The moment the word snatch was mentioned, Xiao Jingwen grew indignant. Even when facing the senior brother he feared, he still had to argue:“What do you mean by snatch? This flying ship belongs to Yaowang City. As a personal disciple, don’t I have the right to arrange a first-class room for my guest?”
So now he wasn’t flaunting his status as Yaowang’s grandson, but rather as a personal disciple? Nan Sinning’s eyes flickered with realization. Clearly, being Yaowang’s grandson wasn’t as useful as being a direct disciple. It seemed that this Yaowang, whom she had yet to meet, was truly an extraordinary figure.
Shen Tangyuan’s voice remained calm:“The flying ship indeed belongs to Yaowang City, and there are clear sect rules regarding its use. If a direct disciple wishes to arrange a first-class room for a guest, it must be reported in advance with details of the guest’s identity and situation. For temporary arrangements, there must be vacancies. As for the Jia suite, it was specially ordered by Master to be reserved for Daoist Friend Yuan Qing’an.”
At the back, Yuan Qing’an immediately cupped his hands.“Junior thanks Senior Yaowang for his consideration.”
Shen Tangyuan’s tone grew noticeably warmer when addressing the party from Cijian Peak.“Junior Brother Yuan, you are too polite.”
Nan Sinning overheard Hua Shengqing muttering,“This old Yaowang sure is generous, giving Second Senior Brother the Jia suite.”
Just as Nan Sinning was wondering what made the Jia suite so special, she heard Xiao Jingwen again:“The Jia suite is for Master’s personal use, I naturally wouldn’t seize it. But aren’t there any other first-class rooms available?”
Shen Tangyuan replied with unshaken patience:“All the first-class rooms have already been arranged and are fully occupied. I was just about to lead them to inspect their quarters for any shortcomings.”
Xiao Jingwen stiffened.“What?! Senior Brother, you mean all the first-class rooms were given to Cijian Peak’s people? Then… then what about Senior Sister Luo?!”
Right on cue, Luo Qingyao tugged at his sleeve, her voice “considerate”:“Senior Brother Xiao, let it be. Since Senior Brother Shen has arranged everything, it wouldn’t be right to change it. Being allowed aboard the Yaowang City flying ship is already my honor. Seven or eight days isn’t long; I’ll be content with just a place to rest. You don’t have to trouble yourself for me…”
Her words sounded humble, but her tone and expression suggested she had suffered the greatest injustice under heaven, further fueling Xiao Jingwen’s urge to play protector.
Nan Sinning clicked her tongue twice softly, regretting not having brought sunflower seeds. This was prime drama-watching material!
Although Luo Qingyao spoke as if to Xiao Jingwen, her eyes kept drifting toward Shen Tangyuan, filled with unspoken longing. That look, so coy and tender, made Nan Sinning sigh. What a pity Luo Qingyao wasn’t born in the modern world—she’d have made an outstanding actress.
Oh wait—she was from the modern world. And indeed, her profession was acting.
Truly, the strong never complain about their circumstances. They always find a way to shine with their “special talents.”
As expected, Luo Qingyao’s “thoughtful” persuasion only made Xiao Jingwen more stubborn. He jabbed a finger at the Cijian Peak group:“Can’t they squeeze together and free up a room? You’re all from Canglan Sect—shouldn’t you take care of each other outside?”
Ha! Moral kidnapping at its finest. Luo Qingyao certainly looked out for her fellow sectmates.
At that moment, Liang Xiao spoke up:“That’s actually a good idea. I could share with Third Junior Brother. What do you say, Third Junior Brother?”
No! Nan Sinning jolted inwardly. Luo Qingyao mustn’t be allowed more contact with her sect. If she hovered around for seven or eight days, those days would feel like years.
She was about to object when Hua Shengqing exclaimed loudly:“No way!”
Liang Xiao frowned.“What’s wrong with it? Seventh Junior Sister, we’re in someone else’s territory. Don’t make trouble. Guests should adapt to their hosts.”
Hua Shengqing wanted to argue, but Nan Sinning cut in first:“It really isn’t right, Fourth Senior Brother. You can’t use Third Senior Brother’s things to please others just because he’s easy-going. In the secret realm, he spent his days scouting and cooking for me, and his nights standing guard. Even in Luoshui City, he’s been running around with me every day without proper rest. He needs a quiet room of his own. You can’t only think of ‘caring for’ Senior Sister Luo while neglecting Third Senior Brother!”
The words stuck in Zhou Lixing’s throat. He had wanted to agree with Liang Xiao, but hearing Nan Sinning defend him made him feel warmed. True, it had been the Frost Wolf doing most of the scouting and guarding, but what did that matter? If his little junior sister said so, then it was so.
