"Why would you think that?"

"Luo Xiu, what on earth is wrong with you!"

Hearing Luo Xiu's words, Su Shenyun immediately grew anxious.

Luo Xiu smiled. "Because it's quiet here, with no one to disturb me. It's perfect for fishing, so I don't want to leave."

Su Shenyun looked at his profile, her eyes suddenly turning red.

Although he said it in a lighthearted, almost joking manner, Su Shenyun could feel the resolve in his gaze.

"If you really stay here for the rest of your life, what about them?"

"Them?"

"Lin Xiyue, for example. Aren't you going to look for her anymore?"

Luo Xiu felt a pang of guilt and shook his head gently. "It doesn't matter anymore. We were only partners to begin with."

"So, you're determined to stay here and die alone?"

Luo Xiu nodded.

It was a decision he had spent days making, and a few words of persuasion from Su Shenyun wouldn't change it.

"Then I'll stay with you," Su Shenyun said.

"There's no need," Luo Xiu replied.

Su Shenyun huffed, getting up to leave. "I'll stay wherever I want! It's none of your business!"

"..."

「In the blink of an eye, night fell.」

Luo Xiu packed up his fishing gear and returned to the shelter.

"Today's catch was pretty good. I caught several large groupers."

He dangled the groupers in front of the two women as if showing off.

To him, defeating some renowned expert of the Martial Way was a trivial matter. Catching a large fish, however, was something to be truly proud of.

For an angler, this is undoubtedly the most dazzling glory!

However, the two women just sat by the campfire roasting dried fish, completely ignoring him.

Su Shenyun didn't even glance his way, seemingly having dismissed him entirely.

Although Su Hongli glanced at him, she had no intention of speaking to him either.

Su Hongli had probably learned from Su Shenyun that Luo Xiu wanted to stay here.

Luo Xiu scratched his head awkwardly. He had no choice but to go aside to gut and clean the groupers, then cut them into pieces and tossed them into the water-filled Alchemy Furnace to cook.

He was using the priceless Three-Legged Golden Crow Furnace. Su Shenyun and Su Hongli had been using it continuously these past few days, and it had become thoroughly blackened—so dark it shone as if coated in lacquer.

After he finished, Luo Xiu sidled over, shamelessly trying to start a conversation with the two women.

"Hey, are you two giving me the silent treatment?"

"You're both over thirty. Are you still going to act like little girls throwing a tantrum?"

"Are you going to drink this fish soup or not?"

"I added some herbs. They're good for your skin and can even slow down aging."

"You really don't want any?"

"If you don't, I'll drink it all."

"I'm really going to drink it!"

"..."

WOOO—!

Just as Luo Xiu was relentlessly teasing the two women, an ethereal and melodious cry suddenly echoed from the sea through the night.

It was the call of a deep-sea leviathan!

To Su Shenyun and Su Hongli, the long cry sounded full of sorrow. The two women couldn't help but shed tears as a stabbing pain seized their hearts, so intense it was nearly suffocating.

But to Luo Xiu's ears, the cry was filled with joy.

So he smiled.

Forgetting even to taste the freshly cooked fish soup, he quickly got up and ran toward the sound.

He already had a guess as to its source.

It was the unique sound the Whale Crying Sword made when drawn from its scabbard. And the Sword Master of the Whale Crying Sword was none other than his second senior sister, Ai Hongye!

A short while later, the three of them reached the seashore, where they saw a small island emerging from the moonlit water. As the island drew closer, they realized it was actually a colossal whale, two or three times larger than the biggest blue whale.

An elegant figure stood atop the giant whale's broad head.

It was Ai Hongye.

As the great whale was about to run aground, unable to swim any further, Ai Hongye gracefully leaped from its head. She then walked upon the water, striding serenely toward the beach. Her figure was graceful, her poise exquisite, like a goddess descending from the heavens or a phantom emerging from some mysterious abyss.

On the beach, Su Shenyun and Su Hongli suddenly dropped to one knee.

"Your subordinate, Su Shenyun, greets the Director!"

"Your subordinate, Su Hongli, greets the Director!" they exclaimed in unison.

Hearing this, Luo Xiu paused. He glanced at the two kneeling women, then at the approaching Ai Hongye, and suddenly burst into laughter.

