Time rewound to three days ago.
After being threatened by Lin Ci, Li Xingyao returned home in a daze.
She pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes vacant, as if all her pride had been drained away.
The moment she stepped through the door, the next second—
“You actually lost to a Qi Refinement disciple in a sparring match?”
Meng Yunlan stood at the entrance of the side room, looking at her with a calm expression that gave away no hint of anger or joy.
“Forgive me… Mother.”
Li Xingyao staggered forward, bowing deeply in apology.
She wasn’t surprised that Meng Yunlan knew about the matter; too many people, eager to curry favor with the Sect Leader, had come to her home to report news.
There were also many who disliked her…
“Don’t you have anything to say?”
“No.”
“Sigh…”
A sigh escaped Meng Yunlan’s lips, as if it could blow away any shred of hope.
“Fine. Three days of house arrest. Not a single step outside the house!”
“Yes, daughter accepts the punishment.”
“You really are… hopeless! Cough, cough, cough…”
As Meng Yunlan spoke, she suddenly began coughing violently, unable to keep her balance and leaning against the wall.
“Mother, you can’t catch a chill. Please return to your room.”
Li Xingyao frowned and reached out to support her.
Slap!
A sharp sound rang out as her hand was abruptly swatted away.
Meng Yunlan staggered a few steps before standing straight again.
She took a pill from her sleeve and swallowed it, the coughing easing significantly. Her voice was heavy with disappointment.
“You’d better stop making me angry—that’s the best thing you can do…”
Li Xingyao bit her lip hard, the hand that had been struck trembling uncontrollably.
She just didn’t understand—what had she done wrong?
No, actually, she did understand…
Slowly, Li Xingyao lowered her head.
“Go… return to your room for house arrest. I don’t want to see you right now!”
Meng Yunlan patted her chest slowly.
“Yes. Yao’er will go back now. Please, Mother… take care of yourself.”
Just as Li Xingyao turned to leave—
“Now, you can’t even smile?”
Meng Yunlan said coldly.
Li Xingyao halted and took a deep breath: “Mother, Yao’er is willing to accept the punishment, but when the time comes for my instructor to teach me, may I decide who that is myself?”
“Suit yourself. Who do you want?”
“The Chief Disciple of Wenxuan Peak, Lin Ci.”
“Hmph…”
Meng Yunlan chuckled lightly. “No matter what, he’s still just a junior. If you want him to teach you… fine, I’ll personally ask him when the time comes.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Li Xingyao nodded and then walked toward her room…
Back to the present.
Upon hearing Meng Yunlan state her identity, Lin Ci hadn’t yet spoken when Xiao Chan immediately grew anxious.
“Senior Brother, don’t go!”
She rushed forward and grabbed Lin Ci’s arm. He was her senior brother—how could she let him teach Li Xingyao?
Lin Ci didn’t have much good impression of Li Xingyao either.
Besides, with just his theoretical knowledge, he might fool Xiao Chan a little, but teaching the Sect Leader’s daughter?
That was like the Wolfman in Werewolf masquerading as the Hunter!
He even suspected this might be some scheme of Li Xingyao’s—she’d been threatening to expose him all along.
Just as he was about to refuse—
Meng Yunlan said, “Of course, the fee paid to Chief Lin for teaching is the same as that for Sect instructors—two hundred Spirit Stones per day!”
“Please rest assured, I will wholeheartedly instruct Miss Li.”
Lin Ci cupped his hands in salute.
“Thank you very much.”
Meng Yunlan looked at the young man before her, handsome and talented, her prejudice beginning to waver.
Perhaps, he really could change Yao’er…
“Senior Brother, Li Xingyao has been targeting us all along. Why did you agree to teach her?”
After Meng Yunlan left, Xiao Chan asked in confusion.
Lin Ci glanced at her. That question…
Was obviously hoping to repay evil with kindness, trying to reform her into a modern Five-Good Youth who upheld the righteous path and helped others!
