Chapter 163: Cinnabar Cliff, Here I Come

Zhang Yu still felt a lingering sense of apprehension toward Xiao Guangdu.

Having exhausted his true essence for so long, his spiritual consciousness had inevitably suffered damage. He had swallowed various restorative elixirs, such as Qi-Returning Pills and Lunar Radiance Pills, and spent an entire day recuperating before he could barely recover.

Had Xiao Guangdu not later discovered the truth of the matter, turned around to offer an apology, and presented him with such a favorable opportunity to build a connection, Zhang Yu would never have taken the initiative to act as a mediator with Xiao Guangdu.

He had even rehearsed his lines, intending to tell Xiao Guangdu that there was still more than half a year before the opening of the Danba Cliff Sect's secret realm. Should this younger Sister Xiao lack seniority and fail to secure a quota, he, Zhang Yu, could graciously cede his own spot to her.

Although Fei Chengji was actually Mu Fengshan's capable disciple and such a scenario was unlikely to occur, the favor would nonetheless have been quietly established, and Xiao Guangdu would certainly be indebted to him.

However, before he could even reach that part of his speech, Xiao Guangdu shook his head.

After clearing up the misunderstanding, Xiao Guangdu still felt rather apologetic toward Zhang Yu. With a gentle and pleasant expression, he said, "I'm afraid that won't work. Thank you for your kind intentions, but my sister is somewhat different from other rogue cultivators. She won't agree to it."

Zhang Yu was utterly astonished. Logically speaking, if a rogue cultivator heard about an opportunity to join a major sect, they should be moved to tears of gratitude. It should by no means be this kind of reaction. It seemed Xiao Guangdu's sister was truly extraordinary.

Yet, in the presence of her brother—especially someone as unreasonable as Xiao Guangdu—Zhang Yu dared not casually raise doubts. He persuaded, "Why not invite Miss Xiao here so we can persuade her in person? It's not to boast, but our Danba Cliff Sect's water-attribute cultivation methods are the finest and most comprehensive. Moreover, since she would be studying directly under my master, what is there to worry about?"

Even though they had prepared themselves mentally beforehand, when Fei Chengji and his disciple finally laid eyes on the disguised Hong Jian, they still couldn't help but shudder.

This Miss Xiao simply shattered conventional perceptions of water-attribute cultivators.

Fairly speaking, this young woman should not be unattractive. According to the saying that both water and wood attributes produce beauties, since she possessed a water spiritual root, she surely couldn't look too bad.

The reason he used the word "should" was simply because her original appearance was completely undetectable.

The girl had applied at least two taels of powder to her face, sporting indigo eyebrows, scarlet lips, and bruised-looking dark circles around her eyes. She wore an intricately complex towering hair bun, earrings the size of tea cups, and four or five bracelets stacked on each wrist. As for the dress on her body, it flashed brilliantly in glowing shades of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, layered one over another in a complex array that practically rivaled a rainbow.

To be honest, had Fei Chengji not been consumed by visions of the various benefits he would gain after taking in this female cultivator, just looking at this appearance would have made him want to beat a hasty retreat.

She was far beyond merely unusual; she was downright eccentric. In all his long decades of life, this was the first time he had ever laid eyes on someone with such a distinct personality.

Yet he could also perceive that Xiao Guangdu cherished this younger sister as if holding her in the palms of his hands. It required no keen observation; one only needed to look at Xiao Guangdu's gentle smile and listen to his soft, coaxing tone, reminiscent of someone placating a child of seven or eight, to leave both master and disciple utterly speechless.

"Xiaoxiao, your brother has now joined the Runes and Diagrams Sect, and there will inevitably be times in the future when I cannot look after you properly. This gentleman's surname is Fei, and he is a Golden Core perfection cultivator of the Danba Cliff Sect. He has taken a fancy to your aptitude and wishes to take you as his disciple. What do you think?"

Hong Jian wore this heavy, clinking burden of accessories precisely to divert the attention of Fei Chengji and Zhang Yu, preventing them from recognizing her.

