My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 40.1

Gu Yuqing stormed back to Renyang Peak, her fellow disciples trailing behind helplessly as she stormed into her room in a fit of rage. Moments later, the sounds of smashing and crashing echoed from within.

“I’m so furious!” she wailed, brandishing her sword in frustration and hacking the curtain before her into shreds. “Just because she’s a Foundation Establishment Stage Elder! Who does she think she is, looking down on me? What’s there to be smug about?!”

“And that Xue woman! A mere palace attendant—and not even a disciple, just a servant of the Lianshan Sect! How dare Siyi compare me to someone like that! What right does she have to humiliate me like this? Hah! Could it be because she was once the Palace Master’s attendant herself? Does this place remind her of her past?” Gu Yuqing raged.

Her senior sisters and brothers stood outside the door, offering helpless advice. “Don’t be angry, Junior Sister Apprentice,” one said. “Being chosen by the Illusionary Realm proves your talent. That’s something to celebrate! Why let yourself be upset by a palace attendant from Qihuang Peak?”

“Exactly!” another chimed in. “Her cultivation level is inferior to yours. So what if she emerged from the Illusionary Realm first? It’s not like you’re trapped there forever. Besides, if the Palace Master hadn’t prematurely disrupted the realm, you might have escaped right after her.”

Gu Yuqing’s hand froze mid-sweep, her anger intensifying. She gritted her teeth. “Doesn’t this prove they’re the ones who made me lose face?”

The Renyang Peak disciples exchanged uneasy glances.

Suddenly, a figure flew down from the peak’s summit, landing in the courtyard before striding toward them.

A disciple at the back of the crowd glanced up and paled. “Peak Master!”

The other disciples turned to look. The woman’s cold, severe gaze, radiating authority even without anger, sent shivers down their spines. They immediately lowered their heads and called out, “Master! Peak Master!”

Hearing the commotion, Gu Yuqing dropped her sword and rushed out of her room. Seeing the woman, her tears flowed even harder. “Master!” she sobbed.

“Stop,” Yan Qingluan said, her deep voice as stern as her appearance. The single word pinned Gu Yuqing’s feet to the ground.

Gu Yuqing wiped her tears, remembering how her master detested loud outbursts. She quickly lowered her voice and called out again, “Master.”

Yan Qingluan’s senior disciple cautiously raised his head, gauging his master’s expression. “Master,” he asked softly, “why have you emerged from seclusion?”

“Hmph,” Yan Qingluan scoffed, clasping her hands behind her back. “If I hadn’t emerged from seclusion now, would I have had to wait for a reprimand letter from the Palace Master to learn about the ‘good deeds’ you’ve been up to behind my back?”

Her words struck like thunder, causing the disciples to shrink back like quail, utterly bewildered.

What have we done? they thought. They had diligently cultivated, completed missions from Mingshi Hall, and trained in the Secret Realms. If there was one incident that stood out as the most disruptive—

Everyone instinctively turned toward Gu Yuqing, who looked wronged.

Gu Yuqing took a deep breath and said angrily, “Master, could that woman Siyi be framing me? You mustn’t be deceived by her! She publicly humiliated me, and I couldn’t help but retort… In the heat of the argument, I forgot her status.”

Yan Qingluan closed her eyes.

The courtyard fell silent.

The disciples of Renyang Peak knew Yan Qingluan’s temper well. She was fiery, intolerant of dissent, and fiercely protective of her own. Her cold demeanor was usually reserved for outsiders, but when she treated her own disciples this way, it meant the situation was exceptionally serious.

“I took you in because I pitied you as an orphan, and because our names shared a character. I raised you as my own daughter, nurtured your exceptional talent, and devoted myself to your cultivation. Even your arrogance didn’t bother me. The Palace Master of Lanyang Palace can afford to be proud and arrogant—why couldn’t you be proud and charming, with me as your Master? But I never imagined that all my efforts, all my heart’s blood, would raise you to be not only arrogant, but truly foolish!”

Yan Qingluan spat, “When Siyi first sent word of your actions, I refused to believe it. Yet not only did you actually do it, you still refuse to repent! You haven’t even realized where you went wrong! Gu Yuqing, I can’t understand what you were thinking, questioning your Palace Master in front of so many outsiders in the Secret Realm!”

“Do you think you belong to some other sect? Who do you think you are? What right do you have to point fingers at the Palace Master? All these years I’ve taught you—when did I ever teach you to do something so idiotic it would anger the heavens and men alike?”

Yan Qingluan showed no mercy, mercilessly berating Gu Yuqing until the disciple was utterly humiliated. As she said, Yan Qingluan had truly raised Gu Yuqing as her own daughter, doting on her in everyday life. Now, her furious outburst left Gu Yuqing’s face deathly pale, her mind blank, and she collapsed to her knees.

