Si Wanning and Yun Jin chatted for a long time when suddenly, Si Wanning remembered something.
"Little Junior Sister, there's one more thing," Si Wanning said with a hint of confusion. "The Senior Brother Yue Zhao in my dream and the real Senior Brother Yue Zhao... why are they so different?"
In her dream, Yue Zhao was cowardly and timid, eventually dying of fright. But in this life, before Yun Jin even joined the sect, Senior Brother Yue Zhao had single-handedly upheld the reputation of Tianjian Peak. This allowed their master to focus on recovering from his injuries most of the time. Even before taking the Butian Pill during the sect assembly, their master's condition was much better than in her dream.
Yun Jin naturally knew Yue Zhao's little secret, but should she tell Second Senior Sister?
She blinked mischievously.
"A transmigrator and a reincarnator. How amusing.
Would Third Senior Brother also turn out to have some peculiar background?"
"I don't really know," Yun Jin said, blinking innocently. "If you're curious, Second Senior Sister, you should ask Senior Brother yourself."
"Really?" Si Wanning looked at Yun Jin, unconvinced.
It felt like Yun Jin knew something.
But Yun Jin had only joined the sect three months ago. If even she couldn't figure it out, there was no way Xiao Jin could. Right?
Si Wanning decided she would have to find an opportunity to probe Senior Brother Yue Zhao herself.
She much preferred this life's Senior Brother Yue Zhao, but after spending so much time with the Senior Brother Yue Zhao from her dream—her "past life"—she couldn't help but feel some attachment to him as well.
If the current Senior Brother Yue Zhao was like a completely different person, then where was the Senior Brother Yue Zhao from her past life?
The Senior Brother Yue Zhao from her past life wasn't suited for the perilous world of cultivation, but Si Wanning still hoped he could find a peaceful place to live a comfortable life.
~
That night.
Ye Danxia crept back into her room, her thoughts lingering on that strange child. Her feelings were complicated.
That child was temperamental and far stronger than her.
Logically, she shouldn't bother with him anymore.
But whenever she recalled his pale face, she couldn't bring herself to abandon him.
"Fine, fine. Who told me to have such a kind heart?" Ye Danxia comforted herself before frowning again.
But when she remembered how pale he had looked, she couldn't bring herself to walk away.
Where was she supposed to find healing resources for Yang Yun?
Before leaving, Yang Yun had given her a list of pills and spirit herbs that could help his injuries.
Pills were out of the question for now.
Since she wasn't injured, her master would surely question why she needed so many healing pills.
That left spirit herbs.
Though their effects weren't as potent as refined pills, a larger quantity could make up for it.
Most of the sect's spirit fields had been returned to their respective peaks, but a few peak lords still followed her master, and he himself retained some spirit fields.
Many of the herbs Yang Yun needed grew in those fields.
But how could she get her hands on them?
Ye Danxia was at a loss.
The next morning, as the pale light of dawn spread through the sky, she came up with a terrible idea.
She wouldn't dare touch their master's personal supply. Ever since most of the spirit fields were reclaimed by their respective peaks, his income had already taken a hit.
If she tried to mess with his herbs now, he might not forgive her.
So she had to turn to the remaining peak lords still aligned with him.
Most of the others had distanced themselves, but three still remained:
Long Yi of Bati Peak, Huo Lie of Shendan Peak, And Du Wuqing of Daoxin Peak.
Rumors in the sect said their master wouldn't remain as sect leader for long, and that Lin Ya was the most likely successor.
But these three had followed their master closely from the start and had helped suppress Tianjian Peak in the past. Now that Tianjian Peak was rising, they had no way out. Their only hope was to stick with him and rely on his father's influence to maintain his position.
Which meant...
They wouldn't dare offend him.
Ye Danxia's eyes lit up. She had a plan. But it would need careful preparation.
Besides them, her other senior brothers likely had their own stores of herbs too. As their beloved little junior sister, they should spoil her a little, right?
If she played nice, they probably wouldn't refuse.
She was already working out the details in her head.
Later that day.
Ye Danxia accompanied a few other disciples to pay respects to Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji first checked on Han Xiaoyu, then turned to Ye Danxia. But when it came to Zhou Li and Zhou Dai, his face darkened, and he gave them a sharp scolding.
They were used to this double standard by now.
Their only hope rested on Yun Jin's promise.
With Tianjian Peak on the rise, maybe Yun Jin truly could rescue them.
"If there's nothing else, you may go," Zhao Wuji said. "Xiaoyu, stay. I'll help you stabilize your body."
This, too, was routine.
Ever since Han Xiaoyu returned, Zhao Wuji had been personally using his spiritual energy to nourish him every day. His doting surpassed even what he gave Ye Danxia.
"Is Senior Brother's body still not fully healed?" Ye Danxia asked, concern in her voice.
Han Xiaoyu gave her a warm look. "Thanks for your concern, Junior Sister. I'm feeling much better."
He had always liked this newest junior sister. No matter what others said, he found her gentle and adorable, always looking after him.
As for Yun Jin, she was probably just jealous. That would explain the false accusations and the many traps she'd set to make Ye Danxia look bad.
Once he recovered, he fully intended to defend Ye Danxia and restore her name.
"You have to get better soon, Senior Brother," Ye Danxia said playfully. "I'm still waiting for you to take me out for fun."
Han Xiaoyu's heart fluttered. He smiled and nodded.
Zhao Wuji, watching quietly, only waved them off. "You may leave."
Ye Danxia exited with Zhou Li and Zhou Dai.
Once outside, she flashed them a smile. "Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother, I—"
But they walked away without even acknowledging her.
There was something too strange about Ye Danxia.
They hated her, yet whenever they spent time near her, they would start to feel oddly fond of her.
They didn't want anything to do with someone so... unnatural.
Ye Danxia stared at their backs, biting her lip.
She had called them Senior Brother.
But in truth, they were nothing special.
And they dared give her attitude?
Just wait.
Once her cultivation improved, they would regret every ounce of scorn they had shown.
Still, with them out of the question, the only option left was Han Xiaoyu.
Ye Danxia thought for a moment, then went early to wait at his residence.
Zhao Wuji pampered Han Xiaoyu endlessly. His quarters were the largest, and the entire place was filled with rare herbs and spirit flowers.
Her eyes gleamed as she began tending the garden, pretending to work diligently.
When Han Xiaoyu returned...
The first thing he saw was Ye Danxia crouched in the flowerbed, carefully trimming the branches.
The flowers were lovely.
But she was even lovelier.
Han Xiaoyu couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart.