The Cub I Raised Turned Out to Be a Reborn Boss (GL) - Chapter 8

When Song Xi woke up, Jiang Yixue was not in the room.

Only an insulated food container was placed on the desk. Lifting the lid revealed a bowl of $\text{Matsutake}$ $\text{Chicken}$ $\text{Shredded}$ $\text{Porridge}$, at a perfect temperature and still gently steaming.

Next to it was a note with elegant handwriting: I went to see the disciples for the $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{Mountain}$ trial. Don’t forget to eat when you wake up. You can move around freely in the $\text{Azure}$ $\text{Lotus}$ $\text{Residence}$.

The signature below the note was indeed Jiang Yixue.

Smelling the $\text{Matsutake}$ $\text{Chicken}$ $\text{Shredded}$ $\text{Porridge}$, Song Xi couldn’t help but frown slightly. The porridge looked like it had been cooked long enough, and the rice fragrance was very rich, but underneath the rice fragrance was honey, and also pepper…

Song Xi turned and dumped the $\text{Matsutake}$ $\text{Chicken}$ $\text{Shredded}$ $\text{Porridge}$. This kind of thing was not even fit for a dog.

Sure enough, Jiang Yixue saving her yesterday was all fake. She must be trying to boil the frog in warm water, pretending to be kind to her, but secretly using these little tricks to frame her.

As the $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$, Xue Qiancheng was occupied with countless duties. If it was just these small tricks, she definitely wouldn’t care.

“Smarter than in the previous life, but only marginally so,” Song Xi curled her lip, putting the bowl and chopsticks back in place, pretending to have finished eating.

Relying on buying a couple of clothes to make her lower her guard, Jiang Yixue was simply too naive.

According to the $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$‘s rules, regardless of whether one was a direct disciple or not, as long as they had not reached the $\text{Mystic}$-rank cultivation, they must participate in the collective morning practice. If late, regardless of the reason, they would be punished immediately. If she had eaten this bowl of porridge prepared by Jiang Yixue, it would surely cause stomach upset and delay her time.

Being late meant punishment. If the number of punishments accumulated, she would be directly labeled as unindustrious in cultivation and expelled from the sect.

She was the direct disciple of $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ Han Yansu of the $\text{Discipline}$ $\text{Hall}$, now favored by $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$ Xue Qiancheng, and living with $\text{Young}$ $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$ Jiang Yixue. Moreover, Jiang Yixue had been very good to her, buying her the expensive $\text{Purple}$ $\text{Light}$ $\text{Flowing}$ $\text{Moon}$ $\text{Robe}$ on the very first day, causing a sensation throughout the entire sect…

If she was late for her first centralized morning practice on $\text{Wansnow}$ $\text{Peak}$, many people would certainly think she was presumptuous due to the favor.

Thinking of this, Song Xi changed out of her clothes and then stepped outside.

The location for the morning practice was at the foot of $\text{Wansnow}$ $\text{Peak}$. One must climb from the foot to the summit within half an hour to complete the morning practice.

Although the use of spiritual power was not prohibited, these disciples only had $\text{Yellow}$-rank cultivation at best, so it was not easy for them.

Cultivation levels are roughly divided into six major ranks: $\text{Yellow}$, $\text{Mystic}$, $\text{Earth}$, $\text{Spirit}$, $\text{Heaven}$, and $\text{Immortal}$. $\text{Yellow}$-rank was just the beginning of spiritual energy awakening and laying the foundation. Therefore, physical foundation was also very important. The morning practice was intended to build a good foundation for these disciples.

When Jiang Yixue returned, the morning practice had already begun. She didn’t see Song Xi in the $\text{Azure}$ $\text{Lotus}$ $\text{Residence}$, only the emptied bowl and chopsticks.

It was the first time someone had eaten the meal she cooked so cleanly. Jiang Yixue was almost moved to tears. Sure enough, her own $\text{cub}$ was the most sensible.

So, Jiang Yixue made an impromptu decision to go and fetch the child from the morning practice.

Xiao Chu, the assigned disciple on duty today, was leaning against a large rock at the summit’s finish line, yawning listlessly, when the sound of spiritual energy tearing through the air suddenly reached him.

He gently yawned and opened his eyes. His sight was filled with a light-blue figure. Her long dark hair flowed down gently as the spiritual energy subsided. Framed by her hair was an aloof and peerless face. Her eyebrows were like distant mountain peaks, and a pair of cold, light-glazed eyes reflected a faint chill.

Xiao Chu’s legs turned to jelly from the fright, and he nearly fell over. He nervously straightened his clothes and rushed forward: “$\text{Young}$ $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$, why do you have time to visit? The morning practice has just started. It will be a while before they reach the summit, so I can rest for a bit…”

His rushed tone was full of explanations. He was only on duty once a month, yet he was caught slacking off here.

