Si Wanning's hand immediately went to her sword hilt. As the saying goes, those who provoke first deserve what they get. Giving this woman a little lesson shouldn't be a problem, right?
The moment she made a move, the bootlicker squad that had followed Ye Danxia jumped forward and blocked her path.
Bootlicker No. 1 sneered, "Senior Sister Si, Junior Sister Ye was just speaking a little truth, and you're already upset? Your composure is a bit lacking, don't you think?"
Bootlicker No. 2 chimed in with praise instead. "Junior Sister Ye just speaks her mind. That kind of straightforwardness is a rare and beautiful quality! Senior Sister Si, you startled her, so it's only right you apologize."
Si Wanning: "???"
She hadn't even done anything, and this thing was already scared?
Her temper flared, and she couldn't hold back anymore. Just as Si Wanning rolled up her sleeves to throw hands, Yun Jin's sweet voice chimed in:
"Second Senior Sister, have you heard of an animal in the mortal world called a duck?"
The sudden topic shift made Si Wanning pause. She blinked in confusion but nodded.
"Well, ducks are truly straight-bodied creatures. Do you know their greatest trait? They eat and... excrete at the same time. They can't hold anything in, literally. Nothing gets stored. So, now do you understand why Junior Sister Ye is a so-called 'straight-shooter'? Do you get what just came out of her mouth?"
Yun Jin's lips curled into a smile.
Holy—
Holy shit?!
Si Wanning burst out laughing.
Her little junior sister was brilliant!
She immediately played along, putting on a shocked expression. "I get it now, I get it! A straight-bodied creature, huh? Normally, that sort of thing comes out the back end. Who'd have thought someone could spit it from their mouth?"
Yun Jin nodded in agreement. "Junior Sister Ye is clearly not ordinary."
The two of them sang in perfect harmony, and Ye Danxia's face turned an alarming shade of green.
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
No wonder she was the protagonist—even without defending herself, her loyal dogs barked for her.
Yun Jin's smile widened as she turned to face the others. "Now I understand something else. If Junior Sister Ye enjoys spraying filth from her mouth, why are you all so eager to crowd around her? Second Senior Sister, there's an old saying: a dog can't stop itself from eating its own waste. Does that make sense now?"
Si Wanning nodded seriously. "Perfectly. These people... they're just dogs, aren't they?"
"Second Senior Sister, some truths are better left unspoken. You've hurt their pride." Yun Jin faked concern.
"My mistake." Si Wanning 'apologized.' "Next time I call you dogs, I'll be more tactful."
Yun Jin sighed in admiration. "Second Senior Sister, your ability to reflect and improve is truly remarkable."
At that, not only Ye Danxia, but the entire bootlicker squad's faces turned green as well. As Yun Jin listened to the cheerful chime of emotional value points rolling in, her smile turned dazzling.
"The protagonist truly lives up to her title."
In such a short time, Ye Danxia alone had provided 300 Emotional Value!
For a moment, Yun Jin even looked at Ye Danxia with encouragement.
"Junior Sister Ye, why did you come here again? Feel free to speak up!"
Ye Danxia forced a stiff smile and said through gritted teeth, "Xiao Jin, I was just worried you'd been mistreated. That's why I came to see you. But... you say such things to me. Do you know how much it hurts me?"
Yun Jin let out a cold laugh. "The day I shattered those two bracelets, I already made myself clear. From that moment on, you and I have no further ties. I'm doing quite well here on Tianjian Peak. As long as you don't show up to disgust me, I'll only get better."
Si Wanning's gaze sharpened, her expression cooling as she looked at Ye Danxia. So, this woman had a grudge against her little junior sister and had come specifically to harass her!
Her sweet, innocent, kind-hearted little junior sister must not be bullied!
Si Wanning subtly stepped forward, blocking Ye Danxia's line of sight.
Ye Danxia's eyes welled up with fake tears. "Xiao Jin, I know you were just speaking in anger that day. How can we throw away so many years of friendship?"
"At least not until I get that ring."
Afraid Yun Jin would humiliate her further, Ye Danxia quickly added: "Xiao Jin, I did some research. Tianjian Peak is poorly resourced. The disciples here are struggling. I've already been accepted as a direct disciple by the Sect Master himself. He treats me very well and even gave me a Biling Pill right after I joined. It helps Foundation Establishment cultivators improve their spiritual power. I have a Heavenly Spiritual Root, so I progress rapidly. But you... you have all five elements. Without pills, it's incredibly difficult for you to advance."
She gave Yun Jin a magnanimous smile. "So, I came here today to gift you this Biling Pill."
Her plan was simple:
Yun Jin, with her trash Five Spirit Root, needed this pill.
But given her pride, she wouldn't accept it for free.
"Then, I'll offer to trade it for the ring. She'll jump at the chance."
That ring might seem ordinary now, but Ye Danxia knew it was special. Rumors said the Yun family's ancestors had once saved a fallen cultivator, who left the ring behind. For generations, it had been passed down without showing any peculiarities.
But Ye Danxia's instincts screamed it was extraordinary. She'd get it first and figure it out later!
But Yun Jin saw right through her scheme. She smiled and said, "You want to gift me this Biling Pill? Fine. Consider it repayment for the Yun family's years of raising you."
She stepped forward and took the pill without hesitation.
Ye Danxia: "???"
She had expected Yun Jin to feel awkward, hesitant.
But she just... took it?
Yun Jin tucked the pill away and gave her a curious look. "You're still here? Do you have more treasures for me? Feel free to give them all. I won't mind if you want to repay the Yun family more."
Ye Danxia's smile twitched. "Xiao Jin, this pill is incredibly rare for new disciples."
"And?" Yun Jin raised a brow.
Finally, Ye Danxia blurted out her true goal: "I can give you the pill… but in return, can I have that ring? As a memento?"
Yun Jin laughed coldly. "The Yun family treated you so well, huh? This is a family heirloom—what 'memento' do you need?"
Ye Danxia grew anxious. "Let's just pretend I misspoke before. Xiao Jin, no matter what, it's just a mundane item. I'm offering a Biling Pill in exchange. You're getting the better end of the deal."
"Oh? But didn't you say it was a gift?" Yun Jin smiled coldly. "Ye Danxia, I wasn't sure whether this ring had some hidden function. But now that I see how desperate you are, I'm certain it does."
She said that deliberately.
As expected, Ye Danxia's expression darkened even further. She tried to cover up her panic. "It's just a ring. What secrets could it possibly have? I... I just wanted it as a memento."
"If it's just a keepsake, that's easy." Yun Jin plucked some grass, twisted it into a crude ring, and tossed it over. "Here. A handmade grass ring—just for you."
Ye Danxia: "???"