“Fourth Brother, out of the five of us, I have the most faith in you. Can you figure out a way to bring Yu Zhao back? I… I don’t want her to leave,” Su Ming sobbed, his eyes swollen like walnuts.
He had only wanted Yu Zhao to face some punishment, not to drive her away. No matter how foolish or troublesome she was, Yu Zhao was still his junior sister.
The Lone Moon Peak wasn’t complete without any of its seven disciples.
Cui Jue pondered for a moment. “The one who ties the knot must untie it. I’ll go find Little Junior Sister. If she persuades Master, he might show mercy.”
“Great! Let’s do that!” Su Ming’s face lit up with joy.
As Cui Jue stood up to leave, he turned back to glance at Su Ming. “Aren’t you coming?”
Su Ming buried his head in a wine jar, mumbling in a muffled tone, “You go.”
He couldn’t face Ye Cong Xin right now. Whenever he saw her, he was reminded of the argument between Yu Zhao and their master, a memory he desperately wanted to forget.
Ye Cong Xin was pleasantly surprised when Cui Jue came to visit.
“Fourth Brother, you’ve come out of seclusion!”
Cui Jue smiled faintly and, as always, handed her a bottle of pills.
Delighted, Ye Cong Xin accepted the gift and quickly invited him to sit. Once he was settled, she bustled around preparing tea, her cheerful demeanor infectious.
Cui Jue quietly watched her flit about, his gaze deep and contemplative. He saw no trace of concern for Yu Zhao on Ye Cong Xin’s face. It was as if Yu Zhao’s expulsion from the sect was an insignificant matter, unworthy of mention.
This realization left Cui Jue feeling a bit unsettled.
Still, he said nothing. He sipped the tea Ye Cong Xin brewed for him and even offered polite compliments.
Ye Cong Xin blushed shyly. “Fourth Brother, you flatter me. It’s just a simple skill, not worth such praise.”
Cui Jue set down the tea cup. “Little Junior Sister, there’s another reason I came to see you today.”
The smile on Ye Cong Xin’s face faltered for a moment before returning to normal. “You must be here about Sixth Sister.”
“Yes,” Cui Jue admitted without hesitation.
Ye Cong Xin looked at him earnestly, her tone persistent. “Fourth Brother, do you also believe that Sixth Sister was expelled because of me?”
Cui Jue shook his head.
To him, the situation was a result of Yu Zhao’s impulsive behavior. What started as a minor issue had spiraled into something no one could have anticipated.
Relieved, Ye Cong Xin exhaled softly. She had feared that Cui Jue had come to blame her. Right now, she couldn’t afford to lose even a shred of his favor.
Tears shimmered in her eyes, and her voice choked slightly. “I’m glad you don’t blame me. Third Brother and the others all say it’s my fault that Sixth Sister was expelled. But how could they know the pain I feel inside?”
Cui Jue hesitated briefly before reaching out to pat her head. “They don’t truly blame you. They’re just feeling guilty.”
“I know. I feel guilty too,” Ye Cong Xin said, pretending to be strong as she wiped away her tears. “Fourth Brother, just tell me what you need me to do.”
Cui Jue’s last shred of doubt dissipated. He spoke earnestly, “Little Junior Sister, I hope you can plead with Master on Yu Zhao’s behalf. Master has always doted on you. If you speak up, there might still be a chance to turn things around.”
“Alright.” Ye Cong Xin agreed readily.
After a pause, she added, “But Fourth Brother, it’s not that I want to delay. Master is surely still angry right now. Would it be alright if I wait a few days before approaching him?”
“Of course,” Cui Jue said, his spirits lifting.
Convincing Little Junior Sister was half the battle won.
“Alright, Fourth Brother, just wait for my good news.”
Ye Cong Xin watched Cui Jue leave with a gentle smile on her face. However, as she turned around, her expression immediately shifted to one of disdain.
“The people from Lone Moon Peak are truly naive,” she muttered coldly. “They actually believe whatever I say.”
She sneered at their plan, thinking, Waiting for me to plead for mercy? Fine, let them wait.
If Yu Zhao could make it back alive, Ye Cong Xin decided, she would admit defeat. But she was determined—nothing and no one would interfere with her plans again.
“System, check Cui Jue’s favorability rating.”
A notification chimed in her mind.
[Ding! Cui Jue’s current favorability: 75 points.]
It had increased by five points.
Ye Cong Xin’s eyes sparkled with excitement as realization dawned on her. She had finally figured out how to win over people like Cui Jue. A few simple words were all it took.
“So easy…” she chuckled, curling her lips into a mocking smile.
A month flew by.
Zhou Jin Yue had just run an errand for the Sect Master Ji Yuan and was on her way back when she was stopped by a young female disciple she didn’t recognize. This girl’s features were plain to the point of being forgettable; there was nothing about her appearance that left a lasting impression.
“Who are you?” Zhou Jin Yue asked hesitantly. It was rare for her not to recognize a fellow disciple from the Five Elements Dao Sect.
“Senior Sister Zhou, it’s me,” the young woman replied in a familiar voice.
Zhou Jin Yue’s eyes lit up. “Junior Sister Yu?”
Yu Zhao nodded with a smile.
Zhou Jin Yue gave her a once-over, her gaze lingering on Yu Zhao’s figure. Although her face had changed, her build remained unmistakable. Upon closer inspection using her divine sense, Zhou Jin Yue noticed a barely discernible spiritual energy fluctuation covering Yu Zhao’s face.
“Junior Sister Yu, your illusion technique has grown more refined,” Zhou Jin Yue praised, genuinely impressed. Even she had nearly been fooled.
Yu Zhao let out a bitter laugh. “It’s out of necessity.”
She explained that when she first descended the mountain, she hadn’t thought to hide her appearance. However, it didn’t take long before she was recognized by other disciples, and soon she was bombarded with intrusive stares and questions. To avoid unnecessary trouble, she’d decided to alter her face.
Understanding Yu Zhao’s predicament, Zhou Jin Yue didn’t pry further. Instead, she warmly invited Yu Zhao to visit the Main Peak, but Yu Zhao declined.
“Senior Sister Zhou, I’m here to say goodbye. I plan to travel for a while, and I’m not sure when I’ll return. But I should make it back before the Cultivation World Grand Competition.”
The winner of the competition would earn the chance to ascend the Floating Island.
Located in the Endless Sea, the island opened only once every hundred years, and only a hundred people could enter each time. It was said that the spiritual energy there was so dense it could almost become tangible, and treasures of unimaginable value were hidden within. The island was also rumored to hold the legacies of ancient cultivators.
For centuries, the opening of the Floating Island had sparked fierce competition, leading to bloody battles throughout the cultivation world. Eventually, the sects decided to organize a formal competition, where the victors would earn the limited spots. This tradition became the Cultivation World Grand Competition.
Initially, only disciples of major sects could participate. However, after protests from unaffiliated cultivators, a personal category was added, allowing anyone who met the age requirement to compete.
In her previous life, Yu Zhao’s cultivation level hadn’t been high enough to qualify. But this time, she was determined to try.
“You’re leaving?” Zhou Jin Yue was taken aback but quickly nodded in agreement. “It’s a good idea to explore the world. Staying here would only bring more frustration.”
She couldn’t forget the way Fang Cheng Lang had looked when he left—it hadn’t been the expression of someone who had let go. Zhou Jin Yue worried that Lone Moon Peak’s people might trouble Yu Zhao again. Venturing out might not only broaden Yu Zhao’s horizons but also keep her out of harm’s way.