Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Status Settled

Originally, the elders had called Bai Meng Jin in to see the Yin-Yang Umbrella.

With Ling Bu Fei insisting and the girl’s background acceptable enough, they could have grudgingly agreed to the marriage.

But Ling Yun Gao’s question had uncovered something far more crucial. Now, agreement was no longer grudging.

For the sect’s future, they had to say yes—and they had to say it immediately.

Gu Clan teachings would be valuable, of course, but compared to thwarting the Cinnabar Cloud Palace’s plan to shape the next generation’s heir?

It wasn’t even a contest.

Once Ling Yun Gao nodded, the elders’ attitudes warmed so quickly it was almost comical. The more they looked at the match, the more “suitable” it became.

The Young Sect Master was wild; this young lady seemed quiet and gentle. Perhaps she could rein him in.

The Young Sect Master carried devil qi. With her nearby, there would be no need to drag others into suffering each time it flared.

And she was already Golden Core Stage at such a young age. If she cultivated well, she could become a pillar of the next generation.

In short: very good. Extremely good.

“They’re still young,” one elder said, sounding suddenly benevolent. “There’s no need to rush the wedding.”

Ling Bu Fei leaned forward immediately. “She needs to stay close to look after me. Without a status, isn’t that awkward?”

The elders burst into laughter, teasing.

“Look at him—he’s in a hurry.”

“He’s really grown up!”

“That’s easy. If you won’t marry yet, then get engaged first. Choose an auspicious day. Before the spirits of your parents and maternal grandfather, exchange tokens with Miss Bai. Let it count as an oath.”

Only then did Ling Bu Fei look satisfied.

A female elder turned to Bai Meng Jin, voice gentle but keen. “What cultivation method do you practice? What level have you reached?”

Bai Meng Jin answered quietly, “I originally practiced the Cinnabar Cloud Palace’s Clear Spirit Scripture. After forming a devil heart, I switched to the Gu Clan’s Wheel-Turning Art. I’ve only just begun.”

The female elder nodded. “The Gu Clan guarded the Ming River for years. Their art contains the way of yin-yang rotation. It suits you well. But Sect Master—she’s only just started. Shouldn’t we find her a master?”

Several elders’ eyes lit up.

This girl had drawn in the devil qi of a Golden Core Stage devil cultivator while she was only Qi Refining. She had talent worth shaping—plus the Jade-Tempered Body and a devil heart. Taught well, she could become a powerful disciple.

And she was the future Young Sect Master’s Wife. If she rose with him, she would also become a support for her master.

Ling Yun Gao considered, then shook his head slightly. “Her situation is special. Let Martial Uncle Hua take a look first. Martial Uncle Hua has supervised Bu Fei’s studies all these years. Their matters are tied together, and how they will dual cultivate in the future also needs Martial Uncle Hua’s say. One matter shouldn’t have two masters. We’ll decide after Martial Uncle Hua has seen her.”

The female elder opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Martial Uncle Hua rarely involved herself in worldly matters. Watching over Ling Bu Fei mostly meant forcing him into classes and throwing him out again.

Teaching Bai Meng Jin would take time and patience. If it truly fell to Martial Uncle Hua, Bai Meng Jin might be delayed instead.

But it also involved the Young Sect Master. If Martial Uncle Hua refused, there was no point looking elsewhere.

“All right,” the elder conceded.

Ling Yun Gao’s tone softened into dismissal. “You may go back for now. Xing Zhi—tell the Steward Hall to enter Miss Bai into the registry. Give her the same treatment as Bu Fei.”

A young disciple standing to the side bowed. “Yes, Sect Master.”

Ling Bu Fei finally smiled. He rose and saluted. “Then we’ll take our leave. Elders—see you later.”

Bai Meng Jin saluted as well and followed him out.

Outside Purple Sky Hall, Ling Bu Fei looked like he had wind under his feet.

In his good mood, even the air seemed brighter. Spotting Qiu Yi Nong nearby, he asked with sudden concern, “Senior Sister Qiu, why do you look pale? What happened?”

Qiu Yi Nong forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s nothing. Perhaps I didn’t rest well last night.”

“Really?” Ling Bu Fei frowned. “Just now you looked fine.”

