Since Wen Shuangbai and the others emerged from seclusion late, there was little time left before the Profound Heaven Grand Competition began.
Qingling Mountain thus did not prepare a formal farewell ceremony for the group, but a crowd of disciples still gathered spontaneously near the main hall to see them off.
Witnessing the scene earlier, the onlookers were deeply puzzled and uneasy.
"Why was one of them carried onto the ship horizontally?!"
"Was he injured? The Profound Heaven Grand Competition hasn’t even started yet! If he’s already hurt, what does that mean for Qingling Mountain?"
"Who knows? He looked like a swordsman. Are the disciples we’re sending this time really so unreliable? Are we doomed to come in last again?"
A well-informed disciple chimed in, "That’s Yin Xuan. He might seem unreliable, but my master said his swordsmanship is actually quite impressive."
"Give me a break!" A male disciple sneered bitterly. "Those six only managed to snatch first place in the Taihua Mountain Secret Realm by relying on cheap tricks! In terms of real skill, apart from Senior Sister Zhuohua, the other five aren’t even fit to lick Senior Brother Lu’s boots! Now, the truly capable are overlooked, while these scheming nobodies get to show off. Qingling Mountain is doomed—three straight years at the bottom! I’d be ashamed to admit I’m from Qingling Mountain!"
"Speaking of which, did you hear? After Elder Dugu and Yu Xiaoxiao left, Senior Brother Lu and Senior Brother Baili also withdrew from Qingling Mountain last month."
"Ugh, Qingling Mountain really is declining. We might still have some face in Qingzhou, but in the other six great provinces? Nobody respects us anymore."
"What’s wrong with all of you? Why undermine our own morale?" A senior sister who had patronized Wen Shuangbai’s business stepped forward in their defense. "The competition hasn’t even started, and you’re already predicting our defeat?"
"You think we’ll take first place? Wake up, it’s broad daylight—stop dreaming!"
The senior sister flushed with anger. "Don’t speak too soon. It’s not impossible!"
"If they actually win first place," a mole-faced disciple jeered, jabbing a thumb at himself, "I’ll eat shit in front of everyone!"
His companions roared with laughter. "Deal! We’ll hold you to that!"
The senior sister stormed over and grabbed him by the collar. "Fine! I’ll remember you. And when the time comes, I’ll personally feed it to you!"
…………
Unaware of the heated debate raging below, the group aboard the Qingling Ship went about their business.
After settling her junior sister and senior brother, Wen Shuangbai began exploring the vessel, marveling at the gilded vases and plucking juicy grapes to snack on.
For the first time, she truly understood how Granny Liu from Dream of the Red Chamber must have felt.
Shen Hefeng and Lu Jiayao, having picked their rooms, joined her in grape-pilfering.
Lu Jiayao rasped, "I heard Pavilion Master Xu is overseeing our escort this time! That’s great—they say he’s the most easygoing of the four Pavilion Masters."
Shen Hefeng, recalling the torment of the past three months, muttered dryly, "Yeah. Sure."
Wen Shuangbai added, "Our Pavilion Master is also very approachable."
"Really? But everyone says Pavilion Master Jiang and Pavilion Master Jian are the hardest to deal with..."
Just then, a harried-looking elder approached.
Wen Shuangbai brightened immediately. "Elder Cao! What brings you here? What a coincidence!"
This elder from the Enforcement Hall held a special place in her heart—her brief stay there had been the only time since transmigrating that she’d eaten well.
Elder Cao Xing, however, was in no mood for pleasantries.
Pavilion Master Xu was merely here for appearances; he was the one stuck with actual work.
Responsible for all arrangements related to the Profound Heaven Grand Competition, the overworked elder replied stiffly, "The Qingling Ship has three levels—upper, middle, and lower. You may choose any available rooms..."
Wen Shuangbai smiled. "We’ve already picked." She pointed to the third room on the left. "I’ll be here."
Lu Jiayao raised a hand. "Elder Cao, I’ve reserved three rooms—one on each level. I plan to sleep downstairs tonight, in the middle tomorrow, and upstairs the day after. Is that allowed?"
