Chapter 30: Taking a Master (3) Part 1

◎No matter what, you must respond to me◎

Perhaps because the plot had already collapsed so many times before, Yun Jinxue felt it was strange, but didn’t raise too great a storm in her heart.

And, faintly, there was a feeling of, “As expected.”

Although she could accept this result, she still needed to ask about the details. Yun Jinxue said, “When she faced Cuicuo, did she also end the fight quickly?”

Tuo Xingfeng said, “Correct.”

A few days ago, her defeating the little female lead in one move had already been enough to shock Yun Jinxue.

Fighting seventeen disciples in a row wasn’t incomprehensible either. After all, the little female lead had only been defeated at the final hurdle with Cuicuo. She was far above the little female lead, so it was normal for her to take such actions.

But logically speaking, even if she was formidable, she shouldn’t be so much stronger than Cuicuo.

Now, this somewhat showy result shrouded the little villain’s true strength in a fog of unclear details, making it impossible to guess.

Looking around, the people on the viewing platform had mostly left. The new disciple seating area had been empty just now, and that always conspicuous red was absent.

She didn’t know where the little villain had gone either.

Discovering she was looking for someone, Tuo Xingfeng said, “Junior Sister Jiang left right after the competition ended. Senior Sister can go to the Discussion Hall to see if she’s there. If not, she might have gone back already.”

Before the final list of recruited disciples was out, new disciples were generally settled in the Inner Sect disciples’ residences.

And the little villain, who usually followed Senior Sister, had her own residence and naturally didn’t need special arrangements. She was either with the other disciples at the Discussion Hall waiting for the recruitment results, or she had gone straight back to Sword Summit.

Yun Jinxue froze for a moment, thinking: She finished the competition, and actually didn’t wait to go with me, just left like that?

Although she hadn’t seen her expression, Yun Jinxue inexplicably felt that she must be angry.

For such an important competition, she probably would have wanted her to be there watching.

But missing it truly wasn’t Yun Jinxue’s wish.

She had clearly calculated the time, but hadn’t expected her to end the fight in such a short time.

But missing it was a fact. Leaving without a single word like this, she was definitely sulking.

Thinking of the little female lead still waiting for her in the resting room, Yun Jinxue felt her heart being wrung bit by bit, troubled and sour.

Up until now, it seemed it had happened many times, because of one person, carelessly neglecting another.

If only she could have a heart like grass and trees, be just an emotionless task-completion tool, she wouldn’t always be so troubled.

But she wasn’t.

Bidding farewell to the Elder’s disciples, Yun Jinxue went to the resting room to pick up the little female lead and brought her along to the Discussion Hall.

As soon as they entered the courtyard gate, they saw a large group of new disciples gathered in twos and threes in the courtyard, chatting enthusiastically.

Listening briefly, they were either nervously guessing who they would follow to cultivate. Or praising the Divine Zenith Sect for being worthy of the number one great sect, with all facilities so complete. Or reminiscing about that red-clothed girl’s brilliant performance just now, truly admirable.

When Yun Jinxue walked into the courtyard, all discussion instantly ceased. Pairs of eyes openly or secretly glanced over.

Youngsters couldn’t hide their emotions. The admiration and yearning were so evident that Yun Jinxue even felt some pressure.

Nodding in greeting to them, Yun Jinxue led the person through the courtyard and into the main entrance of the Discussion Hall.

The young attendant closed the door behind them. The halted conversations immediately heated up again, muffled through the door, but a few key phrases could still be heard.

“Senior Sister…” “… worthy of Dao Rhythm Immortal Lord…” “… truly untainted and refined…” “… makes one yearn…”

Yun Jinxue felt a bit embarrassed. Looking back, the little female lead was grinning happily behind her.

She said, somewhat annoyed, “What are you laughing at?”

Yan Guixing suppressed her smile and looked up, saying, “They think the same as me.”

This girl, always landing a heart-stopping blow at unexpected moments.

Yun Jinxue curved her lips and rubbed her head: “Alright, let’s go find out who your Shizun will be.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha!” A burst of laughter came from inside the Discussion Hall.

Yun Jinxue passed through several rooms piled with documents and arrived at an open-style main hall.

Inside, sunlight was bright. A circle of green plants was planted by the side, and a large round table was placed in the middle. Several Elders were gathered around the table, vigorously discussing the details of this Apprentice Ceremony. Young attendants moved through the hall, serving tea or replacing materials, bustling about.

Perhaps having encountered many promising talents, several Elders had booming voices and looked to be in quite a good mood.

Yun Jinxue parted the beaded curtain and asked, “Greetings, Elders. Has anyone seen where my other Junior Sister is?”

Hearing the voice, Qiu Yuanxing turned and slapped the table: “Perfect timing! Dao Rhythm, I want to take that girl behind you as a disciple, alright?”

Yun Jinxue wasn’t surprised. She had guessed this outcome before.

In the original book, the little female lead followed Yan He, who was patient, liked to encourage, and never spoke harshly with gentle guidance. She also had a Senior Sister just as gentle, and never suffered any grievances.

And now, following Qiu Yuanxing, who was righteous and powerful, with an elder brother figure full of responsibility, was also a very good choice.

Leaving the little female lead to them, Yun Jinxue was very reassured.

She stepped aside, gently nudging the little female lead forward to show herself: “First, call him Shizun for Great Elder to hear.”

The hall instantly quieted. Being watched by so many people at once, Yan Guixing was a little nervous. Fortunately, her Senior Sister’s hand was still on her shoulder, giving her some courage.

She bent slightly: “Greetings, Shizun.”

