Chapter 003
Chapter 3: Truly Supplementing
Lying on the ground, pretending to be unconscious, Chu Zhi Rou’s heart raced wildly, the unease inside her surging like a rising tide.
Why did Shi Zi Chu suddenly seem like a completely different person?
“Master…” Shi Zi Chu gently pulled away from Xing Lan’s embrace. She wiped her tears with the sleeve of her robe. “Never mind, Senior Brother and Junior Brother already dislike this disciple. If Master punishes them too harshly, they’ll probably blame me afterward.”
Pleading for mercy?
Impossible! She, Shi Zi Chu, would only add fuel to the fire!
“You’ve clearly targeted and framed little Junior Sister again and again…” Xu Zhou Ye’s words were cut off as a heavy, oppressive aura fell, bending his back with the force. His internal energy surged wildly, and before he could stop it, a mouthful of blood shot out from his mouth.
Well, just when she was worried about how to explain her earlier actions to Xing Lan, Xu Zhou Ye had conveniently made a way out for her.
“Since Master took little Junior Sister as a disciple, this disciple has been living in fear, constantly worried that Master might neglect me, even… even abandon me,” Shi Zi Chu’s voice was low, filled with uncertainty. She nervously twisted the hem of her skirt, the words spilling out in a hurried, self-conscious manner. “I just tried some small tricks to catch Master’s attention, I never thought of hurting anyone.”
Xing Lan said nothing. He raised his hand and gently patted Shi Zi Chu’s head in a clear gesture of comfort.
Shi Zi Chu hesitated, looking up at him with a shy, anxious expression, her eyes trembling with uncertainty.
“This is not your fault.”
Xing Lan’s cold eyes turned toward Xu Zhou Ye. “As the Senior Brother, if you can’t treat everyone equally, you shouldn’t be in that position.”
No!
That would never do!
You can’t just get rid of someone so easily!
Shi Zi Chu quickly grabbed Xing Lan’s sleeve, her doe-like eyes full of silent plea.
“Go to the penitence cliff,” Xing Lan said coldly.
Looking at the unconscious Chu Zhi Rou lying on the cold ground, Xu Zhou Ye clenched his teeth and spoke up, “Master, little Junior Sister is gravely injured and still not fully recovered. If she is sent to the penitence cliff, it will surely worsen her condition! This disciple is willing to take her punishment in her stead.”
“Master, I am willing to bear the punishment on behalf of little Junior Sister!”
Before the other senior brothers could continue pleading, Shi Zi Chu slowly spoke, “Master, I have a sixth-rank rejuvenation pill.”
She looked at the unconscious Chu Zhi Rou with a soft, caring tone, as though offering kindness in return for wrongs. “Though I don’t know why little Junior Sister fell into the Hundred Demon Valley, it was after all my failure to hold her back. I hope the rejuvenation pill will help her recover soon.”
According to the plot, Chu Zhi Rou would soon embark on her journey for cultivation and receive the most powerful golden finger.
How could she allow that? Chu Zhi Rou should stay at the penitence cliff where she could stay out of her way!
Xing Lan tossed the porcelain vial that Shi Zi Chu was holding.
Xu Zhou Ye caught the vial, his eyes shifting uneasily as he glanced at Shi Zi Chu. Then, he poured out a greenish-blue spirit pill and fed it to Chu Zhi Rou.
The spirit pill dissolved instantly, and it wasn’t long before Chu Zhi Rou regained consciousness.
“Master, Senior Sister…” Chu Zhi Rou shrank back, her body trembling in a way that seemed to suggest she had been terrified of Shi Zi Chu for a long time.
Then, timidly, she spoke, “It’s my fault. I thought… I thought Senior Sister… Please, Senior Sister, punish me!”
Before Shi Zi Chu could respond, Xing Lan spoke coldly, “Since you’re awake, then go to the penitence cliff and reflect.”
Chu Zhi Rou’s eyes widened in confusion, the bewilderment and helplessness clear in her gaze.
Xing Lan turned his head toward the Jade Void Sect’s Sect Master.
Knowing the temper of this living ancestor, the Sect Master didn’t dare to continue watching the spectacle.
Soon after, the disciplinary hall disciples dragged Xu Zhou Ye and his companions toward the penitence cliff.
