Even after Li Muchen left the Plum Peak, the residence stayed high in energy and screams. If anything, it had increased over the next few days.

  The reason?

  “How long are you going to keep lying on your back, hm?” Hua Mei looked down on Wang Yang with a bnk look.

  The boy’s pristine white uniform had been covered in dirt along with some tears. Even his face didn’t escape damage, his right eye turned bck from the punch that sent him reeling.

  It all started after they came back from the Immortal Forest.

  “Since the trial is near, I’ll be your sparring partner to keep you in shape.” The two agreed to Hua Mei’s suggestion without hesitation.

  Even if a kid, her realm and skills weren’t anything to scoff at. Sun Lingling especially wanted to have a challenge to get herself used to the new sword while trying to fight above her realm.

  Thus, the sparring began.

  “You call this sparring? You are just beating me up like a hooligan!” Wang Yang thought that he’d get to learn the same way Yingyue taught him.

  However, far from the calm lectures and gentle tips for improvement, the only talking Hua Mei did was with her fists. Day and night she one-sidedly clobbered him while Sun Lingling barely escaped the same fate.

  “It’s not my fault that you can’t keep up with me even when I limit myself to 6th level of Qi refinement.” Hua Mei folded her hands. “How will you face the beasts in the trial like this?”

  “Master said that most of them would be lower-level or equal to me. And don’t lie, you definitely aren’t matching my realm.” Wang Yang had thought that the trial would be simple.

  “Are you telling me you’ll be ok with getting mediocre results? Do you think you’ll be chosen for the Eastern Martial Meet like that?” Hua Mei stepped forward, her eyes bzing. “And, if you want to be a joke, go be one, but I won’t let you make Uncle a ughing stock in front of those elders!”

  “W-Wha-?” Wang Yang sat there shocked.

  “Senior Hua, what do you mean by that?” Even if older, Lingling addressed Hua Mei with respect for her higher realm. “I get that we are expected to have great results as a Peak Master’s Disciples, but who are those Elders?”

  Even if Sun Lingling had barely explored the sect, she had heard how much the disciples and other elders respected Li Muchen. And, among the Peak Masters that held the most power in this sect, three were his junior disciples, and counting the Grand Elder who had the highest authority also being his junior disciple there shouldn’t be any way or reason to ugh at Muchen.

  “There are some idiots who don’t look at reasons. They think that Uncle’s position is because of special treatment, these are mostly elders who have lower positions with the same realm or higher realms than Uncle’s. Mother told me that because of the pressure from Martial Uncle and Aunts they have been suppressed so far, but now they have an easier way to make a statement.” Mei looked at Wang Yang. “That is by letting their disciples defeat you. Your shame will become Uncle’s shame and they’ll poke at it for years.”

  “…So, we will be targeted even among our fellow disciples in the trial.” Lingling said, not a wrinkle of worry on her face.

  “They will go that far?” Wang Yang muttered.

  “They are people who will fight over a chicken leg just to prove their strength. But worry not, I have a pn.” Hua Mei smirked. “With this, you will defeat their disciples, and also give those petty elders a big sp across their faces.”

  “What’s the pn?” Wang Yang asked, back on his feet.

  “You have to aim for the top treasures.” She said with confidence.

  The treasures in the trail were pooled in from the strongest people from the sect, it had items they acquired on their journey or used themselves. So, the top treasures would be from the Elders, Peak Masters, and the Grand Elder himself.

  “If we get one of the higher-level treasures, Master won’t be criticized.” Lingling nodded at the obvious answer.

  “Exactly! Now, let’s get back to training.” Hua Mei pulled Wang Yang, throwing him back at the center of the training area.

  “Stop, stop, at least let me use my sword!” Wang Yang had been forced to fight barehanded this whole time.

  “What if you don’t have your sword? Will your opponent let you find it?” Hua Mei cracked her knuckles. “And, you should know the rice before adding side dishes.”

  “What does that even mean?” Wang Yang stepped back to dodge a punch. “At least teach me with words before doing this!”

  “The proof is in the pudding!” The one-sided beat-sparring continued.

  ***

  “That kid is ruthless for such a cute, harmless-looking girl.” Freshly healed, Wang Yang made his way down the Plum Peak.

  Since Muchen wouldn’t come back today, his disciples had the evening off as long as they read the assigned books. Wang Yang pnned to do that after coming back from his dinner pns. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, the people waiting for him waved back.

  “Yo, Brother!” Xu Qiang hugged him straight away like a bear. “Look at these muscles. You’ve gotten manlier, as expected of my brother!”

  “It just happened.” Wang Yang faced the other three familiar faces. “You all seemed to have improved too.”

  “Of course we have.” Haomu’s shorter frame looked muscur compared to before.

  “The teachers over at our peak don’t let any of us rest.” Huajun smiled bitterly as they walked down the path.

  “Looks like it, I almost didn’t recognize Yesu at all.” Wang Yang looked at the young kid who used to be nky, now his muscles rivaled Xu Qiang’s.

