Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

After thinking it over and over, only one suitable place came to mind. ’Besides... Senior Brother already wrecked the guest quarters into that sorry state. There should be some empty space in there besides that one pillar. It won’t make a difference if I put one more wooden box there.’

’I’ll just put it there for the autopsy first!’ Having made up her mind, Su Ling’er led the group toward the guest quarters.

...

The back garden of the Su Mansion was quiet and peaceful under the night sky.

Just as the group, holding their breath, carried the wooden box through a rockery and prepared to sneak into the guest quarters—

Alarm bells went off in Su Ling’er’s head! Her Divine Sense had already detected two all-too-familiar figures behind the moon gate not far away!

’It’s Father and Mother!’

Her mind instantly went blank, and she subconsciously looked for a place to hide. But there was only one path in this part of the garden, with open ground on all sides. There was no escape!

There was a fork in the path a short distance ahead, but if they tried to reach it now, they’d be caught red-handed!

’What do I do?! What do I do?!’

’We... we’re going to fertilize the trees in the garden? This... this is a new prop my wealthy Senior Brother bought? But we just left! And the stench of the corpse isn’t completely masked, this, this, this...’

"Ling’er?" a gentle voice called out from behind the moon gate.

Su Ling’er, Wang Xiedi, Mu Ling, and Li Chunfeng all froze instantly. They saw Mr. and Mrs. Su strolling hand in hand through the garden, now looking at them with curiosity.

Su Ling’er broke out in a cold sweat. ’It’s over, it’s over! I ran into my parents while carrying a corpse! If I can’t explain this, the Su Mansion is going to be known as a haunted house tomorrow!’

"You’re... back from your outing so soon?" Mrs. Su asked, a hint of confusion on her face. Her gaze fell on the large, long wooden box in the middle of the group. "Oh, you bought something back with you? What... is that?"

At the same time, a faint, strange smell drifted over on the night breeze, causing both Mr. and Mrs. Su to wrinkle their noses instinctively.

"I, I, I-I, this is..." Su Ling’er’s mind went blank with a BUZZ. Before she could come up with a remotely plausible excuse,

Lin Qingfeng, who was beside her, had already jumped in, speaking with effusive enthusiasm. "Ah! Here’s what happened! Ling’er, you see, felt it was a rare chance to meet up with her bosom buddies, and they were all having such a great time talking!"

"They hit it off so well that they decided it would be much nicer to hang out at home than to wander the streets. So they thought, why not just skip the outing, bring everyone back here, and talk all night long!"

Su Ling’er whipped her head around to look at her Senior Brother. ’Bosom... bosom buddies?!’

She glanced at the box containing the corpse, then at her Senior Brother’s utterly sincere expression.

’Senior Brother, is your brain wired directly to the underworld?! This "buddy" is already cold! You call this "having a great time talking"? This is more like spinning ghost stories! And since when did Miss An and I become bosom buddies?! We just know each other, okay!’

She quickly cut in before her parents could ask, forcing an explanation. "Ah... yes, that’s right! Father, Mother! My bosom buddies are... are these friends of mine! I thought it over and decided it would be better to chat more at home, so... so I brought them back again!"

Mrs. Su’s expression grew even more confused. "Bosom buddies? Ling’er, aren’t bosom buddies supposed to be girls? These gentlemen... aren’t they all men..."

Before she could finish, Mr. Su’s gaze had already fallen on Mu Ling, who had kept his head down the entire time and was even trembling slightly.

Su Ling’er’s heart leaped into her throat. She hurriedly said, "Ah! This... he’s my friend, too! He’s... he’s just a bit shy! Yes, shy! Just don’t mind him! He’s the one who brought this box!"

Mr. and Mrs. Su exchanged a look, their eyes filled with a strange mix of confusion and concern.

"Oh... oh, I see," Mr. Su said, clearing his throat twice. "Well... in that case, you all... do as you please. Just don’t... don’t talk too late."

After saying this, he took Mrs. Su by the arm and quickly turned to walk away.

Although Su Ling’er breathed a sigh of relief, with her level of Cultivation, she could still clearly hear her parents’ whispers carried on the wind.

Mrs. Su: "Husband, since when does our Ling’er have ’male besties’? This... isn’t this a bit too close? What will happen when she gets married in the future?"

Mr. Su: "What nonsense are you talking about! She’s cultivating to be an Immortal, who is she going to marry?!"

Mrs. Su: "But Husband, I’ve read in stories that even Immortals need to find cultivation partners, don’t they?"

Mr. Su: "Sigh! Maybe... maybe this is just how Immortals do things! We mortals wouldn’t understand! Forget it, forget it. As long as Ling’er is happy, we shouldn’t meddle!"

Su Ling’er: "..."

Su Ling’er stood rooted to the spot, her pretty face so red it looked like it could bleed.

’Well... my parents misunderstood, but at least they didn’t suspect a corpse... Forget it. My reputation... has long been shattered to pieces in front of Senior Brother anyway. As long as the body isn’t exposed, I can live with this!’

She took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Senior... Brother! That move of yours was... brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

"It’s just... next time, could we come up with a reason that’s a bit more... of this world? I’m afraid my parents’ hearts can’t take it!"

"I wasn’t talking nonsense, was I?" Lin Qingfeng spread his hands, looking completely justified. "Look, isn’t she your ’bosom buddy’? And aren’t you taking her back to the guest room right now to have a chat and listen to her troubles? Tell me, which part of what I said was wrong?"

"..."

Su Ling’er was left speechless.

She glanced at the box and imagined the scene of herself "chatting" with the corpse later...

’Fine, you really know how to "chat." This is definitely going to be a "heart-to-heart" conversation.’

As her parents’ figures disappeared behind the moon gate, the taut string of Mu Ling’s nerves finally SNAPPED.

He realized that not only had he almost been exposed, but she had also, for his sake, seemingly earned a reputation for keeping bad company in front of her parents. Endless guilt and fear instantly overwhelmed him.

With a THUD, he once again dropped straight to his knees. "Immortal! It’s-it’s my fault! I’ve caused you so much trouble! It’s all my fault, all my fault!"

As he spoke, he was about to kowtow, but he still didn’t forget to plead, "But I beg you... I beg you, you must help me!"

"Mr. Mu, get up! This isn’t the time for that!" Su Ling’er was about to go crazy with anxiety. "I promised I’d help you, and I will! Please, stop this!"

She frantically helped Mu Ling to his feet, then urged the still-dazed Wang Xiedi and Li Chunfeng, "No one’s around now! Quick! Let’s go! Move!"

The group lifted the wooden box again and practically broke into a run, rushing toward the guest quarters. However, fate seemed to enjoy playing jokes on people.

Just as they rounded a rockery, with the outline of the guest quarters already in sight—

"Sister!"

Two clear, childish voices called out from the corner up ahead.