Chapter 005
Chapter 5: I Am Just an Orphan Girl
Considering the cave was no longer safe, Shi Zi Chu decided not to linger after selecting her cultivation methods.
Exiting that hidden realm, Shi Zi Chu left the cave and began her training.
Though her theoretical knowledge was abundant, Shi Zi Chu had almost no real-world experience, so she obediently stayed in the outer areas, searching for low-level demonic beasts to practice on.
Night fell.
After slaying four or five demonic beasts, Shi Zi Chu found a resting spot near a water source to spend the night.
She lit a small fire, which frightened away some demonic beasts wary of flames. To add extra security, Shi Zi Chu sprinkled spiritual plant powder that beasts detested around her resting spot. For now, she felt quite safe.
“Are you certain Shi Zi Chu, that wretch, is heading this way?”
“I’m sure!”
A conversation echoed in the deep night, footsteps quickly drawing nearer.
Before long, a group of young cultivators came into view.
Seeing the white-robed girl sitting by the fire, the young man leading the group suddenly revealed a vicious expression.
“Good! We finally found you!” Before his voice even faded, Fang Wei An formed a quick hand seal, causing sharp earthen spikes to erupt from the ground.
The sharp spikes collided with a barrier technique surrounding Shi Zi Chu’s slender frame, unable to penetrate it.
Shi Zi Chu, seated calmly without moving an inch, lazily lifted her eyelids and recognized the attacker at once.
Fang Wei An—son of Jade Void Sect’s Peak Master Qin Tai Feng.
Or, in the words of that annoying dog system, he was one of Chu Zhi Rou’s most loyal lapdogs.
Recalling Fang Wei An’s foolish and disgusting actions from before, a fleeting murderous intent flashed in Shi Zi Chu’s eyes.
But before she could act, a graceful long sword pierced through the air, shattering those earthen spikes in a brilliant display.
“Daoist Fang, as far as I recall, Jade Void Sect’s rules forbid harming fellow disciples,” came a calm voice, followed by the appearance of a tall, handsome man stepping from the darkness of the woods.
He approached Shi Zi Chu, reaching out to reclaim his sword planted firmly in the earth. Clad in martial robes, he stood graceful and elegant, exuding an extraordinary aura.
Shi Zi Chu couldn’t see through his cultivation, but guessed it must be at least late Golden Core stage.
Fang Wei An cautiously took several steps back, eyes fixed warily upon the uniquely recognizable Radiant Snowblade. His voice was grave as he asked, “Could you be Daoist Yan Zhou Bai from Limitless Sect?”
Yan Zhou Bai?
At the sound of that famous name, Shi Zi Chu slightly narrowed her eyes, gazing curiously through the firelight.
The tall man stood erect like an ancient pine, emanating a noble aura that strangely inspired a sense of security.
Yan Zhou Bai was the young sect master of Limitless Sect, renowned throughout the cultivation world. Not yet even a century old, he had already reached late Nascent Soul stage, truly a heaven’s favored son.
Yet this genius, destined for greatness, was doomed to fall after meeting Chu Zhi Rou, the beloved heroine of this world.
He fell madly in love, betraying his sect for her sake, eventually plunging into the devil realm. A peerless prodigy thus fell into ruin.
Shi Zi Chu didn’t know how to feel about that.
“Yes, I am,” Yan Zhou Bai calmly confirmed, his voice carrying an aura of quiet dominance.
Fang Wei An stared resentfully at Shi Zi Chu, who remained seated as though without fear. With undisguised bitterness, he spat, “Consider yourself lucky this time!”
“Did I say you could leave?” Shi Zi Chu’s soft, melodic voice drifted gently into the night, strangely chilling despite its calmness.
Yan Zhou Bai turned to look at her. The firelight illuminated a face so lovely it appeared unreal, eyes clear and alluring like peach blossoms, quietly tugging at the hearts of those who gazed at her.
Shi Zi Chu slowly stood, leaning slightly on her knees, then gently flexed her delicate white fingers into claws.
A piercing scream instantly escaped Fang Wei An’s lips.
In the firelight, Yan Zhou Bai faintly saw several threads of water-blue silk wrapped around Shi Zi Chu’s fingers, the other ends of the threads embedded deeply in Fang Wei An’s body.
Fang Wei An’s limbs twisted grotesquely, his face contorted in agony as he stood there helpless, controlled like a puppet.
[Demonic art?!] Yan Zhou Bai’s sword instantly pointed towards Shi Zi Chu.
Meeting Yan Zhou Bai’s stern, questioning eyes, Shi Zi Chu offered a faint smile, innocent yet cruel in its beauty.
