“Ning Jinyu!! Open the door! What time is it? Hurry up and go to the Kitchen to bring the food. Are you trying to starve Master to death?”
Her thoughts returned, and Ning Jinyu walked out of the small, standardized cabin assigned to Inner Sect Disciples by the Sword Sect. She saw a girl with sharp features, dressed in Sect attire, holding a sword with one hand on her hip, a fierce expression on her face.
The moment she saw Ning Jinyu, there was an unconcealable flash of astonishment, followed by disgust.
This was her Senior Sister, Luo Jingmin. Among those who would later drive her out of the sect, her contribution was indispensable.
Excellent, it’s the exterminator Senior Sister. There’s hope for leaving the sect now.
“Senior Sister Luo, I’m sorry. I’ll go right now.”
“…” The girl dashed off in a flash. Luo Jingmin, who had wanted to lecture her a bit more, simply flicked her sleeves and left.
In any case, there would be plenty of time for that later.
Meals were served on Elegant Bamboo Peak. In this recruitment, there were Personal Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, and Outer Sect Disciples. Her position was neither high nor low.
Ning Jinyu took her utensils and queued up with the Inner Sect Disciples. The advantage of being an Inner Sect Disciple was being able to cultivate alongside the Inner Sect Disciples of other peak masters. The downside, however, was sometimes being ordered around by the Personal Disciples.
Just like her Senior Sister, and a lecherous Second Senior Brother she had yet to meet.
“Wow, is that Senior Sister Su Qingyue?”
“No, what are you thinking? How could Senior Sister possibly queue with us for food? Haven’t you heard the rumors? This one is just a fake from the countryside, a copycat. Her name is Ning Jinyu or something. I’ve seen Senior Sister before. She’s valiant and heroic, wielding her Light Wind Sword like a celestial fairy.”
“Oh, okay. I’ve only seen a portrait of Senior Sister. They really do look alike.”
“Alright, stop talking.”
…Ning Jinyu heard them. At the same time, she grew genuinely curious. Saintess Su, Su Qingyue, what did she really look like? Even the great Demon Lord had mistaken her for the Saintess.
She picked up her food, ready to leave. Let these people gossip all they wanted; she was going to leave the Sword Sect anyway.
“Hey, don’t you go anywhere!”
Holding the food container, Ning Jinyu pursed her lips and looked at the group. These young men had rebellious looks on their faces; they were clearly not to be trifled with.
“Is there something you need?”
Zhou Zhetian strode over and snatched the food container from her hands, laughing arrogantly. “We brothers aren’t full, Junior Sister. It’s fine if we take this as a tribute to your Senior Brothers, right?”
His two followers nodded in unison. “Yeah, yeah, Junior Sister won’t be angry, will she?”
In the modern world, Ning Jinyu was just an ordinary university student. These people were like delinquents; how could she dare to confront them head-on?
Perfect. Without the food, she could let that Senior Sister Luo incite their Master to kick her out. Hehe.
Empty-handed, she clutched the corner of her clothes, wiped away some tears, and looked at Zhou Zhetian. “If Senior Brothers want to eat it, please take it. I won’t be angry with you. There’s no food left now. As for Master, I’ll go and ask for my punishment right away. It has nothing to do with Senior Brothers.”
After speaking, she cast a tear-streaked glance at the surroundings and ran off.
“…”
Watching her cry, a sight that was both heart-softening and pitiable, the two followers looked strangely at the food in Zhou Zhetian’s hands.
The boss was being too mean, wasn’t he? Stealing food from even a weak girl.
Seeing everyone around them staring, Zhou Zhetian’s face flushed with embarrassment. This Junior Sister was different from the rumors. Why did she just start crying like that? Weren’t they saying she was deliberately imitating Senior Sister? Why was her personality so weak?
“Stop looking! You don’t want to eat either, is that it?” Zhou Zhetian was also a Personal Disciple, and no one dared to provoke him. As expected, everyone immediately averted their gaze.
He carried the food, sat down in frustration, and tossed it aside after just one bite.
