Chapter 148
Chapter 148: No One Would Believe This, Not Even a Dog
Three or five days later, it was time for Ye Su Zhu’s apprenticeship ceremony.
Though the time was tight, it was grand in scale.
“Venerable Xing Lan really holds this disciple in such high regard? The Limitless Sect, Returning Cloud Sect, as well as the Five Schools and Seven Clans are all here.”
“Such a grand affair? I remember Venerable Xing Lan is always low-key. The previous apprenticeship ceremonies only invited a few peak masters, nothing as grand as this.”
An inner disciple, who had entered the sect earlier, sighed when he saw the younger juniors who hadn’t seen much of the world: “You really haven’t seen anything, this is nothing compared to true grandeur!”
A later entry disciple leaned in, clearly curious: “This isn’t grand?”
A few disciples gathered, eyes full of curiosity.
“You came in late, you haven’t seen grandeur. The senior sister’s apprenticeship ceremony was far grander than this!”
“What?”
“Do you remember the grand feast Venerable Xing Lan held for celebrating the tribulation crossing? Senior sister’s apprenticeship ceremony was even grander than that.”
“No way! Didn’t she not get along with Venerable Xing Lan?”
“That’s exactly why I’m saying you haven’t seen anything!”
…
Many disciples had come to Rising Succession Peak to join the festivities, and such conversations were common.
Chu Zhi Rou was pinching the tender flesh of her palm, her expression not looking very good.
At the main peak, in the Great Hall.
Inside, all the various factions were holding invitation cards in hand.
Shi Zi Chu stood properly behind Xing Lan.
Out of habit, she scanned the room, her gaze pausing for two seconds on Ye He Qi.
Ye He Qi even had living brothers?
The auspicious time arrived, and Ye Su Zhu, dressed in light cyan disciple robes, stepped inside with slow, steady steps.
Many disciples curiously peeked from outside the hall.
To this, everyone inside chose to turn a blind eye.
Ye Su Zhu walked to the front, kneeling down with a tea cup in her hands. “Disciple Ye Su Zhu pays respects to master!”
Xing Lan waved his hand, and the tea cup landed in his palm.
After sipping a mouthful of tea, he spoke, “From now on, you will be my personal disciple, ranked third.”
Ye Su Zhu lowered her head in a deep bow.
“The path of cultivation is long, may you always stay true to your heart, maintaining integrity and discipline…”
With a simple piece of advice, Xing Lan waved his hand, using spiritual power to lift Ye Su Zhu. A storage ring appeared in front of her.
Ye Su Zhu took the storage ring and said, “Disciple will follow master’s teachings, work hard in cultivation, and show filial piety to master, respecting senior sister.”
Xing Lan gestured dismissively.
“Congratulations to Venerable Xing Lan for accepting another disciple! This young friend seems promising!”
“Congratulations to Venerable Xing Lan…”
…
The congratulatory voices were endless.
Outside the hall, Chu Zhi Rou watched this scene, her palm already bleeding from where she pinched it.
The apprenticeship ceremony concluded smoothly, and only the midday feast remained before everyone would disperse.
With some time before the feast, the venerables naturally wanted to chat with Xing Lan to maintain some level of connection, even if just for the sake of a brief conversation.
Shi Zi Chu exchanged a few words with Xing Lan before leaving.
As soon as she stepped outside, she was blocked.
“Big Sister Shi!”
“Zi Chu!”
Pei Luo Xiu and Yao Ruo Ruo came from opposite sides, both simultaneously linking arms with Shi Zi Chu.
Caught between them, Shi Zi Chu was about to speak when she sensed the atmosphere wasn’t quite right.
Yao Ruo Ruo glared at Pei Luo Xiu, “Let go of Zi Chu.”
She had just returned from a tribulation crossing, so why was someone clinging to Zi Chu?
“Let go of Big Sister Shi!” Pei Luo Xiu’s cold voice rang out.
Yao Ruo Ruo appeared cute on the outside, but in reality, she was calculating. She couldn’t allow her to be too close with Big Sister Shi!
The two didn’t tug at each other physically but began to exchange barbed words instead.
“I was Zi Chu’s first friend!”
“I grew up with Big Sister Shi!”
Shi Zi Chu, caught in the middle, blinked a few times.
Was this… right?
