Chapter 39 | Reborn as the Villain, I Didn’t Want to Cultivate an Invincible Heroine

On the path from the outer sect to the inner sect, Xiaoyu's mouth never stopped.

“Now this is what a sect should look like! Zhixue, look at this flagstone path—it's as smooth as a mirror. The outer sect's paths are still paved with crushed gravel.”

“And this spiritual energy, can you feel it? It's more than twice as dense as it was halfway up the mountain! One breath and every pore in your body opens right up.”

“Even the lanterns along the road are powered by spirit stones! The outer sect is still burning oil lamps. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

It drifted ahead, darting to the roadside one moment to touch someone's stone lantern, then flying back the next to circle around Lin Zhixue, as excited as if it were moving into a new home of its own.

“The Dewdrop Grass in that herb field we passed earlier was growing even lusher than the batch you raised back at the Gu manor. So rich in spiritual energy!”

“And these trees, Zhixue, do you see them? This kind of spirit pine only survives where spiritual energy is dense; there isn't a single one down in the outer sect.”

“Let me tell you, cultivating while living here will be at least twice as fast as in the outer sect! No, four times as fast!”

Lin Zhixue walked quietly along the stone path, offering no response.

She was already used to Xiaoyu's temperament.

From the day it awakened, this artifact spirit had never known quiet. It had to offer a lengthy commentary on everything it encountered, criticizing or praising anything from the species of roadside wildflowers to the geomancy of the sect's architecture.

She let it ramble, merely glancing toward whatever direction it pointed to as an occasional acknowledgment.

The flagstone path stretched all the way from the outer sect onto the inner sect's mountain trail. Spirit pines grew increasingly abundant on either side, their canopies blotting out the sky and sifting the sunlight into dappled flecks across the ground.

The concentration of spiritual energy in the air was indeed far higher than in the outer sect. With every breath, she felt as though the spiritual power within her body was gently stirred.

Yet she did not wear her excitement on her face like Xiaoyu, merely savoring the subtle sensation of spiritual energy seeping into her meridians with each breath.

Inner disciples gradually became more numerous along the road.

In groups of two or three, youths skimmed overhead atop flying swords, while others traveled on foot, all clad in the uniform dark blue Daoist robes of the inner sect.

As they passed by, Lin Zhixue noticed several gazes falling upon her.

More accurately, on her clothes.

Today, she wore the uniform light gray Daoist robe of an outer disciple. Her cuffs bore no spiritual patterns, and the wooden token hanging at her waist was not of jade like those of the inner sect.

In this sea of dark blue, her gray cloth robe was like a speck of mud on a white wall—impossible to miss.

Several passing female disciples glanced over. Their eyes lingered briefly on her face before shifting to Gu Yanqing beside her.

After they walked past, a few hushed murmurs drifted from behind. Though the exact words were indistinct, the curiosity in their tone was unmistakable.

Lin Zhixue kept her eyes forward.

She did not care about those glances.

Back in Canglan City, the looks the Lin family gave her had been far harsher than this.

It was nothing more than curious appraisal; it couldn't hurt her.

Entering the inner sect had never been a fantasy to her.

From the moment her sword struck Lin Yuanfan's chest on the arena platform, she had already proven that she had every right to stand here.

This was merely an early visit. In the future, she would walk this path properly clad in an inner disciple's Daoist robe, turning these curious gazes into looks that accepted her presence as only natural.

Walking ahead, Gu Yanqing suddenly halted.

Xiaoyu had been floating backward behind him. When he stopped, it passed straight through the back of his head, its entire spirit body plunging into his skull and coming out the other side from hair to toes.

“Hey!” Xiaoyu swiftly darted in front of him, planting both hands on its hips, its voice crisp and ringing.

“Why did you stop so suddenly?! We almost crashed... Even if we can't crash, you still aren't allowed to hit the brakes without warning!”

Gu Yanqing stood rooted to the spot, glancing across the three branching paths before him with a rather subtle expression.

The path on the left wound upward into the depths of a bamboo grove.

The one on the right curved along the cliff face, faintly revealing several pavilions and buildings at its end.

The middle one stretched straight ahead, disappearing into the clouds and mist.

He genuinely did not know where the Hall of Deacons was.

He hadn't been in the inner sect for long either, and it wasn't as if he had properly explored it yet.

He turned around, only to meet Lin Zhixue's mildly puzzled gaze.

“Um... aren't we heading to the Hall of Deacons?” she asked.

Lin Zhixue blinked.

“Uh... let me ask for directions.”

Clearing his throat, he turned and stopped a passing inner disciple to ask the way.

The disciple pointed to the path on the right, explaining that if he followed the cliff to the end and turned left, the two-story wooden building he would see was the Hall of Deacons.

After offering his thanks, he walked on as if nothing had happened.

He couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed...

Floating beside him with folded arms, Xiaoyu let out a drawn-out, meaningful, “Ohhh—”

Then, leaning close to his ear, it lowered its voice.

“So you had no idea where you were going at all? Walking so fast when you didn't even know the way—I thought you knew this place like the back of your hand.”

Turning a deaf ear, Gu Yanqing quickened his pace.