Otherwise, why accept two hundred Spirit Stones a day?
And it was true!
Setting aside the daily costs of cultivation, Lin Ci planned to forge a Sword Spirit, which required a massive amount of Spirit Stones.
But Wenxuan Peak couldn’t supply so many.
So this two hundred Spirit Stone daily fee was simply too good to refuse.
As for whether teaching Li Xingyao would risk exposure, Lin Ci had his own methods.
“Xiao Chan, remember this one thing: in this world, there are no eternal friends, nor eternal… enemies.”
He patted her head meaningfully.
Xiao Chan fell into deep thought over his profound words…
The next day.
Lin Ci arrived alone at a beautifully decorated courtyard, took a deep breath, and shouted inwardly:
Arrived at the highest peak of Tai Xu—the Zhangmen Peak!
So beautiful, Zhangmen Peak!
Oh look, isn’t that Li Xingyao?
Better just enjoy the scenery, everyone…
Because of the Spirit Stone payment, the Li Xingyao who used to annoy him now appeared unusually pleasant.
“Senior, I’m here.”
Seeing Meng Yunlan also waiting outside, Lin Ci stepped in front of Li Xingyao and cupped his hands to her.
“Mm, Yao’er is in your hands today.”
“All right.”
“There’s one more thing. Chief Lin, please agree to one small request.”
Meng Yunlan’s tone suddenly shifted.
She then took something out and handed it to Lin Ci.
“If Yao’er disobeys or refuses to learn, Chief Lin, please use this on her!”
It was a slender, vine-like Treasure, covered with barbs and inscribed with spiritual power runes.
Lin Ci took it and lightly tapped it against his own hand, feeling a sharp, burning pain.
It was definitely a Treasure that intensified the pain of wounds…
Li Xingyao’s expression stiffened as she saw the Flogging Vine Treasure.
“I think… this won’t be necessary.”
Lin Ci tried to return the Flogging Vine. Although Li Xingyao had been provoking him, it wasn’t necessary to use such harsh means.
Unexpectedly, Meng Yunlan gave him a stern look and pushed it back.
“Chief Lin doesn’t yet understand Yao’er’s situation. Keep this safe—it will come in handy.”
Seeing this, Lin Ci could only accept the vine.
Then Meng Yunlan’s body trembled slightly, clearly unable to stand long in the cold wind, so she politely excused herself back to the side room.
In the courtyard,
only Lin Ci and Li Xingyao remained. The atmosphere suddenly grew awkward.
Li Xingyao wore her hair in twin ponytails, standing prettily in the yard. If not for her sharp gaze, Lin Ci might have even thought she was quite cute.
The two locked eyes in silence, neither speaking.
Soon, a cold wind blew, scattering fine snowflakes.
“Cough…”
Lin Ci cleared his throat to break the silence, “It’s snowing. Let’s go inside.”
“Okay, I’ll lead the way.”
To Lin Ci’s surprise, Li Xingyao actually nodded cooperatively and led him toward the Refining Room.
Had she… changed?
Lin Ci was shocked.
Then, as if recalling something, he said,
“Sigh, didn’t I say last time I’d kill your horse…”
Li Xingyao froze, her eye twitching violently.
“That was just a threat to scare you. It doesn’t count.”
“Who doesn’t know that? No need to bring it up again!”
She turned around, crossed her arms tightly, and gritted her teeth.
“Hmm, that’s more like it.”
Seeing she was still her usual self, Lin Ci felt relieved.
The awkward tension dissolved.
“Well then, since I’m going to teach you cultivation, how should you address me today?”
Lin Ci stood with his hands behind his back, like a peerless master, speaking calmly.
“What?”
“You know.”
“Hah, I won’t call you that. Loser, loser!”
“Is that so? Then I’ll just leave…”
“Hey, you!”
“Will you say it or not?”
Li Xingyao bit her lip, her face flushed with embarrassment, and after a long moment, she forced out two words:
“…Teacher.”