The rewards for the Heavenly Grade missions really lived up to their reputation. After taking the Rebirth Pill, Shen Yimian became as light as a swallow and escaped even faster.

Si Wuxing taught him a few simple beginner steps, asked him to practice privately and check on them tomorrow, and generously rewarded him with some precious medicinal herbs.

After returning from Liaoqiao Mountain, Shen Yimian didn't feel tired at all. Instead, he felt a little reluctant to leave.

"So this is the world of you energetic people." He even felt that he could run until tomorrow morning without even taking a breath.

Xie Lu lowered his eyelashes with an unclear expression and did not answer.

The Jindan stage is the same as Shen Yimian's cultivation level in the original book.

Noticing that he was listless, Shen Yimian approached him and asked curiously, "What's wrong with you? Are you unhappy to see me become stronger?"

"No." Xie Lu denied it reflexively, saying casually, "It's good that you've become stronger. This way I don't have to waste time protecting you anymore."

Shen Yimian said "huh" strangely, "You must have thought I was a burden a long time ago."

He originally meant to make a joke to liven up the atmosphere, but unexpectedly Xie Lu avoided his gaze, as if he had something on his mind.

Shen Yimian's smile became a little awkward. He touched the tip of his nose and changed the subject, "Let's go see Zuo Yan together tonight. I wasted the medicine that Master gave me. Giving it to Zuo Yan is perfect."

His palm was just a little swollen, there was no need for so much medicine. Si Wuxing was really making a big deal out of nothing.

Hearing him mention Zuo Yan again, Xie Lu frowned and said calmly, "The medicine Master gave you is to help you adapt to the changes in your body faster. It's useless for Zuo Yan to take it, and he can't use it either."

I'm not injured at all, why should I take medicine?

"I have to go visit him. After all, he was injured because of me." Shen Yimian thought about it and took out some fermented rice and pear cake from the storage ring. He couldn't bear to eat it, so he kept it all.

If sending medicine is not possible, sending some food should be fine.

Unable to persuade him, Xie Lu had no choice but to follow Shen Yimian to Xianyue Peak.

The appearance of the two figures at Xianyue Peak caused a commotion.

The new disciples completed two heavenly-level tasks in succession and frequently went in and out of Xianyue Peak. Everyone became familiar with these two faces.

Shen Yimian noticed the gazes coming from all directions and hid behind Xie Lu uncomfortably.

All these years in Yanshan, he had only learned one thing: a big tree attracts the wind, so he didn't like these malicious gazes.

Xie Lu ignored passers-by as usual and brought Shen Yimian to Zuo Yan's room.

Before the two of them entered the door, they saw a porcelain cup being thrown out. Fortunately, Shen Yimian dodged in time and was almost hit on the foot.

"Don't think you can leave here by climbing up to Zuo Lingfeng and those stinky foxes, Zuo Yan. Sooner or later, I will make you kneel before me and beg me to sleep with you."

Shen Yimian's pupils shrank slightly, and he didn't bother to knock on the door and forced his way in. Sure enough, he saw Ji Wenxiao pulling at the collar of Zuo Yan who was lying on the couch.

This bastard actually dared to bully Zuo Yan!

A surge of anger suddenly burned in his heart, and Shen Yimian kicked Ji Wenxiao hard, actually kicking him three meters away.

Zuo Yan was stunned for a moment, then saw that it was Shen Yimian and Xie Lu, and coughed softly, "Senior Brother, why are you here?"

Shen Yimian supported him and said with gritted teeth, "If I hadn't come, how would I know that you were being bullied?"

Xie Lu's eyes swept across Shen Yimian's angry face, and the fingertips hidden in his sleeves curled up slightly.

"I'm fine, Brother..." Zuo Yan held his wrist and whispered comfortingly, "Brother, please don't conflict with him again. It's okay for me to be wronged for a while."

Shen Yimian couldn't bear to hear such words now. He was already feeling extremely guilty about Zuo Yan's injury, so how could he just sit back and watch Ji Wenxiao bullying others?

He pressed Zuo Yan down, turned his gaze to Ji Wenxiao, and said coldly, "Last time, the head elder ordered you to come and apologize to me in public after your injuries healed. Now that you've fully recovered, why didn't you come? You're even bullying your fellow disciples here!"

Ji Wenxiao looked at him with contempt, brushed off the dust on his body, and sneered, "Okay, I'll apologize to you, come out."

He agreed so quickly that Shen Yimian vaguely felt that something was up, but he also felt that no matter how arrogant Ji Wenxiao was, he would not dare to disobey the order of the head elder.

"Let's go."

Shen Yimian helped Zuo Yan back to the couch and said in a low voice, "You have a good rest. I'll go take care of him."

Zuo Yan hesitated for a moment before sighing, "He will never apologize. Senior Brother, you should..."

Shen Yimian left without looking back.

Xie Lu followed them and walked to the main hall of the disciples' dormitory. All the disciples came back to rest at night, and the main hall was full of disciples from Xianyue Peak.

"Everyone, listen to me!" Ji Wenxiao raised his hand proudly, attracting everyone's attention. "Today, I want to apologize to Zuo Lingfeng's junior brother, Shen Yimian."

All of a sudden, all the disciples followed his finger and looked at Shen Yimian.

