Chapter Fifty-Four: Mistress Ying

Hongjian saw that her master Yan Changqing did not object, so she obediently followed inside to serve tea and water.

Yan Changqing accompanied Elder Sister Ying as she took her seat, and asked, puzzled, "It seems you've come with the intention of demanding justice."

Elder Sister Ying lowered her eyes, her thick, dark lashes hiding any hint of emotion. She smiled self-deprecatingly and spoke in a gentle, soft voice, "How could I dare? Back when I was at Dan Cliff Sect, only you, Senior Brother Yan, treated me genuinely well. I am not one to forget kindness."

Hongjian brewed the tea nearby, all the while quietly observing this beautiful elder sister. She felt deeply that, among all the female cultivators she had ever seen, Elder Sister Ying was the most beautiful. Sitting there, she was like an exquisite ink painting—simply pleasing to the eye. Even more captivating were her delicate expressions and gentle smiles, which evoked a touching charm that compelled one to look again and again.

Yan Changqing laughed, "Then what drama are you performing now?"

Not daring to be idle, Hongjian respectfully brought the brewed spiritual tea over to the two.

Elder Sister Ying took the tea, looked Hongjian up and down, then lightly curled her lips and said, "Senior Brother, there was a major event at Dan Cliff Sect a year ago. Even from afar, I heard that three Nascent Soul elders gathered at the Huanhua Hall to select disciples, and this young girl became your disciple then, didn't she? I'd like to ask, what was her cultivation when she entered your tutelage?"

Yan Changqing paused, glanced at Hongjian, who stood quietly by his side, then looked at his junior sister, quickly understanding her intent. He answered, "At that time, she had just advanced to the fifth level of Qi Refining."

Elder Sister Ying sneered, "In just a year, her cultivation has soared, breaking through the barrier from sixth to seventh level. I heard you went to great lengths for her, even finding a way to let her enter the sect's secret realm, which is usually reserved for Foundation Establishment disciples. Is she your kin or a close relative?"

Yan Changqing hurried to explain, "Of course not. On the day the Nascent Soul elders accepted disciples, she caught Master's eye at Huanhua Hall, so he specifically instructed me to take her under my wing. Junior Sister, you—"

Elder Sister Ying abruptly stood, cutting him off, "Master, don't always use him as your shield. Why did she stand out at Huanhua Hall? Wasn't it because you manipulated the sect's assessment? I even wrote you a personal letter back then, asking you to look after my nephew for me. If not for your interference, how would Zaizhi's spiritual sense have been injured, leaving him no chance to enter Huanhua Hall? Master's words are law, yet everything I asked of you was cast aside." Her face twisted with grief, and she suddenly bit her lip, "Today, I must demand justice for Zaizhi. If you don't give me an explanation, I won't care if Master punishes me—I’ll kill this little girl right here!"

Hongjian was terrified; this was truly a calamity out of nowhere. This elder sister, who had appeared from who knows where, turned hostile in an instant, transforming from a beauty into a wicked old witch without even a moment's warning. As a Golden Core expert, her cold killing intent enveloped Hongjian, a mere Qi Refining apprentice, who was utterly helpless and incapable of resisting.

With a wave of Elder Sister Ying's jade-like hand, Hongjian felt an intense cold seep from head to toe, her limbs frozen, and the spiritual energy within her rapidly solidifying. She was like a block of ice, unable even to beg for mercy, and could only cry out in desperation, "Master, save me!"

At that critical moment, a thought flashed through Hongjian's mind: "If Master knows that Senior Brother Jian wants to kill me, and simply lets it happen, he must truly dislike me. With Elder Sister Ying attacking now, will he just watch and let me die?"

But no matter how anxious or angry she felt, it was useless. Her water spiritual root churned desperately in her sea of consciousness, trying to resist, but was swiftly suppressed by the opponent's overwhelming power. Hongjian stared wide-eyed in unwillingness, but her body went limp and collapsed as darkness overtook her.

Her six senses frozen, everything became muddled—a soul drifting between life and death.

She didn't know how long had passed before the spiritual energy frozen around her sea of consciousness began to loosen, like a trickle of warmth in early spring growing ever larger. First, her awareness returned, then her hearing.

Hongjian realized she was lying flat, unable to move, her head heavy, and her ears stuffed and aching. She was still alive. As this realization dawned, memories of what had happened before she lost consciousness slowly resurfaced.

People were talking nearby; it must be Master Yan Changqing and Elder Sister Ying still conversing. Hongjian desperately tried to discern how they planned to deal with her, but could only make out faint buzzing, which sent a sharp pain through her head.

She dared not circulate her spiritual energy, fearing they would notice she had awakened. After waiting a while, her hearing seemed to improve, the noise lessened, and she could just barely make out the gist.

"So I should thank you? Even if he couldn't become a Nascent Soul disciple, if you cared, why didn't you take him under your wing and guide him in your spare time? Zaizhi is the most talented in the Chen family in hundreds of years. If someone mentored him, he wouldn't still be stuck at the sixth level of Qi Refining, unable to break through, let alone miss the chance to enter the sect's secret realm during Qi Refining," Elder Sister Ying vented her anger on Hongjian, though her tone, while still displeased, was much calmer.

Yan Changqing tried to persuade her, "You know that breaking through barriers is often counterproductive if aided by others. Don't worry, Junior Sister; I'll keep a close eye on Zaizhi. Once he reaches Foundation Establishment, I'll take him as my disciple and have him move to Snowy Cliff."

Elder Sister Ying snorted, "By the time he reaches Foundation Establishment, he won't need you. With his talent, he can choose any master he wants. I don't care; you've already accepted one, so adding Zaizhi is no big deal."

Yan Changqing sounded troubled, "That would break the sect's rules..."

"Master himself allowed his favored disciple to enter the secret realm early. What rules are you talking about? Go and ask him; he's always treated you well." Elder Sister Ying’s tone softened, returning to her earlier gentle request. Yan Changqing fell silent, seeming to waver.

Hongjian felt both aggrieved and furious. She wondered whether Elder Sister Ying intended to spare her and thought bitterly, "Just for this woman, just for Chen Zaizhi, does Master not care at all whether I live or die? If I survive, I will train relentlessly, and my cultivation will always surpass his, so he can never rise in Dan Cliff Sect." Having suffered such calamity for no reason, she even found herself resenting Chen Zaizhi, whom she’d previously held in some regard.