One month later.
Ming Xuan and Xue Yu had just finished selecting the new inner sect disciples, and the two planned to go to the Main Peak together to report the situation to Qin Fanfan.
Just as they stepped through the palace doors, they saw Qin Fanfan pacing back and forth in the room with a grave expression, while Luo Qingyu stood quietly to the side.
Qin Fanfan stopped in his tracks, frowning as he spoke, “The Yueqing Sect recently recruited a Personal Disciple with a top-grade Water Spiritual Root.”
“I heard Yun Hen brought this disciple back from the mortal realm.”
Hearing this, Ming Xuan waved his hand dismissively and said casually,
“Master, what does this have to do with our Changming Sect? Besides, our Changming Sect's quota for Personal Disciples has long been full.”
“Even if there really is a good candidate, you can't recruit another Personal Disciple.”
Hearing these careless words, Qin Fanfan raised his hand and gave Ming Xuan a direct rap on the head.
“What kind of nonsense is that? Rules are dead, but people are alive. If we really encounter a talented prospect, what's wrong with accepting one more Personal Disciple?”
As Qin Fanfan spoke, he glared at the two in front of him, his gaze landing heavily on Ming Xuan. “Especially you, Ming Xuan! You bicker with Mu Zhongxi all day long. If you have time for that, you might as well focus on your cultivation.”
Xue Yu stood quietly to the side. His master's words went in one ear and out the other; he didn't take in a single word.
As Qin Fanfan spoke, his gaze turned to Luo Qingyu, and his tone instantly softened. “Xiaoyu is still the most reassuring. He knows how to bring honor to our Changming Sect. You two should learn more from him in the future.”
Hearing this, Xue Yu couldn't help but speak up, “Master, Fourth Junior Brother loves to learn. How can we compare to him?”
“Shut up.”
Qin Fanfan looked at these two disappointing disciples and sighed helplessly.
He was afraid they couldn't be counted on for this year's Five Sects Tournament.
Relying on Xiaoyu alone wouldn't work either. He was an artifact cultivator, after all; it would be a miracle if he wasn't eliminated immediately on the field.
Forget it, forget it. The Changming Sect had always ended up at the very bottom of the Five Sects Tournament in previous years. Since they couldn't change it, they might as well just let things slide.
“Why are there so many people today?”
Just as the words left his mouth, a red figure walked into the main hall. Mu Zhongxi spotted the three standing in the room at a glance and asked carelessly, “Master, did you need something from us? I'm supposed to head down the mountain with Ye Qiao in a bit.”
Qin Fanfan got irritated the moment he saw this blockhead, Mu Zhongxi.
“You little brat! All you know is running down the mountain with that outer sect disciple named Ye Qiao all day. You don't focus on your cultivation at all!”
Mu Zhongxi felt a bit wronged and muttered a defense, “No one in the sect is willing to hang out with me except for Ye Qiao. If I don't look for her, who else can I find?”
As he spoke, he pointed at Ming Xuan and Xue Yu.
“Look at them. They're inseparable all day long, practically glued to each other. Senior Brother is usually nowhere to be found, and Fourth Senior Brother is so busy his feet barely touch the ground.”
“Counting it all up, I can only find Ye Qiao to play with.”
Qin Fanfan was momentarily speechless at his words. He cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject, “Alright, let's not talk about that.”
“I called you all here today to ask about something. Our sect plans to recruit one more disciple. Do you want a Junior Brother or a Junior Sister?”
Mu Zhongxi immediately raised his hand high, saying enthusiastically, “Of course we want a Junior Sister! The Personal Disciples of our Changming Sect are all a bunch of smelly men. It's about time we got a Junior Sister!”
Xue Yu also nodded in agreement from the side. “Let's go with a Junior Sister. A Junior Sister is much cuter than a Junior Brother.”
Qin Fanfan nodded and then asked, “Then who do you plan to choose?”
Mu Zhongxi, Xue Yu, and Luo Qingyu spoke almost in unison, “Ye Qiao!”
Mu Zhongxi quickly spoke first, “Master, let's choose Ye Qiao. She's a really great person.”
Xue Yu chimed in as well. He found Ye Qiao quite interesting and figured there might be some good drama to watch later on.
