After Qin Xiao and Yun Man returned to Seven Stars Peak, disciples from the other peaks followed. Many were already making their way up the mountain.
“Disciple, you did very well. Besides those fifty drops of Spirit Liquid, what else would you like? Shall I give you more Spirit Stones? Then you can buy whatever you need.”
Qin Xiao wondered if the Spirit Liquid alone was too little. He was considering an extra reward.
“Master, it’s enough, it’s enough. I still have plenty of the five hundred thousand Spirit Stones you gave me last time. I’ll ask you when I run out.”
Yun Man hastily declined. She now knew how powerful her master was and didn’t want to seem greedy or leave a bad impression. As long as she performed well…
“Then I won’t insist. Come to me whenever you need more. I won’t shortchange you. Go and cultivate.”
That pleased Qin Xiao even more. She knew when to stop and was content with what she had. A good disciple.
“Is Martial Uncle Qin here? We’d all like to pay our respects.”
After giving the Spirit Liquid, just as Qin Xiao was about to return to his room to cultivate, shouting came from outside the courtyard gate.
Yun Man worried it might be Immortal Sword Peak coming for revenge, so she didn’t return to her room either, but followed Qin Xiao to the courtyard.
“All come in.”
Qin Xiao sensed there were quite a few people outside, so he let them come in to speak.
The gate opened, and dozens of disciples crowded into the courtyard before Qin Xiao.
Most were new recruits, though some had joined earlier. All were ordinary Inner Disciples, with no Personal Disciples among them. By sect seniority, they were indeed supposed to address Qin Xiao as martial uncle.
“Greetings, Martial Uncle Qin. Greetings, Senior Sister Yun Man.”
They had joined before Yun Man and had called her junior sister earlier. Faced with her formidable cultivation, they now respectfully called her senior sister.
“Why have you all come to my Seven Stars Peak in such a large group?”
Qin Xiao didn’t quite know what to make of them. These people usually avoided Seven Stars Peak even when passing by. Today, they were all at his door asking to see him.
“Martial Uncle Qin, is Seven Stars Peak still taking disciples? We’d all like to transfer here. Would you accept us?”
Their spokesman hurried to explain. But he scarcely looked at Qin Xiao, his gaze straying to Yun Man instead.
“Damn it, get lost! You actually dare to set your sights on my disciple? Are you even worthy?”
If it were other matters, Qin Xiao might not get angry, but this group of bastards actually dared to have designs on his precious disciple-that was the Heavenly Spirit Root his system needed. You bunch of nobodies, were you even worthy?
“Martial Uncle Qin, you misunderstand. We just admire Senior Sister Yun Man. We have no other intentions. With our talent and cultivation, how could we be worthy of her? We know our place. Accept us, and we promise to be loyal to Seven Stars Peak.”
Seeing Qin Xiao cursing, the leader hurriedly explained. They were all Yun Man’s admirers, just wanting to be closer to Yun Man to protect her.
“My master told you to get lost, don’t you understand? Do I need to take action?”
Seeing Qin Xiao was unhappy and starting to chase people away, Yun Man hurriedly said.
“We’ve overstepped. We’ll leave now. Please don’t be angry, Senior Sister Yun Man.”
When Yun Man spoke, they stopped trying to explain and filed out, closing the gate behind them.
“Disciple, listen. Those brats have only just begun cultivating. They haven’t settled down. Instead of giving cultivation their full attention, they waste time on useless nonsense. Have as little to do with people like that as possible.”
Seeing everyone had left, Qin Xiao then said to Yun Man beside him.
“Without severing the seven emotions and six desires, you won’t get far on the path of cultivation. Don’t squander your Heavenly Spirit Root.”
Seeing Yun Man didn’t refute, Qin Xiao added further.
“I understand, Master. I won’t let you down.”
Although Yun Man verbally agreed like this, she couldn’t do it. She still needed revenge, to avenge her family.
“All right, go and cultivate. It’s like rowing upstream: stop advancing, and you drift back. Keep improving like this, and even becoming Sect Leader isn’t out of reach.”
Once, Qin Xiao had only wanted a foothold in this unfamiliar world, somewhere he would not be driven from. Now, with such a powerful disciple, perhaps he could get her made Sect Leader. Then he could be a Supreme Elder! The thought delighted him.
“I understand. I’ll go back and work harder.”
Yun Man naturally wouldn’t relax her cultivation; after all, her enemies were all very powerful.
Just as the two prepared to return to their respective rooms, the courtyard gate was knocked on again.
“Hey, you bastards, is there no end? What matters can’t you say all at once? Come in quickly, say it then get lost.”
Qin Xiao assumed it was the same disciples. Irritated as he was, he would let them in. They came from every peak, and he could hardly afford to offend so many people at once.
As the courtyard gate was pushed open, the person who walked in was actually the Sect’s Holy Maiden, the Sect Leader’s daughter Lin Shimeng.
“Ah, Senior Sister Lin! Forgive my poor welcome. Please come in.”
Seeing the visitor was Lin Shimeng, Qin Xiao hurriedly rose from his rocking chair, inviting Lin Shimeng to enter.
“May I ask what brings Senior Sister Lin to my Seven Stars Peak?”
He hadn’t expected a visit from Lin Shimeng. As both Holy Maiden and Sect Leader’s daughter, she was someone he must not offend. He asked what had brought her here.
Lin Shimeng didn’t answer, instead slowly walking into the courtyard. The group of disciples outside were all stretching their necks watching from beyond the gate.
She reached Qin Xiao’s rocking chair and sat down. With a wave of her hand, she shut the courtyard gate.
“Junior Brother Qin, I’m here to deliver your reward. Seven Stars Peak surprised everyone this time. Second place!”
After sitting down, Lin Shimeng unhurriedly answered.
“Oh, that’s all? You shouldn’t have had to come for such a small errand, Senior Sister. Another disciple could have brought it.”
Seeing it wasn’t some major matter, Qin Xiao inwardly sighed in relief.
“The reward is only a side errand. I came to spar with Yun Man. You declined the challenge, so I missed my chance to fight her. I had to come here myself.”
Lin Shimeng didn’t beat around the bush, directly stating her purpose for coming.
“What? Spar with my disciple? Absolutely not! You’re my senior sister, and she’s my disciple. You’re a generation apart. It wouldn’t be proper. Let me concede for her. I’m sure she’s no match for you anyway.”
Lin Shimeng had come to fight his disciple? Qin Xiao couldn’t agree to that. If Yun Man lost, she would be hurt. If she won, they would offend the main peak. There was nothing to gain either way.
“Junior Brother, this has nothing to do with you. There’s no need for you to concede. Please call Yun Man out.”
Lin Shimeng’s spiritual qi burst outward, forcing Qin Xiao to squint.
Yun Man had only just returned to her room and had not begun cultivating. Sensing Lin Shimeng’s spiritual qi, she came out.
“Master, no need to fear her. I, Yun Man, accept.”