120 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 120: The Beast Egg Shatters Although Qi Xian Qing was looking at the schedule, she was still keeping a portion of her attention on Yan Jue. "What's wrong?" Qi Xian Qing noticed her off expression, so she closed the book and reached out to take her hand. "You've been distracted since earlier." The night air was slightly chilly, but the girl's hand was warm. Qi Xian Qing had almost gotten used to this; it was Yan Jue's unique warmth. Yan Jue hesitated, "Today during the day, we talked about teaming up for the Five Dragon Summit's group competition, right? But I forgot; I had already promised my neighbor two months ago that I'd team up with them..." The more Yan Jue spoke, the softer her voice became. Qi Xian Qing's gaze gradually turned colder. Bracing herself, Yan Jue finished her words, pulling the corners of her lips into a smile as she looked up at her. For a moment, her heart pounded like a drum. Yan Jue blamed herself a little. When Qi Xian Qing proposed teaming up in the morning, she should have taken a moment to remember her previous commitment. But when she heard Qi Xian Qing's offer, she was so overjoyed. Now that everything was agreed upon, she was backing out—it was truly... Qi Xian Qing lifted her gaze, studying her for a long while before gently proposing, "Is there still space? Can I join?" Yan Jue, sitting so close to Qi Xian Qing, was engulfed by her celestial aura. The scent Qi Xian Qing carried was pleasant—a very clean plum blossom fragrance. Yan Jue pressed her lips together, her mind thrown into turmoil by Qi Xian Qing's unexpected vulnerability. Who was Qi Xian Qing? She was the revered senior sister of Zhen Huo Sect, admired by so many within the sect. Numerous people wanted to team up with Qi Xian Qing. But now Qi Xian Qing was looking at her so pitifully, asking if she could join. Embarrassed, Yan Jue looked at her, her intestines twisting in regret. "There's no space; it's full..." Qi Xian Qing: "..." Qi Xian Qing shot her a glance, straightened up, and ignored her. Yan Jue slid from her chair to the ground and lay against Qi Xian Qing's knees, looking up with a voice laced with tears, "I really didn't know." In the dim room, Yan Jue's fair complexion was tinged with a blush, like a lotus blooming in the snow. A thin sheen of mist covered her clear amber eyes. Qi Xian Qing turned her head aside, unable to resist caressing her cheek. "Alright, I'm not mad at you." Qi Xian Qing paused, then helped her up. "Get up, the floor's cold." Yan Jue quietly let out a small laugh. Indeed, pretending to cry worked best on Qi Xian Qing. As soon as Qi Xian Qing pulled, Yan Jue found herself sitting on Qi Xian Qing's lap. Suppressing the upward curve of her lips, Yan Jue lazily hung onto Qi Xian Qing's neck. Qi Xian Qing encircled Yan Jue's waist, bowing her head to leaf through the book on the table. "The latter half of this Five Dragon Summit is divided into leisure competitions and group contests." "The leisure competitions are the gourmet competition, spiritual pet battles, drinking contest, flying sword contest, weightlifting contest, and so on," Qi Xian Qing said. "The group contest involves all the Five Dragon Sect disciples using the clues provided by the sect to enter a secret realm and hunt for treasures. The group that finds the most specified materials wins." Yan Jue's eyes lit up. "That sounds fun!" Qi Xian Qing gave her a blank look. "Fun?" Yan Jue: "Senior sister, promise me you'll take first place, okay?" As Yan Jue said this, a sudden pain shot through her lower abdomen. But Yan Jue had always been unconcerned about such things, so she ignored it. Qi Xian Qing chuckled. "Why?" Yan Jue: "Because senior sister is really strong." "We're not in the same team, so there's room for competition." Yan Jue thought for a moment. "If we were together, wouldn't it be dull?" She always had a way with words, making Qi Xian Qing's brows arch slightly in amusement. The bamboo-knit kickball they brought back from Feidu City lay quietly in the corner. Out of the corner of her eye, Yan Jue spotted it, and her heart began to itch. She licked her lips, about to speak, when she suddenly noticed Yan Jue's face turning pale, cold sweat faintly appearing on her forehead. Qi Xian Qing's expression turned slightly serious. "What's wrong?" Yan Jue was startled, then coughed awkwardly, looking pained as she admitted, "My period came." Yan Jue had been sitting on Qi Xian Qing's lap, but with just a little force, Qi Xian Qing lifted her up. Yan Jue's legs dangled unexpectedly in the air, and she instinctively hooked them around Qi Xian