Chapter 802: The Master’s True Inheritance

Chapter 802: Chapter 802: The Master’s True Inheritance

That single "hmph" from the eldest senior sister was rather telling.

Chen Baiqing smiled, her steps light as she walked forward, her tone gentle:

"Eldest Senior Sister, Baiqing has returned."

Li Yingling tilted her head slightly but did not answer.

Chen Baiqing turned her gaze to Li Xingtian, who wore an innocent expression:

"Second Senior Brother, did you make Eldest Senior Sister angry?"

Li Xingtian faltered for a moment, but upon seeing Chen Baiqing’s raised eyebrows, he could only nod silently.

Well then, wasn’t the second senior brother’s role to occasionally take the blame?

If it could help the two of them reconcile, he was perfectly willing to carry this particular pot.

Chen Baiqing, with practiced ease, sat down in the chair beside Li Yingling:

"Eldest Senior Sister, don’t be angry. Shall Baiqing brew you some tea?"

Li Yingling shifted her gaze to Chen Baiqing. Looking at her ingratiating expression, Li Yingling’s heart involuntarily softened — and then she felt a bit spineless for it. She pressed her lips together and said unwillingly:

"I don’t want any."

Chen Baiqing winked at Li Yingling, then whispered:

"Eldest Senior Sister, we have a guest. We really ought to serve them a cup of tea, don’t you think?"

"Then you brew it. I’m not drinking anyway."

"Right now you’re the most important one. If you don’t drink, how would the guest?"

"Hmph, I’m hardly important. I’m just the one who handles trouble."

"Eldest Senior Sister’s heart embraces the world. Your vision is the greatest of all."

Li Yingling’s expression softened a little, and her face turned back toward them.

Li Xingtian, seeing his chance, immediately struck while the iron was hot:

"Don’t let the guest see a joke of us. Luoyu, bring our guest to a seat."

Li Yingling glared at Li Xingtian but said nothing further.

Qianqing, following behind Lin Luoyu, bowed and then sat on one of the small stone chairs.

Clearly, the one currently looking upset was the eldest senior sister Chen Baiqing had mentioned wanting to reconcile with. The other was the second senior brother of the sect. But from what she had observed, this second senior brother was perhaps not as fierce as he appeared on the surface.

Chen Baiqing began taking out tea sets and tea leaves from her spatial ring, lowering her head to brew tea. Her voice was soft:

"This is Qianqing. She knows Yuankong, and has drunk wine with our master. She’s come here looking for Yuankong."

Now it was Qianqing’s turn to play her part. By drawing a clear line between insider and outsider, she would naturally be categorized as one of their own by the eldest senior sister. Once the matter was discussed and she apologized to the eldest senior sister, it should be roughly settled.

The guest took her seat.

As eldest senior sister, Li Yingling naturally had to speak first. She swept a glance over Qianqing and saw through to the fact that she was a pure martial artist.

"Yuankong?" Li Yingling hesitated slightly, then asked cautiously, "Yuankong isn’t a monk anymore?"

The question was phrased somewhat diplomatically, but everyone present understood.

Qianqing waved her hands in denial: "No, no, he’s still a monk. I was raised by Yuankong."

Having said this, Qianqing quickly glanced at Chen Baiqing, who was still lowering her head to brew tea — your eldest senior sister asks questions like this? No one could withstand that!

Chen Baiqing seemed to sense nothing at all, continuing to lower her head and brew tea.

"That’s good, that’s good," Li Yingling said quickly. She studied Qianqing for another moment, then murmured thoughtfully, "My master is not at Tianyan Sect for the time being, but I can make the decision. If Yuankong wants to be found, he can be found."

"If you truly wish to seek him out, give me some time. Even if Yuankong is unwilling to come, I will bring his handwritten letter."

Qianqing was momentarily speechless. The obsession she had carried for so long could now be answered with a single sentence.

But at this very moment, she found it somewhat difficult to speak.

Perhaps because she already knew the answer.

Li Yingling waited a moment, then spoke gently:

"There is no harm in thinking it over. You are welcome to stay for a while and consider things at your leisure."

"See the other side with your own eyes, and make your own judgment. That is a good thing."

Qianqing asked hesitantly: "Would that be imposing too much?"

Li Yingling laughed softly: "It’s no imposition. We have a flower spirit here who is timid and needs company. We worry about sending her out with the flood dragon — afraid the flood dragon might sell her off. You might as well accompany the flower spirit and stroll around Tianyan Sect."

"Then I shall trouble you greatly," Qianqing nodded.

Chen Baiqing’s tea was served at just the right moment. The first cup was given to Li Yingling.

Li Yingling reached out almost instinctively and took a sip. A fresh, clean taste entered her mouth — and only then did she realize she was supposed to still be angry at Baiqing. She glanced sideways and saw Chen Baiqing’s small face showing a warm smile, her eyes blinking gently, as if asking: Is the eldest senior sister enjoying it?

"When did you start acting just like Cui Hao — only knowing how to annoy me? Why can’t you just tell me what’s on your mind?" Li Yingling set down the cup, her tone displeased.

Chen Baiqing nodded repeatedly. She had, in fact, told the eldest senior sister her thoughts directly back then — but hadn’t the eldest senior sister not only refused but even taken extra precautions?

But this was not the moment to be stubborn about such things.

"Baiqing was inconsiderate of Eldest Senior Sister," Chen Baiqing said with a careful expression, her voice soft. "These past days, Baiqing has been reflecting."

Li Yingling raised an eyebrow slightly: "Reflecting on what?"

Chen Baiqing replied with complete seriousness: "Eldest Senior Sister treats Baiqing the best."

Li Yingling reached for the teacup on the table. She knew full well that Chen Baiqing was closest to their master — but that did not stop her from feeling pleased.

"This time, Luoyu and I brought back small gifts for everyone." Chen Baiqing said, her gaze turning to Lin Luoyu.

Lin Luoyu heard the word "everyone" and naturally understood she was to bring out the large bag.

She reached over and untied the bag, peering inside. Even she, upon seeing the gifts within, felt a warmth spread through her heart.

Inside the bag were exquisitely crafted figurines, made from a material that was like clay yet not clay, mixed with many precious materials. One could sense a remarkable spiritual energy fluctuation within them.

Lin Luoyu took out the figurines one by one.

These figurines were of the sect’s members — not one-to-one replicas of real faces, not crafted in a realistic style, but using an entirely different technique that captured each person’s most distinctive aura. The faces, not meticulously carved, bore some resemblance, yet the subtle expressions were enough to distinguish who each figurine represented.

The second senior brother in white, his fierce look softened by more than half.

The eldest senior sister with her cold, lofty expression and sword in hand, radiating an immortal grace.

There was even herself, with a face full of righteous determination.

Inside were also figurines of the master, Xie Lingyu, Cui Hao, and San Dong.

Lin Luoyu did not take out every figurine — only those of the people present.

Chen Baiqing had carved one of herself as well, her face showing the warmest of smiles.

Four figurines were placed on the table.

Li Xingtian reached out to touch his own figurine.

Li Yingling turned her gaze to Chen Baiqing’s earnest expression.

If one truly spoke of the art of coaxing people...

Baiqing had indeed inherited the master’s true legacy.