He turned to Bai Meng Jin. “Do you know?”

Bai Meng Jin looked solemn. “Maybe Senior Sister is simply tired. She’s been accompanying us the whole time.”

Ling Bu Fei nodded at once and, for perhaps the first time in his life, spoke with real politeness. “Thank you for your hard work, Senior Sister.”

Qiu Yi Nong’s smile twitched.

She didn’t want to speak to either of them. Not ever again, if possible.

Ling Bu Fei, still riding high, even took Kaiming Beast for an extra lap through the sky before returning to Startling Swan Reflections.

[Seeing Uncle’s face in there… that was satisfying.]

*

Once they returned, Ling Bu Fei got stuck on a problem he had clearly never bothered to consider before.

Startling Swan Reflections was vast. Moon-Viewing Terrace sat at its center, and from there paths split into several courtyards. He lived in the largest one at the heart of it all. The rest were either too small, too far, or… somehow wrong.

In the end, he tossed the decision at Bai Meng Jin. “Where do you want to live?”

Bai Meng Jin didn’t even look around. “Where do you live?”

Ling Bu Fei pointed toward his own residence.

“Then I’ll live next door.” Bai Meng Jin spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Is that room empty? Or does someone live there already?”

She headed toward it as she spoke.

Ling Bu Fei followed, half disbelieving, half embarrassed. “No one lives there. It’s where I usually store things… Is that all right?”

When he went out, Bai Li Xu never left his side, but even then Bai Li Xu stayed in a different courtyard.

Bai Meng Jin glanced back at him. “Doesn’t your devil qi flare up? It’ll be easier if I’m close.”

“Oh.” Ling Bu Fei’s ears went hot. “Right.”

Bai Meng Jin pushed the door open.

It was one of the three main rooms. Someone had already cleaned it. It was tidy, but a few childish things lay scattered on the table—kites and little trinkets that didn’t belong in a “storage room” unless someone had once hidden them there.

The furniture was all in place. It only needed a bed and a few basics.

Bai Meng Jin turned her head. “Why are you standing there? Call someone to tidy it up.”

Ling Bu Fei snapped out of it and barked an order at the attendant boy nearby. The boy hurried off at once.

He didn’t get far before someone else arrived—Steward Hall.

A middle-aged female cultivator bowed and reported, “By the Sect Master’s order, we’ve come to enter Miss Bai into the registry.”

Joining the sect required procedure. Bai Meng Jin had done it once before.

The difference was that in her past life, she had gone to the Steward Hall herself. Now the Steward Hall came to her door.

A future Young Sect Master’s Wife received different treatment, after all.

The cultivator set out a portrait of the patriarch. By custom, Bai Meng Jin bowed. Then the cultivator pricked her fingertip and took a single drop of heart’s blood.

When the Life Lamp lit, the Steward Hall cultivator smiled. “Congratulations, Miss Bai. From now on, you are one of our own.”

She hesitated, then corrected herself quickly, flustered. “No—your generation matches the Young Sect Master’s. I should call you Martial Uncle Bai.”

Ling Bu Fei, pleased by her quick understanding, had someone hand her a pouch. “Thank you for making the trip.”

The cultivator’s eyes brightened. She insisted she didn’t deserve it, twice, before finally asking, “Martial Uncle Bai, have you chosen where you’ll stay? I’ll have people set everything up immediately.”

It was Steward Hall work anyway.

Bai Meng Jin didn’t lift a finger. Before long, the room looked as if it had always been hers, complete with everything she might need.

After they left, Bai Meng Jin held her disciple token in her palm, feeling a quiet swell of emotion.

In her past life, the jade token had been engraved with the words “Cinnabar Cloud.”

Now it bore the black-and-white taiji of the Limitless Sect.

The name Bai Meng Jin no longer belonged to a disciple of Cen Mu Liang of the Cinnabar Cloud Palace, nor to Ning Yan Zhi’s junior sister.

She would not betray her teacher. She would not betray her sect. She would not fall into the devil path.

She was a disciple of the Limitless Sect now—Young Sect Master Ling Bu Fei’s fiancée.

One day, she would climb high enough that people would look up at her and call her a model worth admiring.

From this moment on, her fate had turned onto a different road.

*