After the Inner Sect disciples fled, Yu Xingwu began analyzing tonight’s storyline based on what she’d overheard from their conversation.
Tonight’s banquet wasn’t only an important plot event where the female protagonist would formally appear before the powerful figures of the various sects. It was also where she would officially become the male protagonist’s disciple.
At the banquet, the female protagonist would also become acquainted with numerous talented young disciples from the immortal sects, including quite a few who would develop feelings for her.
Others would deliberately seek to befriend her because she was the daughter of the Tianlan Sect’s Grand Elder and a disciple of Sword Venerable Feng Chen.
Apart from that, the villain, Shen Zhuo, would also publicly announce that he was breaking off his engagement to her, the Fake Young Miss, in front of everyone tonight.
In the novel, it was at this very banquet that Yu Xingwu had her engagement broken off and became a laughingstock.
However, aside from being vicious, another defining trait of Yu Xingwu’s character was that she was a hopelessly lovesick fool whenever Shen Zhuo was involved.
Even after Shen Zhuo publicly broke off their engagement, she continued chasing after him relentlessly. Her devotion was so excessive that she was practically the ultimate simp.
The Yu Xingwu in the novel also blamed the broken engagement on the female protagonist, stubbornly insisting that the female protagonist had secretly seduced Shen Zhuo. She then directed all her resentment toward the female protagonist, taking revenge on her with even greater cruelty.
In the end, she met a tragic fate that left readers sighing with regret.
Just as Yu Xingwu was reflecting on this, the system’s voice sounded.
“Storyline mission issued: Host, please proceed to the main hall of Zhaoyao Peak and complete the mission—Cause a Scene at the Banquet.”
“Mission requirements: When the villain proposes breaking off the engagement, falsely accuse the female protagonist of secretly seducing him. Host, you may improvise freely. Please remember to maintain your villainess persona at all times.”
“Completing the mission will earn you 100 points. Failure to complete it will result in punishment by heavenly lightning.”
Yu Xingwu’s lips twitched. The system really was as predictable as ever. She’d known there was no way she’d escape having a part to play tonight.
Fortunately, she wouldn’t have to recite any prescribed lines that would make her look like she was courting death, and she could still earn points. When the villain broke off their engagement, she could simply add a few extra declarations of love to her performance. Wouldn’t that make earning points ridiculously easy?
—Evening.
The sky resembled an overturned palette of paints, its brilliant colors dazzling yet fleeting.
By the time Yu Xingwu arrived, the powerful cultivators and talented young disciples from the other sects had already gathered at Zhaoyao Peak as promised.
Ever since Yu Zheng had punished her by ordering her to return to her peak and reflect on her mistakes, she hadn’t received a single voice message from anyone.
Presumably, everyone had been busy preparing for today’s banquet over the past two days. Who would have time to pay attention to a Vicious Female Supporting Character like her? In a sense, she was practically showing up uninvited tonight.
But if she didn’t come, she wouldn’t be able to complete her mission, and she’d be struck by heavenly lightning.
And judging by her experience reading novels, a Vicious Female Supporting Character like her, who was practically rushing over to be humiliated by the female protagonist, would usually be the last to arrive. She would even get a dramatic close-up highlighting her arrogant, overbearing demeanor.
That way, it would provide a striking contrast to the miserable state she’d be reduced to when she was humiliated later.
So, before coming, she’d deliberately returned to her peak to dress up and make herself look even more impressive, strictly following the storyline.
…
When she stepped into the main hall, every seat was already occupied.
The guests, who had been raising their cups and drinking together, all turned their attention toward Yu Xingwu.
The young woman wore a long dress that trailed across the floor. Her glossy black hair was elegantly arranged, and her exquisite face was adorned with a pair of bright, star-like eyes. Her beauty was striking, almost aggressively so.
As she walked past the guests, she didn’t spare a single one of them a glance. There was an innate air of superiority about her, as though she naturally stood above everyone else. Yet that commanding presence suited her perfectly.
The awkward part was that, despite the hall being filled with guests, not a single banquet seat remained empty.
Apparently, she wasn’t welcome at all. They hadn’t even prepared a place for her!
Well, now that certainly made her temper flare.
She raised her eyes toward Yu Zheng, who was seated in the place of honor, then glanced at Sword Venerable Feng Chen beside him.
Speaking in her most arrogant and overbearing tone, she declared, “It seems Father and Master don’t welcome my arrival. Rest assured, Master and Father, I’m not here to cause a scene at the banquet.”
