Since that day, Qi Xianqing no longer approached Yun Zhen's bedroom.
Time flew by, and Qi Xianqing had grown much taller than when she first ascended the mountain. She could also help Yun Zhen with some of the administrative tasks at Qiuli Xuan.
Yun Zhen assigned her the job of feeding the Nine-Colored Deer.
The Nine-Colored Deer was a spiritual beast raised by Yun Zhen. Its pupils could display nine different colors, and it was beautiful in appearance, though it had a somewhat irritable temperament.
Qi Xianqing did not find feeding the Nine-Colored Deer to be a difficult task at all.
Compared to dealing with people, she found it more relaxing to interact with spiritual beasts.
One day, as the sun shone brightly, Qi Xianqing stood beside the Nine-Colored Deer, grooming its fur.
The white deer was eating grass when it suddenly raised its head, gently nudging her shoulder, making a soft sound of affection.
For some reason, the Nine-Colored Deer especially liked her.
Qi Xianqing had seen A Jiu use its head to butt people before, and it was quite fierce.
As Qi Xianqing chatted with the deer, the courtyard door behind her suddenly opened.
Yun Zhen and Lu Yanshuang were walking toward her, laughing and talking. Yun Zhen was holding a round bundle in her arms.
...
Another year had passed, and it was time for the sect's grand competition.
In this competition, all the outer disciples of the sect would participate.
The elders could choose disciples from among them to take as their own apprentices.
Yun Zhen had always avoided taking on disciples, but after Qi Xianqing came, she felt that perhaps taking in a disciple wasn't as difficult as she had imagined. So, today, she went to Qianqiu Hall and selected ten or so disciples she found promising.
Later, outside the hall, Yun Zhen tested them, only to find that while these disciples were passable in martial arts, their quick thinking and adaptability were far below what she had expected.
Returning to Zhenhuo Sect, Yun Zhen complained to Lu Yanshuang, "I shouldn't have chosen so many. Each one of them is either rebellious or foolish."
Lu Yanshuang smiled and shook his head. "You set your standards too high. Who can you blame for that?"
Yun Zhen's character was famously difficult. It wasn't strange for her to be dissatisfied with her new disciples.
Qi Xianqing, seeing Yun Zhen and Lu Yanshuang approaching, immediately recognized that the bundle in Yun Zhen's arms wasn't a baby but a small fox wrapped in cloth.
Was that the Master's child? Qi Xianqing felt her heart contract slightly and unconsciously looked at Lu Yanshuang's face.
Lu Yanshuang noticed her gaze and shot Qi Xianqing a sharp look.
Qi Xianqing knelt down. "Madam."
Lu Yanshuang snapped, "Who's your madam?"
Although she said this, Lu Yanshuang's face showed no signs of anger. Her cheeks flushed, making her appear somewhat shy.
Yun Zhen chuckled and for the first time thought that while her disciple seemed a bit dense, she was actually quite thoughtful and knew how to cheer people up.
