Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Thrown Out

Early the next morning, Qiu Yi Nong went to the Steward Hall to take an assignment, then headed to Cloudmist Marsh to oversee disciples hunting demon beasts.

With her status as Sect Master Ling’s disciple, the assignment was beneath her. The steward handing out tasks hesitated, but Qiu Yi Nong smiled warmly. “I haven’t taken an assignment this month. I’ve been busy cultivating and want to slip by once. Martial nephew, please give me some leeway.”

Her tone was pleasant, her attitude gentle. The steward immediately handed her a token with eager politeness. “Of course, Martial Uncle Qiu. With your ability, this task is like using an ox cleaver to kill a chicken. Truly a waste.”

Qiu Yi Nong listened to a stream of flattery and felt her mood lift as she left the gates.

The assignment required little. She only needed to find a place to sit and keep an eye on things. If the disciples stayed out of trouble, she could idle the whole day.

So Qiu Yi Nong sat on a small boat, flipping through a manual while watching the fog where Mirror Flower Water Moon lay hidden.

As the morning sun rose, she saw Bai Li Xu’s flying skiff appear—then vanish into the mist.

Qiu Yi Nong lowered her book and stared.

With Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua’s temperament, she would certainly isolate that little female cultivator and test her alone.

Mirror Flower Water Moon’s four formations were infamous. If Qiu Yi Nong weren’t afraid of offending Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua, she would have loved to stick a monitoring talisman on the island and watch Bai Meng Jin flail in panic.

The incident at Pine-Wave Pavilion still sat wrong in her chest.

Normally, when she waited on her master, she could boil tea ten times without impatience. Why had she been so restless that day?

She knew her master cared deeply about Junior Brother Ling. She wanted to seize on Bai Meng Jin’s suspicious points—earn merit before her master, vent her own anger, and perhaps sweep that little discomfort away.

Perfect.

Qiu Yi Nong watched…and overthought.

As the sun climbed higher, her eyes blurred. The fog ahead looked thinner, like gauze unraveling.

Was it because she had stared too long?

She raised a hand to rub her eyes. When she looked again, she jolted to her feet so hard the boat rocked.

The fog was dispersing.

Through it, she could see the flying eaves of the little temple on the island.

What happened?

Had Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua dropped the formation?

Had something gone wrong inside?

Could it be that Bai Meng Jin had been hurt?

Qiu Yi Nong’s breathing sped up.

Then a voice rang out over the water, sharp with anger.

“Go!”

Three figures shot out from the island and landed neatly on a flying skiff waiting near shore.

Ling Bu Fei’s voice carried across the marsh, hurried and pleading. “Martial Uncle Ancestor! We were wrong! Don’t be angry!”

The island showed no mercy. Fog surged back up. The temple vanished as if it had never existed.

Qiu Yi Nong froze.

Then joy exploded through her.

Thrown out.

They’d failed.

They’d even angered Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua.

Qiu Yi Nong bit down on her smile and turned to the disciple steering the boat. “I don’t know what happened on Junior Brother Ling’s side. Let’s go take a look. If we can help, we should.”

The disciple nodded and pushed the boat in that direction.

On the shore, the three who had been expelled still hadn’t left. Ling Bu Fei was sending message talismans one after another, trying to plead his way back in.

No response came.

Qiu Yi Nong arrived with practiced concern. “Junior Brother Ling, what happened? Did you make Martial Uncle Ancestor angry? Do you want me to go plead for you?”

Ling Bu Fei looked up. “Really?”

“Of course,” Qiu Yi Nong said warmly. “Would I lie to you?”

Ling Bu Fei’s expression softened into something calm and unreadable. “A Xu. Let’s go back first. Tomorrow we’ll come apologize.”

“Yes, Young Master,” Bai Li Xu answered.

He clasped his fist toward Qiu Yi Nong politely. “We’ll be going first. Farewell, Senior Sister Qiu.”

Before Qiu Yi Nong could respond, the flying skiff rose and shot away toward Startling Swan Reflections like a streak of light.

Qiu Yi Nong blinked, then couldn’t help laughing.

That brat Ling Bu Fei—rarely did she get to see him stumble. He always strutted about relying on Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua’s favor. Now he had finally been given a cold face.

It felt wonderful.

She returned to her assignment only long enough to find a junior brother to cover the rest of her shift, then hurried back toward the main peak, ready to report to her master.

But at the entrance to Purple Sky Hall, she saw flying skiffs arriving one after another, landing at Moon-Viewing Terrace.

Huh?

Deliveries?

She followed one down and stopped a steward as if asking casually. “Martial nephew, are you heading to Startling Swan Reflections? Did Junior Brother Ling give an order?”

The steward clasped his hands quickly. “Replying to Martial Uncle Qiu, it’s Great Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua’s order. We’re delivering items to Martial Uncle Bai.”

“Bai…” Qiu Yi Nong asked carefully, keeping her voice light. “Junior Sister Bai is all right, yes? She wasn’t hurt?”

If Bai Meng Jin had been injured in the formation, it wouldn’t be strange for Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua to send pills or gifts—especially for Junior Brother Ling’s sake.

“No,” the steward said, smiling. “I heard it from Great Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua’s attendant boy. It seems Martial Uncle Bai broke all four formations. Great Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua was very pleased, so she rewarded her.”

Qiu Yi Nong’s smile froze.

For a moment, she couldn’t even process the words.

No—

She had seen it with her own eyes. Martial Uncle Ancestor Hua had been furious. She had thrown all three of them out.

Rewarded?

All four formations?

“Martial Uncle Qiu?” the steward asked, confused by her expression.

Qiu Yi Nong forced a sincere smile back onto her face. “So that’s how it is. Then I’m relieved. Do your task well. I’ll go inform my master.”

“Yes.”

Qiu Yi Nong turned away. The moment her back faced him, her smile collapsed.

Good thing she hadn’t reported earlier. Otherwise she would have gotten everything wrong.

Strange.

Mirror Flower Water Moon’s formations were difficult even for her. Bai Meng Jin’s cultivation came from a lucky encounter—how could she possibly break all four?

Was there something hidden?

No matter what, she had to tell her master.

*

At Startling Swan Reflections, Ling Bu Fei was grinning as he told Bai Meng Jin, “I told you Martial Uncle Ancestor wouldn’t be petty. Look—she’s treating you well, aren’t she?”

He lifted a string of Flowing Pearls that glowed with restrained spiritual light and looked like a child showing off treasure. “Look! Martial Uncle Ancestor not only gave you a smaller Flowing Pearl set—she even added one of her own. All these years, I’ve only gotten one!”

Bai Meng Jin took it.

The Flowing Pearls were white as jade, their glow quiet, their aura deep. At the top hung a larger bead—when she focused, it looked as if stars were turning inside it, mysterious beyond words.

Bai Meng Jin breathed out softly. “Martial Uncle Ancestor truly is generous.”

Hua Wu Sheng had a temper like steel.

You ruined her formations and made her unhappy—so she threw you out.

But if you did well, she still rewarded you without hesitation.

*