After winning the first match, Ning Ying went over to where her senior siblings were and forcefully made them put away the embarrassing banner.
“This banner cost money!” Gu Qi protested reluctantly.
“That’s right, we scrimped and saved to scrape together this many spirit stones,” Sang Jinse added. “You know how poor sword cultivators are, Junior Sister. To pool money for your cheering banner, your senior brother and I haven’t eaten for three days.”
Knowing perfectly well that these two had already achieved fasting, Ning Ying was still touched. “How about I treat you both to lunch?”
“How could we possibly…” Sang Jinse scratched her head, cheeks slightly flushed.
“Great, it’s settled!” Gu Qi excitedly grabbed Ning Ying’s wrist. “Junior Sister, let’s go right now!”
Sang Jinse glanced at Gu Qi, her expression somewhat helpless. “Junior Brother Gu, the Sword Trial Conference isn’t over yet. Master is still watching from up there. If we’re caught leaving early…” She shuddered involuntarily at the thought, afraid of being punished with sword practice.
Ning Ying didn’t want to draw Master’s attention either, so she quickly pulled Gu Qi back. “Senior Brother Gu, it’s still early. Lunchtime is a while away—no need to rush.”
“I meant breakfast,” Gu Qi said. “Master was busy this morning. You haven’t eaten anything either, right?”
Ning Ying paused for a moment.
She usually ate breakfast prepared by Master. Both her senior siblings were at the Nascent Soul stage and had long since achieved fasting. On the entire Duiying Peak, only she, a mere “Foundation Establishment” cultivator, needed to eat. Master claimed he cooked to motivate her sword practice, but in reality, he was also looking out for her—after all, the food in the sect cafeteria was both expensive and terrible.
“How about this,” Ning Ying motioned for her senior siblings to lean in and whispered her proposal, “What if we hire someone to run errands for us?”
“Run errands?” Senior Sister Sang looked curious. “What does that mean?”
“Literally, it should mean having someone buy breakfast for us, right?” Gu Qi mused. “But where would we find someone? Everyone’s watching the matches on stage.”
Ning Ying surveyed the surroundings and spotted an outer disciple running a stall selling melon seeds. With a grand wave of her hand, she bought all his seeds, then handed him a small pouch of spirit stones and silver coins, asking him to go down the mountain and buy some food for them.
The outer disciple was instantly won over by her money power—he showed no reluctance at all, because she’d simply given him too much.
“Thank you, boss!” He cheerfully flew down the mountain on his sword.
Sang Jinse watched, dumbfounded. “Junior Sister Ning, you’re truly a hidden master. How do you manage to save money as a sword cultivator?”
Ning Ying thought for a moment and said modestly, “I just inherited a tiny little bit of spirit stones.”
“So Junior Sister Ning comes from a cultivation family background. No wonder…” Sang Jinse misinterpreted.
Ning Ying didn’t explain that she’d transmigrated with 999,999 high-grade spirit stones—that sounded too absurd, and she didn’t want to be dissected for research.
But calculated at a 1:100 exchange rate between high-grade and ordinary spirit stones, plus the daily check-in rewards, calling her net worth over a hundred million wasn’t an exaggeration.
Before long, the outer disciple flew back on his sword, carrying several bags of takeout breakfast.
“Thank you, Junior Brother,” Ning Ying said.
“My pleasure,” the outer disciple shook his head, saying enthusiastically, “Next time you need this kind of work, feel free to call me!”
Ning Ying nodded slightly and distributed the baozi, pancakes, and pastries to Gu Qi and Sang Jinse.
The three found a quiet corner and happily ate. It must be said, though mortal food was simple, it tasted far better than anything from the sect cafeteria.
Fifteen minutes later.
Gu Qi burped contentedly and patted his stomach. “Master’s spiritual tea over there is pretty good. How about we get some to drink?”
Ning Ying was also a bit thirsty and nodded at his words. “Senior Brother Gu, you go get some spiritual tea. Senior Sister and I will wait here for you.”
Gu Qi quickly shook his head. “No, no, no—I’m afraid Master might hit me… Junior Sister Ning, Master dotes on you the most. How about you go?”
Ning Ying refused, “Among the three of us, Senior Sister Sang joined the sect earliest and has high cultivation talent, quite appreciated by Master. Senior Sister Sang should go…”
Sang Jinse’s eyes widened slightly, “No, your senior brother has thick skin and can withstand a beating. Let him go.”
After passing the buck back and forth, the three decided to settle it with rock-paper-scissors. Whoever lost would go ask the master for spirit tea.
Ning Ying was full of confidence. Observing the expressions of the other two, she threw out “rock.” As a result, her senior brother and senior sister seemed to reach a subtle consensus and both threw out “paper.”
Ning Ying pouted slightly. “I suspect you two conspired against me…”
“How could that be, Junior Sister?” Sang Jinse patted her shoulder encouragingly. “You and Master are just fated.”
Gu Qi looked down at their cute little junior sister and couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her puffed-out cheek. “Junior Sister, a bet’s a bet.”
Ning Ying: “…”
Fine, she’d go.