For the sake of her plan to return to Danba, she needed to play a completely different persona.

Recalling the demeanor of the temperamental demoness Cheng Qingqing, she rolled her eyes fiercely at Lu Yanchang and retorted without the slightest courtesy, "This old man hasn't even laid eyes on me, so how could he tell my aptitude is any good? You must be the one talking nonsense."

*Old man...* Sweat threatened to break out on Fei Chengji's forehead. He recalled his disciple Zhang Yu previously saying, "Master, with your half-step Nascent Soul cultivation, surely you can teach a mere Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator?" Now it seemed he shouldn't speak too soon; he truly lacked the confidence to instruct such a Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator.

Inwardly, Lu Yanchang gave Hong Jian a mental thumbs-up. Partnering with such a clever lass was truly refreshing. He offered an ingratiating smile and said, "Never mind how he took a fancy to you. How about going to the Danba Cliff Sect to stay for a few years? The Danba Cliff Sect and the Runes and Diagrams Sect, which your brother joined, share a very good relationship, and your brother can come visit you often."

*Stay for a few years?* *Did you think our Danba Cliff Sect was some kind of inn where you could come and go as you pleased?* Upon hearing this, Fei Chengji felt a strong urge to stand up and flee for his life.

Yet even so, this flashy sister wasn't satisfied: "Visit me? Oh, please! It took so much effort just to get away from you. Why must you always be so annoying!"

Zhang Yu was dumbfounded. He could no longer imagine what his master's residence would turn out to be like if he truly acquired such a junior sister.

These Xiao siblings were truly a pair of bizarre creatures. The younger sister was spoiled to such an outrageous degree, while the brother stood by playing a humble and endlessly coaxing role. Heavens above, true fairness did not exist; this Miss Xiao was hardly old and yet how on earth had she advanced to Foundation Establishment perfection? He himself worked himself to the bone day and night, yet remained stuck in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Before meeting her, master and disciple had intended to persuade Miss Xiao, but now they were at a complete loss as to what to do. Taking her in would undoubtedly spell massive trouble, but if they rejected her after initiating the offer—especially since Xiao Guangdu was clearly moved by their persuasion—changing their tune now would provoke Xiao Guangdu, whose quick temper in flipping faces they had already experienced firsthand.

They simply maintained polite smiles, sitting quietly to watch the siblings argue, hoping that Xiao Guangdu would fail to win his sister over and the whole affair would quietly fizzle out.

Miss Xiao paid absolutely no heed to Fei Chengji and Zhang Yu. After bickering with her brother for a couple of sentences, she flicked her sleeve, twisted her body, and turned on her heel to leave.

Zhang Yu mused that this matter was most likely ruined. Cupping his chin, he watched with keen interest as the girl's retreating figure vanished. Miss Xiao possessed a slender and graceful silhouette, though where she had learned such an excessively coquettish gait was a mystery—it truly didn't suit her. Yet given her temper, presumably no one dared to remind her.

Deeply immersed in his role, Lu Yanchang stood in place, let out a deep, troubled sigh, and lifted his feet to chase after her.

In the blink of an eye, the two siblings vanished without a trace, prompting Zhang Yu to hastily offer his apologies, "It is entirely this disciple's fault for bringing trouble upon Master."

With a bitter smile, Fei Chengji shook his head. "Forget it, get up. Who could have ever anticipated she would be such a character?"

At this, a trace of regret stirred within him. The idea had been a sound one; he could only keep watch in the future for any suitable water-attribute cultivator to take under his wing, preferably one with astonishing talent, who could eventually compel Hong Yexi, Huo Chuanxing, and the others to surrender their cultivation heritages.

Roughly half an hour later, Lu Yanchang returned with a radiant, beaming smile.

The moment Fei Chengji saw him, he realized something was amiss. Sure enough, he heard him chime in joyfully, "Ah, mother of mine! That little ancestor has finally loosened her lips after all. Her kindness hasn't been wasted on you two."

Fei Chengji opened his mouth, his gaze involuntarily shifting toward Zhang Yu.

