Ji Shiyu pinched the corner of her qipao, her brows furrowed in distress, looking just like a child who had done something wrong.
Her once-inflated confidence had long since been poured out along with last night’s chamber pot.
Now, she was seriously doubting herself. If she had arrived a little earlier that day, gotten to face that so-called Demon Sect’s Chi Jiu before Yun Liu, what were her chances of winning?
“Am I… really that bad?”
“Not really.”
Ji Shiyu’s dim eyes had just started to brighten, when another cold bucket of water was dumped on her head.
Yun Liu added indifferently, “It’s just that you’re not as good as you think. You can’t expect to always stay ahead of others by doing nothing.”
“…….”
The yellow-haired girl was left speechless, and suddenly, the soft rice in her stomach lost its flavor.
Jing Tan’er was the best proof.
No matter how complicated the technique, Ji Shiyu could master it after seeing it just once.
This made her fall into the illusion that she didn’t need to work hard at all, that simply raising her cultivation would be enough.
“Then let me ask you. If you strip away the empty prestige of a noble house, give up your family’s techniques and all your special treasures, what do you have left?”
Ji Shiyu tilted her head in thought, then answered earnestly, “Beauty and talent?”
Yun Liu curled his lips.
“Wrong. Humor. You’ve succeeded in making me laugh.”
“Hehe, then what should I do to advance to the Inner Sect and learn the Five Peaks Sword Canon?”
“As long as you have hands.”
“Hey, I’m being serious!”
“I’m not joking. Of course, it’s about training your fundamentals. You rely too much on your Formless Spiritual Root’s perfect imitation, thinking you can master any move without a teacher. But it’s all just on the surface. No matter how much you look like it, you’ll never truly understand the sword intent within.”
It was nonsense, and yet, not nonsense.
How could you join the Shenhua Sect and not practice the Shenhua Sword Art?
Ao Tian squinted.
This brat was terrifying.
Could he even see through the true essence of the Formless Spiritual Root?
“Oh……”
Ji Shiyu seemed half-understood, but this time, she really took it to heart.
She couldn’t help but feel that the “oil-slick kid” was more reliable than those theorists who spouted empty platitudes.
With just a few words, he could help Jing Tan’er grasp the essentials of the Swaying Sword Style.
She’d really underestimated this Chief of Tianxiang Peak.
The little clay figure nodded silently, drooping her head as she walked away, face full of disappointment.
She’d clearly gotten her money, and a free meal too, so why did she feel no happiness at all?
Was it Yun Liu’s dismissive attitude?
Or was it because, deep down, she had to admit Ao Tian and his stinging words were all true?
That overly steady youth had never looked at her with any regard.
Things ending up like this—Yun Liu’s “oil-slick kid” persona played no small part.
But if not for him, the Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill would probably have gone to Xiao Xinran, and she’d have nothing to do with it.
Success, thanks to Yun Liu.
Failure, also thanks to Yun Liu.
Was he truly her destined blessing?
Or maybe, she just wanted to prove him wrong—that she wasn’t that useless.
The yellow-haired girl suddenly spun around, slapped the table, and stared at the boy clearing the dishes.
“What?”
“Teach me! Teach me the Shenhua Sword Art!”
Ji Shiyu finally realized that the record-holder for fastest Outer Disciple promotion was right in front of her—a ready-made teacher delivered to her door.
If not now, then when?
Yun Liu couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head.
He thought it was another dumb bird egging her on.
How many times did he have to say it before she’d get it?
The yellow-haired girl begging her “nemesis”—what a joke.
If I don’t join the villains and turn you all into cauldrons, I’ll be laughing in secret!
“Go find your Sword way instructor. What, you think I’m your dad?”
“They’re not as good as you!”
Ji Shiyu wiped her face, this time unusually serious, truly from the heart.
No matter how unconvinced she was, she had to admit Yun Liu was stronger than her—much, much stronger.
“Flattery won’t work. There’s no such thing as a free meal in this world.”
There had been before, but what had it led to?
Yun Liu had already seen the result after waking up.
Ji Shiyu blinked.
Who said there wasn’t?
Hadn’t she just freeloaded a meal?
All it cost was a little time and effort, and the “oil-slick kid” ended up losing out!
“I-I have money, I’ll pay you!”
Not quite sure what “work” really meant, the little yellow-haired girl pulled out her hard-earned wages and placed them on the table.
She’d earned her own money back by working, and now she’d ask Young Master Yun for sword guidance.
Had she just invented perpetual motion for herself?
Heavens, I’m so smart!
Yun Liu was amused again.
There was never a dull moment with this silly girl around.
“Go give that to a beggar. My time is very valuable. What do you have that’s worth exchanging for it? Your stinky body, or the Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill you bought from me? Instead of wasting time on you, I’d rather be Sister Jing’s home tutor. At least she could knock me out with money.”
The white-robed boy squinted, showing no mercy.
His only wicked pleasure was perhaps the thought of tricking that big treasure off the yellow-haired girl.
If that happened, she’d definitely lose to Xiao Xinran in a fight.
Ji Shiyu clearly hadn’t realized she’d just been brushed off like a little beggar with a hundred coins, but she wasn’t dumb enough to hand over her protective charm.
She shouted in frustration, “Why do you only care about money?!”
Could it be—could it be that I’m not as important to you as money?
The always-isolated yellow-haired girl had never interacted with outsiders.
The first friend she made after running away from home was this “oil-slick kid”—her one and only.
Now, even this only friend mercilessly popped her bubble, saying bluntly, “If it’s not about money, then what, feelings? What use do I have for your affection?”
In the eyes of an NPC, the yellow-haired girl was nothing but a harbinger of disaster—just like Detective Conan, wherever she went, death followed.
“You!”
