Seated around a round table, Yang Wei, Huo Zirou, and Guo Xiaomei sipped on calming tea that Guo Xiaomei had freshly prepared. By now, Guo Xiaomei had provided a thorough exnation for why Yang Wei was here and why Huo Zirou had walked in on them in such an... intimate position.


    Huo Zirou turned to both of them and rified, "So, let me get this straight. You''re telling me that you''re here just to refine a pill, nothing else?"


    Yang Wei took a sip of his tea and nodded calmly. "Exactly," he affirmed.


    Huo Zirou mmed her fist on the table in frustration. "What a load of nonsense! Do you really think I''m wretchedly stupid enough to believe such a ludicrous story?" To her, their poorly thought out "lie" was an insult to her intellect.


    Guo Xiaomei stirred her tea leisurely, replying with a hint of amusement, "Yes, we do." She blew gently on her tea before taking a sip, seemingly unfazed by Huo Zirou''s outburst.


    Huo Zirou clenched her teeth, ring at Guo Xiaomei who was sipping her tea with a smug expression. It was clear from the way her face reddened and her veins bulged that her anger was escting into frustration.


    Hmm, you can tell by the way she''s looking at Xiaomei that she just wants to strangle her... *nod* I don''t want to get involved, but it seems I have no choice. Yang Wei sighed.


    She was about to let out another outburst, "How dare y--"


    However, Yang Wei quickly picked up on the tension and forcefully set his teacup down, causing a loud bang that grabbed the attention of both Guo Xiaomei and Huo Zirou. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then exhaled before saying, "Let''s calm down." He gave Huo Zirou a nk stare and said, "Zirou, first off, Sister Guo tried to seduce me into joining her peak, and..."


    Guo Xiaomei''s smug expression quickly turned to shock as she faced Yang Wei. Interjecting, she said, "How dare you betray my trust like that?!" she eximed. "And besides..." she folded her arms and red at him, "I wasn''t really nning on sleeping with you."


    Yang Wei remainedposed. "So, you admit you were trying to manipte me then?" he countered sipping his tea innocently.


    Guo Xiaomei''s words got stuck in her throat; she couldn''t speak because she realized he had seen through her deception. Instead, she cleared her throat, folded her arms, and muttered frustratedly, "You''re quite arrogant for a Spirit Gathering cultivator."


    Tell me about it... Huo Zirou thought.


    Yang Wei remained unfazed, simply taking another sip of his tea and exhaling slowly, finding sce in its taste.


    Huo Zirou, now calm, chuckled at Yang Wei''s exnation. "So, she tried to seduce you into joining her peak," she giggled a bit. "Well, that level of shamelessness sounds like her... and the fact that she failed makes it even funnier."


    The two shared a briefugh.


    Guo Xiaomei got a bit annoyed by theirughter and loudly cleared her throat to remind them she was still present. She grabbed her teacup and saucer, then shrugged and said, "Feel free to say whatever, but it won''t change a thing." Then, she turned to Yang Wei with a serious look and said, "If I get the chance, I''ll make sure you join my peak.


    I need someone like you to teach my disciples and bring in fresh ideas."


    These days, I even doubt my own abilities... after all, I was unable toprehend the Dao of Spirit-forging Alchemy.


    Yang Wei raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Even if it''s a man?" he questioned.


    Guo Xiaomei closed her eyes briefly, taking a sip of her tea before replying, "I couldpromise if he''s aspetent a man as Lin Feng."


    Yang Wei shook his head, appearing somewhat disappointed, then said, "Well, if that''s all, couldn''t I do it even without being a disciple of your peak?"


    Guo Xiaomei nearly choked on her tea out of excitement. She looked at Yang Wei and eximed, "Wait, really? You must be joking...!" But of course, she hoped he wasn''t.


    Yang Wei gave her a silly look, winking and sticking out his tongue. "Well, I''m serious, but you''ll have to help me with that favor I mentioned earlier today," he said with a grin.


    Guo Xiaomeiposed herself and nodded dignifiedly. "Of course, I already nned to from the moment you mentioned it."


    "Oh?" Yang Wei eximed, taken aback.


    Huo Zirou''s eyebrows furrowed as she looked between the two. "Are you two nning on cluing me in on what''s going on? What''s this favor Yang Wei''s talking about?" She dropped her teacup on the table, looking very curious.


