When the Immortal Venerable Picked-Up the Demon Cub - Chapter 28

In the original story, Lin Xiayan had orchestrated this competition, enhancing the Zhen Sui Mountain disciples with forbidden magic. This led to Yun Cang Mountain’s crushing defeat; even Su Mi’s most skilled array formations were shattered.

Everyone could sense something was amiss and urged the original protagonist to avenge them. Yet she remained silent, instead intensifying her cultivation day and night, giving her disciples no respite.

Thus, Su Mi’s descent into darkness deepened by one level.

This competition was a true test of endurance. The Zhen Sui Mountain disciples were arrogant and ruthless, their techniques brutal and underhanded. They fought with lethal intent and resorted to foul tactics, their every action defying the principles of righteous cultivation.

Yet, in the original story, Lin Xiayan had allied herself with these very disciples, repeatedly aiding Zhen Sui Mountain. This was one of the reasons readers had despised her.

“What are your thoughts, Immortal Venerable?” Fan Mo asked with a smile, his words perfectly aligning with his ambitions. The world regarded Yun Cang Mountain as the true orthodox sect, but Fan Mo refused to accept this. He believed strength alone should determine dominance. If Zhen Sui Mountain were to win this competition, Yun Cang Mountain’s reputation would crumble without a single blow.

Fan Mo had waited ten years for this competition, held once a decade.

Zhu Ning knew she was in a bind. Refusing would only make them accuse her of being afraid. So she smiled, showing no sign of pressure. “Exactly. But this year’s competition will likely be held on Yun Cang Mountain. As the host, This Venerable One must set some ground rules first. First, no lives shall be taken. Second, this is just a friendly contest among juniors, so no underhanded tactics are allowed. Third… I plan to have Lin Xiayan participate as a test for her Grand Discipleship Ceremony. If she wins, the ceremony will be held the next day, and she can join me in descending the mountain to vanquish demons.”

Zhu Ning had her reasons for this plan. After transmigrating, she realized many things were different. Though the main events remained unchanged, Lin Xiayan’s behavior was highly irregular. Zhu Ning couldn’t be sure Lin Xiayan would still support Zhen Sui Mountain when the time came. By including Lin Xiayan in the competition, she could keep her from meddling too much.

Taking Lin Xiayan on the demon-slaying expedition down the mountain was essential. Zhu Ning hadn’t mastered any spells yet, and Su Mi was only half-trained. With the Immortal Bone coveted by all, Zhu Ning figured she’d need to rely on Lin Xiayan, who coveted the Immortal Bone herself, to ensure their safety on the journey.

Lin Xiayan stood behind a chair, utterly surprised that Zhu Ning had mentioned her. She couldn’t hide the shock in her eyes, but she quickly feigned panic. “Immortal Venerable, I… I can’t do it!”

Fan Mo had initially refused, but seeing Lin Xiayan’s timid demeanor, he decided the girl posed no real threat and nodded in agreement.

“Of course,” Fan Mo said. “I just hope the Immortal Venerable’s beloved disciple won’t suffer too humiliating a defeat.” He rose, his smug expression infuriating. Zhu Ning had to suppress her anger, knowing Lin Xiayan was likely even more furious.

As expected, when Zhu Ning glanced at the usually proud Lin Xiayan, her face was dark as she watched the elders depart. She remained silent, but the tight fists clenching beneath her red robes betrayed her true feelings.

The grand hall fell silent again. Yue Qing, clearly unable to save face, didn’t speak first. Zhu Ning showed no sign of leaving either, her chest still aching from suppressing her anger. The two remained locked in a silent standoff, each waiting for the other to yield.

The sun shone brightly outside, and the faint sounds of disciples practicing drifted in. Finally, Yue Qing, unable to swallow his pride, rose and left first. Zhu Ning’s rigid posture relaxed, and she let out a sigh of relief.

“I still don’t understand why you wanted me to compete,” the little girl said, her pride shining like the sun. Despite studying dark magic, she possessed a confidence and unyielding spirit that bloomed like a sunflower.

Zhu Ning gave an awkward smile and poured another cup of tea for Lin Xiayan, acting like a devoted servant. “It’s just to prevent Yue Qing from testing you at any moment, like he did this morning. By agreeing to the competition, we can treat it as the test itself. They probably won’t assign you a top-tier opponent anyway. You just need to win narrowly.”

Though Zhu Ning always called Lin Xiayan a “little girl,” she was already ten years old. In ancient times, girls as young as thirteen or fourteen could possess beauty that could topple kingdoms. Lin Xiayan was simply a bit short for her age.

For a ten-year-old with innate talent, defeating a useless disciple was perfectly reasonable.

This was Zhu Ning’s reasoning. When she shared it with Lin Xiayan, the girl agreed, and the matter was settled.

Zhu Ning relaxed, focusing on her tea. Lin Xiayan’s gaze, however, drifted toward the entrance. The grand hall’s golden doors, bathed in sunlight, should have cast a radiant golden glow across the floor. Instead, a human-shaped shadow stretched across the threshold.

Lin Xiayan recognized the shadow’s hair bun instantly. It belonged to Zhu Ning’s disciple, Su Mi, the girl with the Immortal Bone.

Lin Xiayan looked away, her teacup concealing the slight upturn of her lips. Zhu Ning never imagined that a person’s descent into darkness wasn’t a matter of a few isolated incidents.

By the time Zhu Ning looked up and set down her cup, Su Mi had already fled. The grand hall’s entrance remained as splendidly golden as ever. Zhu Ning glanced at Lin Xiayan, noticing her good mood. Assuming her plan had worked, Zhu Ning felt a surge of pride.

“Let’s go,” Zhu Ning said. “If you’re going to compete, you can’t just win without a strategy. We’ll go to the Mùdōng Courtyard’s study and find some books to teach you.” Finally feeling like a proper Honored Master, Zhu Ning glided forward in her flowing white robes, her captivating peach-blossom eyes sparkling with the purest smile in the world.

Lin Xiayan often wondered what kind of person could possess such captivating beauty and such a perfectly suited temperament.

Zhu Ning’s voice was soft and warm, and when she smiled, her peach blossom eyes curved like crescent moons. Her lips weren’t bold, yet they added a vibrant glow to her face, making her seem like the most perfect masterpiece of heaven and earth.

A delicate fragrance lingered in her wake. Lin Xiayan knew Zhu Ning wore no perfume; this was the girl’s natural scent, filling her senses. Having already resumed her human form, Lin Xiayan quickened her pace to catch up, wrapping an arm around Zhu Ning’s impossibly slender waist. She nearly missed on the first try; the waist was so narrow that even the loose-fitting Daoist robes couldn’t conceal its slenderness. Only this kind of white robe could truly showcase it.

“W-what are you doing?” Zhu Ning asked, and Lin Xiayan asked herself the same question. How did I just wrap my arm around her like that? Fortunately, Lin Xiayan reacted quickly, adopting a nonchalant, lazy demeanor that was convincing enough. “As Immortal Venerable Zhu’s friend, is it wrong to hug and embrace her?”

Zhu Ning frowned in thought. It didn’t seem wrong, exactly, but the stunningly beautiful Lin Xiayan was remarkably well-developed, and Zhu Ning couldn’t help feeling awkward and embarrassed…

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