Chapter 27 - Things Are Getting Complicated, Wine Daoist
Xiao Yan stood there, stunned.
He never expected his sister to react this way, becoming so infatuated with Jiang Minghan after such a short interaction.
It hadn’t even been half a night.
Before this, she had never even met Jiang Minghan.
Jiang Minghan was the young master of the hidden immortal clan, surrounded by saints and goddesses. How could he be interested in Xiao Hongdou?
This lifetime, his tribulation was tied to Xiao Hongdou.
Xiao Yan naturally wanted to protect her from going astray, preventing her from regretting it for the rest of her life.
His expression turned serious as he explained, “Sister, have you ever wondered why Jiang Minghan treated you so kindly tonight? If he wanted to protect Qingxu Holy Land, he could have just given orders. Why talk to you so much…”
“In my opinion, he was subtly probing about you and our master.”
“Don’t assume he’s a good person.”
He spoke softly, expressing his doubts.
Jiang Minghan definitely wasn’t a good person.
He had ulterior motives for Qingxu Holy Land. It wasn’t just about compensating for events from eighty thousand years ago.
“Brother, I understand what you’re saying. I never fantasized about having anything with Young Master Minghan.”
“I just want to say, regardless of his motives, he helped us, helped Qingxu Holy Land. That’s an undeniable fact.”
Xiao Hongdou frowned, seeing her brother so stubborn, and shook her head, “We should be grateful, not assume malice.”
She hadn’t expected her brother to speak so ill of Jiang Minghan behind his back, harboring such hostility.
It was the first time they had such a major disagreement about someone.
“Sister, you can’t be so kind-hearted, thinking everyone is like you… Jiang Minghan has many secrets. He must have a scheme for helping Qingxu Holy Land. Don’t trust him easily…”
Seeing Xiao Hongdou still so unyielding, with no sign of waking up,
Xiao Yan frowned, feeling the situation was becoming complicated.
Xiao Hongdou’s mindset was deeply ingrained and wouldn’t change easily.
He would have to approach this from another angle.
“Xiao Yan…”
Suddenly, Xiao Hongdou interrupted Xiao Yan, her face turning cold and unfamiliar.
It was the first time she called him by his full name.
She always called him “brother” or “little Yan.”
“Everyone has secrets. I’ve never wanted to pry. Even you, you’ve changed so much since recovering, to the point you seem like a stranger. Don’t you think I wouldn’t worry or be scared?”
“But I know that’s your secret. I trust you and believe you wouldn’t harm me.”
“But if even you have secrets, how can you expect others to be transparent with me?”
She stared at the stunned Xiao Yan, her words firm, no longer gentle, voicing her doubts.
Before, Xiao Yan was a foolish boy, knowing nothing, never having cultivated.
But after recovering, he became smart and calm.
Even at tonight’s banquet, he wasn’t nervous, remaining composed.
This afternoon, he went from a non-cultivator to a Body Realm cultivator.
Xiao Hongdou noticed all these changes.
But since Xiao Yan didn’t mention them, she didn’t ask.
Because… she feared the brother she raised was no longer the same.
She wasn’t unfamiliar with the term “possession.”
She just didn’t want to believe anyone would possess her foolish brother.
“Sister…”
Hearing her words, Xiao Yan stood there, his face turning ugly and disbelieving. He never thought Xiao Hongdou would say this to him.
He was looking out for her, but she didn’t appreciate it, even thinking he was hiding things from her.
This was nothing like the kind, gentle sister he remembered.
“Late at night, you siblings are arguing about what?”
At that moment, a drunken voice came from the stone gambling shop.
A ragged old daoist, like a beggar, limped out, with a wine gourd hanging from his waist, reeking of alcohol.
“Master…”
“You’re finally awake.”
Seeing him, Xiao Hongdou couldn’t help but smile joyfully.
The crippled old daoist was her master, known as Qingxu Zi, but many called him the Crippled Daoist or Wine Daoist.
He often bought wine with any spirit stones he got, then got drunk and slept for months.
In this remote part of Nanque Sacred City, he was quite famous.
Qingxu Zi, with drunken eyes, looked at Xiao Hongdou and Xiao Yan, seemingly seeing something.
“Hmm…”
He finally made a sound, glanced at Xiao Yan, and withdrew his gaze.
“Seems a lot happened while I was drunk. Xiao Yan, your illness is cured?”
Xiao Yan looked at his master, his expression calm, cupping his hands, “Disciple greets Master.”
In his memory, this master picked him up and never cared for him again. Xiao Hongdou looked after him.
So, Xiao Yan had no deep feelings for Qingxu Zi.
“Good, since you’re well, focus on cultivating.”
Qingxu Zi nodded, not asking much.
Xiao Yan felt Qingxu Zi’s gaze had a deeper meaning.
“Master, something great happened these past two days. Now that you’re awake, you can decide…”
Xiao Hongdou happily started to tell Qingxu Zi everything.
Qingxu Holy Land had declined so much; surely he didn’t want it to stay this way.
If he knew Jiang Minghan was willing to help, he’d be happy.
“Oh, what great news makes Xiao Hongdou so happy?”
Qingxu Zi asked with a smile, his attitude towards Xiao Hongdou very different from Xiao Yan.
“Did Xiao Hongdou find someone she likes and wants to get married?”
Xiao Hongdou blushed, explaining quickly, “Master, stop joking. I’m talking about something serious…”
She then recounted the arrival of the hidden immortal clan in Nanque Sacred City and the banquet tonight.
But as he listened, Qingxu Zi’s smile gradually faded, his brows furrowing.
“At this time…” he mumbled, his expression growing uncertain.