“Master, I…”

Yan Qingluan raised her hand, cutting Gu Yuqing off. She took a deep breath, struggling to calm her raging anger, but her fury still burned fiercely. Through gritted teeth, she spat, “I hear you were planning to make me leave Lanyang Palace and start a new sect with you? Does Gu Yuqing have no brain? Do any of you have brains? If I truly defected with you, how would the righteous sects of the world look upon me?”

Yan Qingluan’s furious rebuke caused the disciples standing behind Gu Yuqing to kneel one after another, their faces flushed crimson as they lowered their heads, trembling and barely daring to breathe.

Gu Yuqing was genuinely terrified now. “Master, I was wrong!” she sobbed. “Please forgive me!”

“How can I forgive you?” Yan Qingluan sneered, pointing at Gu Yuqing. “Pack your things immediately and go kneel before Siyi. Let her decide your punishment.”

With that, Yan Qingluan stormed away, not sparing a single glance for her usually favored disciple, her anger still burning.

As she ascended the stone steps of Renyang Peak, the numerous disciples were shocked to find their Peak Master had unexpectedly emerged from seclusion. They hurried to pay their respects. Yan Qingluan’s face was dark as she climbed, and before long, news of her fury over Gu Yuqing had spread throughout the entire peak.

This was a major event for Renyang Peak. Gu Yuqing was the Peak Master’s last disciple, and he doted on her far more than any other. No one understood what she had done to enrage him so much that he would expel her from the peak. For a time, everyone on Renyang Peak lived in fear, hardly daring to breathe, lest they be implicated.

Some disciples who had always been at odds with Gu Yuqing and found her irritating secretly breathed a vengeful sigh of relief, thinking she deserved it.

Under the apprehensive gazes of the assembled disciples, Yan Qingluan ascended the mountain step by step, reaching the summit of Renyang Peak. She looked toward the gathering thunderclouds and, in the next instant, landed on the slope beside them.

Siyi, clad in a pink robe, clasped her hands in greeting. “Peak Master Yan, have you emerged from seclusion?”

If she hadn’t emerged soon, you would have been stuffing your complaint letter under her door. Yan Qingluan snorted softly, standing with her hands clasped behind her back, and stared at the woman beneath the thunderclouds.

The woman’s face was unfamiliar, but she appeared remarkably young and inexperienced. Yan Qingluan had never seen her before and asked in surprise, “Who is she?”

Few survived the Thunder Tribulation unscathed, yet this woman’s eyes remained bright and resolute. She was on the verge of successfully passing the Thunder Tribulation and reaching Foundation Establishment.

Siyi smiled. “Her name is Xue Mengtao. She’s twenty years old and was recently a palace attendant at Qihuang Peak, assigned to the Spiritual Beast Hall to care for the Palace Master’s spiritual beasts. Now she has become my disciple and will henceforth be a disciple of Qihuang Peak.”

“A twenty-year-old Foundation Establishment cultivator… Impressive,” Yan Qingluan said, her brow furrowing. “But at the palace, only those at the Golden Core Stage or higher—” Her words cut off abruptly as she turned to look at Siyi, noticing the fluctuating aura around her, indicating an imminent breakthrough.

Yan Qingluan’s chest heaved with anger. She had always fought fiercely with other peaks for resources and power, all for the sake of Renyang Peak’s disciples! Her disciples’ strength far surpassed those of other peaks, so as Peak Master, it was her duty to secure the best for them! Yet these ungrateful fools had repaid her kindness with slander and stagnation. Not a single one had made any progress since she went into seclusion!

Now look at Qihuang Peak. It had only two key figures: the Palace Master and Siyi. Now Siyi had taken on a twenty-year-old Foundation Establishment disciple, and Siyi herself was on the verge of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage.

Siyi smiled. “Peak Master Yan, much has happened at the palace during your seclusion. The Palace Master acquired a Fire Rock Jiao Dragon spiritual beast. After returning from the Chongshan Secret Realm, he has already reached the Late Golden Core Stage.”

“Lanyang Palace has gained another formidable leader. Truly, heaven favors us!”

Yan Qingluan took a deep breath, her anger intensifying.

Qihuang Peak now boasted three Golden Core cultivators, significantly enhancing its strength. How could she continue to claim that Renyang Peak’s disciples were the strongest and use that to secure more benefits for herself?

And then there was the even more disappointing Gu Yuqing.

The mere thought of Gu Yuqing filled Yan Qingluan with pain and fury. She had raised Gu Yuqing like a daughter, providing her with the finest treasures to aid her cultivation and offering her heartfelt advice. Could Gu Yuqing have actually taken Yan Qingluan’s occasional grievances seriously and schemed to help her leave Lanyang Palace? How utterly foolish could she be!