As Chu Zhi Rou was being pulled away, she looked at Xing Lan with a face full of anxiety and unspoken words, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears.
Shi Zi Chu watched the delicate act of weakness and helplessness from Chu Zhi Rou with a slight sneer, lifting a hand to stop herself from smiling too broadly.
Playing the weak and pitiful game was one thing, but it had to be aimed at the right people!
Trying that with Xing Lan was like batting your lashes at a blind man.
She should have tried it with Xu Zhou Ye and the others—at least those idiotic fools would fall for it.
“The Green Mountain Secret Realm trial has many disciples participating. This matter may have already caused quite a stir,” Xing Lan spoke with a chilling tone.
The Jade Void Sect’s Sect Master nodded.
“Inform the entire sect,” Xing Lan continued coldly. “No need to hide anything.”
There should be no blemish on Jiu Jiu’s name!
Shi Zi Chu’s heart skipped a beat.
Indeed, one shouldn’t judge a person by what they say, but by what they do.
Xing Lan’s cold eyes swept across the hall master of the disciplinary hall, and then turned to the Jade Void Sect’s Sect Master, his meaning clear.
The Jade Void Sect’s Sect Master nodded.
After Xing Lan and Shi Zi Chu left, the Jade Void Sect’s Sect Master lowered his gaze to the hall master, shaking his head slightly.
What an idiot with no sense of awareness!
If Xing Lan hadn’t been so determined to protect Shi Zi Chu, he would have dealt with her severely back when she made a scene during Chu Zhi Rou’s apprenticeship ceremony, instead of letting it pass with just a light reprimand.
And as for the later events—punishments were indeed frequent, but was any of them ever severe?
After returning to the main peak of Rising Succession Peak, Xing Lan observed Shi Zi Chu for a long time before saying, “Consolidate your cultivation before going down the mountain.”
Hmm?
Shi Zi Chu checked within her own body, her mind going blank.
Wasn’t she at the later stage of foundation establishment?
Where did that golden core in her dantian come from?
Where was the heavenly tribulation for her golden core?
!
Could it be…
Shi Zi Chu flushed in embarrassment, her neck turning red. She bit her lip and glanced at Xing Lan.
Xing Lan gazed at her silently, his cold, noble eyes deep and sharp.
Shi Zi Chu found herself lost in those calm, ocean-like eyes, the dangerous depth lurking beneath them. Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings before she lowered her gaze.
Truly supplementing!
“It’s easy to destabilize your foundation by rapidly increasing four levels in a short time. I would have let you go down the mountain soon anyway,” Xing Lan said in a responsible tone. Then, he added, “Don’t take off this bracelet. It can hide your cultivation.”
Shi Zi Chu finally noticed the inconspicuous white jade bracelet that had appeared on her wrist at some point.
She obediently nodded and, unable to hold back her curiosity, asked, “Master… What about my heavenly tribulation?”
“I helped you with it,” Xing Lan replied flatly, as though speaking of an everyday matter.
Normally, when someone else helped with a heavenly tribulation, the tribulation would double in difficulty, and the strength of the tribulation would increase according to the helper’s cultivation.
In response to Shi Zi Chu’s worried look, Xing Lan simply said, “Do you want to move to the main peak?”
The main peak of Rising Succession Peak was Xing Lan’s private residence. His other disciples did not live there.
“They are all at the penitence cliff, and Vigilance Peak is quiet enough. I’ll stay there for now,” Shi Zi Chu said gently.
Moving to the main peak would draw too much attention.
She needed to keep some cards hidden for now.
Xing Lan didn’t insist. “Go to the bamboo forest and consolidate your cultivation.”
The spiritual energy at Vigilance Peak wasn’t as abundant as the main peak, but it was sufficient for Jiu Jiu to solidify her foundation there.
Shi Zi Chu didn’t refuse. She bowed and made her way toward the bamboo forest behind the mountain.
Half a month later.
Shi Zi Chu finished consolidating her cultivation.
She planned to find Xing Lan and bid him farewell before heading down the mountain. However, she couldn’t find him. Instead, she found his storage ring and a note left on the bedside table.
Shi Zi Chu took the storage pouch and left a note beside it before heading down the mountain.