Chapter 7

Ji Shu sometimes felt that Peng Peng’s way of thinking was a bit peculiar.  

But the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect was indeed a good place for him. He could no longer return to the Supreme Clarity Capital, and with his current level of cultivation, joining any other sect would inevitably arouse suspicion.  

Only the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect, a famously laid-back sect, seemed suitable for a cultivator like him who had no ambition and just wanted to idle away his days.  

“Are you sure?” Ji Shu asked Peng Peng one last time. “If you truly have grand aspirations, a major sect would offer you far more support.”  

Peng Peng clenched her fists and declared solemnly:  

“Even without relying on a major sect, I can carve out my own path!”  

The senior sister from the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect shook her head in dismay.  

Such naive thinking was typical of a child. What was wrong with relying on a major sect? She dreamed of comfortably cultivating under the wing of a powerful sect!  

But the real reason Peng Peng chose the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect was more crucial—  

The senior brothers and sisters from those major sects all seemed incredibly formidable. Though she didn’t know the exact nature of the deep-seated enmity between the cultivation world and the Nether Capital, judging by their attitude toward Evil Demons, Peng Peng feared that if they discovered she was the reincarnation of the Lord of the Nether Capital, they might seal her away just like those demons.  

Hmm… the senior sister from the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect seemed much kinder and gentler, not nearly as ruthless.  

“Senior sister, senior sister, can you let my sister join the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect too?”  

Peng Peng tugged at the senior sister’s sleeve and gazed at her pleadingly:  

“She’s injured, she’s spent all her Spirit Stones, and she didn’t do well in the Ascension to Immortality Assembly. If you don’t take her in, she’ll have nowhere to go. If you agree to bring her along, I can share half of my meals with her—I won’t let you spend extra money on her.”  

Le Yao studied Ji Shu carefully.  

Though she was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, she could tell this person’s cultivation was anything but ordinary. Moreover, if not for exceeding the time limit in the second round, his score would have been the highest.  

A cultivator of such caliber would be fought over by the major sects the moment he expressed interest—how could he possibly have nowhere to go?  

“No need to skimp on your meals. Though our Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect can’t compare to the major sects, we’re not so poor that we’d let you go hungry. If this junior sister wishes to join, she’s naturally welcome… By the way, may I ask your name?”  

Ji Shu’s lips parted slightly, but he hesitated before answering.  

A horrifying realization struck him.  

He was wearing a dress.  

He had already appeared before everyone as Peng Peng’s sister.  

In other words.  

Unless he cut ties with Peng Peng completely, it seemed this female guise was something he’d have to maintain indefinitely.  

“Junior sister?”  

Le Yao tilted her head curiously when he remained silent.  

“…Yi Shu.” Ji Shu uttered the name with an especially grave expression.  

Peng Peng looked puzzled and whispered:  

“Huh? But didn’t you tell me before that your name wasn’t—”  

“And whose fault do you think it is that I’m using this name now?”  

Ji Shu shot her a cold glare.  

Peng Peng, unjustly scolded, wore a look of utter bewilderment.  

Originally, after receiving their sect tokens, Le Yao was ready to take them back to the sect. But Peng Peng insisted on returning to the Gongyi residence first, saying she needed to pack all the things Ji Shu had bought for her.

Le Yao: “Hmm… that works too! Then I’ll go back first to tidy up the living quarters for the two junior sisters. You can have Immortal Master Yue bring you back once you’re ready. Immortal Master Yue—”

Yue Wujiu, who had been called over, only then realized that their Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect had actually managed to recruit disciples this year.

And one of them was someone he recognized.

Yue Wujiu glanced at the little girl who was cheerfully waving at him, then frowned at Le Yao:

“Why should I be the one to take them? I have other matters to attend to.”

Le Yao: “Then would you prefer to tidy up the living quarters for the two junior sisters? Choose one.”

Yue Wujiu looked displeased: “Am I the elder here, or are you?”

Le Yao remained unfazed: “You are, so which one will you choose?”

“…The first one.”

Le Yao nodded in satisfaction.

Joking aside, the fine tradition of their Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect was to avoid any work that could be delegated.

