Chapter 11: Peerless Secret

Ling Jue courteously addressed the crowd, then scanned the surroundings and asked, “Why don’t I see School Master Fengya?”

“School Master Fengya is still in closed door training,” one elder explained, his face showing a hint of awkwardness.

Ling Jue expressed some regret but continued to inquire, “Then, when will Fairy Fengya’s closed door training likely end?”

“Well… It will probably take another month,” another sect master replied, feeling somewhat difficult to save face.

Even though everyone knew that Medicine King Valley’s junior valley master Ling Jue was invited by Fairy Fengya, it seemed a bit impolite to be so neglectful in receiving him.

However, Ling Jue had the basis for pride. Not only was she an advanced alchemist, but she was also a rare martial arts genius. Only in her twenties, she had already reached the Golden Core stage

Upon hearing the school master’s response, Ling Jue turned and said in a gentle tone to Ye Wenxin, “This is for the best. It saves you from being restless upon seeing Fairy Fengya. Work diligently for this month, and after that, Big Brother will take you to meet her.”

Ling Jue’s indulgent tone drew everyone’s attention to Ye Wenxin. They seemed to wonder where she had suddenly emerged from.

Furthermore, Ling Jue’s emphasis on the words ‘Big Brother’ made everyone’s gaze towards the girl even more peculiar. Originally intending to enter quietly, Ye Wenxin now found herself under the scrutiny of several dozen pairs of eyes due to Ling Jue’s remarks.

In the midst of the conversation, the storyteller had already vanished without a trace. Watching his distressed state, she also noticed Long Qing’er and Huang Hanyan, whom she had crossed paths with before, amidst the crowd. They wore expressions of surprise and confusion, as if they could not understand how Ye Wenxin, who they had not seen for over a month, had suddenly transformed into a member of Medicine King Valley.

“Both of you must be tired from the journey. We have already arranged rooms for you.” The head of the Azure Wings Sect spoke up as the sect representative, expressing full respect for Ling Jue. Ling Jue did not refuse either, and a few elders led the way ahead.

The Azure Wings Sect had picturesque scenery, with a faint scent of peach blossoms drifting in the air. As they walked, the elders briefly introduced the surroundings and soon after, guided them into a workshop.

There were herbs planted within the courtyard and a pool nearby. Upon entering the main gate, they could see an alchemy furnace arranged in the main hall.

Further inside, more small-scale alchemy furnaces that had been prepared could be seen. This workshop was quite spacious, with walls made of high-quality bricks and tiles, demonstrating the Azure Wings Sect’s emphasis on the alchemy course.

“This is where Young Master Ling would teach in the future. As for your quarters, it’s down this way…” The elder continued to explain, and after opening the door to the inner hall, a bamboo forest came into view. Walking on, they reached a separate courtyard.

“We initially thought only one person from Medicine King Palace would come, and hadn’t expected a junior sister would be brought along. Does Young Master Ling intend to stay with the junior sister in the separate courtyard, or should this old man arrange a new accommodation?” The elder’s words were somewhat ambiguous, as if implying that Ling Jue might have a particular preference for Ye Wenxin’s infantile physique, hence why she only brought the girl and no other attendants or servants with her.

“Little Sister Wenxin is not a member of Medicine King Valley but my assistant. Although this assistant of mine is innately bright, she is particularly attached to your Azure Wings Sect. This child will participate in your recruitment, so I ask of each senior to please take good care of my little sister.” Ling Jue’s meaning was very clear, and that was to directly give Ye Wenxin a backdoor at the recruitment event.

The elders glanced at each other, inwardly harboring reservations, yet they simply assented courteously.

“My little sister will stay with me so I can look after her.” Considering Ye Wenxin’s young age, she was unwilling to let her live at another place. The others gave no objections and after exchanging some pleasantries, left Ling Jue and Ye Wenxin.

The main gate closed and the unrelated people disappeared from the small courtyard. Ye Wenxin began to boil water for tea, while Ling Jue sat at one side, drinking spirit tea brought from Medicine King Valley, her expression finally softened considerably.

It was clear that she had always been amiable in her interactions with Ye Wenxin, but Ling Jue’s attitude was very haughty when dealing with the group of elders just now. “Big Brother Ling, why was your attitude towards them so poor?”

Ling Jue gave no answer. She was lightly covering her stomach, seeming somewhat uncomfortable. Ye Wenxin noticed this and if she did not guess wrong, Ling Jue’s monthly visitor had probably arrived.

“It’s nothing, just slightly annoyed. This Fairy Fengya had invited me to come, but she herself is in closed door training.” Ling Jue spoke calmly, her tone carrying no semblance of complaint against Fairy Fengya.

Aware of the actual reason, Ye Wenxin naturally could not say it aloud. She rummaged through her bag of holding and quickly found the syrup she had bought at the foot of the mountain. Although it was not as effective as brown syrup, it could alleviate Ling Jue’s menstrual cramps.

“You’re tired, Big Brother Ling. Rest a little earlier. I’ll go pick a room.” Noticing Ling Jue was still very wary, Ye Wenxin placed down the syrup and quickly left the room.

Ling Jue, who initially appeared normal, suddenly turned pale, and the Yin-Yang Transformation technique on her body dissipated, revealing her beautiful and gentle countenance. However, her complexion was too pale, as if she could no longer endure the painful cramps coming from her abdomen.

Ling Jue’s Yin-Yang Transformation technique was a forbidden technique, causing severe harm to the body, and the cramps accompanying her menstruation were one of its effects. She fell to the ground in pain, gritting her teeth tightly, and her hand reached for her bag of holding, retrieving a pill from inside.

