Chapter 21: Looks like You Really like Me

As morning arrived, Ye Wenxin woke up early and ran to the dining hall for a meal.

There were not many people around, as many were still deep in their dreams. Except for compulsory courses, other training and learning in the Azure Wings Sect were entirely based on self-discipline.

Outer disciples desperately wanted to squeeze into the inner sect, similarly, inner disciples desperately wanted their school masters to notice them, and if they became true disciples, their life would be reversed from then on.

Unfortunately, the Azure Wings Sect’s twelve school masters, with the exception of Fairy Fengya, all had their own true disciples.

The Azure Wings Sect had a wealth of talent, and there were many talented people qualified to be Fairy Fengya’s true disciple. However, unlike the other school masters, Fairy Fengya preferred closed door training over inner sect management, and was unwilling to concern herself with outside matters.

After finding out about Fairy Fengya’s hobby, Ye Wenxin’s heart was in turmoil, she was so scared she would get distracted again and miss out on meeting Fairy Fengya. Four months had evidently passed since she ran off, but she had not even the slightest idea what Fairy Fengya actually looked like.

“Little Sister Wenxin, did you sleep well last night?” A single voice snapped Ye Wenxin out of her musings. Ye Wenxin lifted her head to look and was met with Long Qing’er again. She still wore the red true disciple’s attire, with a teasing smile on her lovely face.

“Of course I slept well. I’m not some three year-old child still needed to be cuddled by my parents.” Ye Wenxin shifted a little in the seat, making ample room for Long Qing’er.

Long Qing’er also forwent formalities and naturally sat down beside Ye Wenxin. Before even touching her chopsticks, she passed Ye Wenxin a chicken leg.

“Then you should eat more, in the eyes of us cultivators, your cultivation is no different than a three year-old.” Long Qing’er smiled mockingly, yet there was not the least bit of spite in that smile.

The two conversed amiably. Upon one glance at Long Qing’er, the others rushed to avoid her. Even Huang Hanyan who was acquainted with Ye Wenxin sat far away, and noticing Ye Wenxin giving her a small nod in the corner of her eye, she kept eating as if nothing happened, showing no intention of making friends with Ye Wenxin.

Ye Wenxin nibbled on the chicken leg, ambiguously inquiring about Long Qing’er and Huang Hanyan’s relationship.

“Didn’t you and Senior Sister Huang get along before? Why are you estranged now?” Ye Wenxin asked, confused, prompting a strained smile from Long Qing’er.

“I’ve said it before, my status is unique, and thus my closeness with Junior Sister Huang caused her no small amount of trouble. She was already in an awkward position in the Azure Wings Sect, so I opted to keep my distance from her.” Long Qing’er’s eyes carried a touch of melancholy; although they were both Azure Wings Sect disciples, they each belonged to different factions.

Huang Hanyan’s family also had a hostile relationship with the Golden Age Dynasty, let alone allowing them to be friends.

“I see, you also have it rough Senior Sister…wait, we’re close too, am I going to be harmed?” Ye Wenxin had a new query, with how Long Qing’er was being so close to her, she might as well be announcing Ye Wenxin as one of the dynasty’s people.

“You’re a different case, everyone knows of your alchemy skills, and every faction wants to cozy up to you, but it looks like Little Sister Wenxin really likes Big Sister, don’t you?” Long Qing’er said smugly, thinking it was her own charm that had won Ye Wenxin over and made their relationship so good.

But in truth, Ye Wenxin knew only a few people.

Moreover, Long Qing’er was her best friend’s niece, so she could not help treating her more favorably as well. But how could she voice this out amidst these bittersweet experiences?

“Senior Sister Long is kind to me, of course I will be kind to you in return,” Ye Wenxin answered. Long Qing’er grabbed her small hand, smile becoming more moved.

After breakfast, Ye Wenxin returned to the Alchemy Workshop.

Despite arriving rather early, there were already a lot of alchemy students in the workshop. As the fundamentals had already been covered, the rest of the time was left for practice. Ye Wenxin had been practicing to the point of throwing up lately, so she planned to take the day off and check on the disciples’ progress.

“Miss Wenxin, may I ask you something…”

“Miss Wenxin, can you tell me some methods for this pill condensing process?”

She did not know why, since Ling Jue’s departure, this group of disciples conversely turned into ten thousand “Why’s”.

Perhaps because Ling Jue was not easy to approach, or Ye Wenxin was too accommodating, which led to more questions from everyone, leaving Ye Wenxin feeling a bit overwhelmed.

During this time, the Sect Master also came to inspect once, seemingly worried that Ye Wenxin could not control these unruly disciples alone. However, seeing the disciples diligently refining pills, the Azure Wings Sect was also very surprised.

“Miss Wenxin, you’re truly astounding, not only did you break through to the Qi Refining stage in a mere two months, you also completely mastered all eight types of pills and became a junior alchemist. How about it, have you made up your mind on which school to choose?” The Azure Wings Sect had twelve schools, although swordsmanship was mainstay, each school master had their own styles, and the content and techniques they taught varied.