Thus, Yue Wujiu was forced into overtime, accompanying Peng Peng and the others back to the Gongyi residence.

The household had already received news of Gongyi Lang’s acceptance into the Kunlun Ruins. The entire estate was decorated with lanterns and banners to celebrate this joyous occasion, and the family head, Gongyi Hao, along with his wife, personally came to the gate to welcome them.

To their surprise, the first person they saw was not their son, but someone who shouldn’t have been there.

“Gongyi Peng?”

Peng Peng shrank behind Ji Shu and Yue Wujiu.

Though she was young and often forgot the wrongs done to her, she remembered that there had been a time when she had enough to eat. It was after that year when the nursemaid first took her to the New Year’s Eve banquet, and this man had looked at her with disgust. Afterward, the nursemaid began secretly eating most of the food meant for her, leaving only scraps of broth.

Then, the clothes in her room and the valuable jewelry left by her mother quietly disappeared one by one.

The nursemaid never returned, and she never had enough to eat again.

No one could help but fear those who held power over their fate. Peng Peng instinctively felt a deep dread toward him.

Gongyi Hao stared in astonishment at the little girl before him.

He had nearly forgotten this person even existed in the household. Seeing her suddenly appear here, looking so different from the malnourished child in his memory, it took him a long moment to speak:

“Don’t tell me… you also participated in the Ascension to Immortality Assembly today?”

Peng Peng peeked out halfway, mustering a bit of bravado: “S-so what if I did…?”

“Outrageous!”

The man who ruled over this vast family flew into a rage:

“You have a Celestial Deficiency Physique, and you’re only five years old! To participate in the Ascension to Immortality Assembly with such a frail body is nothing but a disgrace to the Gongyi family! You’ve shamed us all! Someone—! Bring me the Soul Awakening Staff!”

At the mention of the Soul Awakening Staff, Peng Peng scrambled up into Yue Wujiu’s arms like a monkey.

Yue Wujiu had never held a child before. As her soft arms clung desperately to his robes, he had no idea how to hold her without either dropping her or accidentally crushing her to death.

Peng Peng only cried out:

“Immortal Master, save me! I don’t want to be a tiger at the mercy of dogs!!”

Ji Shu: ? Are you trying to get yourself killed faster??

Gongyi Hao, hearing this, indeed erupted in fury:

“Such insolence! Utter disrespect for your elders! Beating you to death today would not be unjust!”

Peng Peng had seen Gongyi Hao wield the Soul Awakening Staff to enforce family discipline. Such a thick rod—even someone as prideful as Gongyi Lang would wail earth-shatteringly after one strike. With her small frame, a single hit would surely take her life.

Yue Wujiu, who had no desire to clash with anyone, sighed inwardly.

He should have been happily playing tiles at the archway, enjoying himself before heading to the most renowned eatery in Pingchuan Immortal Market for lunch. After the meal, he could have found a spot for a nap, leisurely returning to the sect once rested.

—Instead, he was here babysitting and dealing with her wretched relatives.

“Children speak without restraint, Fellow Daoist, pay it no mind. Gongyi Peng is now a disciple of our Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect. We’ve only come to retrieve some personal belongings and won’t delay for long.”

Gongyi Hao had initially regarded this figure, cold as moonlight, with some awe, privately speculating which reclusive grandmaster from some sect he might be.

But upon hearing “Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect,” his expression twisted.

Pointing at Peng Peng, his finger trembling with rage:

“…Gongyi Peng, do you realize? The Gongyi family has been a prestigious lineage for millennia, once as glorious as imperial royalty. Though times have changed, the family declined, and sects risen, for a Gongyi to join a third-rate sect as a disciple is an utter disgrace…”

Yue Wujiu remained expressionless, not the slightest angered even at “third-rate sect.”

But Peng Peng was furious.

“Let’s go!”

She jumped out of Yue Wujiu’s arms, grabbing his hand with one and Ji Shu’s with the other.

“Forget the stuff! But when I grow up, I’ll avenge today’s humiliation!”

The little girl’s childish voice, huffing with anger, held no intimidation—just a touch of adorableness.

