Xu Xi possessed an exquisite, porcelain-doll appearance. To be completely honest, Ji Lan felt that all children in this world were born with delicate, pink-and-white features. Even the little cannon-fodder Wansong looked adorable, and this newcomer—being a young girl—carried an even more refined and delicate charm.
Those large, fluttering eyes blinked in a way that made Ji Lan’s heart feel as though it were melting.
However, Ji Lan refused to let himself be swept away by this wave of cuteness. Based on his knowledge of the plot, characters like Xu Xi did not even exist in the original novel of The Dark God King!
This girl was undoubtedly a cannon-fodder among cannon-fodders!
He understood how this worked.
Following standard tropes, a genius maiden like this was practically guaranteed to have some entanglement with the male lead.
Yet this particular male lead refused to follow any standard tropes and was an absolute eccentric who rejected every single beauty that came his way.
Ji Lan felt deeply distressed, looking at Xu Xi with a trace of sorrow in his eyes.
“Xu Xi,” Ji Lan said earnestly, “according to my divination, you and I share no master-disciple fate. If I were to take you in, I am afraid it would only bring you harm.”
To be frank, Ji Lan genuinely did not want Xu Xi as a disciple.
After all, back when Ah Zhen had hacked the system for him, he had discovered that this young girl was nowhere near as pure and innocent as her appearance suggested.
He was terrified he wouldn’t be able to tame a child like her.
With Ji Lan delivering such a blunt refusal, Xu Xi’s expression shifted instantly, while the surrounding onlookers glared at Ji Lan in indignation.
Except for Mo Chenxiao.
He stared at Ji Lan in absolute astonishment, unable to comprehend why someone who supposedly adored children so much would reject Xu Xi out of hand.
Could it simply be because Xu Xi was a young girl?
“Real Person Conglian, is there something deficient about me?” Xu Xi bit her lower lip, staring at him with wide, tear-filled eyes brimming with grievance. “If I am lacking in any way, I can change. As I said before, I am willing to serve merely as an outer disciple if you permit it.”
This… how could this child be so relentlessly persistent?
As Xu Xi gripped his sleeve and shook it back and forth, Ji Lan felt his resolve swaying unsteadily.
Who on earth could withstand this?
“Conglian, this is entirely unreasonable of you,” Tan Fengyu said with a click of his tongue, looking displeased. “We all know you aren’t keen on taking apprentices, but this young girl possesses extraordinary innate talent and remarkable aptitude. In due time, she is bound to accomplish great things. What possible objection could you have?”
“Junior Brother Tan,” Ji Lan looked calmly at Tan Fengyu, “you already know the reason why I cannot accept her.”
Ji Lan’s words caused Tan Fengyu to fall silent, sobering him up immediately.
Why had Conglian taken a liking to Disciple Brother Mo at first sight?
Because Mo Chenxiao possessed the Pure Yang Constitution, and Conglian’s unique physical condition required the blood and energy of a Pure Yang physique to suppress the poison residing within his body.
Back then, Conglian’s betrothal to Yuwei had been arranged because Yuwei possessed the ability to suppress that affliction as well. Whereas this new disciple was a young girl; female cultivators inherently possessed a Yin constitution.
“Ahem,” Tan Fengyu cupped his fists, glanced around the assembly, and raised his voice. “Everyone, you’ve seen the excitement. Why don’t we give them some space to sort this out themselves?”
With Tan Fengyu stepping in, even those elders who harbored secret ambitions to snatch the recruit felt too embarrassed to press the issue further.
Before departing, one or two elders couldn’t resist shooting Ji Lan a resentful glare.
The remaining onlookers who knew the underlying truth could only heave silent sighs.
What good was reaching the exalted rank of an elder? Given Conglian’s unique physical condition, alas…
“Junior Brother Tan, are you not leaving?” Ji Lan frowned, looking at Tan Fengyu in bewilderment. “Are you planning to stick around for the show as well?”
“Conglian, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” Tan Fengyu grumbled with dissatisfaction. “I am the elder in charge of managing the new batch of disciples.”
Ji Lan: Who on earth could have possibly guessed that?
“Master, perhaps you should leave the new disciple in Senior Uncle Tan’s care,” Mo Chenxiao interjected, his face taut and rigid as he spoke in a clipped tone. “We can head back now.”