Qin Fanfan frowned. “You mean that Ye Qiao from the outer sect? She isn't...”
Before he could finish, Luo Qingyu immediately stepped forward to add, “Master, just accept her. I will cover all the sect's daily expenses from now on.”
Qin Fanfan fell silent for two seconds before relenting. “Alright, Ye Qiao it is. Actually, I also think this child has a good character.”
He would absolutely never admit that he had been bought over by his fourth disciple's spirit stones.
Hearing Qin Fanfan flip his stance faster than turning a page, Luo Qingyu and Xue Yu exchanged a glance, their lips twitching in unison.
Ming Xuan watched on, dumbfounded. He didn't care who the Junior Sister was; at this moment, his heart was filled with utter shock.
He knew before that his Fourth Junior Brother was rich, but he never expected him to be this rich!
Mu Zhongxi cheered on the spot, “Then it's settled!”
With that, not wanting to stay for even another moment, he turned and rushed out of the hall like a whirlwind.
...
In the evening,
Ye Qiao suddenly received a summons from the Sect Master.
With a look of utter despair, she dragged her exhausted body slowly into the Main Peak's hall. Her head was groggy, and she looked completely devoid of energy.
Casting a casual glance upward, she saw four familiar figures in the hall—Luo Qingyu, Xue Yu, Mu Zhongxi, and Ming Xuan.
Ye Qiao quickly shook off her drowsiness and bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Sect Master, Senior Brothers.”
Looking at her lazy, weary, and lifeless appearance, Qin Fanfan pinched the bridge of his nose in resignation.
He dropped a bombshell right away: “Ye Qiao, are you willing to become a Personal Disciple?”
The drowsy Ye Qiao shuddered violently upon hearing this, instantly snapping wide awake.
She snapped her head up, her gaze colliding with Mu Zhongxi's.
Hearing her silence, Mu Zhongxi assumed she was too overjoyed to speak.
Only Luo Qingyu quietly lowered her head, desperately holding back her laughter. She knew in her heart that Ye Qiao didn't want to be a Personal Disciple at all.
But Qin Fanfan didn't notice the reluctance in Ye Qiao's eyes, assuming the child was just thin-skinned and shy. He spoke gently,
“Alright, go back and rest first. Remember to pack up and move over tomorrow.”
Ye Qiao forced a stiff, awkward smile and could only nod obediently, “Yes, this disciple understands.”
...
The next day, the news of Ye Qiao becoming a Personal Disciple quickly spread throughout the entire inner and outer sects of the Changming Sect.
Senior Brother Zhou Xingyun should have been the one responsible for welcoming the new Junior Sister, but Luo Qingyu beat him to the punch and took on the task of picking up Ye Qiao early on.
Luo Qingyu felt a trace of excitement in her heart. Now that Ye Qiao had finally become her Junior Sister, she was feeling quite pleased with herself.
But just as she arrived, she heard Ye Qiao mumble gloomily, “I equally envy every single one of you who doesn't have to work hard.”
Luo Qingyu: ...
Ye Qiao saw that the person who came to pick her up was Luo Qingyu, and her gaze landed on him.
“Fourth Senior Brother.”
Ning Qing, seeing the person she liked standing in front of her, felt a faint blush creep onto her cheeks. She stepped forward to bow respectfully, saying softly, “Hello, Senior Brother Luo.”
Hearing their words, Luo Qingyu nodded and looked at Ye Qiao gently, “Let's go, Junior Sister. Since Senior Brother isn't here, I came to pick you up.”
Suddenly, Luo Qingyu stopped in her tracks, turning to look at Ning Qing to comfort her softly.
“No need to envy her. Your talent is also quite good, it's just that there was no fate.”
Hearing Luo Qingyu's gentle comfort, the slight gloom in Ning Qing's heart instantly vanished.
With a bright smile, she cupped her hands toward Luo Qingyu, “Thank you, Senior Brother Luo. I understand now. I'll go back and cultivate hard right away.”
Watching the scene unfold, Ye Qiao was amazed, thinking to herself: Who would have thought that the usually cold Ning Qing would actually be such a lovebrain?
Our Fourth Senior Brother is just too charming.
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