The system squeaked. OOC warning Please maintain the story setting
Heh.
Ding Li looked at Chu Zilan with hopeful eyes. “Then can I… call you senior sister?”
Lin Ziyuan, who had been loyally standing behind Chu Zilan since her arrival, opened his mouth wide in surprise, clearly shocked.
Little Lin, close your surprised mouth. Have you never seen someone shameless? Congratulations, now you have.
After a moment, Chu Zilan nodded. “Yes. Once your injuries have healed, you will formally become an apprentice under the sect master.”
Lin Ziyuan’s jaw nearly dropped to the ground. His expression was as if struck by lightning, utterly incredulous.
Wait, this is allowed too?
His confused look seemed to say, then what was the point of our hard work passing the initiation trial?
Heh, consider it as passing the initiation trial.
As soon as Chu Zilan finished speaking, Ding Li’s eyes sparkled. She felt fully alive and instinctively wanted to reach out to Chu Zilan.
But just as she was about to touch her sleeve, she suddenly remembered something and quickly drew back, looking up in disbelief. “Really, senior sister?”
Zero-second adaptation to the new identity. Time to start over and behave properly.
Chu Zilan nodded. “Focus on healing. Lin Ziyuan will stay here to take care of you.”
She turned and walked away. Lin Ziyuan hurriedly bowed. “Safe travels, senior sister.”
Watching Chu Zilan’s figure gradually fade, Ding Li could not help a quiet sigh. Even her departing figure was captivating.
Lin Ziyuan remained still until Chu Zilan’s back disappeared completely. Then he turned toward Ding Li, utterly shocked. “You… you…”
Ding Li calmly lowered her raised hand, signaling him to stay composed. “What is it you want to say?”
Lin Ziyuan could not remain calm. He stepped closer. “You are amazing. Do you know how few disciples the sect master takes? In all these years, only three. And senior sister vouched for you, letting you join the sect master’s disciples. She is really kind to you.”
“Yes,” Ding Li said. “Because she is kind.”
Ding Li soaked in the hot spring for another day. On the fourth morning, she removed her bandages and went to find Chu Zilan.
Chu Zilan lived on Lingxiao Peak, which was not far from Ding Li’s Qingluan Peak.
Lingxiao Peak had few residents, only a few early disciples. The training grounds were spacious and the basic facilities well established.
Qingluan Peak, where Ding Li lived, was livelier. It mainly housed newly initiated disciples and some guest rooms for visitors who came to train.
Every three years, sects exchanged disciples, choosing those with potential and strength to learn from other sects. This improved their skills and allowed mutual growth.
To show respect, Ding Li rose early at the hour of Chen.
The past two days she had Lin Ziyuan guide her around to learn the layout. Now, without him, she could still find her way.
She walked along the path. After roughly the time of burning one incense stick, she arrived at Lingxiao Peak.
Ding Li paused at the gate. A female disciple approached. “Who are you?”
Ding Li bowed. “I am Ding Li from Qingluan Peak. I have come to see senior sister Chu.”
The disciple immediately understood. This must be the girl Lin Ziyuan had mentioned, the one saved by Chu Zilan. “Follow me.”
Ding Li followed her. After about a quarter of an hour, they arrived at the courtyard.
The gate had been impressive, but the courtyard was quiet and elegant, simply arranged.
There were no rare flowers, only ordinary ones carefully tended.
Chu Zilan sat at a stone table, brewing tea. Hearing the movement, she looked over.
A beauty…
Truly a beauty…
Even the plain surroundings were made poetic by her presence.
Ding Li took a deep breath and stepped forward. Just as she prepared to speak, Chu Zilan said, “Are you fully recovered? Come, sit.”
Ding Li moved shyly, taking small delicate steps.
Chu Zilan did not look at her but took a cup from the tray and poured brewed tea onto the table.
Ding Li sat down and sipped lightly. The aroma filled the air. “Delicious tea. Senior sister, you brew very well.”
Chu Zilan said, “You are late, but not too late. Drink this cup, and I will take you to meet the sect master.”
