Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 278 Lights Hidden in the Clouds

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Zhao Mengmeng was taken aback. Looking at the genuine concern and affirmation in her master's and senior uncle's eyes, she felt a warmth spread through her heart, but her nose tingled slightly. She sniffed and gave a bright smile: "Actually...it's not that hard! I'm happy to be able to help Master and Senior Uncle!" She scratched her head, a little embarrassed, "But...if Master and Senior Uncle both say so...then...I'll go down the mountain to play for a while?"

"Go ahead," Chen Anran nodded. "No need to rush back tonight, relax. Don't come too early tomorrow either, sleep in."

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Eldest Uncle!" Zhao Mengmeng's eyes sparkled as she happily responded. She quickly untied her apron and waved to Wei Qingyi, Huiming, and the others. "Second Uncle, Master Huiming, I'll head down the mountain now!"

"Be careful on the road," Wei Qingyi whispered.

"Have fun." Huiming nodded with a smile.

Zhao Mengmeng skipped and hopped out of the dining hall like a cheerful little bird. Soon, her light footsteps and humming voice could be heard from the front yard, gradually fading into the distance.

Chen Anran and Su Wan exchanged a glance, both seeing the smile in each other's eyes.

"This child is finally willing to rest." Su Wan shook her head and chuckled, her tone full of affection.

"Yes, she should relax too." Chen Anran stacked the bowls and chopsticks and looked out the window at the deepening night. The lights of the resort at the foot of the mountain were faintly visible, a scene of peace and tranquility.

With a clever and hardworking disciple like Zhao Mengmeng, and with supportive companions both on and off the mountain, the Yunyin Sect, this "family," can still maintain its warm foundation even when storms are brewing.

He took over the task of clearing the dishes and said to Su Wan, "Senior Sister, you should go and rest too. I'll take care of things here."

Wei Qingyi and Huiming also got up to help Chen Anran tidy up.

Wei Qingyi also said, "Go, Senior Sister."

Su Wan looked at Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi standing side by side in front of her, and Huiming with a smile and clasped hands beside them, her eyes filled with warmth.

"Alright, then thank you for your hard work."

After Su Wan left, the dining hall fell silent for a moment, with only the soft clatter of bowls and plates colliding.

Wei Qingyi rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair wrists, and silently and efficiently gathered the leftover food. Huiming carefully wiped the table. Chen Anran placed the bowls and plates into a wooden basin, preparing to take them to the backyard to wash.

Night had completely enveloped Yunyin Mountain, with only a few stone lanterns casting a dim yellow glow in the front yard. The mountain breeze blew through the eaves, carrying the faint sounds of the night market from the resort in the distance, further emphasizing the tranquility of the mountain.

The three of them finished cleaning in tacit agreement. Huiming washed and hung the rags to dry, then put his palms together with Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi and said, "Master Chen, Fellow Daoist Wei, I will be going down the mountain to guide the guests early tomorrow morning, so I will go back to my room first."

After Huiming returned to his room, only Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi remained in the dining hall. The dishes had been washed and put away, and the embers in the stove had gradually dimmed, leaving only a faint red glow that occasionally crackled softly in the ashes.

Wei Qingyi draped the washed rag over the stove and turned around. Chen Anran was standing by the window, gazing at the lights below the mountain. His profile was somewhat blurry in the dim light, and his jawline was taut.

"Thinking about Longhu Mountain?" Wei Qingyi walked to his side, her voice very soft.

Chen Anran did not answer immediately. A mountain breeze blew in, carrying a hint of coolness, and he exhaled softly.

"Yes, there are too many suspicious points surrounding Zhang Tianshi's death."

Wei Qingyi's eyes flickered slightly: "You don't think it was that demoness from the Crimson Spirit Sect who killed Zhang Tianshi?"

Chen Anran didn't answer the question. Instead, she turned to Wei Qingyi and asked, "Second Senior Sister, what would you do if our sect were to suffer a calamity one day?"

Wei Qingyi was slightly taken aback. After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke, "As long as the sect exists, I will exist. If the sect is in danger, I will protect it with my life."

Chen Anran shook his head after hearing this, "If the sect is in danger, don't hesitate, escape. Take Senior Sister, Third Senior Sister, and Xiao Ling'er with you."

Wei Qingyi suddenly looked up at him. She didn't answer, but her lips were pressed together until they turned white.

Chen Anran didn't receive a reply; instead, he was stunned by the intense emotions he had never seen before in her eyes. In those usually cool and aloof eyes, something almost painful, which he couldn't understand, was surging within them.

The next instant, Wei Qingyi suddenly reached out and grabbed his forearm tightly. The force was considerable.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Chen Anran froze. The slight pain and coldness on her wrist felt so real.

Only the occasional crackling of embers in the stove remained in the dining hall. Her breathing was a little rapid, but she didn't loosen her grip on his hand; instead, she tightened it even more, as if letting go would make his hypothetical statement come true.

Chen Anran looked at the slightly reddened corners of her eyes. What was in them was not tears, but something deeper than anger and heavier than fear.

He immediately raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a relaxed smile that was both reassuring and somewhat "triumphant," and naturally placed his other hand over the back of her hand that was tightly gripping his.

"I was just kidding, Second Senior Sister." He said in a light tone, "With Eldest Senior Sister, with you, with Third Senior Sister, with everyone... the Cloud Hidden Sect will only get better and better, how could such a thing happen?"

As she spoke, Chen Anran's resolve only grew stronger.

In any case, we must develop our sect as soon as possible and improve our strength. Only in this way can we protect everything here!

Wei Qingyi's grip on his hand stiffened, the turmoil in her eyes slowly receding with his smile and words, like a sleepwalker suddenly pulled back to reality. She hastily released her grip, quickly putting it behind her back, her face regaining its usual calm, only her ears showing a barely perceptible blush in the dim light.

"Don't make jokes like that again." She looked away, her voice becoming cold again, but slightly softer than before.

"Understood." Chen Anran nodded readily, picked up the last unwashed porcelain bowl from the stove, turned and walked towards the water vat, her tone as natural as if she were discussing tomorrow's weather, "The dishes are all washed. Second Senior Sister, you must be tired today, get some rest."

Wei Qingyi stood there, watching his retreating figure. The heart in her chest, which had suddenly tightened at his words and then slowly returned to its place at his smile, was still gently pounding with lingering fear. She lowered her eyes and, after a long while, finally let out a very soft "Mmm."

After returning to his room, Chen Anran immediately took out the "Taishang Sanwu Dugong Jinglu" that Zhang Nanshan had asked Mo Han to give him and began to study it carefully.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating Chen Anran's profile as she intently read.

The "Taishang Sanwu Dugong Jinglu" is full of precious words, expounding the secret teachings of the Celestial Masters sect of Longhu Mountain.

Chen Anran was engrossed in reading, and his spiritual energy unconsciously flowed slowly with the methods described in the scripture. At first, it was slightly sluggish, but after several cycles, it gradually became smooth and harmonious. His wisps of divine consciousness seemed to have been cleansed, becoming more solid and sharp. He was secretly amazed; the gift from Master Zhang was indeed extraordinary.