Within the Joyous Union Sect’s inner sect, on Menting Peak, pavilions and towers were scattered across the landscape like jewels.

Zhao Hu descended from the sky, landing on a broad plaza. “Tsk tsk, truly worthy of an Inner Disciple’s residence. So imposing!” he muttered to himself, his eyes wandering as he followed the main path toward the largest central pavilion.

“I wonder what Senior Su has summoned me for this time. Hopefully, it’s not more dirty work,” Zhao Hu thought, a flicker of helplessness in his eyes. This particular Senior Su had a notoriously fierce temper. He was quick to resort to violence over the slightest disagreement; an outsider might easily mistake him for a Demonic Cultivator.

Fortunately, Su Can possessed some self-awareness. Even if a task wasn’t completed perfectly, he wouldn’t interrogate you endlessly. A beating would usually suffice—actually causing a death would create far too much trouble within the sect. With a personality like his, Zhao Hu couldn’t fathom how many people Senior Su had offended. If an opportunity to kick him while he was down ever arose, the stones thrown into the well would be enough to bury Su Can ten times over.

Moving with familiar ease, Zhao Hu entered the main pavilion. On the second-floor viewing terrace, he spotted Su Can seated at a tea table. Today, it seemed Senior Su had company. Sitting opposite him was an elegant figure clad in a flowing violet gown—another Inner Sect Elder at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Not daring to step onto the terrace proper, Zhao Hu halted outside the beaded curtain partition and bowed respectfully. “Your Junior, Zhao Hu, pays his respects to Senior Su!”

Su Can glanced at the silhouette beyond the curtain. “You’re here,” he said, his voice tinged with laziness.

“Yes, I have arrived!”

Su Can took a leisurely sip from his teacup. “There’s an old fool on Little Bamboo Peak. Cripple him.”

Little Bamboo Peak? An old fool? Zhao Hu’s expression turned peculiar. Could Senior Su be referring to Senior Brother Li? But that didn’t make sense. Senior Brother Li was a recluse who rarely left his abode. How could he have possibly provoked Su Can?

“Senior Su, Senior Brother Li remains secluded year-round. Could there be some misunderstanding?”

Su Can shot a cold glance through the curtain at Zhao Hu. “What, do you know him?”

Feeling the weight of that gaze, Zhao Hu bowed his head even deeper. “I… I’ve only heard others speak of him. It seems Senior Brother Li is quite well-liked among the Outer Disciples.”

Su Can withdrew his gaze and let out a dismissive chuckle. “Dismissed.”

“Yes!” Zhao Hu replied with an obsequious smile, backing away several paces before finally turning to leave.

Once outside, Zhao Hu rolled his eyes toward the sky. Great. Senior Su is having another one of his fits. How could someone as graceful and refined as Grandmaster Su Zhe have such an arrogant descendant? Compared to Grandmaster Su Zhe’s gentle and elegant temperament, Su Can’s personality was its polar opposite.

“I need to warn Senior Brother Li. No matter how much Grandmaster Su Zhe may favor Su Can, he is still a descendant. Someone like Senior Brother Li, with his Lifespan Limit approaching, simply cannot afford to provoke him.” With that thought, Zhao Hu quickened his pace.

While Senior Su was generous, that was a purely transactional relationship. Senior Brother Li was different. Even the smallest kindness from him far outweighed any grand profit. Senior Brother Li’s time was running out, and Zhao Hu was determined to ensure his final days were peaceful. He couldn’t let these sordid affairs disturb the old man’s state of mind.

Up in the pavilion, the female cultivator watched Zhao Hu’s departing figure until he soared into the air on his flying sword. Only then did she retract her gaze and turn back to Su Can.

“Senior Brother, you really should rein in that temper of yours. Stop making Master angry.”

