Song Yao truly felt that she had suffered the ultimate grievance.
Not only was she forced to start her studies all over again, but she also had to be mocked by an ugly beggar's chicken.
But thinking of the beautiful days of retirement ahead, she showed great mercy and decided not to hold a grudge. Instead, as she climbed down from the bird's back, she lowered her head and bit its wing.
The Black Bird let out a sharp shriek of pain, startling the birds and beasts in the mountains into scattering.
Zhu Zhao was walking into the courtyard and turned back to look at it suspiciously.
Song Yao followed behind, looking completely innocent. “Second Senior Sister, your spirit beast seems to be in heat.”
Zhu Zhao: “...”
Black Bird: “???!!!”
Who was in heat?!
She bit it and then claimed it was in heat?
Its defenses completely crumbled. Flapping its giant wings, it let out a furious screech as a sudden gale kicked up, sending a cloud of dust straight toward Song Yao's face.
Song Yao had a light build and was sent stumbling back a couple of steps by the draft. She thought to herself that this Black Bird was truly getting more and more short-tempered.
When they first met, it had been a cute and soft little spirit beast. Now, just a single bite and a quick remark were enough to make it fly into such a rage.
Unable to steady herself, she turned and ran toward Zhu Zhao, grabbing the edge of her robe. “Second Senior Sister, it's being so mean.”
Only after grabbing it did she realize something was off.
Zhu Zhao was cold-hearted and rather protective of this silly bird; she might think Song Yao was provoking her.
After all, in the past when they went out to hunt demons and she pretentiously hid behind Zhu Zhao, Zhu Zhao would slap the demon right into her face and tell her to stop whining.
Besides, the Teaching Elder had just complained about her, so Second Senior Sister probably didn't have a very good impression of her right now.
She instinctively prepared to let go.
But a sudden wave of pressure radiated from Zhu Zhao and fell upon the Black Bird. She spoke coldly, “Behave.”
Song Yao was slightly surprised.
The Black Bird was instantly doused like a fire under cold water. It looked at Zhu Zhao in disbelief, then at the smug, gloating Song Yao behind her. Its screech caught in its throat, its wings trembled with anger, and its tail feathers drooped halfway in sheer grievance.
Zhu Zhao turned around, her gaze dropping to the creased edge of her robe that Song Yao had grabbed.
Song Yao immediately let go and took two steps back, hanging her head in preparation for a lecture.
Zhu Zhao was extremely strict with her junior brothers and sisters, earning a reputation for being completely impartial. Song Yao had seen her punish the cultivators working under her with absolute ruthlessness, so she had no idea how she would be punished...
Maybe she should go jump off a cliff right now just for fun; she wondered if that would let her escape this.
However, Zhu Zhao remained silent for a long time. The air was so quiet that only the pitiful, suppressed whimpering from the Black Bird's throat could be heard.
Song Yao couldn't help but steal a glance, meeting her Second Senior Sister's slightly complicated gaze.
“Thank you.”
Her expression was visibly strained, and her voice sounded somewhat awkward.
Song Yao was startled.
Then she heard her ask, “The Golden Scale Snake Pill... you were the one who begged for it, didn't you?”
Song Yao hesitated slightly.
Begged?
That was a rather delicate word to use.
Yet Zhu Zhao seemed entirely certain. “The people of Medicine King Valley are not that easy to talk to. Getting him to refine an elixir must not have been easy.”
Song Yao: “...”
Actually, it was pretty easy.
She had never met anyone as easygoing as Ji Duchuan.
But since it was rare to see her Second Senior Sister like this, she thought about it for a moment and nodded solemnly. “It was indeed not easy.”
“And I heard that you went through countless hardships in the Myriad Bones Forest realm to obtain the Golden Scale Snake Grass.”
Zhu Zhao turned and walked into the courtyard, taking out the bill that had been placed under her head when she woke up and laying it on the table. “There is no reason to let you suffer a loss. Aside from the spirit stones for staying in your courtyard, just tell me what else you want.”