Shen Hefeng immediately goaded, "Elder, you should throw Lu Jiayao overboard. Such a wasteful disciple doesn’t deserve to stay!"
Elder Cao: "......"
Were these people treating the ship like their own home?
Suppressing a sigh, Cao Xing said curtly, "Do as you please. I have other matters to attend to."
He turned to leave, eager to escape the nonsense.
Remembering her senior brother, Wen Shuangbai called after him, "Elder Cao—"
Cao Xing didn’t even look back. "Meals are provided!"
Wen Shuangbai: "..."
How impressive—he’d learned to anticipate her questions.
Grinning, she replied, "Thank you, Elder."
---
Three days later.
Dizhou, Purple Flame Realm.
As dusk faded into night, the brilliant hues of the sunset dimmed.
Two Purple Flame Realm disciples stood impatiently at the gate, their expressions sour.
One grumbled, "The banquet starts in half an hour! Where are those Qingling Mountain laggards?"
"Perhaps they were delayed," the other offered halfheartedly.
"Worst in skill, most in excuses! Every other sect has arrived—only they’re missing. Just our luck to be stuck greeting these perpetual losers!"
"Enough. If the elders hear you, we’ll be reprimanded again."
Finally, as darkness fully descended, the Qingling Ship appeared overhead and landed smoothly.
Wen Shuangbai and the others disembarked.
Pavilion Master Xu and Elder Cao led them forward.
Noting the two junior disciples sent to receive them, Elder Cao’s mood darkened further.
Regardless of standings, guests deserved respect—especially with a Pavilion Master present. Yet Purple Flame Realm couldn’t even spare an elder for greetings?
Swallowing his displeasure, Cao Xing nodded politely. "Apologies for our tardiness. The journey took longer than expected."
"Qingzhou is quite far from Dizhou. The trip must have been arduous," one disciple replied with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Gesturing ahead, he added, "Please follow me. The other sects are already seated in the banquet hall."
Pavilion Master Xu, engrossed in her novel, paid them no mind.
Neither Li Zhuohua nor Lu Jiayao sensed anything amiss with the disciples of the Purple Flame Realm. In fact, they even found them rather warm and hospitable.
Elder Cao, having risen from humble beginnings and endured countless slights along the way, could easily detect the underlying mockery in the disciple’s words—implying they were from some backwater place.
But as the leading elder, he couldn’t act on impulse. He had to consider the bigger picture. So he merely gave a cold nod and signaled with his eyes for the group to follow.
Li Zhuohua and Lu Jiayao walked ahead, while Pavilion Master Xu, Elder Cao, Yin Xuan, and their junior martial sister trailed at the back.
In the middle, Wen Shuangbai exchanged glances with Xie Ziyin and Shen Hefeng.
Shen Hefeng wore a mischievous grin, eager to try something. "Should I test out my newly learned curse?"
Wen Shuangbai encouraged him, "Go ahead."
Xie Ziyin shot them a look and shook his head. "Pathetic." Clearly, he wanted no part in it.
So Wen Shuangbai and Shen Hefeng ignored him.
With Wen Shuangbai covering for him, Shen Hefeng muttered a few incantations under his breath, then aimed at the disciple who had spoken with such sarcasm earlier. "Go!"
In the next instant, the disciple, who had been walking just fine, suddenly tripped and face-planted onto the ground. His kneecap struck the floor with an audible crack, and he howled in pain, "Ahhh! My leg!"
Lu Jiayao, ever the helpful one, rushed forward. "Senior Brother, are you alright—ah!"
Someone—or something—tripped him, sending him flying. He crashed right onto the Purple Flame Realm disciple, who had barely managed to push himself up.
Snap. The senior brother’s arm broke.
For a moment, the screams echoed through the heavens.
Xie Ziyin calmly retracted his foot, his expression serene, as if he’d done nothing at all.
Wen Shuangbai and Shen Hefeng, who had witnessed the whole thing: "…"
So… pathetic, huh?
---
Soon, the injured disciple was carried away.
The remaining one eyed them warily, but Wen Shuangbai and Shen Hefeng returned the gaze with perfect innocence.
The disciple, knowing better than to provoke trouble, said nothing and quickly led them to the banquet hall before making himself scarce.
