Li Ying made no mention of it, and Shangguan Hong had already met with misfortune. Next, it seemed Chen Yi couldn't escape either, but it was unclear how this Little Sister would fare... Lei Jun glanced to the side at Tang Xiaotang.
As he was pondering, he heard others suddenly change the subject; the topic of discussion just happened to be Tang Xiaotang and Chen Yi.
Just the day before yesterday, the two had clashed head-on.
"Tsk, what rotten luck!"
Tang Xiaotang, overhearing the conversation from afar, let out a slight snort.
Lei Jun asked, "So, the rumors are true?"
Tang Xiaotang replied irritably, "That nobody, presuming to tell me that a Tao Boy should make way for a Taoist?"
For Lei Jun, Chen Yi was somewhat of a familiar stranger. They had met before but never interacted, so at most, Lei Jun could only match his face with his name. However, according to other Tao Boys from the Eight Houses, although Chen Yi had made quite a name for himself last year, he was actually rather reserved and not impetuous or arrogant. As for who had started the trouble between him and Tang Xiaotang, that was still a question mark.
Nevertheless, Lei Jun didn't interject for now and listened attentively to the gossip.
Tang Xiaotang scoffed, "Who does he think he is? He wouldn't have stood a chance against me with one hand when I was eight! Make way for him? I'd step right over him, and if he so much as uttered a peep, only then would I admit he's as tough as he claims!"
Lei Jun asked, "So, you just stepped over him?"
"No."
Tang Xiaotang puffed her cheeks. "He got lucky. Li just happened to pass by."
There were many Taoists surnamed Li in the Celestial Master Mansion; plenty of individuals who might be addressed as Senior Brother Li, Senior Sister Li, Elder Li, or Martial Uncle Li. But the honorifics Tang Xiaotang used generally referred to someone specific. There was only one Senior Sister she spoke of, referring exclusively to Xu Yuanzhen. The address 'Li' also referred specifically to one person: the son of the Current Celestial Master Li of Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Yong Celestial Master Li Zhengxuan.
In recent years, the Celestial Master Mansion had two famed young talents whose names resonated far beyond, not just within other Prestigious Families and cultivation Sacred Lands:
Xu Yuanzhen.
Li Zhengxuan.
Disciples of the same generation within the mansion customarily referred to them as Eldest Senior Sister and Eldest Senior Brother. Strictly speaking, Xu Yuanzhen was the first disciple of the Current Celestial Master; her initiation into the Tao and Transcension Ritual took place even before those of the Celestial Master's own son, Li Zhengxuan. But taking into account Li Zhengxuan's relationship with the Current Celestial Master, everyone tacitly refrained from calling him Second Senior Brother.
Lei Jun had also heard much about this person but had never interacted with him directly, only seeing him once during the Transmission Ceremony. He appeared to be in his twenties or thirties, dressed in a purple Taoist Robe, truly a figure with striking brows and brilliant eyes, possessing an immortal's grace and embodying the transcendent air of a young Immortal untainted by the mundane.
At this moment, as Lei Jun looked at Tang Xiaotang before him and then recalled the Yong Celestial Master's first appearance, he almost felt the urge to facepalm. Little Sister, your whole vibe reeks of villainy...
What followed was straightforward. With Li Zhengxuan intervening, Tang Xiaotang's reaction shifted more from adding fuel to the fire to astonishment. As far as she knew, Chen Yi had a deeper grudge with the Li Clan's disciples. It was one thing for others to protect Chen Yi, but she had never expected Li Zhengxuan, the young leader of the new generation of the Li Clan, to guard Chen Yi.
The Yong Celestial Master opposite her maintained the demeanor of a young grandmaster, profound and steadfast as a mountain, utterly unperturbed. "We are all disciples of Dragon Tiger Mountain, without distinction. It's not just about Junior Brother Chen; if Tang, you encounter trouble, I will also do my utmost to help."
Tang Xiaotang waved her hand dismissively. "That won't be necessary."