Song Yao immediately felt an itch to take advantage.
If she didn't ruthlessly rip Zhu Zhao off now, when would she ever get another chance?
But her rationality prevailed. She forced herself to hold back and waved her hand. “No need.”
Zhu Zhao frowned slightly. “Why?”
She had calculated even the room fees so clearly down to the last penny.
Yet she was giving away such a precious Golden Scale Snake Pill for nothing, wanting absolutely nothing in return?
Song Yao pulled out the peace jade to show her. “Fourth Senior Brother said he would pay me back. He left this with me as collateral.”
Zhu Zhao: “...”
Her expression, which had softened slightly, instantly turned chilly again. “Since I am already awake, there is no need for him to pay my debts. Return the peace jade to him. If you want anything, just tell me directly.”
Song Yao blinked.
They were fighting over this too?
She didn't care who paid, as long as she got something in the end. She nodded decisively. “Alright, but I haven't decided what I want yet. You can just owe me for now, Second Senior Sister.”
Zhu Zhao: “Mm.”
She gave a brief acknowledgment and pulled out a jade token, handing it to Song Yao. “The spirit stones for the days I stayed in your room.”
Song Yao was actually a bit unaccustomed to her paying so quickly and being so easy to talk to.
But despite her lack of familiarity with this side of her, she accepted the jade token without hesitation, her eyes curving into crescents. “Thank you, Second Senior Sister.”
Zhu Zhao: “Also, while I was staying in your room these past few days, where did you sleep?”
Having received the money, Song Yao was in an exceptionally good mood, completely ignoring their past-life rivalry as she patiently replied, “Before, I shared the room with you. You slept on the bed, and I slept on the floor.”
A strange look flashed through Zhu Zhao's eyes once more.
She slept on the floor?
If this were the past, she would have thrown a massive fit, wouldn't she?
How had she truly become so well-behaved and sensible?
Zhu Zhao felt inexplicably irritated and frowned slightly. “Why didn't you have someone prepare another room for you?”
At that time, there wasn't a single person in charge on the main peak, so who would have cleared a room for her?
Song Yao didn't care much. “It's fine. Yesterday, I moved into Fourth Senior Brother's courtyard. He has empty rooms there. You can stay in my room for as long as you want, Second Senior Sister.”
Zhu Zhao: “?”
Her brow twitched. “No need. I will move out right now. I'll have someone clean your room later so you can move back to your own courtyard.”
Saying that, a beam of light condensed in her hand and fell upon Song Yao. “I have lifted your restriction; you may now freely enter and exit my courtyard. If anything happens to me in the future, just send me back to my own courtyard or to the Ward-Off-Illness Hall. There is no need to put yourself out.”
Song Yao: “...”
Wow.
To think she would one day hear such gentle, considerate, and comforting words from Zhu Zhao's mouth.
Coming back to life really did have its perks.
If Zhu Zhao ever found out that she was actually her most hated Third Junior Sister, she wondered if she would regret treating her so well.
She was so amused she wanted to laugh, but Zhu Zhao had already turned and walked out.
A moment later, two sweeping boys knocked and came in, cleaning her courtyard and room thoroughly from top to bottom.
The blankets, pillows, and everything else were also completely replaced.
When Song Yao went inside to look, she couldn't help but click her tongue in admiration.
How was Second Senior Sister so rich too? The bedding she had replaced wasn't any cheaper than Fourth Junior Brother's, and she had even brought her a set of celadon teaware.
She remembered that Second Senior Sister had a similar teaware set in her own room. Back then, she had happily run over to steal it, failed, and ended up in a massive fight with Zhu Zhao. Now, she was actually being gifted a brand-new set directly.
Could it be that because she died and was no longer squandering their money, they had all struck it rich in just over a year?
But it was understandable. Zhu Zhao hated owing others the most.
Since she had taken her Golden Scale Snake Pill, she would definitely find a way to pay her back.
Rate on N.U.