Su Can offered a faint smile and set down his cup. “Junior Sister, this truly isn’t my fault. That old bastard provoked me first. But enough about him—he’s just an ant with one foot in the grave anyway. I wasn’t going to bother with him initially, but recently that old fool has been doing things that disrupt my peace of mind. If I don’t take action, I won’t be able to quell this hatred in my heart!”

Liu Siyue lowered her head and took a delicate sip of tea, its fragrance lingering on her lips. She felt a flicker of curiosity about just how this “old fool” had managed to provoke her Senior Brother so thoroughly. This time, Su Can seemed genuinely enraged.

Setting her cup down gently, she looked up with a soft smile. “Senior Brother, Master has prepared cultivation resources for you. When do you plan to enter Death Seclusion?”

Su Can’s gaze grew distant and unfocused. Death Seclusion? Junior Sister Qu isn’t yet my Dao Companion. How could I possibly enter Death Seclusion now?

Liu Siyue lifted her cup for another small sip. “Master also mentioned that Senior Sister Qu is no longer… intact… and would offer little benefit for your Breakthrough. He advises you to abandon any inappropriate thoughts.”

Junior Sister Qu is no longer intact?

Su Can froze for a moment before fury ignited in his eyes.

Crack!

The teacup in his hand shattered. “That… that’s impossible! Junior Brother Chen and Junior Sister Qu are merely Dao Companions who practice ‘Dao Exchange’! She would never…” He trailed off.

Wait… how did Master know about Junior Sister Qu’s condition?

“Does Senior Brother truly not know?” Seeing Su Can’s utterly clueless expression, Liu Siyue couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Know… know what?” Su Can’s face was now ashen as a terrifying possibility occurred to him.

Liu Siyue placed her cup back on the table and looked directly at him. “Master and Senior Sister Qu shared… a fleeting connection years ago. The two of them secluded themselves together for three years to ‘discuss the Dao.'”

They secluded themselves for three years?

A bitter smile twisted Su Can’s lips as he pulled out a gourd of wine and took several large gulps. “Why was I never told of this?”

“Perhaps it was to protect Senior Sister Qu’s reputation,” she offered quietly. “Very few people know of this matter.”

Su Can drank dejectedly. The woman he had admired for decades turned out to be his Master’s. No matter how arrogant he was, he wouldn’t dare compete with his Master for a woman.

Why did it have to be her? Resentment churned within him, but he was powerless to change reality. He pushed himself to his feet. “Junior Sister, inform Master that I will enter Death Seclusion after the Auction House in the Market City concludes.”

Liu Siyue watched her now slightly intoxicated Senior Brother with calm detachment. It was difficult for cultivators to become truly drunk; he clearly wanted to be inebriated.

“Master instructed me to assist you,” she stated plainly.

Su Can swept his gaze over her. She was beautiful, nearly on par with Junior Sister Qu. Out in the wider world, she would be the dream lover of countless Inner Disciples. But compared to Junior Sister Qu… she lacked an indescribable quality. That missing spark meant Su Can held little desire for her.

“Junior Sister,” he asked bluntly, “are you willing to give your ‘Pure Yin Body’ to me?”

A faint blush colored Liu Siyue’s cheeks as she shot him a reproachful look. “Senior Brother should not entertain such thoughts.”

Su Can waved a dismissive hand and turned to leave. “Then anyone will do just as well. I won’t waste any more of your time.”

“This is Master’s command,” Liu Siyue said firmly from behind him. “I do not wish to disappoint him.”

She understood exactly what kind of man Su Can was. But regardless of his character—even if he acted with utter tyranny—it did not change one fact: he was Master’s descendant. Because of that connection alone, she was willing to become his partner in ‘Dao Exchange.’ She simply did not want to disappoint her Master.

“As you wish,” came Su Can’s bitter voice from beyond the swaying curtain.

Was Senior Sister Qu really that special? Watching the gently moving beads of the curtain, a sliver of jealousy flashed in Liu Siyue’s eyes. It seemed Master also held great affection for her. For so many years… he hadn’t dared to see her again.