【Host!!! You’re finally awake!】
【I have good news for you.】
The system’s excited voice suddenly exploded in his head, nearly sending him to the afterlife.
Clutching his aching head, Qin Yu complained, “Could you give me some warning before you start talking? Will you take responsibility if you scare me into a heart attack?”
【Ahem—】
【May I speak now?】
Qin Yu’s expression darkened. In the end, he conceded defeat to this ridiculous system.
“Go ahead!”
【The host has awakened a lightning spiritual root, overturning the setting that Jiang Fu possesses the foremost spiritual root. This has been recognized as a valid mission accomplishment. Reward: 2,000 points. Host’s current points: 0.】
“That’s it?”
Qin Yu appeared utterly composed.
His calm reaction left the system uncertain. Had its analysis been wrong? Hadn’t the host been deeply concerned about his points debt?
A moment later, the composure on Qin Yu’s face began to crack. He pumped a fist excitedly.
“That really is good news! Now this is the treatment a transmigrator like me deserves. Tomorrow, I need to find someone to celebrate with!”
The system: “…”
Speechless or not, it still had a reminder to give.
【The host also has an unopened mystery gift package. Would you like to open it now?】
“Let’s see what’s inside.”
Between strengthening his bond with his master and being tormented by that psychopath, he had genuinely forgotten about the mystery gift.
【Ding! Opening data…】
【Congratulations! You have obtained the divine artifact Four Beasts Token and the first volume of the Four Beasts Compendium.】
【Aaaah! Host, what kind of legendary luck do you have?! That’s the Four Beasts Token! You actually managed to draw something like that!】
Qin Yu had no idea how precious these items were. He merely gave an indifferent “Oh” and tucked them into his spatial ring.
“I have class tomorrow. I’m going to sleep.”
With that, he lay down and fell asleep.
Early the next morning, Qin Yu arrived at Yuxin Hall ahead of time. Seeing everyone gathered in little groups chatting, he suddenly realized a very serious problem: he didn’t have a single friend in the Tiannan Divine Sect he could talk to!
A small group nearby was deep in conversation.
“Yesterday, I heard the senior brothers and sisters say that we’ll have to take part in the sect’s ranking tournament three months from now too.”
“I heard about it too. Making newcomers like us compete against senior disciples who’ve cultivated for years—isn’t that like pulling teeth from a tiger’s mouth? We’d be asking to die!”
“That’s terribly unfair.”
“Fair? There’s no such thing as fairness in cultivation. If you want better resources, then work yourself to the bone!”
Qin Yu seized the chance to join them.
“I’ve heard about the ranking tournament too. Apparently, some senior disciples have already entered seclusion to prepare.”
“…”
Silence. Painfully awkward silence.
Everyone stopped talking and looked up at him for a moment. Then, as though by silent agreement, they turned away and went about their own business.
Qin Yu’s mouth twitched. Were they trying to ostracize him?
He carefully reviewed everything that had happened since joining the sect. He was certain he hadn’t offended any of them. What exactly was their problem?
As the awkwardness lingered, Tang Si entered with a stern expression, sweeping his gaze across the room.
“If you have time to gossip, why not spend it cultivating? Otherwise, you’ll only embarrass yourselves in the tournament.”
At that, even those who had still been whispering with their heads together fell silent and obediently listened to the lesson.
Classes ended at noon.
Qin Yu was packing up to leave when Tang Si approached.
“Junior Brother Qin, are you free this afternoon?”
“I am.”
Tang Si hooked an arm around his neck.
“Come on, then. I’m treating you to a drink.”
At the mention of drinking, Qin Yu’s eyes brightened.
“Let’s go!”
They found a pavilion on high ground and sat down to drink and talk about life.
“From now on, you’re a true brother to me, Tang Si. I’ve got your back in the Tiannan Divine Sect!”
Tang Si produced another jar of wine and pushed it toward Qin Yu.
“Cups are no fun. This is how you’re supposed to drink!”
“Cheers!”
Sometimes, friendship between men really was that simple. A meal, a round of drinks, even a joke could lay the foundation for a deep bond.
The two drank in the pavilion, forgetting everything else until the sun sank behind the mountains.
As they parted, Tang Si handed Qin Yu a jade pendant.
“I’m entering seclusion tomorrow and won’t come out until the tournament begins. If anyone bullies you while I’m away, show them this. They’ll have to give me some consideration.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother Tang.”
After bidding Tang Si farewell, Qin Yu staggered back to Yazheng Peak. Once in his room, he flopped onto the bed without even taking off his clothes and closed his eyes.
Unbeknownst to him, a pair of fathomless eyes in the darkness had taken in his every movement and expression.
Coming back this late, and reeking of wine?
Yu Lancheng appeared silently beside the bed. He could just make out Qin Yu muttering in his sleep about “working until the male lead eats my dust” and “getting you sooner or later”…
Who was this male lead?
To think he occupied Qin Yu’s thoughts even when he was drunk!
A sinister smile curled Yu Lancheng’s lips. Bending down, he lowered his voice to a devilish rasp and coaxed softly beside Qin Yu’s ear.
“A-Yu, why don’t you tell Master what brought you to the Tiannan Divine Sect?”
Qin Yu answered him with a faint snore.
Was he really asleep?
“Tell Master who you really are, A-Yu. If you do, I’ll teach you an unparalleled cultivation technique. I guarantee it will be more powerful than that male lead you mentioned.”
Unfortunately, Qin Yu slept like the dead, offering no response whatsoever. Yu Lancheng’s patience wore thin. Just as he was about to use a spell to search his memories directly, Qin Yu suddenly bolted upright like a corpse springing to life. Pointing straight at Yu Lancheng’s nose, he accused him loudly, his voice full of grievance.
“Liar! You left me to fend for myself!”
Then he fell back onto the bed and went on sleeping.
Was he truly asleep, or pretending?
Yu Lancheng checked with his spiritual sense and confirmed that he was indeed asleep.
Heh. What an interesting little liar.
Then he would see just how many secrets this little liar was hiding.
Yu Lancheng shed his disguise, revealing his true appearance. His long silver hair fell loosely down his back. Blood-red eyes fixed coldly on the soundly sleeping, utterly unaware Qin Yu. Pressing his index and middle fingers together, he placed them between Qin Yu’s brows and guided his consciousness into the boy’s mind.
Within Qin Yu’s sea of consciousness, all he could see was a boundless ocean. There was nothing else.
Yu Lancheng immediately realized that something was protecting Qin Yu’s memories, preventing him from probing them.
“Let’s see what dares to pit its tricks against me!”
At that moment, a full bladder woke Qin Yu. He was about to get up and relieve himself when he opened his eyes and found someone sitting beside his bed. Once he saw the person clearly…
“!!!”
Fuck. What was he looking at?
The psychopath who kept trying to kill him had the exact same face as his beloved master?!
【Aaaah! Host, why did you wake up?!】
“If I hadn’t fucking woken up, I might never have woken up again!”
He did not dare imagine what would have happened if he had opened his eyes even a second later.
【You originally still had a thirty percent chance of survival. Now that you’ve discovered the truth…】
Was it too late to trade his eyes for a pair that had never seen this face?
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