The Yong Celestial Master continued, "Of course, whether it's the Sect elders or myself personally, we have always had great faith in Tang's talent and intellect."
With such a diversion, Tang Xiaotang's anger, which had flared quickly, subsided just as fast, her imposing aura no longer as aggressive. Her response also bore her personal signature: "Don't worry, I won't let any of you down!"
Li Zhengxuan nodded, then turned to Chen Yi. "Tang is special, different from other Tao Boys. Even though she hasn't undergone the Transcension Ritual, she is a Dragon Tiger Mountain disciple, just like us."
After exchanging glances with Li Zhengxuan, Chen Yi slowly exhaled. "I was too presumptuous just now. Please, Senior Brother and Senior Sister, forgive me."
Li Zhengxuan then mentioned that he happened to be on his way to see his Fourth Martial Uncle, Elder Yao, who was also Chen Yi's master, so he invited Chen Yi to accompany him. The trouble seemed to have dissolved into nothingness.
"But I still feel uneasy," Tang Xiaotang said, visibly displeased. "It was as if a malicious intent targeted me at that moment, yet it didn't come from Li, nor even that Chen lad. That interruption by Li threw me off. When I tried to find it later, the malice had already disappeared."
Listening to this, Lei Jun recalled something Eldest Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen had once mentioned:
"If someone else tried to belittle Xiaotang with their words like you do, she would've already slapped a talisman on their face.
"Her leniency with you isn't because of the words 'one of our own'; it's because she senses no malice in you.
"Xiaotang may be naive, but she's clear-hearted and especially sensitive to others' goodwill and malice."
Lei Jun said no more, returned to his small courtyard, and invited Tang Xiaotang in as a guest. Once they were seated, he finally spoke:
"Little Sister, your intuition is right. It appears you've been played in this affair with Chen Yi. However, the outcome wasn't intended to harm you, but rather to establish Eldest Senior Brother's authority and win people's hearts. It's what's commonly known as one playing the good cop, the other playing the bad cop."
Tang Xiaotang's eyes widened. "You mean... it was all prearranged by Li?"
"Not necessarily prearranged," Lei Jun said. "Eldest Senior Brother might have just happened to be there. The initial plan might not have even targeted you; it's more likely they were just using you to teach Chen Yi a lesson. But it was quite a coincidence. In the end, as word of the incident spread, Eldest Senior Brother demonstrated his magnanimity as the Yong Celestial Master, pacified Chen Yi, and united many more disciples from other families." He glanced at Tang Xiaotang. "Little Sister, you, on the other hand, ended up playing the role of the common villain found in storybooks."
Tang Xiaotang's eyebrows shot up, and her black hair showed signs of turning gold again. "That's outrageous!"
Lei Jun said, "There's no need to rush to get even now; it will only make things worse. Wait for some time, then find an opportunity to pay them back. There's plenty of time; opportunities won't be hard to find."
The tall girl was so angry that she started pacing in circles inside the room. After a long while, she suddenly stopped, turned, and stared intensely at Lei Jun.
Lei Jun asked, "Little Sister?"
Tang Xiaotang demanded, "Did you just say that I'm like a villain out of a storybook?"
Lei Jun explained, "You conflict with the protagonist, and at present, your Cultivation Strength might be far superior to the protagonist's.
"Sometimes, the protagonist might verbally provoke you, perhaps by accusing you of 'bullying the weak,' goading you into setting some sort of one-year, three-year, or ten-year challenge. Only after the protagonist has grown in strength do the two of you finally battle, and then the protagonist ends up triumphing over you.
"Other villainous experts don't care about such issues as bullying the less powerful and aim to eliminate the protagonist on the spot. However, a righteous expert might step in to protect the protagonist temporarily. In any case, they still can't kill the protagonist while they're weak.
"The result is that you end up highlighting the protagonist or becoming their stepping stone."
Tang Xiaotang's eyes widened. "Where did you hear all that?"
