After finishing the first day of classes and training, Arden Xu and Ju Fufu began their new life as outer disciples of Yunkui Summit.
In truth, aside from asking Yixuan some borderline-harassing questions once a week, Arden felt that life here didn't seem much different from the days in the small courtyard on the Waifei Peninsula—training, eating, taking commissions, sleeping—only that living separately from Ju Fufu left Arden a little troubled.
Thus, Arden poured his overly vigorous energy into cultivation.
Yunkui Summit was considered a renowned sect in New Eridu, long-standing and prestigious; naturally, its Library Pavilion held countless manuals and secret techniques.
Though Arden, as an outer disciple, couldn't access everything, he still gained a great deal.
Additionally, even manuals and techniques not purchased through the mall would, after sufficient practice, appear on the system's attribute panel. Because of this, Arden possessed a natural advantage in skill cultivation—once he got started, he would quickly reach a master level.
After some time, Arden learned and mastered spells such as [Sensory Awakening Technique], along with various applications of formation-craft and talismans, as well as feng shui and divination. Although his basic attributes didn't increase, his overall strength rose significantly.
He even discovered, in a hidden compartment he had stumbled upon by accident, a "secret art of the bedroom" that some predecessor had tucked away.
Unfortunately, Arden and Ju Fufu were living apart, so he couldn't practice it yet.
…..
The moon in this world was unlike Earth's; the corrosion of Hollows made it appear somewhat eerie.
Yet the moonlight it cast remained as bright as ever.
"Dry weather tonight—watch for fires!"
Late at night, Yunkui Summit was utterly silent, the only movement coming from a patrolling disciple and the faint glow of the lantern he carried.
Rustle… rustle…
"Hm?"
Passing by the garden, he heard what seemed like a sound coming from the small grove of trees within.
"Who's there!?"
The night-watch disciple walked toward it, raising the lantern high and pushing back the darkness beneath the branches.
"Nya… nyaa~!"
"Haaah…"
Hearing the cat's call, the night-watch disciple let out a breath of relief. He certainly didn't want to encounter any monsters in the middle of the night. "Turns out it's just a little female cat in heat!"
Leaving those words behind, he turned to continue his patrol, gradually walking away from the grove.
Once the night-watch disciple's silhouette had vanished completely into the darkness—
Rustle!
A cute little head poked out from the upper branches. If not for the round tiger ears on top, one might have mistaken her for an upside-down bat.
"You're the little female cat! Your whole family are cats! I'm a Tiger Thiren—a tiger!"
Ju Fufu grumbled as she flipped down from the branch.
"That's right, my tigress at home is definitely not a kitty."
Arden was also present, of course.
Indeed, when the disciple walked past, the two of them had been in that little grove… ahem!
"…"
Landing on the ground, Arden frowned deeply. "Fufu, we can't keep doing this."
Though he did enjoy bold experiments and the intense thrill of sneaking around, this was too thrilling. If someone ever caught them and spread the story around, they'd never be able to stay at Yunkui Summit.
"We have to think of something."
"Yeah!"
There was a solution—such as requesting a separate courtyard for just the two of them. Arden had already applied, but the one in charge of such matters was I Jing, who rejected him without the slightest politeness.
Humiliated during the interview, I Jing had finally found a chance to get back at Arden. If he didn't make things difficult now, he would be letting down his own name as I Jing.
"It seems… we'll have to bypass Yi Jing entirely and go straight to Sect Master Yixuan."
…..
The next day.
Arden found Yixuan and explained the situation.
"….."
After listening to Arden's request and reasoning, Yixuan felt a strange emotion rise within her.
What is happening to me?
She, who had never experienced romance, couldn't understand it. But if she had to describe it, it felt like a goddess suddenly discovering that the sim— cough …the person pursuing her… already had a girlfriend.
At the same time, her gaze toward Arden shifted into one that seemed to be looking at garbage.
If her eyes could speak, they would have said: 'You kept insisting you wanted to marry me, but it turns out… you already have a wife?'
However, romance between disciples was their personal freedom. As sect master, she had no authority to interfere.
In the end, Yixuan neither approved nor rejected the request—she simply told Arden to convince his roommates. If they agreed, she would not stop it.
…..
"Convince Pan Yinhu and the little Red Panda Thiren girl, huh…"
Chef Pan, Arden believed, wouldn't be difficult.
After these days of interacting, Arden and Pan had become extremely familiar—almost best friends. With a proper explanation, an appropriate gift, and a note about "a friend's happy future," Pan likely wouldn't refuse.
As for the little red-panda Thiren girl… that was Ju Fufu's job. After all, this concerned both of them.
Arden browsed the points shop and redeemed one of the legendary cooking tools from [Little Master Chef]—a replica of the [Jade Dragon Wok] known as the "Bamboo Bear Wok."
Though not a genuine legendary artifact but a replica, it was still excellent, and like all mall-issued weapons, it could resize itself freely, making it convenient to carry.
Chef Pan would no longer need to wear that iron-pot as a hat every day.
Although Pan himself never minded, his dishes sometimes contained panda fur and had a special oily scent, leading to many complaints from fellow disciples.
In addition, Arden redeemed a manual titled [Complete Kung Fu Panda Martial Arts] which he believed would suit Pan very well.
Soon, with thoughtful gifts and sincere friendship, Arden and Ju Fufu successfully won over their respective roommates.
At last, they returned under one roof.
First, they moved Ju Fufu's belongings over. Then they removed the folding screen and pushed the two single beds together into one large bed.
"Haaah… finally, life is back to normal—it's all back!"
Before night could even fall, Arden poured all his accumulated passion into action on the spot.
Soon, Ju Fufu became a tiger-striped layer cake! Not literally.
…..
While Arden and Ju Fufu enjoyed their blissful reunion—absence makes the heart grow fonder—elsewhere…
"….."
The giant Panda Thiren and the little Red Panda Thiren stared at each other in awkward silence.
"You…" ×2
They started speaking at the same time, then stopped at the same time, equally embarrassed.
"Um… you go first."
"No, you're senior brother—you go first!"
"….."
Another stretch of silence.
Pfft~~!
"Hehehe."
They both burst into laughter simultaneously, sweeping away the awkwardness completely.