"This Shen Yimian is incredible. It was clearly Zuo Lingfeng who bumped into me first, but he asked me to apologize and even let his junior brother attack me." Ji Wenxiao pretended to be wronged and looked Shen Yimian up and down. "Now that you are wearing the earth-level Taoist robe, I'm afraid it's all thanks to this junior brother next to you."

How could Shen Yimian not understand the implication of his words? His anger intensified. "My disciples have already apologized to you for bumping into someone, but you kept making things difficult for me and insulting me with your words. This matter is definitely your fault! As for what I wear, it has nothing to do with you."

Ji Wenxiao sneered, "Why are you so anxious? I was right. Who knows how you seduced your new junior brother and asked him to help you reach the Earth Rank? I bet you've snatched a lot of his magic weapons from him on a daily basis."

Shen Yimian was shocked by his shamelessness, but he couldn't find any reason to refute it for a moment.

It was indeed thanks to Xie Lu that he was able to ascend to the Earth Level, and it was also thanks to the elixir given by Xie Lu that he was able to ascend to the Golden Elixir Level.

He clenched his teeth, trying to think of how to argue back, but a cold hand gently rested on the back of his hand.

Xie Lu whispered, "Just do it."

Shen Yimian was a little confused, but Xie Lu's words really made him eager to take action.

I've disliked this bastard for a long time!

"Why, you dare to do it but not admit it, it turns out that Zuo Lingfeng's disciples are all..."

Ji Wenxiao's voice stopped abruptly. He saw Shen Yimian rolled up his sleeves and rushed towards him with his fists raised.

With two bangs, Shen Yimian hit him in the face, throwing him to the ground. He stared at Ji Wenxiao and said in a deep voice, "Of course you don't have to apologize. I can also hit you a few more times. Anyway, it's just a few more Heavenly Rank missions."

Ji Wenxiao looked at him in disbelief, "Are you crazy? This is Xianyue Peak, not Zuo Lingfeng! How dare you hit me!"

Shen Yimian didn't care about him and punched him again, laughing happily, "So what? If you don't accept it, you can fight me. It depends on whether you can beat me. Don't you think I rely on my junior brother for help? Then go ahead and do it!"

Ji Wenxiao was furious and was about to punch him back, but he didn't expect Shen Yimian to be so fast that he couldn't react at all. He was hit hard in the face and his head was stunned. He looked at Shen Yimian blankly.

This is the useless yellow level from before.

He panicked and quickly looked at the disciples around him, "What are you all looking at? Come and beat him up!"

But the other disciples had long disliked him and were afraid of causing trouble, so no one stepped forward to help.

Shen Yimian beat him up and vented all the anger he had accumulated over the past few days. Xie Lu stood behind him, quietly scanning the disciples around him like a bodyguard.

He would join in the fight against anyone who dared to stop him.

"Stop hitting me, stop hitting me!" Ji Wenxiao couldn't bear it anymore and begged for mercy with a bruised face. "I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. Isn't it enough for me to apologize to you?"

Seeing him apologize, Shen Yimian finally stopped, breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, hummed, and reached out to pat his face, "It would have been over earlier."

Ji Wenxiao felt extremely aggrieved. He got up from the ground and said with a hint of tears, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken rudely to you and your junior brother."

"What else?" Shen Yimian sat down at the table, picked up the tea and drank it all, "Why don't you say something about Zuo Yan's matter?"

Hearing this, Ji Wenxiao gritted his teeth and said, "I'm also sorry to Zuo Yan. I swear I won't bother him again."

Trouble, Zuo Lingfeng’s vixens and Zuo Yan are all trouble.

Shen Yimian moved closer to him and said calmly, "What if you go back on your word?"

"If I go back on my word, I'll go to the head elder and receive fifty lashes." Ji Wenxiao was trembling, his hair disheveled, and he no longer had the arrogance he had before. "The disciples present can all bear witness to this."

Shen Yimian finally let him go, feeling relieved. He waved his hand and said, "Go ahead, don't be an eyesore here."

Ji Wenxiao ran away as if escaping.

After he left, the disciples who came to watch the fun gradually dispersed.

Shen Yimian looked at Xie Lu excitedly, "You're really smart. You can't reason with this kind of bastard. Just beat him up and he'll behave himself."

Xie Lu did not respond, but just gently held his hand.

"My hand is scratched."

Shen Yimian reacted and looked down. He saw that his knuckles were indeed broken. He pulled his hand back and said with a beaming face, "It's okay. Ji Wenxiao's injuries are much more serious than mine. Was I handsome just now?"

Seeing his happy look, Xie Lu's mood seemed to improve a little.

Perhaps it’s because the synesthesia hasn’t disappeared yet.

"Why are you staring at me? I'm asking you a question. Am I handsome?" Shen Yimian looked at him strangely.

Xie Lu originally wanted to give a fair, objective and down-to-earth reply, but when the words came to his lips, he met Shen Yimian's expectant gaze, and he paused and said softly, "Very handsome."

Those beautiful eyes opened slightly wider, with undisguised joy,

"This is the first time you've praised me."

Xie Lu pursed his lips and whispered, "I praised you before. You're not too stupid in some things."

"...Is that called praising, big brother?"

The two of them were chatting as if no one was around, as if there was a magnetic field that blocked everyone out.

Not far away, Zuo Yan stood by the door and stared at them coldly.

The fingertips pinched the door frame and penetrated deep into the wood.