After several more days, the auspicious date that Zhao Mayi had divined arrived. The sect held a formal discipleship ceremony, and in front of all the sect disciples, Zanxing and the others officially became Xuan Lingzi’s direct disciples.

On the day of the ceremony, Zanxing wore the Tianji Magical Robe, so after the ceremony ended, within half a day, the entire sect was buzzing with gossip about Zanxing.

To summarize, it was generally that the female disciple who placed first in the inner sect examination had a secret crush on the second-place Senior Brother Mu, so she deliberately made a losing deal, trading the Xianyu Lingzhi to Mu Cengxiao in exchange for a Tianji Magical Robe that was far inferior to the Xianyu Lingzhi.

If the protagonist had been an ordinary girl, this would have been just a romantic tale between men and women in the sect, something to chat about casually. But Zanxing’s appearance was disfigured, and back in Pingyang Town, she had been publicly rejected by her fiancé in front of everyone. All these circumstances added a tinge of tragic romance to this love story.

Now when Zanxing walked down the road, people looked at her with pitying gazes.

Zi Luo even came to find Zanxing overnight, saying urgently: “Junior Sister, how could you trade the Xianyu Lingzhi to Junior Brother Mu? Didn’t I tell you that the Tianji Magical Robe is far inferior to the Xianyu Lingzhi?”

Zanxing poured her a cup of tea: “Senior Sister, I traded it because I thought that magical robe was beautiful.”

Zi Luo didn’t take the tea from Zanxing’s hands. Her gaze was full of understanding as she sighed: “I understand. Since you’re infatuated with him, naturally you want to give him the best. Usually I see you’re quite clever in cultivation matters, so why can’t you see through matters of the heart? So silly.”

“I didn’t…”

“Besides, you need to see whether the other person is worth such devotion from you.” Zi Luo’s face showed some indignation. She drank a sip of tea, and after calming down said: “Do you know that Junior Brother Mu originally had a childhood sweetheart sister?”

Zanxing: “I know.”

“Then do you know that she’s about to come to our Taiyan Sect!”

Zanxing really didn’t know this, and opened her mouth in surprise: “Senior Sister, who did you hear this from?”

“A few days ago, Seventh Master Uncle suggested to the Sect Leader that since Sixth Master Uncle had chosen his direct disciples, he should resolve the disciples’ worries. That Miss Liu is currently alone in Pingyang Town, weak and frail in health. It would be better to bring her back to the Taiyan Sect to live in Hanwu Courtyard, making it convenient for Junior Brother Mu to take care of her.” Zi Luo shook her head: “The Sect Leader thought Seventh Master Uncle made sense and agreed. I estimate that Miss Liu will arrive tomorrow morning.”

Zi Luo looked at Zanxing: “Junior Sister, that Xianyu Lingzhi will most likely be given to Miss Liu by Junior Brother Mu for her to consume. Your sincere feelings have ended up making wedding clothes for someone else. Don’t even mention you—even I, an outsider, feel indignant hearing about it.”

“Seventh Master Uncle suggested this?” Zanxing’s focus wasn’t on this point. She was just greatly surprised. Gu Baiying didn’t seem like someone who would meddle in others’ affairs. What kind of plot development was this?

“Yes, I don’t know what Seventh Master Uncle was thinking. Did you offend Seventh Master Uncle somehow?” Zi Luo asked.

Zanxing mentally reviewed her actions from beginning to end and indeed didn’t find anywhere she had offended Gu Baiying. However, having Liu Yunxin move into the sect actually aligned better with the original story’s development. Gu Baiying had inadvertently helped pull the plot line back on track, which was a good thing for Zanxing.

But… there were still aspects of this situation she could utilize.

Zanxing put down the teapot and stood up with a “whoosh.” Zi Luo asked: “Junior Sister, what’s wrong?”

“I’m going to find Master. I have some things I want to say to him.” Having said this, she turned and left without looking back.

Zi Luo was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed “Oh no!” and said: “This is bad. Junior Sister isn’t going to demand an explanation, is she?” In her anxiety, she immediately used a sound transmission talisman to give Xuan Lingzi advance warning.

……

In Miaokong Hall, Xuan Lingzi lay on a couch, looking at the white-robed young man sitting in a chair with a helpless expression: “Junior Brother, why did you have to suggest to the Sect Leader to bring that Miss Liu into the sect? Isn’t this like stabbing a knife into Zanxing’s heart?”

Gu Baiying was in a very good mood, leisurely peeling a spirit fruit in his hands as he said: “Isn’t that perfect? At such a young age, thinking about dual cultivation.”

Xuan Lingzi was startled: “Wh-what dual cultivation?”

Gu Baiying came to his senses and said perfunctorily: “Nothing. New disciples entering the sect should focus on cultivation instead of thinking about romance all the time. What kind of behavior is that?”

“Oh my,” Xuan Lingzi slapped his thigh: “She’s still a young girl! It’s normal for young people to have romantic feelings. That Miss Liu is Cengxiao’s childhood sweetheart, and Zanxing is my direct disciple. If the two of them start fighting over jealousy, how can I, as their master, maintain balance? Junior Brother, aren’t you just creating trouble for me?”

“Why do you need to maintain balance?” Gu Baiying casually tossed the fruit peel into the waste basket by the door, took a bite of the spirit fruit, and said: “Just balance Mu Cengxiao’s bowl of water. As for Yang Zanxing’s bowl of water, don’t balance it—just spill it.”

Xuan Lingzi stared at him: “Junior Brother, what exactly did Zanxing do to offend you? Why do you dislike her so much?”

Gu Baiying sneered: “I don’t just dislike her, I find her annoying and detestable.”

Accustomed to his junior brother’s arrogant and haughty manner, Xuan Lingzi could only sigh. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard a sound transmission enter his ear. It was Zi Luo’s voice: “Sixth Master Uncle, Junior Sister Zanxing just learned about Miss Liu coming to the sect. She’s indignant and furious, and is now storming toward the outer hall, probably to demand an explanation from Master Uncle. You’d better think of what to say in advance and don’t add fuel to the fire!”

Xuan Lingzi’s bottom shifted sideways and he nearly rolled off the couch. He hurriedly scrambled to his feet, looking around for places to hide. Gu Baiying looked at him in puzzlement: “What are you doing?”

“Zanxing is coming.” Xuan Lingzi tried to squeeze behind the chair. “I’ll find a place to hide, you don’t…”

Before he finished speaking, they heard a familiar voice from outside: “Master.”

Xuan Lingzi’s movements froze. He forced a smile and stood up from behind the chair, saying: “Zanxing is here.”

Gu Baiying raised his eyebrows slightly.

Zanxing walked into the hall, glanced at the young man eating spirit fruit on the side, was surprised for a moment, and said in amazement: “Seventh Master Uncle is here too?”

Gu Baiying didn’t respond, but Xuan Lingzi walked to the front of the hall, putting on an appearance of calm composure as he smiled: “Zanxing, it’s so late, why are you here?” Without waiting for Zanxing to speak, he chattered on: “I haven’t had time to ask you these past few days—are you living comfortably in Miaokong Hall? Is there anything you need to add? Do you like that tea set in your room? Fangfang said Mimi has been shedding lately. I got some hair-strengthening pills from your Fourth Master Uncle. You should feed them to her later, can’t have her going bald…”

Zanxing interrupted his rambling: “Master, I came tonight about Miss Liu’s matter.”