How could Zhang Yu not understand his master's implication? Yet seeing how enthusiastic Xiao Guangdu appeared, he truly dared not pour cold water over the situation. He stammered, "Just now, Miss Xiao didn't seem very willing. Forcing things too much is never a good idea..."

Lu Yanchang nodded emphatically. "That makes absolute sense, so I discussed it further with my sister. Didn't Brother Zhang suggest that Xiaoxiao enter the Danba Cliff Sect's secret realm? I've already told her that once she enters the secret realm, she needn't fear any inner demons and is guaranteed to immediately form her Core. That's what finally changed her mind."

Lowering his head instantly, Zhang Yu didn't dare meet Master Fei Chengji's expression. All of this was the result of his own loose tongue.

"However, Xiaoxiao stated that she loathes being bound by rules. How about this: she will take you, Master Fei, as her master and temporarily reside in the Danba Cliff Sect. Once she enters the secret realm and forms her Core, she will be permitted to go out and roam the world freely."

"Er..." Fei Chengji hesitated. From now until the opening of the secret realm was a mere half a year. No matter how eccentric this Xiaoxiao was, he could endure her for half a year; his only concern was whether taking in such a disciple would court disaster for the sect down the line.

Then, a second thought crossed his mind: *What is there to fear? Everything can be handled by her older brother, Xiao Guangdu.* Even if she stirred up trouble, it would be the Runes and Diagrams Sect's headache. Should he prove unable to protect her, expelling her from the sect gates would require no more than a single word from him.

Seeing his hesitation, Lu Yanchang chuckled inwardly and added, "Rest assured, I, old Xiao, am not an ungrateful person. I won't forget your kindness!"

Wasn't this precisely what Fei Chengji had engineered this entire ordeal for? That fellow Xiao Guangdu had previously walked around with his nose in the air; when had he ever addressed him so politely as "Mr. Fei"? Unconsciously, Fei Chengji nodded.

With a satisfied smile, Lu Yanchang proceeded to summon "Xiaoxiao" for the master-apprenticeship ceremony.

To say Fei Chengji felt completely at ease would be a falsehood; yet awkward or not, since the matter was already set, he still needed to utter a few polite formalities.

As soon as he began speaking—before he could even remind his new female disciple about her attire and makeup—Lu Yanchang interrupted from the side, "Don't worry, Sister. Your master and I formed our friendship through conflict and get along splendidly; he won't subject you to all those stuffy rules like other people do. Furthermore, this senior brother of yours is a fine person as well—you have him to thank for dreaming up this entire apprenticeship idea. There's no need to feel constrained."

Consequently, Fei Chengji watched as his newly acquired female disciple absorbed her brother's words and apparently believed them hook, line, and sinker. During the apprenticeship ceremony, she didn't even bother to kowtow, merely offering a casual bow of greeting.

At this point, Fei Chengji couldn't be bothered to argue with her. Once she and Zhang Yu exchanged greetings, Fei Chengji stood up and declared, "We've delayed long enough. Let us set off and return to the sect now."

He had resolved that upon returning to the sect, he would hand her over to Zhang Yu to keep watch. She wouldn't even be required to perform morning greetings; he would simply wait for half a year to let her enter the secret realm once, and then hurry her out the door to fulfill his massive debt of gratitude to Xiao Guangdu.

The four of them set off together toward the Danba Cliff Sect. Along the way, through some unknown communication between the Xiao siblings, Fei Chengji heard Xiao Guangdu request, "I will leave as soon as I drop my sister off. We needn't disturb Elder Shi or Elder Qi, and there's no need to mention our relationship to others. Word getting out wouldn't look good for Xiaoxiao."

Having spent the better part of the day accustomed to the bizarre remarks of these siblings, Fei Chengji didn't think too deeply into it and numbly offered an affirmative response.

He had no inkling of the intense excitement currently surging within Hong Jian, who was disguised as "Xiaoxiao." After a long and painful separation, she had finally returned to Danba Cliff.