It was an extremely slow process, and only after eventually swallowing the pill did Ling Jue passed out…

A few minutes later, the door opened silently and Ye Wenxin walked in. She very carefully checked Ling Jue’s pulse, and could not help but let out a relieved breath.

In her sleep, Ling Jue’s face remained contorted in great pain, completely unaware that Ye Wenxin had already noticed her true condition.

“Such a shame, it’s obvious you’re definitely not inferior to Fairy Fengya.” She could not see it clearly from a distance last time, but this time, leaning in close, she finally saw Ling Jue’s true appearance.

With skin as white as snow and a slender figure, she appeared extremely delicate, as if even in Ye Wenxin’s current state, this woman could easily be pushed over. There was a slightly sickly aesthetic about her, evoking a strong sense of protectiveness in others.

Ye Wenxin only stared for a few beats before getting up and leaving. She sat out in the courtyard and started reading the books Ling Jue had given her.

Roughly a few hours had passed. Ling Jue walked out of the room, once again adopting the bearing of a graceful gentleman, but she seemed to have no strength in her legs and was still in considerable discomfort.

As she stepped outside, she caught sight of Ye Wenxin sitting there, her voice tinged with surprise and a hint of unease.

“Wenxin, have you been here this whole time?”

“Yeah, Big Brother Ling. To keep you from losing face, I studied a day’s worth of books so I won’t mess up as your assistant.” Ye Wenxin waved the book in her hand. Originally she had only read a third of the collection, but now she was already two thirds in.

Ling Jue’s expression still looked a little strange, and she glanced at the surrounding, “No one has come to bother you?”

Judging by her behavior, it seemed she had sensed someone getting close while she was unconscious.

Ye Wenxin felt a bit apprehensive, regretting approaching Ling Jue so boldly just now. However, she still responded casually, “Of course, Big Brother Ling. As you said, when we sleep, one of us must keep watch. If you’re asleep, then it’s me who keeps watch.”

The conversation they had in the woods proved useful, convincing Ling Jue that no one had actually intruded.

Ling Jue nodded slightly, temporarily believing Ye Wenxin’s words. She wanted to move, but found it difficult to take even a single step.

“Are you hungry, Big Brother Ling? Should I go prepare some food for you?” Ye Wenxin considerately misinterpreted Ling Jue’s intentions.

Normally, Ling Jue would refuse outright, but now she was truly unable to move and could only nod and say, “I’ll trouble you, then.”

As she spoke, Ling Jue tossed her a waist token. It was crafted with intricate patterns, engraved with the character ‘Feather’, symbolizing Ling Jue’s status as a teacher at the Azure Wings Sect. This waist token granted Ling Jue some special privileges, including the ability to make purchases in the dining hall.

Ye Wenxin took the waist token and left swiftly. Ling Jue stepped out of the courtyard and sat on a bamboo chair. She watched Ye Wenxin’s departing figure with a melancholic expression.

“Should I tell her? This way, I’ll at least have someone to care for me when I’m sick.”

“No! Nobody can know my secret!”

Ling Jue answered her own question, but the thought of the unknown consequences of revealing herself as a woman made her choose to continue guarding this secret she had kept for over twenty years.

If one day she were to out herself, perhaps that day would be when Medicine King Valley became the leader among the Ten Great Immortal Sects. Yet it seemed that over the centuries, her Medicine King Valley could never reach the heights of the other immortal sects.

“If only I were stronger.” Ling Jue sighed inwardly, ultimately attributing all her weaknesses to herself…

Meanwhile, on the other side, after asking for directions a dozen times, Ye Wenxin finally found the location of the Azure Wings Sect dining hall.

The dining hall was divided into sections for outer disciples, inner disciples, and true disciple. The meals in each section were completely different, and the treatment based on rank was similarly different.

As for the teacher-exclusive dining hall, it required flying sword mastery to access. Ye Wenxin looked awkward, while the people behind her wore various expressions, mercilessly mocking Ye Wenxin’s rustic appearance.

Although the Azure Wings Sect claimed to be an immortal sect, people could not escape from the inevitability of life, death, aging, and sickness, as well as the pursuit of wealth and power. In order to sustain the sect’s development, a portion of its disciples came from the mortal realm’s noble families, contributing to the sect’s daily upkeep.

This sponsorship-like approach did contribute to the development of the Azure Wings Sect, but at the same time, it brought in a bunch of unsavory characters.

Arrogant and domineering, they looked down on Ye Wenxin, who did not even have a disciple’s attire, and treated her even worse.

“Isn’t this Wenxin?” At that moment, Long Qing’er appeared before Ye Wenxin. She still wore her veil but had changed into the red attire of an inner disciple, making her even more stunning and captivating.

At Long Qing’er’s appearance, the others immediately made themselves scarce, as if she were a terrifying disaster beast. Ye Wenxin could only force a smile and explained to her the reason she came to the disciple’s dining hall.

“No problem, put it on my tab.” Long Qing’er readily offered help. The food staff had no choice but to reluctantly prepare the meal. Soon enough, it was ready. Ye Wenxin thanked her and reached out to take the packed meal to go, but Long Qing’er’s hand swiftly intercepted the food box.

“Little Sister Wenxin, you’re still young. Let me carry that for you… Besides, it’s been so long since we last saw each other. I want to have a good chat with you.” Long Qing’er said with a smile, but there was no hint of amusement in her eyes.

Ye Wenxin had not yet explained the reason for suddenly becoming Ling Jue’s assistant, and it was precisely because Ye Wenxin had become Ling Jue’s assistant that made Long Qing’er very angry.