Chapter 56: A Simple Way of Showing Gratitude
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Xiu Luo looked like a withered flower, quickly losing her energy, causing Elder Hou nearby to panic.
She was one of the most promising inner disciples he had seen in a long time. He had intentionally chosen her to test Yu Zhao’s mettle, hoping it would also help Xiu Luo gain some fame and increase her chances of becoming a personal disciple. However, things hadn’t gone according to plan. If this setback caused Xiu Luo to lose her drive and her Dao heart to collapse, he would be the one to blame.
“No, no!” Elder Hou paced like an ant on a hot pan, unsure of what to do. Just then, Yu Zhao stepped forward and approached Xiu Luo.
“Did you want to become a personal disciple? Are you giving up so soon?” Yu Zhao asked.
Xiu Luo kept her head down, silent. Yu Zhao maintained her calm facade, but internally, she was worried. Had she really hit Xiu Luo too hard? She had just wanted to test her illusion technique, not shatter Xiu Luo’s confidence.
“Do you know Su Ming?” Yu Zhao inquired after a moment.
Xiu Luo’s ears perked up. Of course, she knew Su Ming. He was the third disciple of Master Qing Yan, wealthy beyond measure, and a major patron of the Hundred Treasure Pavilion. But why was Yu Zhao bringing him up?
“Su Ming also fell into one of my illusions once. He ended up talking to a piece of wood for a long period,” Yu Zhao said nonchalantly. She had no intention of preserving Su Ming’s dignity—she was generous just for not exaggerating the story.
Yu Zhao continued, “You couldn’t break out of my illusion, and neither could he. This means your strength is comparable. If he can become a personal disciple, you should believe that you can, too.”
“Huh?” Xiu Luo was bewildered, feeling that Yu Zhao’s words made sense but also sensing something off. She looked to Elder Hou for confirmation, eyes wide and pleading.
Elder Hou was in a tough spot. He couldn’t very well admit in front of all these disciples that Xiu Luo was on par with Su Ming; that would be disrespectful to Master Qing Yan. He made a noncommittal noise and nodded, which seemed like an agreement but didn’t really say anything.
However, Xiu Luo didn’t overthink it. Desperately needing a boost in confidence, she perked up. If even Elder Hou acknowledged Yu Zhao’s words, then maybe she wasn’t as hopeless as she felt. Taking a deep breath, she looked directly at Yu Zhao and said, “Thank you.”
Yu Zhao’s presence had jolted her out of her arrogance, making her realize the gap between herself and the truly skilled personal disciples. But Yu Zhao had also given her hope. If she worked hard, she could become a personal disciple—maybe even surpass Su Ming.
Yu Zhao smiled warmly. “You’re welcome. But if you really want to thank me, could you let me have this little courtyard?”
It was only now that Yu Zhao revealed her true intentions. Xiu Luo and the other inner disciples were stunned. The topic had changed so quickly that they struggled to keep up.
Yu Zhao continued to smile politely. Realizing what she meant, Xiu Luo nodded rapidly like a pecking chicken. “Of course, no problem. I’ll move out immediately.”
After such an embarrassing ordeal, Xiu Luo had no desire to stay here any longer. If Yu Zhao wanted the courtyard, she could have it all!
“Now that your living arrangements are settled, I’ll take my leave. You stay here and get settled in,” Elder Hou said, feeling utterly drained. He couldn’t bear to look at Yu Zhao any longer. Perhaps this was why the sect master didn’t allow her to stay at the main peak—she was just too much trouble.
“Farewell, Elder Hou,” the disciples chorused as he waved his sleeve, departing without a trace.
Xiu Luo quickly packed her belongings into a storage pouch. She took one last, wistful look at the room before stepping out to meet Yu Zhao, who was waiting by the door. “From now on, this place is yours,” Xiu Luo said, her voice tinged with sadness.
Xiu Luo’s expression was forlorn, her head drooping like a homeless puppy. Yu Zhao felt a pang of guilt. Tentatively, she offered, “Would you like to stay for a cup of tea?”
Xiu Luo shook her head, sighing deeply. “No need. I’ll go find a new place to stay.”
There was a faint hint of resolve in her voice, and Yu Zhao understood. With a sympathetic look at the group of inner disciples still watching the scene, she nodded to Xiu Luo and stepped into the courtyard, closing the gate behind her. The noise of the outside world was suddenly shut out, leaving Yu Zhao in peaceful silence.
Yu Zhao first circled the old tree in the courtyard, enjoying the cool shade it provided. Satisfied, she walked along the fence before entering the house. The small courtyard had three rooms: a central hall, a meditation room on the right, and a living space on the left. Each room was of similar size and layout.
After inspecting the rooms, Yu Zhao left her spiritual imprint on the control stone that managed the courtyard’s protective array. Immediately, she felt connected to every plant and structure within the courtyard.
The first thing Yu Zhao did after gaining control was enter the meditation room and activate its isolation barrier. Feeling secure, she pulled out the storage pouch given to her by Sect Master Ji Yuan. With a steady hand, she probed the contents with her spiritual sense.
Though she had guessed that Sect Master Ji Yuan’s reward wouldn’t be trivial, Yu Zhao was still stunned by the sight of the mountain of spirit stones inside the pouch. Tears of joy threatened to spill from her eyes.
“Senior Sister Jin Yue, from now on, you are my only sister!” Yu Zhao murmured, deeply moved by the generous, if simple, reward.
The pouch was filled with nothing but spirit stones—so many that it overwhelmed her. With these, she could quickly gather the materials needed to craft her life-bound magical weapon. Once she collected some spiritual herbs, she could even attempt to refine a batch of pills and try to break through to the Gold Core stage.
As she put the storage pouch down, Yu Zhao felt a sense of fulfillment. Since leaving Lone Moon Peak, her luck seemed to have taken a turn for the better. It was clear now—Lone Moon Peak was unlucky for her. Her good days were just beginning.
With renewed determination, Yu Zhao meditated to calm her excitement and consolidate her cultivation. Once she stabilized her powers, she planned to embark on another training journey. Time waited for no one.
….
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Outside the courtyard, Xiu Luo faced a crowd of inner disciples, who now looked at her with a mix of fear and regret.
“Sister Xiu Luo, we were wrong,” one of them said, bowing his head.
“Yes, yes, we shouldn’t have stayed here. We’ll leave right away,” another added hastily.
“Sister Xiu Luo, please don’t hurt me. You can have my place to stay!”
The apologies and pleas came in a chaotic chorus, some disciples even tearing up.
“Silence!” Xiu Luo snapped, her sharp gaze sweeping over them. Instantly, they fell quiet. She turned her attention to Feng Qi Yun, a tall youth with long hair and captivating eyes standing at the front of the group.
A smirk played on her lips, “Feng Qi Yun, your place is mine now!”