Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Preparing the Little Junior Sister’s Initiation Gifts

That evening, because Wu Hua had returned, the Fate-Slaying Mountain crowd gathered for dinner.

All were cultivators, so their supper was no mundane fare but exceptionally precious spirit dishes.

Xiao Zi An was very attentive, even picking dishes into Wu Hua’s bowl: “Third senior brother, you have been gone so long. If I go out, I am afraid someone will sack me and beat me with black cudgels.”

Wu Hua arched a brow: “Who would dare lay hands on you, you rich dog? I should thank him for robbing the rich to help the poor.”

Xiao Zi An: “Huh?!”

Gu Chen, at his side, nodded silently with complete approval.

Cold Bright Mirror and Lin Jing Yue watched the spectacle with interest and had no intention of backing Xiao Zi An up.

After silently repeating to himself several times that he could not beat third senior brother and must not be impulsive, Xiao Zi An, not wishing to seek further humiliation, changed the subject pitifully: “The little junior sister is timely. We have had no suitable candidates for ages, so the Foundation Establishment entry quota for the Big Dipper Secret Realm has gone to waste.”

Lin Jing Yue took a sip from her gourd and picked up the thread: “The Academy is displeased. In name we are under the Academy’s umbrella.”

“According to them, since we presently have no suitable candidate, the quota ought to be given to Academy disciples.”

Xiao Zi An curled his lip: “Tch. The quota was granted directly to Fate-Slaying Mountain. Even if we had no candidate, it is none of their business.”

“When little junior sister arrives, their abacus for snatching the quota will come to nothing.”

He paused, glanced at Wu Hua, and asked: “What is little junior sister’s current cultivation? Has she reached Foundation Establishment?”

Wu Hua replied: “She is at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. She entered the cultivation world a little over a year ago.”

“Fourth layer? A bit low.” Xiao Zi An rubbed his chin, peach-blossom eyes blinking. “But she is only thirteen, which is fine. In a few more years she should be able to achieve Foundation Establishment, right?”

Wu Hua continued: “She has dual spiritual roots. Her talent is not top-tier. Under normal circumstances, achieving Foundation Establishment within the next few years will be difficult.”

“These are not problems.” Xiao Zi An waved grandly. “If little junior sister needs it, I can procure elixirs and spirit medicines for her to take and refine. Not to mention advancing to Foundation Establishment, even advancing to Golden Core would be easy.”

“That will not do.”

Cold Bright Mirror shook his head slightly, disapproval in his eyes: “To force little junior sister’s cultivation higher just for a quota would be entirely harmful and not beneficial to her.”

Lin Jing Yue flipped her gourd and thumped Xiao Zi An on the head. He yelped, clutching his head, pitiful.

She shot him a lazy glance and said: “Whenever little junior sister reaches Foundation Establishment naturally is when she will use that quota. Between the few of us, we are not so incompetent that we cannot protect a single quota.”

Xiao Zi An bobbed his head: “That is true.”

They discussed the quota only briefly and did not take it much to heart.

For years, Fate-Slaying Mountain’s Foundation Establishment quota had gone unused.

After all, no one on the mountain was in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Even if they wanted to use it, they could not. If not for the new little junior sister, none of them would have remembered it.

The conversation returned to the future “little junior sister.”

Xiao Zi An rolled up his sleeves. If not for the presence of first senior brother, second senior sister, and third senior brother, he would have had his feet up on the table. He declared: “Since little junior sister is an alchemist, I will handle the alchemy side of the initiation gifts. You are not allowed to fight me for it.”

Lin Jing Yue’s brows curved pleasantly; she seemed amiable and easy to approach: “We will not fight a rich dog like you.”

“Since little junior sister is a young lady, I will prepare what a young lady uses—clothes, jewelry, rouge, that sort of thing.”

Gu Chen, who had said nothing, tugged at Wu Hua’s sleeve.

Wu Hua turned and saw Gu Chen watching him, words on the tip of his tongue. Wu Hua understood at once: “Little junior sister is a blade cultivator who practices Twin Blades.”

Gu Chen nodded, then sat off to the side, lost in his own thoughts.

“Wu Hua,” Lin Jing Yue said as she came to stand beside him, voice low, “go down the mountain tomorrow and spar at the Academy. It will shut a few mouths.”

“Understood,” Wu Hua replied with the ease of long habit.

All who knew Fate-Slaying Mountain were aware the mountain had few people and did things in peculiar ways. The master was unfathomable. The first and second disciples cultivated in seclusion and seldom descended the mountain. The third disciple handled external affairs.

Thus, the most famous name outside the mountain was Third Disciple Wu Hua.

Wu Hua glanced toward Cold Bright Mirror: “Senior brother, some formation seals have grown loose. I must trouble you to amend the array.”

Warmth lingered in Cold Bright Mirror’s eyes; he nodded lightly: “Come to the bamboo grove with me later. I will adjust the formation for you.”

“Mm.”

…

The next day, Wu Hua went down the mountain to seek out a spar.

Lin Jing Yue, who had been staying at Rongxue Lake, alerted no one, but went to the highest point of Fate-Slaying Mountain to find the white-haired elder.

As soon as they met, she asked: “Master, has Wu Hua’s fate changed?”

The white-haired elder was not surprised by her arrival, as if he had expected it. At her question, he only shook his head slightly.

Lin Jing Yue’s heart tightened: “Hasn’t the fated one already been found? Should we hurry and bring her back?”

The white-haired elder sighed: “Wu Hua has told you as well. He wishes to observe for a time.”

“We must not interfere. All depends on Wu Hua’s choice.”

“In the unseen there is heaven’s decree. At times doing nothing and letting things take their course yields better results than exhausting oneself to avoid what must be.”

His words did not ease Lin Jing Yue’s expression. Worry gathered in her brows and eyes: “Wu Hua does not seem to think well of that fated person. I do not know whether he has come into conflict with her.”

“You know Wu Hua’s temperament best of all,” the white-haired elder said, stroking his beard. “We need do nothing, and can do nothing. We will wait for the result.”

“It can only be thus,” Lin Jing Yue murmured. She turned her gaze to the cold moon hanging high in the night. Though worried, she could only wait now.

Wait for the moment when fate loosens.