Chapter 140: Live With Me

Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Live With Me

After that embarrassing scene, the group finally made their way back to the sect. Fortunately, no one pressed the matter further, much to Sui Sui’s relief.

Along the way, Sui Sui explained what had happened, starting with why he had gone to Linfeng City in the first place, followed by how he had been targeted by a group of bandits who tried to rob him. He then explained how Yizhou had arrived and rescued him.

Of course, Sui Sui deliberately left out most of the details of Yizhou’s rescue. He had no intention of telling everyone how ruthlessly Yizhou had dealt with the bandits, much less revealing anything about the traces of demonic energy he had concealed. Instead, he simply said that Yizhou had successfully driven the bandits away, leaving them so frightened that they had fled.

Currently, they are staying in Yizhou’s courtyard. Sui Sui was lying on the bed while a healer Elder Shan Li had invited examined his condition to check for other injuries, this was because although he had already taken medicinal pills and his wounds had partially healed, they had yet to recover completely. A dull soreness still lingered in his back, making it difficult for him to stand straight.

And, Yes, you heard that right—Yizhou’s courtyard.

As for why they were staying there, the reason was quite simple. They had initially planned to take Sui Sui back to the probationary disciples’ courtyard, but the moment they arrived and saw how small and cramped the place was, Elder Jingyan immediately frowned.

"You’ve been living here?!" Elder Jingyan exclaimed, turning toward Sui Sui in disbelief before looking accusingly at Elder Shan Li. "And you actually let him stay in a place like that?!" ℯⅇ𝙡.

"Oh, please don’t blame my Master for this," Sui Sui hurriedly explained. "I was the one who insisted on staying there."

Elder Jingyan raised an eyebrow, looking at Sui Sui with a mixture of concern and mild disapproval before turning toward Elder Shan Li.

"That won’t do," he said, his tone carrying a slight reprimand. "Sui Sui, you’ve already become Shan Li’s direct disciple. Although you haven’t formally advanced to the ranks of the inner disciples because you haven’t reached Foundation Building yet, you’re still a direct disciple. According to the sect’s rules, you no longer need to live in the probationary disciples’ quarters. You can stay with your master instead."

He glanced toward the cramped courtyard, then sighed softly like a worried grandpa.

"Just look at this place. It’s small and hardly suitable for proper cultivation, let alone recovery. Even ordinary inner disciples have better accommodations. Surely you can find somewhere more suitable to stay, right?"

His gaze shifted toward Elder Shan Li, and his expression became a little more serious.

"And you, Shan Li. He’s your direct disciple now. You should at least make sure he has a decent place to live."

Elder Shan Li remained silent, his expression as unreadable as ever, Sui Sui, meanwhile, lowered his head awkwardly. He had only wanted to explain himself, yet somehow, both he and his master had ended up receiving a reprimand.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly awkward, Yizhou finally stepped in to smooth things over. "Now, now, Elders. There’s no need to make such a fuss over this." His voice was calm and gentle, carrying the reassuring warmth of a considerate gentleman. He turned toward Sui Sui with a faint smile. "I’m sure Junior Brother Sui Sui has his own reasons for choosing to stay there, don’t you, Junior Brother?"

Hearing this, Sui Sui immediately brightened. Yes, yes, exactly! That’s what I’ve been trying to say! He was genuinely grateful that Yizhou had stepped in to help him. For once, his usually annoying Senior Brother was actually being considerate!

Unfortunately, that gratitude lasted only a moment.

"How about this?" Yizhou continued with a faint smile. "Since this place isn’t suitable for Junior Brother Sui Sui to recover in, why don’t you let him stay with me for the time being?"

Sui Sui’s smile instantly froze.

Wait. What?!

No, no, no! Absolutely not!

Sui Sui wanted to protest immediately. Living with Yizhou? Wasn’t that practically asking for trouble? If he really moved in with his Senior Brother, besides having a hard time hiding the secret of his dimension he would probably be teased from morning until night, this was definitely much worst than living with his master.

He could already imagine the endless torment awaiting him and wanted nothing more than to reject the suggestion on the spot.

However, before Sui Sui could open his mouth, someone else spoke up "There’s no need for that," Bai Suichen said with a warm smile. "Since Xiao-Sui is my younger brother, why not let him stay with me instead? I’ll take care of him."

Sui Sui’s eyes immediately lit up.

Yes! Yes! Big Brother, you’re the best!

Compared with Yizhou, Bai Suichen was obviously the safer choice. His older brother was dependable, considerate, and wouldn’t spend every waking moment finding new ways to tease him. If he had stay with someone, he was the best choice, he would finally be able to live in peace!

However, Yizhou was clearly prepared for this possibility.