“It’s not demonic art,” she softly explained, her voice tender and gentle, matching her delicate expression. “It’s merely a water-based arcane technique. I’m still new to it, so I wanted some practice.”
[Practice?]
Under Yan Zhou Bai’s skeptical gaze, Shi Zi Chu loosened her fingers, allowing the water-blue silk threads to vanish without a trace.
Seeing Shi Zi Chu release him, Yan Zhou Bai slowly lowered his Radiant Snowblade. Clearly, she intended only to teach Fang Wei An a lesson.
Exhausted and limp, Fang Wei An collapsed to the ground. The disciples behind him froze, afraid to make any moves.
“Wei An!” A clear, anxious voice rang out like an oriole in flight.
In the next instant, Chu Zhi Rou drifted toward Fang Wei An like a delicate butterfly, quickly catching him. Her beautiful, gentle face was filled with concern.
Fang Wei An gave Chu Zhi Rou a reassuring smile, silently telling her not to worry.
Chu Zhi Rou turned her head, her eyes darkening slightly when she noticed the graceful Shi Zi Chu standing nearby.
Shi Zi Chu merely raised an eyebrow lightly.
[Who let Chu Zhi Rou out?]
[Xing Lan?]
Shi Zi Chu quickly rejected that fleeting, dark suspicion.
She lowered her eyelids briefly. When she raised them again, she had already assumed the gentle demeanor of a caring senior sister.
“Little junior sister! Master finally allowed you to leave Penitence Cliff?” Her soft, warm voice chimed with surprise before Chu Zhi Rou could even speak.
Shi Zi Chu left no room for Chu Zhi Rou’s response, quickly continuing, “That’s wonderful! I begged Master for so long, only to… In any case, it’s good you’re free from Penitence Cliff!”
After all, Xing Lan wasn’t here now. And even if he were, would he really expose her?
Besides, Shi Zi Chu was certain it wasn’t Xing Lan who freed Chu Zhi Rou.
The only ones capable of releasing Chu Zhi Rou from Penitence Cliff were the other Peak Masters.
With that realization, Shi Zi Chu swiftly began calculating.
Yan Zhou Bai quietly observed the gentle and composed Shi Zi Chu, pondering something privately.
He had heard rumors of Shi Zi Chu from Jade Void Sect bullying her junior sister, but seeing her today, the stories didn’t seem quite accurate.
Chu Zhi Rou, always accustomed to being the center of attention, felt uneasy when Yan Zhou Bai’s gaze remained fixed upon Shi Zi Chu.
As expected, Shi Zi Chu truly was her nemesis!
“Second senior sister…” Chu Zhi Rou timidly began, her delicate hesitation expressing unspoken grievances.
“Is little junior sister still angry with me?” Shi Zi Chu’s gentle face filled with remorse. “It’s my fault—I failed to hold you back, causing you to fall into Hundred Demon Valley and injure yourself. It led everyone to believe I pushed you, enraging Master and unfairly punishing you all.”
Since Chu Zhi Rou cared so deeply about Yan Zhou Bai’s opinion, as the villainess, Shi Zi Chu naturally felt compelled to misbehave a little.
Yan Zhou Bai’s cool, thoughtful gaze settled on Chu Zhi Rou.
If he understood correctly, Chu Zhi Rou herself had fallen into Hundred Demon Valley and unjustly blamed Shi Zi Chu, yet she still bore a grudge?
Such details could easily be verified at Jade Void Sect. Shi Zi Chu wouldn’t be foolish enough to lie openly about something so easily exposed, so…
In that instant, Yan Zhou Bai’s faint goodwill toward Chu Zhi Rou vanished entirely.
Sensing Yan Zhou Bai’s hidden displeasure, Chu Zhi Rou’s eyes filled with quiet hatred, though outwardly she appeared even more pitiably weak. “I know senior sister has never liked me, but Wei An never wronged you, senior sister. Why must you treat him so cruelly?”
Shi Zi Chu remained silent, her head lowered, sorrowful and lonely.
“It was Daoist Fang who attacked first,” Yan Zhou Bai interrupted Chu Zhi Rou firmly.
Seeing Chu Zhi Rou’s fragile expression stiffen, Shi Zi Chu softly murmured, eyes lowered modestly, “Daoist Yan, please say no more. I’ll apologize to them later.”
Yan Zhou Bai found it absurd. “You did nothing wrong. Why apologize?”
Shi Zi Chu’s expression grew troubled, her voice gentle and low. “Daoist Yan, I am just an orphan girl…”
“I apologize,” Yan Zhou Bai quickly interrupted her, regret clear in his voice.
Shi Zi Chu pressed her lips together, forcing another delicate, gentle smile.