“Still talking back, are you!” Nangong Jiang reached out to pinch her cheek. “What kind of decent person stays up half the night researching storybooks? If that’s not being possessed by a demon, I don’t know what is. Hand the books over right now, or watch out. I’ll settle the old and new scores with you all at once!”
Nangong Lianyu stuck her tongue out at her. “You wouldn’t have the heart to hit me. If you hurt me, my second mother won’t let you off when she gets back!”
“Heh, threatening me now?” Nangong Jiang laughed out of pure frustration. “I’ll send a transmission to your second mother right this second and ask her if you deserve a beating or not!”
Seeing that her mother was truly serious, Nangong Lianyu hurriedly snatched the jade pendant back. “Don’t, don’t! I won’t read them anymore, okay? I’m going to sleep right now. Just don’t confiscate the storybooks, alright?”
“No!” Nangong Jiang held out her hand. “Hand them over!”
The mother-daughter dispute finally ended with the confiscation of the books.
Nangong Jiang left the room satisfied, carrying the volumes. Left behind, Nangong Lianyu stamped her feet in anger. After her mother left, she sat at the desk in a daze for a moment before suddenly remembering something. She opened a hidden compartment under the desk and took out several beautifully bound booklets.
She caressed the covers dotingly and whispered, “Luckily, I already made a transcript… only, the originals are gone…”
After a moment, she sighed again and muttered to herself, “I really want to meet Teacher Cai You. I wonder what she’s like in real life. If I could meet her just once, I’d be willing to shorten my life by ten years…”
The next day, the Nangong mother and daughter rode a celestial phoenix carriage toward the Main Peak.
On the way, Nangong Jiang nagged once more: “Remember what I told you? Be polite, be humble. You’re there to apologize, so don’t go picking fights again.”
Nangong Lianyu’s ears were growing callouses from the lecture. She frowned. “I heard you, I heard you! I’m not deaf! Besides, as long as others don’t provoke me, I won’t go looking for trouble. I really don’t know what you see in that Jiang Qianxun, you care more about her than your own daughter!”
“What do you know? What if your Senior Uncle Shen’s ‘springtime’ is finally coming? If we don’t fix the relationship now, how awkward will it be when we become relatives later?” Nangong Jiang squinted as she savored the gossip. “Who would have thought? Even that thousand-year-old iron tree is finally blooming.”
Seeing her mother’s gossip hungry face, Nangong Lianyu couldn’t help but roll her eyes. In her view, her mother was worrying over nothing. Even if Senior Uncle Shen were to “bloom,” it couldn’t possibly be with his own disciple. That man was so obsessed with etiquette and rules, if he were to seek a partner, it would be someone of equal cultivation, a true match made in heaven.
A master-disciple romance? That only existed in storybooks.
As she leaned against the window, lost in thought, she suddenly saw someone struggling to climb toward the summit of the Main Peak below the carriage. For some reason, the person wasn’t flying a sword or riding a carriage, they were climbing on foot. The Main Peak had 9,999 steps. Aside from a fool, nobody would actually climb it.
Judging by their pace, they had been climbing for a long time, stopping to rest frequently and looking utterly disheveled. Nangong Lianyu let out a sneer and straightened her back, wanting to see who this “idiot” was.
That idiot was You Caiwei.
Earlier that morning, she had been urgently requested by Jiang Qianxun to bring her textbooks over from the academy. Hearing the urgency, she had agreed immediately. Only when she reached the base of the mountain did she realize the Main Peak’s teleportation array wasn’t open because only the Sect Master lived there, and he usually had no need for it!
What was she to do? Jiang Qianxun wasn’t picking up her transmissions.
She could have gone back to get several teleportation talismans to hop up bit by bit, but going back took time, and those talismans were expensive. After agonizing over it, she decided to just climb.
Halfway up, she regretted it.
She was exhausted.
This thing was taller than Mount Tai, climbing it was practically suicidal. She wanted to go back, but looking down, she saw nothing but swirling clouds and mist.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, she was stranded.
Forget it, let’s just rest for a bit.
She slumped onto the steps, her neck and waist hooked over different levels. It was a highly uncomfortable position, but she didn’t want to move a single inch.
I’ll just close my eyes and rest. Maybe I’ll be able to get through to her in a bit.
Suddenly, she heard a voice calling from mid-air: “Are you heading to the Main Peak? Do you want a ride?”
She opened her eyes and saw Elder Nangong.
This person was said to be the Sect Master’s senior sister and held a very high status. Although she occasionally taught classes, it wasn’t often, maybe two or three times a month. You Caiwei only recognized her vaguely.
You Caiwei hadn’t planned on bothering anyone, but considering how long it would take to climb the rest of the way, she nodded, thanked her, and hitched a ride.
The moment she stepped up, she saw Nangong Lianyu’s sour face.
This was one of the reasons You Caiwei hadn’t wanted to take the carriage, she and Nangong Lianyu had a history of friction. Had she known the girl was there, she wouldn’t have come up.
