[Now that I think about it...]

[That explanation actually makes perfect sense.]

Yang Qingxi expressionlessly turned off the inner voice listening function immediately.

Her earlier shock disappeared completely.

This narcissistic bastard truly could ruin any serious atmosphere within seconds.

At that moment, Su Mo stood up and stretched his body lightly.

The spiritual energy around him felt noticeably denser than before.

Yang Qingxi looked toward him and spoke directly.

"Since you’re done, can we leave now?"

"It’s already night. We’ve practically spent the entire day here."

Su Mo glanced upward toward the dark ceiling before nodding.

"Yeah. Let’s go."

Then he suddenly did a casual backflip before landing steadily.

Yang Qingxi’s eyelids twitched slightly.

This guy really became more childish after every breakthrough.

Meanwhile, Su Mo’s expression gradually became serious again.

"I just hope Wu Chaochang’s subordinates know where the White Moon Sect is located."

At the mention of this, Yang Qingxi’s gaze also sharpened slightly.

"Don’t worry," she said calmly. "We’ll find Ye Chen soon."

Her voice carried certainty.

This protagonist had already caused far too much trouble.

If they continued letting him grow freely—

Who knew what kind of disaster he would create next?

---

At this time, Yang Qingxi had no idea how accurate her thoughts actually were.

Ye Chen truly had already started causing trouble.

Just not in the way she expected.

Several hours earlier—

Deep within the Frostspine Mountain Range of Longyan Country.

The enormous mountain range stretched endlessly across the southern region. Dense forests covered the lower mountains, while sharp cliffs and rocky paths twisted through the valleys.

Only the upper parts of the mountains were covered in snow throughout the entire year.

White frost blanketed the distant peaks beneath the moonlight, giving the vast mountain range an ancient and lonely feeling.

Cold wind continuously swept through the forest.

At night, the temperature dropped even further.

After more than a day of nonstop travelling, changing through planes, cars, horses, and finally on foot—

Zhu Shan and Ye Chen had already entered the deeper regions of the Frostspine Mountains.

A small campfire quietly burned between them.

The smell of roasted rabbit drifted through the cold night air.

"Are you tired, Little Ling?"

Zhu Shan looked toward the young woman sitting beside the fire while turning the roasted rabbit slowly.

"If you’re exhausted, we can camp here tonight."

His tone carried obvious care.

At this point, Zhu Shan genuinely treated Ye Chen like a junior he needed to protect.

Ye Chen sat beside the fire, quietly eating roasted rabbit meat.

The warm flames reflected against her now delicate face, making her appearance even softer under the night sky.

Unfortunately, the person beneath that appearance was currently cursing inwardly.

’Damn mountains.’

’Damn snow.’

’Damn cultivation sects.’

Her legs genuinely hurt after all this walking. She had indeed become weaker.

If not for the fact that she wanted to enter the White Moon Sect as quickly as possible, she would have complained already.

Still, she maintained an obedient appearance on the surface.

"Uncle Zhu," Ye Chen asked curiously while chewing slowly, "are we still very far from the sect?"

Zhu Shan thought briefly before answering.

"At our current speed, we’ll probably need another few hours of trekking."

While speaking, his gaze unconsciously drifted toward the luggage beside him.

More specifically, toward the freezer box containing the giant python corpse.

His eyes immediately became satisfied again.

Good.

The meat was preserved properly.

Elder Song definitely wouldn’t reject such fresh snake soup ingredients.

Just imagining the two of them eating together peacefully already made Zhu Shan’s old heart feel warm.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen noticed his strange expression but wisely chose not to ask.

"A few more hours..."

She touched her chin thoughtfully before speaking again.

"If that’s all, then we can continue moving. I’m not tired yet."

That statement wasn’t entirely false.

After all, Ye Chen had survived countless dangerous situations before.

This level of physical exhaustion was still manageable.

Zhu Shan smiled slightly after hearing her answer.

"Your stamina is much better than I expected, Little Ling."

"However, we’ll still camp here tonight."

Ye Chen blinked slightly.

"Why?"

Zhu Shan helplessly sighed.

"Because the sect gates should already be closed by now."

"Even if we arrive there tonight, we’ll probably end up camping outside the entrance, anyway."

Ye Chen looked genuinely surprised this time. "They won’t let you in?"

In her imagination, Zhu Shan was already some terrifying superhuman old monster.

Yet even someone like him needed permission to enter?

Zhu Shan gave a bitter smile.

"Those are the rules."

"I’m only an Outer Elder."

"I still have to follow sect regulations."

"Only Inner Elders and above can ignore certain restrictions."

Ye Chen silently became thoughtful.

So Zhu Shan’s status inside the White Moon Sect was actually much lower than she had originally expected.

That immediately made her reconsider several things internally.

’Looks like this old man isn’t some top figure after all.’

’If he turns out useless later... I should probably find another backer quickly.’

After all, Ye Chen had no intention of staying beneath someone forever.

Strength. Resources. Protection.

She wanted all of it.

And if Zhu Shan couldn’t provide enough in the future—

Then, naturally, she would change targets.

On the surface, however, she still maintained an innocent, curious look.

"What about the disciples?"

"Do all of them also have to follow these rules?"

Zhu Shan smiled faintly after hearing that.

Then his expression gradually became serious.

"Little Ling."

"Remember my words carefully."

"In any place, privileges only belong to the strong."

"If you want special treatment, then you need to become more outstanding than others."

"That is the simplest truth in this world."

"The sect is no exception."

The cold mountain wind blew quietly between them.

Ye Chen silently listened while staring into the fire.

Those words sounded extremely realistic.

And she agreed with them completely.

Because wasn’t her entire life proof of that?

The weak got bullied.

The strong decided the rules.

That was why she desperately wanted power now more than anything else.

Only strength could change her fate.

Only strength could allow her to kill the people she wanted dead.

Only strength—

Could perhaps help her become a man again.

Thinking of that final point, Ye Chen’s expression darkened slightly.

Subconsciously, her hand touched her chest.

Then her face stiffened again.

"...Damn pill."

"What’s wrong, Little Ling?" Zhu Shan asked curiously.

Ye Chen immediately forced a smile.

"Nothing, Uncle Zhu."

"I was just thinking... cultivation might be more exciting than I thought."