Volume One, Chapter 38: Easy to Climb the Mountain, Hard to Descend

Ye Qinghan smiled and replied with great indifference, "You are overthinking it. My Master will not take you in."

Dongfang Jue, refusing to be outdone, continued, "Is it that Miss Qinghan is unwilling to share your Master?"

Ye Qinghan poured more tea for Dongfang Jue, feeling less inclined to bully her at this moment. "Drink your tea. We have plenty of time; Master won't be back for a while."

"Miss Qinghan, I am not in a hurry." Dongfang Jue took the cup with both hands. Although she did not understand why, Ye Qinghan's attitude had indeed shifted.

"Your intentions are not hard to guess. Master is indeed very doting toward me, but if you think I would interfere in this matter, that would be an insult to my intelligence. I am not foolish enough to do that."

"Thinking about it now, there must be many females with your mindset right now, aren't there? It is nothing more than seeing Master's power and wanting to become the Ye Qinghan of the past."

"Your thinking isn't wrong. Qinghan might have a junior sister, or perhaps a junior brother, but I think you, in all likelihood, are not qualified."

Ye Qinghan smiled with absolute confidence. There was no one in this world who understood her Master better than she did.

Dongfang Jue was puzzled. What did she mean? She wasn't qualified? "Do you mean I don't meet Sect Leader Su's requirements?"

"Not at all." Seeing the shock on Dongfang Jue's face, Ye Qinghan found it entirely expected; this was her own past self. It was just that she hadn't been as lucky as she was!

"What do you mean?"

"Actually, I also thought my Master's standards for taking on disciples would be very high, but I later realized that there are no such things as requirements or standards."

Watching Ye Qinghan state this with such confidence, Dongfang Jue was even more bewildered. What was this? No requirements, yet she wasn't qualified? Was this not nonsense?

"What do you mean? If there are no requirements, why do you say I’m not qualified?"

"To Master, innate talent is completely unimportant. Can you understand that? Even a pig, if it followed Master, could become an immortal."

"I understood that the moment you broke five of my ribs."

"Master does not care about talent, nor character, nor anything at all. It is purely a matter of fate."

Ye Qinghan’s expression now carried a hint of doting. After talking so much, she actually found this person somewhat cute. *Heh, even if Master were to take in that fool Li Shiyao, he probably wouldn't take you!*

"If that is the case, why are you so certain I have no place in Lingxian Hall?"

"That is not for you to know. If you do not believe me, you might as well try to become his disciple."

Dongfang Jue looked suspicious, feeling as if Ye Qinghan was setting some kind of trap for her. "Are you serious? You won't stop me?"

"I have already said, in my actions, I only consider whether Master is happy. If Master has such an intention, I will certainly treat you like a younger sister."

Dongfang Jue believed this. From Ye Qinghan’s behavior, it was clear that Master was the only person she truly cared about. Even if she were to be jealous, she would never harm a junior sister taken in by her Master.

"However, if Master rejects you, please, Miss Dongfang, do not pester him. Master may be hindered by old friendships and unable to act, but I have no such qualms."

"Shall we talk about something else?" Ye Qinghan's position was clear, and Dongfang Jue had plenty more she wanted to know.

"Of course. I wonder what else Miss Dongfang is curious about?" Ye Qinghan did not mind; saying all this was meant to make this person know when to stop.

"I saw that the dummy over there is covered in sword marks. Is that from your daily arduous practice?"

"It can't be called arduous practice. To me, cultivation is just a way to make Master happy. Most of the time, I am just by his side."

"Sect Leader Su gifted you two innate treasures. I thought you would be practicing diligently to repay his grace."

At this point, Dongfang Jue felt it was time.

"Miss Dongfang, you jest. Where in this world do such things as innate treasures exist?" Ye Qinghan lied without changing her expression!

Dongfang Jue realized that as long as no one was fighting with Ye Qinghan for her Master, nothing could make her show a flaw!

"Heh, Sister, why not think about it—what if they do exist?" Resting her chin in her hands, lying lazily on the table, Dongfang Jue wanted to see how long Ye Qinghan could keep up the act.

"Have you lived long enough?" Ye Qinghan tilted her fox-like head, looking somewhat surprised. "That kind of thing, which can kill the living and bring back the dead—I dare not even think about it."

"Sister, perhaps Jue'er and you could become friends!"

Ye Qinghan was indeed curious about Su City; it was clear that Dongfang Jue had offered an olive branch. This was a signal to exchange information, but the subject was her Master. If this was detrimental to him, the consequences were not something she could bear!

"No need. I admit that fox spirits are very curious, but a smart fox knows what they should not know." Such matters required hearing her Master’s stance before she could make a judgment.

"Sister is so defensive? Are you afraid that Jue'er might do something harmful to you?"

"You have already done something harmful to yourself." Ye Qinghan smiled, patted Dongfang Jue on the shoulder, and stood up slowly. "Keep me company tonight, how about that?"

Dongfang Jue panicked! Was Ye Qinghan this timid? Did this mean she wouldn't let her leave? If Su City felt she was a threat to them, would they silence her permanently?

"Uh... if I say I want to go home for dinner now, would you also not let me go..."

Ye Qinghan said nothing, simply sitting and drinking tea. She decided not to speak again until her Master returned.

On the Sacred Mountain, a mysterious cave was guarded by two elders, where Li Shiyao was in seclusion.

"Shiyao is hungry!"

"Lady Saint, please focus on your cultivation. I have already arranged for someone to prepare food for you."

"Shiyao is hungry, I can't enter a meditative state at all!"

The situation looked as if the Saintess was being imprisoned, though this was nothing unusual on the Sacred Mountain. The Second Elder and Shi Mingyi exchanged a glance; then, Shi Mingyi let out a long sigh and went to find food for the girl.

"Watch her well, don't let her run off again!"

"Understood."

With that, Shi Mingyi went to the kitchen, thinking he would just grab some food for the little ancestor to pacify her so she would continue cultivating.

Li Shiyao pounded on the door, standing on her tiptoes while gripping the bars, chatting with the Second Elder.

"Second Elder, do you want to see Shiyao's treasure?"

"My little ancestor, don't even think about it. I won't let you out."

"It's very interesting!"

"I implore the Saintess to focus on your cultivation and keep the common people in your heart."

The Second Elder spoke earnestly, keeping his back to the door and refusing to look at Li Shiyao.

"Who are the common people? What do they have to do with Shiyao? Shiyao just wants to eat until I'm full, and then travel and play!"

"You are the Saintess, shouldering the..."

The Second Elder couldn't finish his sentence; it would be a miracle if this little ancestor listened to a single word!

"Shiyao also wants to find a man! One as handsome as that Sect Leader Su from a few days ago!"

The Second Elder's face turned green. If not for the fact that Li Shiyao was the Saintess, he would have slapped her dead long ago! He simply ignored her and stood outside the door.

After a while, the Third Elder, Shi Mingyi, returned carrying a basket of food.

"How is the Saintess?"

"Just a moment ago she was shouting about finding a man, now she's quiet..."

Wait! Something was wrong! As soon as the Second Elder said this, he realized it. Could Li Shiyao really stay quiet for so long? Furthermore, now that Elder Shi had brought food, by custom, the Saintess should have long been at the door waiting to be fed!

He hurriedly opened the door. "You! She ran away again!"