Ji Shiyu’s eyes suddenly reddened, utterly dejected.
This was just too humiliating.
The little sister who’d tried to save her saw her as a mortal enemy, and the friend she’d risked her life for saw her as a burden.
Was she really that useless?
Stripped of her family’s halo and the Qi Luck of Dongji, Ji Shiyu suddenly felt completely worthless.
For a brief moment, she even wondered if there was any point in living anymore.
“Then… then what do you want? Oh, right, my mother is rich! If you come home with me, she’ll give you whatever you want…”
Recognizing reality, the girl bowed her head, pleading helplessly, trying to salvage her only friend.
“So, in other words, you don’t have anything now. I told you, I’m not your teacher, and I’m certainly not your father. Why should I?”
“Guh.”
Ji Shiyu bit her lip.
Qin Sister lied—he wouldn’t agree no matter how nicely I asked!
Off to the side, Ao Tian was dumbfounded.
It was still waiting for the results of their bet, silent as could be.
Yet the always-proud silly girl just went up and asked herself?
In the past, that was absolutely impossible.
That invisible pull of Qi Luck seemed to have turned into a more twisted sort of dependency—she could no longer do without him.
Was this some kind of secret divine sense technique?
Too scary!
One girl, one bird, both crestfallen as they descended the mountain.
The hidden dragon and young phoenix, both returned in defeat—whether in seeking a master or betting, both had failed miserably.
“…….This is bad.”
Ao Tian couldn’t help but glance back.
The white-robed boy in the shadows had an unreadable expression, just like nothing had happened that night.
No special treatment, no avoidance or resistance—he simply went about his business as always, as if no one else existed.
As if he didn’t care about anything.
Things seemed to be heading for the worst—and also the best—possible outcome.
Even Yun Liu hadn’t noticed, only the yellow chick sensed the change.
Under the moonlight, the white-robed boy’s face was pale and growing weaker, yet in his eyes, stardust flickered, and deep in his pupils, sparks danced.
The three years of Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu seemed far away, but for someone, the end had already come.
At least in his eyes, the little time left was almost gone.
Soon, he would have nothing to do with anything here.
Neither the slow, gentle days Qin Sister dreamed of, nor the sweet, hopeful cultivation Xiao Xinran and Jing Tan’er looked forward to, were in the boy’s plans for the future.
The Qi Sea Hourglass was already counting down.
At the same time, a streak of icy-blue sword energy cut through the sky, piercing the night like a meteor.
The flying sword flashed like lightning, crossing the endless Sea Archipelago in the blink of an eye, returning to the East Pole Province.
The shocking sword intent alarmed many of the surrounding sect elders.
“Damn, that crazy woman’s back?”
“Shut up! If Bingran Fairy hears you, you’ll be in trouble!”
“Looks like East Pole Province won’t be peaceful again……”
***
Tomorrow, Yun Liu would be heading down the mountain with Qin Sister, off to Canglang Gorge.
All preparations had been made.
With Huo Tian Tian watching over Rosy Fragrance Pavilion, nothing would go wrong.
He wouldn’t be gone long, but if Aunt Master came back and didn’t see anyone, there had to be an explanation.
Thinking this, the boy picked up his brush and wrote a letter, leaving it in Master’s room—just as she had done when she left.
The night was deep and quiet, insects chirping softly.
Besides Master and Little Junior Sister, who else understood Celestial Phenomena Peak as well as the Chief Senior Disciple?
“Come out.”
The faint movements in the bamboo grove couldn’t escape his spiritual sense.
Yun Liu hadn’t planned to call her out.
He just hadn’t expected her to wait so long—refusing to appear, but not running away either. Was she constipated?
In this remote place, there was only one left-behind child—and a cripple at that.
A girl in a bright red dress came out from behind the hut, face flushed. Her long legs wrapped in black stockings stood out—apparently the latest style from Shenmu Yingzhou beyond the Outermost Sea, fashionable and warm, very popular in the Royal Capital.
“How did you… know I was here?”
“It’d be hard not to.”
Yun Liu sighed. In fact, every time someone came to secretly watch him, he’d noticed, but he’d always allowed the girl’s presence.
Who knew how long Jing Tan’er had been squatting here this time?
She’d spent ages looking for the right moment to show herself.
When she arrived, the yellow-haired loser was still bouncing around like a clown!
Wow, what a coincidence, you’re out for a walk on Celestial Phenomena Peak too…yeah right!
She’d used that excuse last time, and besides, she lived here.
Ah, she really was a scatterbrain—lost again.
The night was beautiful, good evening, Senior Brother Yun!
She just couldn’t bring herself to say it.
As a Princess, she just couldn’t.
Eavesdropping wasn’t a good habit, but it wasn’t on purpose.
She’d just wanted to check if he was here and feeling better.
Just a peek!
But instead, she’d seen an even stranger scene that made her feel comfortable.
She couldn’t hide the joy on her pretty face.
Before Yun Liu could speak, Jing Tan’er jumped in first: “Oh, I just came to check your progress. Are you slacking off?”
Yeah, that reason would do.
As a big client of Rosy Fragrance Pavilion, and always requesting Little Yun as her technician, coming over to supervise was perfectly reasonable!
“I’ve been busy these two days. Sorry.”
“N-no problem! It’s not urgent. Just take care of yourself and don’t catch cold.”
Jing Tan’er twisted her hands behind her back, having heard every word of the earlier conversation.
“So, you’re so eager to serve this Princess, hmm? Such loyalty! I really can’t handle you~ Fine, if you can successfully refine a Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill for me, this Princess will officially appoint you as Royal Consultant! Well, aren’t you going to thank your Royal Princess?”
And of course, don’t forget our promised guardian (association)!
What an unstraightforward guy.
Why hadn’t she thought of the home tutor idea herself?