Qing's neck. Although she was already aware of the immense strength of sword cultivators, being lifted like a princess so abruptly left Yan Jue a bit unaccustomed. "I don't want to sleep yet; I want to..." When Qi Xian Qing placed Yan Jue on the bed, she cushioned her hand under her neck to prevent a bump. "Want to do what?" Yan Jue: "Play ball." Qi Xian Qing gave her a look, then got up to retrieve something. When Qi Xian Qing returned, she held a white jade-like object in her hand. In the dim light, the white jade emitted a faint glow. Yan Jue was momentarily stunned. Qi Xian Qing lifted Yan Jue's clothes a bit and placed the white jade against her abdomen. The jade was warm and comforting on her belly. While Yan Jue had been shivering, the heat from the jade spread across her skin to her limbs, warming her body entirely. Calming down, Yan Jue sat obediently on the bed, looking up at her. Qi Xian Qing instructed, "Don't play tonight. Wait until you're feeling better." Gazing into Yan Jue's eyes, Qi Xian Qing relented. Yan Jue met her gaze for a moment before sheepishly nodding. "Thirsty." Qi Xian Qing left the room and returned with a white porcelain teapot decorated with flowers. Pouring the water into a teacup, steam rose from its surface. Holding the cup, she passed it over. Yan Jue knew Qi Xian Qing had fetched water from the outside well but hadn't expected it to be hot. "How did you heat it?" Qi Xian Qing replied, "Just need to weave a seal." Yan Jue laughed. "In the wild, when a fire-breathing dragon wants to eat meat, it never worries about finding a fire source since it just breathes fire." Qi Xian Qing responded, "…Are you saying I resemble a fire-breathing dragon?" Without a smile, Qi Xian Qing's peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed, appearing a bit frosty. Suddenly aware of her audacity, Yan Jue realized she was practically daring a tiger. Retracting her brazen smile, Yan Jue still playfully apologized, "Sorry." Qi Xian Qing studied her for a while before eventually reaching out to ruffle her hair, softening her voice. "What would you like to eat?" Yan Jue: "I want something sweet." When Qi Xian Qing returned, she brought a cloth containing several pieces of snow-white milk cake. Leaning against the bed, Qi Xian Qing began eating the cake slowly, never once offering it to Yan Jue. The air was gradually filled with a faint milky fragrance, yet Qi Xian Qing ate several pieces without showing any intention of sharing. Yan Jue figured she was most likely being retaliated against. Unable to resist, Yan Jue lightly kicked Qi Xian Qing's calf. "I want some too." Qi Xian Qing ignored her. Yan Jue admitted, she had indeed pushed her luck tonight. But she couldn't help it. She liked Qi Xian Qing too much... Whenever she adored someone, she couldn't help but show her worst side to them. Yan Jue was painfully aware she wasn't as admirable as she appeared; truthfully, she could be quite bothersome. Yan Jue hesitated. Had she made Qi Xian Qing dislike her? Observing the hesitation in Yan Jue's eyes, a tender and sympathetic emotion flitted through Qi Xian Qing’s own. Her eyes tinged with amusement, Qi Xian Qing spoke gently, "If you want some, come get it yourself." Catching the softness in her tone, Yan Jue relaxed. She reached out for the milk cake in Qi Xian Qing's hand, but her lips were met with a soft touch. Yan Jue froze completely. Qi Xian Qing kissed her lightly, and without chewing, transferred the milk cake over, leaving a milk-flavored warmth within her lips and teeth. - During her periods, Yan Jue was particularly susceptible to loneliness and mood swings. That night, Qi Xian Qing took great care in soothing her. The cultivation world wasn't as primitive as ancient times; they'd developed special pads for women's periods long ago, the same type Qi Xian Qing had used on her when Yan Jue was still a little fox. Yan Jue's sleep wasn’t very restful; whenever she woke up, Qi Xian Qing gently reminded her to change it. Blushing, Yan Jue would bury her face in the covers, muttering: "So annoying." When Yan Jue awoke to the morning light filtering through the window, casting warmth on the pale wooden floor, she was surprised at how late it was. She had an arrangement with Du Ming the previous day to pick up the secret realm's clues and map at noon today at Five Dragon Plaza. Wanting to get up, Yan Jue found that her body was tightly held, unable to move. Qi Xian Qing was still asleep, her breathing light in the dim light, her dark hair draped over her ear. Uncertain of what she dreamed, her long, crow-feather-like lashes fluttered gently. Realizing Qi Xian