“Finding a master?”
Lin Huanhuan was slightly stunned. “What kind of master?” she asked, somewhat confused. “I’ve barely met any of the elders. I don’t even know who to choose yet. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate to go now?”
‘According to the original novel, Elder Song is supposed to be my master. To stay true to the plot, I still need to study under her. I just don’t know what triggered her to appreciate me; the book never mentioned it.’
As Lin Huanhuan thought this, she saw Lin Shuangye roll her eyes at her. “What are you thinking?” Lin Shuangye said mercilessly. “With your talent, which elder would even look at you twice?”
Lin Huanhuan’s lips twitched. “Then what did you mean just now, Sister?” she asked, feeling quite speechless.
“I’m taking you to see the Sect Leader,” Lin Shuangye explained. “I’ll ask him to choose a master for you. That way, whichever elder is picked won’t have any complaints. They won’t dare give you a hard time.”
“I’ll teach you what to do in a moment. Just don’t cause any trouble once we’re there.”
“Oh, is that how it works? I didn’t know that was an option.”
Hearing this, Lin Huanhuan suddenly understood. She finally realized why she had been accepted as a closed-door disciple by Elder Song in the original story, despite having had no prior contact with her.
Lin Huanhuan couldn’t help but mutter to herself, ‘It seems Elder Song is a bit of an unlucky soul. But since I’m the villainess, surely I won’t be treated too poorly… right?’
“Enough nonsense. Just follow me,” Lin Shuangye said, quickly leading the way.
On the road, Lin Shuangye reminded her, “The Sect Leader and our father are close friends. Hundreds of years ago, they were known as the Twin Paragons of Lingyun, and they dominated their era. When you see him, try not to be too polite—act a bit familiar. But don’t be too familiar, either. You’ll have to find the right balance yourself. Don’t be too nervous, but even if you are, it’s fine. Don’t worry about making a mistake; as an elder, the Sect Leader generally won’t hold it against you.”
Lin Huanhuan was left a bit dazed by the instructions, simply nodding along. Be polite, but not too polite? Why did that sound so strange? ‘Is this the cultivation world’s version of “make yourself at home”?’
—
Upon arriving at Lingtian Peak and entering the Lingyun Great Hall, Lin Huanhuan finally met the man who had dominated the Southern Border for hundreds of years—Master Tiandu.
‘Is this the Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect, Master Tiandu? A peerless powerhouse with a lifespan of 6,000 years and a cultivation at Jindan Peak?’ Lin Huanhuan marveled. ‘I wonder when I’ll be able to reach such a level, completely controlling my own fate and no longer being threatened by the Heavenly Dao at will.’
While Lin Huanhuan was lost in thought, Lin Shuangye stepped forward, cupping her hands. “Greetings, Sect Leader. This is my younger sister. We have come today to ask you to select a master for her.”
Though Lin Shuangye offered a formal greeting, her back remained ramrod straight without the slightest bend. Lin Huanhuan mimicked her gesture.
Master Tiandu stroked his beard and offered a kind smile. “No problem. It is a small matter to assign a master. However, remember that once you have joined a master’s lineage, you must respect their teachings. You must never betray your master or the sect. Otherwise, you will be punished severely.”
“That is only natural. Thank you for your help, Sect Leader,” Lin Shuangye replied.
Master Tiandu nodded again and looked at the younger sister. “Your name is Lin Huanhuan, right? It’s a good name. I was there the day you were born. I didn’t expect you to grow up so quickly.”
Lin Huanhuan didn’t know how to respond, so she simply offered a small smile.
“Do you have an elder in mind?” Master Tiandu asked.
Lin Huanhuan shook her head and smiled. “I leave the decision entirely to you, Sect Leader.”
Hearing this, the smile on Master Tiandu’s face widened as he began to analyze the situation. “You practice the Dao of Wind. There are not many elders in the sect who follow that path. Elder Song Zhuying only has one disciple under her; you should take her as your master. That way, you’ll receive more direct guidance. What do you think?”
Lin Huanhuan smiled. “Thank you, Sect Leader. That sounds perfect.”
Master Tiandu nodded and then turned his gaze toward Lin Shuangye, his tone carrying a hint of pleasant surprise. “Lin Shuangye, not bad. It seems you have already touched upon the shadow of a divine ability. Within 100 years, you have a good chance of condensing your Natal Divine Ability and reaching the Jindan stage.”
With a trace of pride on her face, Lin Shuangye replied with a smile, “It’s just luck. I’m still far behind others.”
“That isn’t just luck. By the way, once you break through to the Jindan stage, would you be interested in serving as an elder? The Lingyun Sect only has ten elders, which is indeed a bit few.”
“It’s still far off. How could I dare speak of such things now?”
“Fine, we’ll discuss it later then. You two can head straight to Little Bamboo Peak. Just tell her I sent you. Elder Song Zhuying understands the bigger picture; she won’t make things difficult for you.”
“Thank you, Sect Leader. We shall take our leave now.”
With that, Lin Shuangye led Lin Huanhuan out of the hall.
—
On the way to Little Bamboo Peak, they unexpectedly ran into Shangguan Muqing. Shangguan Muqing respectfully called out “Senior Sister” to Lin Shuangye before hurrying away.
Lin Shuangye said with a smile, “Even though Shangguan Muqing is always competing with you, don’t hold a grudge or take it to heart, regardless of who wins or loses. To be honest, almost everyone in the Shangguan family has that kind of personality. The technique they practice is the Zixiao Art. In terms of cultivation speed and benefits, it’s top-tier, but it has one flaw: they need to choose a target of similar standing and constantly defeat them to achieve a perfect mental state. It’s clear that Shangguan Muqing has chosen you as her target.”
“So that’s how it is,” Lin Huanhuan said, nodding.
Lin Shuangye continued, “If you’re ever truly short on cultivation resources in the future, you could choose to have a private chat with Shangguan Muqing. Pretend to lose to her, and let her pay you for it.”
Lin Shuangye spoke as if she were well-acquainted with the process, making it obvious she had done such things before. This left Lin Huanhuan slightly surprised; she hadn’t expected her sister to have such a side to her.
Lin Huanhuan nodded, then asked curiously, “You can even win like that? Isn’t that cheating?”
Lin Shuangye gave a nonchalant laugh. “Is a fake win not still a win?”
“I suppose that’s true.”
As they spoke, they arrived at Little Bamboo Peak. Song Zhuying, who had already received the message, was waiting for them.
Song Zhuying wore green robes and stood with her hands behind her back. Her long hair was tied up, giving her an ethereal, otherworldly aura.
“Greetings, Elder Song. We are here for the apprenticeship.”
“Fine, I understand.”
Directly afterward, Lin Huanhuan respectfully performed the apprenticeship rites and offered the tea. With that, the ceremony was complete.
She had officially become the second disciple under Song Zhuying.
Considering that she still had things to pack and a maid to bring along, Song Zhuying gave her one day to return and get organized. She was permitted to bring at most one person with her.