That Ning Jinyu’s voice was soft, her figure petite, and she was still beautiful even when she cried. Although she looked like Senior Sister, they were of completely different styles.
Senior Sister was aloof and peerless; she would never cry.
Sigh, whatever. He’d wait until she caused trouble next time to drive her away.
…
“Where’s the food?” Inside the main hall, Luo Jingmin stood beside an old man, arrogantly questioning the tardy Ning Jinyu.
Ning Jinyu shook her head, saying timidly, “I’m sorry, Master. I’m sorry, Senior Sister. I had gotten the food, but… it was snatched away by Senior Brothers from another peak.”
“You useless thing!” Luo Jingmin cursed in a fit of anger.
“Alright now, Senior Sister, our Junior Sister has only been in the sect for a few days, yet you assign her every task. How can you blame her for the food being stolen?”
“You lecher! Don’t think I don’t know you’re only saying that because you think she’s pretty!”
“It’s a fact that Junior Sister is pretty. I’m genuinely speaking up for her.”
The young man who spoke was her Second Senior Brother, Pan Zheng. He was currently staring lecherously at Ning Jinyu, who was kneeling in the hall.
The old man on the main seat said with some exasperation, “Stop arguing, both of you. You are dismissed. Little girl, you may rise as well. Since you are an Inner Sect Disciple of our peak, you should practice the sword with the other Inner Sect Disciples. Do what you’re supposed to do and don’t listen to these two disciples of mine. You may go.”
Ning Jinyu acted dull-witted and said, “Thank you, Master. Senior Sister, Senior Brother, I’ll take my leave.”
“Master! In this recruitment, she’s the only Inner Sect Disciple our peak took in. If we don’t order her around, who else is there?”
Luo Jingmin ran up to argue her case.
“Oh, you. Jingmin, our peak has so many Outer Sect Disciples to order around. Why must you fixate on her? Besides, if it weren’t for you, with her talent, I had originally intended to take her as a Personal Disciple.”
“Master! You’re just being biased! Do you think she’s pretty too?”
“…You child. Enough. Pan Zheng, go arrange for Elegant Bamboo Peak to cook a few more dishes.”
Hmph!
She returned to the shared residence for Inner Sect Disciples. She was on Sword Seeking Peak, and since she was the only new Inner Sect Disciple this year, her residence wasn’t next to anyone else’s, unlike the crowded residences of Inner Sect Disciples from other peaks.
Having not eaten, Ning Jinyu was still a bit hungry.
She was still mostly bewildered. The wolf-headed monster and the indifferent, lecherous dragon had left a considerable shadow on her. She still felt an aversion to the people of this world.
She found her way back to the Kitchen on Elegant Bamboo Peak, not wanting to socialize.
She found a corner to hide in and watched as her lecherous Second Senior Brother carried the meal for their Master and left before she came out.
The disciples in the Kitchen should have gone to practice their swordsmanship and cultivate.
She emerged from her corner and fumbled through the steamers on the stove, searching. There was nothing to eat, but there were some leftover vegetables, along with tomatoes and lettuce.
If only there were eggs. She headed toward the other side of the Kitchen and heard a faint rustling sound.
This was an immortal sect; there shouldn’t be any demonic beasts. Could it be cockroaches?
She walked to a cabinet, lifted the basket covering it, and revealed a figure.
It was a handsome young man, staring at her without blinking, his eyes devoid of emotion. He was dressed in plain clothes, sucking on an egg he held to his mouth.
She found him a little familiar, and then she felt a wave of nausea. That was a raw egg.
She squatted down and reached out to pull the young man out from inside.
The young man still didn’t react, nor did he speak. It was unnervingly creepy how he just stared at her.
Ning Jinyu reached for the egg in his hand. “It’s not good to eat raw eggs.”
Sure enough, he came out when she pulled him, but he held onto that carton of eggs for dear life. This kid was pretty clever.
“Ahem, little brother, it’s not like I’m going to steal it and not give it back. Look, I have a tomato. How about you give me some, you start a fire, and I’ll stir-fry a couple of dishes for us to eat together.”
The handsome young man still didn’t speak. He looked rather grimy.