Qing intentionally held her in place, Yan Jue ceased her struggles. Yan Jue reached out and gently pushed Qi Xian Qing: "Senior Sister, I need to go discuss the group competition arrangements with my roommate." After a few breaths, Qi Xian Qing slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were like peach blossoms, with deep creases at the corners, always carrying an air of allure when she looked at someone. A flash of displeasure crossed Qi Xian Qing's eyes, but she eventually released her hold, allowing Yan Jue to sit up and lazily stretch her body. Qi Xian Qing sat up, smoothing out her disheveled hair. Sunlight fell on her face, making her skin appear especially fair. Yan Jue watched her for a while and suddenly realized, rather belatedly, that after Qi Xian Qing had cared for her all night, she was just leaving like this—it seemed quite inconsiderate... Thinking this, Yan Jue suddenly lunged forward, diving into Qi Xian Qing's arms and snuggling against her. Seeing her act like this, Qi Xian Qing's previously calm face finally showed a hint of a smile. She bowed her head, caressing the girl's cheek softly, and asked in a gentle voice, "Will you come over tonight, alright?" Yan Jue feigned modesty, "I’ll think about it. If I’m too busy, I might not make it." She was only teasing Qi Xian Qing, for the little fox during her period was naturally clingy. Even if Qi Xian Qing didn't invite her, she would still want to come. Qi Xian Qing, however, took her seriously. "Then I'll come find you." Yan Jue: "..." Yan Jue retorted, "No way, I don’t want people from Kong Qing Palace catching Senior Sister climbing through my window and reading about it in the papers with headlines like 'Senior Sister Climbs Through Windows.'" She paused, looking up at her. "If you end up in the papers for something like this, how embarrassing for me." She said this with a smile, her long phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, a very faint dimple forming on her left cheek. Qi Xian Qing thought for a moment, quite seriously. "Well, I’ve already been in the papers so many times; one more wouldn’t hurt." She gently pinched the back of Yan Jue’s neck. "It’s a good way to let everyone in the sect know I'm taken." Yan Jue: "..." Yan Jue was stunned by Qi Xian Qing's mindset and immediately said, "No, you might not mind, but I do." Knowing that Yan Jue could be shy, Qi Xian Qing didn't push further. "If you don't come tonight, I'll definitely come over." Yan Jue: "Alright, alright." She hugged Qi Xian Qing for a while, nuzzling against her repeatedly. Despite her words, she really didn't want to leave Qi Xian Qing's side. Qi Xian Qing watched her nestle for a while, then leaned down and gently pressed her tongue between Yan Jue’s tender lips, kissing her deeply. Perhaps because of her period, Yan Jue's body quickly melted like water, face flushing red from Qi Xian Qing's teasing, as if a flame were burning in her lower abdomen. So comfortable... When Qi Xian Qing pulled away, Yan Jue struggled to calm her erratic breath, glancing at her reflection in the copper mirror briefly before quickly averting her eyes. - The dormitories at Shuiyun Sect weren’t far from Xiwu Peak, so Yan Jue returned to her dorm quickly. Upon entering her room and closing the door, she suddenly felt a slight disturbance from her dimension bag. Something inside was struggling and trembling fiercely, seemingly about to hatch. Yan Jue's dimension bag could hold living creatures, hence all her belongings, including the beast egg, were stored within it. Infusing a thread of her consciousness into the dimension bag, Yan Jue sensed something, her pupils narrowing slightly. As expected, it was the beast egg. For some time now, whenever Yan Jue had the opportunity, she would infuse her own energy into the beast egg. Sometimes, when the sun was nice, she'd even take the egg out into the courtyard for sunlight. Although the egg appeared to have no visible changes, Yan Jue noticed the cracks on it deepening each time she touched it. Now it was vibrating—could it be about to hatch? Yan Jue immediately retrieved it, noting the black beast egg glowed intensely and was indeed showing signs of breaking apart. In such situations, Yan Jue could do little to assist, so she simply sat by it, nervously watching. Each time the egg glowed, Yan Jue's heart would tighten. After a stick of incense's time, a clear cracking sound rang out—"Crack—" The egg suddenly split open, revealing an obvious crack. Boom... A dark, amorphous creature crawled its way out. ... Though the creature was black and covered in slime, Yan Jue could still discern it wasn't