“You must be Real Person Conglian’s disciple?” Xu Xi eyed Mo Chenxiao with guarded hostility. “You look utterly devoid of any charm. Why on earth would the Real Person ever choose someone like you?”
Mo Chenxiao: …
Why did those exact words sound so hauntingly familiar? Yu Zhengyang had apparently said something very similar before.
If Yu Zhengyang had been the one uttering those words, Mo Chenxiao would have tossed him aside without a second thought.
However, the speaker was merely a young girl who had only recently achieved Qi condensation.
“Xu Xi,” Ji Lan said awkwardly, silently reflecting on how exceptionally gifted this girl was at offending people. “Chenxiao is actually a wonderful person. Forget it, you should just follow Real Person Tan instead.”
Xu Xi pouted in dissatisfaction, giving Ji Lan’s sleeve another vigorous shake. “Real Person Conglian, can I truly not go with you?”
“Little girl,” Tan Fengyu wiped the sweat from his brow, “you are currently classified only as an outer disciple. How could you possibly follow an elder back to his private quarters?”
“So what if I’m an outer disciple?” Xu Xi retorted stubbornly. “As far as I know, Real Person Conglian already has an outer disciple residing within the Lotus Rain Pavilion, doesn’t he? If he can live there, why can’t I?”
“Who on earth are you?” Mo Chenxiao demanded sharply, his gaze turning icy. “You are nothing more than a newly arrived recruit to the Sword Pavilion. How do you come to know about internal matters concerning an elder’s residence?”
Unfazed by Mo Chenxiao’s frosty glare, Xu Xi offered a cold huff in return. “Everyone who participated in the Azure Cloud Steps trial is talking about it! They were the ones who told me!”
Mo Chenxiao was left momentarily speechless.
Watching his disciple suffer a minor defeat, Ji Lan’s perception of Xu Xi shifted instantly.
If this girl wasn’t a mere cannon-fodder, and if the male lead wasn’t a total psychopath, these two would actually make a match made in heaven!
That fierce aura of hers was practically a match for the male lead himself!
Noticing Ji Lan staring at her, Xu Xi’s eyes curved into bright crescents. “Real Person Conglian, everything I said is true. The senior trial-takers told me that as long as an outer disciple works hard enough, they can easily catch an elder’s eye.”
Ji Lan felt a complex wave of emotions wash over him. With Xu Xi’s innate talent, she wouldn’t even need to work hard for elders to fight over her.
Why was she so stubbornly fixated on becoming his disciple?
Ah, he could only blame his own overwhelming good looks.
“Those trial participants,” Tan Fengyu muttered with a throbbing headache, “they were probably just trying to encourage the new recruits. Conglian, don’t take their idle chatter to heart.”
Tan Fengyu silently concluded that those senior disciples must have grown tired of living, or perhaps they had heard rumors that Conglian’s temper had improved lately and decided to test their luck.
They truly had no fear of death.
“It’s fine,” Ji Lan forced his hand away from Xu Xi’s grip with deliberate firmness. “Go ahead and get the new disciples settled properly.”
Even after stating it so plainly, Real Person Conglian still refused to relent?
Xu Xi drooped her lips in displeasure, knowing that if she pushed any further, Real Person Conglian might genuinely grow to dislike her.
“Conglian,” Tan Fengyu hesitated for a moment before posing the question, “how is Yuwei holding up?”
The question finally came!
Ji Lan felt a deep sense of sympathy for this unrequited romantic soul. “Yuwei and Pavilion Lord Xiao are both doing well. Junior Brother Tan, if you have free time, you are welcome to visit the Lotus Rain Pavilion as a guest.”
Hearing that, a look of awkward embarrassment crossed Tan Fengyu’s face. “Very well, Conglian, I will take my leave now.”
Once Tan Fengyu had escorted Xu Xi out of earshot, Mo Chenxiao finally spoke up. “Master, that new disciple possesses peerless talent. Why were you so unwilling to take her in?”
“Peerless talent or not,” Ji Lan shook his head, “could she possibly compare to you?”
Mo Chenxiao hadn’t expected his master to give such a response, leaving him momentarily stunned.
Did his master mean to say that his talent surpassed even Xu Xi’s?
Xu Xi had crossed the Azure Cloud Steps in just a few days, whereas he had deliberately concealed his true capabilities by crossing alongside the general mass of new disciples, making direct comparison impossible.
