The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 73

Chapter 73: Disciple and Wife

“Where is Elder Chang Xiang?”

The Heavenly Heart Sect elder in charge of the disciples looked around, then called for Elder Chang Xiang.

Before leaving, Elder Chang Xiang handed Pang Xueting several talismans. “It’s crowded here. Keep these safe. Don’t be ostentatious.”

Pang Xueting accepted them obediently. “Yes, Master. I won’t use them unless absolutely necessary.”

Elder Chang Xiang patted her head, smiling faintly. “Good.”

The Hanshan Sect was bustling with visitors. Pang Xueting, heeding her master’s instructions, stayed with her fellow disciples.

Seeing Pang Xueting, Tu Shimei and a few others approached.

Besides Pang Xueting, Tu Shimei and Zhuang Shimei, who had barely made the cut, had also qualified for the competition.

Zhuang Shimei wasn’t interested in winning. He was simply there for the experience, having trained relentlessly just to make it onto the list.

Tu Shimei: “Where have you been? I was looking for you.”

Pang Xueting smiled, but before she could answer, another voice interrupted. “Weren’t you going to try and cozy up to Elder Cen? Back so soon? Did she throw you out?”

The Heavenly Heart Sect disciples surrounding the young man in yellow laughed.

Pang Xueting frowned. “When did I say I was going to ‘cozy up’ to anyone?”

The young man, their sect’s Young Master, shrugged, his arms crossed. “Fine, you didn’t say it. I won’t argue with a woman.”

Pang Xueting’s frown deepened. “But we did argue. And you lost.”

The mention of their previous encounter brought a wave of awkward silence.

The Young Master’s face flushed, a mix of anger, embarrassment, and… fear.

He sneered. “You dare bring that up?”

Pang Xueting, her voice calm, replied, “I have nothing to be ashamed of. Why wouldn’t I bring it up?”

The Heavenly Heart Sect specialized in sword cultivation, but the Young Master preferred beast taming, having become the disciple of a reclusive Grand Elder specializing in that field. His talent, however, had inflated his ego, his behavior becoming increasingly arrogant and unrestrained.

His father’s reprimands had no effect, so he had been left to his own devices, until he encountered Pang Xueting.

During the sect’s annual competition, where all disciples were assessed, the Young Master, eager to prove his superiority, had manipulated the draw to face Elder Chang Xiang’s first disciple.

He had assumed Talisman Cultivators were weak and ineffectual, their days spent drawing symbols and contemplating nature.

But Pang Xueting, facing a giant tiger about to bite her in half, had calmly drawn a high-level Explosive Talisman, its power exceeding her current realm, obliterating the spirit beast.

While his defeat in the competition hadn’t been a major issue, his arrogant attempt to assert his dominance, followed by the backlash from the exploding spirit beast, which had sent him tumbling headfirst off the stage, covered in dirt, two teeth knocked out, had been humiliating.

He had known he would lose, but not so spectacularly.

The incident had created a lasting resentment.

Zhuang Shimei, remembering the scene, chuckled, covering his mouth with his sleeve. “Sorry, I just remembered something funny. Someone… falling face-first into the dirt.”

Tu Shimei, also struggling to contain her amusement, giggled. “Sorry, I was also thinking about something funny.”

“You… you dare mock me?!” The Young Master pointed at them, his face red with anger.

A loud explosion, followed by a beast’s roar and the clang of swords, echoed from nearby.

The commotion drew the attention of a passing group of cultivators.

The woman leading the group, dressed in a red inner robe and a blue outer robe, turned, her brow furrowing slightly. “What was that?”

Another female cultivator, glancing towards the source of the noise, said, “Senior Sister Jin, that’s the Hanhai Courtyard. The Heavenly Heart Sect’s lodgings.”

“Heavenly Heart Sect? Sounds familiar.” The woman, addressed as Senior Sister Jin, bowed politely to the other cultivators. “Excuse me, fellow cultivators.”

She adjusted her grip on her sword hilt, walking towards the commotion, her companion hurrying after her, her voice low and urgent. “Senior Sister Jin, please don’t be impulsive.”

Senior Sister Jin smiled, her expression calm and polite. “Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass Qianqi Peak.”

Then, her jaw tightening, she muttered, “I just want to see who’s destroying the house I just repaired.”

Repairing buildings wasn’t normally Qianqi Peak’s responsibility. It was handled by the outer sect disciples under the Affairs Hall. But with the increased number of visitors this year, the usual accommodations weren’t enough, requiring another peak to be prepared.