an insect. The creature had a large nose and short limbs, wobbling unsteadily on the ground as it crawled. For a moment, Yan Jue didn't know what to do until she saw the dark creature slowly crawl to a spot under the bed, extending its pink tongue to slowly lick itself clean. It quickly rid itself of the slime. The creature remained black, but in the sunlight, its sparse fur was visible. Its eyes stayed shut, and after grooming itself, it spread its limbs out and fell asleep like a pancake. Yan Jue: "..." Hesitating a bit, Yan Jue finally stepped forward and picked it up. The black creature's body was small, its ears drooping beside its face, high-legged, and lay motionless in her hands. Yan Jue placed it back into the dimension bag. She didn't yet know what this little thing was, so she thought to let it develop a little further on its own. After tidying her room with a spell, Yan Jue went over to the window to look at the sun. It seemed to be nearing noon. Keeping this in mind, Yan Jue walked straight out the door to Du Ming's room and knocked. Du Ming answered the door, still in light green innerwear, looking drowsy and squinting. "Yan Jue, why are you here?" Yan Jue was no longer dressed as a mere outer disciple of Shuiyun Sect from years past. She had grown taller, now clad in a fitted cyan Taoist robe, her tall figure elegantly poised, her garments fluttering with the breeze, accentuating her clean and beautiful features. "Hm? Oh, oh, oh." After staring at Yan Jue for a while, Du Ming suddenly recalled, "The day after tomorrow is the Five Dragon Summit’s group contest. We need to go to Five Dragon Plaza today to pick up the clues." Yan Jue: "..." She suddenly regretted not staying with Qi Xian Qing a bit longer. - Yan Jue waited in the courtyard for Du Ming, taking the time to brief Zhu He. Zhu He had undergone some changes over the days. She had matured from a young teenage girl into a young woman of about eighteen or nineteen, wearing a washed blue Taoist robe, a heavy cape slung over one shoulder. Though she looked much more spirited, her brows still held a hint of that endearing dullness. Yan Jue: "Little Zhu, tomorrow is the Five Dragon Sect's culinary competition. I thought I’d have you participate. Would you like that?" Zhu He lifted her head, looking at her blankly. "Culinary competition? What's that about?" Yan Jue: "It's a competition where you eat, and whoever eats the most wins." Zhu He's eyes sparked with a hint of excitement, nodding eagerly. "I want to join!" A smile crossed Yan Jue's face as she ruffled her hair. "Alright, I’ll sign you up later." Compared to the intense individual competition in the first half of the Five Dragon Summit, the latter half's group and leisure contests were noticeably more relaxed and carefree. These contests, interspersed with leisure activities, primarily aimed to foster camaraderie among sect members and provided some entertainment and relaxation. It's the kind of competition that posed little pressure for Yan Jue, just something to partake in for fun. Du Ming soon finished getting ready and stepped out of her room, patting Yan Jue on the shoulder. "Let's go, time to pick up the clues." It had been a while since Yan Jue had talked with Du Ming. Being a chatterbox who couldn't keep quiet, Du Ming chatted non-stop with Yan Jue on their way to Five Dragon Plaza. Du Ming said, "For this contest, I’ve teamed up with two fellow sect members from Shuiyun Sect and Senior Sister Duan Lu Xi from Mu Yin Sect, making five of us." "My two fellow members usually have pretty good grades, and Senior Sister Duan is well-read. Our team should be quite competitive." Mu Yin Sect and Shuiyun Sect had similar temperaments, fostering a strong relationship between the two, so it wasn't surprising Du Ming was acquainted with Duan Lu Xi. Yan Jue replied, "I was a bit nervous at first, but knowing Senior Sister Duan's here, I'm not worried anymore." After talking about the competition, Du Ming started babbling about other things. "I really want to have a Dao companion." "A few days ago, I caught a cold, and it was awful being alone in my dorm. I thought, how nice it would be to have a Dao companion." Yan Jue laughed, "You've been cooped up too long, now you want a Dao companion." Du Ming retorted, "Aren't you single too? Can’t lecture me." Yan Jue: "..." When they arrived at Five Dragon Plaza, it was crowded, filled with people all eager to express their pent-up energy from the previous individual contests. Those competitions were cutthroat and unfriendly, filled with top contenders. Now everyone was eager to let loose in the group contest. At the forefront