“I’ve only come to tell Master one thing. I, Yu Xingwu, am not destined to have a junior sister. If Master insists on accepting Yu Yuefu as his disciple today, then from this day forward, you won’t be my only master either.”
【This is what you call giving someone a taste of their own medicine. If you’re allowed to accept another disciple, why shouldn’t I be allowed to take another master? That way, when you expel me from the sect in the future, I’ll still have somewhere to go.】
【But then again, taking just one more master doesn’t seem like enough. Ideally, I should find several more, and they should all be good-looking~ It doesn’t matter if they’re a little weaker.】
【Immortal Venerable Yun Ci would be perfect! He has such refined, handsome features and an elegant, noble bearing, yet he carries an enormous saber on his back wherever he goes. That adorable contrast is exactly my type! He’s practically my dream lover… Ahem, I mean my dream immortal master~】
【Besides, I have a Fire-Attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root, which is also suitable for cultivating saber techniques. Even if I gain another junior sister, I’ll gain another master too. I won’t be losing out in the slightest~】
【Now, let me think carefully about how to win over Immortal Venerable Yun Ci… Ahem, I mean how to become his disciple.】
The entire hall fell silent.
Yu Xingwu’s remarks also revealed her identity to everyone present, prompting them to begin comparing her with Yu Yuefu.
Quite a few people felt that Yu Xingwu was far too arrogant. How could a disciple dare threaten her own master and demand that he not accept another disciple?
Such behavior was practically unheard of throughout the entire Cultivation World.
Sword Venerable Feng Chen’s expression turned icy cold.
As everyone knew, there was an unwritten rule in the Cultivation World: a disciple should acknowledge only one master. It was extremely rare for someone to study under two masters.
If a disciple who already had a master acknowledged another person as their master, it was considered an act of disloyalty, unless their original master had explicitly granted permission.
If Sword Venerable Feng Chen hadn’t heard Yu Xingwu’s inner thoughts, he would simply have assumed she was throwing a tantrum and speaking out of anger.
The reason no banquet seat had been prepared for her tonight was precisely because everyone had been worried that, given her temperament, she would undoubtedly cause a scene.
However, after hearing Yu Xingwu’s inner thoughts, Sword Venerable Feng Chen realized that she wasn’t merely speaking in anger.
She had even decided whom she wanted to acknowledge as her next master!
Anger lodged in his chest, impossible to suppress or release.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Yun Ci, who was seated in the hall, and at the enormous saber strapped to his back.
Adorable contrast…? Dream lover…? Heh!
Crack!
The wine cup in Sword Venerable Feng Chen’s hand shattered into tiny fragments.
Seeing this, everyone present naturally assumed that Sword Venerable Feng Chen had become furious.
Beside him, Yu Zheng felt his temples throbbing.
Seeing the master and disciple on the verge of open confrontation, he attempted to ease the tension. “It’s my fault for failing to raise my daughter properly and allowing her to become such an outrageous child. Sword Venerable, please calm your anger. I’ll punish her by sending her back to face the wall and reflect on her behavior.”
Yu Xingwu let out a disdainful snort, her attitude becoming even more arrogant and unrestrained. “Why should I go back when today is such a joyous occasion for Master, who is accepting a new disciple?”
“According to the rules, once Yu Yuefu becomes Master’s disciple, she must serve tea to her senior brothers and sisters. I haven’t even had my tea yet, and Father already wants to drive me away. Isn’t your favoritism a little too obvious?”
Yu Zheng had only just been urging Sword Venerable Feng Chen to calm down, but now he was the one so furious that he couldn’t calm himself.
Before Yu Zheng could reprimand her, Yu Yuefu stepped forward and bowed respectfully toward those seated in the place of honor. Her bearing was dignified and beautiful, while her expression remained shy and endearing.
In a soft, sweet voice she said, “Father, please don’t be angry. Jiaojiao didn’t mean to upset you.”
“After Niannian formally becomes Master’s disciple, it is indeed proper for me to serve tea to my senior brothers and sisters. Jiaojiao isn’t wrong. I’ll serve her tea in a little while.”
Hearing this, many of the guests felt that the True Young Miss was truly sensible, obedient, and likable.
However, some also felt that Yu Zheng was being far too biased. Although Yu Xingwu was the Fake Young Miss, he had personally raised her since childhood. To cast her aside so readily seemed rather heartless.
Yu Xingwu couldn’t care less what anyone thought of her. Inwardly, she complained:
【Would you hurry up and complete the disciple acceptance ceremony and serve the tea already?!】