Chapter 495: Chapter 155: He Zhiqiu Comes Clean

Qiu Zhihe’s face showed the "panic" that a disciple steward suddenly experiences when seeing the Peak Master, and she promptly stood up to respectfully greet her:

"Greetings, Peak Master, what brings you here?"

Tantai Mingyue’s expression was gentle, her voice soft: "Ruo Mei, you have just become an Inner Sect Disciple, is there any difficulty you are facing?"

Qiu Zhihe, "feeling flattered," replied: "Thank you, Peak Master, for your concern. I have just joined the sect and became an Inner Sect disciple, which makes me anxious, but fortunately, the senior brothers and sisters take good care of me, so there’s nothing difficult."

"Is that so?"

Tantai Mingyue smiled as she walked to the table and sat down. Qiu Zhihe immediately poured her a cup of water and displayed all the respect expected of a disciple.

Tantai Mingyue constantly watched her, her eyes flickering, not missing a single detail.

Qiu Zhihe maintained her respectful and shy demeanor, with a bit of clumsiness in her interactions, just as Ruo Mei usually does, without a hint of flaw.

"Peak—Peak Master, please have tea."

"Hmm."

Qiu Zhihe poured the tea and stood at the side with hands lowered, while Tantai Mingyue picked up the teacup, gently took a sip, and said nothing more.

In the quiet room, the two women were both hiding their true selves, one respectful and shy, the other composed and gentle.

After a long silence, Tantai Mingyue finally spoke:

"By the way, Ruo Mei, I heard from Su Xin that you recently went down the mountain with Lin Qingchou."

"Yes, Senior Sister Lin went down to make purchases and asked me to accompany her."

Qiu Zhihe lowered her head, respectfully answering.

"Oh?"

Tantai Mingyue suddenly said: "I heard there was no initial intention to include you among those going down the mountain; it was Lin Qingchou who specifically requested that Su Xin allow her to bring you along?"

Qiu Zhihe bowed her head and did not speak.

Tantai Mingyue held the teacup, her eyes never leaving her, her spiritual power quietly circulating, already prepared to act.

"Did something happen, are there any difficulties?"

Qiu Zhihe finally raised her head, her voice timid and gentle:

"Peak Master, I-it was me who asked Senior Sister Lin to take me down the mountain."

A fierce look flashed across Tantai Mingyue’s eyes, she asked with a smile: "Why?"

Qiu Zhihe answered: "I joined the sect for merely a few months and became an Inner Sect disciple. I am afraid of being gossiped about by the senior brothers and sisters, so I want to do something for the sect to prove that the decisions of the Peak Master and Sect Leader were correct."

"I see."

Tantai Mingyue asked again: "Then why did you return half a day later than Lin Qingchou and the others?"

Qiu Zhihe quickly replied: "Lin Qingchou found that we were short on Spirit Marrow during our purchases, so she asked me to go back and buy more. The three accompanying senior sisters are aware of this."

Tantai Mingyue nodded; Su Xin had asked about these details before she came, and what Ruo Mei said matched with the accounts of those who went along.

Indeed, there seemed to be no flaw.

Yet it also appeared too seamless, not off by even a fraction.

Strangely perfect.

"I’m leaving now, you should rest."

Tantai Mingyue smiled and got up. Qiu Zhihe bowed:

"Respectfully seeing off the Peak Master."

"By the way."

Tantai Mingyue took two steps, suddenly turned back: "Ruo Mei, your complexion doesn’t look good, did something go wrong in cultivation?"

Qiu Zhihe remained "shy," also showing some gratitude: "Thank you, Peak Master, for your concern, I’m—I’m fine."

With one step, Tantai Mingyue suddenly appeared in front of Qiu Zhihe, her smile still gentle:

"I’m a Medical Cultivator, let me have a look."

Though her words were soft, she already stretched out her hand toward Qiu Zhihe’s wrist, undeniable.

She was going to probe Ruo Mei’s Spirit Field and Spirit Root, to see her true cultivation and spirit root talent.

No one in Hongzhou Continent was unaware that the Demon Sect Saintess Xia Qinglian’s talent is unparalleled and is the purest Innate Top-grade Spirit Root.

Even if Ruo Mei intended to hide, Tantai Mingyue had a way to uncover her true spirit root.

Qiu Zhihe’s timid and shy face instantly froze, as a sharp glint emerged from the soft eyes.

"Who is it?!"

Suddenly, a minimal sound was heard outside, which would be concealed from ordinary disciples, but Tantai Mingyue, with her keen spiritual sense, quickly noticed it.

Her gaze at Ruo Mei became sharp.

So, she was troubled after all!

Tantai Mingyue was extremely wary, several magical artifacts quietly trembled, and she was ready to deploy them at any moment.

"Peak Master Tantai, I’m He Zhiqiu from Divinity Transformation Peak... I’m here to find Junior Sister Ruo."

Outside, a slightly fearful voice sounded.

Tantai Mingyue paused, looking at Qiu Zhihe, whose small face blushed, and the young woman shyly lowered her head.

Tantai Mingyue raised her hand gracefully, and the door opened, revealing a tall and robust figure standing outside, it was indeed He Zhiqiu!

"Senior Brother He?"

Qiu Zhihe also looked at Qin Gengyun, carrying just the right amount of surprise and shyness on her small face, yet her eyes were full of blame.

Husband, didn’t I ask you not to come these days!

Tantai Mingyue is already suspecting me, you should stay away from me now, coming to find me at such a late hour, they’ll suspect you too!

This vortex is too large, I don’t want you caught in it.

"So, it’s Zhiqiu. This place is the residence of Danxia Peak’s female disciples. It’s quite late, what are you sneaking around doing outside?"

Tantai Mingyue already scrutinized Qin Gengyun with suspicion.

Qin Gengyun seemed not to notice the blame and concern in Qiu Zhihe’s eyes; he respectfully saluted Tantai Mingyue:

"Peak Master Tantai, indeed it was inappropriate of me, but... I really miss my wife, and couldn’t help but come to see her."

"Your wife?"

Tantai Mingyue was stunned, Qin Gengyun continued: "Reporting to Peak Master, Junior Sister Ruo and I actually married before entering Zhenyang Sect. Yet Zhenyang Sect is known to have strict regulations, so we were worried it might prevent our entry, hence we’ve been hiding it. Please forgive us, Peak Master."

Not only was Tantai Mingyue shocked, but even Qiu Zhihe was stunned.

"Senior Brother He, you—you..."

Qin Gengyun strode to her side, held her little hand, and gently said:

"I’m sorry, wife, I really couldn’t help it, we are a sworn married couple, why can’t we declare it openly?"

He looked at Qiu Zhihe, eyes tender yet firm.

Wife, we are married, we need to face everything together, don’t think of leaving me behind.

"Husband..."

Qiu Zhihe gazed at him dazedly, her beautiful eyes filled with mist, her eyes moist.

Husband, why are you so foolish, what I do could implicate you!

At this moment, the couple stared at each other, with thousands of words hidden in their eyes, while in Tantai Mingyue’s view, their deep affection between them evidently made them a loving couple.

Suddenly, some deeply buried pictures flashed before her eyes.

"Senior Brother, do you really want to marry me?"

"Ming Yue, please calmly give birth to the child first. After I fulfill my aspirations, I will definitely marry you."

"Senior Brother..."

Tantai Mingyue regained her composure, dispelling those distant, blurry images from her mind, gazing at Qin Gengyun and Qiu Zhihe holding hands, her delicate eyebrows slightly frowning:

"You kept your relationship hidden and infiltrated Zhenyang Sect, what’s your intention?!"