Lu Guijiu asked again, "Master, why not?"

"This woman is no good," was all Zhang Jingmo could say. "She's not suitable for you. Wait a few more days and your master will find you a better one."

Lu Guijiu said, "Master, you say no, but you should at least give me a reason, right?"

Lu Guijiu's repeated questioning made those terrible things resurface in Zhang Jingmo's mind. He could even recall how he was tied to the bed with red ropes, with an object inserted between his legs, struggling helplessly. Thinking of these things, Zhang Jingmo also lost his composure and said in anger and humiliation, "I said no. Lu Guijiu, it's only been a dozen years and you're already not listening to me?"

Lu Guijiu hadn't expected Zhang Jingmo to react so strongly. After being stunned for a moment, he seemingly helplessly said, "Okay, okay, Master has the final say."

Even though the Lu Guijiu in front of him had softened his stance, Zhang Jingmo snorted coldly and left with a sweep of his sleeves.

What should have been a warm reunion between master and disciple was soured by the mention of Su Yu. Logically, Lu Guijiu should have been a little sad, but looking at Zhang Jingmo's back, the expression on his face did not change at all.

The voice of Lu Shu, unheard for a long time, sounded in Lu Guijiu's mind. Lu Shu said, "How is it?"

Lu Guijiu said coldly, "Naturally, it's good."

Lu Shu said, "Good is of course good, but how good?"

Lu Guijiu said, "So good that I wish I could dig out my own heart and put him inside."

Hearing this, Lu Shu laughed, "I used to suspect you were crazy, but now I don't anymore, because you are indeed crazy."

Lu Guijiu said indifferently, "Without me, this madman, you would still be cultivating bitterly in that secluded cave."

Hearing this, Lu Shu quieted down, only sighing in his heart. This Lu Guijiu was truly a monster, having trained to this state in just a dozen years. Who knows what kind of heaven-defying demon he would be in another hundred years.

Lu Guijiu stared in the direction Zhang Jingmo had left for a long time before muttering to himself, "If he's angry, I should coax him properly. But why does he hate Su Yu so much..."

After walking away, Zhang Jingmo felt a little regretful. He knew his reaction was a bit excessive when he heard the two words "Su Yu", but besides Lu Guijiu, this woman was the one who could most remind him of that period. In any case, he would not let her stay by Lu Guijiu's side.

So what excuse should he find to break them apart? Zhang Jingmo thought of several reasons but felt they were all a bit far-fetched. However, before he could come up with an answer, Lu Guijiu came to find him.

Lu Guijiu had just returned to Lingxu Sect and naturally hoped to spend every moment by Zhang Jingmo's side. Seeing Zhang Jingmo leave in anger, he waited for a moment before seeking out Zhang Jingmo's residence.

Dressed in a set of black tight-fitting clothes with his hair tied behind his head, Lu Guijiu exuded a faint aura of killing intent all over his body, making it clear at a glance that he had already taken quite a few lives.

After knocking and entering, Lu Guijiu walked straight up to Zhang Jingmo, "Is Master still angry?"

Zhang Jingmo said, "Why should your master be angry? The path you choose is for you to walk yourself."

Lu Guijiu laughed, "If Master is unwilling, this disciple will not dual cultivate with Su Yu."

Zhang Jingmo also felt that his unreasonable request was a bit capricious. He could have told Lu Guijiu that they still needed to keep it a secret and it was inconvenient to let Su Yu know, but he himself felt that this was just an excuse.

Since that was the case, it was better not to say anything.

Seeing Zhang Jingmo's face as still as water, Lu Guijiu directly changed the subject and said, "Master, Guijiu brought some small gifts for you on this long journey." As he spoke, he took out a blood-red small flower from his Sumeru ring. The small flower was only the size of a thumb, but the petals were layered, and upon careful observation, there were actually hundreds of layers.

"Wanxiang Flower?" Zhang Jingmo was also a person who could recognize valuable items. After taking the flower, he asked, "Where did you get it from?"

Lu Guijiu smiled and said, "It was just a coincidence."

