Chapter 144
Chapter 144: Does This Seem Right to You?
Caught off guard by a heavenly surprise, Ye Su Zhu stood frozen for a moment, struggling to regain her senses.
Shi Zi Chu’s gentle smile took on a hint of helplessness, though it also reminded her of Liang Wei Sheng, whom she hadn’t visited since bringing him home.
“I should go see Liang Wei Sheng,” she thought, “if I let too many good days pass, he might forget where he came from.”
Ye Su Zhu snapped back to reality, her eyes glistening as tears threatened to spill. She looked as though she were about to cry from being overwhelmed with joy.
“Go pack your things, then we’ll head back to the sect,” Shi Zi Chu said, his hand brushing against her cheek. “It’s a joyous occasion; crying would not be appropriate.”
Ye Su Zhu quickly wiped away her tears, trying her best to suppress them. “There’s nothing to pack. Let’s go.”
Upon hearing this, Shi Zi Chu took her hand and led her out.
Standing at the entrance of the courtyard was Ye He Qi, who must have arrived quietly, for he smiled gently at them both, his expression warm and elegant.
“Daoist Shi, taking Su Zhu away without so much as a word? You’re not being very considerate, are you?” His voice was refined, with a playful edge.
Ye Su Zhu instinctively narrowed her eyes at Ye He Qi, her guard up.
Seeing her reaction, Ye He Qi could only sigh. Whenever Shi Zi Chu was involved, Ye Su Zhu turned into an unreasonably loyal wolf, impossible to tame.
“So what?” Shi Zi Chu responded confidently. “Who do you think I’m doing this for?”
Ye He Qi, weary of Shi Zi Chu’s banter, said, “Let’s talk about it at the disciple ceremony.”
With the matter of the Azure Luan sword, and Ye Su Zhu’s situation, he had plenty to keep him busy.
Shi Zi Chu nodded.
Ye Su Zhu performed a respectful bow to Ye He Qi, then happily followed Shi Zi Chu as they walked away.
…
At Jade Void Sect.
As Shi Zi Chu and Ye Su Zhu arrived at the main peak, Xing Lan was just returning from Jade Void Peak.
Sect Master Meng, who had accompanied Xing Lan, cast a thoughtful glance at a woman who resembled Chu Zhi Rou.
After discussing the Azure Luan sword, Xing Lan had suddenly mentioned wanting to take on a personal disciple, and with great ceremony. Curious, Sect Master Meng had followed.
“Master, Sect Master Meng,” Shi Zi Chu greeted with a polite bow.
Sect Master Meng chuckled warmly. “No need for such formalities.”
When Shi Zi Chu straightened up, Xing Lan’s cold voice broke the silence. “Her?”
Shi Zi Chu gave a slight nod.
Ye Su Zhu, standing nervously behind Shi Zi Chu, quickly bowed and greeted, “Junior disciple Ye Su Zhu of the Ye Clan greets Sect Master Meng and Venerable Xing Lan.”
Xing Lan said nothing, merely calling for Elder Zheng Lian.
“Arrange for her to stay at Vigilance Peak,” Xing Lan instructed briefly.
Elder Zheng Lian appraised Ye Su Zhu with a calm demeanor, though a thought flickered behind his eyes.
“Understood.” He bowed to Xing Lan, then turned to Ye Su Zhu. “Come with me.”
Ye Su Zhu instinctively glanced at Shi Zi Chu.
Shi Zi Chu gave her a reassuring smile and whispered, “I’ll visit you at Vigilance Peak later.”
Feeling slightly more at ease, Ye Su Zhu nodded.
“Alright.” After bowing once more to Xing Lan and Sect Master Meng, she followed Elder Zheng Lian.
Once they left, Xing Lan’s gaze shifted to Shi Zi Chu.
“Master, Junior Sister is in for a rough time,” Shi Zi Chu said, her voice filled with pity. “She only has an upper-grade spiritual root, but that mutated lightning root is quite powerful.”
Xing Lan said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes.
As Jiu Jiu had put it, finding someone who looked like Chu Zhi Rou was merely an excuse.
“Upper-grade lightning spiritual roots are indeed rare,” Sect Master Meng said leisurely. “She seems resilient. How do you wish to handle the disciple ceremony?”
