Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Junior Sister Is a Treasure, Yu Zhao Is Grass
Three days later.

Early that morning, Fang Cheng Lang, Lan Zi Yu, and Ye Cong Xin arrived at the sect plaza.

By then, some of the disciples who would be going with them had already arrived. When they saw the three of them walking over, their eyes could not help but light up.

Fang Cheng Lang stood straight and tall, a faint smile on his face. No matter when you saw him, he always gave off the feeling of a warm spring breeze.

Lan Zi Yu was long and straight like a jade tree, with strikingly handsome features. The upturned corners of his eyes held a hint of pride and wildness.

Ye Cong Xin walked between Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu. Her skin was unusually fair, making her lips look soft and rosy. The hem of her white dress floated gently, and every step she took was as graceful as blooming lotus flowers.

Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu were both outstanding among their generation. Every move they made carried a strong sense of confidence and pressure. Yet Ye Cong Xin’s presence happened to soften their sharpness, making the picture look extremely harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

“We greet Senior Brother Fang, Senior Brother Lan!”

“Junior Sister Ye, long time no see.”

“Junior Brother Zhang.”

“…”

The two groups saluted each other, then naturally stood together and began talking. The atmosphere was lively.

Before they knew it, the topic suddenly turned to Yu Zhao.

Someone asked curiously: “I heard Junior Sister Yu ended her closed-door cultivation three days ago. I suppose her body has already recovered?”

For a moment, Fang Cheng Lang’s expression froze, but he quickly hid it and answered with a smile: “Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother Zhang. Sixth Junior Sister’s body is almost fully recovered.”

Zhang Jun first nodded in sudden understanding, then asked with some confusion: “Then why didn’t Junior Sister Yu come with you? Isn’t she also going to join the Dragon Roar Valley training?”

At that, the expressions on Fang Cheng Lang, Lan Zi Yu, and Ye Cong Xin’s faces all changed.

Fang Cheng Lang asked: “Where did you hear that?”

Lan Zi Yu and Ye Cong Xin also turned their eyes on Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun looked even more surprised than they did: “You don’t know? First Senior Sister went to ask the Sect Master and Master personally. Master already agreed, on the night three days ago, the same day Junior Sister Yu came out of seclusion.”

Zhang Jun was the second disciple accepted by the Sect Master of the Five Elements Dao Sect, and also Zhou Jin Yue’s junior fellow disciple.

News that came from him was very likely to be true.

The three of them fell silent.

In truth, except for Ye Cong Xin seeing Yu Zhao in Master Qing Yan’s cave dwelling that day, Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu hadn’t even seen Yu Zhao’s face, much less heard any news about her.

Fang Cheng Lang felt a little upset.

[Little Six really has grown distant from me. She didn’t even talk to me about something as important as joining the training.]

Lan Zi Yu, meanwhile, was thinking: [Yu Zhao hasn’t changed her old ways at all. As soon as she heard Junior Sister was going to Dragon Roar Valley, she must have made a fuss about going too, even begging all the way up to the Main Peak. She’s really making Lone Moon Peak lose face.]

Ye Cong Xin dug her nails into her palm with all her strength just to barely keep herself from losing her composure.

She really had underestimated Yu Zhao. Once Yu Zhao realized the path through Master Qing Yan wouldn’t work, she went straight to find the Sect Master, and in the end she actually got what she wanted.

When she thought of all the unexpected changes that might happen along the way, Ye Cong Xin’s hatred toward Yu Zhao reached its peak.

Zhang Jun and the others could tell at a glance that there was friction among the disciples of Lone Moon Peak.

They were all fellow disciples who would be seeing each other all the time, so they naturally wouldn’t kick someone when they were down right to their face. Instead, they awkwardly changed the subject.

Fang Cheng Lang went along with them and started talking about other things, seemingly smoothing over the awkwardness, but the atmosphere was no longer as harmonious as before.

As everyone chatted, time slipped by. Yu Zhao and Zhou Jin Yue appeared at the sect plaza just as it was about to reach the hour of Chen.

“Senior Sister Zhou is here!”

With that shout, everyone turned to look at the entrance of the plaza.

