Zhou Lixing looked utterly lost. “I used to think she was just a talented junior of the same sect. Now… I think she’s bad. Real bad.”
Clearly, he was still brooding over Luo Qingyao throwing thunderbolts to provoke the Kuimu Serpent.
Nan Sining relaxed a little. Her third senior brother really was an obedient treasure—whatever their senior sister said, he followed.
To keep him from suffering more losses due to his straightforward nature, Nan Sining bluntly exposed Luo Qingyao’s malice. “Those Blood Ginsengs being stolen? I suspect she orchestrated it, just to stop Second Brother from getting them.”
“But isn’t she our fellow disciple? Why would she do that?” Zhou Lixing’s anger carried heavy confusion.
Nan Sining gazed at the starry dome above the secret realm. “Because if Second Brother recovers, he’ll be unstoppable—even stronger than Senior Sister. If he competes in the sect tournament, our Cijian Peak would have nothing to fear.”
In the book, Second Brother didn’t appear often, but his dual light-and-dark roots were extraordinary. Luo Qingyao had once schemed to claim him, but he was too sharp to fall for her tricks. Had his Golden Core breakthrough not failed, others wouldn’t even have been worth mentioning in his presence.
That was probably why the author killed him off.
Nan Sining didn’t explain all that—just the tournament reasoning was enough.
Zhou Lixing slapped his thigh. “That makes sense! I didn’t realize you’d gotten so smart after recovering!”
Nan Sining puffed herself up. “Of course!”
“So, we must get Blood Ginseng! Best would be Dragon Head Blood Ginseng! Little Junior Sister, do you have a plan?” His eyes shone with hope.
With Senior Sister gone, Zhou Lixing had felt like he’d lost his brain. But seeing Nan Sining’s cleverness restored his confidence.
Nan Sining pulled out a palm-sized water mirror. “Practice your sword for the next two days. I’ll prepare.”
She swept her hand across the mirror. At once, Luo Qingyao’s group appeared—surrounded by sycophantic male cultivators.
Zhou Lixing froze, then seethed. In the mirror, a navy-clad cultivator fawningly offered a crimson root to Luo Qingyao. Zhou’s jaw clenched. “That’s him! While I was fighting a beast, he dug up the Dragon Head Blood Ginseng!”
Nan Sining’s eyes were cold. In the mirror, Luo Qingyao declined with a smile. “Don’t be upset, Third Brother. They’re only keeping it safe for us.”
Two days later, Zhou Lixing dutifully cooked and trained while Nan Sining busied herself inside the cave. The scent of medicine drifted out, but he didn’t pry.
When she emerged, exhilarated, she handed him bottles and trinkets. “Here, take these pills and tools.”
“What are these for?” he asked.
“Let’s get moving. I’ll explain on the way.”
He packed everything quickly, erased their traces, and they left.
Half a day later, perched in a tree, Zhou Lixing shifted awkwardly. “Little Junior Sister… no one will recognize me like this, right?”
Once burly, he’d swallowed a Transformation Pill, now looking slim and delicate, his voice even high-pitched.
Nan Sining stroked her fake beard and pinched her padded belly, satisfied. “Not at all. Compared to yourself, you look more like Zhang Yun.”
Zhou’s face twisted. “Why him? Disgusting.”
Nan Sining grinned. “That’s the point. If you cause trouble with his face, he’ll take the blame. Consider it payback for me!”
Zhou reluctantly agreed.
Disguised—one as a swordsman, the other as a beast tamer—they were unrecognizable.
“Brother Zhang, ready?” Nan Sining asked.
Zhou hesitated before replying, “Ready… Brother Luo.”
“Good. According to plan!”
She leapt onto the back of a Frost Wolf, gripping its thick fur, legs tight. “Hyah!”
The wolf’s ears flattened. If not for the scary fists of that other one, it would never let this fool ride it!
Zhou hurried after her, worried she’d get hurt.
Soon, the rumble of countless paws echoed behind them.
“Are they coming?” Nan Sining asked eagerly.
Zhou peered back at the dust storm. “Yes—looks like a full beast tide!”
“Perfect!” Nan Sining whooped, shaking a pouch of Beast-Luring Powder, letting the scent spread further.
The beasts roared in frenzy.
Hanging the pouch at her waist, she pulled out the water mirror, found her bearings, and urged, “Brother Zhang, faster! They’re just ahead—we need to catch them before they flee!”
“Right!”
Ahead, Luo Qingyao’s group noticed flocks of birds fleeing. Alarm spread.
“Something strong is coming?”
“Only that sixth-rank Kuimu Serpent’s worth fearing here.”
“Wait—why’s the ground shaking?!”
Zhang Yun pressed an ear to the soil, paling. “A stampede! Countless beasts are coming!”
No one needed telling twice.
In the distance, dust rose like a stormfront. Luo Qingyao’s heart sank. This wasn’t in the script! The book never mentioned a beast tide here!
“Go!” she shouted.
They scrambled onto swords and artifacts, fleeing in streaks of light.
Nan Sining clicked her tongue. “Tch, quick reflexes.”
“Will they escape?” Zhou worried.
“Not likely,” she judged. To be safe, she smeared more powder on the wolf’s tail and scattered handfuls around.
The beasts howled madly, surging faster.
The Frost Wolf cursed in its heart. I may not be human, but that thing on my back is a real dog! Still, it sprinted harder—better to sweat than get crushed into paste.
Before long, they caught up.
Nan Sining shouted in false panic, “Fellow Daoists, save us! Help!”
Zhou winced, turning away in embarrassment.
Even the wolf twitched its ears flat. Why squeal like that?
Someone shouted back, “Did you lure this tide? If so, leave us out of it!”
Nan Sining recognized the speaker—Zhang Yun. Playing the righteous man, huh?
Her eyes gleamed. “Fellow Daoist, why so heartless? Could just the two of us stop this tide? Surely you won’t make us die alone. You wouldn’t be that kind of scum of the cultivation world… right?”
Luo Scum of the Cultivation World Qingyao: ……
Nan Sining’s barb stabbed straight at her, and seeing Luo’s face darken gave her wicked glee.
She schooled her expression, tossing a few token artifacts to stall the beasts.
But the tide was massive. Talismans and weapons barely slowed it.
“Split up!” Luo barked.
“I’ll protect you, Luo Junior Sister!”
“No, let me!”
“My sword’s the fastest—I’ll guard you!”
A chorus of lapdogs jostled to play hero.
For the first time, Luo Qingyao found her horde of simps downright annoying.