After leaving the Library Pavilion, the first thing Song Yao did was head to the Accounts Hall to collect her two hundred spirit stones and her monthly allowance of pills.
Before collecting them, she made sure to ask about the rules.
If she left the sect within a year, she would have to return all the spirit stones and pills she had received. If she left after a year, she wouldn't have to return them.
However, the pills Song Yao had consumed earlier were of a higher grade, so she would have to return them regardless.
Song Yao felt her head spin from this dizzying array of rules. She calculated for a long time but still couldn't figure out the best way to leave.
Ning Zhou followed beside her, happily pocketing the fifty spirit stones he had received for being in the Qi Refining Stage. He tirelessly tried to persuade her, “What's so bad about this place? There are so many bad people outside, and you'd have to go hungry and cold.”
Song Yao miserably described the dire situation on Baicao Peak. “Actually, I'm already going hungry and cold here.”
Her presence only made things worse for the already impoverished Seventh Elder.
“Isn't there a cafeteria in the outer sect? You can eat there for free.”
Ning Zhou thought about it and added, “Or you could come to our Jiyue Peak. My master's husband makes incredibly delicious food. I heard that the Sword Demon from the main peak—our Third Senior Sister—once even declared him to have a God-grade cooking spiritual root.”
The Third Senior Sister herself felt as if a vital meridian had suddenly been cleared, and her eyes instantly lit up.
That's right!
While she stayed at the Nine Saints Hall, she could eat and use other people's resources, essentially spending absolutely nothing.
If she saved up all of this year's monthly allowance and found some ways to make money outside, she would definitely be able to leave this place in a year.
Life was still full of hope.
Song Yao carefully tucked the two hundred spirit stones she had just collected, along with the money the Seventh Elder had given her for buns, into her pocket. “Let's go.”
“Where are we going?”
“To get food, of course.”
Song Yao looked at the sky. “Your Jiyue Peak is quite far from here. If we start climbing the mountain now, it should take us about three hours to get there. After eating, I'll have to climb for another four hours to get back to Baicao Peak.”
Ning Zhou: “...”
Why did that sound so miserable?
He followed behind Song Yao, full of hope. “It's fine. In a couple of years, once we learn sword-riding, we won't have to climb mountains like this anymore.”
Whoosh—
A sword shadow flashed past, landing steadily right in front of them.
The sword's blade was translucent white, shimmering with a faint spiritual glow. It was clearly no ordinary weapon.
Jiang Jin leaped down, sheathed his sword, and walked over to them with a smile. “You want to learn sword-riding? I can teach you. It's not hard once you get the hang of it.”
Ning Zhou froze, clearly not expecting this popular figure to take the initiative to speak with them.
After all, this person had tested with the highest talent at the apprenticeship ceremony and was the inheritor of the Primal Chaos Void Flame. Other disciples were practically lining up to flatter him.
Flattered, Ning Zhou waved his hands. “No need, no need. I haven't reached Foundation Establishment yet, so I can't learn it.”
“I'll teach you once you reach Foundation Establishment then.”
Jiang Jin said with a smile, then turned to look at Song Yao. “Does Junior Sister Lin want to learn?”
In the inner sect, peers with different masters addressed each other by age, so his form of address was correct.
Unfortunately, Song Yao didn't really want to bother with him.
Protagonists of power-fantasy web novels were notoriously magnet for trouble. Getting close to him would only bring endless headaches.
“No, thank you.”
She gave a perfunctory reply and pulled Ning Zhou down the mountain.
Jiang Jin pursued them, refusing to give up. “Why not? You achieved Foundation Establishment so quickly, so you'll definitely learn swordplay fast too...”
Song Yao: “...”
Seriously?
Why was this male protagonist bothering her instead of going after his main harem or party members?
She paused, turned to look at him, and gave a very sincere excuse: “I don't have any money.”
Jiang Jin: “What?”