Ding Li wanted to clap. She drank the tea in one go, then carefully placed the cup on the table, looking at Chu Zilan. “Shall we go, senior sister?”
Chu Zilan nodded, and they both stood.
The main peak of Cangshan Sect was Cangyun Peak. The sect master and elders resided there. Walking up the front stone steps, one could see the grand hall, where the sect master held meetings.
Ding Li had never been here. The surroundings were vast, mountains stretching endlessly, nothing blocking the view, majestic scenery all around.
Chu Zilan walked ahead. Ding Li followed, panting. She straightened after climbing the steps and followed closely.
Chu Zilan did not look back, entering the hall directly.
On the high platform in the center sat a person of solemn and dignified presence, wearing a blue robe with wide sleeves and a gray collar. The person raised their eyes to look at them.
Ding Li swayed slightly as she approached, obedient, looking at him.
This was the sect master, whom in the original story Su Xiangqing had framed, leading to her death blamed on Chu Zilan.
Strange. What had been a few lines about an NPC now seemed so real and vivid.
Chu Zilan walked straight and gracefully, bowed, and said, “Master.”
Ding Li quickly followed, standing slightly behind and to the right, bowing as well.
She lowered her head. The sect master’s deep voice said, “Is this the person you brought back?”
The tone did not sound satisfying.
Ding Li knew her own reputation, but she thought, Su Xiangqing, petty and vindictive, would hold a grudge after seeing the sect master’s displeasure.
No need to worry, Ding Li thought. Bosses and employees often clash. Being disliked was normal.
Chu Zilan said, “Yes.”
The sect master asked, “A few days ago, you told me you wished to bring her to see me. Was it to accept her as a disciple?”
Absurd, a daydream!
Yet it was Chu Zilan who spoke, firm and decisive. “Yes.”
A beauty carried authority and decisiveness, speaking little but every word mattered.
Ding Li internally groaned for the thousandth time. Following Chu Zilan was safe. Why sabotage? She had the female lead’s advantage.
The sect master, having raised Chu Zilan, naturally looked favorably on her.
He glanced at Ding Li, appraising slowly. “Mediocre talent, no foundation, a long path in cultivation. Since your senior sister vouches for you, from today, you shall become my disciple.”
Thank you, very fair evaluation.
Ding Li, following Chu Zilan, was astonished and could not hold back her excitement. She knelt and kowtowed. “Thank you, master!”
The sect master waved his sleeve. “Thank your senior sister.”
Ding Li shyly glanced at Chu Zilan, still calm, then happily said, “Thank you, senior sister!”
Chu Zilan acknowledged with a hum.
The sect master said, “Rise.”
Ding Li got up, followed Chu Zilan to bow again. Chu Zilan said, “Thank you, master. I will take my leave.” She turned and walked out.
Truly, the female lead was beautiful and heroic, powerful and unstoppable.
Ding Li quickly followed, both retracing their steps.
At the fork, Ding Li hesitated. After much thought, she asked, “Senior sister, shall I cultivate with you?”
Her urgency stemmed from the fact that in the original story, Su Xiangqing had been assigned to train with Xiao Wenjing after joining the sect master.
A sect master naturally had no time to personally train a weak disciple. Chu Zilan also did not. So Su Xiangqing was left with Xiao Wenjing.
Su Xiangqing and Xiao Wenjing naturally disliked each other. Xiao Wenjing barely paid attention, Su Xiangqing avoided him. She was essentially left to cultivate on her own.
Chu Zilan did not know about this. Xiao Wenjing and Su Xiangqing enjoyed the peace.
Chu Zilan was not at fault. Xiao Wenjing was only two years older than Su Xiangqing.
She likely thought that with Xiao Wenjing’s talent, Su Xiangqing could also benefit and improve quickly.
Ding Li thought Su Xiangqing’s later serious psychological issues, though a cliché plot device, partly stemmed from the lack of proper guidance.
Imagine if someone had mentally disciplined her, or literally hung her up and beat her three times a day.