Chapter 14: Taking Another Disciple?

Yan Shu returned to her room in low spirits, sitting cross-legged on the round cushion. Through the window, she gazed at Xiao Jihan's distant quarters, her heart filled with dejection. She had toiled all day, yet the favorability rating had plummeted back to -70—the same as when they’d first met, pure hatred.

But she could blame no one but herself. It was her own well-intentioned mistake that caused this mess. Having read the original novel three times, Yan Shu knew better than anyone how much suffering Xiao Jihan, the male lead, endured in the early days, how bitter his life had been. Some plot points had changed—this first alchemy furnace, for instance, had appeared earlier than in the book—but that didn't alter the fact that the furnace she’d destroyed was something Xiao Jihan had saved spirit stones for over many years, pouring in all his resources to acquire it.

Yan Shu was never one to shirk responsibility for her mistakes. After a moment’s hesitation, she took out the Mysterious Spirit Mirror from her storage pouch and infused it with spiritual power to call her Third Senior Brother, Liu Zhiqing.

Liu Zhiqing answered quickly, and the first thing he saw was her soot-blackened face in the mirror. “Junior Sister?”

Yan Shu responded with a weak hum.

Liu Zhiqing immediately frowned. “What happened to you? Why do you look like this?”

Only then did Yan Shu notice her appearance reflected in the mirror—still blackened from the furnace explosion. She hastily cast a dust-clearing spell and said, “Senior Brother, could you do me a favor?”

Liu Zhiqing had watched Yan Shu grow up. Not only was she cold in temperament, but even when the senior brothers presented her with rare treasures, she would only respond with a mild, “Thank you, Senior Brother.” She’d never asked for help like this—softly, almost pleading.

Liu Zhiqing immediately sensed something serious was amiss. “What is it you want me to do?”

Yan Shu spoke frankly, “I’d like to ask for an alchemy furnace from you.”

“What do you need an alchemy furnace for?” Liu Zhiqing frowned. “Hadn’t you already given up on the art of alchemy?”

“Because I blew up Xiao Jihan’s furnace,” Yan Shu admitted. “I have to replace it for him.”

“You… blew up his furnace?” Liu Zhiqing was astonished, but soon regained his composure. He looked her up and down and said flatly, “With your talent for alchemy, it’s not surprising you’d blow up a furnace.”

Yan Shu: …

Are you mocking me?

“Alright, I’ll prepare a furnace as compensation,” Liu Zhiqing quickly agreed. “Shall I have a disciple deliver it, or will you come pick it up yourself?”

“Please trouble a disciple to bring it,” Yan Shu replied. Xiao Jihan was on Supreme Peak; she couldn’t take a single step away.

Liu Zhiqing nodded. Looking at her through the mirror, he suddenly asked in puzzlement, “Why are you suddenly so concerned about your personal disciple? Didn’t you always treat him like a menial servant?”

Even Liu Zhiqing assumed she saw Xiao Jihan as a servant—such was the sect’s opinion of him.

Yan Shu quickly clarified, “Senior Brother, I truly consider him my personal disciple. I was trapped by inner demons before and neglected him, but now I am free of them, and I intend to fulfill my duty as a master.”

Liu Zhiqing frowned. “Even so, he has a false four-element spiritual root. No matter how much he cultivates, he’ll never achieve greatness. Perhaps you should choose another disciple, lest he tarnish your reputation.”

Yan Shu fell silent, lost in thought. She wasn’t worried about Xiao Jihan failing and damaging her reputation—this world revolved around the male lead. If he couldn’t achieve greatness, who could?

What troubled her was the deep grudge Xiao Jihan held against her. No matter what she did, he suspected ulterior motives. Even if she stopped taking his heart’s blood, he would only think she sought something greater. If she took another disciple, she and Xiao Jihan would no longer be alone on Supreme Peak; it would serve as proof, whether of her sincere repentance or that she no longer coveted him.

Besides, even if he still wished to kill her, the presence of another would give him pause.

But what if, within three months, she couldn’t raise his favorability and he still tried to kill her? Would she implicate another innocent life? Even if not, in a world centered on Xiao Jihan, if the plot remained unchanged and the Xuantian Sect was still doomed, why drag another innocent into this?

Yan Shu sighed. “No need, Senior Brother. I haven’t even taught my current disciple properly. Perhaps later.”

Liu Zhiqing nodded. “That’s fine. In two months, the Brahma Secret Realm will open, and all disciples must enter for their trial. You can choose one to your liking then.”

Mention of the Brahma Secret Realm jogged Yan Shu’s memory. In the novel, after Xiao Jihan killed the original host, he escaped unscathed. Not only was the original host reclusive, rarely interacting with outsiders, but more crucially, her death coincided with the opening of the Secret Realm.

The Brahma Secret Realm was the first trial for all new disciples. Cultivation sects great and small sent participants, much like a joint entrance examination in her previous life. It tested both the disciples’ abilities and the sects’ overall strength. The Realm opened once every ten years, and recruitment cycles matched this schedule. Performance in the Realm directly influenced the quality of new disciples, making it a matter of great importance to all sects.

In the novel, when the Realm opened, all peak lords except Wen Youhe, the future sect master, were stationed outside to oversee it. Xiao Jihan killed the original host, refined her spiritual root, took her command token, and strode boldly into the Secret Realm, remaining until it closed.

When he emerged, it was already the next opening of the Realm, and he had obtained the Medicine King’s legacy.

Yan Shu’s eyes suddenly sparkled!

Of course—she could send Xiao Jihan into the Brahma Secret Realm early! This way, he’d miss the window to kill her. Even if he still meant to, it would be ten years later!

How brilliant she was! Was there anyone in the world as clever as herself?

Yan Shu nearly applauded her own wit, her gaze at Liu Zhiqing brightening. “Senior Brother, can Xiao Jihan participate in the Brahma Secret Realm?”

Liu Zhiqing’s expression grew complicated, and he spoke with heavy meaning, “Junior Sister, while our Daoist cultivators may not emphasize compassion like the Buddhists, we do care about merit and cause and effect. Even if you regret taking on a disciple with a false four-element root, even if you worry he’ll tarnish your reputation—there’s no need to send him to his death!”

Yan Shu: ?????