Chapter 51: The Female Overseer and the Tragic Fate of the Female Villain

After receiving their inner sect disciple tokens and robes, the group headed to the inner hall to meet with Steward Wan. Shen Xuanli and the two male disciples had already left by then.

About an incense stick later, the group finally met the female steward of the inner hall—Wan Zhao.

Her hair was neatly styled, and she wore a blue administrative robe, with a dark blue belt around her waist. Her face was extraordinarily beautiful, and her eyes were deep and cold, as though they could see through people’s hearts.

When she saw them, the corners of her eyes lifted slightly, exuding an undeniable authority, yet her smile still carried a touch of warmth, making her appear approachable and likable.

While waiting, the system had briefed Ye Qingning about Wan Zhao’s background, informing her that Wan was efficient in handling inner sect affairs, impartial and wise, and had earned the respect of many disciples in the sect.

However, there was some gossip: in the original novel, Wan Zhao harbored feelings for none other than the sect leader of the Penglai Sect, Pei Yin. When Pei Yin took Ye Han Yue as his disciple, he developed feelings for her, which Wan Zhao discovered. From then on, she began targeting Ye Han Yue, but Ye Han Yue was no simple person. Not only did she not fall victim to Wan Zhao’s schemes, but Pei Yin also became more fond of her, even thinking that Wan Zhao was bullying her. Eventually, Pei Yin removed Wan Zhao from her position as steward.

This led to a chain of events where, after being humiliated, Wan Zhao was angered and decided to confront Ye Han Yue. However, she was caught in the act by Pei Yin, who, thinking that Wan Zhao intended to kill Ye Han Yue, became enraged and crippled Wan Zhao’s cultivation. Afterward, Ye Han Yue explained that Wan Zhao only wanted to teach her a lesson, but the damage was already done. Wan Zhao’s cultivation was irreparably lost, and Pei Yin deeply regretted his hasty actions.

Wan Zhao, crushed by the loss of her cultivation and betrayed by the man she loved, eventually left Penglai Sect. She was never heard from again. Before leaving, she said, “In the next life, I won’t enter Penglai, nor do I want to meet Pei Yin again.”

Ye Qingning, upon learning of this fate, felt some sympathy for Wan Zhao. She could relate to Wan Zhao’s despair, especially when considering the tumultuous relationship between Wan Zhao and Pei Yin. The tragic end of Wan Zhao made her question whether Pei Yin and Ye Han Yue’s love story was truly worth it.

At that moment, the system’s voice echoed in her mind: “This Pei Yin and Ye Han Yue are really something. If I were Wan Zhao, I’d probably go mad, too. Forget it, let’s just leave them to their misery.”

Ye Qingning, still lost in thought, was brought back to reality when the disciples all bowed and greeted Wan Zhao. She quickly followed suit, though her response was a little slower than the others.

It was precisely this slight delay that caught Wan Zhao’s attention. Of all the disciples in the group, Ye Qingning stood out the most due to her stunning beauty. Even among the inner sect disciples, no one had looked as exceptional as she did. When Wan Zhao’s eyes landed on Ye Qingning, she noticed something unusual in her gaze—one that seemed to contain emotions Wan Zhao was unfamiliar with, making her wonder if Ye Qingning recognized her or had some other reason for looking at her in such a way.

Despite this, Wan Zhao greeted the group politely, scanning Ye Qingning more carefully. “What’s your name?”

Ye Qingning was a bit surprised that Wan Zhao would ask for her name but still answered respectfully, “Replying to Steward Wan, I am Ye Qingning.”

Wan Zhao’s eyes narrowed slightly. She had heard of Ye Qingning before—the disciple who ranked first in the outer sect trials. There were even rumors that the elders, including Pei Yin, had shown particular favor towards her, with some even thinking of taking her as a personal disciple.

Aside from the strange gaze she had received, Wan Zhao had a favorable impression of Ye Qingning. She had also heard that Ye Qingning possessed dual spirit roots, the rare Thunder and Fire roots, and she looked healthy and capable of extraordinary cultivation.

Wan Zhao then smiled and motioned for everyone to follow her. “Come with me. I’ll show you to your accommodations.”

“Also, take this with you. It contains the schedule of the courses arranged for inner sect disciples. Starting tomorrow, you may attend the lessons. Although these courses aren’t mandatory, I suggest that if you have time, you should attend them. Penglai Sect disciples do not just practice one path, after all.”

The group accepted the book with the course details and followed Wan Zhao to Qingyun Peak.

There were three peaks designated for the inner sect disciples, each towering and connected to one another like three giant figures standing together, winding and stretching like a giant dragon. Qingyun Peak was the central one, standing tall and shrouded in mist, giving off an ethereal, almost heavenly vibe.

The climate on Qingyun Peak was pleasant year-round, with spiritual energy abundant and suitable for meditation and cultivation. The peak’s name, “Qingyun,” was symbolic, representing the hope that disciples could rise to higher levels and eventually ascend to the heavens.

Compared to the outer sect, the living conditions for the inner sect disciples were significantly improved. While the outer sect disciples shared rooms with others, each inner sect disciple was assigned a private room, with only two disciples per courtyard.

Ye Qingning and Bai Wei were placed in the same courtyard, while the second and third-ranked disciples from the recent trials were assigned to the courtyard next door.

These two disciples, sisters named Si Nan and Si Qian, were not from noble families but were discovered by an elder during his travels. Although they had been in the outer sect for five years and had participated in several trials, they had always ranked outside the top fifteen. This time, however, they had made it through the trial.

The two sisters, although similar in appearance, had different temperaments. Si Nan was reserved and aloof, while Si Qian was lively and talkative. Once they had settled into their rooms, Si Qian ran over to talk to Ye Qingning and Bai Wei, offering to team up with Ye Qingning for the upcoming Cloud Mountain Trial.