“What is it?” Finding his disciple standing there in a daze, Ji Lan felt somewhat perplexed. “Your master is simply speaking the truth.”
When it came to innate talent, who would ever dare compete with the male lead?
The fierce attitude his disciple had just displayed toward Xu Xi was surely born from absolute disdain for her level of talent.
In the male lead’s eyes, Xu Xi’s achievements were probably nothing more than a display of petty tricks before a master of the craft.
This person clearly wasn’t the original Ji Lan, which explained why he had no idea how long it had actually taken him to complete the Azure Cloud Steps back then.
Yet the blind confidence his master placed in him sent a thrill through his chest.
“Master, do you truly believe that?” Mo Chenxiao lowered his gaze slightly, an unfamiliar warmth shimmering within his eyes. “In your eyes, am I truly that exceptional?”
Hold on, how is the male lead reacting to this?
Ji Lan felt a sudden surge of wariness, refusing to meet Mo Chenxiao’s gaze directly. “You are my disciple. Naturally, any disciple of mine must excel.”
In truth, Wansong was equally exceptional, seeing as Wansong was slated to become his future disciple as well.
Convinced he had successfully navigated the conversational trap, Ji Lan breathed a sigh of relief when he heard a soft chuckle escape Mo Chenxiao’s lips.
Curious, he glanced over and found his disciple wearing his usual wooden expression, though a closer look revealed the corners of his mouth turned upward in a subtle curve.
Ji Lan sighed internally, marveling at how easy it was to coax the male lead at this age.
If only the male lead could stay this age forever and never grow up.
Once again, Ji Lan found himself indulging in broad daylight daydreams and wishful thinking.
On the walk back, Ji Lan suddenly recalled a burning question. “Chenxiao, why did you claim earlier that the Pavilion Master had urgent matters?”
He had known the Pavilion Master couldn’t possibly be that chronically idle.
However, Mo Chenxiao replied smoothly, “Master, this disciple did not lie. It was simply that Senior Uncle Tan’s affairs took precedence, so we attended to those first. What the Pavilion Master wished to discuss, however, likely concerns Young Master Yu.”
At the mere mention of that name, a headache began forming behind Ji Lan’s temples.
“What problem has he stirred up now?” Ji Lan asked with helpless resignation. “Just what on earth does Young Master Yu want?”
“I want you!”
Before Ji Lan’s voice had even faded, a blinding flash of vibrant red and glaring green came hurtling directly toward him. “Ji Lan, are you planning to take on another disciple behind my back?”
Ji Lan stared in absolute shock at the figure clad in an atrocious clash of neon red and emerald green, the sheer chromatic violence causing physical pain to his eyes.
If Yu Zhengyang hadn’t possessed such striking, ethereal good looks, anyone else wearing an outfit like that would have looked like a walking disaster.
“Young Master Yu, do you have an emergency?” Mo Chenxiao stepped forward, planting himself directly in Ji Lan’s path to block Yu Zhengyang from coming any closer.
What a thoughtful, devoted disciple, Ji Lan thought with a surge of gratitude.
“Naturally it is an emergency!” Yu Zhengyang’s peerless face twisted slightly with exasperation, a faint flush rising across his cheeks like the evening glow of midsummer. “Ji Lan, what is the meaning of this Xu Xi business?”
How on earth had news traveled to Yu Zhengyang so quickly?
“This matter has nothing to do with you,” Ji Lan said in a low, stern tone. “Stop making a scene.”
“Fine, I won’t make a scene about that,” Yu Zhengyang’s earlobes turned bright crimson as he pointed an accusing finger past Mo Chenxiao. “Then let me ask you this: why is he allowed to live inside your courtyard?”
Ji Lan suspected that in Yu Zhengyang’s universe, that was the only question that truly mattered.
“Naturally because Chenxiao is my disciple,” Ji Lan’s face darkened. “Young Master Yu, what goes on between master and disciple in our household is none of your concern!”
“You’re bullying me!” Yu Zhengyang’s eyes welled up with tears, a couple of heavy droplets spilling over his lashes in an expression of absolute devastation. “You always bully me!”
Ji Lan was stunned.
Ji Lan was utterly bewildered.
Why on earth did Yu Zhengyang’s current expression look precisely like a jealous first wife catching her husband in the middle of a scandal?