Let me Touch your Tail

Chapter 1

"Bilan, your aptitude is quite good. From today onwards, you are promoted to an inner disciple."

The elder stroked his beard lightly and said, "Inner disciples must train in the back mountain. There are four celestial peaks within the inner sect of the Fuyun Sect: Tianzhu, Diling, Xuanjing, and Huangyin. Which peak would you like to go to?"

After a moment of thought, Bilan replied, "I wish to go to Tianzhu Peak."

"Very well." The elder agreed and conjured a peach wood token from thin air, imprinting a symbol on it. "This is your talisman. Take it. With this token, you can pass through the separation array and reach Tianzhu Peak."

"Go find Senior Disciple Luo Qi, the direct disciple under the Grand Elder. He will arrange a cave dwelling for you."

Bilan took the talisman and bowed deeply three times. "Thank you, Elder."

She made her way from the front mountain to the back, and after passing through the array, she found herself on a secluded path.

Rumor had it that fierce beasts often roamed the back mountain, so Bilan proceeded cautiously. Suddenly, the wind carried the sound of laughter and chatter to her ears.

She parted a cluster of leaves and looked toward the source of the noise.

A few inner disciples dressed in white were gathered together, surrounding a woman. The woman had disheveled hair and was so thin she looked like she could barely stand, even with the help of her fellow disciples holding her up.

The foremost disciple, dressed in blue, snapped his folding fan shut with a cold sneer. "With your head held so high, do you have any respect for your senior brothers?"

Two of the disciples beside the woman understood immediately and pressed her head down, forcing her face against the ground.

The blue-clad disciple was finally satisfied and gently tapped his palm with the folded fan. "A useless person like you, dragging us down at every annual summit, bringing ridicule upon Tianzhu Peak from the other peaks. Today, you knew we were here meditating, yet you still dared to show up and annoy us. Tell me, what should your punishment be?"

He looked around and randomly pointed at someone. "You, what do you think?"

That person glanced quickly at the woman on the ground and then lowered his head. "It's said that Immortal Yuqing attained enlightenment in water. How about... throwing her into the river? Maybe the cold water will awaken her senses."

The blue-clad disciple clapped his hands in delight. "Excellent idea! Since she lives on Tianzhu Peak, she should inherit the Immortal's spirit. Otherwise, it's a waste for someone who looks so delicate yet has less potential than a furnace. Let's do it!"

Bilan couldn't help but cry out in shock.

The waters of Tianzhu Peak were notoriously cold. At this time of year, with autumn already upon them, anyone without body-tempering cultivation would fall gravely ill, if not die, from exposure.

The blue-clad disciple turned around. "Who's there?!"

Startled, Bilan tried to retreat, but a white figure flashed before her eyes. In a swift movement, an inner disciple appeared in front of her, easily subduing her and bringing her to the riverbank.

The blue-clad disciple scrutinized her with a cold gaze. "Who are you? Why are you at Tianzhu Peak?"

Terrified, Bilan raised her talisman with trembling hands and bowed deeply. "I am Bilan, a newly inducted inner disciple. It's my first time entering the back mountain, and I lost my way. Please, forgive my intrusion, senior brothers!"