Chapter 31

She looked toward the outer sect at the foot of the mountain and took out a jade talisman to send a message.

Tomorrow morning, set out for Yudao Sect.

At the outer sect, not long after Xi Zhou returned, she went to the cultivation grounds. She had only just established foundation, yet she was about to go to some small secret realm. She had better hurry and learn a few moves so she could protect herself, lest she always dodge here and there. That would be rather embarrassing.

She went to receive another bronze sword and stared at it for a while. What exactly had happened with that sword earlier…

Not far away, the moment Zhou Zhouzi saw her, he ran over excitedly.

Before he even arrived, his voice rang out first.

“You were only at early Foundation Establishment, yet you exhausted a late Foundation Establishment inner senior brother until his spiritual power ran dry. Our outer sect disciple became famous in one battle. Not bad. You hid your strength well.”

Hearing this, Xi Zhou forced a smile.

She had originally wanted to just make up the numbers, but somehow, in a daze, she had held on until the end.

“I was just lucky.”

“Stop being modest. You’re famous in our outer sect now. On my way here, I heard everyone talking about you. Tell me, how exactly did you establish foundation in one day?” Zhou Zhouzi lowered his voice, his eyes full of curiosity.

Xi Zhou withdrew her smile. “I woke up and it was just like this. Maybe my room is some kind of blessed feng shui treasure land.”

Hearing this, Zhou Zhouzi knew she was unwilling to say more. His eyes dimmed slightly, and he changed the topic. “Forget that, then. Tomorrow, you’ll be going to Yudao Sect with Fairy Wangyou. When you enter the small secret realm, keep your wits about you. I heard this small secret realm isn’t very dangerous and is mainly for treasure hunting. You really hit the jackpot. I’ll give you this sword.”

He did not have that kind of luck. Although he refined energy quickly, who knew when he would be able to establish foundation? As for the woman before him, how exactly had she managed to establish foundation in one day?

Xi Zhou frowned slightly when she heard this. Wasn’t it still a few days away? Why had it been moved up to tomorrow?

What had Eldest Senior Sister said earlier? After Xi Zhou returned from the small secret realm, she would let her go to Beishan Peak as a managing disciple.

But…

It was also possible that in the end, she would become a cleaning disciple whose cultivation had been crippled.

Hiss. When the time came, she should just agree. In any case, Eldest Senior Sister did not know that she was her.

“Here. Take it. I said I’d look after you. How can you not have a decent personal sword?” Zhou Zhouzi took out a sword glowing with golden light from his storage ring. At a glance, it looked very valuable.

Xi Zhou shook her head. “No need. I don’t even have a storage ring right now. Carrying such a sword would be too conspicuous. You might as well tell me where to buy these things, and I’ll think of a way myself.”

Zhou Zhouzi did not put the sword away. Instead, he took out another storage ring identical [bailiantales.com]to his own. “How come you didn’t even buy a storage ring? Fortunately, I have a spare. Just pay me the original price.”

“What is the original price?”

“Five hundred taels. Gold.”

Xi Zhou: “…”

So the currency in circulation here was actually gold!

But to her, it made no difference, because no matter what currency was used, she had none. She was currently penniless! Dear heavens!!!

Xi Zhou took a deep breath and still shook her head in refusal. “How much gold would the most ordinary sword and the cheapest storage ring cost?”

Zhou Zhouzi thought for a moment. “One hundred taels of gold, maybe. If you have money, just use better ones. Your family was willing to spend a huge sum to send you to the cultivation world, so there’s no need to save on this little bit.”

He stared at his little companion’s hesitant and troubled expression and could not help imagining things. “Did your family empty out their entire fortune to send you here? They didn’t leave you a few thousand or tens of thousands of taels to rely on?”

Xi Zhou’s heart choked. She nodded heavily.

People really could not be compared. As expected of a prince from the mortal world. The moment he opened his mouth, it was a few thousand or tens of thousands of taels to rely on. Unlike her, who had not a single coin to her name. Fortunately, Tianjian Sect provided food, lodging, and clothing.