of Five Dragon Plaza, on a high platform, stood an elder with a head full of white hair and a rosy complexion, affectionately looking down at the disciples around the platform. Next to the elder was a large box, which presumably held the clues for the Five Dragon Summit's group contest. As Yan Jue and Du Ming followed the crowd forward, someone suddenly tapped Yan Jue lightly on the shoulder. Yan Jue turned around and found Duan Lu Xi standing behind her, smiling warmly. "Junior Sister Yan." Yan Jue's eyes lit up. "Senior Sister Duan, it's been a while." Duan Lu Xi clasped Yan Jue's hand. "Did you know, while you were away, I passed the Refinement Hall's test and have now entered as a steward disciple." Yan Jue congratulated her, "That's great news." Duan Lu Xi beamed, "I couldn't have done it without your perseverance and willingness to entrust your precious artifacts to me for crafting. It's because of that, my skills have significantly improved! I will definitely repay you!" Yan Jue's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I wonder how Senior Sister Duan plans to repay me." Duan Lu Xi grinned. "I shall serve you diligently." Yan Jue waved it off. "No need for that! Just promise to take on my crafting requests unconditionally from now on. Price is negotiable." Duan Lu Xi laughed, "Do you think I'm the type to care about money? If you need me, I'll always be there!" As the two chatted, they heard a wave of excited screams from nearby. Du Ming shouted, "Yan Jue!!! Look!!! It's the Senior Sister!" The crowd erupted into excited whispers. "I heard Senior Sister recently went down the mountain for a mission; it's been a while since we've seen her." "Ah, who is she teaming up with this time? Could it be disciples from Zhen Huo Sect again?" Following Du Ming's gaze, Yan Jue saw the crowd parting like a tide, clearing a path. A group was slowly approaching. Qi Xian Qing wore a moon-white pleated skirt, her ink-black hair tied back with a white ribbon, walking gracefully with the breeze lifting her skirt hem. The pale purple pendant at her waist shone brightly under the sun. She wore a calm expression, her face as cold as frost, seemingly oblivious to the murmurs around her. Beside her stood several women in Taoist robes. Du Ming was dumbstruck, staring at Yan Jue and blurting, "Do you think Senior Sister has a Dao companion?" Yan Jue hesitated, "I don't know, perhaps..." Her gaze lingered on the half-pendant on Qi Xian Qing's waist, and she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips. "Maybe she does now." Du Ming felt like a thunderbolt had struck her and looked at Yan Jue incredulously. "How can you be so sure?" Yan Jue straight-faced replied, "Senior Sister has such high cultivation and is so outstanding. There's no way she wouldn't have a Dao companion." Du Ming's face fell in despair. Yan Jue's gaze settled on Qi Xian Qing amid the crowd. The women next to her were talking non-stop, yet Qi Xian Qing's face showed no extra expression, just nodding lightly. Just last night, Qi Xian Qing had pitifully asked if she could join her team. Today, she already had a team lined up. Yan Jue couldn't help but twitch her lips, silently mocking how fast she moved. Duan Lu Xi clicked her tongue in admiration, "Senior Sister's team is probably the most likely to win this time." Yan Jue was taken aback, "Why do you think so?" Duan Lu Xi explained, "The most exceptional disciples of Zhen Huo Sect... Senior Sisters Zhou Leng, Yi Nan, and Zhao Wen, they're all with her." Du Ming exhaled in relief, turning to Yan Jue. "It's just a pity that you and Senior Sister seem at odds. Otherwise, she might have called you over." Yan Jue: "..." Suddenly recalling something, Du Ming asked seriously, "How did your mission with Senior Sister go?" Yan Jue shrugged, "It went alright." Duan Lu Xi put her arms around Yan Jue and Du Ming's shoulders, reassuring, "No worries, our team is strong too. Don't underestimate ourselves." Another wave of screams erupted from the other side. Yan Jue glanced in that direction. It was Yun Ji, leading her team from Qi Dun Sect. While not quite as mesmerizing as Qi Xian Qing's group, Yun Ji's team still carried a strong appeal, with Miss Bai Chu Li from the Bai family and, further back, Jiang Meng Chu—dressed in a soft yellow Taoist robe. Yan Jue widened her eyes slightly. She hadn't expected Jiang Meng Chu, last competition's second-place winner, to join the group event this time, and in Yun Ji's team too. Before her mission, Yan Jue had specifically asked Master Xing Ye about Jiang Meng Chu, who had been said to be recuperating. Du Ming mused, "Yun Ji from Qi