“Chapter 16: Could Senior Brother Be Addicted?”

**Chapter 16: Could Senior Brother Be Addicted?**

Lin Fengmian had no choice but to head to Hongluan Peak to try his luck and see if Xia Yunxi was there.

On the way, he couldn't help but ponder how the Hehuan Sect achieved its objectives.

Back when the Hehuan Sect recruited disciples in the Zhao Kingdom, they never took male disciples on excursions. After all, male disciples were disposable, like chives ready for harvest.

So why, this time, was the Hehuan Sect taking male disciples from Qingjiu Peak for recruitment?

Lin Fengmian was a frequent visitor to Hongluan Peak, and the female disciples guarding the entrance didn't even check his token—they let him in straight away.

In the entire Hehuan Sect, Lin Fengmian was the only one who could enter Hongluan Peak by face alone, a privilege exclusive to him.

He wandered around several places on Hongluan Peak but couldn't find Xia Yunxi, which left him somewhat disappointed. It seemed she was still under confinement.

As Lin Fengmian made his way down the mountain, he unexpectedly ran into Xia Yunxi at a corner.

"Senior Brother Lin?"

Xia Yunxi looked surprised to see him, and then, as if realizing something, her face flushed slightly.

Lin Fengmian was equally surprised but overjoyed to see that Xia Yunxi had been released from confinement. "Junior Sister Xia, are you alright? That's such a relief!"

Xia Yunxi asked curiously, "Senior Brother, were you looking for me?"

"Junior Sister, would you mind stepping aside to talk?" Lin Fengmian cautiously glanced around.

Xia Yunxi nodded and quietly followed Lin Fengmian, walking in circles around Hongluan Peak before heading down the mountain together.

They found a secluded spot in the back of the mountain and sat down. Seeing no one around, Xia Yunxi's face blushed again. She lowered her head and whispered, "Senior Brother, what did you need to talk about?"

Could Senior Brother have become addicted and now wanted something from me?

Lin Fengmian let out a soft "hm" before worriedly asking, "Junior Sister Xia, I heard you were confined. Are you alright?"

Xia Yunxi was surprised that Lin Fengmian even knew about it and asked in disbelief, "Senior Brother, how did you know? Did you come to Qingluan Peak to look for me?"

Lin Fengmian nodded, saying, "They told me you were confined, and it gave me quite a scare. I'm just glad you're okay."

Seeing Lin Fengmian's concern, Xia Yunxi smiled softly, "I'm fine. Thank you for worrying about me, Senior Brother."

"Was it because of me?" Lin Fengmian asked nervously.

"In a way, yes," Xia Yunxi said. "Master found out I stole the token and saw that my cultivation had dropped, so she locked me up in anger."

Afraid Lin Fengmian would misunderstand, Xia Yunxi quickly explained, "But I didn't mention you. I only said I made a mistake during practice."

Hearing this, Lin Fengmian felt a wave of guilt and said, "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Xia Yunxi revealed her aura and smiled brightly, "Master is strict on the outside but soft on the inside. I've managed to recover my cultivation during confinement, so she's no longer angry."

"You've reached Qi Refinement Perfection?" Lin Fengmian exclaimed, finally realizing that Xia Yunxi had reached the final stage of the Qi Refinement realm, just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

Xia Yunxi stuck out her little tongue, embarrassed. "I accidentally overdid it. It's a good thing I don't have a Foundation Establishment Pill, or I might have advanced already."

Still reeling from the blow dealt by Luo Xue earlier, Lin Fengmian was once again at a loss for words.

While he was stressing over how to reach the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, she had unintentionally reached the verge of Foundation Establishment.

Is this the difference between a genius and an ordinary person?

It's truly despairing!

However, he realized that Xia Yunxi's impending breakthrough meant she would soon ascend to Hongluan Peak.

Xia Yunxi seemed to have thought of this too, and her mood dampened, but she forced a smile and changed the subject.

"Senior Brother, was there something else you needed to ask me?"

Feeling even guiltier, Lin Fengmian nodded and asked, "Junior Sister Xia, the sect is planning to take some disciples from Qingjiu Peak on an excursion to recruit. Do you know anything about it?"

Xia Yunxi seemed to realize something and nodded. "Of course I know. Is that what you wanted to ask about, Senior Brother?"

Lin Fengmian nodded, frowning. "I remember that when the sect recruited in the past, they didn't take male disciples along. Why are they bringing male disciples this time?"

Xia Yunxi looked a bit embarrassed as she explained, "It's said that our sect's reputation hasn't been great, and the frequent recruitment trips have drawn attention from other sects."

"Since we only send female disciples on these excursions, it's become too obvious. So, the elders decided to take some male disciples this time to confuse others."

Lin Fengmian finally understood. No wonder they were taking male disciples this time—it made sense.

"I see. Thank you, Junior Sister, for clearing that up. Do you know what the assessment will involve?"

Xia Yunxi hesitated for a moment and asked, "Senior Brother, are you interested in one of the spots?"

Lin Fengmian smiled and said, "Of course, it's a rare chance to leave the sect."

Xia Yunxi seemed deep in thought, then quietly moved closer to Lin Fengmian and whispered, "There's one part of the assessment that's crucial, but it's nothing you need to worry about."

"What?" Lin Fengmian asked, confused.

Xia Yunxi giggled and covered her mouth. "It's all about appearance and demeanor. After all, we're going out to represent the sect, so they care a lot about looks."

"With that, Senior Brother, you definitely won't have any problems!"

As she said this, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Lin Fengmian, recalling the stunning impression he had made when they first met.

Back then, the little dark-skinned girl had never seen such a refined and graceful young man. She had been completely mesmerized and felt self-conscious and unworthy—a feeling likely stemming from being a poor girl in the presence of someone who seemed born into nobility.

But that dashing youth had warmly greeted her, standing with her at the door, listening to the awkward sounds of cultivation practice together.

She still remembered the care and humor in his gentle voice, a memory she could never forget.

Little did Lin Fengmian know he had become someone others admired. Hearing this absurd assessment criterion, he couldn't help but laugh.

But on reflection, it made sense.

This excursion was about deceiving the unknowing mortals, and if any real danger arose, the senior sisters would handle it. The male disciples wouldn't need to get involved.

So, naturally, the selection of male disciples prioritized appearance, and Lin Fengmian had an advantage there.

After all, there was no one on Qingjiu Peak who could match Lin Fengmian's grace and appearance.

Coming from a scholarly and wealthy family, Lin Fengmian exuded the charm and elegance of a nobleman, which set him apart from others.

Seeing the understanding dawn on Lin Fengmian's face, Xia Yunxi continued, "There will be five disciples from Hongluan Peak accompanying us on the excursion, so only five will be selected."

"As for the selection process, the five Hongluan Peak disciples will be the ones assessing and scoring the candidates, and they'll choose the best."

Lin Fengmian asked curiously, "Do you know which senior sisters will be going?"

Knowing the assessment is one thing, but knowing the examiners is another key to success.

Xia Yunxi smiled wryly. "From what I've heard, Senior Sister Liu Mei and Senior Sister Chen Qingyan will be leading the group, but the others haven't been confirmed yet."

Lin Fengmian frowned upon hearing this—things just got complicated.

Liu Mei was a petty one, and it seemed he had walked right into her trap.