Yan Qingluan’s inner fury surged, her expression growing stern. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Siyi, she watched Xue Mengtao endure the Thunder Tribulation and declared solemnly, “I, Yan Qingluan, was fortunate to be taken in by the Old Palace Master’s compassion and entrusted with the Lanyang Palace. After the Old Palace Master’s passing, I served as acting Palace Master for sixteen years. When the Palace Master achieved the Golden Core Stage, I relinquished all authority without hesitation. Yet recently, strange rumors have begun circulating within the palace. Elder Siyi, who oversees the palace’s operations, I ask you to bear witness to my integrity and clarify the truth.”

Yan Qingluan’s words were a deliberate attempt to distance herself from the rumors, signaling her willingness to let Siyi handle matters concerning the disciples of Renyang Peak.

Siyi’s eyes reflected the sky filled with purple lightning, her smile unwavering. “Peak Master Yan’s unwavering loyalty is clear to the Palace Master. Naturally, he wouldn’t believe such rumors. I believe that from now on, no more rumors will arise within the palace to tarnish Peak Master Yan’s reputation or the Palace Master’s prestige. Don’t you agree?”

Yan Qingluan’s stern face twitched, the corner of her mouth curling upward. “Elder Siyi speaks wisely.”

“I have already reprimanded Gu Yuqing and instructed her to apologize to the Palace Master and Elder Siyi. How to punish her is now in Elder Siyi’s hands.”

Though she spoke of having Gu Yuqing apologize to Feng Jue, both Siyi and Yan Qingluan knew Gu Yuqing would never even see Feng Jue. At most, she might prostrate herself in remorse at the foot of the mountain, bowing toward Qihuang Hall. Had this matter truly reached Feng Jue, mere prostrations would never have sufficed. But with Siyi handling the punishment, out of deference to Yan Qingluan’s position as Peak Master, Gu Yuqing might yet retain most of her life.

Siyi’s eyes curved with amusement as she said softly, “Peak Master, your devotion is truly profound. If Gu Yuqing understood the depth of your concern, such a situation would never have arisen. As the saying goes, ‘Discipline breeds filial piety.’ Even with one’s own children, a balance of kindness and authority is necessary. I am grateful, Peak Master Yan, for teaching me this lesson.”

Yan Qingluan was subjected to Siyi’s relentless prodding, nearly tempted to flick her sleeve and storm off. Her face turned ashen, but she restrained herself, forcing out a terse “Mm” from the depths of her throat.

Xue Mengtao, having successfully reached Foundation Establishment, approached with her sword. Seeing Siyi standing beside an unfamiliar woman, she glanced at Yan Qingluan with mild confusion before bowing respectfully to both. “Master,” she announced happily, “I’ve successfully reached Foundation Establishment!”

Siyi’s smile widened as she wiped a smudge from Xue Mengtao’s cheek with a handkerchief. “You’ve done exceptionally well,” she said gently. “You relied solely on your own strength and didn’t use any Foundation Establishment Pills. This shows how solid your past cultivation has been. You must continue in this manner.”

Xue Mengtao, both flustered and touched by the praise, lowered her head. “Yes, Master. Thank you for standing guard for me. Now that I no longer need those medicinal herbs, please help me dispose of them.”

Siyi nodded. “Why not send them to Mingshi Hall to exchange for Foundation Establishment-stage medicinal pills and tools?”

“Very well, Master,” Xue Mengtao agreed.

Watching the harmonious interaction between master and disciple, Yan Qingluan found herself caught in a difficult position—neither leaving nor staying felt right. Sensing her lingering presence, Siyi suddenly remembered her. After introducing Yan Qingluan to Xue Mengtao, she smiled leisurely. “Now that Mengtao will be cultivating under my tutelage, the Spiritual Beast Hall is short a palace attendant. Why not have Gu Yuqing fill that role?”

Xue Mengtao paused, startled.

That day, Gu Yuqing had spoken with such disdain about her status as a palace attendant. Now, the tables had turned, and Gu Yuqing was about to become one herself. After a moment’s thought, Xue Mengtao asked, “Master, will Senior Sister Apprentice Gu be serving Lord Jiao Dragon in the future?”

Hearing this, Yan Qingluan’s gaze shifted to Siyi’s face, her brow furrowing. She couldn’t believe Siyi would willingly assign Gu Yuqing to care for the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon—a beast that belonged to Feng Jue.

As expected, Siyi replied with a smile, “She’s never cared for spiritual beasts before. If she’s clumsy and angers the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon, that wouldn’t be good. It’s best to let her get accustomed to the work in the Spiritual Beast Hall first before considering anything else.”