But now that she was on board, it was too late to get off.
So, she remained silent, using her quietness to express her annoyance.
Strangely, Nangong Lianyu didn’t speak either. This was odd, the young mistress had a terrible temper and usually resorted to cold sarcasm at the slightest provocation. Perhaps she was restraining herself in front of her mother.
Wait for it, there’s going to be a battle later.
You Caiwei adjusted her sleeves, thinking about how to counter-attack if the other girl started something. On the other side, Nangong Lianyu was also preparing some choice words, waiting for Nangong Jiang to leave so she could start her verbal assault.
Nangong Jiang hadn’t noticed the tension yet. As they neared the destination, she was busy thinking about how to talk to Shen Qingchen about the storybooks, the pills, and Jiang Qianxun’s condition.
When the celestial phoenix landed, she saw Jiang Qianxun waiting by the gate.
Nangong Jiang asked, “Where is your Master?”
“Master is inside. Thank you for making the trip, Elder.” Jiang Qianxun bowed respectfully and added, “Senior Sister Nangong has come as well. I will lead you all inside now.”
“No need. I have things to discuss with your Master, so you two don’t need to come in. Nangong Lianyu, didn’t you have something to say to Little Jiang?” Nangong Jiang shot her daughter a pointed look, signaling her. “I’m going in now. You girls have a nice chat.”
Once she entered, before Jiang Qianxun could speak, Nangong Lianyu opened her mouth but not to Jiang Qianxun. She directed her words at You Caiwei: “I saw someone climbing the mountain from afar and wondered who it was. I didn’t expect it to be Junior Sister You. What, are you so poor now that you’re using a stick to beg for food on the mountain?”
“Look at what you’re saying. I came here to make a wish. Oh, by the way, I made it for you, wishing you a long life of a hundred years… Oops, I misspoke. I’m from the mortal realm, so a hundred years seems long to me. My bad!”
“Are you cursing me with a short life? Hmph, if we hadn’t picked you up, you’d still be crawling down there. You ungrateful thing!”
“Isn’t the Great Young Mistress a bit full of herself? I only boarded for the sake of Elder Nangong. Besides, do I have to be eternally grateful just for a ride? You’re stepping on the Sect Master’s floor right now, why don’t you go inside and kowtow to him a few times?”
“You…!”
When it came to arguing, Nangong Lianyu was no match for You Caiwei. She was frequently outmaneuvered and left fuming. Little did she know that this person she loathed so much was actually the “Teacher Cai You” she was willing to sacrifice ten years of her life to meet.
Seeing that they had stopped talking, Jiang Qianxun hurriedly intervened: “Enough, enough, stop fighting. The Elder and the others are inside, it’ll be over for us if they hear. You Caiwei, where are the books I asked for?”
“Right here.” You Caiwei pulled out a stack of books and tossed them into her arms. “Sister, next time you want me to bring stuff, can you please open the array first? It’s a huge mountain, I have no vehicle, and I had to climb it all by myself!”
“It wasn’t open?” Jiang Qianxun said apologetically, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I figured you couldn’t get in without a jade plaque, so I specifically waited at the gate to pick you up.”
“Whatever, at least you have a conscience.” You Caiwei sighed. “Where do you stay? Can I go in and have a drink of water?”
“Sure.” As Jiang Qianxun was about to lead her away, she heard Nangong Lianyu behind her: “Wait, Jiang Qianxun.”
Jiang Qianxun realized it wasn’t right to leave her there alone, so she asked, “Come along then. Do you want some water?”
“I don’t want water.” Nangong Lianyu’s face turned red, but she couldn’t squeeze out an apology, especially not in front of You Caiwei. She took a breath and said, “I have something to say to you. Can we talk privately over there?”
“What for?” You Caiwei said defensively. “Why do you have to go behind people’s backs? No way. If you want to talk to my friend, it has to be within my sight. Who knows what you’re planning? Are you trying to lure the tiger away from the mountain to ambush me?”
“Are you sick? Why would I ambush you?” Nangong Lianyu snapped. “Do you think I came here for no reason?”
“Alright, alright, why are we arguing again?” Helpless, Jiang Qianxun had to separate them. “How about this: I’ll take you both inside, and then I’ll seal You Caiwei’s ears. You can say whatever you want.”
This was the only solution. Nangong Lianyu had to agree. The three of them entered the room and took their seats. Jiang Qianxun poured tea for both. After a long silence, Nangong Lianyu asked, “When are you sealing her ears?”
You Caiwei was furious: “Are you in a hurry to die?”
“You little…!” Nangong Lianyu jumped up, nearly smashing her teacup. Remembering her mother’s repeated warnings, she endured it, took a few deep breaths, and looked at Jiang Qianxun.
Jiang Qianxun knew these two would fight the moment they met, so she decided to deal with one to get her out of the way. She coaxed You Caiwei into letting her cast a soundproofing spell on her ears. But You Caiwei wasn’t so easy to fool, her ears were sealed, but she still had eyes. She looked like she wanted to glue her eyeballs onto Nangong Lianyu’s mouth to see what “shameful” things she was going to say.