“Ha ha ha, good!” Qiu Yuanxing clapped his hands and laughed loudly: “I never expected at my age to still receive such a satisfactory disciple. It’s worth it!”

Qiao Yushan sipped her tea and smiled: “Your other Junior Sister, the one called Jiang Yanyu, right? She left right after the competition ended and hasn’t been here. Do you want to go look elsewhere?”

Her mood, which had just risen, sank again. Yun Jinxue said, “Is that so? Alright, I understand.”

Tang Zhongren murmured those three words: “Jiang Yanyu. Such achievement at this age, this child is truly a rare genius.”

Qiu Yuanxing said, “Yes, a pity she doesn’t want to be an Elder’s disciple.”

Yun Jinxue, hearing this, asked, “Did she say so?”

Qiao Yushan spun an empty teacup in her hand: “When she won the match, we asked her directly who she wanted to follow. She said she would find a suitable Shizun herself, and hasn’t decided yet.”

Qiu Yuanxing said, “Taking a master is about mutual choice. We all praise her excellence and cherish talent, but since she has no intention, we’ll just follow her wishes.”

After saying this, he looked at Yan Guixing and said, “Coincidentally, she’s right here now. Our side will be done in a bit. How about letting her wait here a little, and I’ll take her back directly later?”

Yun Jinxue was stunned, and subconsciously looked at the little female lead.

The girl also happened to look over, her face slightly panicked. Her hand grabbed Yun Jinxue’s sleeve.

Although she knew parting was inevitable for a time after the Apprentice Ceremony, this was too sudden and too fast.

Following the sleeve, she held her hand. Yun Jinxue said, “Some of her things are still at my place. Let me take her back to pack up first. A bit later, I’ll send her over to your place.”

Qiu Yuanxing said, “That’s also fine. Good.”

After leaving the Discussion Hall, the two walked towards Sword Summit.

Recalling everything that had happened recently, the thought Yun Jinxue had denied many times in her heart reignited from the ashes.

She thought: Mi Ba, I’m really suspecting more and more now that Windy has been reborn. Or, could she periodically possess knowledge of the original novel’s plot?

Among the current plot points that differed greatly from the original, except for Yan He’s disappearance caused by the System’s people, almost all other parts were related to the little villain.

Counting the dead: the Jiang Family, Yun Kaiye and his followers, Pan Bohun, and so on.

These people were actually all related to the little villain, and had committed crimes against her, held deep grudges. They were people the little villain would immediately return to kill once she had the power.

The current situation was as if many of the people she was supposed to take revenge on later had all died in advance.

Could this be considered a coincidence?

Mi Ba said: 【Aren’t you still alive?】

Yes, this was what Yun Jinxue found hardest to understand.

Those enemies mentioned before, indeed each deserved death. But if you asked who the little villain hated most, it was undoubtedly Senior Sister. Yet she was still living stably and safely until now.

Moreover, not long after escaping Spring Crossing Town, she had fallen into a coma. It was the little villain who brought her to the cave, and painstakingly carried her to find an inn.

Because of a chicken leg and a hair braid, her mood worsened and she remembered it for so long. This couldn’t be something that arrogant, unrestrained person full of hatred could do.

And, if she had truly been reborn, she would inevitably possess power strong enough to destroy the world. Why would she still stay by her side, using such a roundabout way for revenge?

Yun Jinxue’s thoughts were chaotic. She had doubted herself many times on this question.

Mi Ba said: 【Actually, it’s useless to think so much. Better just continue as normal. Whether she’s reborn or not, don’t you still have to do your tasks?】

Yun Jinxue was speechless.

Yes, no matter how twisted the plot ultimately became, no matter where the little villain’s fate went, she still had to do the tasks she needed to do.

What use was thinking so much? It couldn’t change anything, only make her sink into a vortex of internal conflict.

Mi Ba continued: 【You’re a first-time book-transmigrator, so you’re not used to it and feel you can’t integrate into this world.】

【This is because you always view problems from an outsider’s perspective, as a book-transmigrator playing a role rather than a native local character. Naturally, there will be many points of discomfort.】

【You must know, the original novel is only a few hundred thousand words. There are too many details that the text cannot touch or depict. Every ray of sunlight you now bask in, every stone brick under your feet, every person you pass by—were they all mentioned in the book? The world you are experiencing and the one described in the original are not exactly the same.】

【You are already the greatest variable. Even if you try hard to act according to Senior Sister’s character, you ultimately don’t know what choices the few words describing her would make when facing problems. Do you think she would kill Jiang family members for the little villain? Do you think she would proactively seek out Awakening Orifice rather than Luo River Fruit? You never really played this role well from the start.】

【The book can flip through decades with one sentence, but your time passes second by second. Isn’t it normal for changes to occur in between?】

【The success rate for book-transmigrators isn’t really that high. Failures are common. Rather than agonizing all day like this, it’s better to completely cast aside the original plot and truly become this character. You are right now the Divine Zenith Sect’s Senior Sister. You don’t know this is a book, what the future world will bring, or what it will become. You just move forward along the torrent of time. And then you’ll find, all the things you consider strange may ultimately be automatically patched up by the plot.】

【Don’t overthink, truly sink in, do well what you should do, enjoy this process. You’ll find your emotions lessen greatly, and you’ll face problems with more calm.】

Yun Jinxue: …

To think there would be a day she’d consider this detestable System to be spot-on.

Although she had transmigrated into this world three years ago and played this role for three years, she had always considered herself only a temporary visitor, an actor stiffly performing with a script, never having integrated into this world.