The next morning.
*Dong-dong-dong*---
Before dawn, the ***Black Star*** Sect's morning bell rang, informing the disciples that it was time to get up and go to morning classes.
Xiao Yunluo stretched lazily in bed and opened her eyes, then hid the erotic book that she had read last night and forgot to put it back under the pillow. She jumped out of bed, combed her hair, and changed clothes, getting ready for the happiest moment of every day-- saying good morning to Ye Anping.
*Creak--*
"Ye Anping, good morn..."
However, when she opened the door, she did not see Ye Anping in the courtyard. Moreover, the door to his room was still tightly closed.
Xiao Yunluo was a little confused. In her impression, Ye Anping had a very regular routine. After the morning bell rang, he would have already combed his hair and dressed before coming out of the bedroom.
But today...
"Hmm? Is he actually oversleeping?"
Muttering to herself, Xiao Yunluo went to Ye Anping's bedroom door and knocked. After waiting for a while with no response, she thought for a moment, then turned and ran to the kitchen.
She put on an apron and brought over a stool.
Standing in front of the stove, she used a flint to light the fire, then boiled water to cook noodles before finally frying two eggs into two "❤" shapes, spreading them over the noodles, and sprinkling chopped green onion on top...
In less than half an hour, Xiao Yunluo came back holding two bowls of plain noodles filled with her heartfelt intentions. She knocked on Ye Anping's door again.
*Knock knock---*
"Ye Anping, are you still not up? I felt like eating something, so I made you some noodles as well. Get up and have something to eat. You have to go to class soon."
"..."
"Are you not feeling well? Then, I'm coming in."
"..."
After a short hesitation, she gently pushed open the door and peeked inside.
The room was so tidy that it didn't look like it belonged to a male disciple. All the paperwork and textbooks on the desk were stacked neatly, and there were no randomly discarded clothes. It seemed that Ye Anping cleaned his room every day.
Xiao Yunluo rarely came in, but after observing for a while, she tiptoed to the side of the single bed in the room.
On the bed, the quilt covered the pillows, and Ye Anping could not be seen at all. There was only a human-shaped bulge underneath.
It looked like he was lying on his side on the bed, facing her.
"Ye Anping, wake up... Are you really feeling unwell? Do you want me to help you ask for leave?"
"..."
When Ye Anping still did not respond, Xiao Yunluo became worried. She placed the noodles on the table and grabbed a corner of the blanket, lifting it slightly.
"Ye Anping, you..."
But the person under the blanket was not Ye Anping.
It was a girl.
A head shorter than her, black and white hair, and yin-yang eyes that made her look otherworldly.
In an instant, Xiao Yunluo felt as if a lightning bolt struck her forehead. Her heartbeat stopped at that moment, just like her words.
For a brief moment, she wanted to cover her back with the blanket, but her hand was no longer under her control.
She was so surprised that she couldn't control herself.
She hadn't seen her mother in a few years, but she didn't expect that the next time she saw her, it would be in the bed of the man she liked.
"..."
Si Xuanji blinked and sat up. "Yunluo."
Hearing her name, Xiao Yunluo finally came to her senses. It was as if she had returned to the time when she was learning to speak. After struggling for a long time, she finally managed to utter a word. "Ah... You... Mo... Mother..."
"What's wrong? It's like you've seen a ghost. Am I so scary in your eyes?"
"Ah... no..." Xiao Yunluo's lips moved for a while before she finally asked, "Mother, why are you here..."
"I've come to see your study companion."
"Oh..."
Hearing this sentence, Xiao Yunluo remembered the two bowls of noodles on the table and hastily moved her body to block Si Xuanji's line of sight.
However, this move was a futile attempt. Instead, Si Xuanji narrowed her eyes slightly and asked without any inflection, "You even cooked noodles for him?"
Although she couldn't discern anything in her tone, Xiao Yunluo immediately understood what she meant.
It seemed that she was dissatisfied with her actions.
According to etiquette, she was the Young Lady of the ***Black Star*** Sect, and Ye Anping was just her study companion, not even an outer disciple. How could she cook for him?
"Mother, I thought he was sick, so..."
Si Xuanji shook her head meaningfully before jumping off the bed. Then, she approached and looked up at her daughter's face. "This year, you made no progress in your cultivation. Elder Qin said that your sword technique and mental technique are stagnant. Mr. Qi was the one who proposed Young Master Ye as your study companion. It seems that Mr. Qi misjudged."
"Ah..."
Did this mean that Ye Anping was not in the house now because...
