Chapter 168: Little Radish
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Ye Cong Xin was completely fed up with the three of them, but she had to keep up her image as the caring and understanding junior sister. After some persuasion, Lan Zi Yu and the others finally settled down.
In the main hall, Fang Cheng Lang knelt, his eyes slightly lowered, filled with guilt and remorse.
“Cheng Lang, I am deeply disappointed in you,” Master Qing Yan said, his voice heavy with disapproval.
Fang Cheng Lang kowtowed silently, not saying a word in his defense.
Master Qing Yan glanced at him, his dark eyes deep and unreadable like a bottomless pool.
After a long pause, he spoke again, his tone as cold as ever. “In the upcoming sect competition, you must take the top spot.”
Fang Cheng Lang nodded firmly. “I will do my best, Master.”
“Leave.”
“Yes, Master.”
As Fang Cheng Lang left, he closed the doors behind him. The hall plunged into darkness, the silence so thick it felt like a place where life ceased to exist.
Master Qing Yan sat quietly on his chair, made from the finest materials in the cultivation world, feeling a sudden wave of loneliness. He had never been one to enjoy crowds.
Years ago, an old friend had entrusted Fang Cheng Lang to him, leaving him no choice but to take on his first disciple. Not long after, Lan Zi Yu joined the Five Elements Sect, and the old sect master, not wanting to waste his talents, sent him to Lone Moon Peak.
With one disciple, then another, Master Qing Yan eventually got used to accepting students, though he remained strict. Over the years, he only took in five disciples. Yu Zhao and Ye Cong Xin were exceptions, unexpected additions.
Yu Zhao.
The name echoed in Master Qing Yan’s mind, and he couldn’t help but picture her stubborn expression.
“Ugh.”
Suddenly, a groan escaped his lips, veins throbbing at his temples as a strange flush spread across his face.
Why? Why does my headache always get worse when I think of Yu Zhao?
Could there be some unknown connection between us?
Outside the hall, Lan Zi Yu and the others rushed to meet Fang Cheng Lang as he exited.
“Senior Brother, did Master punish you?” Lan Zi Yu asked anxiously.
“Master is broad-minded. He wouldn’t hold a grudge against me,” Fang Cheng Lang replied calmly.
The others exchanged glances but said nothing. They didn’t believe him, but since there was no sign of distress on his face, they decided not to push the matter. Once again, Ye Cong Xin broke the awkward silence.
She smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling. “Senior Brother, we passed the qualifying rounds today. That’s something worth celebrating. How about we all go to the bamboo forest and have a little party?”
“Great idea! I’m all for it!” Quan Ye exclaimed enthusiastically.
Lan Zi Yu and Su Ming weren’t particularly excited, but they didn’t want to spoil the mood, so they didn’t object.
However, Fang Cheng Lang shook his head. “You all go ahead and celebrate. I need to visit Cui Jue.”
“Senior Brother…”
“Little Junior Sister, have fun.”
Before Ye Cong Xin could say more, Fang Cheng Lang had already turned and left.
Quan Ye grumbled in dissatisfaction. “Senior Brother is being so unfair.”
Ye Cong Xin forced a smile. “It’s okay. Even if Senior Brother doesn’t join us, the four of us can still celebrate.”
“Junior Sister, I don’t think it’s worth it,” Su Ming said, shaking his head. “It’s just the four of us. There’s nothing much to celebrate. Maybe we should wait until another time.”
With Senior Brother, Old Fourth, and Little Zhao not around, even sitting around chatting and drinking wouldn’t be much fun. It might be better to sneak off and find out what Little Zhao is really thinking.
Lan Zi Yu, who wasn’t that interested in the celebration from the start, nodded in agreement. “Su Ming’s right. Let’s wait until Cui Jue has recovered a bit, then we can all celebrate together.”
“Hey, what’s with you guys? Junior Sister meant well, and you’re all just bailing on her?” Quan Ye was visibly upset.
