Offering Some Guidance

The voice was gentle and pleasant, giving off a sense of approachability: "What's the matter?"

Yun Yun's thoughts were not complicated; she had only spoken out of turn because of Medusa's aggressive aura. Now, reflecting on it, she felt it was somewhat inappropriate. Perhaps it was because she felt that since Ya Fei and she both came from the three great clans of the Jia Ma Empire, they could at least be considered people she could talk to in this unfamiliar mountain gate, so she immediately asked:

"Manager Ya Fei, do you think what I just did was inappropriate..."

"Emm..."

Ya Fei herself didn't think much of it, and she held an indifferent attitude toward the conflict between the two. However, out of politeness—and because Yun Yun was the person she had identified to replace her—she spoke up to comfort her:

"I don't think it was anything. If the Saint had truly developed any prejudice, he wouldn't have given up his own room to quell the tension between you two." Thinking of this, Ya Fei still felt it wasn't enough; this was the perfect moment to stir the pot, so she immediately added: "And think about it, the Saint acting this way shows that you and Medusa hold equal status in his heart, which is why he didn't want you to keep arguing. From a certain perspective, you are actually quite favored by the Saint."

"Ah..."

Yun Yun's cheeks flushed slightly, feeling that Ya Fei's words were a bit too blunt. Although her master had such thoughts when sending her into the mountain gate, this was only the first day... surely that couldn't be it...

However, to give her so many grade seven pills upon their first meeting... and they were rare pills for nourishing the soul, could it be...

Yun Yun was not as naive as Medusa; her education in human society and interpersonal relationships made it inevitable for her to lean toward some ambiguous thoughts. Looking at Ya Fei beside her, she couldn't help but think that in this empty mountain gate, before she arrived, only Ya Fei could be considered...

Medusa was, after all, a Snake-Person, and it was said she had a disciple, but she looked like a young child. That is to say... if the Saint truly had any intentions, the Ya Fei before her would be the best candidate. Could this be the reason why she was able to become the manager of the mountain gate? After all, since she had also entered the mountain gate, she knew a little about Ya Fei's background, so she asked cautiously:

"Then... have you already..."

Huh?

Where did that come from...

Ya Fei was stunned for a moment, then waved her hands and said: "No, no, I haven't. I am just the manager of the mountain gate. There is nothing going on between the Saint and me, and I don't have much talent for cultivation either."

She hadn't expected the lightning to strike her so suddenly. Besides, how could that be possible? She waved her hands repeatedly and said:

"Alright, just focus on your cultivation. Actually, there aren't that many rules in the mountain gate. You just need to stay in your room and cultivate in peace. The two maids outside were assigned by the Saint to serve you; their names are Cuiguo and Baojuan."

After speaking, Ya Fei turned and left the room. Yun Yun sat alone on the chair, still holding the pill Zhang Nian had just bestowed upon her, and couldn't help but recall the words her master had whispered before she left: Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect has been passed down for a hundred years, and now is a critical moment. The appearance of a Dou Sheng powerhouse is a heaven-sent opportunity, and you carry the survival of the Misty Cloud Sect for the next hundred years on your shoulders.

Perhaps this is my destiny; at the very least, I can bring a chance for the Misty Cloud Sect to rise...

But regarding a strange man, her heart was in a bit of a mess. Before this, all the information she had received was about cultivating diligently and taking on the responsibility of revitalizing the Misty Cloud Sect in the future. Yet, this sudden change was silently influencing her state of mind...

This Soul Nourishing Pill...

"I heard a new sister has arrived? Let me see~"

A childish voice came from outside, and a moment later, the door was gently pushed open.

"Creak~"

A small head poked in abruptly, and two watery, large eyes scanned the room cautiously. Zi Yan looked at Yun Yun, who was sitting upright on the chair, and beamed with a smile. That playful and cute appearance instantly bridged the distance between them.

"Hello, sister~"

If Zhang Nian were present, he would surely have been unable to hold back a laugh. This little girl who acted like an adult—if you really counted her age, the ages of everyone in the mountain gate combined probably wouldn't equal hers. Yet, she was born so soft and cute that it was hard not to feel affection for her. Yun Yun was also instantly captivated by the big-eyed, adorable child and beckoned to the girl outside, saying kindly: "Come on in~"

However, the truth was that Zi Yan had smelled the alluring scent of the Soul Nourishing Pill. From the moment she entered the room, those cute, big eyes had locked onto the jade bottle in Yun Yun's palm, staring straight at it without moving for a second.

"Are you looking for this?"

Raising the jade bottle in her hand, Yun Yun asked curiously, looking at Zi Yan as if she were her own younger sister, with a touch of intimacy.

Zi Yan's eyes darted around, and in an instant, she put her hands on her hips and said in an old-fashioned tone: "Hmph, this senior sister doesn't want your pill; I'm just looking out for my junior sister. After all, this pill was bestowed by Master, slurp, slurp..." A few droplets of saliva slid from the corner of her mouth, and she hurriedly raised her small hand to wipe them away, then continued: "Here, just give me one, and I'll help you test the medicinal properties!"

If one were to really count, Zi Yan had entered the sect much earlier than her, so she could be considered her senior sister.

Looking at the little cutie before her, Yun Yun saw at a glance that the other party's cultivation was at the Dou Spirit level. The efficacy of a grade seven pill went without saying. Although her master had explained that the medicinal power of this pill was not fierce, she still didn't dare to hand it over casually. What if something went wrong? She immediately put away the jade bottle and said: "This pill is a grade seven, after all. I wouldn't dare give it to you casually. If you really want one, you can go find Master."

"Tch! If you won't give it, then don't! I'll go ask Master for one! I was going to share the mount Master gave me with you, but now I won't!"

After speaking, Zi Yan turned her head abruptly and walked out the door, looking so aggressive as if she had suffered some great grievance. Yun Yun shook her head helplessly, but Zi Yan's sudden appearance had interrupted her chaotic thoughts. Although her current life couldn't compare to the Misty Cloud Sect, it was quite peaceful. It would be better to focus on cultivation; as for other things, what is meant to come will come, and one cannot hide from it, right?

On the other side, Zhang Nian organized his inventory and walked toward the mountain with a few Dou Techniques in hand.

A few minutes later...

"Knock, knock, knock~"

"Enter."

"Creak~"

The door pushed open, and Zhang Nian stood outside with a few Dou Techniques. A trace of panic flashed through Yun Yun's beautiful eyes, and her heartbeat accelerated slightly. She didn't know why, but when facing Zhang Nian alone, she felt a bit flustered, and her voice trembled: "Mas...ter..."

"Hmm, these are some Dou Techniques left behind by the Misty Cloud Sect. I'm sure you've practiced them, but I've taken a rough look, and many still have room for improvement. Take them first, practice them for me to see, and I will offer you some pointers then."

Zhang Nian pointed to the stack of Dou Techniques on the table, signaling for Yun Yun to take them.

[Ding! Detected the granting of the Xuan-tier intermediate Dou Technique Extreme Wind: Sunset Shine to disciple Yun Yun... Returning now.]

[Ding! Detected the granting of the Xuan-tier high-level Dou Technique Extreme Wind: Meteor Kill to disciple Yun Yun... Returning now.]

[Ding! Detected the granting of the Xuan-tier low-level Dou Technique Explosive Step to disciple Yun Yun... Returning now.]

Not bad, not bad. Everything is moving in the direction I expected!