Despite not knowing Ye Lingxiao’s identity, and despite his youthful appearance making it hard to believe, his presence commanded attention, making it impossible to disregard him.

Jiang Wang cautiously inquired, “May I ask who you are?”

“Before you ask me new questions, shouldn’t you answer mine first?”

Ye Lingxiao’s tone was calm, yet he exuded an undeniable aura of authority.

Jiang Wang initially didn’t want to bother, but considering that this was the Lingxiao Pavilion and the question likely related to Ye Qingyu, he felt he couldn’t completely disregard the man’s standing.

Thus, he replied with practiced ease, “You may be mistaken, sir. My relationship with Daoist Ye is that of virtuous friends…”

“Oh? Virtuous friends?” Ye Lingxiao scrutinized him. “How did you two meet?”

This interrogative manner displeased Jiang Wang, who frowned and said, “I’m afraid you’re being overly concerned.”

“Little brat.” Ye Lingxiao chuckled. “You want to get tough with me?”

Jiang Wang stepped forward, firmly shielding Jiang An’an behind him, his expression turning cold. “I don’t know who you are, or what your status is. I respect Daoist Ye, I respect the Lingxiao Pavilion, but I ask that you conduct yourself with respect.”

“Oh-ho.” Ye Lingxiao, acting like a street tough, began rolling up his sleeves. “If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you might not know the might of my ‘Unrivaled Across Kingdoms, the Most Heroic in All Ages’!”

Jiang Wang’s eyelids twitched. What kind of strange people populated the Lingxiao Pavilion? ‘Most Heroic in All Ages’? Am I supposed to tell you I’m the famous Invincible Solitary One from the Illusionary Realm of Grand Void?

Without another word, he prepared to give this man a profound lesson.

Suddenly, a familiar, clear voice rang out – Ye Qingyu’s voice.

“Father, why did you come out of seclusion? Weren’t you supposed to be researching new techniques these past few days?”

Ye Qingyu arrived as she spoke, descending gracefully.

Jiang Wang’s heart skipped a beat.

The Lord of Lingxiao Pavilion, Ye Lingxiao?

The Dao essence gathering within him instantly dissipated, his entire expression softening.

“Hahahaha.” Ye Lingxiao suddenly burst into laughter. “I was just joking around with the young man!”

Jiang Wang also smiled brightly. “I was just about to report to you! Daoist Qingyu and I met during a campaign to eliminate fierce beasts. We helped each other out a bit, and thus, we forged a friendship!”

Ye Lingxiao slowly rolled his sleeves back down, as if simply adjusting his attire, and said, “So, there was a connection. Seeing that Qingyu has such a talented young man as a friend, I am greatly relieved.”

“Not at all, senior, you are too kind. Meeting you today, I finally understand where Daoist Ye’s brilliance comes from. I am truly impressed!”

Both sides were courteous and complimentary, praising each other.

Ye Qingyu looked back and forth between the two, a puzzled expression on her face, sensing that something was amiss.

At this moment, Ye Lingxiao’s subtle restraints vanished, and Jiang An’an squeezed out from behind Jiang Wang, angrily declaring, “Uncle Ye! You’re not letting me talk again!”

Ye Lingxiao looked at her with a smile. “What proof do you have that Uncle Ye isn’t letting you talk?”

Jiang An’an was stunned. “If it’s not you, then who else could it be?”

“Who knows? Anyway, you don’t have any evidence, so you can’t speak carelessly. Otherwise, heh heh…” Ye Lingxiao wore a smug expression. “Punishment according to the sect rules! You’ve already transcended, so you can officially be subject to the sect rules!”

This unreasonable Lord of Lingxiao Pavilion left Jiang An’an feeling wronged but unable to find a retort.

Her lips trembled, and tears began to well up.

“Aiya, aiya, I was wrong, I was wrong!” Ye Lingxiao instantly lost his composure, hastily apologizing. “I was wrong! I was wrong!”

He had deliberately teased Jiang An’an as he usually did, but he miscalculated. Today, Jiang Wang, her brother, was by her side. Jiang An’an was especially sensitive to being wronged.