Ji Shu didn’t move. “Really leaving it all?”

Peng Peng sniffled.

Truthfully, she couldn’t bear to part with the things Ji Shu had bought her. Though just ordinary bedding, tables, and chairs, they were her first gifts—not scavenged, not hand-me-downs, not reeking of garbage.

She loved them dearly.

“Forget it.” Tears welled in her eyes, but her tone was stubborn. “I won’t let you suffer with me. Let’s just go!”

Ji Shu hesitated briefly. But Gongyi Hao’s cultivation wasn’t low—forcing their way in would require swords. Once Supreme Purity Capital Swordplay was unleashed, his identity would be exposed. The gain wasn’t worth the risk.

Yue Wujiu glanced at her, his dark eyes unreadable.

“Let’s go.”

The three truly left without looking back.

Yue Wujiu carried them both via Sword Control. Before sunset, the Amethyst Verdant Pill Chamber of Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect gradually emerged through the mist.

The sight lifted Peng Peng’s spirits, pulling her from her gloom.

“Wow—it’s so pretty.”

The sect at the horizon wasn’t the dilapidated ruin she’d imagined.

Across the boundless plains floated several inverted cone-shaped islands, lush with flora and birds. Though the buildings lacked the gilded extravagance of major sects like Kunlun Ruins, their black-tiled beams exuded a quaint charm.

In short, it was worlds apart from the destitute, ramshackle sect she’d pictured.

Outside the mountain gate, Le Yao, the senior sister they’d met at the Ascension to Immortality Assembly, waved at them.

“Dinner’s ready! Junior Sister Peng Peng! Junior Sister Yi Shu! Today, Zhao Chuniang has prepared a lavish feast to welcome you both!”

Peng Peng, sprawled on her sword, froze for a moment.

This was the first time someone had waited for her to eat.

Qiuqiu on her shoulder flapped its wings excitedly: “Qiuqiu is hungry too! The food here won’t be spoiled, right? Qiuqiu doesn’t want to eat spoiled food again.”

Yue Wujiu, who had been sitting cross-legged behind her, glanced at the petite girl.

As they reached the mountain gate, the enthusiastic Le Yao was about to lead them inside when Yue Wujiu suddenly spoke:

“You go ahead and eat. I just remembered I have a mahjong game scheduled with someone. Don’t wait for me.”

Le Yao, accustomed to this, nodded. “Alright then. I’ll take Junior Sisters Peng Peng and Yi Shu—”

“I just remembered something too,” Ji Shu said, stepping back. “I borrowed a veil from a senior sister at the Celestial Music Twelve Palaces and promised to return it this afternoon. Can’t break my word—I’ll be right back.”

Le Yao: ?

Yue Wujiu leaving was one thing, but Ji Shu, a new disciple, also leaving? How was this welcome feast supposed to proceed?

After a moment’s thought, Le Yao suggested:

“Maybe we should wait for your sister to return before we start eating…”

Peng Peng, already entranced by the aroma of the food, stared fixedly in the direction of the scent, drooling as she replied:

“Okay, okay… we’ll wait for Sister to come back… *slurp*… then we’ll eat…”

Le Yao: “No waiting! No waiting! Senior Sister will take you to eat right now!”

As the sun set behind the western hills, darkness enveloped the entire Pingchuan City.

Everyone in the mansion had gone to the southern courtyard to celebrate Gongyi Lang’s occasion, leaving the eastern courtyard silent, guarded only by Automatons.

Ji Shu summoned his sword, its blade gleaming like flowing water as it cleaved through the air. The formidable and exquisitely crafted Puppets shattered like tofu under his strikes. When he infiltrated Peng Peng’s courtyard at top speed, he found Yue Wujiu—who was supposedly off playing mahjong.

A traitorous Automaton, modified by Yue Wujiu’s own hand, cleared the path ahead for him. Not a speck of dust had touched his sleeves as he stowed the last item from Peng Peng’s courtyard into his Mustard Seed Pouch.

The two men locked eyes.

The same thought flashed through both Ji Shu and Yue Wujiu’s minds—  

What a coincidence.  

Here to loot the place too?