"Oh?" He turned toward Bai Suichen with a mild smile, his tone as polite as ever. "If I remember correctly, Brother Bai was planning to enter seclusion soon to prepare for a breakthrough, wasn’t he?"

Bai Suichen paused, seeming to indeed remember this detail.

Yizhou continued smoothly, as though he were merely pointing out a practical concern. "If you enter seclusion, I’m afraid there won’t be anyone available to look after Junior Brother Sui Sui. Since I’m free for the time being, why not let him stay with me until you’ve finished your breakthrough? That way, he can recover properly without disturbing your cultivation."

Sui Sui stared at Yizhou in disbelief.

What happened to the annoying, black-bellied Senior Brother I know?

The person standing before him now was practically a jade-faced gentleman, speaking so reasonably and considerately that no one could find fault with his proposal. Every word sounded perfectly sensible.

But Sui Sui knew better.

He was absolutely doing this on purpose!

Hearing Yizhou’s reasoning, Bai Suichen couldn’t help but hesitate. After all, he really had been planning to enter seclusion soon. He had recently sensed that the bottleneck preventing him from reaching the Nascent Soul stage was beginning to loosen, and he wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to make a breakthrough. Depending on how smoothly things went, he might remain in seclusion for several months or even an entire year.

In that case, leaving Xiao-Sui with Yizhou did seem like the more sensible choice.

Besides, after hearing about everything his younger brother had experienced recently, Bai Suichen was no longer comfortable leaving him unattended. What if someone tried to bully Xiao-Sui again while he was away?

Just thinking about it made his expression darken.

Back when he was still in XuanShuang city, Sui Sui accidentally mentioned the matter of his victory over Chu Ran back then, Bai Suichen noticed the hidden details in Sui Sui’s words and pestered him to tell the full details.

When he had first learned that Chu Ran had attempted to frame Sui Sui, he had been so furious that he had nearly abandoned everything and rushed straight back to the sect. It was only after Sui Sui repeatedly reassured him that everything was fine that he had managed to calm down.

This was the first time Bai Suichen had learned that his younger brother had been experiencing such things.

Previously, he had always assumed that Xiao-Sui was doing well in the sect. After all, their family background was hardly ordinary, and he had never imagined that anyone would dare bully a member of the Bai Family so openly. More importantly, he knew his younger brother’s personality. Xiao-Sui was naturally lovable and rarely held any ill intentions toward others. Even if he occasionally acted foolishly, he would never deliberately provoke anyone.

Also, whenever Bai Suichen visited him before, Sui Sui had always reassured him that everything was fine. Since his younger brother had never mentioned being bullied, Bai Suichen had naturally believed him.

Who would have thought that someone would actually take advantage of Xiao-Sui’s seemingly foolish nature to bully him behind his back?

Chu Ran, was it?

Bai Suichen silently committed that name to memory.

The Chu Family was becoming increasingly bold. They had actually allowed one of their younger generation to bully a child from another prominent family so openly.

Although their Bai Family had fewer members than the Chu Family and they did not participate much in the politics between sects like the other family did, that didn’t meant they were weak. What they lacked in numbers, they more than made up for in other areas.

for example, Money.

Bai Suichen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

If the Chu Family thought they could bully his little brother without consequences, then they were sorely mistaken. He would leave the matter to his parents and let them handle it properly. He knew that with his brother’s personality, he surely will not their parents, afterall, it was only because of Sui Sui’s slip up that Bai Suichen knew, but even so, even if he doesn’t say it, doesn’t mean it will be hidden forever. The Bai Family was not one to sit idly by when one of their own had been wronged.

In fact, this was precisely why Chu Ran had been unusually quiet over the past few days. After Bai Suichen learned what she had done, he had immediately informed his family and asked them to look into the matter. The Chu Family had subsequently been reprimanded by the Bai Family, forcing them to discipline Chu Ran and keep her from causing any further trouble.

Although the Ten Great Families were considered equal in terms of power and influence, that did not mean they could openly tear into one another without consequences. Their positions depended partly on the delicate balance they maintained, and a direct confrontation between two prominent families was not something either side could afford to take lightly.

Even the Chu Family had to give the Bai Family an explanation to preserve the fragile peace between them.

With that matter in mind, Bai Suichen was even more reluctant to leave his younger brother without someone reliable to look after him.

After considering everything, he finally nodded.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Junior Brother Yizhou. Please take good care of Xiao-Sui while I’m in seclusion."

Yizhou smiled politely. "Brother Bai, you’re too kind. Junior Brother Sui Sui is my fellow disciple. Taking care of him is only natural."

Sui Sui stared at the two of them, his expression gradually turning blank.

Wait a minute.

Why did they make the decision without even asking me?