Pavilion Master Xu Jingshu and Elder Cao dined in a private room with other sect leaders, while the junior martial sister and other senior disciples went their separate ways.
As participants in the competition, Wen Shuangbai and the other five made their way to the most remote corner of the hall—the spot reserved for last place’s team from the previous tournament.
Lu Jiayao limped along, still baffled. "Are you sure none of you tripped me?"
Without hesitation, everyone shook their heads.
Li Zhuohua snapped, "I said no, so stop accusing me!"
Xie Ziyin remarked coolly, "You fell on your own."
Wen Shuangbai gave him a meaningful look. "Some people have quite the talent for twisting the truth."
Xie Ziyin: "…"
"Huh? I’m not twisting anything, I was just asking," Lu Jiayao said uncertainly. "Maybe I really did just slip."
Shen Hefeng adjusted his Taoist hat and scoffed. "Brainless."
"Who the hell are you calling brainless?!" A furious roar erupted, followed by a surge of powerful spiritual energy that swept toward them.
Yin Xuan, who had been dozing off, jolted awake. He was about to intervene when Li Zhuohua stepped forward, sword drawn, and deflected the attack in a few swift moves. Yin Xuan silently retreated, keeping watch while feigning drowsiness.
Wen Shuangbai turned to see a burly man wielding a dark spiritual hammer, clad in the gold-and-white robes of Wuzhou’s Ten Thousand Saints Palace, its emblem stitched on his chest.
Behind him sat a group—and when she recognized them, her eyes widened in shock.
What in the world?
Wasn’t that Yu Xiaoxiao, Lu Ying, and Bai Lijue?!
All three wore the Ten Thousand Saints Palace robes. After leaving Qingling Mountain, they had all joined this sect?
…Huh.
Wen Shuangbai fell into bewildered silence.
The burly man brandished his hammer, glaring at Shen Hefeng. "What did I ever do to you, huh? Calling me brainless?"
Shen Hefeng rolled his eyes. "I was talking about Lu Jiayao."
Lu Jiayao, who had been wondering why Shen Hefeng was randomly insulting a stranger: "??"
Before the man could realize his mistake, Shen Hefeng smirked. "But now that you mention it, you are even more brainless than him. Only a truly brainless person would assume someone’s insulting them, right? Empty-headed oaf—such a big head, yet filled with nothing but dung."
The man exploded with rage, spewing vile curses as he swung his hammer at Shen Hefeng. "You worthless trash! I’ll smash you into paste and feed you to the dogs!"
Li Zhuohua’s eyes sharpened. The moment the man attacked, he struck. Within moments, the hammer clattered to the ground.
He didn’t stop there, his fighting spirit blazing. Just as his sword was about to pierce the man, Lu Ying, who had been watching, finally moved to intervene—
But then, six figures strode into the banquet hall.
A wave of deceptively gentle yet overwhelming spiritual energy surged forth, cleanly separating the two groups.
Silence fell over the hall as all eyes turned to the newcomers.
The six were all strikingly handsome, but the one leading them stood out—a refined, jade-like gentleman with an air of quiet authority.
He smiled amiably. "No private disputes in the banquet hall, if you please. Consider this a personal favor."
Wen Shuangbai studied him closely.
This was Di Qi, young master of the Purple Flame Realm and the novel’s male lead—Yu Xiaoxiao’s fated partner.
Since the host had spoken, the burly man grudgingly sat back down with a huff.
Wen Shuangbai’s group had no intention of causing trouble either. They were innocent—who knew someone would take offense where none was given?
As they resumed their walk to their seats, Wen Shuangbai nudged Xie Ziyin and crooked a finger, signaling she had something to say.
Xie Ziyin: "?"
Frowning, he leaned down, tilting his ear toward her. "What?"
Wen Shuangbai glanced around the opulent hall, then chose her words carefully. "That guy back there… your misplaced foot."
Xie Ziyin understood instantly. "…………"
After a pause, he said flatly, "All I care about is when my house will be rebuilt."
Wen Shuangbai: "...Almost done. Didn’t I go into seclusion? I’ll fix it for you as soon as the competition is over!"
