Something Hidden Beneath the Surface

The three walked and chatted, their conversation primarily revolving around topics related to the Luoshen Sect. Bai Lan didn’t inquire much about other matters, but Luo Yuyan, on the other hand, had many questions.

Ximen Xue, however, rarely initiated questions to Bai Lan. Her quiet nature allowed Bai Lan to quickly discern the distinct personalities of the two women after just a few exchanges.

To avoid detection by other disciples of the Fallen Immortal Pavilion, they confined their movements to a few safe areas.

Truth be told, Bai Lan found himself in an awkward predicament. The winds within the Luoshen Sect were quite strong, and as they swept past him, they left him feeling utterly exposed.

His Disciple Attire of the Fallen Immortal Pavilion, crafted from a delicate white silk gauze, appeared beautiful, yet it was incredibly light and airy, making him feel almost naked.

The garment was smooth; with every gust, its sashes billowed freely. While an outsider might perceive the trio as a picturesque sight, Bai Lan, experiencing ancient women’s attire for the first time, was consumed solely by embarrassment.

As they walked, he constantly pressed down on the fabric, preventing it from fluttering too wildly. This type of delicate material was almost never used for male attire, making this Bai Lan’s inaugural—and deeply mortifying—experience.

Yet, amidst the shame, a strange thrill also coursed through him.

He swiftly rationalized that this didn’t make him a pervert; anyone encountering something novel would feel a similar sensation. The two women, Ximen Xue and Luo Yuyan, seemed unaffected because their higher cultivation allowed their spiritual energy to subtly anchor their clothing, preventing it from fluttering excessively.

Furthermore, such attire was unheard of among the Xue Clan, whose garments were invariably thick and substantial. After all, people living in frigid regions could not possibly adopt the light clothing suited for a maritime climate like the Eastern Sea Region.

Here, however, these airy, comfortable clothes were perfectly suited for the environment.

Bai Lan’s every reaction was noted by the two women. Luo Yuyan, in particular, couldn’t suppress her peculiar smiles, finding Bai Lan’s obvious embarrassment and flustered movements endlessly amusing.

“Heh heh.” Luo Yuyan finally let out a soft laugh.

Her laughter made the already flustered Bai Lan blush. He knew exactly what amused Luo Yuyan, but after a moment, he quickly adopted a serious expression.

“Second Senior Sister, are you making fun of me?” Bai Lan asked, casting a sidelong glance at the giggling Luo Yuyan.

“Ah? Of course not! How could I?” Luo Yuyan replied with an earnest face. “Little Junior Sister, you’ve misunderstood. I merely thought the weather was quite pleasant today. Yes, that’s precisely what I meant.”

“Hmph! I don’t believe you,” Bai Lan retorted, unable to contain his curiosity. “It’s great to have spiritual energy; you don’t have to worry about accidental exposure.”

“These clothes are far too light; the slightest breeze makes them billow. I’m genuinely curious: don’t you women feel embarrassed by this?”

Of course, it was unlikely they would feel such discomfort. Having grown up in this environment, they were long accustomed to it—a perspective a man like Bai Lan, experiencing a woman’s life for the first time, couldn’t possibly grasp.

Watching Bai Lan’s frantic struggle, Ximen Xue shook her head, a hint of exasperation in her gaze. She then raised a hand and pointed at Bai Lan.

Instantly, a surge of spiritual energy shot from her fingertip, enveloping him. Bai Lan felt his wildly fluttering attire gradually settle, no longer dancing erratically in the wind.

“Hey? Senior Sister, why didn’t you help me sooner? Both of you were just enjoying my predicament,” Bai Lan grumbled, a disgruntled expression on his face.

However, Ximen Xue’s next words made Bai Lan swallow his complaints whole.

“Oh? But you didn’t ask for my help, did you?” Ximen Xue replied calmly.

Her response was irrefutable, a perfect, one-shot answer that brought the conversation to an abrupt halt.

Meanwhile, within the grand Luoshen Palace, Bai Yiren was engaged in conversation with a captivating woman adorned in a vibrant purple dress. This woman’s attire was even more opulent and majestic, and the palace she occupied rivaled the imperial halls of the mortal world.

“Yiren, you mentioned you had something to discuss with me? What is it?” the languid woman on the throne asked with a smile.

This woman, whose temperament and appearance were a complete contrast to Bai Yiren’s, was none other than Luo Yan, the Sect Master of the Luoshen Sect. A cultivator in the early stages of the Violet Palace realm, she was Bai Yiren’s Senior Sister—a beauty exuding strong feminine charm.

“Senior Sister, could you please sit properly first? You hardly look like a Sect Master in that state, and aren’t you worried about others seeing you?” Bai Yiren gently admonished her Senior Sister, who sprawled so ungracefully.

Indeed, Luo Yan appeared far too casual. More strikingly, as she reclined, her clothes were disheveled, revealing glimpses of her delicate figure beneath—a sight almost overwhelming.

If a man were present, he would likely suffer a nosebleed; she was a living enchantress.

“Hmph! There’s no one else here. Just let me be comfortable,” Luo Yan retorted, rolling her eyes. “Now, quickly, what is it? If you don’t tell me, I’m going back to what I was doing.”

Bai Yiren sighed softly, then recounted Bai Lan’s situation to her, explaining certain matters.

Luo Yan, however, was quite surprised to hear that Bai Yiren had brought a boy back to the sect three years ago and had even taken him as a disciple.

“Oh? Junior Sister, have you finally seen the light? Are you planning to cultivate a ‘little man’ for yourself in the future? Heh heh.” Far from chastising Bai Yiren, Luo Yan displayed a teasing expression, clearly intrigued by the revelation.

Bai Yiren felt a pang of embarrassment upon hearing this, then quickly interjected.

“Senior Sister, please don’t joke,” Bai Yiren urged. “I merely wished to inform you, lest his identity suddenly be exposed in the future and catch you off guard.”

“He seems to have some connection to me, and we share a certain destiny. I hope Senior Sister will grant us your blessing.”

Luo Yan fell silent, not immediately responding to Bai Yiren. This matter touched upon sect rules, and if she agreed, she would be violating them herself.

“Junior Sister, I can agree to this matter,” Luo Yan stated seriously. “However, if his identity is exposed and becomes known, it will be troublesome.”

“Therefore, I, your Senior Sister, can only turn a blind eye. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Bai Yiren, being a shrewd and intelligent woman, naturally understood Luo Yan’s meaning. It implied: I won’t stop you from doing this, but if his identity is exposed, there will likely be trouble.

“Rest assured, Senior Sister, I know what to do,” Bai Yiren affirmed. “I guarantee his identity won’t be exposed. Besides, I won’t let him stay in the Luoshen Sect indefinitely.”

“Hmm, that’s good then. Oh, by the way, Junior Sister, fancy a bath with your Senior Sister?” Luo Yan asked, her tone suddenly turning flippant.

No sooner had the words left her lips than a streak of light shot out from the main gate of Luoshen Palace, vanishing from Luo Yan’s sight. Seeing her Junior Sister suddenly flee, Luo Yan immediately became displeased.

“Hmph, am I really that scary?” Luo Yan muttered, a pout on her face. “Running away so fast, it’s just a bath together, isn’t it?”

This woman was truly amusing. More precisely, the women of the Luoshen Sect were a strange and varied lot, and Bai Lan would likely have much to contend with in the future.

As for Bai Lan, after learning various details about the Luoshen Sect from Ximen Xue and Luo Yuyan, he spent the next two days continuously integrating the Chaos Divine Bone.

Concurrently, he was also re-cultivating his techniques.