Ji Sui’an faced three pairs of slightly intense gazes, her expression utterly serious.
“Master, I want to participate in the arena competition.”
Ji Qingya naturally wanted to agree, but…
“Arena competitions require a team of five, but our Misty Peak only has five disciples in total, and besides, your Second Senior Brother hasn’t returned yet…”
Most importantly, if his disciples weren’t willing to participate, he didn’t want to force them.
Ji Sui’an pursed her lips and lowered her gaze slightly.
If her senior brothers and sister weren’t willing to go, she would have to think of another way.
Ji Qingya’s heart softened instantly, imagining the little girl feeling dejected after being rejected, hiding in her room and crying.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wangzhou met Yu Tanshu’s gaze and knew she wanted to accompany their junior sister to the arena competition.
He frowned slightly, feeling a headache coming on, but he truly had no interest in matters within the sect.
Ji Qingya cleared his throat and waved a hand. “It’s just a sect arena competition. Let your senior brothers and sister accompany you.”
Ji Sui’an looked up in surprise. Why had her new master changed his mind so quickly?
“?” Jiang Wangzhou glanced over with a smile. Had he even been consulted?
Yu Tanshu nodded slightly. “Since Junior Sister wants to go, then let’s go. Master, please contact Second Junior Brother and have him return to the peak as soon as possible.”
Seeing how readily they agreed, Jiang Wangzhou sighed in resignation. Fine, it would only delay things for a while.
Ji Qingya nodded. “Don’t worry. The arena competition is set for seven days from now—plenty of time for him to return.”
He looked kindly at his youngest disciple. “Sui’an, registration for the arena competition is at the Duty Hall. Have your senior brothers and sister accompany you there. I’ll go contact your Second Senior Brother.”
Ji Sui’an nodded, somewhat dazed. Was it really settled just like that?
Yu Tanshu, preoccupied with the sixth-tier demon beast corpse in her Mustard Seed Bag, said, “Junior Sister, I need to go to the Mission Hall, so I can’t accompany you to register.”
Jiang Wangzhou pointed toward Yun Luoyu’s courtyard and said gently, “I still have some matters to attend to. Junior Sister, go find Luoyu and have him accompany you. If he refuses, come tell me.”
Watching their retreating figures, Ji Sui’an thought for a moment before heading toward the small courtyard.
Ji Sui’an entered the courtyard and knocked on the door. “Third Senior Brother?”
A moment later, the door was flung open forcefully.
Yun Luoyu saw the girl standing at the doorway and suppressed his temper, speaking stiffly, “What do you want?”
Ji Sui’an looked at the boy’s messy hair and curled her lips into a faint smile, calmly explaining her purpose.
As soon as she finished speaking, the door was slammed shut with a loud bang.
Ji Sui’an blinked. Was that a refusal?
Then she would just go by herself.
She had just turned around and taken a few steps when she heard the sound of the door opening behind her.
“Tch, what a bother.”
Yun Luoyu, dressed in a vibrant yellow robe with his hair tied high in a ponytail, shot her an extremely impatient glance. “Fine, I’ll go with you. Happy?”
Ji Sui’an smiled, her eyes curving. “Thank you, Third Senior Brother!”
Qinghua Peak, Duty Hall.
Yun Luoyu crossed his arms and closed his eyes. The number of times he’d been to Qinghua Peak these past two days was almost equal to the total visits over the past three years.
Seeing the girl beside him staring blankly at the Duty Hall, he grabbed her sleeve and strode inside. “Let’s get this over with and go back.”
Ji Sui’an had been thinking about how Ji Yun’er would surely rush over upon hearing she’d come to Qinghua Peak when the slightly impatient boy pulled her into the Duty Hall.
Due to the upcoming arena competition in a few days, the Hall of Affairs was exceptionally lively today, with disciples from all major peaks gathered here.
Upon seeing Ji Sui'an walk in, the surrounding disciples immediately fell silent, quietly looking over and beginning to exchange glances.
Ji Sui'an was long accustomed to such scenes and had no desire to argue with these people, heading straight for the registration desk.
Yun Luoyu, however, was not quite used to such attention. His handsome brows furrowed as he lowered his voice, "Are they staring at us?"
Ji Sui'an shrugged, "Probably."
She walked up to the registration desk, where the elder in charge didn't even look up. "Here to sign up for the arena competition? Which peak?"
Ji Sui'an's voice was crisp and clear, "Misty Peak."
The elder immediately raised his head, repeating with some surprise, "Misty Peak? The one where Ji Qingya is?"
Yun Luoyu's brows furrowed, "That's right. Is there a problem?"
Looking at the young man's impatient expression, the elder let out an inexplicable chuckle. "No problem at all. It's just unexpected that a nominal main peak would have the nerve to participate in the sect's arena competition."
Yun Luoyu's expression darkened at the elder's inexplicable and baseless malice.
Meanwhile, the surrounding disciples, emboldened by the elder's mockery, seemed to have unlocked their meridians:
"Misty Peak is actually participating in the sect's trials now. Aren't they afraid of embarrassing themselves on the field?"
"Exactly. Everyone knows the competition slots are bound to go to Qinghua Peak."
Yun Luoyu couldn't tolerate such provocation. His voice turned cold, "And who are you to criticize my Misty Peak?"
Ji Sui'an tugged at his sleeve, her gaze sharp as she scanned the crowd. "A bunch of trash who haven't even reached Foundation Establishment. Arguing with them is nothing but a waste of time."
She turned to the elder, "Are we registered?"
Staring into the girl's clear, piercing eyes, the elder inexplicably felt a chill. "Y-yes, it's done."
Without another word, Ji Sui'an pulled Yun Luoyu out of the Hall of Affairs.
Watching their retreating figures, the elder frowned. How strange that he felt a hint of killing intent in that brat's gaze.
Outside the Hall of Affairs, Yun Luoyu struggled indignantly. "Hey, why drag me away? Let me go beat those trash to a pulp!"
Ji Sui'an turned around helplessly. "Third Senior Brother, with people like them, no amount of talking will do any good."
"Talking won't work?" Yun Luoyu rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge back in. "Then I'll fight!"
Seeing her Third Senior Brother as agitated as a wild donkey about to break free, Ji Sui'an held on tightly.
"Third Senior Brother! Assaulting fellow disciples without cause will land you in the Discipline Hall!"
"Well, well, look who it is. It's our senior sister who abandoned us for another peak."
Just as the two were pulling at each other, a voice laced with sarcasm came from ahead.
Ji Sui'an's eyes turned cold as she looked up, unsurprised to see two people walking side by side.
Ji Yun'er stopped and looked at Ji Sui'an, speaking softly, "Senior Brother, don't speak to Senior Sister like that."
Luo Zhuyuan snorted coldly. "Yun'er, you're just too soft-hearted."
Already furious, Yun Luoyu saw this as an opportunity to vent. Without hesitation, he slapped the one who had spoken out of turn. "What kind of stray dogs dare to bark in front of me?"
No one expected him to suddenly strike—Ji Sui'an hadn't anticipated it, and Luo Zhuyuan even less so.
A surge of spiritual power abruptly slapped across Luo Zhuyuan's face, instantly leaving a glaring red mark.
The disciples who had gathered around, ready to watch the commotion, immediately fell silent. Damn, this guy actually provoked this one—he probably won't live to see tomorrow.