âMiss Chuzheng, this is what our martial uncle asked to be sent over. Have a look, is there anything missing?â
The disciple from Ziyun Sect stood respectfully in front of Chuzheng, with quite a few items placed beside her.
âAsk him.â
Chuzheng pointed to Li Tang standing off to the side.
Li Tang: ââ¦â
Li Tang indicated that nothing was missing and that they had arranged everything very well, without any neglect.
âThen the disciple will return to report.â The Ziyun Sect disciple made a gesture of respect in preparation to take his leave, but after a few steps, he turned back and said, âMiss Chuzheng, the martial uncle said that if this young master wishes to cultivate, he may also join the sect disciples.â
Chuzheng had spent so many Spirit Stones, and Li Tang was someone who followed her; he did not seem like someone with cultivation ability. Ziyun Sect was clearly trying to show goodwill.
âHe doesnât need to.â
âThank you,â Li Tang thanked him before Chuzheng could reply.
Chuzheng watched the Ziyun Sect disciple walk away, giving him a cold glance.
What about her teaching?
Were they playing a trick on her?
âI need to move around within Ziyun Sect,â Li Tang explained. âI came to Ziyun Sect with a purpose.â
He had originally planned on sneaking into the sect and then inquiring about his fatherâs affairs.
But what he hadnât anticipated was how exactly she would enter the sect.
He was also certain about one thing, what she had said earlier about the people from Ziyun Sect being weaker than her was true.
âHmm.â
Chuzheng turned and left.
Li Tang frowned slightly. Was she angry? But she did not seem to be, she was always like thisâ¦
Why did he feel like she was upset?
â
The disciples descending from North Spirit Peak were immediately stopped by a few fellow sect members.
âSenior Brother, whoâs staying up on North Spirit Peak?â
âSenior Brother, please tell us.â
The sect disciple waved his hands, âDonât go nosing around, this person is an esteemed guest of our sect, and itâs not permissible to disturb them.â
âIf you donât tell us, Senior Brother, what if we run into the guest and offend them by mistake?â
âThisâ¦â The sect disciple scratched his head, âWell, then Iâll tell you a little.â
âQuick, tell us, Senior Brother,â they were eager to know who was staying at North Spirit Peak, which hadnât been occupied for a long time.
The sect disciple didnât know much, only that there were two people staying there, one named Chuzheng and the other Li Tang.
The two seemed about the same age, and it wasnât clear what their relationship was.
The martial uncle treated them as very important guests, forbidding any neglect, and also mentioned that anything requested by North Spirit Peak must be provided promptly.
âThat one named Young Master Li Tang will supposedly study with us. If you see him, be polite,â the sect disciple said.
âIs he very powerful?â
The sect disciple thought for a moment, âHe looks like he has no cultivationâ¦â
âHow can he study with us without any cultivation?â
âDidnât you also have no cultivation when you entered the sect?â The sect disciple retorted, âAlright, disperse now, there are a lot of new disciples entering the sect lately, donât cause more trouble.â
The fellow sect members glanced at each other and prepared to leave.
âSenior Brother Lin.â
âSenior Brother Lin.â
Lin Chen came down the side path, his face stern, âWhat are you all doing at the foot of North Spirit Peak?â
âSenior Brother Lin, did you know that our sectâ¦â One of the disciples, too quick of mouth, immediately blurted out everything he had just heard to Lin Chen.
âSince they are esteemed guests, why are you still lingering here?â Lin Chen spoke in a low voice, âNow disperse.â
The disciples clearly feared Lin Chen, âYes.â
Lin Chen glanced in the direction of North Spirit Peak, then walked away with a heavy heart in another direction.
Three days later.
The new disciples of the Outer Sect were settled in and began their classes.
The Outer Sect disciples were taught by the brothers and sisters of the Inner Sect. The sect seemed to worry that Li Tang wouldnât keep up with the pace of the Inner Sect disciples and had him start by attending classes on the Outer Sect side.