Dun Sect has a strong team too; even Fei Cui Altar has made a betting round today." Qi Xian Qing descended the platform, bowing courteously to the elder. A chorus of cheers and screams arose from below. Under the elder's affectionate gaze, Qi Xian Qing took the clues and left the stage. The teams at the front each in turn approached to receive their secret realm maps and clues. Yan Jue's team garnered little attention; although she was the second senior sister, only a scarce few called out to her as such. Third place just wasn’t as eye-catching as first. She received the secret realm map and group contest clues and stepped down with the crowd. - In Yan Jue's Five Dragon Summit group competition team, aside from Duan Lu Xi and Du Ming, there were two other disciples from Shuiyun Sect. Li Jia, slightly older, was chubby and always spokewith a cheerful lilt. Huang Yi, younger, was slim and serious, holding a demeanor similar to Qi Xian Qing. Having received the clues before noon, they hadn't eaten yet. Returning from Five Dragon Plaza, Yan Jue dragged everyone to eat at Bu Zhou Peak. After all, with the group contest coming up, it was important to foster good relations. Bu Zhou Peak boasted places like the Five Dragon Market and Five Dragon Plaza—undeniably the most versatile peak in the sect. Many restaurants and taverns run by local disciples lined the mountainside. One might mistake it for the mundane world if unaware. The group entered a tavern named Gui Xiang Ju, which was crowded at noon with people who, after collecting clues at Five Dragon Plaza, stopped by for a meal. A waiter hurried over warmly, "Would this table suit you, dear Taoist friends? I'll fetch a screen for you." Duan Lu Xi nodded, "Thank you." They settled at a table nestled in a corner, and Yan Jue spread out the map of the Five Dragon Secret Realm she had just obtained. Du Ming suggested, "For this group competition, should we appoint a team leader among us?" Li Jia smiled, "Of course, we'd listen to the second senior sister." Duan Lu Xi raised her hand, "I also vote for the second senior sister." Huang Yi added blankly, "Second senior sister." Staring at the map for a while, Yan Jue finally realized they were referring to her as the second senior sister. Yan Jue: "..." She suddenly felt immense pressure. Though tempted to demur, she realized it made little difference who led, so she said nothing. Li Jia stood up, gripping Yan Jue's hand. "Senior Sister Yan, I watched your match at the Five Dragon Summit. It's such a pity about your match with Senior Sister—I've never seen anyone duel her for over a stick of incense's time." Duan Lu Xi shook her head, "Had Junior Sister Yan bested Senior Sister, the sect's history might've changed." Li Jia exclaimed, "In this group competition, our team must surpass Senior Sister’s and claim first—" Panicking, Yan Jue gestured for her to keep quiet. For an unknown reason, the noisy atmosphere suddenly quieted down for a moment. The door swung open, and several people walked in. Yan Jue was stunned. Qi Xian Qing, clad in her moon-white gown, was ushered in and seated at a neighboring table. Several senior sisters from Zhen Huo Sect laid out the clues and maps they had received earlier at Five Dragon Plaza on the table. Qi Xian Qing maintained a straight posture, sitting properly, yet her face bore no extra expression. Zhou Leng, sitting beside her, was turning her head, seemingly speaking to her. At that moment, the waiter returned, placing a screen around Yan Jue's group with a smile, "I'm sorry for the wait; here’s the screen for you." Zhou Leng asked, "Senior Sister, did you encounter any danger this time down the mountain?" Her gaze flicked to the pendant at Qi Xian Qing's waist; the originally intact purple pendant was mysteriously snapped in half. Qi Xian Qing responded, "I gave the other half to my Dao companion." She didn't bother hiding the fact; anyone who asked got a direct response. “Pfft—” Unable to hold back, Zhou Leng spit out her tea. Yan Jue coughed furiously. Alarmed, Duan Lu Xi patted Yan Jue's back, "Are you okay?" As the waiter set up the screen around them, Qi Xian Qing lifted her gaze and looked over. Yan Jue's eyes met hers. Flustered, Yan Jue lowered her head, her cheeks burning. She didn't know why, but in the midst of so many people, making eye contact with Qi Xian Qing felt like she was doing something secretive. Gui Xiang Ju's screen had an enchantment. With the screen set around their group, all outside sounds were cut off. Silence enveloped them quickly. This time, the Five Dragon Summit's group contest entailed that Five Dragon Sect would open the Five