Under such intense scrutiny, it was hard for Nangong Lianyu to speak.
But if she didn’t speak, today would be a waste. She absolutely wouldn’t waste time coming to apologize to someone else ever again. Originally, she didn’t think she was wrong, but thinking Jiang Qianxun was seriously ill, she had softened and refrained from arguing.
Still, the words “I’m sorry” truly wouldn’t come out.
After stammering for a long time, she suddenly had a brilliant idea. Right, this would both incite jealousy in a certain someone and fulfill her mother’s wish for “recruitment”…
She flashed a faint smile and spoke: “Jiang Qianxun, I want to invite you to join the Executive Council. Would you be interested?”
This was her strategy. The Executive Council was the organization every disciple dreamed of joining. If she invited Jiang Qianxun, it would first show her “sincerity” in apologizing, and second, it would bring Jiang Qianxun under her own control. Furthermore, it would make You Caiwei watch from the sidelines, unable to join, while she watched Jiang Qianxun slowly drift away from her, effectively annoying You Caiwei to death.
Three birds with one stone!
Nangong Lianyu mentally gave herself a thumbs-up for her cleverness. Then, she looked provocatively at You Caiwei, who indeed looked stunned.
The Executive Council?
The Executive Council was no ordinary group. Its members were the core disciples of the Peak Masters, every one of them a direct disciple with high cultivation. Members enjoyed many privileges, access to the treasure vaults, huge monthly stipends, and absolute authority over ordinary disciples.
Furthermore, whenever there were secret realms or missions, they were eligible to participate. Such combat opportunities weren’t easy to come by, many people begged for them to no avail.
You Caiwei looked at Jiang Qianxun.
Jiang Qianxun looked at Nangong Lianyu. She knew this was a great opportunity. If she could join the Executive Council, her cultivation would certainly progress much faster than before.
But…
If it were that simple, she would have agreed immediately. The problem was that all Executive Council members basically represented their respective Peak Masters. For example, Nangong Lianyu represented Nangong Jiang. They handled the chores the Peak Masters found inconvenient, and thus, they were often called “Junior Peak Masters.”
These people were essentially the designated successors for the next generation of Peak Masters.
Jiang Qianxun was not a direct disciple, she didn’t fit the unspoken rule. Moreover, she was currently ill, and her cultivation level hadn’t reached the threshold yet. Was this invitation a blessing or a curse? If she joined and was sidelined or intentionally bullied, what then?
These were things she had to consider.
After a moment, Jiang Qianxun said, “I need to think about this. I’ll give you an answer once I’ve recovered.”
“Fine. I’m not asking you to join right this second. You know our members are at least in the Golden Core stage. I won’t ask that much of you, but you need to reach Foundation Establishment at least.” Nangong Lianyu said, “Rest assured, I am absolutely sincere.”
With that, she flicked her sleeve and walked out.
In the empty room, the sound of You Caiwei loudly slurping water echoed. She took a gulp and asked, “What exactly does she mean?”
Jiang Qianxun shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Ask your Master. If he intends to take you as a direct disciple, then this matter is a sure thing, no one would dare trouble you in there. But if you don’t have that ‘shield’…” You Caiwei paused. “Anyway, I don’t think Nangong Lianyu is easy to deal with. Sincerity isn’t something you just say with your mouth.”
Jiang Qianxun nodded.
However, could she really ask that?
A Sect Master taking a disciple was no small matter. Since all direct disciples were candidates for succession, even though her Master was still young, becoming a direct disciple too early might turn her into a target for everyone.
On the other side, Shen Qingchen looked at the titles of those books that made one’s face flush. Unable to handle the sight, he hurriedly stacked them together. “How do you have so many?”
“Confiscated.” Nangong Jiang fanned herself. “Well? Aren’t they irresistible? Don’t you want to read them?”
“I am interested in the author, not the content…” Shen Qingchen countered feebly. Once the heat in his face faded, he asked, “What exactly was the direction of investigation you mentioned yesterday?”
“Well…” Nangong Jiang flipped a book over and pointed to the signature. “Look at this. Do you notice anything?”
The signature only contained the author’s pseudonym and the date. The pseudonym was always the same. “Cai You” so only the date remained. Shen Qingchen looked for a while and said, “They were all written in the last few years. Is there a problem?”
“The problem isn’t that they’re recent, but the earliest one. This one, The Overbearing Disciple Falls in Love with Me, was completed three years ago. The others appeared successively over these three years. This person writes quite fast, which means, she is likely a disciple who entered the sect within the last three years.”
Shen Qingchen realized this was indeed the case.
Only a few hundred disciples had entered the sect in the last three years. Finding this person wouldn’t be hard, and if you added the identity of a “Transmigrator,” the truth was almost glaringly obvious.
Shen Qingchen tightened his grip and looked toward the guest room, could this really be Jiang Qianxun’s doing…?