Following the cliff to the end and turning left, a two-story wooden building appeared before them.

Carved onto the plaque above the entrance were three gilded characters:

“Hall of Deacons.”

Disciples bustled in and out, carrying various documents and jade slips in their hands.

Gu Yanqing led Lin Zhixue inside. Four or five long tables were set up in the main hall, behind each sat a deacon disciple busy handling various affairs.

A disciple sorting through dossiers looked up. Gentle and refined in appearance, a smile hovered at the corners of his mouth. Inscribed on his jade tablet was a deacon number and a name: Sun Cheng.

“What can I do for you two?” Sun Cheng asked.

Gu Yanqing stepped forward and briefly explained their purpose.

What procedures were required for an inner disciple to register an outer disciple as a study companion?

“A study companion, I see.” Sun Cheng set down the dossier in his hands. His gaze flicked between the two of them, lingering on Lin Zhixue for an extra moment.

“The sect has recently admitted a new batch of disciples, so quite a few people are applying for study companions. The quota is rather tight at the moment.”

“Fill out an application document first. I'll submit it and wait for approval; there should be a result in a few days.”

“However, I must make it clear beforehand: whether it gets approved depends on the Hall of Deacons' review. It's not something I can decide on my own.”

His tone was polite and his phrasing unassailable, yet that remark about the “tight quota” fell from his lips so casually that it felt like an evasive bureaucratic brush-off.

“How can it be like that?” Xiaoyu pouted unhappily.

Gu Yanqing leaned in a little closer, keeping his voice down. “Could you make an exception for us? This girl and I came together from Canglan City, so we're well acquainted.”

Sun Cheng shook his head. “It wouldn't comply with the rules, and I don't have the authority to decide. Many people have applied for study companions lately. Everything operates on a first-come, first-served basis; no exceptions can be made.”

With that, he bowed his head to organize his dossiers, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

Behind Gu Yanqing, Lin Zhixue gently tugged on the hem of his sleeve.

“It's fine.”

“If it can't be done today, I can just come up the mountain to find you myself in the future. It's just a mountain walk; it doesn't take much effort.”

She knew he genuinely wanted to help her, but she could also tell this deacon disciple had no intention of budging. There was no need for him to humble himself here on her account.

Gu Yanqing turned his head. Reflected in her amber eyes was the lantern light of the Hall of Deacons, calm and open.

Just as he was about to say, “It's fine, let me ask again,” a familiar voice rang out from the entrance.

“Well, well, isn't this my fellow townsfolk from Canglan City?”

Jiang Yinglan had appeared at the entrance of the Hall of Deacons at some point. Holding a task jade slip she had just submitted, she leaned against the doorframe, regarding them with keen interest.

Today, she had changed into a clean set of ordinary sect robes. The longsword set with spirit crystals at her waist was as striking as ever, and she radiated high spirits—evidently in a great mood after completing a mission.

“I heard you talking about a study companion?” She strolled inside, sweeping her gaze across Sun Cheng's face. “What's going on?”

Gu Yanqing briefly explained the situation.

Having heard him out, Jiang Yinglan turned to look at Sun Cheng, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.

“Senior Brother Sun, these two are acquaintances of mine. They helped me quite a bit during my mission back in Canglan City, and they're both dependable people. Do you think you could make an exception for them?”

Sun Cheng's expression shifted noticeably for a fraction of a second.

Subconsciously straightening his posture, he stopped sorting through his dossiers, cleared his throat, and said that since they were Junior Sister Jiang's acquaintances, the situation was indeed rather different.

Then, lowering his head, he leafed through the application papers Gu Yanqing had just submitted, examining them page by page with great care.

Before long, Sun Cheng looked up, a smile returning to his face. “There are no issues with the application materials. It can be approved today.”

Turning to Jiang Yinglan, he said, “Junior Sister Jiang, thank you for your hard work on this mission. I heard you completed it splendidly.”

Jiang Yinglan responded with a couple of smiles. When Sun Cheng stamped the documents and handed over the study companion token, she gave a wink in the direction of Gu Yanqing and Lin Zhixue.

Accepting the token, Gu Yanqing was momentarily stunned.

That actually worked?

Seeing how much more genuine Sun Cheng's smile was compared to moments ago, and then glancing at Jiang Yinglan's relaxed, utterly carefree expression, he understood in an instant.

This Senior Brother Sun clearly treated Senior Sister Jiang with extraordinary favor and harbored a special fondness for her.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Sun.”

Tucking the token away, Gu Yanqing cupped his hands to Sun Cheng, then turned toward Jiang Yinglan.

“And thank you as well, Senior Sister Jiang.”

Lin Zhixue voiced her gratitude as well.

“It's nothing,” Jiang Yinglan waved her hand. “If you ever run into any trouble in the sect, just come find me.”

Gu Yanqing and Lin Zhixue stepped out of the Hall of Deacons. Daylight broke through the clouds, suddenly illuminating the flagstone path.

He looked down at the study companion token in his hand. Engraved on the front was Lin Zhixue's name, while the reverse bore the character for “companion.” An extremely delicate silver pattern was inlaid along its edge, cool to the touch.