Late at night, at Tingyin Pavilion’s Guest-Greeting Peak.
Zongzheng Huangyue was personally escorted out of the attic by Jiang Nianyao. Less than a shichen had passed since they first met.
Both of them wore gentle and pleasant expressions.
Upon reaching the exit, Zongzheng Huangyue looked up at her.
“Miss Jiang, you can stop here.”
“If we meet again in the future, please come find me,” Jiang Nianyao said, her lips pursing slightly and her eyes quiet and refined. “I don't have many friends, and I hope for the chance to become one with you.”
Zongzheng Huangyue arched an eyebrow, a smile full of heroic spirit and coolness spreading across her striking features.
“Are we not already friends?”
Jiang Nianyao was taken aback for a moment, then she broke into a radiant smile, her pale and weak face flushing with joy.
“True. We are already friends.”
Zongzheng Huangyue nodded. “Then I shall take my leave. Farewell.”
“...Farewell.”
Jiang Nianyao nodded slowly.
After Zongzheng Huangyue left, she remained standing there, watching her silhouette until it disappeared. The joy on Jiang Nianyao's face gradually faded back into her usual stoic, quiet state, a faint hint of regret lingering in her eyes.
“Miss,” a guard stepped forward.
“Yes?”
“Should we investigate these people?”
Jiang Nianyao’s gentle gaze flickered. “No need. If they are coming for me, we will meet again. We can investigate then.”
Would they really meet again? This group of interesting people.
“Understood.”
“The Sect Master has been at the Southern Province Daoist Alliance for seven days and has not yet returned. He sent word for you to return and preside over the Demon Tide Tournament once your treatment at Tingyin Pavilion is finished.”
“I understand.”
...
At daybreak the next morning.
Three people entered Wen Li’s cave dwelling.
Xie Tinglan leaned casually against the stone wall, one long leg bent with his knee resting against the stone as he closed his eyes for a nap with his arms crossed.
Xin Jiuxian lay on a chaise longue, yawning as she slept.
Yao Dai ran over to Wen Li’s bed, hugging the quilt and taking a deep breath. It smelled wonderful—the scent of her Master. She straightened the bed that Wen Li never bothered to tidy and then sat by the bedside, waiting quietly.
Soon, Wen Li returned from her soak in the hot springs.
“Oh, you’re all up quite early.”
Having spent the entire night busy with mischief, the three of them hadn’t slept a wink, nor were they particularly worried about whether they had lost the bet.
In any case, Master had said the deadline for Jiang Nianyao’s task was when Gu Linshu came to find them. Hua Cishu had already shown his face to Jiang Nianyao to put her on guard, so he wouldn't have another chance. As for Zongzheng Huangyue, there had been no movement from her until yesterday afternoon; even with the time she had last night, it was impossible for her to succeed directly.
As such, it was likely that no one had won. If there was no winner, how could there be a loser?
Yao Dai grinned and immediately went up to take Wen Li’s arm. “Master, we were just afraid you’d be bored alone, so we wanted to come see you.”
“Oh? If you’re all so free, does that mean you’ve all completed your tasks? How impressive.”
Wen Li, seeing through them but choosing not to call them out, gave a slight nod. She sat down in a chair, and Yao Dai followed, clinging to her side and refusing to let go of her hand. Watching this, Xie Tinglan, who had opened his eyes to stare at Wen Li the moment she appeared, saw his gaze darken.
Hearing Wen Li’s words, Yao Dai’s small mouth turned down in a pout. She looked aggrieved and began to complain. “Master, you have no idea! I was so close to succeeding. I had clearly lured Jiang Nianyao out to pick medicinal herbs, and just as I brought out the pill bottle, that villain Hua Cishu jumped out and crushed it with a stomp! He even spat at me. It’s truly unfair; he deliberately sabotaged me.”
Xie Tinglan, whose own attempt at a hero-saves-the-beauty routine had been ruined by her sabotage—resulting in him losing face with a series of farts—looked up.
His lips twitched slightly, but he didn't say anything because he had guessed what Wen Li would say next.
“Hmm? Sabotage? I said you could cooperate; I never said you couldn't sabotage each other. That, too, is a display of one's methods and strength.”