“Senior sister,” Ye Su Zhu arrived.
Both women turned toward her in unison, then swiftly turned back to Shi Zi Chu.
Shi Zi Chu felt a strange sense of guilt as if she were a heartless person.
Ye Su Zhu said calmly, “It’s not appropriate for the two of you to pull and push around senior sister like this.”
“I’m Zi Chu’s friend!” Yao Ruo Ruo lifted her chin.
Pei Luo Xiu, unwilling to be outdone, retorted, “I’m Big Sister Shi’s little sister!”
From inside the hall, Jiang Wan Sheng emerged, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
He had known it!
It wasn’t just men who were troublesome; women were even more annoying!
Pei Luo Xiu was bad enough, but now there was Yao Ruo Ruo too!
Jiang Wan Sheng walked up, his voice as chilly as the air around him: “Qing Qing, I need to speak with you.”
Yao Ruo Ruo clung to Shi Zi Chu’s arm, “Young Master Jiang, there’s a saying: first come, first served!”
Pei Luo Xiu coldly agreed, “Exactly!”
Shi Zi Chu pulled her arm out and gently patted the heads of both, soothing them. She then turned to Ye Su Zhu, “What’s wrong?”
Ye Su Zhu lowered her gaze, hiding the flicker in her eyes, and said softly, “I feel a bit timid, and I wanted to talk to senior sister.”
Shi Zi Chu smiled, patting the heads of Pei Luo Xiu and Yao Ruo Ruo once more, and said in a gentle voice, “Su Zhu has just arrived. I, as senior sister, can’t ignore her. I’ll come find you later.”
Pei Luo Xiu reluctantly spoke, “Big Sister Shi, don’t forget!”
“Alright.”
After calming the two down, Shi Zi Chu walked toward Ye Su Zhu, calling Jiang Wan Sheng to join them.
In a quiet spot.
Ye Su Zhu glanced at Jiang Wan Sheng, then turned her gaze to Shi Zi Chu.
“Sheng Sheng is one of us,” Shi Zi Chu spoke softly.
Ye Su Zhu hesitated before speaking, “The person who came with big brother is his elder brother, Ye Chi Wei. He just rejoined the Ye Clan a few days ago.”
Shi Zi Chu nodded, indicating she understood.
“If there’s nothing else, you may leave. Qing Qing and I have something to discuss,” Jiang Wan Sheng spoke, signaling Ye Su Zhu to depart.
Ye Su Zhu only looked at Shi Zi Chu.
Shi Zi Chu waved her hand.
Seeing this, Ye Su Zhu lowered her head and turned to leave.
Once she was gone, a frustrated Jiang Wan Sheng stepped forward, hugging Shi Zi Chu from behind. His arms wrapped around her waist like vines. “On the left, one. On the right, another. And now there’s a little junior sister. Qing Qing, how many people have you attracted?”
Shi Zi Chu looked back at the jealous young man, her brows softening in gentle helplessness.
“By heaven’s conscience, they’re all women.”
Jiang Wan Sheng sneered, “But are they the only ones?”
From Xing Lan all the way down to Meng Xi Yu and Yan Zhou Bai!
He was almost being squeezed out of the picture!
“Enough.” Shi Zi Chu raised her hand, smoothing his hair with a practiced motion. “Don’t be jealous. Sheng Sheng is very important to me.”
Jiang Wan Sheng rested his head on Shi Zi Chu’s shoulder. “Really?”
“When have I ever lied to Sheng Sheng?” Shi Zi Chu smiled gently.
Hearing this, Jiang Wan Sheng let go of her, turning her around.
Then, he grabbed her hand, pressing it to his stomach. “Who was it that tricked me when I was seven and pushed me into a beast pit?”
The pit had sharp bamboo slivers, and Qing Qing had pushed him into it without any warning. One bamboo pole had pierced through his abdomen.
Though most of the scars had faded, a long scar remained on his belly.
Of course, this was just one of the many incidents!
“You didn’t trick me?” he scoffed.
Even a dog wouldn’t believe that!
Recalling his past pain, Shi Zi Chu almost lovingly patted his chest.
Her soft palm grazed his body through his clothes, the sensation like a feather brushing against his skin, stirring up unbearable tingles.
Jiang Wan Sheng’s body stiffened. He took a step back, his breath coming in shallow gasps.