Chapter 2: I’ll Take You Home
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
At Lone Moon Peak, the atmosphere was jubilant, with bright decorations and a festive vibe.
Fang Cheng Lang ascended the steps. Along the way, many disciples who had just attended the ceremony greeted him warmly. He responded to each with a gentle smile, his demeanor composed and graceful.
After he passed, small groups of disciples gathered to chat:
“Senior Brother Fang truly lives up to being the first disciple of Master Qing Yan. His every word and action exude the elegance of a true gentleman.”
“Master Qing Yan’s discerning eye for disciples is unmatched. Except for that one bad apple, every other disciple is an exceptional talent!”
“Master Qing Yan must have been deceived by Yu Zhao’s water spirit root and thought she was extraordinarily gifted. But seven years have passed, and her cultivation progress is barely on par with an ordinary disciple. She only recently completed foundation building, and she’s not even comparable to Junior Sister Ye.”
“Hmph, if Yu Zhao devoted the same effort to cultivation instead of indulging in her petty schemes, she might have achieved foundation building ages ago.”
“Exactly, exactly!”
Their mocking laughter reached Fang Cheng Lang’s ears. His smile faded slightly.
Little Six wasn’t as bad as they made her out to be.
However, defending her would do no good. After all, her reckless actions had brought about this criticism.
He shook his head, deciding that once the storm subsided, he would guide Little Six to change her ways and regain the respect of their peers.
Lost in thought, he unconsciously arrived outside Master Qing Yan’s residence.
“Master, disciple Fang Cheng Lang requests an audience,” he announced.
“Enter.”
The grand doors opened, and a girl’s cheerful laughter emerged from inside.
It seemed the junior-most disciple was also present.
Fang Cheng Lang’s expression softened as he stepped inside.
“Senior Brother, you’re back!”
In the main hall, a girl in a pale yellow dress eagerly greeted him. She had delicate features, fair skin, and a slender waist accentuated by an intricate belt. She stood as gracefully as a still moon, her movements as elegant as swaying willow branches.
“Junior Sister,” Fang Cheng Lang greeted with a slight nod before approaching the man seated at the head of the hall. He bowed deeply. “Master.”
Master Qing Yan, dressed in plain white robes, exuded an unapproachable aura. His cold, sharp eyes gleamed like frost, and although devoid of any ornamental accessories, he radiated an innate, majestic presence.
“What brings you here?” his master asked indifferently.
Fang Cheng Lang hesitated briefly, then knelt on both knees, lifting his robes. “Master, Little Six has acknowledged her mistake. I plead with you to revoke her punishment.”
Ye Cong Xin’s eyes widened in surprise. She nervously fidgeted with her dress before kneeling beside him, her voice clear and crisp. “Master, since Sixth Sister has realized her error, please forgive her this once. My injury no longer hurts.”
Master Qing Yan’s voice was icy. “Yu Zhao injured you this badly, yet you still plead for her?”
Ye Cong Xin pressed her lips together, a shy smile appearing. “Sixth Sister only acted out of fear that I might steal Master and Senior Brother’s affection, which made her hit harder.
To be honest, I can understand Sixth Sister’s feelings because I wouldn’t want to share such wonderful people with anyone either.”
Her words struck a chord with Fang Cheng Lang, who glanced at her, visibly moved.
Ye Cong Xin blushed slightly, hesitated for a moment, then continued, “Since I’ve already become Master’s disciple, we’re a family now. So, I forgive Sixth Sister.
Master, can you also forgive her? Please?”
Her final plea was so soft it was nearly inaudible to anyone without sharp hearing like Fang Cheng Lang and Master Qing Yan.
After a brief silence, Master Qing Yan spoke. “Since Little Seven has spoken… Cheng Lang, come tomorrow to retrieve my seal talisman.”
Fang Cheng Lang’s face lit up. “Thank you, Master!”
“Don’t rejoice too soon. Inform Yu Zhao that while Little Seven has pleaded for her, a mistake is still a mistake. Tomorrow, you will oversee her public apology to Little Seven to serve as a lesson.”
“Master…” Ye Cong Xin quickly tried to object, but Fang Cheng Lang accepted without hesitation.
“Rest assured, Master. I will ensure Sixth Sister apologizes to Junior Sister.”
Even without Master Qing Yan’s instruction, he would have demanded the apology himself. It was a debt Little Six owed to their youngest.
Master Qing Yan dismissed them with a wave.
Outside, Ye Cong Xin pouted disapprovingly. “Senior Brother, why did you agree to this? A public apology would be too humiliating for Sixth Sister. How will the others view her after this?”
“Punishment must match the crime, Junior Sister. Rules are rules,” Fang Cheng Lang replied, gently ruffling her hair.
Ye Cong Xin’s cheeks reddened as she murmured weakly, “Fine… I’ll listen to you, Senior Brother.”
“Today’s initiation ceremony must have tired you out. Go rest early.”
“Alright, you too,” she responded sweetly, nodding as she turned away. A subtle smile appeared on her lips.
…
Enveloped in darkness, it was impossible to gauge the passage of time.
Yu Zhao dared not dwell on her predicament and let her mind wander instead.
In her past life, her cultivation journey had been fraught with hardship.
Where others progressed with ease, her efforts yielded minimal results.
The root of her struggles stemmed from this current unjust accusation.
Faced with scorn from all sides, she had refused to admit fault, even lashing out at Master Qing Yan in anger. In his fury, he struck her with a single palm.
Though he used less than one percent of his power, as the foremost Nascent Soul cultivator in the Five Elements Dao Sect, the impact was devastating for a newly built foundation like hers.
That single blow damaged her foundation core, crippling her cultivation speed. No amount of spiritual pills could restore her former potential.
Now, while her injuries were still fresh, she had a narrow window to salvage her condition.
Yu Zhao licked the dried blood at the corner of her lips.
Two paths lay before her.
The first was to inform Master Qing Yan of her injuries and request a Fourth-Rank Restorative Pill from him. While it was the simplest solution, she immediately dismissed it. She wished to sever ties with Master Qing Yan and his disciples completely.
Moreover, that pill was destined for Ye Cong Xin. Master Qing Yan’s decision was clear. Begging for it would likely be in vain.
This left the second option: dismantle her current foundation and rebuild it anew.
Destroying the foundation core would regress her cultivation, and rebuilding would be exponentially harder. It was a last resort, but she had no other choice.
Her past life had taught her: trust no one but yourself.
Rebuilding from scratch also presented a unique opportunity. The Five Elements Dao Sect welcomed diverse cultivation techniques. While her brothers pursued varied paths—Fang Cheng Lang choosing the Way of the Sword, and her second brother embracing Melody Arts—she had followed Master Qing Yan’s exclusive Bright Moon Over the Sea Technique.
Though powerful, its complexity had hindered her progress, contributing to her slow cultivation.
This time, she vowed to abandon it. She would sever all connections to Master Qing Yan and his disciples.
But as she pondered her next steps, a sliver of light pierced the darkness.
“Little Six, I’ve come to take you home.”