“Then how are you going to buy anything? The only place in the cultivation world where you can earn money is the Mission Guild, or by making contributions to the sect. What unauthorized copycan you do as a Foundation Establishment cultivator? Hurry and accept it.” Zhou Zhouzi’s eyes shone. He had been worried there would be no opportunity.

Offering charcoal in snowy weather—he liked doing that.

Xi Zhou shook her head again. “One should not accept rewards without merit. I’ll think of a way myself.”

Perhaps she should ask Eldest Senior Sister whether being a managing disciple on Beishan Peak came with wages. If there was no pay, she definitely would not go.

She could also work part-time taking care of the child. Little Xinghui looked quite obedient. It should not be hard to make a few toys to coax her. When the time came, she could fight for a little more pay.

Seeing that she was unwilling to accept it, Zhou Zhouzi lowered his voice even further. “Actually, the people going to the small secret realm this time aren’t only Elder Wangyou and the five of you. The Young Sect Master, my cousin, and also me—who’s going as the person taking care of my cousin’s food and daily needs—will go too. But I can’t enter. I can only wait outside. If you don’t even have a storage ring, then even if you find treasures, you won’t be able to bring them out. Why don’t we make a deal?”

His imperial father had said that one’s mind needed to be flexible and that one should not be too stubborn. The art of granting favors required skill.

Xi Zhou’s brows moved slightly. “What deal?”

She had not expected this pork knuckle to be someone with connections.

As expected, she was tempted. Zhou Zhouzi rejoiced inwardly and hurriedly said, “I’ll give you this storage ring and golden sword. But the first treasure you find in the secret realm has to be given to me. That way, we’re even. How about it?”

Xi Zhou frowned. “That’s unfair to you. Who knows what the first treasure I find will be? What if I lie?”

It felt like she was taking advantage of him…

Zhou Zhouzi scoffed. “When the secret realm opens, the people outside can see what happens inside. You don’t even know this? Besides, you said it yourself—no one knows what the first treasure you’ll find will be. This young lord is betting on the thrill. Stop being so distant with me. Take it.”

“All right. Deal.” Xi Zhou decided to accept the trade. First, she truly urgently needed these two things. Second, it seemed that no matter what, she would not be losing out. She would deal with the emergency first.

Zhou Zhouzi happily handed over the storage ring and golden sword. “Take them properly. These are the instructions for using them. I’m going to find my cousin. Remember to gather at the martial arts field tomorrow morning.”

Xi Zhou nodded. Now, she no longer had the mood to practice swordsmanship either and turned to leave the cultivation grounds.

After returning to her room, she put on the storage ring and tried putting the golden sword inside, then taking it out, then putting it back in, then taking it out again, experimenting nonstop with fresh curiosity…

Interesting.

She also put a few pieces of clothing inside, along with teacups, a teapot, a pillow, and a quilt.

Finally, she looked at the space inside the storage ring. This storage ring from Zhou Zhouzi could not be the most valuable item, could it? There was still so much empty space. Should she move the bed in too?

At dawn, Xi Zhou and the other four disciples arrived early at the martial arts field to wait.

Fifteen minutes later, Young Sect Master Wang Junting arrived with the Zhou cousins, Zhou Baihui and Zhou Zhouzi.

Wang Junting saw Xi Zhou at a glance.

What a beauty. He had not expected the outer sect to be hiding such a treasure. He lifted his chin and walked over, as if carrying his own glow, enjoying everyone’s salutes.

“Disciples greet the Young Sect Master.”

Everyone greeted him in unison.

“No need for formalities.” Wang Junting answered with a smile, nodding once in Xi Zhou’s direction.

Afterward, he withdrew his gaze and did not show anything different again. But everyone still inevitably glanced at Xi Zhou in secret. This outer sect female disciple was probably about to ascend to the heavens in one step.

Before long, Zhai Wangyou appeared in everyone’s line of sight. Guanlan followed behind her, holding the hand of an exquisite little girl.

Little Xinghui neither cried nor fussed. Only when the flying boat left the ground did she wave and call, “Mother, come back soon. Pretty Auntie, come back too.”

