Chapter 14: A Shortfall in Wisdom
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Tea Room
“Please enjoy your tea, Lady,” Manager Liu said cautiously as he served the tea.
“Thank you, Manager Liu,” Zhou Jin Yue replied politely, gently placing the teacup on the table while her eyes frequently darted to the second floor.
Manager Liu was flattered by her kindness and quickly showered her with praises, claiming it was simply his duty to serve. Privately, he admired Zhou Jin Yue; as the chief disciple of the sect leader, she epitomized grace and dignity. In his experience, disciples from large sects like the Five Elements Sect often carried an air of arrogance; their elite status made pride a common trait.
However, Zhou Jin Yue’s gentle demeanor was a refreshing change from the haughty attitudes he often encountered, like that of Su Ming. His smile grew more genuine as he presented three additional plates of snacks before discreetly retreating to give her space.
Zhou Jin Yue appreciated the quiet. She wasn’t in the mood for socializing; her thoughts were consumed by the brewing conflict between Yu Zhao and Lone Moon Peak. Typically, this wouldn’t concern her, but her close relationship with Yu Zhao pulled her into the fray. Despite knowing Yu Zhao’s difficult position, she felt compelled to help.
Yet, Lone Moon Peak was a significant force within the Five Elements Sect, one even her master, the sect leader, treated with respect. Meddling in Lone Moon Peak’s affairs risked inciting Master Qing Yan’s wrath.
Considering the longstanding delicate relations between the main peak and Lone Moon Peak, Zhou Jin Yue decided against direct intervention. This was a matter that should be settled internally. She needed to speak with Fang Cheng Lang, who had initially entrusted Yu Zhao to her and now seemed to have neglected his duties.
As she contemplated her next steps, she heard light footsteps. Zhou Jin Yue stood and moved toward the staircase, spotting Yu Zhao and Su Ming descending. Yu Zhao appeared calm and composed, whereas Su Ming looked rather disheartened.
Zhou Jin Yue couldn’t suppress a smile; it seemed Yu Zhao had managed well, and Su Ming had likely learned a hard lesson. She felt reassured by this outcome.
“Senior Sister Jin Yue, we can leave now. The issue has been resolved,” Yu Zhao declared, ready to depart. While she hadn’t reclaimed the spirit stones, she had gained something even more valuable. Her current concern was figuring out how to discreetly use a small portion of her newfound asset.
“Alright,” Zhou Jin Yue responded, a slight lift of her eyebrows showing her agreement.
As they headed toward the door, Su Ming’s voice rang out from behind.
“Yu Zhao, Fifth Brother is returning soon.”
Yu Zhao paused briefly at the mention of Fifth Brother but then continued walking, showing no sign of concern. She left without a backward glance, unaffected by Su Ming’s attempt to unsettle her.
Behind them, Su Ming sneered. She had lost a significant portion of her treasures, about a third of her prized items in her storage ring were gone. But she clung to one remaining hope. Did Yu Zhao really think she was out of danger? She was sorely mistaken. Fifth Brother, one of Yu Zhao’s adversaries, was about to return from his secretive training.
…
“Quan Ye should be returning soon, according to the timeline,” Zhou Jin Yue remarked. Quan Ye, the fifth disciple from Lone Moon Peak, had spent the last year in the sect’s Thorny Secret Realm for intensive training and was now due back.
Yu Zhao stayed quiet, absorbing the information with a stoic expression.
Seeing her silence, Zhou Jin Yue sighed and gave Yu Zhao’s arm a comforting tap. “You know, the spot for the Thorny Secret Realm training was initially yours. Why did you let Quan Ye have it?”
The Five Elements Sect managed five secret realms, each linked to one of the elements. The Thorny Secret Realm, tied to the element of wood, was the least perilous and richest in resources, making it perfect for Foundation Establishment disciples. Every two years, the sect awarded ten slots for training in this realm, primarily based on Foundation Establishment credentials.
Yu Zhao had met all criteria last year when she established her foundation, particularly since she was a disciple of Master Qing Yan, which all but guaranteed her a spot. However, just before the team’s departure, it was revealed that Yu Zhao had relinquished her place to Quan Ye.
Although Quan Ye had previously trained in the Thorny Secret Realm upon his own Foundation Establishment, the sect typically did not offer a second round to anyone due to the limited availability of slots.
Yu Zhao’s decision to cede her spot to someone who had already benefited from the training sparked widespread discontent among the disciples. It was viewed as a misallocation of a precious resource, especially to someone who had already had his turn. This act contributed significantly to the negative perception and isolation Yu Zhao faced within the sect.
Suddenly stopping in her tracks, Yu Zhao turned to Zhou Jin Yue with a fiery intensity in her eyes. “Senior Sister Jin Yue, if I told you I didn’t give up that spot willingly but was coerced, would you believe me?”
Zhou Jin Yue was taken aback but responded immediately, “I believe you!”
Had Yu Zhao made this claim just a day earlier, Zhou Jin Yue might have hesitated. But having seen how Su Ming had mistreated Yu Zhao, she could no longer harbor any doubts. Instead, she felt a surge of pity and concern for her.
“Senior Sister Jin Yue, do you know much about Quan Ye?” Yu Zhao then asked, not rushing into further explanations.
Zhou Jin Yue pondered briefly before answering, “I know some. I’ve heard that despite his narrow meridians, Quan Ye has an exceptional amount of vital energy, which lends him considerable physical strength. However, he’s known to be quite aggressive and hard to manage, which is why Master Qing Yan seldom lets him leave Lone Moon Peak.”
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Zhou Jin Yue was popular among the disciples and had a wide-reaching network of informants. While she wasn’t privy to every secret, especially the deeper mysteries of Lone Moon Peak, she was usually well-informed about general matters.
“Senior Sister Jin Yue, you’re right. Quan Ye is not just aggressive; he’s been known to severely injure other disciples during sparring sessions. Because of his reckless behavior, Master Qing Yan has mandated that he stay at Lone Moon Peak and not leave without explicit permission,” Yu Zhao explained with a cold tone.
Zhou Jin Yue nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Her initial description had been somewhat understated. In truth, Quan Ye’s actions weren’t just aggressive; they were dangerously unhinged, and she even suspected that he might suffer from some sort of cognitive deficiency.