Hearing this, Zhang Jingmo couldn't help but sigh. Some people were truly enviable. He also had methods to obtain this Wanxiang Flower, but it would be a hundred years later, and the chances of success were very small. However, Lu Guijiu had already obtained this flower during the Qi Refining stage. His luck was self-evident.

Zhang Jingmo was not polite either. The Wanxiang Flower was an essential ingredient for many kinds of elixirs and was very rare. Lu Guijiu gave it to him as a gift, so there was no need for courtesy. He directly accepted it.

Lu Guijiu said again, "Master, I also obtained a stone deer antler." He took out a giant antler more than ten feet long from his Sumeru ring.

Zhang Jingmo: "...Stone deer antler?" This antler was a good material for making defensive equipment. He wondered where Lu Guijiu got it from...

Before Zhang Jingmo could finish being surprised, Lu Guijiu started taking out more things, and only stopped after taking out more than a dozen items.

Zhang Jingmo went from being shocked at the beginning to becoming numb at the end, which only took a few moments. Looking at the materials of various sizes placed in front of him, he let out a long sigh, "You should keep them yourself for now, and I'll ask you for them when I need them."

Lu Guijiu said, "These are all gifts for Master..."

Zhang Jingmo waved his hand helplessly and said, "Then I'll just accept the Wanxiang Flower. You keep the rest for yourself." He actually really wanted to seriously ask Lu Guijiu how he obtained these things, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

Lu Guijiu wanted to persuade further, but seeing Zhang Jingmo's determined expression, he secretly sighed in his heart and put the items on the ground back into his Sumeru ring.

Zhang Jingmo nodded and wanted to say something, but suddenly felt unwell. He covered his mouth with his hand and coughed a few times.

Seeing Zhang Jingmo's tired expression, Lu Guijiu asked, "Master... did you just come out from that Cold Mirror Wall?"

Zhang Jingmo responded with a yes.

Lu Guijiu said, "Why was Master so impulsive? That Daoist Cen's days are numbered..."

Zhang Jingmo said, "I know my limits. You don't need to say more."

Seeing that Zhang Jingmo was unwilling to say more, the anxiety and irritation in Lu Guijiu's heart became even stronger, but on the surface, he still maintained a calm appearance, no longer showing his emotions like when he was a teenager.

The two hadn't seen each other for more than ten years, and there was so much they wanted to say. But when the person they missed was right in front of them, they didn't know where to start for a moment. Caught in hesitation, the atmosphere turned cold.

Lu Guijiu felt that looking at Zhang Jingmo was the best thing. He was not in a hurry and felt that he could never look at the person in front of him enough. On the contrary, Zhang Jingmo felt uncomfortable being stared at by Lu Guijiu. After coughing a few more times, he suggested that the two of them might as well go for a drink. It seemed the alcohol addiction Zhang Jingmo had picked up from Yu Fen was one he could not quit.

Hearing Zhang Jingmo's suggestion, Lu Guijiu also smiled slightly. He said, "If Master likes it, that's good. This time, I also brought back some rare fine wine and wanted to drink it with Master."

Hearing that there was good wine he hadn't tried before, the worry between Zhang Jingmo's brows eased a lot. He said okay and got up to walk out with Lu Guijiu.

It was still snowing outside, and there was already a thick layer on the ground. Zhang Jingmo was wearing a white fox fur and had white hair. Walking in front of Lu Guijiu, he almost blended into the vast whiteness.

Seeing this, Lu Guijiu couldn't help but want to reach out and grab Zhang Jingmo, but when his hand was about to touch Zhang Jingmo's sleeve, reason made him stop.

Zhang Jingmo sensed something unusual behind him and turned his head to ask, "What's wrong?"

Lu Guijiu smiled calmly, "There's a small twig on Master's head." As he spoke, he reached out and took a small twig from the top of Zhang Jingmo's head.

Zhang Jingmo gave Lu Guijiu a thoughtful look without saying anything, and then continued to slowly walk towards the small stone table for drinking.