Nonsense! You're Not Allowed to Go!

Great Bamboo Peak.

Inside Shou Jing Hall, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The air seemed to freeze in that moment.

Several gazes converged on Ye Xuan simultaneously, each carrying a different meaning.

Tian Ling'er's large, sparkling eyes were wide open, her mouth forming an "O" shape, her face clearly saying, You've got to be kidding me.

Su Ru paused slightly, seemingly not expecting the Seventh Disciple, who usually appeared quite sensible, to make such a...

Ugh!

...somewhat abrupt request!

Only Tian Buyi, his round, plump face twitching, stopped his teacup mid-air as he had just lifted it.

"Nonsense!"

A furious roar, like thunder from a clear sky, shattered the brief silence.

Tian Buyi slammed the teacup down heavily on the rosewood table, the lid rattling and making a crisp clinking sound.

A few drops of hot tea splashed out, landing on his hand.

He, Tian Buyi, didn't notice at all, merely glaring with bull-like eyes, fixated on Ye Xuan.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"That's Small Bamboo Peak, not the bamboo forest behind Great Bamboo Peak. You can't just go chop a few branches whenever you please!"

Tian Buyi, hands behind his back, sprang up from his chair.

His plump body, however, now exuded an astonishing aura, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

He paced back and forth in the hall, and with every step, the floor seemed to tremble slightly.

"You will stay put in Great Bamboo Peak and cultivate!"

"You are not allowed to go anywhere!"

Doesn't this kid have any sense?

Tian Buyi was terribly anxious.

Why did he take Ye Xuan as a disciple?

Wasn't it because he saw the boy's earth-shattering talent!

An Innate Dao Body!

That was a rare genius in cultivation, one in ten thousand years!

It was like a beggar who had been poor his entire life suddenly finding a priceless jade. What would be his first reaction?

Of course, to hide it!

Dig a hole, bury it in the ground, and then build a thatched hut over it, telling no one!

Great Bamboo Peak had been in decline among the Seven Peaks of Qingyun Sect for a long time.

In every Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, the disciples of Great Bamboo Peak basically just went to make up the numbers.

If they were unlucky, they'd be eliminated in the first round, becoming stepping stones for disciples of other peaks.

He, Tian Buyi, had already lost face countless times at the gatherings of the peak lords.

That old fellow Cang Song would look at him with undisguised contempt every time.

Even Shui Yue, who usually appeared amiable, had often taunted Great Bamboo Peak for having no talented disciples.

He felt wronged!

But he had been waiting, waiting for an opportunity!

An opportunity for Great Bamboo Peak to hold its head high and soar to the heavens!

Now.

Heaven had opened its eyes and sent Ye Xuan to him.

This wasn't just a disciple; this was the nuclear weapon for Great Bamboo Peak's resurgence!

He had only been initiated for half a month.

Ye Xuan had already broken through to the second level of Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao!

If this terrifying cultivation speed were to get out, let alone Small Bamboo Peak, even the Sect Leader Senior Brother on Heaven-Piercing Peak would probably not be able to sit still and would rush to Great Bamboo Peak to snatch the person away!

Especially that woman Shui Yue, who always loved to compete with him.

If she saw this uncut jade of Ye Xuan, wouldn't she be green with envy?

She might even resort to some tricks, saying things like "Small Bamboo Peak is Yin-dominant and lacks a gatekeeper" just to annoy him.

More importantly.

The Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament is only a few years away.

Tian Buyi's calculations were clicking away like a rapid-fire abacus.

He'd keep Ye Xuan locked away on Great Bamboo Peak for these few years, training him rigorously, ensuring no one outside could glean the slightest hint of his true strength.

Then, on the day of the tournament, Ye Xuan would appear like a comet, crushing all the so-called geniuses from Dragon Head Peak and Small Bamboo Peak under his feet!

By then...

Just imagine Cang Song and Shui Yue's dumbfounded expressions!

That would be truly satisfying!

That would be truly glorious!

Letting Ye Xuan go to Small Bamboo Peak now?

That would be like taking a priceless heirloom and setting it up at a street stall in a busy market, as if you were desperate for everyone to know how wealthy you were.

What a wasteful brat!

Absolutely not!

Seeing his Master's agitated state, Ye Xuan's heart sank.

Was his reaction... a little extreme?

I just wanted to sign in and maybe see some pretty senior disciples. Did he really need to throw such a tantrum?

"Master, I just..."

"Just what, just what!"

"You've only been here a few days, and your heart's already wandering?"

"Is the second level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao something to be so proud of? Huh?"

Tian Buyi waved his hand, cutting him off directly, the fat on his face jiggling.

"Look at your senior brothers!"

"Which one of them dared to venture down the mountain without over a decade of cultivation?"

"You put away those little thoughts of yours!"

Tian Buyi was practically spitting as he lectured.

Su Ru, standing nearby, could only smile helplessly.

She understood her husband's intentions all too well.

This fatty just wanted to hide Ye Xuan's talent!

He wanted to keep this jade hidden until the most crucial moment, then reveal it to show off.

However...

Aside from that reason.

Ye Xuan really wasn't suited to go to Small Bamboo Peak.

Su Ru tidied a strand of hair by her temple and walked over to Tian Buyi, gently patting his back to signal him to calm down.

Then...

Su Ru turned to Ye Xuan, her tone gentle but carrying an undeniable firmness.

"Seventh."

"Your Master is right this time."

"It's not that Mistress doesn't want to take you."

"It's just that Small Bamboo Peak..."

"That place is full of female disciples, and even our male disciples from this peak rarely set foot there."

Su Ru paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully.

"Although your Martial Uncle Shui Yue and I have a past connection."

"She is a cold and aloof person who values rules above all else."

"For a grown man like you to go to Small Bamboo Peak would not only be inconvenient but might also displease your Martial Uncle Shui Yue."

"Besides, there's no place for male disciples to stay on that mountain. Are you expecting him to sleep in the bamboo forest?"

Su Ru's words were logical, reasonable, and watertight.

Tian Ling'er, who had been sulking nearby, perked up immediately upon hearing both her parents were on her side.

The little girl put her hands on her hips, her chin raised, like a triumphant little rooster.

"Exactly, exactly!"

"Small Bamboo Peak is our territory, for us girls!"

"If you go, I'll tell Senior Sister Wen Min that you went to peek!"

"I'll break your legs when the time comes!"

Tian Ling'er stuck out her tongue at Ye Xuan, her eyes full of schadenfreude.

As long as that scoundrel junior disciple didn't go, Small Bamboo Peak would be paradise!

Ye Xuan's mouth twitched.

Peeking?

Am I that kind of person?

I am a gentleman!

I just want to go sign in, collect my reward, and by the way, improve my strength to bring glory to Great Bamboo Peak!

This System mission has already popped up!

If I don't go.

It feels like seeing a hundred yuan bill on the ground but being unable to pick it up; it's just so agonizing.

No!

I must find a way!

Trying to force my way through is definitely out; Master's physique alone could crush me to death!

Then I can only... use my wits!

Ye Xuan's eyes darted around, and a plan formed in his mind.

He suddenly dropped the playful grin from his face, his entire demeanor changing.

He frowned slightly, his eyes gazing out the window at the Black Bamboo swaying in the wind, a hint of melancholy and confusion in his gaze.

Ye Xuan sighed slowly.

The sigh was extremely long and heavy, as if he were carrying a burden of a thousand pounds.