At this moment, several matches on the arena stage had already concluded and it was now intermission. Disciples of the Shaoyue Sect were playing zithers on stage, celestial music curling upward, melodious and sweet, drifting clouds brushing past as if in a land of immortals.
Ning Ying crept stealthily to the backstage of the judges’ panel. Forming a hand seal to conceal her form, she quietly appeared behind her master.
The power of the Supreme Elders beside her master was also at the Grand Ascension stage, yet none had cultivation higher than hers. They were currently enjoying the song and dance, and with her deliberately concealing her aura, none of them noticed her approach.
The only one who sensed her was the Immortal Lord himself.
Yun Qingyuan’s snow-white lashes trembled slightly. He tilted his head subtly toward the empty space beside him, a barely perceptible trace of affection in his cool gaze.
Ning Ying froze, suddenly remembering why she’d come…
To ask Master for some spiritual tea.
Dammit, why had she agreed to this?!
Now she was so embarrassed QAQ. Master had definitely noticed her.
Just as she was pondering how to broach the subject, an ethereal, pleasant voice sounded in her ear.
“Aying, is there something you need from your master?”
Ning Ying nervously glanced left and right, relieved to find her form still hidden, realizing Master had just sent her a voice transmission.
She transmitted back to Yun Qingyuan: “Master, I, I…”
“It’s fine. Speak freely.” The silver-haired beauty shifted his gaze toward the distant clouds, a faint smile curving his thin lips. “Whenever you speak, I am willing to listen.”
Ning Ying steeled herself and said, “Master, I’m a little thirsty…”
As she spoke, she secretly slipped a baozi into her master’s robes. “This, this is for you.”
Yun Qingyuan smiled helplessly. “Can I eat it after going back?”
“It’ll get cold by then…” Ning Ying said instinctively.
“True.” Yun Qingyuan thought for a moment, ultimately unwilling to let his disciple’s kind gesture go to waste. He stood up and took her hand, leading her away.
“I have matters to attend to,” Yun Qingyuan said calmly to those nearby. “I’ll return when the next match begins.”
Since Ning Ying was currently “invisible,” the Immortal Lord holding her hand went unnoticed by anyone.
Ning Ying, however, felt uncomfortable. Sensing the cool, jade-like touch between her fingers, her mind wandered.
Master was… holding her hand in front of all these people!
Though no one could see her, she could see them—it felt incredibly awkward.
At first, Master held her hand, but after they left the crowd and reached a secluded corner, it became her pulling Master’s hand forward, trotting along.
Sang Jinse and Gu Qi, secretly observing from behind a wall: “???”
Master was always so composed, riding clouds and swords, moving as he willed—why was he now running impatiently?
Seeing her senior siblings’ astonished expressions, Ning Ying suddenly remembered she was still invisible, and quickly formed another hand seal to cancel her concealment.
Sang Jinse and Gu Qi were even more shocked: “!!!”
What were they seeing?!
Their junior sister and the master were holding hands!!!
Though it clearly looked like Junior Sister was the initiator, Master hadn’t resisted—surely he had feelings for her too.
Sang Jinse stealthily glanced at Master, then at Gu Qi, whispering, “Truth be told, I think Junior Sister and Master are a better match.”
Gu Qi: “???”
“Why are you looking at me?”
He was here for his career. Those two getting together suited his plans perfectly. He’d already formulated a complete strategy—once Junior Sister won first place at the Sword Trial Conference, he could legitimately play matchmaker between her and Master.
Heh, Immortal Lord? Just wait to get knocked up by Junior Sister and be ruined!
Yun Qingyuan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, sensing a strange atmosphere.
He didn’t pay it much mind, clearing his throat lightly and saying calmly, “You’ve been thoughtful, going down the mountain and bringing your master food. But the Sword Trial Conference isn’t over yet—staying here to observe is highly beneficial for cultivation…”
Ning Ying exchanged glances with her senior siblings, all three looking guilty, and quickly waved their hands in denial:
“Not me.”
“I didn’t.”
“It wasn’t me who sneaked down the mountain.”
Yun Qingyuan sighed softly. “Your master knows it wasn’t any of you.”
The three instantly relaxed.
“Aying, where did you get those spirit stones?” Yun Qingyuan asked in a deep voice.
Ning Ying: “???”
So the master had been in control of everything all along!
He really did know about her hiring someone to run errands.
Ning Ying scratched her head and decided to deflect: “It, it was Senior Brother Gu who gave them to me!”
Senior Brother Gu’s true identity was the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord having money was perfectly reasonable—this should work…
“Oh?” Yun Qingyuan’s expression was unreadable.
Ning Ying immediately felt guilty under his gaze. Just as she was at a loss, Master raised his hand and gently stroked the top of her head.
“If you need spirit stones, your master has plenty here. Don’t let some strange man outside fool you.”
Gu Qi: “???”
He was no strange man!
Ning Ying: “…”
She looked up and saw Sang Jinse happily munching melon seeds nearby, clearly enjoying the gossip.
Ning Ying forcibly changed the subject: “Master, want some melon seeds?”
“Yeah, we bought a lot!” Gu Qi chimed in.