Great Bamboo Peak.
Inside Shou Jing Hall, you could hear a pin drop.
The air seemed to freeze in that instant.
Several pairs of eyes turned toward Ye Xuan, each with a different look.
Tian Ling'er's big, bright eyes widened, her mouth forming an "O" as her face plainly said, What the hell are you thinking?
Su Ru was slightly taken aback. She seemed not to have expected Seventh, who usually seemed quite sensible, to make such a...
Ahem!
Rather abrupt request!
Only Tian Buyi's plump face twitched. The teacup he had just picked up stopped in midair.
"What nonsense!"
His furious shout cracked through the brief silence like thunder.
Tian Buyi slammed the teacup onto the rosewood table. Its lid rattled, making a sharp clinking sound.
A few drops of hot tea splashed onto the back of his hand.
Tian Buyi didn't notice at all. He just glared at Ye Xuan with bulging eyes.
"What do you mean, you're going?"
"That's Small Bamboo Peak, not the bamboo grove behind Great Bamboo Peak where you can go chop a few stalks whenever you please!"
Tian Buyi clasped his hands behind his back and sprang up from his chair.
His round body now radiated astonishing force, like a volcano about to erupt.
He paced back and forth across the hall. With every step, the floor seemed to tremble.
"You'll stay right here on Great Bamboo Peak and focus on your cultivation!"
"You're not going anywhere!"
Did this kid have any idea what was at stake?
Tian Buyi was beside himself with worry.
Why had he taken Ye Xuan as his disciple?
Wasn't it because he had recognized the boy's extraordinary talent?
An Innate Dao Body!
A cultivation prodigy seen only once in ten thousand years!
It was like a beggar who'd been poor his whole life suddenly finding a priceless jade. What would his first reaction be?
Of course, he'd hide it!
Dig a hole, bury it in the ground, then build a thatched hut over it and tell no one!
Great Bamboo Peak had been in decline among Qingyun Sect's Seven Peaks for a long time.
At every Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, Great Bamboo Peak's disciples were basically just there to make up the numbers.
With a bit of bad luck, they'd be eliminated in the first round and become stepping stones for the other peaks' disciples.
Tian Buyi had been humiliated time and again at gatherings of the peak leaders.
That old Cang Song always looked at him with undisguised contempt.
Even Shuiyue, who usually seemed so amiable, had often taken jabs at Great Bamboo Peak, saying they had no one worth mentioning.
It was infuriating!
But he'd kept waiting for an opportunity!
An opportunity for Great Bamboo Peak to hold its head high and rise to the top!
And now.
The heavens had smiled on him and sent Ye Xuan his way.
This wasn't just a disciple—he was Great Bamboo Peak's weapon for turning its fortunes around!
Ye Xuan had only joined the sect half a month ago.
And he had already reached the second level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao!
If word got out about his terrifying cultivation speed...
Forget Small Bamboo Peak—even the Sect Leader Senior Brother at Heaven-Piercing Peak might not be able to sit still. He'd come straight to Great Bamboo Peak to snatch the boy away!
Especially Shuiyue. She loved competing with him more than anyone.
If she saw a gem like Ye Xuan, wouldn't envy make her turn green?
Who knew what tricks she'd pull? Maybe she'd say something like, "Small Bamboo Peak has too many women and too few men. We could use a gatekeeper," just to get under his skin.
More importantly.
There were only a few years left until the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament.
Tian Buyi's plans were already falling neatly into place.
He would keep Ye Xuan on Great Bamboo Peak and have him train in secret for the next few years, never letting outsiders learn the slightest thing about his abilities.
Then, on the day of the tournament, Ye Xuan would emerge out of nowhere and trample all those so-called prodigies from Dragon Head Peak and Small Bamboo Peak!
And then.
He'd get to see the dumbfounded looks on Cang Song and Shuiyue's faces!
Now that would be satisfying!
Now that would be something to celebrate!
Letting Ye Xuan go to Small Bamboo Peak now?
That would be like taking a priceless heirloom to sell on a busy street, as if he wanted everyone to know he was rich.
What a wasteful brat!
Absolutely not!
Seeing his master so worked up, Ye Xuan's heart gave a little lurch.
Wasn't this reaction a bit over the top?
I just wanted to check in and take a look at the pretty senior sisters. Was there really any need to get this angry?
"Master, I only meant to..."
"Only meant to what?"
"You've only been here a few days, and you're already getting restless?"
"Is reaching the second level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao such a big deal? Huh?"
Tian Buyi waved a hand, cutting him off. The fat on his face quivered.
"Look at your senior brothers!"
"Which one of them dared go down the mountain to gain experience before cultivating for more than ten years?"
"Put those little thoughts of yours away!"
Tian Buyi practically spat as he ranted.
Beside him, Su Ru could only smile helplessly.
She understood her husband all too well.
The fat man just wanted to keep Ye Xuan's talent hidden!
He wanted to keep this gem tucked away until the perfect moment, then bring him out to show off.
But...
That wasn't the only reason.
Ye Xuan really wasn't suited to going to Small Bamboo Peak.
Su Ru smoothed the hair by her temple and walked over to Tian Buyi. She gently patted his back, telling him to calm down.
Then.
Su Ru turned to Ye Xuan. Her voice was gentle, but her resolve was unmistakable.
"Seventh."
"This time, your master is right."
"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. Even the senior brothers from our sect rarely set foot there."
Su Ru paused, seeming to choose her words carefully.
"Your Martial Aunt Shuiyue and I go way back."
"But she's a reserved person who cares deeply about rules."
"You're a grown man. If you go to Small Bamboo Peak, it'll be inconvenient for everyone, and you might even upset your Martial Aunt Shuiyue."
"Besides, there aren't any lodgings for male disciples up there. What, would we have you sleep in the bamboo grove?"
Su Ru's explanation was perfectly reasonable, leaving no room for argument.
Tian Ling'er had been sulking, but once she saw both her parents taking her side, her spirits immediately lifted.
The little girl planted her hands on her hips and raised her chin like a rooster that had just won a fight.
"Exactly!"
"Small Bamboo Peak is for us girls!"
"If you go, I'll tell Senior Sister Wen Min and the others that you went there to peep!"
"Then they'll break your legs!"
Tian Ling'er made a face at Ye Xuan, eyes full of glee.
As long as that annoying junior brother didn't go, Small Bamboo Peak would stay a paradise!
Ye Xuan's mouth twitched.
Peep?
Was he that kind of person?
He was a man of integrity!
He just wanted to check in, claim a reward, and improve his strength so he could bring glory to Great Bamboo Peak!
The system had already given him the quest!
If he didn't go...
It would be like seeing a hundred bucks on the ground and being unable to pick it up. The frustration would eat him alive.
No!
He had to think of something!
There was no way he could force his way through. His master could crush him just by sitting on him!
Then he'd just have to... use his wits!
Ye Xuan's eyes shifted as a plan came to mind.
Suddenly, he dropped his playful grin, and his whole demeanor changed.
His brows furrowed slightly as he gazed out the window at the Black Bamboo swaying in the breeze. A touch of melancholy and confusion showed in his eyes.
Ye Xuan let out a slow sigh.
It was a long, heavy sigh, as if he were carrying a thousand-pound burden.
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