“It’s my fault, it’s my fault. Uncle Ye shouldn’t have stopped you from talking.” Ye Lingxiao apologized while winking at Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang rolled his eyes inwardly but maintained a pleasant expression. He gently patted Jiang An’an’s head. “Since Uncle Ye made a mistake, then he doesn’t get his gift! Let’s not play with him, okay?”

Earlier today, while shopping, Jiang An’an remembered her brother’s teachings and asked if they should buy some gifts to bring back. Jiang Wang, of course, supported the idea. Although Jiang Wang paid, the gifts were all carefully chosen by Jiang An’an herself.

And little An’an’s first gift was prepared for Ye Qingyu, and the second was for Ye Lingxiao.

“Huh?” Ye Lingxiao looked surprised. “Little An’an prepared a gift for me?”

Jiang An’an shouted fiercely at him. “It’s not for you!”

This outburst stopped her tears.

“This.” Ye Lingxiao shamelessly moved closer, clearing his throat. “What gift is it?”

Little An’an turned her head away, ignoring him.

Ye Lingxiao winked at Jiang Wang again.

Jiang Wang had no choice but to step in again. “An’an, brother wants to ask you a question.”

An’an looked up at him, the tears in her big eyes not completely gone, making her appear especially adorable.

“Are you a wasteful child?” Jiang Wang asked.

Jiang An’an shook her head. *How could I be wasteful? I finished all the food I bought, without leaving a single scrap.*

“Then throwing away a gift after buying it seems very wasteful.” Jiang Wang pretended to be troubled. “Perhaps we should be generous and give it to him.”

“I can give it to someone else!” Jiang An’an’s anger hadn’t completely subsided, and she was very clever.

“What did brother tell you? The most important thing about a gift is ‘courtesy’ and ‘sentiment’, right? If you randomly give something to someone else, does it still have the meaning of a gift?”

Jiang Wang was at his wit’s end and could only resort to grand principles to suppress her. “Let’s give this gift to Uncle Ye today. We won’t prepare one for him next time!”

Jiang An’an was stunned. *What’s your stance, brother? Why are you saying one thing one moment and another the next?*

Little did she know, Jiang Wang was also helpless.

*You’re still a child, but I’m not.*

*He wouldn’t do anything to a child, but he might really beat me up!*

Jiang An’an was ultimately an obedient child. After thinking it over, she reluctantly took a long, narrow cyan box from her squirrel pouch.

She placed it in Ye Lingxiao’s hand and said angrily, “Here!”

Ye Lingxiao clutched the gift in his hand, smiling with satisfaction. “Good, good, you’re very sensible! I haven’t spoiled you for nothing.”

Ye Qingyu watched the entire scene of the two men conspiring, a complex emotion in her heart, unsure how to comment.

Ye Lingxiao was about to leave with his gift, but suddenly remembered something, saying casually, “Oh, right, Qingyu. Let Jiang Wang go with you on the matter of Cloudy Peak Mountain. I think he’s quite capable. It’ll save this old face of mine from having to borrow people again. You know, your father has always been thin-skinned and finds it difficult to ask.”

Jiang Wang was shocked. *You have a thin skin? You asked very naturally just now!*

“Father!” Ye Qingyu opened her mouth to call out, but Ye Lingxiao had already flown away on a cloud, as if oblivious.

Or rather, the Lord of Lingxiao Pavilion had no intention of listening to his daughter.

*Why borrow people, exchanging benefits, when there’s free labor available? How foolish would one have to be to make such a choice?*

He thought happily.

Flying through the floating clouds, he opened the wooden box in his hand and looked at the contents. It was a blackwood hairpin, not made of precious materials, but exquisitely crafted… This was personally chosen by little An’an!

Ye Lingxiao casually pulled out his original magical artifact hairpin and threw it away, replacing it with the wooden hairpin, and flew away happily.

As for the discarded magical artifact hairpin, whoever found it could have it. In any case, they were all within the Lingxiao Mystic Realm, so there was no fear of it benefiting outsiders.