Chapter 23 – Encountering the Overseer, Disgusting Him on Purpose

Lu Linyuan and Jiang Shaoling had been fellow disciples for many years. How could he not understand Jiang Shaoling’s expression? He understood it instantly, in fact.

Just as Ye Qingning was gearing up to test the two, Lu Linyuan spoke. “Wait!”

“Junior Sister Ye, there’s no need to test us. I’m not a trial disciple, and neither is he.” With that, Lu Linyuan took out his personal disciple’s jade token.

Ye Qingning’s gaze froze slightly.

She had originally suspected that one of them might be a trial disciple, but never expected that one of them was actually a personal disciple in charge of overseeing the trial!

What the—!

What kind of kink was this personal disciple into?

Likes pretending to be someone’s servant-husband? He might not feel embarrassed, but she sure did! (?o?o)

She didn’t know who this personal disciple—this sneaky one—was, hiding behind a servant-husband identity.

But since he called her Junior Sister Ye, then he clearly wasn’t Jiang Shaoling, that grumpy mutt.

After all, that dog temper had a higher seniority. She’d have to call him Martial Uncle.

The system, still reeling, guessed: 【Ningning, do you think this person could be the main male lead, Shen Xuanli?】

Ye Qingning nearly choked on her own spit.

That iceberg Shen Xuanli would never call her Junior Sister Ye, and in such a gentle tone to boot? Don’t be ridiculous. The world hadn’t gone that insane.

Since the other party had already revealed his identity, there was naturally no need for Ye Qingning to probe further. She bowed politely. “Greetings, Senior Brother. Thank you for overseeing the trial. Please carry on.”

Upon hearing the words “please carry on,” Lu Linyuan lightly coughed into his hand.

With his identity as a servant-husband, if he didn’t “carry on,” it’d indeed be awkward. He had to take the Scarlet Flame Flower.

Not to mention, he had already helped hide his little junior brother’s identity.

Jiang Shaoling was quite pleased with that. The old man held a higher seniority; the eldest senior brother should technically call the delicate weakling “Martial Nephew.”

But he’d just called her Junior Sister instead. Even if she had suspicions about the eldest senior brother’s identity, she would still guess wrong.

Moreover, the eldest senior brother had already said he wasn’t a trial disciple. That would lead her to believe he was just another character within the secret realm.

After all, there were only six overseers and hundreds of trial disciples. The odds of two overseers appearing together—both as her servant-husbands no less—were far too slim for anyone to seriously consider.

This was good. He could trust the eldest senior brother to handle things. He didn’t need the Scarlet Flame Flower anyway. It had been meant for the eldest senior brother from the start.

“Y-Young Miss… H-He…” Green Luo stammered, her head full of confusion. All this talk of Senior Brother, Junior Sister—had everyone lost their minds?!

Lu Linyuan raised a hand and made a gesture as if to erase the memories of Green Luo and Jiang Shaoling.

In reality, only Green Luo forgot what had just happened. All she saw was that her lady’s servant-husband had left—specifically the gentle, refined one with the good temper.

“Miss, why’d you let him go? Didn’t like him? Makes sense. Miss likes the wild ones, and the one who stayed behind does seem to suit her better.”

Ye Qingning’s face turned black. Enough, stop right there! It was the second Miss of the Yu family who liked wild ones—not her!

Besides, was this guy wild? Why did he look at her like she was beneath him, like he despised her?

【Ningning, don’t you think that look of annoyance he gave you looks just like that dog Jiang Shaoling? Could both your servant-husbands be overseers?】

Ye Qingning hadn’t thought of that, but after the system pointed it out, she had to admit—it did look exactly like Jiang Shaoling.

After all, that grumpy mutt hadn’t shown her a kind expression once in the past month. The way this guy looked at her? Just the same.

More importantly, that overseer just now had only said he wasn’t a trial disciple. He never said the other one wasn’t an overseer.

If this really was that grumpy dog, well, with such a good opportunity in front of her, how could she not gross him out? She’d be letting herself down if she didn’t make him suffer after a month of nitpicking and torment.

“You’re right. This miss does like wild ones. But him? He’s still far from it. And that temper of his—so stubborn and nasty. Tie him up and send him to my room. Teach him how to properly please me.”

“I’ve got urgent matters to see my father. Before I return, make sure he’s well taught, understand?”

“Don’t worry, Miss! Leave everything to this servant!” Green Luo patted her chest in assurance.

Having witnessed Qin Changsheng disappear earlier, she believed her lady possessed some protective talisman capable of subduing even evil spirits. She wasn’t worried and let Ye Qingning leave alone.

Ye Qingning was in great spirits. If that really was that grumpy dog, her words just now must’ve made him choke with rage.

She hadn’t walked far before she heard Green Luo threateningly say, “You, go get a rope and tie yourself up. Didn’t you hear what Miss just said?”

“You’re a servant-husband that the master spent a fortune on to please the young miss. Who are you scowling at?! Miss kept you around out of generosity. If you can’t please her, I’ll whip your skin off!”

Jiang Shaoling’s eyes were full of fury—not because of Green Luo’s words, but because of what Ye Qingning had just said.

Calling him temperamental, stubborn, and even wanting him tied up? Telling a mere maid to teach him how to please her?!

Where did she get the guts to humiliate him like this?!

Then came Green Luo’s final blow: “Why are you still standing there? Don’t forget your identity—you’re a servant-husband!”

Jiang Shaoling’s mind buzzed. Servant-husband, servant-husband—he never should’ve chosen this damn identity!

Green Luo was about to speak again, but the next second, she was knocked unconscious.

After all, she was a construct of the secret realm. Jiang Shaoling didn’t hold back in the slightest—he had nowhere else to vent his fury.

---

After leaving the courtyard, Ye Qingning didn’t go looking for her “father” in the secret realm. Instead, she planned to scout out the entire Yu residence.

Night deepened. After Li the steward’s son was carried away, the Yu estate returned to calm, but an oppressive chill lingered in the air, as though some eerie, cold aura was drifting through it.

Ye Qingning’s figure melted into the night, gliding through the estate like mist. Every step was silent and light. Without a high level of cultivation, it would be near impossible to detect her presence.

This movement technique was called Flowing Cloud Steps, a skill she had learned in her previous life.

It channeled the user’s spiritual energy in coordination with body sensitivity and reflexes, allowing them to move in a near-invisible manner.

Once mastered, the user could move as though in an empty realm, nearly impossible to catch. However, it required extreme control over one’s body and spiritual energy.

Now, after a month of recovery, her heart vessels were nearly fully healed. In the days before the trial, she had specifically trained this movement skill.

Though she’d only reached the beginner level, it seemed effective enough—and it saved her a lightness talisman.

She hadn’t forgotten—she was still in debt.

…

Crossing corridors and courtyards, Ye Qingning scouted the entire Yu estate in less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

From outside the estate, the nightwatchman’s voice echoed faintly—midnight had arrived.

It was the hour when monsters and ghosts became most active—and also when trial disciples began to move in secret.

Her current rank of 444 proved one thing: tonight, other trial disciples would definitely take action. Just like how top students crammed all night while you were asleep.

While identifying and eliminating other trial disciples could earn points, it was time-consuming and came with the risk of misidentification.

If she could instead eliminate demons and ghosts within the secret realm—even if the points were fewer—she could still rack up a decent score by quantity.

With this in mind, Ye Qingning soon arrived at a secluded courtyard.

On one of the room’s doors hung a yellow talisman.

And not just this room—on her way here, she had seen many doors marked with similar yellow talismans.