Song Yao: “I can't afford a sword.”
Jiang Jin: “...”
He clearly hadn't expected this to be the reason and was momentarily stunned. In the blink of an eye, Song Yao was already ten meters away.
He quickly caught up again and smiled. “If you want to practice the way of the sword, you can apply at the Sword Pavilion. When new disciples enter the sect, the sect provides basic magical artifacts.”
This finally piqued Song Yao's interest.
She indeed needed a sword.
Not to practice some way of the sword, but because—
Climbing mountains was way too tiring.
Having a sword meant she wouldn't have to travel on foot like this.
She turned around and smiled at Jiang Jin. “Thank you for letting me know, Senior Brother Jiang.”
Yet Jiang Jin still showed no intention of leaving. He followed behind and asked, “So where is Junior Sister Lin headed now? How about I give you a ride?”
Even with her slight denseness, Song Yao could tell he probably wanted a favor.
She glanced at the sky, then at the rugged mountain path, and nodded. “Sure. But there are two of us. Can you handle it?”
Those last words were spoken casually, but they sounded somewhat provocative.
Jiang Jin had originally only wanted to take her, but now he couldn't back down. Gritting his teeth, he nodded. “Of course I can. Come on up.”
The translucent white sword hovered by their feet.
“Get on.”
Jiang Jin was the first to hop on. Before he could finish his sentence, the other two had already grabbed his arms and climbed up with practiced ease.
Jiang Jin opened his mouth, swallowing back the second half of his sentence: “Be careful.”
Song Yao poked her head out. “Let's go, Jiyue Peak.”
Jiang Jin: “Alright...”
He took a deep breath and formed a sword-riding hand seal.
The long sword slowly rose from the ground, wobbling as it ascended into midair.
Just as he stabilized it, the blade suddenly tilted. He quickly corrected it, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
He hadn't been practicing sword-riding for very long. Carrying one person was fine, but carrying two was truly pushing his limits.
Standing at the very back, Song Yao cast her eyes down and gently nudged her mind.
The long sword suddenly stabilized.
Jiang Jin felt the sword grow lighter, becoming much easier to control.
Could his mental strength have improved?
Before he could make sense of it, Ning Zhou let out a loud cry. “Wow!!”
The mountain wind howled past their ears, a sea of clouds surged beneath their feet, and the distant mountain peaks loomed dark blue in the twilight.
He exclaimed, “Junior Brother Jiang, you're amazing!”
Hearing this, Jiang Jin raised his chin slightly, though his voice remained modest. “It's nothing. This is just the basics. You two will definitely learn it soon.”
Climbing the mountain would have taken three hours, but riding a sword took only the blink of an eye.
The three of them quickly landed on the edge of Jiyue Peak.
Ning Zhou invited him, “Junior Brother Jiang, do you want to join us for dinner?”
“No need to trouble yourselves.”
Jiang Jin politely declined, but his gaze lingered on Song Yao, a suspicious flush appearing on his cheeks. “However, I do have something I'd like to ask Junior Sister Lin.”
Song Yao had expected this. “Go ahead.”
Jiang Jin opened his mouth, then glanced to the side.
Ning Zhou caught on immediately. Discretion being the better part of valor, he headed toward the courtyard. “You two chat, I'll head inside first.”
Only Song Yao and Jiang Jin were left at the courtyard entrance.
Jiang Jin swallowed nervously. “Actually, it's nothing major. I just wanted to ask if Junior Sister Lin could introduce me to Second Senior Sister?”
This question was entirely unexpected for Song Yao.
She furrowed her brow slightly. “Second Senior Sister?”
“I heard that Second Senior Sister prefers to be a loner and never travels with anyone, yet she personally brought you to the Fuguang Platform this morning. You two must be close.”
Jiang Jin's face grew redder, his ears burning as he tried to cover it up. “I only want to ask Second Senior Sister for guidance on the way of the sword. There's no other meaning to it.”
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