The Affairs Hall, overwhelmed, had requested assistance from Qianqi Peak. And this particular courtyard had been Jin Jiamu’s project.

As long as she’s not planning to set it on fire… The younger disciple’s relief was short-lived as she watched Senior Sister Jin kick open the door.

“Who’s demolishing the house Qianqi Peak just repaired?!”

The chaotic scene within froze, a single sentence hanging in the air: “See? No one’s coming to save you! Why don’t you call for your Senior Tao?”

All eyes turned to the woman standing in the doorway. Seeing her Hanshan Sect disciple uniform, their faces paled.

“You know Tao Ning?” Jin Jiamu’s gaze fixed on a young, female Talisman Cultivator holding a brush, who, startled by the sudden attention, nodded hesitantly.

Jin Jiamu sneered. “I’m not a scholar. I prefer hammers. But I remember what my master always says: treat your guests with respect, and they’ll respect you in return.” She pointed at the damaged roof. “The competition starts tomorrow. I expect to see this roof repaired by sunset. Understood?”

The Heavenly Heart Sect disciples, realizing they were in the wrong, nodded quickly.

Jin Jiamu nodded back, her voice now calm and pleasant. “Good. Let’s all be civilized. If you want to spar, we have designated training grounds. We even provide waivers. I’ll write them myself.”

The Heavenly Heart Sect disciples: …That’s… not necessary.

Jin Jiamu, her smile still unnervingly pleasant, beckoned to Pang Xueting. “May I have your name, fellow cultivator?”

Pang Xueting, putting away her brush, approached hesitantly. “Pang Xueting, disciple of True Person Chang Xiang.”

Jin Jiamu: “Jin Jiamu, disciple of True Person Qianlian of Qianqi Peak. I haven’t chosen a title yet. Call me whatever you like.”

Not only a Hanshan Sect disciple, but a direct disciple of Qianqi Peak… Even more formidable than I thought.

Pang Xueting bowed respectfully. “Senior Jin.”

Jin Jiamu smiled, gesturing towards the door. “Let’s go.”

As Pang Xueting was led away, the Heavenly Heart Sect Young Master sneered, “Let’s see how long you can maintain that smug look!”

He followed them, forgetting to ask why. Pang Xueting, realizing this on the way, asked, “Why did you call for me, Senior Jin?”

Jin Jiamu: “You’re looking for Tao Ning, right? I’m also looking for her. I want to ask her why she abandoned me.”

After emerging from seclusion, having achieved Golden Core, she had been subjected to a relentless interrogation by both her master and the Sect Leader, a terrifying experience for a newly minted Golden Core cultivator.

Her mind reeling, she had confessed everything, admitting her inadequacy, her inability to craft divine artifacts.

Please stop asking! I’m just… unskilled. She had learned the term “unskilled” from Tao Ning.

But what had truly stung was Tao Ning’s calm, dismissive, “Unskilled? Then practice more.”

Those four words had become her new mantra, surprisingly effective in silencing her fellow disciples. It had spread quickly, becoming a common refrain throughout the Hanshan Sect.

Even the Shuhan Peak sword fanatics had adopted it. Hopefully, they wouldn’t use it on the visiting disciples during the competition.

I’ll deal with her later. After I find her, I’ll make her pay for leaving me alone for forty years! Jin Jiamu’s fists clenched.

Pang Xueting, however, was struggling to process the information.

Outwardly calm, her mind was screaming, the words echoing in her ears.

What did I just hear?

Are all Hanshan Sect disciples so… unconventional?

I hope I survive this visit.

Jin Jiamu, turning back, beckoned to Pang Xueting. “Are you coming?”

With a sense of impending doom, Pang Xueting followed.

They found Tao Ning easily, studying the competition brackets.

Jin Jiamu approached, reaching out to pat Tao Ning’s shoulder. Pang Xueting, her heart pounding, wasn’t sure if she should intervene.

“Senior J…”

Tao Ning, without turning, grabbed Jin Jiamu’s wrist, then, seeing who it was, her frown relaxing slightly. “It’s you.”

Jin Jiamu smiled brightly. “Your furnace tender.”

Tao Ning: “…”

Tao Ning’s face paled slightly, sensing a… debt collection… in the making. A thousand years of scheming, and I’m finally caught.

She forced a smile. “What a coincidence. Are you also here for the brackets?”

