Chronicles of Heaven's Chosen - Chapter 3

“I do.” Yuan Yao’s eyes curved with her smile.

Qian Jueshan hesitated before finally relenting. “Very well. A-Yan will go with you.”

Song Yan had already reached the early Golden Core stage. Protecting Yaoyao should pose no difficulty for him.

Even so, Qian Jueshan could not put his mind at ease.

Like an anxious old father, he beckoned Yuan Yao closer.

She gathered up her skirt and trotted over to him.

“You’re only at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Once you’re outside, someone is bound to bully you. Your Master has little else to give, so take all of these. If anyone causes you trouble, send me a message immediately. I will come and stand up for you.” As he spoke, Qian Jueshan stuffed one high-grade artifact after another into Yuan Yao’s storage pouch as though they cost him nothing.

“That’s enough, Master, enough! I’m only going out for a while. It’s not as if I’m never coming back.” Yuan Yao hurriedly stopped him.

The sight made a violent sense of injustice surge through Lu Xiangxiang. In her previous life, she had never received such generous treatment when she went out to temper herself.

Qian Jueshan had certainly never coaxed her in that soft, patient voice.

Lu Xiangxiang silently clenched her fist.

Then, before her eyes, Qian Jueshan placed eight life-saving talismans on Yuan Yao.

Each one depleted his cultivation, yet he bestowed them on Yuan Yao as if they were free.

Eight of them!

In her previous life, Qian Jueshan had placed only one life-saving talisman on her!

Lu Xiangxiang’s expression grew uglier. Her nails almost pierced her palms.

Song Yan noticed something amiss and looked her way.

When he saw her face, he could not keep from frowning.

Lu Xiangxiang drew a deep breath and stepped forward. “Master, I would like to go to Wuduan Forest as well.”

Qian Jueshan shifted his gaze to her.

“Why do you wish to go?” His tone was mild and detached.

Lu Xiangxiang answered without servility or arrogance. “I have heard that a secret realm will soon manifest in Wuduan Forest. I would like to use this opportunity to temper myself.”

Qian Jueshan fell silent.

Tianding Pavilion went so still that the invisible pressure in the hall seemed to thicken.

Lu Xiangxiang pressed her lips together. She could not help remembering her previous life. Whenever she wanted to go somewhere, Song Yan had pleaded with Master on her behalf.

But he said nothing now.

At last Qian Jueshan relented. “Very well. The three of you will travel together. Watch out for one another on the road.”

He took a high-grade defensive artifact from his storage space and sent it floating toward Lu Xiangxiang on a current of spiritual power.

“Take it, in case of danger.”

Lu Xiangxiang nearly lost control of her expression.

Just one?

In her previous life, she had received several high-grade artifacts. Now there was only one?

Song Yan’s face remained composed. “Junior Sister Lu, the artifact Master has bestowed upon you ranks among the finest in the cultivation world. You should accept it at once.”

Lu Xiangxiang came back to herself. Lowering her head slightly, she reached out and took the artifact.

“Thank you, Master.”

A trace of reluctance colored her voice.

Yuan Yao’s gaze skimmed over Lu Xiangxiang’s unnatural expression, then moved away. She beamed at Qian Jueshan. “Master, just wait and see. I’ve made up my mind this time. I’ll cultivate properly and live up to your expectations.”

“You had better.” Qian Jueshan could not help laughing.

The young woman before him blurred for a moment with the tiny child in his memories—the little thing so lazy that she would sprawl on the ground and fall asleep. His heart softened into helpless indulgence.

Yuan Yao lifted a brow and answered at once, “I will!”

…

Before leaving for Wuduan Forest, Yuan Yao and Song Yan personally escorted Lu Xiangxiang to Heavenly Martial Peak and helped settle her in.

There were many vacant dwellings on the peak, so Lu Xiangxiang was free to choose.

In the end, she selected a bamboo cottage near the middle, directly between Third Senior Brother’s and Fourth Senior Brother’s homes.

Yuan Yao looked at her. “Junior Sister, once you’ve finished unpacking, shall we set out for Wuduan Forest?”

“All right.” Lu Xiangxiang’s expression remained cool.

She was not going to Wuduan Forest to compete with Yuan Yao. She was going because an ancient divine beast would appear in its secret realm.

In her previous life, Third Senior Brother Cang Li had formed a contract with that divine beast.

This time, she would steal his opportunity.

She wanted the hypocritical, false-hearted Xiaoyao Sect to decline just as it had before—and in the end, to be exterminated!

Once Lu Xiangxiang finished settling in, the three of them descended Heavenly Martial Peak together.

The Xiaoyao Sect had four peaks: Heavenly Martial Peak, Heavenly Letters Peak, Heavenly Inquiry Peak, and Heavenly Learning Peak.

Heavenly Martial Peak was overseen by Third Elder Qian Jueshan; Heavenly Letters Peak by First Elder Lin Yongping; Heavenly Inquiry Peak by Sect Leader Baili Mo; and Heavenly Learning Peak by Second Elder Zong Rao.

They encountered many fellow disciples on the way.

The sight of Yuan Yao actually coming down the mountain surprised more than a few of them.

Now this was rare.

“Little Junior Sister, what brings you down the mountain today?”

“Little Junior Sister, I have something delicious here. Want some?”

“Little Junior Sister, do you like spirit rabbits? You can have mine.”

“…”

Almost everyone came over to greet Yuan Yao.

They greeted Song Yan too, of course, but their manner was entirely different. Yuan Yao received warmth and affection; Song Yan, respect tinged with fear.

He was far too stern. One look at him was enough to make people nervous.

And Song Yan was only nineteen.

Yuan Yao smiled and responded to each familiar face.

“Thank you, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. I don’t need a rabbit, but I’ll take some of the food.” When she smiled, small dimples appeared in her soft cheeks and her eyes curved into crescents.

Lu Xiangxiang pressed her lips together at the sight, her feelings sour.

Then Yuan Yao pulled her over. Before Lu Xiangxiang could react, she heard Yuan Yao announce, “This is the personal disciple my Master has just accepted. Her name is Lu Xiangxiang, and from today on, she’s our junior sister.”

“So this is Junior Sister Lu!” The other disciples recovered from their surprise. They greeted her one after another and offered her food as well.

Lu Xiangxiang shook her head in silence.

She had no desire to trade false pleasantries with them.

The Xiaoyao Sect disciples were no fools. Faced with her cold manner, the sincerity in their smiles faded at once.

At that moment, System 250’s voice sounded once more in Yuan Yao’s sea of consciousness.

【Target Lin Jia’s Awakening Value: 3. Target Li Ji’s Awakening Value: 4. Target…】

System 250 rattled off a long string of Awakening Values.

Only Eldest Senior Brother Song Yan had broken past ten.

Yuan Yao could not resist glancing at him.

His expression did not change. He merely reached out and stroked the top of her head. “Let’s go.”

Yuan Yao nodded.

Lu Xiangxiang turned her head just in time to see the gesture. A frown came over her before she could stop it. A bitter discomfort spread through her heart, as though someone had taken what rightfully belonged to her.