Storms in the Sea of Jealousy

The next day at noon, the sunlight was just right.

Li Chengjie appeared at the main entrance of the Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion on time.

Before long, a graceful figure emerged from within the pill pavilion.

Lin Zixue had clearly dressed up a little today. She wore a flowing cloud-patterned dress of water-blue, its hem embroidered with delicate cloud motifs that made her skin seem whiter than snow, radiant and captivating.

At her waist hung the token of a Flowing Cloud Sect Inner Disciple and a small Storage Bag. Her steps were light, drawing sidelong glances from the pill pavilion disciples passing by.

"Alchemist Li, sorry to keep you waiting." Lin Zixue approached with a dazzling smile.

"You're too polite, Senior Sister. I just arrived as well." Li Chengjie returned the greeting with cupped hands, his gaze calm.

Though their status and cultivation levels differed, Li Chengjie's composed manner—neither servile nor overbearing—made their standing together seem far from out of place.

"Then let's set off. The Treasure Pavilion isn't far from here." As Lin Zixue spoke, she was about to lead Li Chengjie toward the bustling part of the Marketplace.

However, at that moment, a cold, mocking voice abruptly rang out.

"Oh? Who do we have here? Isn't this our 'diligent and hardworking' Junior Disciple Li? Why do you have the leisure to go out today? And Junior Sister Lin is even accompanying you personally?"

Li Chengjie's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Without even turning around, he knew who it was.

Wang Zhen emerged from another side of the pill pavilion with two lackeys in tow. An undisguised sneer hung on his face as his gaze swept back and forth between Li Chengjie and Lin Zixue like a venomous snake. When he saw that Lin Zixue had clearly taken care to dress up, a flash of barely restrained jealousy and fury crossed his eyes.

It was no secret within the pill pavilion that Wang Zhen pursued Lin Zixue. Now, seeing the woman he desired standing shoulder to shoulder with a Registered Apprentice he had always looked down upon—and apparently about to go out with him—how could he possibly endure it?

Lin Zixue's delicate brows knit together. She was clearly displeased by Wang Zhen's sudden appearance and his barbed tone, but for the sake of Fellow Disciple Friendship, she still replied coolly, "Senior Brother Wang. Alchemist Li and I intend to visit the Treasure Pavilion Auction. Must we report it to Senior Brother first?"

"The Treasure Pavilion Auction?" Wang Zhen gave a derisive laugh, turning his contempt-filled gaze toward Li Chengjie. "Junior Sister Lin, you're taking him? What could he possibly understand? What could he possibly afford? I'm afraid even the cheapest scraps would be beyond him! When he gets inside, he'll only be able to stare helplessly, disgracing our Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion for nothing!"

His words were extraordinarily harsh and rude. Even the two lackeys behind him lowered their heads awkwardly.

Li Chengjie's eyes chilled slightly, but he did not immediately speak in rebuttal. Starting a conflict with Wang Zhen here was far from wise.

Lin Zixue's expression darkened, and her tone turned several degrees colder. "Senior Brother Wang, mind your words! Alchemist Li is my invited guest. Whether he goes or not is his own freedom. As for whether he disgraces himself, that is not something Senior Brother need concern himself with."

"Guest? Hehe." Wang Zhen sneered repeatedly, just about to say more when another somewhat frivolous voice cut in.

Wang Zhen took half a step forward, blocking the two of them. The contempt on his face deepened, and his tone became increasingly sarcastic. "Junior Sister Lin, it's not that Senior Brother is meddling, but the Treasure Pavilion Auction is attended by the finest among our fellow cultivators. How can someone of unknown background like this casually go there? If outsiders see it, they'll think our Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion has no one left and has to rely on such a shabby pauper to prop up its image!"

As he spoke, Wang Zhen swept his gaze toward Li Chengjie again, lifting his chin in provocation. "Kid, I advise you to know your place and go back on your own. Don't think you can bask in Junior Sister Lin's favor—only to earn a reputation for clinging to her. Losing face yourself is a small matter; dragging down the Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion would be the true offense!"