Even palace attendants had a hierarchy. Those with higher cultivation could care for the spiritual beasts of the Peak Masters and Elders, while those with low cultivation and clumsy hands were tasked with looking after the beasts that hauled goods and carried people within the palace. Their duties included cleaning beast quarters and sweeping cages—hard, dirty, and exhausting work.

Xue Mengtao imagined Gu Yuqing must be feeling quite unhappy about this.

Well, then I’ll be happy for her. Xue Mengtao smiled at Siyi. “Master’s arrangements are always perfect.”

Siyi nodded with a smile.

Yan Qingluan could no longer bear to stay, feeling her entire life’s dignity had been stripped away in that moment. Seething with anger, she tossed out the words, “Do as you please,” and stormed out without looking back.

“Hmm?” Siyi watched the spiritual glow of Yan Qinglan’s departure and smiled. “Peak Master Yan used to secure many benefits for Renyang Peak in the past. Now that I’ve finally accepted a disciple, she hasn’t even offered you a greeting gift. Fine. Once I break through to the Golden Core Stage, I’ll arrange a formal initiation ceremony for you and reclaim everything I gave away before.”

Xue Mengtao pinched her fingers together and murmured, “Thank you, Master.”

The silver beads on the roof tiles were covered by a blanket of snow.

When the sun rose in the east, a black line emerged from the snow, and under the radiant dawn, it drew two circles on the swollen mound.

Two dark, raccoon-like eye patches were revealed.

03 looked toward the surging thunderclouds above the forward peak.

Pulling out a small notebook, 03 wrote: Mission in progress. Nothing significant occurred today.

After finishing, 03 switched to a work log and continued: Siyi broke through. She’s even more terrifying now.

Many have broken through in the past half-year, filling the air with jubilation. Feng Jue is still in seclusion; I hope she shares in this jubilation.

While diligently recording the work log, 03 also noted down an entry for Lingshi: During its seclusion, Lingshi grew hungry and went hunting, returning with a belly full of food to continue its seclusion. Truly balancing cultivation and leisure perfectly.

As the Ball System continued writing, the sound of flapping wings reached its ears. Feng Jue’s black lines buried the Circles in the snow and quietly withdrew the matchstick into the snow.

Feng Jue, your crane seems to want to eat me. It flies to the roof every day to watch me. To avoid being eaten by the crane, can I poke it with my Little Sword?

I promise it will only be a gentle poke.

03 closed the work log, and the matchstick shot out of the snow with a whoosh. A sparkling Little Sword appeared at the tip of the matchstick, slicing through the air with a streak of sword energy.

The Barrier enveloping Qihuang Peak revealed a faint trace in the sunlight. Disciples walking outside shivered inexplicably, sensing a sudden drop in temperature.

Strange. It’s already summer. The disciple looked up at the blazing sun, utterly bewildered, and walked away.

Within the Barrier, a heavy snowfall began.

What does this swirling snow resemble?

Floating and drifting, it devours the crane.

The freezing crane hurriedly waded through the blizzard and dove into the pavilion. After a long moment, it poked its head out, staring in confusion at the tiles of Qihuang Hall. Heavens! This is preposterous! I just wanted to see what was shining in the snow, but as soon as I flew up, it started snowing and nearly froze me to death!

Amid the falling snow, a ball rolled back and forth, occasionally pushing a snowball aside as a decoy. 03 stared at the snowball, golden question marks appearing above its head as it piled up a stack of puzzled snowballs. It patted the matchstick, and the real ball sank back into the snow.

Feng Jue, I’m taking a half-day break. I’ll be back soon.

The bright sun instantly replaced the snow-covered palace with the round Mission Tower.

Standing in the colorful world of data, 03 suddenly froze.

It had completed 3,520 missions, but for the first time, after leaving the mission world, it felt a strange, almost otherworldly sensation.

Although it had been a long time since its last visit, why did all the Systems now have familiar matchsticks and dark circles under their eyes? Moreover, each System’s dark circles were different. 03 even saw a small system with a pink heart-shaped eye, happily humming a tune, swinging its matchstick, and emitting musical notes that drifted away.

“……”

03 suspected that the System Mall had added something like “Golden Finger 03’s Endorsed Dark Circles” to its inventory.

Just as 03 was filled with suspicion, something poked at its data cluster from behind. Turning around, 03 saw a silver system wearing a small bowler hat and carrying a black briefcase.

The bowler-hatted system raised its hat and said politely, “Good day, my friend.”

“Hello, 04. Did you just return from a mission world?” 03 asked, walking across the street with Golden Finger 04 towards the Main System’s office. The surrounding systems cast curious glances at the two identical silver systems.

“It’s a Golden Finger System!”

“Two Golden Finger Systems!”

“Senior systems!”

04 occasionally raised its hat to greet the small systems, while also talking to 03. “Oh, old companion, do you know why the Main System suddenly summoned us for a meeting?”

03 didn’t know.

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