Dragon Secret Realm for disciples to enter. The disciples needed to use the clues provided by the sect to find red beans, yellow beans, and green beans—each a different color. The first team to collect all three colors would emerge victorious. Yan Jue rested her chin on her hand and began examining the map of the secret realm. In this world, secret realms are categorized into natural and artificial types. The Five Dragon Realm falls under the latter category, crafted by a powerful figure from the Five Dragon Sect. The mountains and structures were designed according to this powerful figure's imagination. According to the map, the Five Dragon Realm is divided into four main sections: To the south lies a pine forest nestled in a valley. To the north is a vast sea with a solitary island. To the east stretches a boundless grassland. To the west rests a snow-capped mountain. Aside from these vast areas, the realm also contains countless streams, hills, and caves, along with mystical beasts and precious treasures specifically placed within. These materials serve as rewards for the disciples, making the group's mission to find the specified materials within the realm more akin to a treasure hunt. Yan Jue and the others unfolded their initial treasure hunt clue. The slip of paper bore only two lines of text: "Red beans flourish in the southlands; with spring comes new growth." Yan Jue realized this clue likely indicated the location of the red beans. After all, it's a group event primarily focused on leisure and entertainment, and Yan Jue found it quite enjoyable. Du Ming looked at her expectantly, "Yan Jue, have you any thoughts?" Yan Jue turned to Duan Lu Xi, "Senior Sister Duan, do you have any insights?" Duan Lu Xi, likely the eldest and most well-read among them, studied the clue carefully, then replied, "Red beans obviously refer to the red beans in this contest. Southland probably means the south. And now, being spring, with new growth, maybe we should search the pine branches in the southern pine forest?" This literal interpretation earned a nod from Yan Jue. "We'll have to wait for the realm to open and try then." After finishing their meal, everyone went their separate ways. At the fork between Mu Yin Sect and Shuiyun Sect, Yan Jue pulled Duan Lu Xi aside. "Senior Sister Duan, I have a request." Duan Lu Xi paused, "What is it?" Yan Jue retrieved two broken jade seals from her robes. Back at Luan Tai, the seal had fractured from overuse, a situation that had vexed Yan Jue greatly, but she saw no remedy at hand. It didn't hurt to ask Duan Lu Xi. Touching the broken jade seals, Duan Lu Xi's eyes lit up. "Though it's damaged, it's not entirely ruined. I should be able to mend it." Yan Jue exclaimed, "Really?" Duan Lu Xi reassured her, "Leave it to me." Yan Jue expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Senior Sister." Duan Lu Xi brushed it off, "Didn't I tell you before? If you encounter any difficulties, just come to me. Did you forget?" Yan Jue's face blossomed into a radiant smile. — Upon returning to her dormitory, Yan Jue also visited Du Ming's room for a chat. Having been apart for so long, Du Ming was particularly talkative, enthusiastically rambling to Yan Jue about various topics. "The sect's assessment is coming up, and I went to Tian Dao Temple to pray before a statue of Buddha, hoping it will bless me to pass the evaluation." Yan Jue glanced over, noting a Buddha statue positioned by the window, bearing an accompanying label. "Homage to the Great Wisdom Manjushri Bodhisattva." The sight sparked a moment of clarity in Yan Jue's mind, and her smile faded slightly. ... Returning to her room, Yan Jue tidied up a bit before eagerly heading to Bing Tao Yuan. Yan Jue called, "Senior Sister." Qi Xian Qing, seated at the table, had spread out the Five Dragon Realm map and the clue. Upon hearing footsteps, Qi Xian Qing looked up at Yan Jue, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Here already?" Yan Jue was momentarily taken aback. The woman now smiling warmly at her was the same who looked as cold as frost on the plaza earlier. With a multitude of thoughts running through her head, Yan Jue stood before Qi Xian Qing, deliberating how to start, before settling on the most important detail: "My beast egg has hatched." Qi Xian Qing was familiar with this beast egg. They had spent time together channeling energy into it. She blinked in surprise as Yan Jue cautiously produced a black, fuzzy creature from her dimension bag. This coal-like creature, apparently viewing Yan Jue as its mother, opened its large, youthful mouth and nuzzled against Yan Jue, clearly hungry.