Qin Sangyue’s eyes turned cold on Liang Xiao. Indeed, their junior sister was right—how could Fourth Brother be so considerate toward an outsider while slighting his own sectmate?
Even Shen Tangyuan glanced at Liang Xiao, surprise mixed with faint scorn.
Under everyone’s gaze, Liang Xiao’s words choked in his throat. He felt wronged and confused. Wasn’t he just trying to include a fellow sect sister? How did it turn into him neglecting his own?
Xiao Jingwen, seeing his chance ruined by Nan Sinning, flew into a rage:“Nan Sinning! Who gave you the right to speak here?”
Nan Sinning instantly shuffled over to Qin Sangyue’s side, eyes wide and watery.“Senior Sister, he yelled at me!”
Her pitiful act was a complete contrast to her earlier boldness in arguing.
Even Shen Tangyuan felt Xiao Jingwen had gone too far. His tone cooled:“Fifth Junior Brother, mind yourself. That Luo girl is your guest. But the disciples of Cijian Peak are also Master’s guests. Show them due respect.”
Nan Sinning hadn’t expected that her sect’s invitation hadn’t come through Shen Tangyuan, but directly from Yaowang himself. That was a surprise.
Seeing Xiao Jingwen trembling with fury, unable to speak, Nan Sinning’s eyes brightened with a scheme. She asked deliberately:“Daoist Xiao says I have no right to speak here. Then what must I do to earn that right? If I prove myself stronger, would that count?”
Like finding a release, Xiao Jingwen snapped:“Yes! If you can prove you’re better than me, then I’ll… I’ll…”
Nan Sinning cut in:“Then you’ll stop trying to steal our rooms and take Luo Qingyao far away from us, never bothering us again!”
Xiao Jingwen snorted.“And if you can’t?”
Nan Sinning answered without hesitation:“Then I’ll give up my own room to Luo Qingyao!”
“Unacceptable—” Shen Tangyuan began.
But Xiao Jingwen had already seized on it eagerly:“Fine! You said it yourself! My greatest skill is alchemy. To prove you’re better, you must beat me in a pill-forging contest!”
Shen Tangyuan’s expression darkened, pressure filling the air.“Fifth Junior Brother, you’re a second-rank alchemist. Junior Sister Nan hasn’t even studied alchemy yet. To challenge her in your specialty is dishonorable and unworthy of a Yaowang City disciple.”
But Xiao Jingwen, unwilling to lose his chance to vent his anger, stood firm even under Shen Tangyuan’s glare.“Senior Brother, it was Nan Sinning herself who agreed! You can’t make her decisions for her!”
Shen Tangyuan looked toward Nan Sinning.
Nan Sinning smiled lightly.“Thank you, Senior Brother Shen, for your concern. But I said it, so I’ll honor it. A promise is a promise, no matter how small I am.”
Shen turned helplessly to Qin Sangyue.“Won’t you dissuade her?”
Everyone thought this match could only end in Nan Sinning’s defeat. Xiao Jingwen, for all his flaws, was Yaowang’s grandson and a trained second-rank alchemist. Nan Sinning hadn’t even set foot in the field.
The watching disciples of Yaowang City looked at her as if she were a fool. Maybe her mind had cleared, but perhaps some of the foolishness remained.
Luo Qingyao, who had just been “understanding,” now kept silent. She was eager to see Nan Sinning throw herself into ruin. No matter how strong her fortune, there were limits. Today, she’d see Nan Sinning fall.
All eyes shifted to Qin Sangyue. Her face remained calm.“My junior sister has her own mind. As senior, I cannot speak over her. But if she loses, I’ll stand by her side.”
Zhou Lixing muttered,“So will I.”
He had seen Nan Sinning’s skill with herbs and pills in the secret realm and trusted she wouldn’t lose. Even if she did, he’d follow her lead. His little junior sister was the cleverest of all.
Hua Shengqing thought bitterly—if Luo Qingyao took a first-class room, Fourth Brother would surely hover around her. She hesitated only two breaths before deciding to blind herself to it, then declared, “Then I’ll follow Junior Sister too!”
Yuan Qing’an’s eyes flickered. He wanted to echo me too, but his room was personally assigned by Yaowang. He couldn’t disregard such grace.
Only Liang Xiao kept silent, his thoughts tangled.
Nan Sinning waited briefly, saw no response from him, and wasn’t surprised. She smiled and rounded it off:“All right then. I was only offering my room as the prize. Now we’ve got three more on the line. Daoist Xiao, shouldn’t you be generous too and put something up?”