A lot had happened over the past five years, most of which Quan Ye was unaware of. He had only noticed that Fang Cheng Lang, Lan Zi Yu, and Su Ming, including Cui Jue who was recovering in the cave, seemed to be distancing themselves from Ye Cong Xin, and it bothered him.
Su Ming rolled his eyes. “I’ll go if I want to, and I won’t if I don’t.”
Lan Zi Yu was even more direct, giving a huff and walking away without another word.
Su Ming followed suit, dragging his feet as he reluctantly left.
Quan Ye’s face darkened with anger. His second and third senior brothers never took him seriously. One day, he would make sure they paid for treating him like this.
Just then, he heard soft sobbing nearby. Startled, Quan Ye snapped out of his thoughts and saw Ye Cong Xin crying, her tears flowing like raindrops on a pear blossom.
He was at a loss, awkwardly trying to comfort her. “Junior Sister, don’t cry. You don’t look good when you cry.”
Ye Cong Xin almost choked on her tears, taken aback by his bluntness.
“Fifth Senior Brother, it must be because I’m not good enough. That’s why Senior Brother and the others don’t like me anymore,” she sobbed, holding back her anger.
“If they don’t like you, you don’t have to like them either,” Quan Ye said, frowning.
Ye Cong Xin paused, her eyes darting around as she continued to cry. “I know I’m not as smart or as talented as Senior Sister Yu Zhao, so they all prefer her over me. But it really hurts…”
“Yu Zhao? Is she causing trouble again?” Quan Ye’s eyes flashed with anger. “I knew that imposter was up to no good. Don’t worry, I’ll help you get justice.”
Before Ye Cong Xin could stop him, Quan Ye had already dashed off toward the mountain.
Ye Cong Xin was stunned. She only wanted Quan Ye to comfort her and show some pity, not to pick a fight with Yu Zhao.
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
She stomped her foot in frustration. She had learned her lesson—Quan Ye didn’t think things through. She would need to be more straightforward with him in the future, or else her plans would backfire.
Meanwhile, Quan Ye stormed into the inner courtyard like a whirlwind. Xiu Luo and the others had just returned from the training grounds and hadn’t started cultivating yet. Instead, they were chatting in small groups about the day’s qualifying rounds.
Quan Ye’s sudden arrival immediately put everyone on alert.
“Where’s Yu Zhao? Tell her to get out here now!” Quan Ye shouted from the foot of the mountain, his voice booming with anger. His robe, stretched over his muscular frame, bulged with tension.
The inner disciples, alarmed, turned to look at Xiu Luo and the others who were close to Yu Zhao.
“You, Little Luo, tell me where Yu Zhao is!” Quan Ye demanded, recognizing Xiu Luo as the one who had stood beside Yu Zhao earlier. His voice was rough and loud.
“Little Radish?”
Xiu Luo’s friends nearly burst out laughing. They had been preparing to face Quan Ye with cold indifference, but his words caught them off guard.
What kind of ridiculous nickname is that? Whoever came up with calling Xiu Luo “Little Radish” is a genius!
“To hell with your ‘Little Radish’! You’re the radish! Your whole family are radishes!” Xiu Luo snapped, her face turning red with anger.
She was smaller than most of the other female cultivators her age and hated it when people commented on her size, especially with such an ugly nickname. Quan Ye was clearly trying to insult her!
“Huh? Why are you swearing at me?” Quan Ye was confused.
Xiu Luo clenched her fists and charged at him. “You want a fight?”
Quan Ye’s eyes lit up with excitement, completely forgetting about Yu Zhao as he eagerly threw a punch back.
Nearby, Lan Zi Yu and Su Ming, who had crossed paths again, were exchanging awkward glances when they heard the commotion. Their expressions changed instantly.
“This isn’t good! It’s Quan Ye! He’s here looking for Yu Zhao! Has he already started a fight with her?”
“Hurry, let’s go!”