Lei Jun replied, "I heard it from a storyteller back in my village. After we fled the village due to famine, I couldn't find him anymore."
"I refuse to be the villain! I want to be the protagonist of the story!" Tang Xiaotang's temper flared and subsided quickly, her attention now completely diverted. She dragged a stool over and sat down in front of Lei Jun. "Tell me more. What's the complete story like?"
Lei Jun said, "...I haven't really read many female-oriented stories, but you can make do with the ones from male-oriented genres if you like."
Tang Xiaotang: "?"
***
In another small courtyard, a young Taoist dressed in Apricot Daoist Robes sat before a stone table. On the table lay a piece of paper with several names written on it:
Chen Yi.
Shangguan Hong.
Lei Jun.
Guo Yan.
Looking at the names on the paper, information flashed through the young Taoist's mind:
Chen Yi, disciple of Elder Yao, his Fourth Martial Uncle. Purifying Spirit Body. Already achieved Foundation Establishment.
Shangguan Hong, disciple of Elder Shangguan, his Fifth Martial Uncle. High-grade Root Bone, comprehension rated as extraordinary. Has not yet achieved Foundation Establishment.
Lei Jun, disciple of Master Yuan. Hidden Dragon Spirit Body. Already achieved Foundation Establishment.
Guo Yan, disciple of Elder Hu of a collateral lineage. Flowing Waves Spirit Body. Already achieved Foundation Establishment.
These four, along with Li Ying, were the most outstanding new talents from this year's Transmission Ceremony.
In this year's Transcension Ritual, while the Li Clan disciples didn't lack for high-grade or upper-middle-grade talents, the very top tier is somewhat thin... The young Taoist frowned.
Fortunately, he had already managed to suppress Shangguan Hong by a step. One step slow, every step slow; catching up is not easy. It's a pity that Chen Yi managed to avoid that calamity. Furthermore, Lei Jun and Guo Yan hadn't sought to become direct disciples of the Celestial Master initially, so they were given less priority. But, as expected, these two are not simple characters either, having achieved Foundation Establishment so quickly. Operating silently, yet they can no longer be ignored.
All of them need to be suppressed somehow, the young Taoist pondered.
Someone came to visit outside the courtyard gate. The young Taoist put away the paper and opened the gate. Standing outside was a young Female Crown—none other than Li Ying.
"Second Brother, Eldest Senior Brother is looking for you."
Inside the courtyard, Li Ying's second brother, Li Ming, the second son of Elder Ziyang, nodded. "Alright, I'll go now."
As he stepped out, he casually asked, "How is your cultivation progressing lately?"
Li Ying replied, "There was a slight obstacle, but it's been resolved."
Li Ming said, "That's good. Continue to focus on your cultivation and don't be distracted by trivial matters."
"I've been so busy lately that I can hardly tell day from night," Li Ying remarked, looking curiously at her older brother.
Li Ming nodded and took his leave.
He went to the residence of his cousin, the Yong Celestial Master Li Zhengxuan.
"Eldest Senior Brother." Li Ming stopped and bowed his head.
The Yong Celestial Master stood with his back to him and his hands clasped behind. "Was it you who orchestrated the incident between Tang and Junior Brother Chen?"
Li Ming replied, "I merely created a small coincidence for the two to meet and did nothing else. I truly didn't expect to disturb you, Eldest Senior Brother. Thankfully, Eldest Senior Brother, you intervened, and the outcome was far better than I had predicted. It's just that I troubled you, which makes me feel uneasy."
The Yong Celestial Master spoke slowly, "Don't waste time and mental effort on such petty schemes. Whether for the Celestial Master Mansion or for the Li Clan, if you truly wish to achieve something, focusing on improving yourself and promoting the Sect is the best strategy."
Li Ming responded, "Yes, Eldest Senior Brother."
After leaving the Yong Celestial Master's residence, Li Ming returned to his own small courtyard, took out the list again, and read it thoughtfully.