"You really know how to put on a show, Director."

Su Shenyun tensed at his words, quickly shuffling over to tug on his sleeve, signaling him to watch his mouth.

This is the freaking Director of the Audit Bureau! And you still dare to be so flippant? In all of the Hua Country, in terms of position and power, only the Empress stands above the Director of the Audit Bureau! Besides, the Director's personal strength is unfathomable.

Su Hongli whispered, "Luo Xiu, don't speak nonsense. This is the Director of the Audit Bureau."

Luo Xiu was silent.

By now, Ai Hongye had stepped onto the beach and approached the trio.

Su Shenyun stood up and asked, "Director, how did you know we were here?"

Ai Hongye's expression was calm as she replied coolly, "The Capital City received your Morse code but couldn't pinpoint your location, so they contacted me. I guessed you might be trapped in this small Secret Realm, so I came to have a look."

Su Hongli was surprised. "Director, you know about this Secret Realm too?"

"This Secret Realm is mine," Ai Hongye stated faintly.

Hearing this, Su Hongli and Su Shenyun exchanged a look, both stunned into speechlessness.

Just as expected of the Director, to own a private Secret Realm!

Then, Ai Hongye's gaze fell on Luo Xiu, and her heart ached. She could clearly feel how weak he was right now.

Luo Xiu gave her a slight nod. "Take them and leave."

Beside him, Su Shenyun grew anxious. "You're really not planning to leave?!"

Luo Xiu nodded. "This is my decision."

Su Shenyun bit her lip, then turned to Ai Hongye. "Director, the Soul-devouring Worm is on me... Please take it back with you. I'll stay here."

Hearing this, Su Hongli sighed but said nothing. Unlike Su Shenyun, she couldn't stay here with Luo Xiu for the rest of her life. She had a family, she had relatives. She had to go back.

Ai Hongye stared emotionlessly at Luo Xiu. "You're really not leaving?"

"I'm not," Luo Xiu replied without hesitation.

Ai Hongye met his gaze, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly. She understood what he meant, of course. He just wanted to stay here alone and wait for death! But she refused to accept it.

"You're leaving, whether you want to or not."

Luo Xiu waved a dismissive hand and turned away. "My feet are my own."

"Stop!" Ai Hongye commanded coldly.

Luo Xiu ignored her completely.

With a flash, Ai Hongye's figure appeared before him like a ghost, blocking his path.

"Behave, and come back with me!"

Luo Xiu gave a bitter smile. "I'm really not going. Don't force me."

"Then don't force me."

"Whatever you say, I'm not leaving."

Suddenly, Ai Hongye reached out and grabbed Luo Xiu by the collar. Her seemingly delicate hand possessed immense strength, effortlessly lifting him until his feet left the ground as if he weighed nothing.

Seeing this, both Su Hongli and Su Shenyun panicked. Clearly, the Director was about to use force on Luo Xiu!

"Director, please don't! His body is still very weak!"

"Director—"

Ai Hongye shot them a cold glance. "Get out of the way. This has nothing to do with you."

The two women froze, shocked into silence.

Ai Hongye then turned her gaze back to Luo Xiu. "It's been a while since I've hit you," she said coolly. "Are you itching for a beating?"

Luo Xiu retorted, "I don't lower myself to fighting with women."

SMACK!

Ai Hongye raised her hand and slapped him on the back of the head.

"Stop with the brooding act. Pack your things and come back with me, now!"

Luo Xiu clutched his head. "Ai Hongye, are you insane?"

Suddenly, Ai Hongye grabbed his ear and twisted it hard, her voice low. "Master and Eldest Senior Sister aren't here, so today, I, your Second Senior Sister, will teach you a proper lesson in their place."

Hearing this, Su Hongli and Su Shenyun froze, their expressions a mixture of shock and surprise. Director Ai is Luo Xiu's senior sister?!

After a moment, the two women exchanged a glance and silently retreated to the side, their worry completely gone. In fact, it wasn't just gone—it had been replaced by a sense of anticipation.

They were both very curious to see what Luo Xiu looked like getting disciplined by his senior sister. It was bound to be quite a sight.

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