Lin Zixue's brows drew together even more tightly as she prepared to rebuke him, but Li Chengjie gently tugged at her sleeve. When he raised his eyes to Wang Zhen, the chill in them had faded somewhat, leaving only calm indifference. "Senior Brother Wang has so much free time. Instead of attending to your own business, you keep watching Junior Sister Lin's and my itinerary. Could it be that even Senior Brother isn't qualified to enter the Treasure Pavilion Auction, so you can only stand here blocking others to amuse yourself?"

Wang Zhen returned to his residence with a livid face. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Lin Zixue's defense of Li Chengjie, and the sight of the two leaving side by side, stabbed into his heart like venomous thorns.

That intense jealousy and possessiveness nearly swallowed Wang Zhen whole.

"No! I absolutely cannot let him have another chance to get close to Junior Sister Zixue!" A trace of madness flashed through Wang Zhen's eyes. He had to act—and he had to act quickly and ruthlessly!

Wang Zhen forced himself to calm down, his mind rapidly calculating.

Using force would not work. It would easily anger Lin Zixue and leave a bad impression with his master.

Then he needed a "perfectly legitimate" reason—one the brat could not refuse, and one that would leave others with nothing to say!

Suddenly, he thought of the increasingly tense situation at the Northern Border, and a vicious scheme surfaced in his mind.

Wang Zhen straightened his robes and put on an expression mixed with distress, sincerity, and a touch of shyness before once again heading toward his master Jin Leiwei's secluded courtyard.

Jin Leiwei was reading a Pill Recipe Jade Slip. Seeing Wang Zhen return so soon after leaving, he frowned slightly. "Zhen'er, what else is it?"

Wang Zhen stepped forward and gave a deep bow. His voice carried an unprecedented solemnity and a hint of earnestness that seemed difficult to voice. "Master, this disciple... this disciple has kept something buried in his heart for a long time. Today, I dare to report it to Master and beg for your approval!"

Jin Leiwei set down the jade slip. Seeing this usually proud and arrogant disciple of his wearing such an expression, he became somewhat curious. "Oh? What matter has you acting like this? Speak freely."

A faint flush appeared on Wang Zhen's face at just the right moment, and his voice lowered somewhat. "This disciple... this disciple has long admired Junior Sister Lin Zixue and wishes to become Dao companions with her, to seek the Great Dao together! I hope Master will grant it!"

Wang Zhen had finally spoken the words buried in his heart, all the while secretly observing Jin Leiwei's reaction.

Jin Leiwei was not particularly surprised upon hearing this.

As Wang Zhen's master, he had noticed more or less how Wang Zhen felt about Lin Zixue.

Jin Leiwei pondered for a moment. "That girl Zixue possesses both excellent talent and temperament. She is indeed a suitable match for you. But in the end, this matter depends on her own wishes. As your master, I cannot force her."

"This disciple understands!"

Wang Zhen hurriedly said, "This disciple will certainly cultivate diligently, prove that I am worthy of Junior Sister Lin, and move her with my sincerity! It's just..."

Wang Zhen changed his tone, his face revealing just the right measure of worry and indignation. "It's just that recently, that newly admitted Registered Apprentice, Li Chengjie, has been pestering Junior Sister Lin time and again, though no one knows what methods he used. Today, he even coaxed Junior Sister Lin into taking him to the Treasure Pavilion Auction! This disciple sees that Junior Sister Lin is pure-hearted and fears that she may be deceived by someone so ill-intentioned and without any foundation, damaging her reputation and delaying her cultivation!"

Wang Zhen deliberately painted Li Chengjie as someone who clung to others for advancement, while casting himself as a devoted senior brother worried for his junior sister.

Jin Leiwei's brows furrowed slightly.

Jin Leiwei did not have much impression of Li Chengjie. He only remembered that he was an ordinary Registered Apprentice recommended by Lin Zixue, whose basic pill-refining skills were passable.

If things were truly as Wang Zhen said—if this boy harbored improper intentions and pestered his favored female disciple—then it was indeed displeasing.

How could Jin Leiwei's personal disciple be coveted by a Registered Apprentice with no background at all?

"Such a thing happened?" Jin Leiwei's tone cooled somewhat.

"Absolutely true!" Seeing his master's attitude shift, Wang Zhen rejoiced inwardly and struck while the iron was hot.