"Arden Xu! Male, age 22... aptitude, specialties…"
The man read Arden Xu's registration information as usual, but before he finished, Yixuan cut him off.
"Arden Xu… the previous examinee, Ju Fufu, said that the 'Brother Arden' who saved her during the Fall of the Old Capital—was that you?"
"Correct, that was me!"
Arden answered openly and even silently gave Ju Fufu a thumbs-up for the assist.
"Mm."
Yixuan gave a subtle nod but didn't say anything more.
"Reason for joining Yunkui Summit…"
The man read up to that line, then suddenly frowned. He looked at Arden, then looked toward Yixuan. "Master, look…"
He simultaneously handed Arden's file over to Yixuan.
"….."
Yixuan glanced at it, her embroidered brows faintly knitting.
Arden knew exactly why. Because in the section asking for the reason to join Yunkui Summit, he wrote one line: 'To marry Master Yixuan!'
Although it was the plain truth, writing it so bluntly did seem… a bit improper?
"Arden Xu, is it? Your purpose in joining Yunkui Summit is impure! The path of cultivation lies in one's heart and mind, and such sullied intentions—"
The man first judged Arden's character, then actually launched into a long lecture, like an elder scolding a junior.
"Who the heck are you? I want to marry Master Yixuan—what's it to you!?"
And Arden shot back just as bluntly.
If it were Yixuan speaking, that was another matter—he already had a plan for that. But this random guy suddenly popping out? What was he supposed to be?
"Hmph! I am the thirteenth-generation disciple of Yunkui Summit, also an executive of the Assembly Hall—Master Yixuan's fellow disciple—Yi Jing!"
The man—Yi Jing—announced his identity with considerable pride.
[AN: Original character. Only this one. Will not conflict with game plot.]
"Yi… Jing? Pfft~~!!" [TN: "Yi Jing" Say fast → "Ee-jing" → Homophone for "Idiot"]
Hearing the name, Arden burst into laughter. "What kind of man has that kind of name? Hahahaha…!"
"Pfft~!"
"Hehe…"
"...."
Not only Arden—even the other two interviewers laughed, and even Yixuan looked like she was struggling very hard not to laugh.
As the head of a sect, Yixuan would never mock her peers… unless she absolutely couldn't help it!
Of course, teasing aside, laughing aside—Arden still took this "Uncle-Master Yi Jing" rather seriously in his heart.
Yi Jing… Yunkui Summit has someone like that?
Before crossing over, Arden had played Zenless Zone Zero, but the version only went up to V1.7—Yunkui Summit had only appeared in teasers.
He knew about Master Yixuan, Senior Sister Ju Fufu, and a panda Thiren, but as for the rest, Arden wasn't familiar.
Since the story timeline was still early—long before Yunkui Summit's "plot"—Arden figured this Yi Jing fellow was some side character who wasn't important enough to appear in teasers… or something might happen later causing Yi Jing to leave Yunkui Summit entirely.
Arden believed the latter was more likely. Maybe Yi Jing was outright a villain.
His appearance was refined and gentle, glasses on his nose, mouth always carrying a false smile. He gave Arden the Aizen kind of vibe—just looking at him made Arden uneasy.
Of course, based on Yi Jing's current performance… he was far inferior to Aizen.
If he dares obstruct my grand plan of pursuing Master, he has only himself to blame for what comes next!
Arden was the type who treated his own people (i.e., wife) very well, but treated enemies very harshly.
If you didn't provoke him, he couldn't care less. But once Arden labeled someone as an "enemy," then they had to be taken out in one strike—no loose ends.
"Oh, I get it now!"
Arden suddenly revealed a look of dawning realization. "You must've confessed to Master Yixuan and got rejected. Now you can't have her yourself and don't want anyone else to have her… so once you learned I wanted to marry Master Yixuan, you targeted me on purpose, right?"
"You…"
Yi Jing's face flushed red, but he couldn't form a rebuttal.
Truthfully, he didn't like his name either—but a Dao name given by his master couldn't just be tossed aside!
As for confessing to Master Yixuan and getting rejected… Arden really nailed that one.
"Senior Sister, look…"
Yi Jing could only look at Yixuan for help.
