Chapter 81: The Library Pavilion

The golden-maned beast, battered beyond recognition by the little Thunderhawk, had its head severed in its unconscious state, its body still twitching. After her initial shock, Lin Xinyue felt an immense sense of satisfaction, yet her worry was plainly written on her face as she said, “Junior Brother Mo Fei, that golden-maned beast is Junior Sister Bai’s spirit pet. You killed it—not only will Junior Sister Bai be after you, but even her master, the peak lord, won’t let this go lightly.”

Hearing the commotion from inside the house, Yu Youwei ran out and asked, “Third Brother, does this beast really have an owner? The little hawk only caught a rabbit in the mountains, and this beast stole it, which angered the hawk. That’s why it grabbed the beast and brought it here. Mo Fei said all the beasts on the back mountain are unclaimed, so it shouldn’t matter if we eat them.”

“It’s fine. I’ll explain to Uncle-Master,” Ning Baixia replied calmly.

Ning Mofei, who had dared to rob his elder brother and the elders of the sect, actually had a timid heart. Like any child caught doing something wrong, he hung his head in dejection. When he heard his third brother’s words, he glanced at his future wife, then looked down again, nervously twisting his fingers together.

What a silly child! Yu Youwei couldn’t help but laugh. She took his hand and said with a smile, “If Third Brother says it’s fine, then it is. If it isn’t, we’ll just go to Yunhuang Marsh and have Chiyan catch a beast to compensate your Junior Sister Bai!”

A child’s mood changes as quickly as a summer sky. Instantly, Ning Mofei’s face lit up with sunshine. “Third Brother, hurry and skin this dead beast! Let’s roast the meat!”

Just awakened, Bai Meier rolled her eyes and fainted again. Lin Xinyue was secretly delighted by the sight and didn’t mind that Bai Meier had been occupying Ning Baixia’s embrace.

“Let me do it. Men aren’t suited to these trivial tasks,” Lin Xinyue said graciously.

Yu Youwei instinctively glanced at Ning Baixia, who explained, just as instinctively, “She followed on her own.”

Lin Xinyue’s lovely face flushed from white to purple, unsure whether to stay or leave.

“Third Brother, Mo Fei and I both love to eat but don’t know how to cook. It’s rare to have a beautiful elder sister who not only can but is willing to do these little chores. Don’t put on that icy, cool front.” Yu Youwei pulled Lin Xinyue closer, her cuteness as sweet as the girl next door. “Sorry to trouble you, sister. My Mo Fei has been starving for ages!”

“It’s no trouble; he’s still growing, after all!” Lin Xinyue, finding an excuse to stay, was extremely grateful to Yu Youwei.

Yet Ning Baixia found himself irritated by Yu Youwei’s deliberate use of the phrase “my Mo Fei.” Silently, he carried Bai Meier outside and didn’t return the entire night. The next day, he sent a junior disciple to inform them that he had entered closed-door cultivation.

“But we haven’t even eaten Third Brother’s roast leg yet,” Ning Mofei complained unhappily.

A bright laugh rang out. Yu Youwei’s radiant smile was dazzling, making the disciple from the Immortal Chen Sect who brought the message lower his head nervously. He added, “Senior Brother Ning instructed that from now on, three meals a day will be delivered. If you want anything special, just tell the brother who brings the food.”

“Alright. Is there anything else?” Yu Youwei asked casually, not expecting there to be. But there was indeed something more: Ning Baixia had sent her the token granting entry to the Library Pavilion. Weighing the token in her hand, she asked with interest, “Are there any restrictions?”

“You can access up to the third floor. No time limit. Senior Brother Ning said this is a special privilege from the sect master and has already been registered with the elder guarding the pavilion.”

“Oh, thank you.” Seeing the eagerness in the disciple’s eyes when he looked at the token, Yu Youwei instantly understood its value. Ordinary disciples of the Immortal Chen Sect could not gain entry to the Library Pavilion so easily. After he left, she shook the token and said, “Mo Fei, I want to visit the Library Pavilion. Do you know the way?”

“The Library Pavilion isn’t any fun!” Ning Mofei frowned, tossed aside the wooden spinning top he had just found, and reluctantly walked over.

She laughed, brushing the dust from his forehead and said, “Then after you take me to the Library Pavilion, you can go find Senior Sister Lin from yesterday to hang out, alright?”

“No,” Ning Mofei refused flatly, mimicking her by gently wiping her face—even though her fair, flawless skin was free from any trace of dust. His movements were gentle and careful, his attentive expression captivating her.

The morning sunlight poured into the open courtyard, bathing them in a soft golden hue. As his finger grazed her lips, Yu Youwei, in a daze, suddenly bit down, only to realize what she had done and flush crimson. She quickly released his finger, lowering her head in bashful embarrassment.

Oblivious as ever, he bent down to look at her face, grinning. “Just bite me if you’re upset.”

Yu Youwei raised her head, meeting his pure, unclouded eyes, and was left speechless.

“If you’re angry, go ahead and bite me.” Ning Mofei held out his hand, as if offering it up willingly.

“I’m not angry.” She grasped his long, slender hand. How could she deny feeling a touch of disappointment? “Come on, Mo Fei, let’s go to the Library Pavilion. If you get bored waiting outside, you can go play with someone else.”

Though slow-witted, he was sensitive enough to notice her low spirits. Ning Mofei said carefully, “I’ll stay with you while you read.”

“But Third Brother only gave us one token. Can two people enter?”

“I don’t need a token to enter. Grandpa, the elder who guards the pavilion, never stops me and even gives me snacks.”

“Really? Alright then.” At this, Yu Youwei felt nothing but envy for this silly boy. To be so dearly cherished was truly good fortune.

The Library Pavilion stood on the mountain to the left of the Immortal Chen Hall, a six-story building. The first floor was open to disciples in the Qi Refining stage, the second to those in the Foundation Establishment stage or higher, the third to those who had reached the Golden Core stage, and the fourth to those above the Nascent Soul stage. The fifth and sixth floors required not only a higher cultivation but also special qualifications. Moreover, entry was not free unless one possessed the special token bestowed by the sect master, like Yu Youwei now held.

Yesterday, Yu Youwei had entered the Immortal Chen Hall with Foundation Establishment cultivation, but overnight her level had dropped to the peak of Qi Refining. She remained calm, but when the elder guarding the Library Pavilion received the sect master’s order, he was taken aback by her situation and, upon seeing her, was at a loss—neither granting nor refusing her entry.

Ning Mofei, growing impatient, stepped forward and tugged at the elder’s beard. “Grandpa, wake up!”

“Grandpa isn’t asleep,” the elder said, brushing the boy’s hand away, then asked, “Is this your wife?”

“My wife is beautiful, isn't she?” Ning Mofei replied smugly.

Other disciples waiting to enter the Library Pavilion snickered or sighed in disappointment, while the elder, unashamed of his age, teased, “What a fine jade cabbage, only to be taken by a pig-headed fool like you.”

Even a fool could tell from the boisterous laughter that this wasn’t praise. Furious, Ning Mofei yanked harder on the elder’s beard and shouted, “Bad old man!”

“Mo Fei, let go,” Yu Youwei quickly intervened.

“Let’s ignore this bad old man and go upstairs,” Ning Mofei said, grabbing his wife’s hand and charging inside. The elder called after them, “Rascal, Grandpa hasn’t even given your wife her welcome gift yet!” Ning Mofei huffed with pride, “We don’t need it. If I wanted it, I’d just take it!”