Feigning concern, Si Xuanji asked, "What if I replace him with Chen Chen, the chief disciple of the **Heavenly Cloud Peak**, as your new study companion?"
Xiao Yunluo faltered, and her lips trembled. She had never dared to disagree with her mother's words before. But this time, looking at her face, she understood that if she didn't say anything, Ye Anping would most likely be driven back to the ***Hundred Lotus*** Sect, and she wouldn't be able to see him for a long time.
Today, Ye Anping was not here probably because her mother had already taken him away.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yunluo mustered up her courage and said, "Mother, could you please not change my study partner? I get along well with Young Master Ye. Although Brother Chen is also good, but..."
"..."
Si Xuanji didn't reply.
Xiao Yunluo felt uneasy in the silent room. It was the first time she had asked her mother for something. If her mother didn't agree...
Xiao Yunluo bit her lower lip tightly. "Mother, please..."
"Six months."
"What?"
"You have six months to reach the late stage of *Foundation Building*, and also, bring your sword technique and mind technique to the seventh level." Si Xuanji bypassed her and glanced at the two bowls of noodles on the table. Seeing the two heart-shaped fried eggs on top, she paused for a moment, then continued, "Otherwise, I will replace him."
Six months to reach the late stage of the *Foundation Building*?
Although she had the talent of one spiritual root, she had only been in the *Foundation Building* stage for a year. She was still a little short of reaching the mid-stage.
Now, she only had six months to reach the late stage of the *Foundation Building*.
A little unsure, Xiao Yunluo pursed her lips. "Mother, can you let Ye Anping come back first?"
Si Xuanji shook her head.
Seeing this, Xiao Yunluo asked with some urgency. "Mother, I agree, but can you let Ye Anping come back? Pei Lianxue grew up with him, and Elder Qin likes them both. If he leaves, Sister Pei will probably also..."
"I didn't ask him to leave. A few days ago, he asked Elder Qin for a long vacation and went to the **Southern Region**."
"... Eh?"
Si Xuanji walked to the door and smiled. "I never said anything about sending him away. It was just in your mind."
"..."
"Anyway, you agreed to six months to reach the late stage of *Foundation Building*; otherwise, I will replace him. By the way..." Si Xuanji waved her cloud sleeve, and a letter flew out of it and landed on the table. "The letter Ye Anping left for you."
Xiao Yunluo stepped forward with some confusion, picked up the letter, and took a look.
*'--- Sister Xiao, please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye. I am taking my sister and Miss Feng to the ***Moon Shadow Sword*** Sect to handle some matters. I will return after the New Year. Please continue to cultivate diligently. Here are some rare herbs and corresponding cultivation methods that will benefit you. You can refine them yourself in the sect's *Alchemy Hall*.'*
...
While she was reading the letter, a drake-like quack suddenly came from outside the house: ---*"Your dad is gone!! Your dad is gone!!"*
Xiao Yunluo didn't understand what it meant but was puzzled as to why her mother's golden-crowned parrot would say such a thing. She remembered that the golden-crowned parrot was very rare and highly intelligent; it could even win against Elder Wang in Go.
"Mother, why did the parrot suddenly say this?"
Si Xuanji hesitated upon hearing this question, looked up at the parrot perched on the roof, and then replied, "Never mind."
As she finished speaking, she made a gesture with her right hand.
On the roof, the parrot narrowed its eyes, twisted its body, and lifted its left claw, performing the move *"Golden Parrot Stands Alone"* and dodging the golden light shot from Si Xuanji's sleeve. Then it mocked: ---*"Old eyes can't see!! Old eyes can't see!!"*
However, it didn't expect the golden light that was just dodged to turn 180 degrees and shoot back, hitting the back of its head.
*"Gah..."*
The parrot rolled twice on the roof, and finally, Si Xuanji grabbed the feathers on its head and hung it on her belt. Then, she turned to Xiao Yunluo with a smile. "Yunluo, six months. I won't break my promise. I hope you won't either."
Then, she padded away with her bare little feet.
*Jingle... Jingle...*
The sound of the bells from her ankle bracelet gradually faded away. After she couldn't hear it anymore, Xiao Yunluo looked at the letter in her hand and nodded as if encouraging herself. Then, she put the letter into her storage bag.
Afterward, Xiao Yunluo ran back to her room, picked up her flying sword, and flew to the **Middle Peak**, ready to start practicing according to what was written in Ye Anping's letter.
Her qualifications were not inferior to Feng Yu Die's and even more formidable than Lianxue's. When Ye Anping returned, she would make him look at her with admiration!
She was not just a decorative vase!
She, too, was a phoenix!
