Zanxing

Chapter 32 - Inner Sect Disciple (2)

In the original plot, the male protagonist Mu Chengxiao shines brilliantly during the sect's competition, attracting the jealousy of the previous champion, Hua Yue. Shortly after, Mu Chengxiao, along with the other disciples who passed the competition, goes to Gu Feng Mountain to gather medicinal herbs.

During the herb-gathering process, Mu Chengxiao and Hua Yue get into a dispute, leading to Hua Yue chasing Mu Chengxiao. Their fight disturbs a fierce Crimson Fire Jiao (dragon-like beast) near a deep pool on the mountain. Seeing that the situation is unfavorable, Hua Yue flees with his sword, while Mu Chengxiao, forced into a desperate situation, kills the violent beast, gaining a significant boost in experience. Not only that, he also takes the Crimson Fire Jiao's cub and raises it to become his fighting companion.

The Crimson Fire Jiao reappears multiple times in the original story, making this plot point crucial. When Yanxing had read this part, she couldn't help but comment: This was essentially killing the mother and then exploiting the child to the last drop of blood! Does the Crimson Fire Jiao even know that Mu Chengxiao is its mother's killer? Yet they still fight side by side, and it's called companionship? Isn't that revolting?

However, in this current scenario, Mu Chengxiao didn't stand out in the sect's competition, and Hua Yue doesn't even seem to notice his existence. With no animosity between the two, they won't clash during the herb-gathering, nor will they disturb the Crimson Fire Jiao, and Mu Chengxiao won't gain a "battle companion."

It seems that the main plotline has already shifted at this point.

Yanxing glanced at her palm. It wasn't an illusion—the flower-shaped red mark in her palm had deepened significantly since she last saw it during lunch at the dining hall.

Could it be that the plot's first divergence was causing this?

She stared at her palm for a while, then withdrew her hand, downed the rest of her tea, and stood up.

If she doesn't alter the course of the story, she knows that eventually, with this damned original plotline, she'll end up as nothing more than a cannon fodder tool. But if she strives, there's a chance she could forge a new path.

If that's the case, she might as well take a gamble.

In a small cabin near the cliff, the terrace was laid with a snow-white carpet, and the long table was filled with fine wine and fruit.

Though the lodgings were all similar wooden cabins, their locations varied. This particular cabin was perched by the cliff, bathed in the moonlight at night, with clouds streaming below. When adorned with glass lanterns, it looked like one of the palaces of Penglai.

The cabins were assigned randomly, but with enough spirit stones, disciples could easily make exchanges. Hua Yue had traded 300 spirit stones to secure this prime location from another disciple.

At this moment, he was lounging on a soft couch on the terrace, holding a drink in one hand and a beauty in the other, looking particularly content.

Having easily passed the sect's competition today, he was in high spirits. Noticing the troubled expression on the beauty in his arms, he playfully pinched her cheek and said with a smile, "No need to look so worried. I heard that Xuan Ling will soon be selecting a personal disciple. Once I become his disciple, my status in the Taiyan Sect will naturally be elevated. At that time, I'll speak a few good words to the sect leader, and you will surely make it into the inner sect."

Duan Xiangrao looked up, her eyes full of eagerness. "Truly?"

Hua Yue kissed her hand. "Would I lie to you?"

There were many female disciples in the Taiyan Sect, and most of them were pure and elegant, which was appealing in its own right, but they all carried an air of aloofness. They hardly responded when spoken to, and compared to them, Duan Xiangrao, with her warmth and charm, was far more to Hua Yue's liking. Duan Xiangrao's cultivation wasn't low either—passing the sect's competition should have been a sure thing for her. Who would have thought that at the crucial moment, Yanxing would emerge as an annoying dark horse, ruining everything?

"I can't help but feel dissatisfied with what happened today," Duan Xiangrao said, her tone turning venomous. "That girl completely stole my spotlight during the competition!"

Hua Yue comforted her, "That ugly girl? Even if she stole the spotlight, all it did was draw attention to her ugliness. Why let it bother you?"

Duan Xiangrao leaned into him, her eyes darkening. "It's not about being outshone. It's you I care about. I can tolerate being overshadowed, but what if someone overshadows you, Young Master Hua?"

"Me?" Hua Yue chuckled as if he had heard something ridiculous. "Her? You're underestimating me."

Sitting up, Duan Xiangrao stared intently at Hua Yue. "To be honest, I first met Yanxing before the Lianshan Flower Selection. Back then, she was accompanied by her fiancé. I remember her fiancé mentioning that before arriving in Pingyang Town, Yanxing had only just reached the Qi Refinement stage."

"Qi Refinement?" Hua Yue frowned. "But now she's at the early stage of Foundation Establishment."

"Exactly. Each breakthrough in cultivation can take months, even years—sometimes decades or even centuries for some. Yet, Yanxing, with her ordinary talents and no renowned teachers, advanced so rapidly. You could call her a genius," Duan Xiangrao suggested, her tone sly.

"You mean..." Hua Yue's expression grew serious.

"She must be hiding something. Perhaps she possesses some kind of secret treasure that has allowed her to progress so quickly." Duan Xiangrao's voice dripped with concern as she continued, "She may be weaker than you now, but with a treasure like that, who's to say she won't surpass you in the future? Just as she replaced me as an inner disciple, what's to stop her from taking your place as the sect's personal disciple?"

Her words clearly struck a nerve. Hua Yue's expression shifted dramatically, and he slammed the table as he stood. "Unacceptable!"

"Please, don't be angry," Duan Xiangrao soothed, massaging his shoulders. "I'm only speculating. There's no need to take it too seriously."

"No, you're right," Hua Yue waved her off. "To have advanced three levels in such a short time, she's definitely suspicious."

With a subtle smile, Duan Xiangrao asked, "So what does Young Master Hua plan to do?"

"It's simple. In three days, all the new inner disciples will head to Gu Feng Mountain to gather medicinal herbs," Hua Yue's eyes gleamed with malice. "There are many dangerous beasts and plants in the mountain. If a new disciple were to encounter danger, it would be natural."

"No matter what treasure she carries, let's see if she can keep it," he sneered.

Yanxing, oblivious to her newly acquired enemy, focused on recovering after the sect's competition. The Taiyan Sect had apparently decided to give its new disciples some time to rest, as no public lessons were scheduled. Each disciple was given a copy of The Thousand Beasts and Plants of Gu Feng Mountain to study in preparation for the upcoming herb-gathering mission.

Yanxing flipped through the book, which contained detailed illustrations of the mountain's flora and fauna—no doubt provided to prevent disciples from making dangerous mistakes. Although the title mentioned a thousand species, the book likely covered even more than that. Yanxing spent the next three days cramming as much as she could, hoping to remember at least the basics. However, relying solely on last-minute studying was always risky.

Soon enough, the day of the herb-gathering mission arrived.