Yun Liu and his party hurried back, but they were still late.
The Four Academies had already been in session for several days.
Three streaks of light reached the plank road one after another, hurriedly passing through the Cloudsea Formation after showing their Sword Emblems.
The Mountain-guarding Elder’s Divine Sense swept over them, confirming they were the representatives of the Five Peaks who had attended the Shengyu Festival.
Four had left, so why did only three return?
The East Pole Pavilion Master was not among them.
He was leading his newly recruited henchman toward Jueyun Peak, leisurely heading home.
Ji Shiyu led the way, stepping through the mountain gate with her head held high.
The Sighing Peak Dao Arena was quiet and empty.
Only a few scattered lights flickered in the distant Shenhua Pavilion, where the night snack stalls were still open.
“Dammit, why is there nobody here? I bled for the sect, I ate bugs for the sect! Even if there’s no glory, there was hard work. Even if there’s no grand welcome, they could have at least set up eight or ten tables to reward us.”
The little hero who had saved the Zhusheng Dynasty—or so she told herself—stamped her feet in frustration.
Her stomach growled.
She had expected flower wreaths, banners, and passionate fans from every peak, only to find the cold wind.
“You big idiot.”
Xiao Xinran rolled her eyes.
She noticed a figure at the entrance of the Illusion Pavilion—a hunched old man smiling and nodding at her.
‘Is Grandpa Shen still awake this late?’
Ao Tian picked at his beak and said irritably, “How could news reach the Southern Territory so fast? Besides, look at the time. You only took down a few small fry. I’ll give you a partial assist for the Nili Magic Golem at most.”
This rival for Fortune was improving at a godly speed.
After being away for just three days, she was no longer the loser of Mist City.
The External Brain saw this and felt anxious, whereas Shiyu acted as if nothing was wrong.
“Fine,” Ji Shiyu pouted.
To be precise, it was eighteen Qi Refinement demonic cultivators, three Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators, and one-fifth of a Golden Core golem.
How could he say “only”?
That was very impressive, okay?
She was just a rookie Sword Cultivator who had entered the academy six months ago!
Qin Yao’s brow furrowed slightly as she said softly, “This is a serious matter. I need to go to the First Peak to report to the Grand Elder. You two should go back and rest. You’ve worked hard this time. Shiyu and Xinran, you are both already Divine Radiance Disciples capable of standing on your own.”
“Really?”
Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu’s eyes sparkled.
They both wished those words had come from Yun Liu’s mouth.
The Clear Mist Peak Senior Sister nodded and flew away on her sword, leaving the two travel-worn freshmen behind.
They were exhausted from the long journey and didn’t even have the energy to bicker.
They turned and headed to their respective peaks.
Ji Shiyu wailed, her head drooping as she squatted on the Seven Stars Sword.
Her head throbbed at the thought of the homework due tomorrow.
This was destined to be a sleepless night.
“Oh God, Great Baldy said he’d test me on the second layer of the Sword Canon when I got back, and I haven’t even started writing the pill recipes! Just kill me now!”
“Who told you to pile everything up until the last day? You’re asking for it.”
Ao Tian pecked at the hopeless Silly Girl.
Shiyu was becoming more rebellious as she grew up.
In the end, gaining that second spark of Fortune had come too easily; she didn’t realize that if she lost three years later, everything would be for nothing.
“Hey!”
Suddenly, a shout came from behind.
Ji Shiyu turned back in confusion.
“What is it? Something else?”
Xiao Xinran stopped in mid-air.
She was silent for a moment, her expression complex.
She seemed to have been holding something in the whole way back.
“Thank… thank you.”
“Huh?”
The red-clothed girl’s voice was faint.
The little yellow-haired girl scratched her head, thinking she had misheard.
Given how much Miss Xiao hated her, it was a miracle she hadn’t started shouting the moment she woke up.
To think she would actually say thank you.
“Senior Sister Qin told me everything,” Xiao Xinran continued.
“You risked your life to act as a living lure for the Gu. Although your private life is a bit… messy, your nature isn’t bad. You even have a special talent for eating bugs. Were you really born in the year of the rooster?”
“‘Private life’… Who’s messy?! Hey!”
Ji Shiyu had been ready to be modest and make peace with Xiao Xinran, but in an instant, she was fuming.
‘If you can’t compliment people, don’t try to make small talk! That’s called the Innate Phoenix Body being immune to all poisons! Who likes eating bugs?!’
“You know your own hobbies. Liking to steal things from others is a disease that needs to be cured!”
Xiao Xinran sighed.
She had finally taken Qin Yao’s advice to heart and decided to help Ji Shiyu fix her bad habits instead of holding a grudge.
At worst, they would compete fairly from now on.
“Ha!”
Thinking back to the awkward first meeting with Yun Liu, the yellow-haired girl laughed.
Looking back at the same scene now, her feelings were completely different.
“It was just an accidental bath with your fiance. Do you really have to keep bringing it up?”
“I’ll say it one last time: that was an accident! Besides, you’re not married yet, so how is he yours? Even if his name was written on his forehead, your man was injured saving you, yet you pushed him away and ignored him. He was empty, lonely, and cold. Even a passerby like me couldn’t stand it. What’s wrong with me comforting his wounded soul a little?”
Ji Shiyu spread her hands, turning the tables and self-righteously scolding the incompetent ex-fiancee.
Her words were dripping with a manipulative sweetness.
Ao Tian laughed so hard he clutched his stomach.
The misunderstanding was getting deeper and deeper.
“You! Shameless!”
Xiao Xinran’s long hair practically ignited with rage.
Any good impression she had just formed of Ji Shiyu was immediately discarded.
She had recognized her own mistakes and paid the price, but she couldn’t stand the yellow-haired girl taking advantage of the situation.
‘We can’t get along. I really can’t get along with her!’
“I’m telling the truth. Am I wrong?”
Ji Shiyu put her hands on her hips, having finally gained the upper hand.
‘Wait, why do I sound more and more like a mistress…’
“Unrepentant!”
“It’s called being ‘understanding,’ okay?”
“Don’t think I’ll forgive you because of this. One thing at a time. I’ll pay back what I owe you eventually. Stop acting so fake in front of Xiao Yun!”
Xiao Xinran trembled with anger, while Ji Shiyu waved her off indifferently.
After all, the person wasn’t saved for nothing.
“A righteous person doesn’t fear shadows. I don’t need your forgiveness. Just don’t pass out on the ground all the time in the future. I’m a genius girl Sword Cultivator, but I can’t save you every time.”
“Hmph!”
“Hmph!”
They spoke in unison, both fuming as one flew toward Falling Cloud Peak and the other returned to Sunset Peak.
This round went to the yellow-haired girl.
Ao Tian laughed until tears came out, feeling quite relieved.
Shiyu had really changed; she had become smarter, albeit in a sneaky way.
‘If things keep going like this, will the old rumors actually come true?’
At this thought, the Phoenix Hatchling’s smile froze.
Considering Shiyu’s recent behavior, it suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
‘When I wanted to set her up with that Yun kid, the silly girl wouldn’t lift a finger. Now that I’ve changed my strategy and started with the stepfather, she can’t bear to leave him. Dammit, I hope I didn’t mess this up. What happens if the mother and daughter end up fighting over the same man!?’
***
Yun Liu never would have guessed that a spat starting from a Bond Unlocking Quest, which had almost been resolved through Qin Yao’s efforts, would end in another falling out.
While Ji Shiyu was frantically pulling an all-nighter to finish her homework, he was soaking in an outdoor hot spring he had dug on his own mountain, with his loyal Deadpool standing guard behind him.