Wait a minute, where is my master?

White Emperor Pavilion.

The long-missed name echoed in Jin Xu's ears.

It awakened the memories of that day.

He was so close to falling into their grasp, if not for his presence of mind to use "Hand Palm Thunder" and shatter that water-blue shield.

Otherwise, he might still be held hostage at the White Emperor Pavilion.

The impression left by that love-brained old lady on the little Taoist was second only to the Qingmu Academy's Old Dean who nearly "killed" him.

"Hmm, I know, it's one of the Four Great Immortal Sects."

Jin Xu tightened his grip on the Water Spirit Chain in his hand.

The Taiji Bull, feeling pain around its ankles, glanced up with a naive look in its eyes, now tinged with confusion?

"Right, it is a well-known Righteous Path Immortal Sect in the Nine Provinces Realm, but let alone the old Taoist's old friend, even this old Taoist has never heard of him having any connections with the White Emperor Pavilion."

Jiang Xiulian scratched the back of her head, puzzled how the little Taoist could link these two unrelated entities together.

"No connection? Then, Brother Jiang, you're not aware of the whole story!"

Jin Xu now recalled the amorous expression on the old lady's face when she called out her master's nickname, and he couldn't help but feel a wave of goosebumps rise.

But the little Taoist wasn't one to gossip. After exchanging a few more cordial words with Chef Jiang and laughing it off, he moved past the subject.

Back in his room, the Taiji Bull, having eaten lots of grass but unable to produce any milk, honestly found a corner and settled down.

Jin Xu, on the other hand, went to sit on his bed and began his cultivation.

...

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Yu Yaoer led Little White to the place where she had initially been rescued.

It was said to be a market that specialized in the sale of flowers, birds, fish, and insects; no one knew how the Shui Clan Elder had managed to find Little Fish Demon so accurately back then.

Meanwhile, Jin Xu slept in comfortably in the backyard.

When the sun was three poles high, two girls rushed back, trailed by a man in a dark-green scholar's robe with a swollen blue nose and face.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Song Xili!

As the trio entered the courtyard, they saw the Taiji Bull standing dumbfounded at the little Taoist's door, its feet bound by the Water Spirit Chain.

And Jin Xu's room door was tightly shut.

"Big Bull, guess who we brought back?"

Little White approached the door, speaking while pretending to knock on the little Taoist's door.

The Milk Cow Demon did not respond to her question, instead fixing a steady gaze on Mr. Song following the two girls, with tears quickly welling up in its bovine eyes.

"Master, you have finally arrived! I thought you had abandoned me; usually, when the crows retaliate, you arrive so quickly at the village entrance, but you... ouch."

The Taiji Bull tried to lunge towards Song Xili, but the chain around its legs made it fall flat on the ground. It was covered in mud, struggling on the ground, trying to crawl forward.

Mr. Song took a couple of quick steps forward, came in front of the Ox Demon, and said solemnly, "Stand up!"

"Eh, Master. What happened to your eyes, and your lip is broken too. Who hurt you, Man Kun will have it out with him!"

The Milk Cow Demon scrambled up from the ground, eyes bloodshot and nostrils flaring white steam, displaying a look of utmost loyalty.

"Lan Junyan was the one who hit me. You can go," Mr. Song said with just one sentence, and the Ox Demon's fire died down.

"...Then... when Man Kun has made progress in my cultivation, I will avenge this disgrace for you, Master!"

Family knows its own affairs; Mr. Song's demon servant might have an honest face, but his heart was the same as Mei Shouyi's.

"Usually, when he sees himself, he's not this enthusiastic. His pretentious concern must be because he knows of young Taoist Jin Xu's formidable strength and fears I won't look after him anymore."

As Song Xili pondered in his heart, the wooden door in front of him creaked open, and Jin Xu stepped out from the room.

Accompanying him was a thick, exotic fragrance.

The young Taoist slept in late this morning, and after waking up, decided that it had been a long time since he let Little Hong out for some air. So, he sent the Ox Demon outside and, using golden spiritual power, enveloped his room to take Little Hong out of his storage ring for a stroll.

Just as he put the Age Chicken back into his magical storage treasure, he sensed with his Spiritual Sense that the two women had returned, and behind them followed a bruised and swollen Song Xili.

"Temple Master, did you secretly eat Little Hong!?"

The Husky stood at the doorway; Jin Xu coming out with that scent she unmistakably recognized—the aroma of Age Chicken!

"...Go play elsewhere, I just took Little Hong out for some air."

"Oh."

Little White silently walked away.

"Young Master, while we were browsing the flowers, birds, fish, and insects market, we happened to run into Mr. Song. So, we told him about this Ox Demon, and then brought him back here."

Yu Yaoer stepped forward, blinking her clear eyes, and explained to Jin Xu.

"Hmm, well done."

The young Taoist nodded his head, thinking that finally, there could be a conclusion to this Ox Demon matter.

The two exchanged greetings.

"Mr. Song, the other day, I exterminated a group of Demon Kings in the Ten Bamboo Cave, and this Ox Demon was also in the cave at the time.

He claimed that he was an undercover spy sent by your Qingmu Academy, and that you were his master. We even tried to contact you yesterday using the 'Crow Communication Method', but there was no response.

Is this true?"

Jin Xu asked gently and calmly.

"Taoist Jin Xu flatters me. This Taiji Bull indeed serves me, and it was under my orders that he went undercover in the Demon Clan. The Old Dean is also aware of this. As for the Crow Communication, I did not receive any message,"

Song Xili spoke slowly, seemingly because the wounds on his face affected his speed of speech.

"In that case..."

The Taoist flicked his wrist and removed the Water Spirit Chain from the Ox Demon's ankle, handing the chain back to Yu Yaoer.

The Taiji Bull looked down at its ankle, a look of disbelief appearing on its face.

"Am I being let go this easily!?"

Little did he know, his life was spared to this point because Jin Xu saw that his Qi harbored no great malice. Now with Mr. Song's verbal confirmation, it was natural to simply release him.

Otherwise, what would they keep him for? The New Year?

Song Xili was also not expecting Jin Xu to be so amenable. After a brief moment of surprise, he hastily expressed his gratitude.

And, taking the opportunity, he gave the brawny man with bull horns a slap on the back of the head, urging him to quickly thank Taoist Jin Xu as well.

The Taiji Bull rubbed the sore spot on his head and bowed to thank Jin Xu for sparing his life.

"By the way, I have some questions to ask your demon pet, Mr. Song. You don't have any pressing matters here in Qingmu City, right?"

Jin Xu turned and opened the room door, making a gesture inviting several people inside to talk.

Now that Mr. Song's assurances had been acquired and it was confirmed that the Milk Cow Demon could be trusted, the Taoist wanted to inquire about the Gu poison on that Groundhog Elf's claws.

After all, having been undercover for ten years, he must know some information, right?

"Not a problem at all, Taoist Jin Xu. Feel free to ask. I have nothing urgent in Qingmu City, just here to buy some bouquets in the market."

Mr. Song followed Jin Xu's gesture and stepped into the room, with the bullhorned brawny man closely following.

The group had just entered the room and hadn't even settled down,

when a cold, icy voice came from the sky outside the courtyard.

"Song Xili, come out here. Don't think that hiding in Chef Jiang's territory means this matter is over."