Chapter 8

When the two of them arrived at the cafeteria, there wasn’t much left. After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, one can forgo food, but perhaps because he was used to eating, Ming Xuan often came to the cafeteria to grab a bite.

Ye Qiao wasn’t picky about food and would eat whatever was given to her. She grabbed five buns in one go, making Ming Xuan furrow his brows.

“Do young girls eat this much nowadays?”

Why did he have the impression that the inner sect’s junior sisters got full after just a few bites?

After finishing dinner, the two of them headed to the library together. The sky had already darkened slightly. Thanks to their joint efforts in the afternoon, they had finished sweeping two floors.

There were still two floors left, and once they finished sweeping, they could go back to sleep.

Thinking about sleeping filled Ye Qiao with motivation. She picked up a broom and shouted to the person next to her, “Let’s go, let’s sweep the third floor first.”

Ming Xuan lazily picked up the broom.

The third floor was filled with various talisman books, arranged particularly neatly. There were rumors that the libraries of the Five Great Sects contained most of the books in the cultivation world. Ye Qiao picked up a book, casually flipping through it, and asked, “Where did all these books come from?”

Ming Xuan glanced at the book in her hand and explained indifferently, “It’s said that they have been passed down slowly from our ancestors’ generation.”

“Every book in the library is a unique copy.”

“Only direct disciples can enter each sect’s library. Even outer and inner sect members don’t have the qualifications to come here and sweep the floors.”

Ye Qiao watched him speak animatedly and curiously pointed to a page in the book, “What does the Fire Talisman do?” It seemed quite valuable.

Ming Xuan frowned, looking at the talisman patterns on the page suspiciously, “Why would a sword cultivator like you ask about this?”

Ye Qiao didn’t blink and replied, “Although I’m a sword cultivator, I have a natural affinity for talismans, especially after hearing that our sect has a genius like the second senior brother. I’m even more interested now.”

This tactic left Ming Xuan struggling to maintain his aloof demeanor. After all, it was his first time being a senior brother, and who wouldn’t enjoy the feeling of being admired by a little sister? Under Ye Qiao’s ‘admiring’ gaze, he cleared his throat, “Watch closely. I’ll teach you once.”

Ming Xuan found a pen and started drawing on white rice paper.

He drew talismans quickly. Fortunately, Ye Qiao had a good memory, otherwise, it would have been hard to follow his wild, unrestrained strokes.

“This is the Fire Talisman.” The talisman in the young man’s fingers ignited with a faint flame, like magic, instantly raising the temperature.

Ye Qiao watched intently, marveling, “How amazing.”

It was her first time seeing a formal talisman drawing.

“Of course.” Ming Xuan was extremely pleased, the spiritual flame on his fingertips dancing as if he were a child performing eagerly, waiting for praise.

Ye Qiao played along perfectly, “Wow, that’s incredible.”

Ming Xuan was so flattered that he became a bit lightheaded, “If you want to learn, I can teach you.”

With a few words, Ye Qiao had tricked him thoroughly.

No need to ask; just three sentences and a genius talisman cultivator was teaching her talismans.

Ye Qiao replied, “Thank you, senior brother, but that won’t be necessary.”

She had already memorized it.

Ye Qiao picked up the pen and replicated the drawing method he had taught. The spiritual flame ignited on the paper, the weak flame flickering as if it would go out any second.

Ming Xuan was startled, not expecting her to succeed on the first try. He hurriedly warned, “Wait… the spiritual flame can move.”

Before Ye Qiao could celebrate her success, she watched as the flame on the talisman suddenly flared and shot out.

Ming Xuan quickly dodged to the side, but the bookshelf behind him wasn’t so lucky.

The flame spread rapidly, leaving Ye Qiao with a face covered in soot.

As the flames spread, Ming Xuan swiftly conjured a large water ball and hurled it at the fire, extinguishing it quickly.

“Ye Qiao! Ming Xuan!!”

They had just put out the fire when the manager’s angry roar came from behind them.

It was over.

Barbie Q.

That was the only thought in both of their minds.

The manager rushed over, seeing the scene before him, his face flushed with anger, his mustache twitching.

He let out a furious, impotent yell, “Why are you two playing with fire in the library? Are you crazy?”

“Or do you two have some grudge against me?”

The manager almost passed out from anger. One he could tolerate, but this was a joint offense?

Ming Xuan, feeling guilty, said, “No.”

The main culprit was even more timid, “I wouldn’t dare.”

“Wouldn’t dare?” The manager laughed angrily, “Then why did you burn the library?”

The fire had spread quickly, and several talisman books were half-burned. Some stuck together after being doused with water, clearly ruined.

Seeing this, the manager’s heart bled.

Ye Qiao realized the severity of the situation. Ming Xuan had emphasized repeatedly that these books were unique copies. Now, seeing the damage, she knew she deserved to be beaten half to death if the manager didn’t have a good temper.

Feeling guilty, she hesitated before asking, “Elder, is there a recording stone?”

Since the books were unique, there must be a way to record them, in case of such incidents.

The manager, hands on hips, snapped, “What use is a recording stone?”

Recording stones could only be viewed once. After that, they were useless, and they were extremely expensive. Who could remember everything after just one viewing?

Ye Qiao knew it wasn’t right to let others bear the consequences of her mistakes. She tentatively suggested, “How about this? If you trust me, could you give me the recording stones of these books?”

She promised, “I’ll transcribe them completely for you.”

Ming Xuan had mixed feelings.

Was she really that loyal?

Wait…

Transcribe everything?

For a moment, everyone’s eyes were on Ye Qiao.

The manager’s angry face softened a bit in surprise, “Really?”

She nodded, “Yes.”

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, the manager’s harsh tone softened a bit. He remembered hearing that this girl had an eidetic memory.

The manager’s voice calmed, “In that case, give it a try.”

He fumbled around and produced several recording stones, glaring, “Go to the forbidden area to transcribe. Don’t come out until you’re done.”

Ye Qiao immediately agreed and ran off.

“And you.” The manager knew Ming Xuan was definitely involved, “You go with her. You can come out when she’s done transcribing.”

Ming Xuan, who thought he had dodged a bullet: “…”

*

“Your little sister is causing trouble again.”

Zhou Xingyun sighed, “Ye Qiao?”

“What did she do?”

The other person smirked, “She burned down the library managed by the steward, and she did it with Ming Xuan. Impressive, right?”

Zhou Xingyun: “…”

In just one night, the news of Ye Qiao and Ming Xuan setting fire to the library spread throughout the sect.

One could say that even though she wasn’t present, the entire sect was buzzing with tales of her exploits.