Guanlan bent down and picked her up. “Which pretty auntie does Little Xinghui want to come back?”

She narrowed her eyes. Zhou Baihui was valued by the Sect Master and had been decided in advance. Among the remaining Foundation Establishment disciples, there was only one woman: that outer sect disciple, whose name seemed to be Xi Zhou.

She actually knew Little Xinghui. So that personal sword might really have belonged to Eldest Senior Sister…

“I want Pretty Auntie to come back.”

The flying boat had already risen into the air. Zhai Wangyou looked at the figure of Guanlan holding her daughter and could faintly still hear Little Xinghui’s words.

She glanced at Xi Zhou coolly. Her daughter had said she wanted them to come back together. That was right. This time, when they came back, they would return to Beishan Peak together.

On the flying boat, Zhai Wangyou stood alone at the very front. Wang Junting stood on the right side, with the Zhou cousins behind him.

Xi Zhou and the other four disciples stood toward the left rear, each spaced apart.

Zhou Zhouzi quietly said something to Zhou Baihui. The latter nodded, and Zhou Zhouzi immediately walked toward Xi Zhou with a beaming smile.

Xi Zhou’s heart inexplicably skipped. She lifted her eyes and glanced toward Zhai Wangyou. The other woman had not turned back and seemed not to care what was happening behind her.

“Xi Zhou, is that golden sword easy to use? I bought you a heart-protecting armor too. Once you enter the small secret realm, anything unexpected might happen. One more layer of protection means one more measure of peace.” As Zhou Zhouzi spoke, he took out a piece of soft armor from his storage ring.

Seeing that Xi Zhou did not immediately accept it, he blinked and smiled. “The second item is mine too.”

“No problem.” Xi Zhou nodded. Only then did she accept it.

She had never experienced any secret realm before, so last night, she had specially gone to Senior Sister Lü to ask for guidance.

Only then did she learn that people inside a secret realm could snatch things from one another. However, because everyone had the same cultivation level, and because elders from the various sects were watching from outside, it generally would not result in deaths. Read on BaiLianTalesOnce they left the secret realm, no one was allowed to pursue grudges. Therefore, how much one gained inside depended entirely on one’s own ability.

Having an extra layer of protection was a good thing. Naturally, she was willing.

Zhou Zhouzi glanced at Wang Junting and said quietly, “Stay far away from my cousin. Once you’re inside, don’t trust anyone. Protect yourself well. Coming out safely is the most important thing.”

He kept feeling that something was strange between the Young Sect Master and his cousin. His cousin had once been someone with his own opinions. How had he become like a little lapdog now, following Wang Junting all day and doing whatever he was told?

Xi Zhou nodded and accepted this goodwill. “Thank you. The third item goes to you too.”

Zhou Zhouzi froze for a moment, then waved his hand in refusal. “No. I won’t take advantage of you.”

Xi Zhou smiled faintly. “Consider it a meeting gift. I’ll take you as a friend.”

Zhou Zhouzi chuckled and raised his palm. “Weren’t we already friends? I said this young lord would look after you. If you become rich and noble, don’t forget me.”

Xi Zhou smiled and slapped his palm. She had only just withdrawn her hand when she felt a chill down her spine.

Her breath stopped, and she unconsciously turned her eyes toward the front of the flying boat, only to meet a gaze that seemed to carry knives.

Zhai Wangyou was staring coldly at her, her expression like ice, so cold it made one want to shiver.

Xi Zhou’s heart trembled, and she silently swallowed. Eldest Senior Sister was not looking at her, right?

That death stare…

If this happened every day, going to Beishan Peak to be a managing disciple did not seem like a good job. Sooner or later, she would be scared into a heart attack.

Should she reconsider?

Forget it. What if this woman really turned dark and crippled her cultivation?

Sigh!

Life was so hard for her!

Zhai Wangyou withdrew her gaze, her eyes dark.

Golden sword? Heart-protecting armor?

The disciple who had slapped palms with her was that Zhou Zhouzi with whom she had an unusual relationship?