Chapter 731 - 732: Tough Talk

Chapter 731: Chapter 732: Tough Talk

Li Xingtian’s expression was dead certain, as if Cui Hao had genuinely conned him before.

Cui Hao’s thoughts raced back through his memories, but he couldn’t recall a single time he’d actually conned Li Xingtian. After all, Second Senior Brother was the most straightforward person — though he didn’t exactly look like a good guy, he was incredibly kind to everyone in the sect.

Not only was he tireless in his work, his attitude was beyond reproach.

Just based on Second Senior Brother’s personality alone, Cui Hao would never have conned him — he only occasionally cracked jokes. And Second Senior Brother could always tell whether it was a joke or not.

Could it be... that some time in the past when he was drunk, he’d let something slip?

Cui Hao couldn’t recall anything useful, but he understood one thing right now — this was not a place to linger.

Second Senior Brother might not care about being conned, but Third Senior Sister might not be above helping him get some payback.

Better to wait until he was alone with Second Senior Brother to apologize.

Once Second Senior Brother forgave him, Third Senior Sister couldn’t give him trouble anymore.

Cui Hao clapped his hands as if suddenly remembering something, and quickly said:

"Almost forgot — someone asked me to meet about important business today. Senior Brother, Senior Sister, this junior brother has things to do. See you later!"

Without waiting for Li Xingtian or Chen Baiqing to respond, Cui Hao took off running.

Chen Baiqing narrowed her eyes at this, then asked Li Xingtian beside her:

"Did Fifth Junior Brother ever con you, Senior Brother?"

She’d always thought that while Cui Hao was a bit unreliable and frivolous, he at least had his principles. If something came up and he needed Second Senior Brother’s help, as long as he asked, Second Senior Brother would probably agree.

If Cui Hao could open his mouth and con even such a perfect Second Senior Brother, then as Third Senior Sister, Chen Baiqing naturally had sect rules to enforce.

Li Xingtian shook his head gently: "No. When he needs something from me, he just puts on a smile and tells me I’m really handsome."

Chen Baiqing could only fall silent at this.

Li Xingtian naturally knew this wasn’t an easy thread to follow, so he changed the subject:

"What’s Cui Hao been up to lately?"

Chen Baiqing answered: "Probably teaching those noble families how to curse Master Li?"

"Huh?" Li Xingtian looked skeptical. "Isn’t Cui Hao afraid Luoyu will beat him up for that?"

"If he dares do it, he’s not afraid," Chen Baiqing said with a light laugh. "We can help Luoyu land a few extra punches later to vent her anger."

Li Xingtian roughly understood that Cui Hao must have his reasons, otherwise Chen Baiqing wouldn’t have waited for Luoyu — she’d have already hung Cui Hao from a tree and whipped him.

So he slowly nodded.

Without Cui Hao, the two of them leisurely headed back.

Passing the tea stall from earlier, a group of people were already discussing what Cui Hao had said.

Some praised, naturally, and some cursed.

Chen Baiqing didn’t care about these voices. When the great tide came surging in, those who seized the opportunity to ride the wave would naturally soar — those who couldn’t see the tide would be smashed to the ocean floor.

Cui Hao should understand this principle too, except he always cared, always hoped he could tell them what to do.

Chen Baiqing didn’t like doing thankless work that offered no benefit to herself.

Her thoughts settled, and she glanced at Li Xingtian’s profile.

Second Senior Brother still wore that same expressionless look, but his fierce aura was unmistakable.

Chen Baiqing suddenly said:

"Second Senior Brother was actually conned by Cui Hao, wasn’t he?"

Li Xingtian looked over, his expression confused.

"Only in Second Senior Brother’s dream," Chen Baiqing said with certainty. "Also, when Cui Hao called himself a genius, Second Senior Brother’s laugh — that was because of the dream too, wasn’t it?"

Li Xingtian sighed helplessly: "I really don’t know if it’d be better if you were a little dumber."

A smile appeared on Chen Baiqing’s face:

"If Second Senior Brother needs it, I can certainly be a little dumber in front of you."

"That won’t be necessary," Li Xingtian shook his head. "The current Little Junior Sister is just fine. Even if you were a bit dumber, you’d still be smarter than me."

"That’s not necessarily true," Chen Baiqing held up her fingers to show a tiny gap. "I’m only this much smarter than Second Senior Brother."

Li Xingtian smiled and nodded, playing along:

"As long as Third Junior Sister doesn’t con her Senior Brother."

At this, Chen Baiqing clasped her hands behind her back, her steps suddenly lighter, no longer carrying their usual steadiness.

When she was young, it was mostly Master who took her shopping, but Master was always busy, Eldest Senior Sister was always running around, and Second Senior Brother was always cultivating.

But whenever Chen Baiqing knocked on Second Senior Brother’s door, she always got a response.

Back then, Second Senior Brother was just like now — walking beside her, taking her shopping, not saying much. But whenever she looked at something a second time, Second Senior Brother would naturally go buy it.

Perhaps people were all self-serving.

Wanting the benefits of growing up, but not wanting to inherit the helplessness of childhood.

Chen Baiqing looked at Second Senior Brother, his expression unchanged from the very beginning, mirroring the same profile from her childhood. She asked:

"Second Senior Brother, have you been having dreams lately?"

Li Xingtian sighed slowly:

"No. It’s better not to have those kinds of dreams."

Chen Baiqing didn’t say anything more. She walked a few steps, then her gaze suddenly shifted toward the city gate in the distance.

Li Xingtian also stopped, his hand unconsciously reaching for his money pouch, his gaze following hers.

At the city gate, a group of monks in cassocks, led by one with Golden Core cultivation, entered the city. They came bearing banners and precious umbrellas, chanting something as they went, dots of golden light swirling around them.

Li Xingtian read the characters on the banners flanking them.

[The sea of suffering is boundless; the bitter sea has no shore.]

[Small Vehicle Buddhist Teachings save all sentient beings.]

Li Xingtian understood the situation immediately and said quietly: "They’re here."

Chen Baiqing’s eyes remained calm as she spoke naturally:

"Let’s go back first. Use the Jade Token to contact Eldest Senior Sister and understand the situation. If it checks out, we’ll make our preparations. There’s still plenty of time before the great tide truly rises."

Li Xingtian nodded in agreement.

Above the imperial city of Xuanwu Kingdom.

Lin Luoyu watched calmly as the attention-grabbing monks deliberately circled through the dense crowd before heading toward the Buddhist temple in the capital.

Emperor Zhao Xuan hurried over, his gaze following them, his tone somewhat tense:

"They’re here already? Are there any Buddhist Buddhas accompanying them?"

Lin Luoyu looked at him with a somewhat exasperated expression:

"This time, the one leading the group is just a monk with Golden Core cultivation. The Buddhist sect hasn’t sent any Buddhas to get involved in something like this. The whole focus of Southern Zhanbu Continent isn’t here — this is just a side venture. We have everything arranged."

Zhao Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, nodding repeatedly, then changed the subject:

"Right, right... so how is State Preceptor Li progressing? Has she finished her book?"

Lin Luoyu replied calmly: "She should be close. And don’t be nervous — the Buddhist sect doesn’t have to succeed everywhere. Even if it fails, no Buddha will descend from the heavens to force it through."

"I’m not nervous..."

Lin Luoyu looked at the goosebumps standing up on Zhao Xuan’s arms and could only nod helplessly.

As expected of an emperor — his mouth was really tough.

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