A Family of Hopeless Romantics, Except for the Evil Little Junior Brother
Chapter 261: There's a Mole

"Li Xuanxiao, Li Xuanxiao..."

Di Nü Feng tugged at Li Xuanxiao's sleeve.

Li Xuanxiao still ignored her.

After eliminating all impossibilities, whatever remains must be the truth, no matter how improbable.

There was a mole among the seven peak masters!!!

Thinking of this possibility, Li Xuanxiao's expression darkened considerably.

One of the seven peak masters was secretly colluding with the deputy leader of Tian Sha Hall.

Li Xuanxiao took a deep breath.

Couldn't I get a simple quest for once??

Other protagonists start by solving small matters step by step, gaining experience before tackling bigger challenges.

They level up by fighting minor monsters before finally facing the final boss.

Li Xuanxiao looked around.

Hmm! All bosses here!!

Every problem he needed to solve was of the highest difficulty level.

And now there was even a mole among their own heroes.

Li Xuanxiao suddenly raised his eyes to look at Di Nü Feng, speaking seriously:

"Tell me more about your deputy leader, in greater detail. Start from when you first met!"

Di Nü Feng tilted her head in thought. "We were both captured slaves, raised together after being adopted by our master.

Our master was very kind - he locked us all in a cage and said only those who survived deserved to live. So we fought our way out together.

I always helped and trusted her back then, even saved her life multiple times.

Who knew she was calling me an idiot behind my back........"

Di Nü Feng pouted with grievance.

"You've already mentioned that," Li Xuanxiao reminded. "Anything else important about the deputy leader?"

"Hmm... she disappeared for a long time once... When she returned, she said her face was injured,

so badly that cultivation couldn't restore it. After that, she often wore disguises.

Plus practicing the White Bone Technique, I've forgotten what she originally looked like." Di Nü Feng said.

"Why didn't you mention such an important detail earlier!"

"You never asked," Di Nü Feng stated matter-of-factly.

Li Xuanxiao sighed in frustration.

Frequently wears disguises?

Someone else as cautious as me?

Disguises.....

Li Xuanxiao suddenly stood up.

A bold idea struck him.

Could the deputy leader be one of Mount Shushan's seven peak masters!?

Just like how he had created Zhang Haoran and Jia Sidao.

This possibility couldn't be dismissed.

Being a Mount Shushan peak master wouldn't prevent her from being Tian Sha Hall's deputy leader.

But why would someone who achieved the status of peak master willingly become a mole?

The benefits didn't match the risks.

Unless...

Unless this peak master was actually Tian Sha Hall's leader, controlling the organization all along.

Li Xuanxiao continued reasoning.

This person must meet several criteria.

First, female.

Second, around Di Nü Feng's age.

Third, joined Mount Shushan after Di Nü Feng entered Tian Sha Hall.

Because Di Nü Feng and she were captured by Tian Sha Hall together.

The only peak master matching these criteria was Great Bamboo Peak's master - Wang Yushu.

Li Xuanxiao narrowed his eyes slightly, tapping his forehead thoughtfully.

"........"

Great Bamboo Peak.

Inside Peak Master Wang Yushu's cave abode.

Little Bamboo Peak's master Daoist Liu Yi and his personal disciple Su Wan were also present.

Daoist Liu Yi and Wang Yushu had always been close.

Rumors said they once considered becoming cultivation partners.

They entered the sect on the same day.

From that moment, the poor boy Liu Yi had admired the kind-hearted young miss Wang Yushu.

Yet for unknown reasons, though both clearly had feelings, they never became a couple.

Even when Wang Yushu confessed, Liu Yi rejected her.

After that, Wang Yushu closed off her heart.

Their missed connection became a source of regret.

Daoist Liu Yi held a black stone while playing weiqi with Wang Yushu.

After less than a hundred moves,

Liu Yi noticed Wang Yushu's distracted play and unstable strategy, remarking:

"What's wrong today? Something on your mind?"

Wang Yushu smiled faintly. "Just cultivation matters."

"Cultivation shouldn't be neglected. Perhaps we should continue another day." Liu Yi said.

Wang Yushu looked at Liu Yi silently before nodding.

"Very well."

Soon after, Daoist Liu Yi and Su Wan left Great Bamboo Peak.

"Master, if you love someone you should say it aloud. This way you'll never move Yushu-shishu's heart." Su Wan couldn't help advising her master.

Daoist Liu Yi coughed lightly. "What does a child know about such things!"

Su Wan retorted: "Master, in matters of love I'm far more experienced than you.

If you keep this up, you might wait millennia and still fail to reopen Yushu-shishu's heart."

Recently, for some reason,

Daoist Liu Yi had changed his usual approach and begun actively pursuing Wang Yushu again.

Liu Yi glanced at his disciple, somewhat embarrassed:

"So... what should this master do?"

Su Wan patted her chest. "Leave it to me, Master."

Liu Yi looked skeptical. "Well... well just preserve some dignity for your master, alright?"

Daoist Liu Yi couldn't help recalling their early sect days.

Young Liu Yi had arrived after an arduous journey, looking like a beggar.

Unable to enter Mount Shushan immediately, he lingered at the mountain's base.

Everything there was expensive.

Liu Yi could only squat by the roadside, enduring day after day.

Then a bright-eyed girl passed by, the bells on her anklet jingling.

She turned back and stopped before him.

Looking up, Liu Yi was dazzled by sunlight framing the girl's silhouette.

Later, they entered Mount Shushan together.

As novice cultivators, they lived frugally,

saving every spirit stone.

At Menial Peak's dining hall, they could only afford the cheapest dishes.

Watching young nobles feast on delicacies while discussing cultivation progress and expensive pills,

Liu Yi sat silently in a corner, feeling out of place.

"May I sit here?"

Liu Yi looked up at that familiar bright presence and mumbled assent.

It wasn't his private spot anyway.

He could smell her fragrance, see her exposed calves -

pale and slender.

Blushing furiously, he averted his gaze, afraid she'd notice.

"May I try your dish? Is it good?"

Without waiting for permission,

she took a bite of his cheap mixed spirit herbs.

"Hmm... not bad."

Then she placed two pieces of meat in his bowl.

"Try mine too."

Liu Yi stared at the spirit beast meat worth a month's meals, swallowing hard.

"...Thank you."

A stiff, simple thanks.

The girl's lips curved into a spring blossom smile, her crescent eyes shining warmly.

To Liu Yi then, she was the brightest star in his night sky.

This remained his most precious memory.

Several days later,

Daoist Liu Yi went to Great Bamboo Peak to find Wang Yushu.

Su Wan had prepared him thoroughly -

styled his hair, changed his robes, even applied some perfume...

Only to learn upon arrival that Wang Yushu wasn't there.

Great Bamboo Peak disciples said she'd left on a mission from the sect leader.

Liu Yi returned to Little Bamboo Peak dejected,

suspecting fate opposed him, though Su Wan consoled him that good things come to those who wait.

Half a month later,

Daoist Liu Yi suddenly received news of Wang Yushu in danger -

through the twin communication talismans they'd made in their youth.

Without hesitation, he left Mount Shushan immediately, following the talisman's energy trail.

"........."

Daoist Liu Yi landed in a valley, frowning deeply.

Because soon after, another figure appeared in the distance.

Di Nü Feng!!

"Di Nü Feng? Why are you here?" Liu Yi's voice turned icy.

Di Nü Feng examined Liu Yi strangely with her eyes. "What do you think, Deputy Leader!"