesn't understand."
Xiao Qun looked at Xiao Yi with a smug, taunting expression.
See? Even your Second Senior Brother bows to reality.
"Hahaha," Xiao Qun laughed triumphantly.
Xiao Yi's eyes welled up, filled with anger and frustration. She felt wronged. She never expected her Second Senior Brother to bow down and become subservient as soon as he found out Xiao Qun was the Great Elder's granddaughter.
A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator—so what?
Is that really so great?
"Second Senior Brother, you're not allowed to go," Xiao Yi said, clenching her teeth.
Lü Shaoqing replied indifferently, "If you don't want to come, then stay here."
Then, turning back to Xiao Qun with a smile, he said, "Miss Xiao, let's go. I'll show you the way."
Xiao Qun shot Xiao Yi a smug look, raising her chin proudly. "Let's go."
Seeing Xiao Qun's arrogance, Xiao Yi stomped her foot again, biting her lip as she reluctantly followed them.
Along the way, the young Xiao family members accompanying Xiao Qun began mocking Lü Shaoqing.
"Look at him. He's not bad-looking, but he's just a coward."
"Yeah, it's really disappointing."
"All show, no substance. Just a paper tiger."
"I thought the people from Tianyu Peak would all be real men, but it looks like only Ji Yan is worth anything."
"A coward like that is disgusting."
"Thank goodness the young lady didn't join the sect. Otherwise, our branch would've been disgraced."
"Exactly. The family head miscalculated, not expecting Xiao Yi's Second Senior Brother to be such a coward."
"Hehe."
Hearing the others gossip about Lü Shaoqing, Xiao Yi became even angrier. She glared at them and snapped, "What nonsense are you all talking about?"
"Shut up, you jerks!"
Her retort only made them laugh even louder.
"Are you mad? Look at how your Second Senior Brother is behaving."
"How can you argue when he's acting like this?"
"If he's not a coward, then what is he?"
"Hahaha."
Xiao Yi wanted to defend Lü Shaoqing, but in the face of reality, her words felt powerless. A sense of helplessness crept into her heart.
What kind of person was her Second Senior Brother, really?
Why was he acting like this?
Was he really afraid of the mid-stage Nascent Soul Great Elder?
She looked at Lü Shaoqing's back, feeling deeply disappointed.
Xiao Qun, meanwhile, laughed as she spoke to Lü Shaoqing. "My cousin speaks well of you, you know."
"She's still standing up for you, even now."
Lü Shaoqing sighed. "She's just a kid. What does she know?"
"Don't take her words too seriously."
Xiao Qun smirked proudly. "I'm her elder sister. Why would I take her seriously?"
"That's right. Being petty with little kids is exhausting."
Hearing Lü Shaoqing describe her like this, Xiao Yi's eyes welled up with tears. She felt wronged and angry at her Second Senior Brother. She hated him.
Lü Shaoqing finally brought Xiao Qun to a small wooden cabin.
Pointing to it, he said, "Miss Xiao, that's where my First Senior Brother lives."
"He's right inside."
Xiao Qun was skeptical. "Are you sure Ji Yan lives there?"
The area where they stood was a hundred meters away from the cabin. The ground surrounding the wooden structure was barren, with not a single blade of grass in sight. The ground was full of craters and scars, as if meteors had crashed down, leaving countless holes.
This didn't seem like the kind of place someone as distinguished as Ji Yan would reside.
It looked far too shabby.
Xiao Qun eyed Lü Shaoqing suspiciously. "You're not planning anything, are you?"
Lü Shaoqing looked hurt. "Miss Xiao, your words wound me."
"If you don't believe me, ask my junior sister. Isn't this where our First Senior Brother lives?"
Xiao Qun glanced over at Xiao Yi, who turned away, her expression cold. "It's not. Just leave already."
"Haha," Xiao Qun felt reassured. "It seems this really is Ji Yan's residence."
"No wonder it's so humble—someone like Ji Yan would naturally seek simplicity and embrace an enlightened way of life."
Xiao Qun convinced herself that this place, since it was Ji Yan's, must be filled with a profound, spiritual aura that ordinary people couldn't comprehend.
Lü Shaoqing told Xiao Qun, "Miss Xiao, you can go ahead. I won't accompany you, as I'm afraid my First Senior Brother might scold me."
He then made a gesture, inviting her forward.
Xiao Qun nodded, preparing to step forward.
However, one of her companions cautioned, "Big Sis, be careful. This might be a trap."
Xiao Qun glanced disdainfully at Lü Shaoqing. "What trap? I doubt he'd dare to deceive me."
With that, she confidently stepped onto the barren ground.