"Xiao Jin…" Ye Danxia's lips trembled. "Why… why would you say such things, I… I…"
Ye Danxia didn't know what else to say, she simply covered her face and began to sob softly.
She didn't need to say much. The moment she started crying, Zhao Wuji's expression changed at once, and Ruan Jun's face was filled with pain and sympathy.
"Yun Jin!" Ruan Jun, upset, stepped in front of Ye Danxia to shield her. "Apologize! I want you to apologize immediately!"
A faint smile played on Yun Jin's lips. "Oh? What exactly am I apologizing for? For exposing the truth and leaving someone speechless, able only to hide behind tears to conceal their ungrateful, inhuman nature? Fine, consider that my apology."
Ye Danxia's heart trembled. She wiped her tears and looked up with red eyes. "Xiao Jin! After all these years as close friends, how could you see me this way?"
"Friends?" Yun Jin sneered. "No, you said it yourself, didn't you? You were nothing more than a servant in the Yun household, and the Yun family treated you poorly. You were a mere servant, and I was the legitimate daughter of the Yun family. On what basis could you and I possibly be friends?"
Ye Danxia's words were full of contradictions.
If the Yun family treated her so badly, how could they have been close friends for all those years?
And if the Yun family had saved her and treated her well, then her earlier statements…
The crowd began casting subtle glances at Ye Danxia.
Ye Danxia opened her mouth, trying to deny, but no words came out. Her face flushed a deep, red hue.
Seeing this, Ruan Jun's heart ached even more. Angrily, he said, "Yun Jin! Junior Sister only said a few careless words, why can't you let it go? Besides, didn't she say she's willing to take you in? Isn't that enough to repay the Yun family's kindness? Or are you trying to use that debt to demand even more?"
Yun Jin looked at him, face utterly blank. "What, are you incapable of understanding human words? I don't need her charity. Why should I degrade myself to become her dog? Oh? Maybe you enjoy playing the obedient mutt. You already look like a pathetic simp."
Ruan Jun didn't know what "simp" meant.
But it clearly wasn't a compliment.
His face flushed with anger. "You're spouting nonsense!"
Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Lin Ya, your disciple being this disrespectful, yet you're not going to discipline her?"
Lin Ya leisurely took a sip of wine. "I don't see anything wrong with what Xiao Jin said."
He stood up. "Speaking of which, my disciple has already mastered Xuan Jue and earned her spot in the sect. But this Ye Danxia hasn't even entered the sect yet, and she already dares to demand that my disciple serve her as a maid. Does she even deserve that?"
Lin Ya's expression was one of open disdain. Ye Danxia's face turned pale.
"Junior Sister has a Celestial Spirit Root. Entering the sect is only natural," Ruan Jun said.
"Oh? Then what's the point of this second round of testing?" Lin Ya replied. "If I were her, I'd focus on comprehending Xuan Jue first. If I had the impressive Celestial Spirit Root but can't even make it into the top ten, I might as well slam my head against the hall pillars and die."
After speaking, Lin Ya gave Ruan Jun a teasing glance. "By the way, didn't you say that if my disciple could cultivate Xuan Jue, you'd slam your head and die? Maybe you two should set a date and do it together."
Yun Jin glanced at her new master, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
It seemed she hadn't chosen wrong.
Ye Danxia glanced back at the plaza. While she was clashing with Yun Jin, the other disciples were all trying their best to block out the noise and focus on cultivating.
Ye Danxia grew slightly anxious.
She has a Celestial Spirit Root, destined to stand at the peak, how could she fall behind others?
Just as Ruan Jun was about to speak up for her again, she quickly tugged his sleeve. "Senior Brother, thank you for defending me. But what Peak Master Lin said wasn't wrong, I haven't even entered the sect yet. I think Xiao Jin probably doesn't believe me because of that."
She looked at Yun Jin. "Xiao Jin, don't worry. I'll make sure to cultivate spiritual qi as soon as possible! I'll prove to you that I said everything for your own good."
Without waiting for another word, fearing another slap in the face, Ye Danxia quickly returned to the plaza and sat down to cultivate.
Seeing her retreat, Yun Jin gave her a faint glance.
This Ye Danxia wouldn't give up so easily. Even if her only goal was the ancestral ring on Yun Jin's hand, she refused to back down.
But Yun Jin didn't mind.
If Ye Danxia didn't come looking for her, she'd go looking for Ye Danxia. Without the female lead, her entourage, and the future male lead, where could she get more Emotion Points?
This round left her Emotion Value at a solid one thousand five hundred.
Not a bad start.
"Sect Master, I've accepted a disciple. There's no need for me to observe the rest of the testing. I'll take Xiao Jin back to Heavenly Sword Peak," Lin Ya said.
Zhao Wuji gave him a frosty look. "As you wish."
Lin Ya acted like he didn't notice the sour expression, and turned to Yun Jin with a grin. "Come. Let's go meet your useless senior brothers and senior sister."
"Yes," Yun Jin replied crisply.
The pair strolled off boldly.
Zhao Wuji's face darkened as he watched them leave.
For a long while, he remained silent.
Then he chuckled coldly.
A mere Five Element Root. Even if she had some talent, what difference could she possibly make?
Now, because of the sect's rules, and the fact that Lin Ya's injuries were sustained for the sect, he couldn't do anything directly.
But in three months, when Lin Ya loses his peak master title…
Whether it was Lin Ya or this new disciple, they'll both be nothing more than pawns he can crush or mold at will.
In Zhao Wuji's mind, both Lin Ya and Yun Jin were nothing more than autumn grasshoppers, only a few days left to leap around.
He turned away, no longer paying them any attention.
On a flying sword.
Lin Ya brought Yun Jin along at a leisurely pace. "Today's the sect's recruitment day, so some disciples were dispatched to help. The rest should still be cultivating. It's past noon now, in the Shen hour (around 3 to 5 p.m.). Your senior brothers and senior sister are rather diligent and should be at the training grounds. Let's go meet them."
He introduced along the way: "You have two senior brothers and one senior sister. Your Eldest Senior Brother, Yue Zhao, is honest and reliable, the very image of a dependable big brother. Your Second Senior Sister, Si Wanning, has a fiery temper, but she's very protective when it comes to her own. Third Senior Brother, Yu Songnian, is more introverted and doesn't like talking to strangers. But once you get to know him, you'll slowly get along."
Yun Jin memorized each name.
Soon, they arrived at Heavenly Sword Peak.
Currently, the peak held only Lin Ya, his three disciples, and Yun Jin, a grand total of five people.
"No need to visit the other areas. They're likely training at the practice field," Lin Ya said. "Your senior brothers and sister are pretty studious."
He brought her quickly to the practice field.
Only to find…
Nothing. Not even an ant.
Lin Ya: "???"
Feeling a little awkward, he said, "They're probably at the back mountain practicing swordplay."
Yun Jin blinked.
Really?