"Enough, don't fuss with a junior."
Unlike Yi Jing, Yixuan was extremely easygoing, unrestrained by trivialities. In fact, she somewhat liked Arden's personality.
As for Arden wanting to marry her… what a joke! With Yixuan's looks, figure, skill, and status—people wanting to marry her could circle New Eridu several times. If she took every one of them seriously, she would've gone mad ages ago.
"And another thing—call me Master."
When working, Yixuan preferred to be addressed by her title.
"Yes, Master."
Seeing that Yixuan didn't support him at all, Yi Jing had no choice but to swallow his anger.
During the Fall of the Old Capital, Yi Jing had only been a newly registered disciple. He hadn't joined the others in battle, and thus survived.
Given his mediocre aptitude and weak disposition, his position in Yunkui Summit was average at best. As an Assembly Hall executive, he only managed mundane affairs and some of Yunkui Summit's properties.
"Hmph!"
Yi Jing snorted coldly, fiercely glaring at Arden before saying nothing more.
The interview continued.
"Arden Xu, do you think… I should pass you, or reject you?"
Throwing the question back at him, Yixuan watched Arden with interest, waiting for his answer.
As the saying goes—once a woman shows interest in a man, that's the beginning of something.
"Of course you should pass me!"
Arden answered without hesitation.
"Oh? Can you explain why?" Yixuan raised an eyebrow.
"The reason is simple—because everything I said is the truth!"
Arden felt it was time to demonstrate his eloquence. "I believe that instead of lying just to pass a test, it's better to show one's true self… And I'm sure that the disciples of Yunkui Summit are all sincere people."
"And besides—loving beauty and admiring strength are human nature. Wanting to marry a beautiful, strong Master like Yixuan—how is that wrong!?"
Bang~!
As he said this, Arden suddenly pushed open the interview room door and loudly called out to the waiting examinees outside.
"You're all here because of Master Yixuan, right? That's why you want to join Yunkui Summit, isn't it!?"
"….."
The sudden question made everyone outside fall silent.
Most of them were here because of Yixuan—but could they say that openly?
"Yes!"
Finally, Ju Fufu spoke first. "If not for Master Yixuan and Yunkui Summit, I'd probably be dead already. So yes, I want to join Yunkui Summit for Master Yixuan."
"Right, right!"
"Me too!"
"I was saved by Yunkui Summit during the fall of the Old Capital!"
"With a Master as beautiful and powerful as Yixuan, of course I want to join Yunkui Summit!"
"Not becoming Master Yixuan's disciple would be a lifelong regret!"
"Not only beautiful—her figure is amazing!"
"Yeah! Exactly!"
"Master Yixuan is unmatched in the world!"
"Master Yixuan is brilliant beyond compare!"
"Master Yixuan puts all beauties to shame!"
"Master Yixuan, ten thousand years!"
"Master Yixuan, unify New Eridu!"
"….."
This was starting to get a little absurd.
"Ahem!"
Yixuan coughed lightly. Even someone with her profound cultivation and mental discipline felt a bit embarrassed by the barrage of praise. "Alright, close the door."
"Yes!"
Arden obediently closed the door.
"I meant, the interview is over. You may leave now—other examinees are still waiting."
Arden's interview had already taken ten minutes, and all interviews had to finish before noon. Dozens still waited in line.
"Uh… alright."
Arden rubbed his nose and left somewhat awkwardly.
As for whether he'd pass—he wasn't sure.
Of course, even if he failed the test, Arden had other ways to enter Yunkui Summit.
With Senior Sister Ju Fufu around, Arden didn't believe he'd be rejected.
…
"...."
Watching Arden's back disappear through the door, Yixuan silently shook her head, falling into thought.
No one knew what she was thinking.
At that moment, Yi Jing finally spoke. "My recommendation is… reject him!"
He practically ground the words out through his teeth. Clearly, Arden had embarrassed him so badly that the grudge was now deep.
Hearing this, Yixuan shot Yi Jing an unhappy glance.
"No need for your input. I'll decide."
At present, Yunkui Summit was entirely under Yixuan's control. Whatever she wanted to do—no one could interfere.