"Teacher, you're back."

A young man rushed into Gu He's courtyard, excitement in his voice. Hearing the voice, Gu He knew who it was—besides Xiao Yi Xian,

only his senior disciple Liu Ling called him "Teacher."

"Restless as ever, where's your decorum?" Gu He scolded Liu Ling without even turning around. Usually, he portrayed a gentle mentorship, but today, returning with Xiao Yi Xian, he wanted to maintain a sense of discipline.

"Um..."

Liu Ling, who had entered the courtyard with enthusiasm, paused at the rebuke, then sheepishly laughed, "Teacher, I haven't seen you

in so long, I got carried away."

Gu He's stern expression remained as he turned around. He noticed the black mask covering half of Liu Ling's face, and he

furrowed his brows, "What's that thing you're wearing?"

Liu Ling had a black mask covering half his face. What's going on? Xiao Yi Xian also focused on Liu Ling, curiously sizing him up. This

was her teacher's senior disciple—her senior martial brother. He seemed a bit simple-minded, though.

Seeing Liu Ling's agitated state and the mask, Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but murmur to herself.

"Teacher... I..."

Hearing Gu He's dissatisfaction, Liu Ling instinctively touched the mask on his face, then sighed, "Teacher, let me take off the mask. Please don't tease me." Gu He was taken aback and slightly puzzled, "Tease you? Why would I do that? Did you get a pimple?"

"It's because of the Purple Eagle Flame you gave me..." Liu Ling shook his head and then, under Gu He's gaze, removed the mask from his face.

To their surprise, Liu Ling's right cheek bore a purple eagle pattern. "You..."

Seeing the pattern revealed, Gu He was momentarily stunned. Then, he suppressed his laughter and asked, "A Purple Eagle

Flame pattern? How did that end up on your face?"

What's this? A tattoo?

Beside them, Xiao Yi Xian was also surprised but couldn't help but smile. This senior disciple is quite... interesting, isn't he?

"I'm not sure what happened... When I refined the Purple Eagle Flame, I found this on my face."

Seeing Gu He trying to hold back his laughter, Liu Ling's face darkened, and he immediately put the mask back on. Gu He chuckled silently at Liu Ling's reaction.

The fact that Liu Ling had a Purple Eagle Flame pattern on him didn't surprise him. The Purple Eagle Flame was a unique kind of

Beast Flame, and those who refined it would have a Purple Eagle pattern imprinted on their bodies.

Stolen novel; please report.

When Gu He refined the Purple Eagle Flame, he had a Purple Eagle pattern on his chest. What surprised him was that the pattern ended up on Liu Ling's face. Usually, didn't it appear on the chest?

"Teacher, you promised not to tease me..." Seeing Gu He's amusement, Liu Ling protested in a hushed voice.

"Um... ahem!" Hearing this, Gu He quickly stifled his laughter and reassured, "It's alright, don't worry. It's just a pattern, and it looks quite nice."

He wasn't lying; the Purple Eagle pattern wasn't ugly; it actually looked quite good. If it appeared on the chest or shoulder, it would be very mysterious.

But the issue was that Liu Ling had the pattern on his face. Even more ridiculous, the eagle's beak extended to the tip of his nose.

This wasn't about mystery; it was bordering on being scary. A large bird tattoo on the face... It must be quite stimulating.

"Really?" Upon hearing Gu He's words, Liu Ling blinked, somewhat serious as he asked. "Really. If you don't believe me, you can ask her."

Suppressing his laughter, Gu He nodded and motioned toward the curious Xiao Yi Xian. Liu Ling quickly turned to Xiao Yi Xian, anticipation in his gaze.

Xiao Yi Xian was taken aback for a moment. She blinked her eyes and looked at Liu Ling's expectant expression. She then reluctantly nodded, despite wanting to laugh.

"Is it really nice?" After seeing both of them nod, Liu Ling couldn't help but touch the mask on his face, wondering.

However, as he looked at Xiao Yi Xian, he quickly realized why she was reluctant to admit otherwise. Confused, he turned to Gu He

and asked, "Teacher, who is this?"

"Oh, I forgot to introduce you." Gu He realized his oversight and pointed to Xiao Yi Xian, saying,

"This is my new disciple. From now on, she will be your junior martial sister." Then, he turned to Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Apprentice, this is your senior martial brother, Liu Ling."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian also suppressed her smile, and with solemnity, she greeted Liu Ling, "Greetings, senior martial brother."

A new disciple? My junior martial sister? Hearing this, Liu Ling was a bit baffled.

Teacher went out for a while and brought back a junior martial sister? "Why are you just standing there, dazed? Your junior martial sister is greeting you," Gu He chided when he saw Liu Ling standing still, his mouth twitching.

This guy, what's he doing acting so foolishly today?

Hearing Gu He's reprimand, Liu Ling snapped back to reality and looked apologetically at Xiao Yi Xian, saying awkwardly, "Hello, junior martial sister."

Then, he thought for a moment, took out a Night Luminous Pearl from his storage ring, and handed it to Xiao Yi Xian, saying, "Junior

martial sister, as we meet for the first time, I present this Night Luminous Pearl to you. It's a small token of goodwill. I hope you won't find it too shabby."

Seeing the Night Luminous Pearl in Liu Ling's hand, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes lit up. Such a beautiful pearl! She was about to reach out and accept it when Gu He's voice suddenly interjected, "Just a measly pearl, is that your greeting gift?"

"Is this how you, as a senior martial brother, act? So stingy?" Gu He's tone carried discontent and disdain as if the Night Luminous Pearl in Liu Ling's hand was nothing but a piece of junk.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian immediately withdrew her reaching hand. Observing this, Liu Ling's lips twitched slightly, and embarrassment spread across his face.

He looked at the Night Luminous Pearl in his hand and began to doubt his life choices. A mere piece of junk? Was this Night Luminous Pearl really as terrible as his teacher claimed?

He had intentionally bought it to give to Junior Martial Sister Nalan. After hesitating for a moment, Liu Ling awkwardly put away the Night Luminous Pearl.

"Um... junior martial sister, I'm really sorry. Senior martial brother didn't prepare properly in advance. How about I make it up to you with a proper gift tomorrow?" Liu Ling managed to smile apologetically.

"Skip the 'tomorrow.' Your junior martial sister happens to need a handy cauldron. Why don't you just give her your cauldron?" Gu He's voice chimed in again.