Chapter 141: The First Signs of Trouble
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
The Five Elements Sect was bustling with activity, but Zhang Jun felt out of place as he stepped out of his month-long seclusion. After being confined in deep meditation, he decided to take a walk through the central peak’s main plaza to clear his mind. The air was crisp, and the sun shone brightly, yet a sense of unease clung to him as he observed the sect members going about their daily routines.
As he walked, Zhang Jun spotted Senior Sister Jin Yue, a figure well-known throughout the sect for her serene and gentle demeanor. However, today, something was off. Her usual calm expression was replaced with one of tension, her brows knitted together as if something heavy weighed on her mind. Intrigued, Zhang Jun quickened his pace and intercepted her path.
“Senior Sister, who’s gotten on your nerves?” he asked, half-joking but genuinely curious.
Zhou Jin Yue, normally the epitome of composure, seemed startled by his sudden appearance. She paused, her gaze flickering as she finally registered his presence. “You’re out of seclusion?” she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.
“Yes, I just finished,” Zhang Jun replied, his playful tone quickly shifting to concern. “But what’s going on, Senior Sister? You look troubled.”
Zhou Jin Yue hesitated, her eyes clouded with worry. “It’s nothing serious,” she murmured, but the tightness in her voice betrayed her.
Zhang Jun wasn’t convinced. “That can’t be true. I’m your junior brother, you don’t have to hide things from me.”
He studied her closely, noting the subtle signs of distress in her posture. Zhou Jin Yue had always been taught to prioritize the sect above all else, and for her to be this anxious meant that something significant was amiss. His time in seclusion had left him out of the loop, and now, more than ever, he needed to know what had transpired.
“Senior Sister, please don’t keep me in the dark. Whatever it is, we can handle it together,” he urged, his voice firm yet gentle.
Zhou Jin Yue sighed deeply, realizing she could no longer withhold the truth from him. Reluctantly, she began to explain the situation, her words measured and deliberate.
As Zhang Jun listened, his initial confusion grew. “So, you’re saying you’re worried because the disciples have been slacking off in their training recently?” he asked, scratching his head in disbelief.
Zhou Jin Yue nodded solemnly. “I just passed by the inner disciples’ training grounds. Aside from a few like Xiu Luo and Feng Qi Yun, the place was nearly empty.”
Zhang Jun blinked, astonished by her words. The inner disciples of the Five Elements Sect were renowned for their dedication and diligence. They trained day and night, especially with the upcoming sect competition. It was unheard of for them to neglect their training, particularly at such a crucial time. In fact, their enthusiasm for training had been so intense that even a stray dog passing by might get caught up in a sparring match. Yet now, they were nowhere to be found.
“Where did they all go?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.
“To Lone Moon Peak,” Zhou Jin Yue replied, her expression darkening.
“Lone Moon Peak?” Zhang Jun echoed, bewildered. Lone Moon Peak was the secluded residence of Master Qing Yan, where only his direct disciples were permitted to enter. The thought of the inner disciples gathering there, at the base of the mountain no less, was perplexing.
Zhou Jin Yue nodded again. “Yes, they’re gathering at the foot of Lone Moon Peak,” she clarified, her tone heavy with foreboding.
Zhang Jun’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What are they doing at Lone Moon Peak?” he asked, trying to wrap his mind around the situation. It wasn’t as if they could challenge Master Qing Yan’s disciples, could they?
“They’re waiting for Ye Cong Xin,” Zhou Jin Yue revealed, her lips curling into a cold, ironic smile.
The true source of her unease was finally laid bare. According to the inner disciples, simply talking to Senior Sister Ye Cong Xin brought them sudden enlightenment, as if the mysteries of cultivation had been unveiled before them. Some even claimed that after exchanging a few words with her, they experienced breakthroughs on the spot. This had led to a new form of “training,” where the disciples eagerly gathered at the foot of Lone Moon Peak each day, hoping for a chance encounter with Ye Cong Xin.
