"It's been a few years since your Cultivation breakthrough, hasn't it? So this chore has finally fallen to you. I thought these missions were only for disciples like us from Four Golden Peaks. I never imagined an Inner Sect elite like you, from Cyan Bamboo Peak, would be sent by the Sect on a hardship assignment."
Her tone carried more than a little jealousy. Enough time had passed that even Liu Tao had learned how to be sarcastic.
Chen Qingyang didn't speak, just stared at her. Liu Tao pouted coquettishly, the very picture of charm. "What are you looking at?"
"We haven't seen each other in over half a year, and Senior Sister has certainly learned a few new tricks. How impressive!"
"Oh, stop it!" Liu Tao rolled her eyes at him. "It's just how it is. Not like a poor soul like me, who gets sent out the moment my Cultivation breaks through... By the way, where are you being sent this time?"
Chen Qingyang said, "The Child sent from Du Shi Hall said I'm to go to a place called the Upper Purity Temple in the Da Li Kingdom. I'll be under the command of Xuanwei Master there, for maybe three months, or perhaps half a year."
Liu Tao thought for a moment. "I know the place you're talking about. I went there once before during my travels."
"Then why don't you tell me about it, Senior Sister? That way, I won't be a stranger in a strange land, and my work will go more smoothly."
Liu Tao glanced out the window at the sun, which was climbing higher in the sky. "I remember that place is very far from the Sect, so its Earth Energy is rarely extracted. As a result, the people are wealthy, and the kingdom is quite prosperous."
"The Da Li Kingdom is powerful. Many members of its Royal Family cultivate on my Four Golden Peaks, and three or four of them have become Masters. They're quite a formidable force."
"There's also an Immortal Mansion in the kingdom called Condensing Truth. It's said to have several extremely powerful Master Life Lights. A force like that would be considered one of the strongest peaks even in our Tai Xu Sect."
"If you go further southeast from the Da Li Kingdom, you'll reach the edge of the Tai Xu Sect's territory. That area belongs exclusively to the Six Southeastern Sects of the Cyan Nether State. I didn't venture that far, so I never went there and don't know what it's like. But I do know that region has always been peaceful. You're fortunate to be sent there!"
After she finished, Chen Qingyang took a sip of tea. "Based on what you're saying, the Sect is treating me pretty well."
"Hmph!" Liu Tao rolled her eyes at him again. "Maybe your master pulled some strings, or perhaps his influence in Du Shi Hall isn't trivial. Otherwise, you'd have definitely been sent somewhere to suffer."
Recalling that his eldest senior brother had hinted at this as well, Chen Qingyang nodded. "Mm, that's very likely."
As they were talking, Liu Tao seemed to think of something. "Say... if I were to go with you, would you want me to?"
Knowing she was joking, Chen Qingyang said, "Of course I would. We could keep each other company on the road. But this is a mission assigned by the Sect; you won't get any Merit for going on your own. Besides, the Spiritual Qi is thin outside the Sect, and your Cultivation is at a critical stage. I think you'd be better off staying here and focusing on your breakthrough."
"Hmph!" The senior sister leaned in and glared at Chen Qingyang. "So you don't want me to go?"
With no other choice, Chen Qingyang could only say, "I'm not unwilling. If Senior Sister can really go, then by all means, go."
At his words, Liu Tao laughed again. Dressed in pink today, her smile was like a blossoming flower—radiant and captivating. "Hehe, as long as you're willing, that's all that matters. I can accept this assignment too. It would be a perfect way to avoid being sent on another mission by the Sect."
Hearing this, Chen Qingyang grew confused. "Senior Sister, this isn't like picking up a task for Merit from the Merit Tower. These are direct assignments from the Sect. Surely your name doesn't carry so much weight that you can interfere with the Sect's arrangements?"
"Oh, get out of here..." Detecting his sarcasm, Liu Tao waved her hand dismissively. "I don't have that kind of power. Do you really think the Sect listens to me?"
This made Chen Qingyang even more confused. "Then what do you mean?"
Looking at Chen Qingyang, Liu Tao smiled. "Oh, you. All you know is Cultivation. You've completely forgotten about the way of the world, about human connections. You seem to understand human nature, but when it comes to the little things, you're not as savvy as I thought."
This time, her tone held more than a little smugness.
"Don't tell me... you have connections in Du Shi Hall?"
Liu Tao adopted the air of a seasoned veteran. "Du Shi this, Du Shi that... it's just a nice-sounding title. It's just the Sect's office for external campaigns. There's no brilliant strategy being decided in there, just a few Chief Clerks handling the arrangements."
"Those Foundation Establishment Masters are high and mighty, busy with their Cultivation day in and day out. Why would they bother arranging this sort of thing? It's basically all handed off to those Qi Refining Children. They're the ones who decide who goes where."
"With my means, I can't bribe a Master. But you think I can't bribe them? Just offer a few Elixirs, and a name can be added to the list."
This was a path Chen Qingyang had never considered. After a moment of stunned silence, he gave her a thumbs-up. "Brilliant, Senior Sister, truly brilliant. You really know how to work the system!"
Liu Tao took a few graceful steps, adjusted the copper kettle boiling on the fire, and then looked back over her shoulder. "You know me. I've always been cautious, always trying to find ways to live a few more years. Especially after that trip to Nine True Mountain... I still have lingering fears about it. So... you have to find ways to get by, don't you?"
'Ever since I've known her, every outrageous thing we've done has been my idea. Especially the matter of plotting against Xu Baoling.'
'She really does live cautiously, rarely taking risks.' "Ah, in my view, Senior Sister possesses true wisdom. Never overestimating yourself—that is the greatest wisdom in this world."
"Countless people with higher Cultivation and greater talent than you, Senior Sister, often end up in perilous situations because of one tiny mistake. What happened in the capital of the Yong Kingdom over a year ago was a prime example. No matter how exceptionally talented you are, once you're trapped, there's no escape!"