âWho is that standing over there? Why havenât I seen him among the new disciples before?â
âHeâs quite handsome, an Inner Sect brother?â
âNo, Inner Sect brothers have embroidered blue patterns, and personally transmitted disciples have silver patterns.â
âWow, you know a lot.â
âYouâll know just by observing.â
âI think he looks better than Zhao Yue, what do you guys think?â
Li Tangâs eyes flickered darkly when he heard the name Zhao Yue, perhaps by coincidenceâ¦
âZhao Yue is here.â
The Zhao Yue they were talking about entered with a few followers, scanned the room, and his gaze landed on Li Tang.
Li Tang knew this wasnât over.
This was the Zhao Yue he knew.
Once a lackey for Young Master Song, Zhao Yue had bullied him relentlessly when his mother was still alive.
There was one time Zhao Yue almost caused him to lose a leg. If his mother hadnât found out in time, he would be a cripple now.
âWhy do you look so familiar to me?â Zhao Yue walked straight up to Li Tang, unabashedly scrutinizing him.
âYouâve got the wrong person.â He had no power now and didnât want to conflict with Zhao Yue, let alone cause trouble for her.
âHow do you know Iâve got the wrong person?â Zhao Yue stroked his chin, evidently intrigued. âThe more I look at you, the more familiar you seem. Iâve definitely seen you before!â
âThe instructing senior brother is here!â
Someone shouted. Zhao Yue clearly couldnât remember at the moment. Hearing that the senior brother had come to teach, he left with a âwait here, donât goâ and took his entourage with him.
All new disciples, their lectures were all about conceptual knowledge, which many of them knew.
Yet even this kind of conceptual knowledge was fresh to Li Tang, as no one would teach him these things.
â
Chuzheng sat in front of the main hall of North Spirit Peak, cradling a fluffy Spiritual Beast, stroking it with a serious face.
This Sect had its good points after all.
The Spiritual Beastâs ears twitched, as if it heard something, and wriggled out of Chuzhengâs hands, disappearing in a few bounds.
As the Spiritual Beast vanished, a silhouette approached in the sunset.
Li Tang seemed to see Chuzheng sitting there and turned to walk towards his own room.
Chuzheng: ââ¦â The Good Person Card is ignoring me!!
When Chuzheng bumped into him later that evening in the corridor, Li Tang passed by with his head down.
Chuzheng grabbed him: âWhatâs wrong with your face?â
âNothing.â Li Tang pressed his head down further, avoiding Chuzhengâs scrutiny.
Chuzheng rudely pushed him, using invisible force to make Li Tang sit beside her on the corridor. Her fingertips, carrying a slight chill, pinched his chin, forcing him to look up.
Li Tangâs face was swollen, streaked with blood.
âDid someone hit you?â
Li Tangâs eyes darted away, turning his face aside: âI can handle it myself.â
Chuzheng was silent for a few seconds before saying, âGood.â
Then she walked away with her hands behind her back.
Li Tang watched her back, touching the spot she had just touched, which suddenly began to burn.
He jerked his hand back as if electrified.
Li Tang went back to his room, covering his arm and shifting uncomfortably.
He stripped off his clothes, revealing a swath of bruises on his arm.
âCreakâ¦â
The door suddenly opened, and Li Tang hurriedly pulled on his clothes, turning to see who it was.
Chuzheng walked in from outside: âCome here.â
Her voice, plain and level, carried an undeniable force.
Li Tang, holding his clothes, approached: âWhatâs the matter?â
Chuzheng motioned for him to sit down.
Li Tang hesitated, then sat next to her.
âStarting today, Iâll teach you how to cultivate,â Chuzheng said.
Li Tang thought she had come to discuss his injury, but to his surprise, she offered to teach him.
âYou⦠are you really going to teach me?â
Chuzheng asked, âCan you feel Demonic Qi?â
Li Tang: âThis is the Ziyun Sect, how could there be Demonic Qi?â
Chuzheng switched the subject without changing expression: âCan you feel Spiritual Energy?â
Li Tang: ââ¦â
After a moment, he shook his head.