Chapter 059: Do Not Take Advantage of Him

Yan Shu couldn't help but laugh at the wild speculation her mind had conjured. Having read so many xianxia novels, she naturally knew that one could not judge a person's youth or age by years in a cultivation world. Some people never managed to form a golden core their entire lives; by two hundred, they were already frail and decrepit.

She quickly banished her chaotic thoughts; best not to ask about age in the future. Who would have thought that Xiao Jihan and Yu Wenche, who appeared to be only a few years apart, were actually separated by several generations?

Yan Shu, a little curious, asked, “Are you two related by blood?”

“No,” Yu Wenche replied with a smile. “We’re only distant kin, that’s all.”

The past was a forbidden topic for Xiao Jihan; with only a 7-point favorability at present, Yan Shu didn’t dare broach it. She nodded to show her understanding and asked no more.

At that moment, Shan Zhiqing sidled over with a smile. “Senior Sister Yan, we meet again. I saw you and Senior Brother Xiao arrive together under one umbrella, and many of the seniors thought you two were a cultivation couple.”

As soon as these words left her mouth, the smile on Yu Wenche’s face faded. He turned to her and said, “Junior Sister, while cultivators are not bound by worldly conventions, making such reckless assumptions can damage a lady’s reputation. Best not to say such things in the future.”

Shan Zhiqing pursed her lips, a little aggrieved. “I wasn’t the one who said it. I actually defended Senior Sister Yan and Junior Brother Xiao.”

Yan Shu gave Shan Zhiqing a meaningful look. “Then I truly must thank you for clarifying things on my behalf, Junior Sister Shan.”

“It was nothing, really, just a small matter.” Shan Zhiqing blinked her large eyes, curiosity shining within. “But Senior Sister Yan and Senior Brother Xiao, are you really not a couple? You two look so well-matched!”

“Little Junior Sister!” Yu Wenche’s face turned cold for real this time, and he was about to rebuke her, but Shan Zhiqing stuck out her tongue playfully. “Alright, alright, I know I was wrong.”

A portrait of innocence and mischievous frankness.

Yu Wenche suppressed his reprimand, stifled in his chest. After all, she was his little junior sister of over a hundred years, and also the only daughter of their master. Even if unhappy, he could only swallow it down.

Xiao Jihan glanced at Shan Zhiqing, pursed his thin lips, and said nothing.

Yan Shu hadn’t intended to pay attention to this little green tea, but since she kept leaping around in front of her, it left Yan Shu somewhat displeased.

She turned to Shan Zhiqing with a smile. “If two attractive people standing together makes them a good match, then there are quite a few who pair well with you, Junior Sister Shan.” As she spoke, she glanced at the resting place of the disciples of the Primordial Sect, and said blandly, “That one in green, and the one in blue—both seem to match you quite well.”

She didn’t mention Yu Wenche at all; sure enough, Shan Zhiqing’s smile stiffened.

Yan Shu pretended not to notice, still smiling. “Oh, and while we cultivators don’t measure by age, I believe you’re already over a hundred years old, Junior Sister Shan? What a coincidence; I’m not yet a hundred myself, and my cultivation is only at the late golden core stage. To be called ‘senior sister’ by you feels unworthy.”

“And as for my Junior Brother Xiao—while his cultivation is not as high as yours, he’s at the late foundation establishment stage, and most importantly, he’s only just twenty this year. He really can’t bear being called ‘senior brother’ by you.”

Yan Shu’s words fell just short of outright accusing Shan Zhiqing of pretending to be younger than she was.

Shan Zhiqing’s smile could no longer hold; her face froze as she stammered, “R–really?”

Yan Shu nodded, her expression kind. “As for myself, I’m used to it. My seniority in the sect is quite high; I’ve even been called ‘grandmaster’ before. If you call me senior sister, I’ll accept it. But my Junior Brother Xiao is truly still very young. Best not to take advantage of him.”

Shan Zhiqing’s face turned green, then red, then green again. Looking at Xiao Jihan, she stuttered out, “Junior… Junior Brother Xiao.”

Xiao Jihan glanced at Yan Shu, then nodded coolly in acknowledgment.

Yan Shu watched Shan Zhiqing’s changing expression, smiling with her brows and eyes. Only a few days ago, she’d been on the receiving end of Shan Zhiqing’s barbs, yet here she was again, seeking another round. Truly, it was amusing.

Yu Wenche saw Yan Shu’s smiling eyes and couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly. He cleared his throat and said, “Let me introduce you to the disciples of the Primordial Sect.”

Since they would be together for a few days, it was only right to get acquainted.

Yu Wenche called over the disciples of the Primordial Sect and introduced them one by one to Yan Shu and Xiao Jihan, only mentioning that the two were disciples of the Thunderclap Sect.

The Primordial Sect was the foremost sect; those admitted were all prodigies. Upon hearing of the Thunderclap Sect, a name they’d never encountered, they felt a touch of disdain. But with Yu Wenche present, they showed nothing outwardly, merely offering a brief greeting before considering the introductions complete.

Yu Wenche addressed the group, “In a little while, dusk will fall. There’s a cave ahead; we’ll rest there for the night and head deeper tomorrow.”

At this, the disciples of the Primordial Sect were clearly displeased.

One spoke, “Senior Brother, in recent days we’ve only been gathering at the outskirts and haven’t encountered any demons. Now that we’re finally all together and inside the inner circle, it’s the perfect time to hunt. Why are we resting instead?”

“Exactly! Even if this Junior Brother Xiao is only at the late foundation establishment stage, with us around, it’s not like he’ll have to fight.”

“That’s right, we can’t possibly do nothing just for his sake, can we?”

“The rankings of all the sects are at stake in this secret realm. If we do nothing and the Primordial Sect loses first place, how will we answer to our master?”

“If Senior Brother is so worried about this Junior Brother Xiao, at worst we can share some demon cores with him at the end.”

“Doesn’t he have Senior Sister Yan? Even if the Thunderclap Sect’s techniques are nothing special, Senior Sister Yan is at least at the middle golden core stage. Keeping Junior Brother Xiao from harm shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”

Listening to their words, Yan Shu understood what was going on.

So, they thought she and Xiao Jihan were dragging them down.

Shan Zhiqing turned to address the group, “Senior brothers and sisters, if Senior Brother has arranged this, he must have his reasons. Let’s just follow his lead.”

At her words, the tone among the Primordial Sect disciples shifted at once.

After a moment’s hesitation, their original eagerness to hunt demons transformed into, “Junior Sister Shan is right; Senior Brother must have considered everything. We’ll just do as he says.”

Yan Shu glanced at Yu Wenche and, seeing his unruffled expression, understood this was nothing out of the ordinary.

It seemed that even Yu Wenche, as the Primordial Sect’s foremost disciple, did not have as smooth a position within the sect as outsiders might think.

As she was pondering this, Yu Wenche’s secret voice transmission sounded in her mind: “I’m sorry to have let you see a joke, Junior Sister Yan. It’s just that Junior Sister Shan is the sect master’s only daughter. Though our master didn’t issue any explicit orders for this trial, he did quietly instruct me to ensure she comes out on top.”

Yan Shu understood now. No wonder Yu Wenche had suppressed his cultivation to join this Brahma Secret Realm trial, and no wonder the Primordial Sect disciples were so eager to hunt demons. It was all to pave the way for Shan Zhiqing’s victory.

To have so many people clearing the path for his own daughter—this sect master’s character truly defied description!