Zheng Ziheng's eyes held a smile. "What's your name, junior brother?"
Shen Leyan had spent over a month in the Cloud Radiance Sect and had heard early on how popular Zheng Ziheng was.
For one thing, he was the sect master's first disciple and exceptionally gifted. For another, he was handsome, refined, and mild-mannered. Half the female disciples in the Cloud Radiance Sect, along with half the male disciples who preferred men, were quite fond of Senior Brother Zheng.
Now that he was speaking to Shen Leyan, the surrounding Outer Sect disciples kept casting glances their way.
Shen Leyan: "..."
My social anxiety is acting up.
Why did Senior Brother Zheng suddenly come over to talk to me?
On the way to the village that afternoon, the Outer Sect disciples had taken turns resting on the donkey cart.
Now, though, every one of his senior brothers and sisters was walking, hoping to leave a good impression on Senior Brother Zheng.
He alone had been so preoccupied with finding an excuse to avoid the spiritual root test that he had missed the change and sat obliviously on the donkey cart.
...I'm the only one slacking off. It makes sense he'd come to me.
Shen Leyan sighed inwardly, sat up straight, put on a proper, obedient expression, and dutifully gave his name.
Zheng Ziheng nodded, then asked where his family lived, when he had come to the Cloud Radiance Sect, and other such questions.
He answered each one truthfully.
This body's background was much like his own before he transmigrated. Both had lost their families in childhood, become orphans, and been adopted. Even their ages were the same.
"The Cloud Radiance Sect took me in when I was twelve. I've been doing odd jobs in the Outer Sect, like washing clothes and cooking. It's been six years now."
Afraid that making his background sound too tragic would prompt Zheng Ziheng to offer financial help out of pity, he changed tack.
"Although I'm an orphan, I don't have to worry about food or clothing in the Cloud Radiance Sect, and my senior brothers and sisters all treat me very well.
I have enough to eat and warm clothes every day, and I even get to attend lessons and learn to read and write. My life is already better than that of many ordinary people."
Shen Leyan spoke with conviction, his tone sincere.
"The Cloud Radiance Sect is like my home. My senior brothers and sisters and the instructors are like my family.
I still remember the instructor's lesson a couple of days ago. He taught us... uh... taught us..."
He had a habit of dozing off in class: five minutes listening, two hours sleeping.
He had no recollection of what the instructor had taught a couple of days ago.
What did he teach us??? What was it???
Maybe I should just make something up. Senior Brother Zheng is taught by the sect master himself anyway. He definitely won't know what we're studying.
"He taught us... taught us the sect rules!"
Zheng Ziheng's gaze was gentle. "Junior brother, the sect rules are usually taught during your first year here. You've already been in the Cloud Radiance Sect for seven years."
Shen Leyan froze.
Fortunately, Zheng Ziheng did not press him further, but said softly,
"Of course, reviewing the old helps you understand the new. Reading the sect rules a few more times is a good thing, too."
Shen Leyan felt his socially anxious heart receive a little comfort. Even the lividity on his corpse seemed to fade a little.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Zheng."
His gratitude was heartfelt.
"Thanks to all of you noticing something wrong and reporting it to the sect in time, we were able to respond to the village fire. According to the sect rules, you may go to the Spirit Perch Pavilion tomorrow to have your spiritual roots tested again."
"A spiritual root test..." Shen Leyan lowered his lashes. "I've been tested so many times, and I've never had a spiritual root. Maybe I shouldn't waste the sect's Spirit-Testing Stones tomorrow?"
"I'll be conducting the spiritual root tests myself tomorrow."
"...Huh?"
"When I saw you run out of the ancestral hall today, junior brother, your movements were nimble. You should have a spiritual root. You'd better come tomorrow."
A sheen of cold sweat broke out on Shen Leyan's forehead.
He could tell just from that?!
That explains it! I was wondering why I seemed to be running away faster. So it was the Wind Spiritual Root...
He inwardly lambasted the system, Xiao Du, for having no decency.
"Senior Brother Zheng... if someone tests positive for a Spiritual Root but doesn't want to cultivate, is that allowed?"
It was the first time Zheng Ziheng had heard such a question.
Shen Leyan saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but warmth soon filled those tea-colored eyes, like snow beginning to melt in spring.
A hand gently ruffled his hair.
"Of course. Everyone has their own aspirations. Not wanting to cultivate is nothing to make a fuss over."
The slight furrow between Shen Leyan's brows eased.
No wonder the original novel portrayed Senior Brother Zheng so favorably.
For some reason, though, after he inwardly reflected on what a good person Senior Brother Zheng was, the tips of Zheng Ziheng's ears seemed to turn a little red.
He cleared his throat. "If you don't want to have your Spiritual Root tested, junior brother, you don't have to come tomorrow."
Before Shen Leyan could answer, he saw Zheng Ziheng release the donkey's reins, turn, and leave.
His pace seemed considerably quicker than before, with a hint of fluster beneath his composure and a touch of haste beneath his propriety.
Shen Leyan: "?"
They returned to the Cloud Radiance Sect at dawn.
He had not felt it on the road, but the moment he saw the familiar buildings in the distance and thought of his soft mattress and warm bedding, sleepiness crashed over him like a tidal wave.
Shen Leyan could not even be bothered to bathe, nor did he want anything to eat. He only wanted to tumble into bed and fall straight asleep.
It was not yet time for morning lessons. Most disciples were still asleep, and only the patrols were out on the paths.
Seeing them return, the patrolling disciples immediately bowed in greeting.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Zheng."
Zheng Ziheng returned the bow.
"Junior brothers and sisters, thank you for all your hard work dealing with the village fire. I'll ask the instructors to excuse you from today's lessons. Go get some proper rest."
Everyone agreed.
Shen Leyan was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. He trudged toward his quarters in a daze, and as he walked, he heard the patrolling disciples around him murmuring about something.
He vaguely caught his own name and pricked up his ears a little.
"Hey... that Voice Transmission Talisman last night—that was Shen Leyan's voice, wasn't it?"
"Definitely! I live two doors down from Shen Leyan and have run into him on the path several times. There's no way I'd mistake his voice."
"What's his relationship with the sect master? He actually dared to call the sect master by name last night..."
"No idea... Could he be a young master from some powerful clan, studying here in the Cloud Radiance Sect under a false identity?"
Shen Leyan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He scratched his tousled black hair and let out a leisurely yawn.
He muttered to himself, "Looks like I need to wash my hair..."
As he stepped over a stair, a moment's inattention made him stumble, and he nearly took a nasty fall.
After regaining his footing, Shen Leyan crouched down and rubbed his knee.
He comforted himself in a small voice. "It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt..."
The patrolling disciples: "..."
"I don't think he looks much like a disciple from a powerful clan."
Surely a disciple from a powerful clan ought to be like Senior Brother Zheng, as serene and graceful as a bright moon and a gentle breeze.
"But that Voice Transmission Talisman yesterday really was powerful. It actually broke straight through the sect's Mountain-Guarding Array, and his voice carried throughout the entire Cloud Radiance Sect. When I heard it in my sleep, I thought the Demon Clan was attacking."
"And the sect master actually brought out the Jiangxue Sword and sent Senior Brother Zheng to deal with it... Who in the entire sect hasn't heard of him now?"
Before you continue