  “I was put on a special diet and training.” The young kid still shed tears of blood.

  “Leave that aside, how was your trip outside? Had fun?” Xu Qiang asked.

  “A little, I learned a lot from Senior Gu.” Wang Yang didn’t know if the whole trip could be counted as fun, but it certainly opened his eyes to a bigger world.

  “So, she did come to the sect, huh.” Haomu muttered as the faces around them changed.

  “You know Senior Gu?” Wang Yang noticed the subtle changes.

  “Of course we do.” Xu Qiang smirked. “She’s the successor of Lady Gu Yue, our Peak Master’s rival.”

  “Oh…” Wang Yang learned something new.

  “There were rumors that Senior Gu Yingyue came to Tiger Peak to meet her rival, Fang Yinchen. Well, only a few people saw it so we don’t know for certain.” Haomu said.

  “Fang Yinchen?” Wang Yang scratched his head.

  “Seriously man, how do you not know the second-strongest disciple of Tiger Peak?” Haomu sighed.

  “Well, Brother Wang didn’t spend much time in the sect to begin with, he must be busy as is,” Huajun said.

  Haomu nodded, and tried to expin, “That’s true, so about Senior Fang, he isn’t someone you can ignor—!”

  “Senior Fang is the strongest of his generation only followed by Senior Gu, they are the moon and sun of the current era like their masters were before.” Only to get cut off by Xu Qiang.

  “Hey, I was talking!” Haomu gred.

  “You take too long, keep it short like yourself.” Xu Qiang ughed keeping him at arm’s length. “Besides, isn’t it more amazing that my brother here is already rubbing shoulders with such cultivators?”

  “Rubbing shoulders is a bit…” Wang Yang couldn’t see himself on the same level as Yingyue because of the difference in their strength.

  “In terms of position Brother Wang is without a doubt on the same level, and you’ve just started your journey so be patient.” Huajun cut in.

  “Being Second Peak Master’s disciple, you’ll reach them in no time Brother Wang.” Yesu cheered him on.

  “Well… I hope so.” Wang Yang said.

  The group reached the main path and took a turn to head for the Peach peak. Since they weren’t able to have lunch st time, Wang Yang invited them this time.

  Along with the horde of disciples heading the same way, the five reached the foot of Peach Peak. They took the stairs that snaked upwards, passing by forks other people took to reach other areas.

  Peach Garden, Crescent Lake, Silk Pagoda… those sound interesting.

  The five headed down the route for Jade Hall like the bulk of the other disciples in an orderly manner. But the closer they got to the hall the lesser disciples were seen. It confused Wang Yang as they numbered around a hundred before and there weren’t any more forks for a while for them to take.

  “You’re curious aren’t you brother?” Xu Qiang asked.

  “It’s a formation that only allows disciples with a reservation token.” Haomu answered before Wang Yang could even ask.

  “See, you can answer concisely.” Xu Qiang ughed.

  “…You are asking for it.” Haomu clenched his fist.

  “Ok, break it up you guys, don’t leave Brother Wang hanging.” Huajun pulled the raging Haomu back.

  “Well, to eat in Jade Hall you need to make a reservation, it is super famous and reasonably priced so usually the wait time is a little long.” Xu Qiang said.

  “Then did you make a reservation in advance?” Wang Yang certainly didn’t make one.

  The four shook their heads and smiled.

  “Then how did we…” Wang Yang followed their gazes and they all nded on his disciple token.

  “Thank you for the free meal Big Brother Wang, you are the best!” The four said in unison.

  “S-Sure…” He could only nod at that point, after all, he did invite them.

  They said it is priced reasonably, but what is reasonable? Wang Yang hoped it wasn’t like those luxury restaurants of the capital, he didn’t want to wash dishes because he couldn’t afford the bill.

  His worries melted with the setting sun as the huge pagoda covered in mist stole his attention. Its surface shimmered green like high-quality jade with white stairs leading up to it from four sides.

  As Wang Yang noticed the enormous lion statues at the stairs, a blonde girl dressed in pink descended from the Pagoda. Her pink robes with red petalled sleeves carried the scent of roses catching everyone’s attention.

  “Welcome to the Jade Hall, Senior Wang. My name is Qiu and I’ll be serving you today.” The girl bowed slightly in front of Wang Yang, oozing youthful exuberance. A picturesque beauty.

  “…Me?” He pointed at himself.

  “Yes, Senior Wang, this is a special service for distinguished guests like yourself, of course, it extends to your entourage as well.” Qiu’s gentle smile won the hearts of even the passersby. “So, please allow me to show you around.”

  “O-Ok.” Wang Yang followed Qiu up the stairs, oblivious to the hostile stare locked on him among the hundreds there.

  On the fourth floor of the pagoda, a young man in white robes looked down the balcony. His purple bangs swayed in the cool breeze as he took a sip of alcohol from his cup.

  “You are finally here, Wang Yang.” Zhang Jun smiled as the young boy stiffly climbed the stairs.

  ...

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