Zhang Jun was dumbfounded. He stared at Zhou Jin Yue, struggling to process what she had just told him. “They haven’t lost their minds from overtraining, have they?” he muttered, bewildered.
The idea that a simple conversation could lead to breakthroughs was absurd. If that were the case, why bother with rigorous cultivation? They might as well spend all day chatting with Ye Cong Xin—one conversation, one level up; two conversations, three levels up. It was utterly ridiculous.
“They’re not losing their minds; they’re looking for shortcuts,” Zhou Jin Yue explained, her voice tinged with frustration. “It’s not just the inner disciples either—many of the direct disciples are also involved.”
Zhang Jun’s confusion deepened. If it were just a few disciples falling for such nonsense, it could be dismissed as a passing fad. But with so many of them convinced, even he started to doubt himself.
“Does Master know about this?” he asked, his voice betraying his concern.
“Not yet, but several elders in the sect have taken notice. It won’t be long before Master hears about it,” Zhou Jin Yue replied, her voice steady but filled with unease.
Zhang Jun sighed in relief. “Senior Sister, I think it’s best if you don’t get involved. Let Master handle it,” he suggested, not wanting her to get caught up in the potential backlash from the disciples.
Zhou Jin Yue nodded, understanding the wisdom in his words. She was well aware of how delicate the situation was. Despite her deep concern, she hadn’t rushed to Lone Moon Peak to disperse the gathering disciples. Instead, she felt a growing sense of dread and suspicion towards Ye Cong Xin.
She used to see Ye Cong Xin as a gentle, harmless, and optimistic junior sister. But after learning about Yu Zhao’s difficult situation at Lone Moon Peak, Zhou Jin Yue began to see Ye Cong Xin in a different light. The turning point came when they went to Dragon Roar Valley together, and Ye Cong Xin, despite contributing nothing, attempted to take the Starstone from Yu Zhao. When the others rejected her, Ye Cong Xin returned to the Five Elements Sect and complained to Master Qing Yan, forcing Yu Zhao to request to leave the Lone Moon Peak.
Zhou Jin Yue’s opinion of Ye Cong Xin had plummeted since then, but she had only seen her as calculating. However, this recent incident with the disciples made Zhou Jin Yue realize she had severely underestimated Ye Cong Xin.
How on earth had Ye Cong Xin managed to convince so many disciples to believe in her abilities?
Meanwhile, at Lone Moon Peak, Ye Cong Xin was growing increasingly anxious as the situation spiraled out of control.
“System, can you lower my affinity?” she asked, pacing back and forth in her room.
[Ding! Host, once a trade is made, it cannot be undone.]
“But can’t you see these people are acting like they’ve lost their minds? I’ve told them this has nothing to do with me, but they won’t believe it. This damned high affinity is going to get me killed,” Ye Cong Xin grumbled, her anxiety evident.
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
She had originally increased her affinity to 90 to quickly gain favor. Anyone who wasn’t mentally strong would immediately see her as a close friend and believe whatever she said. At first, this high affinity had worked wonders for her. She completed her favorability tasks with ease and freely stole others’ luck. But upon returning to the Five Elements Sect, she realized that having such a high affinity came with many inconveniences.
Her fellow disciples, who had already liked her, now clung to her like glue, impossible to shake off. Even those who were indifferent to her before were now going out of their way to win her favor. After enjoying the attention for a while, Ye Cong Xin noticed that wherever she went, a crowd would gather within the time it took for an incense stick to burn. With so many people, conflicts would inevitably arise, and the more hot-tempered disciples could start fighting after just a few words. As a result, she had been reprimanded by the elders of the Disciplinary Hall several times.
She wanted to tell them to stop pestering her, but they wouldn’t listen. Instead, they doubled down on their efforts. Now, they were camped out at the foot of the mountain, making it impossible for her to leave.
If this continued, her unusual behavior would surely catch the attention of the sect leader or even Master Qing Yan, potentially exposing the existence of her system.
[Ding! No one in the cultivation world can detect the system’s presence. Please use it with confidence.]