    Huo Zirou turned to Yang Wei, not quite happy but not exactly angry either. "If it''s about apothecary arts, you should''vee to me instead of Xiaomei. I''ve got more experience and influence in the world of pill refinement." She ced a hand on her inted chests proudly, speaking in a posh manner.


    Guo Xiaomei chuckled. "Ha! Do you really think you''ve got better pill refinement skills than I, Guo Xiaomei? You should learn to cook first before focusing on anything else."


    Huo Zirou mmed her fist on the table, as if preparing to hit Guo Xiaomei. "Don''t bring that up again! I''m a more than decent chef now!"


    Guo Xiaomei ced a hand over her mouth and chuckled mischievously before remarking, "More than decent? I expected you to im you''re the best chef in the Linwu Kingdom or something."


    Huo Zirou had nothing more to add; her cooking skills were just starting to improve, so boasting about being an excellent chef would only make Guo Xiaomeiugh at her desperation. She swallowed her pride and simply crossed her arms, dramatically averting her gaze. "Hmph!" she muttered. "I''ve had enough of these insults!"


    Guo Xiaomei got up from her chair and stretched her arms. "Now that that''s out of the way, I have to go cultivate for the night. The recent peace talks and amodating the White Serpent Sect disciples have kept me quite upied."


    Huo Zirou nced at Guo Xiaomei. "Oh, right. I did hear something about the White Serpent Sect paying the Dragon Blossom Sect a visit. However, I didn''t know why. So, it''s true?"


    Guo Xiaomei''s expression turned serious as she nodded slightly. "Indeed, in the Heavenly Court, it appears that our sect has numerous unresolved issues with the White Serpent Sect. Surprisingly, the first matriarch is eager to ensure that the Heavenly Court administers divine judgment upon the White Serpent Sect. So, that''s the issue currently under discussion.


    Apparently, the White Serpent Sect has some form of leverage that could swing negotiations with us in their favor."


    Huo Zirou rxed into her chair, crossing her arms and legs elegantly. "Hmm," she mused. "It''s the first time I''ve heard of an upper-ss sect like ours having issues with a middle-ss one. Honestly, it''s a hit to our reputation. Sigh~ it''s even more surprising that the Heavenly Court is involved ."


    Guo Xiaomei shrugged. "Well, we''re all in the dark. I only know what the matriarchs decide to spill to us peak chiefs, and they''ve been tight-lipped. None of us have had a chance to rest or cultivate properly. The second matriarch even hinted it might stay this way until the peace talks conclude."


    While they chatted, Yang Wei remained silent, lost in thought as he sipped his tea. It was clear he was mulling something over from the way he furrowed his brow.


    Hmm, it''s jarring to see that only a handful of people know that the two sects were once the Celestial Serpent Sect. The matriarchs did a good job of keeping that information hidden, but why? Sigh~ well, I don''t really intend to get involved unless Suzhen''s in hot water, but I don''t think anything serious has gone down yet.


    Huo Zirou and Guo Xiaomei stopped chatting and turned their attention to Yang Wei, who had been unusually quiet. It took him a moment to notice the intense scrutiny from the two women.


    "What?" Yang Wei asked innocently, pretending he had no clue what was going on.


    Guo Xiaomei shed him a smile. "Just an important reminder, don''t say anything about what we discussed here. Both sects'' disciples aren''t supposed to know about the White Serpent Sect''s actual reason for visiting."


    "Tch." Yang Wei closed his eyes and took a sip of his tea. "Do you take me for a gossip? I know better than to b about sensitive stuff like that."


    Guo Xiaomei chuckled softly. "I hope so," she said, giving him an affectionate side-eye.


    Yang Wei then shifted the conversation. "So, how are the peace talks going?"


    Guo Xiaomei shrugged. "Honestly, there''s not much to tell. The first matriarch is dragging her feet, refusing to start the meeting while everyone else is pushing for it to begin."


    Yang Wei suggested, "Why don''t they just put it to a vote and start? If the majority agrees, it''s game on. That way, even if the first matriarch objects, she''d be outnumbered."


    Huo Zirou looked a bit skeptical. "Well... it''s not that simple. The first matriarch holds a ton of influence. Her word carries the most weight at that table, regardless of any vote. In the end, she calls the shots and decides how the meeting goes."


    Enjoy more content from м??


    "I see."


    Yang Wei already knew that the biggest obstacle for both sects now, truly was Liáng Xīnyuè.