Two figures appeared side by side before their eyes.

A string of exclamations broke out right after.

“Th-that’s Yu Zhao?!”

“Did Junior Sister Yu grow up or just blossom? Why does it feel like she’s become a completely different person?”

“Did you notice? Yu Zhao is walking beside Senior Sister Zhou, but her presence isn’t swallowed up by Zhou Jin Yue at all. After three years of closed-door cultivation, her change is huge!”

“…”

Everyone was amazed by the Yu Zhao standing here today.

Strictly speaking, Yu Zhao’s fame in the Five Elements Dao Sect was actually no lower than Zhou Jin Yue’s. It was just that one was infamous, and the other was well-known and admired.

What they saw today completely overturned their old impression. Yu Zhao had shed her old self entirely and even gave people a feeling that she could not be easily approached.

Strange.

Truly strange.

Fang Cheng Lang stared blankly at the girl who was so different from his memories, and a nameless panic rose in his heart.

The girl in front of him felt both familiar and unfamiliar. He could not help doubting whether his memories of Little Six were only his own imagination, whether he had never actually been close to her at all.

“Why did you come too? Are you only happy when you’re going against Junior Sister? Let me say the ugly words first. First Senior Brother and I won’t have time to protect you. If you get hurt then, don’t blame us. You brought it on yourself.”

When Lan Zi Yu saw Yu Zhao, the anger he had been holding in his chest rushed out before he could stop it.

He almost didn’t think at all before he spoke. The words that came out were a stream of cold, mocking complaints.

Ye Cong Xin pressed her lips together. She knew this was the time she should step out to stir up the conflict, and she was just about to speak when Yu Zhao’s cool voice drifted over.

“Second Senior Brother, rest easy. You don’t need to worry about me on this trip. You and First Senior Brother only need to focus on taking care of Junior Sister. Junior Sister’s safety is more important than mine.”

Lan Zi Yu hadn’t expected Yu Zhao to say something like that. He froze for a moment, then barely managed to keep up his posture: “Hmph, at least you know your place.”

“You…”

Seeing this, Zhou Jin Yue almost had sparks shooting out of her eyes.

[Is Lan Zi Yu even speaking human words?]

[Junior Sister is a treasure, and Junior Sister Yu is just grass?]

[What nonsense!]

Yu Zhao grabbed Zhou Jin Yue and pressed her back, giving her a small shake of the head. After Zhou Jin Yue calmed down a bit, Yu Zhao greeted Fang Cheng Lang and Ye Cong Xin.

“First Senior Brother, Junior Sister.”

Her manners were flawless, but she still did not feel easy to approach.

Fang Cheng Lang wanted to say something, but in front of everyone he did not know how to start. He could only force a smile and return the greeting.

Zhou Jin Yue counted the number of people. Seeing that everyone had arrived, she spoke in a clear voice: “Fellow disciples, this trip to Dragon Roar Valley will be led by me, Zhou Jin Yue. Senior Brother Fang, Fang Cheng Lang of Lone Moon Peak, will serve as deputy leader.”

“This trip is mainly for training, with capturing the Seven-colored Deer as a secondary goal. No matter when or where we are, you must always put your own safety first. As the leader, I will also do my best to protect everyone…”

Zhou Jin Yue’s voice was not as delicate and pretty as her looks. Instead, it carried a unique toughness.

As Yu Zhao listened, her eyes could not help but sting.

Zhou Jin Yue had proved with her actions that her words were not empty.

Up until the very last moment of her life, she had still been holding back the Scarlet Flame Lion, buying time for her teammates to retreat.

From Zhou Jin Yue, Yu Zhao had felt a sense of safety she had never known before.

“…Lastly, let me stress one more time. In this operation, everything will follow my commands. You are not allowed to act on your own, and even more so you must not harm a fellow disciple! Anyone who disobeys will be punished according to the sect rules!”

Ye Cong Xin secretly ground her teeth.

She felt that Zhou Jin Yue was targeting her, because when Zhou Jin Yue said that last sentence, her gaze was clearly on her!

[Zhou Jin Yue is on Yu Zhao’s side!]