Lin Ya stared at Yun Jin, the corner of his lips twitching once, then twice.
Finally, he glared at her fiercely. "What do you think I want to do?!"
Yun Jin thought about it seriously, then declared with full confidence, "Today I brought great honor to our Tianjian Peak. Obviously, Master, you want to praise me. Please, go ahead. I can take it."
Lin Ya's jaw clenched. Without another word, he raised his wine gourd and swung it toward Yun Jin.
Yun Jin was stunned. She dodged while running, shouting, "Master, what are you doing?! You're being unreasonable! You're being ungrateful! You're going to break the heart of your most loyal disciple!"
Loyal disciple?!
She had the nerve to call herself that?!
Lin Ya only grew angrier.
~
A stick of incense later.
At Tianjian Peak.
Yun Jin sat stiffly, her expression full of indignation.
Lin Ya glared at her. "Three months! You dare challenge a Nascent Soul cultivator after just three months of training? Yun Jin, if you're looking for death, there are better ways to go about it!"
He was truly furious.
This little disciple had such a bright future ahead of her. If things went well, she might even catch the attention of the Kunlun Sword Sect someday. That would lift her out of the quagmire that was Tianxing Sect.
But no, she had to act all arrogant and throw herself into a life-or-death duel!
That Zhao Wuji and his disciples were indeed infuriating.
Lin Ya had long been grinding his teeth in frustration, but when outmatched, one had no choice but to endure.
"Master, what's done is done. Getting angry won't change anything now." Yue Zhao spoke with calm authority. "Ruan Jun's strength is slightly below mine, but not by much. From now on, I'll personally train Junior Sister every day—beating her a few hundred times each session. She'll improve somewhat."
Yun Jin: "???"
"Are you even human?!"
She strongly suspected Yue Zhao was also taking this chance to get back at her.
"If Senior Brother gets tired, I can help too." Si Wanning offered kindly.
Yun Jin: "???"
"Even Second Senior Sister…"
"That's not a bad idea." Lin Ya sneered. "Then it's settled!"
"Wait!" Yun Jin quickly interjected. "I know everyone is worried about me, but I do have a real chance of winning."
"Or maybe we just really want to hit you." Yue Zhao smiled.
Yun Jin blinked her large, glittering eyes. "I don't believe that. I'm pure and adorable. You wouldn't bear to."
That thick skin of hers was something else.
The sheer audacity left the others speechless.
After a long silence, Lin Ya let out a sigh. "Let's talk seriously now. Your junior sister has a life-and-death duel in three months. During that time, all resources will be redirected to her. If she dies, at least let her die gloriously. Any objections?"
None of the disciples disagreed.
Yue Zhao said, "Master, I've saved up quite a few spirit stones. I'll exchange them all for pills these next few days to boost her cultivation as much as possible."
"I'll find her a suitable magic weapon," Si Wanning added.
Yu Songnian looked anxious—what could he do?
"Third Junior Brother, you'll keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't go out and show off." Yue Zhao assigned.
That sounded manageable. Yu Songnian nodded in relief.
Lin Ya turned to Yun Jin. "I'll be watching you personally for the next three months. But your most important task is still the Azure Lotus Sword Art. If you can grasp its basics in time…"
"I'll win?" Yun Jin asked hopefully.
Lin Ya snorted. "You'll die with the reputation of a sword prodigy."
He wasn't joking.
Even if a Earth-grade sword art could bridge the gap between realms, Yun Jin would at least need to reach the Golden Core stage.
Three months to Golden Core?
Hah. She'd have better luck dreaming about it.
Yun Jin pouted. "Do you really have so little faith in me? I'm actually a once-in-ten-millennia genius. My talent isn't just in swordsmanship—I excel in everything."
"Mhm, we all know that," Yue Zhao said, standing up. "Master, I'll go exchange spirit stones for pills."
Lin Ya nodded. "Go ahead."
Market?
Pills?
Yun Jin quickly stood. "Senior Brother, I've never seen the world before. If you're going to the market, take me with you!"
Truthfully, Yun Jin thought buying pills outright was a waste.
She could just buy herbs and refine them herself—it'd only cost a few simplification points.
Plus, this was another chance to show off her unparalleled alchemy talent.
A swordswoman?
That was far from her limit.
Yue Zhao hesitated.
Yun Jin just stared at him with big, pleading eyes.
He had long grown used to her dramatic tendencies, but when she looked at him like that, all soft and cute, he couldn't bear to refuse.
"…Fine. But you must follow my instructions and not wander off."
"Got it!" Yun Jin agreed eagerly.
Yue Zhao still looked at her with some doubt, but seeing her sincere expression, he reluctantly agreed.
~
The region surrounding the Tianxing Sect lay within the borders of the Canglan Kingdom.
Canglan had one super-sect, ten high-tier sects, five mid-tier sects, and countless minor ones.
Tianxing Sect was a mid-tier sect. Within the range of its hundred-mile-long mountain range existed another mid-tier sect: the Desolate Stone Sect. Several small sects also relied on these two to survive.
The marketplace sat in a mountain clearing at the midpoint between Tianxing Sect and Desolate Stone Sect.
When they were close, Yue Zhao withdrew his flying sword.
He tossed Yun Jin a mask. "Wear this. It can alter your appearance."
He put one on himself, transforming into a middle-aged man.
Yun Jin thought for a moment, then turned into a rather plain-looking young woman. Walking beside Yue Zhao, they resembled a father and daughter.
"I have a few businesses in the market," Yue Zhao explained. "I need to settle some accounts. Just follow me."
Yun Jin nodded obediently.
Then she watched Yue Zhao dart busily from one shop to the next.
He seemed quite popular—everywhere he went, people greeted him warmly.
He responded to each one with equal ease.
"Some of these shops I've offered advice to. Others I have shares in. A few rely on my connections," he explained. "So I come by regularly to collect my dues."
Yun Jin clicked her tongue in admiration.
"This senior brother is definitely a transmigrator. And likely a business expert in his past life."
She didn't plan to expose him yet, instead gazing at him with admiration. "Senior Brother, you're amazing."
But instead of preening, Yue Zhao sighed. "Xiao Jin, in the end, this world runs on strength. If I weren't at the late-stage Nascent Soul realm, they wouldn't deal with me. If I can't advance further… this is as far as I'll go."
A trace of melancholy crossed his face.
He had come to this world seeking longevity, the path to immortality. But everyone's talent had a ceiling, and it seemed he had already hit his.
Yun Jin fell silent for a moment before saying, "Senior Brother, don't worry. Things will get better."
"With me here, they will."
"Enough of that. Come, let's get you some Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment pills." Yue Zhao shook off his gloom and led her to the next stop.
Inside the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, while Yue Zhao browsed pills, Yun Jin's gaze drifted to another counter.