Xing Lan did not respond directly, instead turning his gaze to Shi Zi Chu.
Sect Master Meng understood and turned his eyes to Shi Zi Chu.
Shi Zi Chu smiled faintly. “Let’s make it grander than Junior Sister Zhi Rou’s ceremony.”
Sect Master Meng glanced at Xing Lan, who gave a subtle, wordless consent, before agreeing, “Fine, but—”
He paused, then spoke more seriously, “Zi Chu, you are now the first disciple of Rising Succession Peak. Such matters should be handled by you in collaboration with Elder.”
“…?” Shi Zi Chu turned to look at Xing Lan.
Xing Lan lowered his eyes, his gaze softening as he watched her helpless expression, though he said nothing.
With her lively, mischievous eyes, Shi Zi Chu grinned brightly. “Senior Uncle Meng, I think Liang Wei Sheng is capable of handling it. How about we make him my senior brother instead?”
What?
Sect Master Meng’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Xing Lan, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised in the least. According to Jiu Jiu, the responsibilities of the first disciple only served to take up her cultivation time.
“Isn’t it fine to let Su Zhu become my senior sister instead?” Shi Zi Chu said, her voice light, yet her face showed no remorse, only a brazen confidence.
“…?” Sect Master Meng was at a loss for words.
“You handle her!” Sect Master Meng pointed at Shi Zi Chu and turned to Xing Lan. “Does this seem right to you? Junior brothers and sisters who just joined cannot be placed above her! This goes against the natural order!”
“Do not be upset, Sect Master,” Xing Lan replied calmly, his tone steady, as though he had everything under control.
But then, with a quiet smile, he added, “We’ll see who is more capable between Liang Wei Sheng and Ye Su Zhu when it comes to becoming the first disciple.”
Sect Master Meng: …
After watching Sect Master Meng storm off in exasperation, Shi Zi Chu peeked over mischievously. “Master, do you think Senior Uncle Meng will be alright?”
Xing Lan looked down at her, a faint smile in his eyes. “Don’t worry. With his cultivation, he’ll survive.”
“Alright,” Shi Zi Chu said, bouncing onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Master, let me just see the divine sword, please~”
Xing Lan didn’t say a word as he carried her off toward the back mountain.
“Master~”
Unable to resist Shi Zi Chu’s playful charm, Xing Lan finally spoke. “If you make significant progress this time, I’ll show you.”
Shi Zi Chu was full of confidence. “I won’t disappoint you, Master!”
…
At the back mountain, in an open space.
Once Xing Lan suppressed his cultivation, Shi Zi Chu eagerly charged forward with her sword drawn, initiating the attack.
The sword light of Ru Heng easily intercepted her Ziyuan sword. “Your strikes are too slow.”
Before she could react, sword light flashed again.
Shi Zi Chu blocked with her sword, her water-blue silk threads shooting toward Xing Lan.
Xing Lan swung his sword, slicing through the silk threads, which didn’t break as easily as he had expected.
Shi Zi Chu’s five fingers curled tightly around the sword handle, her knuckles turning white, veins bulging on her hand.
The next moment, Ziyuan cut through the air, coming straight for her.
Xing Lan quickly dodged, then released his sword and looked at Shi Zi Chu with a gaze filled with admiration.
After dodging the Ziyuan sword, Xing Lan summoned spiritual power to form a sword in his other hand, forming a hand seal. Ice crystals shot out, freezing the aqua blue silk threads, and he charged at Shi Zi Chu.
“Clang!”
The two swords collided, and both took a step back before once again clashing in mid-air.
In terms of swordsmanship, Shi Zi Chu couldn’t compare to Xing Lan, but she wasn’t just skilled with a sword.
Her pride, the silk threads, met their natural nemesis in Xing Lan’s icy power. The final result was her getting thoroughly beaten.
“Master!”
Seeing Shi Zi Chu sulking, Ru Heng lightly tapped her back with the sword. “Your swordsmanship still needs work, but overall, you’ve made great progress.”
“But I still didn’t win against you, Master,” Shi Zi Chu muttered.
Looking at her pouty face, Xing Lan couldn’t help but laugh.
Jiu Jiu really had a strong sense of competition.