Sure enough, Wen Li calmly patted Yao Dai’s head. “Next time, as long as you have the ability to sabotage his plans, feel free to do so.”
Yao Dai, seeing her complaint fail, bit her lip slightly. “...Fine.”
Speak of the devil and he shall appear. A string of crisp silver bells rang out, accompanied by the appearance of a peerlessly beautiful face. His slightly curly black hair was styled into two exquisite braids, and his clothes were exceptionally fine and expensive.
Hua Cishu strolled into the cave dwelling with a nonchalant gait. He crossed his arms, his phoenix eyes sweeping over everyone with disdain before finally settling on Wen Li. His eyes curved into crescents as he immediately ran over and threw himself onto Wen Li’s right arm—the left was already occupied by Yao Dai.
“Master.”
He grinned and called out sweetly, “I’ve completed the task! Although I don't have the cultivation of my senior brothers and sisters, I still worked hard to complete the task Master assigned me.”
“Since you're all here, have you finished as well? As expected, even with no cultivation, I still can't compare to my seniors.” His gaze swept over the other three, his eyes provocative and malicious.
He had succeeded even without cultivation; what of them? A bunch of idiots.
As soon as he said this, Yao Dai and Xin Jiuxian, who looked like they wanted to stare him to death, spoke in unison.
“Beat it!”
This dead fur ball knew better than anyone whether their tasks were completed or not!
The scene of him suddenly jumping out and crushing their pill bottles at the critical moment of their tasks was still clear in their minds. It was infuriating!
Given Xin Jiuxian’s explosive temper, she swung her hand, and the Yulan Floating Light Zither immediately went flying toward Hua Cishu.
Bang!
Unexpectedly, Wen Li raised her right finger, and a wave of ghostly blue spiritual energy instantly stopped the zither in its tracks. With her index finger resting against the side of the zither, a strong gust of wind ruffled the stray hairs on both sides of Wen Li’s face.
Hua Cishu was right beside her, so Xin Jiuxian’s move was essentially aimed at Wen Li. Xie Tinglan and Yao Dai’s brows furrowed slightly; no matter how angry they were, they wouldn't strike like this. This was no different from making a move against their Master.
Xin Jiuxian’s eyes were full of resentment. “You’re protecting him, even though he clearly didn't follow the rules.”
She had only just joined the sect, so she couldn't be blamed for not knowing Wen Li’s temperament.
“I’m not protecting anyone, but I don't like people making a move in my direction.” Wen Li gave the Yulan Floating Light Zither a gentle push with her right index finger, and it instantly flew backward, landing at the entrance of the cave dwelling.
Hearing this, Xin Jiuxian bit her lip, realizing she was in the wrong. However, she wasn't quite sure where she had gone wrong; the Second Elder had never taught her that. She had only been taught that if someone made her uncomfortable, she should make them uncomfortable too!
Xin Jiuxian’s gaze fell on Hua Cishu, who was still looking at her with a smug expression from Wen Li’s side.
“He crushed my medicine. It’s not too much to beat him up, is it?” Xin Jiuxian turned to look at Wen Li.
She held some measure of respect for this sudden Master; after all, even the Supreme Elder had to listen to her. Choosing a powerful figure as a Master wasn't a bad deal.
Wen Li nodded casually. “The sect rules say that internal strife involving life or death is forbidden. As long as nobody dies, you’re free to use your own abilities. If anyone gets hurt, I have plenty of medicine here. However, there is one thing.”
“Do not hide behind me, and certainly do not make a move in my direction.” She picked up Hua Cishu from her side and sat him down properly, serving as a warning to him as well.
“Otherwise, I’ll throw both of you out.”
Xin Jiuxian understood. “Fine.”
Her gaze fixed on Hua Cishu. “See you at the entrance later.”
Hua Cishu, who had no cultivation, didn't panic at all. He curled his lips into a cold smirk.
“Who wants to see you?” It didn't matter. In any case, his half-human, half-demon bloodline was special. If he got hurt, he would heal after a while, and he might even get Master to personally apply medicine to his wounds. It was a win for him.
Xin Jiuxian narrowed her eyes and snorted. She didn't make a move for the time being and sat down quietly.
Rate on N.U.