Jiang Yixue had taken over the position of $\text{Young}$ $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$ yesterday. Things were different now. A single word from Jiang Yixue could dismiss him, a numbered disciple, so he didn’t dare to be anything but meticulous.

Jiang Yixue glanced at him without speaking and stood directly on the peak, looking down the mountain.

The view from the summit was excellent. Looking out, she could clearly see the disciples climbing the mountain path below.

Jiang Yixue searched several times before finding Song Xi’s figure. She was almost at the very end.

Jiang Yixue was not surprised that Song Xi was lagging behind.

$\text{Wansnow}$ $\text{Peak}$ hadn’t recruited any new disciples during this period, meaning all the disciples below had $\text{Yellow}$-rank cultivation. Only Song Xi had just awakened her spiritual energy and couldn’t even be counted as $\text{Yellow}$-rank cultivation.

To still be able to follow the team was already a very good performance.

Jiang Yixue’s brows furrowed slightly. She wasn’t wearing the $\text{Purple}$ $\text{Moon}$ $\text{Flowing}$ $\text{Light}$ $\text{Robe}$, or any of the clothes bought from the $\text{Splendid}$ $\text{Embroidery}$ $\text{Shop}$. Instead, she was wearing the most ordinary disciple uniform. No wonder she searched several times before she found her.

This disciple uniform seemed to be the one she wore on the dueling platform that day. The holes had been mended with patches, but the front of the robe still had bloodstains and dust.

However, Song Xi was inherently beautiful, with radiant features. Even wearing this dirty dress, she didn’t look disheveled. Instead, her small, sweating, but still stubborn face made her look even cuter.

Morning practice was an arduous task. Even for those $\text{Yellow}$-rank disciples, their spiritual energy was not enough to support them to the summit; they had to rely more on physical strength. Soon, before even reaching the mountainside, all these disciples were covered in sweat.

Jiang Yixue’s gaze was entirely focused on Song Xi.

Although she was at the very back of the team, she was gritting her teeth and refusing to give up. Patches of soaked sweat gradually appeared on her clothes. Her steps were becoming heavier and slower.

A warmth gradually appeared in her slightly cold eyes. Jiang Yixue stared at Song Xi for a long time, sighing in her heart: Is this the joy of raising a $\text{cub}$?

Among the disciples moving on the mountain path, there were a few who looked different from the others. While others were sweating profusely from exhaustion, they were effortlessly moving, their faces not red and their breathing even.

If one looked closer, they would see a layer of faint spiritual power attached to their feet. Their relatively strong spiritual energy fluctuations also proved that their strength was infinitely close to the $\text{Mystic}$-rank.

Morning practice was easy for them. They didn’t want to exert themselves too much. Since they had half an hour, they simply lagged behind the team and walked slowly.

“Isn’t that Song Xi, the one who fought with Yan Zi and Yan Ming on the dueling platform? Isn’t she $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ Han’s disciple? Why is she here at $\text{Wansnow}$ $\text{Peak}$?”

“It seems to be her. I heard it’s because $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ Han is not in the sect, so the $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$ allowed her to cultivate on $\text{Wansnow}$ $\text{Peak}$.”

“Heh, this girl is something else. Not only was she personally selected as a direct disciple by $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ Han, but she’s also favored by the $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$.”

Although it sounded like praise, the words were full of sarcasm.

Especially when she said “something else,” she deliberately raised her voice.

The implication in the tone was that Song Xi had no real ability and only got where she was through sheer luck.

Because they were at the very end of the team and very close to Song Xi, and they made no effort to hide their conversation, Song Xi heard every word.

There was no change in Song Xi’s expression.

If it were her in the previous life, she might have already started arguing with these people. But she had lived so many more years than these people. Listening to such words now was like listening to children fighting and throwing tantrums. Not only did it not affect her in the slightest, but it made her find it quite ridiculous.

Seeing no reaction from Song Xi, the few people exchanged glances. One young man ran forward a couple of steps, walked alongside Song Xi, and said with a smile, “Hello, $\text{Junior}$ $\text{Sister}$ Song. I am Zou Shan of $\text{Wansnow}$ $\text{Peak}$. $\text{Junior}$ $\text{Sister}$ Song is working so hard on the morning practice. Do you need my help?”

Song Xi ignored him, quickening her pace, trying to shake off this pest.

The $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$ had strict rules and good ways of training disciples, but the sect was large and wealthy, and there were always places that could not be supervised. Especially among these ordinary disciples, many scumbags were hiding, benefiting from the chaos. Song Xi had personally experienced this in her previous life.

