As Anji’s consciousness gradually returned to reality, she found herself bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. The bustling main courtyard was now quiet. The clashing of sword sounds was replaced with the dull sweeping of brooms as servants tidied the remnants of the day’s activities. Only then did Anji truly become aware of her surroundings as several pairs of amused eyes stared at her.
"Welcome back," Yan Ping greeted, seated on the same chair beside her student. Beside her, several other sect leaders grinned and waved to Anji. For more chapters visit novelFirｅ.net
Hurriedly, Anji clasped her hands with slightly trembling fingers and bowed her head in a deep, sincere apology. Her cheeks were flushed pink with embarrassment, resembling a rosy peach that looked delectable enough to bite.
"Anji apologises to the Elders! I had been so engrossed in thoughts that I did not realise what was happening! Daydreaming usually doesn’t last this long..."
Daydreaming? Unable to contain his amusement, Bai Dajin guffawed and slammed the armrest of his chair with enough force that Anji heard a crack. The poor wooden chair did not stand a chance.
"Do children your age normally daydream about the nature of qi?" he barked. "If every child daydreams like you, all of us would be unemployed."
Chuckling from the far end of their seating arrangement, Chen Zhong was the first to offer the young princess his congratulations.
"Attaining a new stage of enlightenment is an incredibly hard feat, even for experienced cultivators like us," the old man smiled kindly. "Congratulations on becoming one step towards enlightenment, Anji. The Black Tortoise Sect will be rooting for you."
Flattered by the praises coming from the important guests, Anji quickly looked around to see if her parents were around. None of her family members were in sight. With the martial arts exchange concluded the young princess soon realised the horrible side effect of becoming lost in thoughts for many hours.
Chen Zhong pulled out a paper package like a friendly grandfather and handed it to Anji.
"You must be hungry after missing lunch," the old man chuckled. "Please eat those first before dinner."
Remembering her manners despite her gnawing stomach, Anji thanked Chen Zhong politely and carefully undid the string holding the package together. Unwrapping the paper packaging carefully, Anji’s eyes lit up at the brownish-orange dried fruit. She did not often get to eat sweet dried persimmons because they did not grow these fruits in the region. Anji only remembered having them once when she was younger after an inner disciple sister returned from a mission trip.
Taking one, Anji took a tentative bite and almost could not contain her excitement as the powdered sugar hit her tongue. It was as sweet as she remembered it to be. The snack made people want to take another bite after the first. It was a scary addiction. How could dried fruits taste this good?!
Seeing how Anji quickly finished her first dried persimmon, stuffing her cheeks like a hamster would, Bai Dajin decided that they should carry the young princess to the dining room. Zhao Mingfeng left for the study earlier to discuss sect alliance-related matters with Liu Yanxia, leaving the other bored sect leaders to babysit the interesting toddler voluntarily.
Picking the munching child from behind her chair, Bai Dajin hoisted Anji onto his shoulders so that she could use his head as a table.
"Don’t drop any crumbs," he warned her while Zhang Yi complained about Bai Dajin’s lack of safety measures.
"Children are easily injured and weak!" the Azure Dragon sect leader protested. "She might catch a cold with the wind blowing in her face if you carry her like that. Wait till Wanting sees how you abuse her daughter, you’d be banished from coming within ten steps of her!"
Laughing the overprotective concerns off, Bai Dajin grinned.
"Hey, kid! Do you want to fly?"
Fly? Before Anji could understand what Bai Dajin was referring to, the White Tiger sect leader suddenly dropped into a squat. Before anybody could stop him, he had already launched thirty feet into the air with Anji on his shoulders, scattering her snack everywhere in shock at the sudden movement. The poor girl could only scream in terror at the wild ride and pull on the crazy uncle’s hair while he took a ’shortcut’ to the dining room.
"That idiot!" Hong Nian Niang cussed as she quickly gave chase before Bai Dajin could terrorise the young princess any further.
Behind them, Chen Zhong collected the scattered dried persimmons without missing any. It would be a colossal waste if even one fell to the ground. Anji looked as if she enjoyed the snack a lot. Dried persimmons weren’t common snacks in this region, and he wanted to give them all to her.
Yan Ping groaned. She hated attending social meetings, especially with hot-headed cultivators who lacked common sense. Even if her student did not die from an exploding core, she might die from careless child mishandling with these many reckless aunts and uncles.