Seeing her like this, Jin Jiamu couldn’t bring herself to be angry.

Tao Ning’s guidance had helped her achieve Golden Core. She was practically her teacher, deserving of respect.

Her initial anger dissipated. Shaking her head, she said, “You left so suddenly. I didn’t get to thank you properly for helping me reach Golden Core.”

Tao Ning waved a hand dismissively. “No need for thanks. I’m just checking the brackets. I’m facing a disciple from the Asking Gods Sect tomorrow. Who’s your opponent?”

Jin Jiamu’s face fell. “I’m so unlucky. I’m facing someone from the Long Blade Sect. They’re all… battle-crazed, like Shuhan Peak. We artifact refiners have it rough. Not only do we have to fight, but we also have to repair our own equipment afterwards.”

Tao Ning: “Your cultivation seems stable. You must be confident. I believe in you.”

Too much encouragement, however, could be… unsettling. Jin Jiamu now dreaded hearing those words from Tao Ning.

It wasn’t “I believe in you,” but “I’m about to set you up.”

She waved her hands frantically. “No, no, you don’t have to believe in me.”

Tao Ning, knowing this meant the issue was settled, noticed Pang Xueting’s anxious, then confused, expression.

Smiling politely, she said, “It’s good to see you again, Miss Pang.”

Pang Xueting’s gaze, darting between Tao Ning and Jin Jiamu, settled on Tao Ning, her cheeks flushing slightly. “S-Senior Tao… Yes…”

This wasn’t what she had expected.

She had overthought the situation, misunderstanding the Hanshan Sect’s… unique… approach to relationships.

A question mark slowly formed above Tao Ning’s head as she looked at Jin Jiamu, her eyes asking, What did you do to her?

Jin Jiamu’s eyes widened innocently. Nothing!

Their silent exchange was inconclusive.

Jin Jiamu, suddenly remembered, was dragged away to assist with the competition preparations. Even Elder Cen was called away, leaving Tao Ning, fresh from seclusion, with nothing to do.

Once they were alone, Tao Ning turned to Pang Xueting. “Miss Pang, is there something you wanted to tell me?”

Her hesitation exposed, Pang Xueting admitted, “Yes, there is.”

As a mere disciple, her master, True Person Chang Xiang, only a guest elder, her knowledge was limited, but she shared everything she knew.

Tao Ning listened, her expression unreadable.

“Thank you for telling me. But don’t worry about me. Focus on protecting yourself.”

Pang Xueting, though reassured, still seemed troubled. “I don’t understand these rumors. They say whoever possesses the Wanhun Cauldron will control the three realms, that it contains the life essence of some ancient ancestor, granting instant ascension. That’s… absurd.”

“Indeed, they are,” Tao Ning replied, not surprised by the rumors, having a general idea of their source.

They were similar to the events described in the original storyline.

However, back then, the person who obtained the cauldron had been from the Hanshan Sect. And with the disciple competition being hosted by the Hanshan Sect, most of the influential cultivators were present, leading to accusations and scrutiny, threatening the sect’s reputation.

The world was driven by greed.

Only a divine artifact, or the downfall of the leading sect, could unite them.

If they couldn’t obtain the treasure, weakening the Hanshan Sect was the next best thing.

After bidding farewell to Pang Xueting, Tao Ning intended to find Cen Dianshuang, but learned she was busy with the competition preparations.

Tao Ning sighed in disappointment, thanking the Shuhan Peak disciple who had relayed the message.

“No need for thanks,” the disciple replied, returning to his work.

With the Sect Leader away, the disciples had to manage the sect’s affairs.

520, seeing its host staring wistfully at the sky, her hopeless romantic tendencies intensifying, decided to offer some comfort.

【What are you thinking about?】

Tao Ning, her voice calm, replied, “Praying.”

The Wanhun Cauldron’s spirit was constantly whining, demanding to be released. It wasn’t having fun.

She knew where Cen Dianshuang was, but it was a place she couldn’t go… yet.

520, surprised by this unexpected piety, was intrigued. 【Praying for what?】

Tao Ning, after a moment of thought, replied, “For love.”

If she revealed her true identity now, claiming her rightful place as their ancestor, it would create… complications.

520: 【Oh! I get it! You want to listen to music! I’ll spend some points and play a song for you.】

A sweet, melodious female voice echoed in Tao Ning’s mind.

“Because of love… we don’t easily grieve…”

Tao Ning: “…”

520, after the song ended, asked eagerly, 【How was it?】