Although these ordinary disciples had reached the peak of $\text{Yellow}$-rank cultivation, most of them were pushed in through backdoor connections. Their cultivation was essentially piled up with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures. They had virtually reached their limit at the peak of $\text{Yellow}$-rank.

Such disciples did not qualify to be chosen by an elder as a direct disciple, nor did they even qualify to be promoted to a numbered disciple.

They also understood that given their situation, they would merely float around for a certain number of years and then be sent out. They were already reckless and couldn’t care less, so they were brazen about doing unscrupulous things.

But Song Xi’s cultivation was too low to shake him off.

Zou Shan only slightly increased his speed and was again standing next to Song Xi: “Why is $\text{Junior}$ $\text{Sister}$ Song so unapproachable? Although I am an ordinary disciple, by the time of entry, $\text{Junior}$ $\text{Sister}$ Song should still call me $\text{Senior}$ $\text{Brother}$…”

“Get lost.” Song Xi glanced at him slightly, then walked straight toward the summit.

Did this person really think she was a child? The $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$ never prioritized seniority based on entry time. As $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ Han’s direct disciple, all the numbered disciples and ordinary disciples in the sect should call her $\text{Senior}$ $\text{Sister}$.

Song Xi heard their words and knew that these people were deliberately provoking her to waste her time. If she failed to reach the summit within half an hour, she would not only be mocked but also punished to run the mountain path three round trips.

Zou Shan hadn’t expected Song Xi to be so cold and reject him so mercilessly.

Especially that one glance Song Xi gave him. Those slightly upturned, beautiful phoenix eyes were filled with utter disdain. The moment his eyes met hers, he was actually intimidated. Through those eyes, he felt as if he saw cold killing intent, and for a moment, the blood flow in his entire body seemed to freeze.

By the time he snapped out of it, Song Xi had already walked far away.

Seeing that the person hadn’t followed, Song Xi sneered softly: “Idiot…”

He couldn’t even handle one of her glances. Such a person wanted to cause trouble? Wasn’t this just asking for humiliation?

Zou Shan’s companions walked up beside him, laughing and patting his shoulder: “Hahaha, so our Young $\text{Master}$ Zou also has a day when he gets the door slammed in his face.”

Zou Shan felt disgraced and said with a dark expression: “The little bitch, how dare she be so arrogant!”

“Isn’t it just about delaying her from reaching the summit on time? Why make it so complicated?” The young man beside Zou Shan said with a smile, “Although the rule is not to interfere with other disciples, the $\text{Senior}$ $\text{Brothers}$ at the peak definitely won’t be closely monitoring the movements below. Why not just block her? Yan Zi and Yan Ming suffered greatly because of this little bitch. If we can help them avenge this, Yan Ming might treat us to a drink or two.”

Before anyone else could speak, he stepped forward and said, “If none of you dare, I dare to go. At most, I won’t complete the morning practice on time and will be punished to run three round trips. What’s that?”

When the few people heard the names of Yan Zi and Yan Ming, they all nodded slightly: “Yes, we must stand up for them.”

While they seemed united, what everyone was thinking was not friendship or loyalty. Yan Zi and Yan Ming came from the Yan family, a cultivation family. Although the family was not highly regarded compared to the $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$, its influence was considerable.

Moreover, both siblings had reached the peak of $\text{Yellow}$-rank cultivation at a young age and would surely become numbered disciples, or even direct disciples.

Although Song Xi had $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ Han backing her, $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ Han was not in the sect. And everyone knew that $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ Han was always an arrogant and reserved person. As long as they left no evidence or handle, $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ Han would not randomly pick on a few junior disciples. This endeavor looked like a guaranteed profit with no risk of loss.

At the summit, Xiao Chu was already drenched in cold sweat. Jiang Yixue’s face was so dark it could freeze into ice.

He said cautiously, “$\text{Senior}$ $\text{Sister}$ Jiang, we usually manage the order well… we really do manage it well… today is an accident…”

“An accident?” Jiang Yixue scoffed, “If you usually managed things well, would it be this chaotic now?”

Jiang Yixue saw everything: Zou Shan’s forced approach and the plotting of the group gathered together. Although she didn’t know what they were plotting, their actions clearly showed they were targeting Song Xi.

It seemed this plot point also happened in the original game: Song Xi was targeted during the morning practice.

Jiang Yixue searched the memories in her mind. How was it resolved in the original plot?

The original plot was that Song Xi was targeted during morning practice on $\text{Yanshan}$ $\text{Mountain}$, and Lin Chen happened to pass by while delivering pills to a certain elder…

Jiang Yixue’s radar for supervising Song Xi’s inability to fall in love instantly activated. Her expression turned solemn. Was this the beginning of the ill-fated romance?

No, not just the beginning of the ill-fated romance, but also the starting point of her own demise in that storyline.