Yang Ning Went Up The Mountain

As he prepared to find the person to hand over the goods, a familiar figure walked out from the door, it was Dong Xiaojie.

"Boss Yang." Upon seeing Yang Ning, Dong Xiaojie immediately stepped forward a few paces and gracefully curtsied to him.

Yang Ning, holding a large gift box, found it inconvenient to cup his hands in return, so he simply nodded.

"Senior Sister Dong, I'm here as agreed to deliver the skincare gift box."

At this moment, Dong Xiaojie's hands were clasped demurely in front of her abdomen. She wore a standard Jade Maiden Peak martial uniform in a green hue, paired with elegant white embroidered shoes. She appeared capable and refreshed, a stark contrast to her usual "older sister" image at the Myriad Things Come shop, with her black high heels and lazy smoking. She seemed like a different person.

The outer sect female cultivators passing by stopped upon seeing Dong Xiaojie, respectfully curtsying to her and addressing her as "Second Senior Sister."

Dong Xiaojie gracefully nodded back to each of the Junior Sisters who bowed, fully displaying the demeanor of a direct disciple and Second Senior Sister.

"Boss Yang, please follow me," Dong Xiaojie said to Yang Ning, then gracefully turned and led the way.

Yang Ning nodded and followed behind Dong Xiaojie, carrying the gift box.

The two, one after the other, stepped onto the stone stairs of the outer sect area and walked through the spacious outer sect main hall.

As they walked, Yang Ning gradually sensed something was amiss. He couldn't help but quicken his pace to walk alongside Dong Xiaojie and asked, "Senior Sister Dong, I recall hearing before that Jade Maiden Peak's outer sect also had quite a few male disciples responsible for miscellaneous tasks. Why is it that all I've seen so far are female disciples?"

Upon hearing Yang Ning's words, Dong Xiaojie glanced around at the exclusively female cultivators coming and going. She then stopped, turned, and curtsied to Yang Ning again before replying with a hint of helplessness in her tone:

"Boss Yang, you might not know this, but it's all because of the rumors circulating in the sect these past few days? They say the mole from the Demonic Cult hidden in our outer sect is a male disciple who audaciously harbored ill intentions towards the female disciples on the peak. The Peak Master was greatly enraged upon hearing this and immediately ordered the dismissal of all male disciples from the outer sect. They have all been sent to the sect's miscellaneous affairs hall for unified management."

Yang Ning's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing Dong Xiaojie's words.

"Your Peak Master... just because of some rumors, she sent away all the male disciples from the outer sect?" he asked, confirming with disbelief.

Dong Xiaojie nodded helplessly. "This was a decision made personally by Master. We disciples have no right to object; we can only obey."

With that, Dong Xiaojie stopped talking and continued to lead Yang Ning forward. Not long after, they passed through the continuous cluster of pavilions in the outer sect and arrived at the stone steps leading up the mountainside.

These stone steps leading up the mountain were usually quite deserted. After all, outer sect disciples were strictly forbidden from ascending, and the direct disciples of the inner sect were mostly either practicing in the morning or handling peak affairs at this time, rarely coming down the mountain.

Seeing this, Yang Ning naturally stopped and handed the red gift box he was holding to Dong Xiaojie. "The goods have been delivered, Senior Sister Dong. I'll be heading back now."

To his surprise, Dong Xiaojie did not reach out to take the gift box. She maintained her elegant posture with one hand resting on her abdomen, while the other hand was slightly raised, making a "please" gesture, pointing towards the winding stone steps leading up the mountain.

Dong Xiaojie did not take the gift box Yang Ning offered. One hand remained on her abdomen, while the other extended. "Boss Yang, please."

"Huh?" Yang Ning's eyes widened instantly, almost convinced he had misheard.

He quickly waved his hands in refusal, his tone flustered. "Senior Sister Dong, you can't be joking! I'm very clear about your Jade Maiden Peak's rules! Men are strictly forbidden from stepping into the inner sect! I wouldn't dare go up!"

A flicker of struggle and hesitation also crossed Dong Xiaojie's eyes.

Yesterday, after she and Shi Xuanfei left Myriad Things Come, on their way back by cloud, Master had specifically instructed her to descend the mountain today to welcome Yang Ning and explicitly requested that he be led up the mountain directly to the Peak Master's chambers.

At that time, Dong Xiaojie was so shocked she almost jumped off the cloud! She tried to dissuade her repeatedly, but in the end, she couldn't overcome Shi Xuanfei's insistence. Because of this, she hadn't slept well all night, tossing and turning in bed, racking her brain but unable to figure out what Master was planning.

Ever since she joined the sect, although Shi Xuanfei appeared casual, it was towards them, her direct female disciples!

Shi Xuanfei had clear boundaries regarding interactions between men and women, never allowing any male cultivator to come within three feet of her for three hundred years. Yet this time, she was going to bring a strange man into the core area of Jade Maiden Peak, which was unheard of!

But a master's command could not be defied. Dong Xiaojie had no choice but to wake up early, get ready, and wait at the foot of the mountain.

"Boss Yang, please ascend the mountain," Dong Xiaojie repeated, her tone firmer this time. Seeing Yang Ning still looking utterly resistant, she sighed and admitted, "This is a direct order from our Peak Master. You going up... it's alright."