Everyone's all smiles on the surface but secretly cunning, but the junior sister only wants to

Gu Ming and Jiang Moqi have known each other for many years and are close friends who can talk about anything. Because of this, Gu Ming has always been straightforward with Jiang Moqi, expressing his true thoughts and feelings without any reservations.

At this moment, Gu Ming said without any pretense, "You rascal, if you really think your appearance is unbearable, then where do we all stand? Alright, alright, I do know that you've been hiding someone in your heart, but you've never mentioned that person is actually a boy, and a mere teenager at that. I'm telling you, what are you thinking? How could you have feelings for such a little guy!"

Hearing this, Jiang Moqi was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but laugh at his friend's blunt words. He immediately retorted, replying irritably, "Hey! You're going too far! I've been waiting for her for over a thousand years! Besides, she's clearly a girl who took a disguise pill to avoid trouble, which is why she looks like this now. You're supposed to be a top-tier alchemist, how can you not even see through this? I think your skills have declined; you're practically getting worse with age!"

"You! Hmph, forget it. I'm in a good mood today, so I'm too lazy to argue with you. I won't bother with you anymore." Gu Ming said with his arms crossed and an arrogant look on his face.

"Oh? That's strange. You've always scoffed at those youth-preserving pills, thinking that relying on them to maintain one's appearance is self-deception. Why have you suddenly changed your mind today? You've actually restored your appearance to what it was like when you were young and full of vigor." Jiang Moqi suddenly noticed the change in his friend's appearance and looked Gu Ming up and down with suspicion, as if trying to find some clues from him.

Gu Ming pursed his lips and replied casually, "Isn't it because I ate the pills made by your sweetheart? I was just anxious, afraid that my future disciple would run away, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to try these pills. I never expected that the effects of these pills would be so extraordinary, they can only be called miraculous!"

Hearing this, Jiang Moqi couldn't help but show a smug look on his face. "Haha, how about that? I told you she was amazing! There was a reason why I specially invited her here to participate in the top-grade alchemist assessment. With her superb alchemy skills, she is well-deserving of the title of top-grade alchemist."

However, Gu Ming shook his head dismissively and retorted, "Although she is indeed exceptionally talented, she is still young and lacks experience. She probably has a long way to go before becoming a top-tier alchemist. Don't just flatter her because she's your sweetheart!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Moqi immediately jumped up in a panic, "Nonsense! When have I ever shown favoritism to her? I've always been fair and impartial in handling official business! If she didn't have real skills, why would I have recommended her here so easily? If you don't believe me, I have something here that will surely convince you!" As he spoke, Jiang Moqi carefully took out an exquisite jade box from his pocket, then gently opened the lid, and a rich medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air.

Seeing this, Gu Ming was a little curious, but seeing Jiang Moqi's mysterious appearance, he couldn't help but roll his eyes and mutter, "Tch, all this secrecy is just for show. I want to see what kind of treasure it is."

But the moment he saw the pill, he admitted that he had just said the wrong thing and had been thoroughly embarrassed.

Gu Ming's eyes widened, his eyeballs seemingly about to pop out of their sockets, his face filled with disbelief. What lay before him were several Divine-grade Bone-Regenerating and Blood-Melting Pills! He himself had spent most of his life refining just one of these pills. Yet now, Jiang Moqi held several such incredibly precious pills in his hand!

"These pills...where did you get them? Don't tell me you made them yourself! Hmph, even if you said that, I wouldn't believe a word you said!" As he spoke, Gu Ming stretched out his slightly trembling hand and carefully picked up one of the pills. His gentle movements were as if he were protecting a beloved person, afraid that he might damage it in the slightest.

Jiang Moqi looked at his friend, who was almost delirious, and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He knew the other man must be itching to get his hands on the pills. So, with a slight smile, he slowly said, "Hehe, who else could it be? It's naturally the work of my sweetheart. She signed an agreement with me. According to the agreement, she's responsible for refining the pills and giving them to me, while I help her sell them. That's why she brought all these pills with her when she came to see me today. Besides, aren't you curious why I suddenly have so many top-grade Bone-Regenerating and Blood-Melting Pills? Let me tell you, they were also refined by her! For her, refining these pills is as easy as turning her hand, as effortless as breathing. So, now you understand I'm not favoring her, right? She truly possesses extraordinary abilities~_~"

"Does your sweetheart have a master?" Gu Ming looked at Jiang Moqi with anticipation, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and eagerness.

Jiang Moqi leisurely reached out and gently hugged the back of his head, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and slowly said with a half-smile: "Of course there is, it is Elder Yun Che of Xuantian Sword Sect. Putting aside everything else, just in terms of cultivation, he has already reached the perfect state of Mahayana, which is not something you can easily contend with."

Upon hearing this, Gu Ming was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered and continued to ask, "Then, does your beloved have any intention of taking you as a disciple?"

Jiang Moqi's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Gu Ming, his voice rising several octaves involuntarily: "Have you gone mad? You're a legendary figure in our cultivation world, and you actually want to become a disciple of some unknown, lowly top-grade alchemist! Are you trying to kill her? I absolutely won't allow it! Don't take advantage of our years of friendship to act recklessly, or I'll definitely teach you a lesson and show you what's what!"

Faced with Jiang Moqi's intense reaction, Gu Ming was speechless for a moment and could only lower his head silently, lost in thought.

Gu Ming was still lost in his own thoughts when Jiang Moqi's merciless rebuke jolted him awake like a thunderbolt. Yes, thinking about it carefully, he was a legendary figure in the cultivation world, his reputation so widespread that almost everyone knew him. Countless people revered him as their supreme idol, worshipping him with utmost devotion.

If he were to actually become Jiang Shiliu's disciple, the consequences would be unimaginable. Not to mention anything else, his massive number of die-hard fans would probably bombard Jiang Shiliu with insults, possibly even making her unable to hold her head up in the cultivation world forever.

It's important to understand that even in this fantastical world of cultivation, there exists a fan culture quite similar to that of modern times. For example, if a wildly popular idol suddenly publicly declared they had special feelings for some unknown nobody, their fervent fans would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar! They'd be lucky if they didn't launch a massive attack!

Seeing the look of sudden realization on his friend's face, Jiang Moqi knew that he had completely grasped the key point. Therefore, he stopped criticizing Gu Ming. After all, Gu Ming had lived for hundreds of years and had some sense of shame.