Volume One, Chapter 48: The Mandate Shifts

“The location must be prime, the decor impeccable—everything has to be the best, do you understand?”
“Of course, Grand Auntie, rest assured, I guarantee your satisfaction!”

Ye Qinghan did not doubt Xu Zhanfeng’s workmanship or efficiency, but some things needed to be made clear.
“Since I’ve accepted you, I consider you one of us. There are some matters you must understand beforehand.”
“We are not master and servant, but both serve our revered teacher. As long as you work earnestly for the Lingxian Hall, that is what matters. Your orders are to satisfy our teacher first, then me—do you understand?”
“As long as the teacher is satisfied, as her disciple, I naturally will be as well.”

Xu Zhanfeng was momentarily stunned; he hadn’t expected Fairy Qinghan to say such a thing, and it moved him somewhat.
One of their own?
Standing over nine feet tall, even kneeling, he maintained eye level with the seated Ye Qinghan. Beneath his mask, a faint emotion stirred.
“Thank you for your guidance, Grand Auntie. I will remember it well.”

“Besides the tavern, I also want a bank and a tailor’s shop. Don’t rush—later, we will go see them together.”
Ye Qinghan felt she should personally oversee the tavern at least, since the master would be coming, and many matters were easier handled by a woman’s touch.

Meanwhile, Ye Qinghan never expected that Dongfang Jue was now sneaking around the estate...

Standing at the entrance of Lingxian Hall without her jade pendant, Dongfang Jue had no choice but to call out loudly.
“Leader Su! Leader Su!”

Soon, Su Cheng hurriedly opened the door. “What’s the matter? Where is Qinghan?”
“Miss Qinghan is still in Nanding City. Jue’er came to see you.”

Dongfang Jue stood nervously at the doorway. She had intended to return directly to the palace but, after much thought, her heart refused to relent.
“You seek me? What is it?”

Su Cheng was puzzled. After a series of confrontations with Li Shiyao, she’d grown somewhat paranoid and had quietly summoned the Chaos Bell, ready for whatever might come...

“Jue’er...” Dongfang Jue hesitated, unsure where to begin.
“Come inside and speak.” Seeing her troubled look, Su Cheng thought she must be facing some difficulty.
If she could help, perhaps Jue’er would stop pestering her.

They sat under a tree in the courtyard, just like the first time, though this time the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
“Miss Dongfang, what troubles you?”

At that moment, the system panel hovered before Dongfang Jue, the mission list boldly displaying five characters:
[Join Lingxian Hall]

After failing her previous secret realm mission, the system task had refreshed to joining the Heavenly Dao Pavilion.
Yet after the master’s reprimand to Ye Qinghan, the system upgraded.
It updated the main quest, corrected the description of the faction [Lingxian Hall], and unlocked a favorability tracking feature.

Dongfang Jue did not fully grasp the significance, but the system’s judgments were rarely wrong.
She checked Su Cheng’s system data again, but sadly, there was no change.

If joining the Heavenly Dao Pavilion was fate, then fate itself had shifted at this moment.
Had Dongfang Jue told Su Cheng about the system, perhaps the leader would quickly realize what was happening, but things rarely go as wished, and she did not.

“Leader Su, Jue’er has a request.”
“What is it?” Su Cheng thought hard. To be honest, she never imagined what this princess might want from her. Dongfang Jue was no Ye Qinghan—she had no enemies and few would dare provoke a royal of her stature.

“Jue’er wishes to join Lingxian Hall.”
“Ah?”

Dongfang Jue couldn’t sit still any longer—she knelt before Su Cheng, forcing the seasoned Qi Refining expert to step back two paces.
“If Leader Su would accept Jue’er, I vow to serve our master lifelong, following Sister Qinghan’s example, easing our master’s burdens...”

The system panel still floated before her, and Dongfang Jue saw her favorability had just dropped from 13.2% to zero...

“No.”

Su Cheng was stunned. One Ye Qinghan was already more than enough trouble!
Now another? Did she want to live forever?

“Is it that Leader Su does not favor me?”
“Miss Dongfang, you misunderstand. You are gifted indeed, but Lingxian Hall is a humble shrine; it cannot contain a great Buddha.”

Hearing this, Dongfang Jue was furious. Though she’d expected rejection, the reality was harsh.
Zero favorability—really? In and out of the palace, every man liked her.
She truly felt wronged...

“Leader Su, whatever Qinghan can do, I can do as well! I only ask Leader Su to accept me!”

Listening to this, Su Cheng sensed something was amiss.
What did it mean that she could do whatever Qinghan could?

“I have never demanded much of Qinghan, only that she stay safe. I have no need for a princess’s involvement.”

Her tone was deliberately distant, and Dongfang Jue understood perfectly.

Su Cheng turned her back, refusing to look at Dongfang Jue any longer, hoping she would take the hint and let it go.

“Since you must know, I have no cultivation. That sword at the Eastern Domain secret realm gate was also wielded by Qinghan—not by choice, but to secure a chance for Lingxian Hall before the numerous clan heads and leaders.”
“If not, how could I have been chased by that Foundation Establishment Saintess?”
“You see now, I have nothing to teach you. I cannot even protect myself, let alone take on disciples.”

Dongfang Jue looked at the system panel—Qi Refining Stage One—and knew Su Cheng was not lying. Yet...
If she was truly so weak, why had Ye Qinghan chosen her as master?

“But Qinghan still chose you, and since then her strength has surged! In just one month, she has reached heights beyond my grasp!”

“Accepting Qinghan was also a reluctant act. Now that I have spoken, I will protect her for life. Miss Dongfang, you are gifted, no less than Qinghan. Have you never heard that a wise bird chooses its tree, a worthy minister its lord? Why cling so stubbornly to Lingxian Hall?”

“Are you suggesting the Heavenly Dao Pavilion?”

Dongfang Jue did not understand—was fate truly so important?
Her father was the Human Emperor, and she was his daughter. How could fate be imposed upon her?

Just as Su Cheng was about to reply, Ye Qinghan returned to the courtyard.

Xu Zhanfeng personally escorted the little fool back to the Sacred Mountain, so Ye Qinghan came alone.

Upon entering, Ye Qinghan saw Dongfang Jue kneeling before her master—what a little rascal, sneaking around while I was gone!
Unexpected, huh? The old lady is back!

She said nothing, standing quietly by her master’s side, secretly gathering information.

[Save me, Master! Qinghan! This one wants to be your junior sister!]

Ye Qinghan almost burst out laughing but held back, remaining silent.

Su Cheng feigned mystery, “Secrets of heaven cannot be revealed.”

“This morning, I overheard your conversation with Miss Qinghan, Leader Su. You said Cheng Liang is my destined one—is this true?”

Dongfang Jue was a bit jealous now. Why was Qinghan so lucky?
She was to go to some damn Heavenly Dao Pavilion?
No way!

“That is true.” Su Cheng nodded, resigned.
“If so, fate cannot be defied, but fate is not unchanging. Jue’er does not like the Heavenly Dao Pavilion!”