“I want to join under Fairy Fengya,” Ye Wenxin answered surely. She came to the Azure Wings Sect for Fairy Fengya, so of course she had to get close to her no matter what.

“Actually, I don’t recommend that, Miss Wenxin.”

The Sect Master’s response was not unexpected, but at the same time, he felt Ye Wenxin was not suited for Fairy Fengya’s school.

“Why does Sect Master say that? Isn’t Fairy Fengya this Azure Wings Sect’s most famous?” Ye Wenxin blinked her eyes, bringing up a subject that stung the Sect Master.

“School Master Fengya is famous because she’s beautiful, but she is not good at teaching disciples, if someone normal came then it’s alright, but you have skills, you mustn’t stifle yourself under School Master Fengya.” The Sect Master earnestly advised, feeling very optimistic about Ye Wenxin’s future.

Even if Ye Wenxin did not become a powerful person, her alchemy techniques could also be a beneficial asset for the Azure Wings Sect’s continued rise to the top of the Ten Great Immortal Sects. To speak frankly, Ye Wenxin had valuable use, and the Azure Wings Sect’s Sect Master recognized this value in her.

Ye Wenxin was naturally aware of the Sect Master’s goal, the reason she worked so hard was because she knew the alchemist was a valuable existence. However, she did not like being treated simply as a pill-refining machine.

“I still prefer School Master Fengya.” Ye Wenxin emphasized once again.

“I’ll add on high-quality weapons and mystic-grade manuals.”

The Sect Master still tried hard to negotiate terms.

“I still prefer School Master Fengya.” Ye Wenxin kept insisting, and the Sect Master’s face became unpleasant. He lowered his voice, his smile gone, “Miss Wenxin, my cultivation and abilities are not inferior to Fairy Fengya’s, as my disciple you might even become the Azure Wings Sect’s successor. Is this bit not more attractive than Fairy Fengya?”

Through his words, Ye Wenxin could sense the pressure emanating from the Sect Master.

Struggling to catch her breath, Ye Wenxin stood tall and continued, “But Fairy Fengya is so pretty, I think it’s better to have a master that’s pleasing to the eye.”

“You…”

The Azure Wings Sect’s Sect Master was indeed somewhat angry, but he could not afford to teach Ye Wenxin a lesson in front of so many disciples.

“And besides, I’m also Young Master Ling Jue’s assistant. If we round things off, I’m considered his half disciple. By blatantly threatening me, a mere girl, aren’t you afraid of offending Medicine King Valley?” Ye Wenxin began to bluff, and anyone with a discerning eye could see that her relationship with Ling Jue was ambiguous. Even if the Sect Master did not know the actual situation, he would not dare to do anything to Ye Wenxin.

The Sect Master’s expression grew even uglier, but he restrained himself from erupting.

Ye Wenxin knew she could not provoke him any further. She stood up and walked off the platform, giving the Sect Master some time to calm down. But thinking back to his expression just now, Ye Wenxin could not help but feel that the Azure Wings Sect might not be able to last long.

Even a person with abilities, no matter how formidable they might be, if they lacked the tolerance and consideration required of a Sect Master, they would be nothing more than trash.

Ye Wenxin sneered inwardly, but her face remained smiling as she guided the students in alchemy, thoroughly enjoying herself in the process.

The Sect Master did not leave; instead, he stood on the platform watching Ye Wenxin. Feeling bored wandering around nearby, Ye Wenxin reluctantly sat back down, sipping the spirit tea Ling Jue left for her, savoring the delicious snacks, and treating the Azure Wings Sect’s Sect Master like he was air.

Suddenly, the earth began to tremble incessantly, causing Ye Wenxin, sitting in her chair, to tremble as well. The intense shockwave caused the pill furnaces of students still practicing alchemy to explode, emitting banging sounds.

One after another, loud booming sounds like some kind of festive celebration.

Ye Wenxin struggled to steady herself, only to see dark clouds gathering in the distance, accompanied by lightning and thunder. Such signs indicated that someone was undergoing a Heavenly Tribulation. Looking in that direction, it happened to be the Azure Wings Sect’s backwoods, where wild beasts were howling frantically, seemingly terrified by this event.

“How could someone be undergoing Tribulation in the backwoods?” It was not Ye Wenxin who voiced the question, but the Azure Wings Sect’s Sect Master standing nearby.

Compared to Ye Wenxin, he seemed more puzzled about who dared to do such a reckless thing in the sect’s backwoods. However, Ye Wenxin had already figured out the answer. If she guessed right, the person undergoing the Tribulation should be that beautiful mute.

She had assumed that mute was also from the Azure Wings Sect, but now it seemed that the beautiful mute probably just went to cultivate in the backwoods because of its abundant spiritual energy, and had no connection to the Azure Wings Sect at all.

If this Azure Wings Sect’s Sect Master went to interfere, it might cause the beautiful mute to deviate again. Ye Wenxin cursed in her heart that the beautiful mute could not have chosen a worse time. The Sect Master beside her was already preparing to fly over to survey the situation.