Chapter 103: A Martial Uncle

Zheng Gang froze.

Xiao Lingwei seemed to notice Instructor Zheng; she stepped forward and bowed with clasped hands.

"Instructor Zheng."

"What are you doing…"

Xiao Lingwei, unchanged in expression, replied: "Instructor Zheng, we are practicing a new technique."

Hearing this, Zheng Gang's mouth twitched slightly; he clearly didn't believe them, his gaze sweeping over Yuan Yao and the others: "You didn't break any rules last night, did you?"

Xiao Lingwei coughed lightly: "Of course not."

"That's fine." Zheng Gang nodded; actually he had vaguely guessed these kids were just causing trouble again, but he didn't intend to expose them—as long as they didn't neglect their duties.

Afterwards, Yuan Yao and the others gave Instructor Zheng their respects, then hurriedly slipped away.

After walking out, they let out a sigh of relief.

"Fortunately Instructor Zheng didn't pursue it." Yao Linglong patted her chest.

"I have to return to Astronomy Peak." Lin Xuechen said.

Yao Linglong nodded: "Alright, I'll go down the mountain with you."

Yuan Yao: "Then we won't see you off."

"What's there to see off? It's not like she doesn't know the way." Yao Linglong waved her hand indifferently; from childhood, she had been to Martial Peak countless times.

After Yao Linglong and Lin Xuechen left, Yuan Yao stretched and said: "Let's go practice swordsmanship on the Back Mountain."

Xue Jin tilted his head, revealing that beautiful, androgynous face: "I will continue closed-door cultivation, aiming to break through before the Ninth Province Sect Grand Competition."

"Yao Yao, Second Senior Sister can't accompany you either, because she also needs to go into closed-door cultivation." Xiao Lingwei placed her hand on Yuan Yao's shoulder.

"Mm!" Yuan Yao had grown accustomed to their occasional closed-door cultivation; she naturally couldn't drag them along to be her sparring partners.

Yuan Yao turned to look at Ying Wuji: "Youngest Senior Brother, you should also go into closed-door cultivation."

"Will you sneak out of the mountain?" Ying Wuji now wasn't afraid she'd be lazy, but feared she'd sneak out alone.

Yuan Yao shook her head firmly, answering earnestly: "Absolutely not! With less than three months left until the Ninth Province Sect Grand Competition, I will definitely stay honest in the sect and focus on cultivation."

Hearing that, Ying Wuji finally relaxed a little.

He whispered: "Then you must keep your word."

"During our closed-door period..." Xue Jin seemed concerned, gazing deeply at Yuan Yao several times, lowering his voice: "Be careful of Lu Xiangxiang."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingwei, Cang Li, and Ying Wuji's expressions hardly changed; they had clearly been on guard against Lu Xiangxiang all along.

Yuan Yao froze for a moment, then looked up at them.

"I'll be careful."

The 250 System's voice sounded: 【Target Xiao Lingwei, Awakening Value reached 15. Target Cang Li, Awakening Value reached 30. Target Xue Jin, Awakening Value reached 25. Target Ying Wuji, Awakening Value reached 13.】

Cang Li pressed his palms together, solemn: "I, Cangaotian, will watch over her."

…

From that day on, Yuan Yao seemed to enter a mechanical state, constantly cultivating day after day.

By day she practiced sword; by night she studied formations and mental power.

Despite being busy, Yuan Yao still deliberately set aside time to monitor Lu Xiangxiang's every move. After a period of covert observation, she discovered that Lu Xiangxiang seemed to have a fixed rhythm—every three days, she would sneak down the mountain as night fell.

Yuan Yao had once secretly followed Lu Xiangxiang, discovering she often met with that Shiziwen behind the Servants' Hall.

After meeting, they exchanged few pleasantries, instead walking aside to talk in low voices.

Unfortunately, Yuan Yao was too far away to eavesdrop on anything.

In the blink of an eye, it was again the time Lu Xiangxiang had arranged to meet Shiziwen.

Before Lu Xiangxiang went down the mountain, Yuan Yao had already sneaked down and placed something behind the Servants' Hall where Lu Xiangxiang and Shiziwen often met.

——Sound Stone.

This Sound Stone is a high-grade magical artifact; once activated, it can record the surrounding sounds.

After Yuan Yao set up the Sound Stone, she quickly left the back of the Servants' Hall.

The sky had just darkened, and many fellow disciples were still passing by.

As soon as Yuan Yao appeared, she naturally drew their attention.

"Junior Sister!"

They enthusiastically gathered around and greeted Yuan Yao.

"Junior Sister, what are you doing here…?" a senior sister curiously asked: "Could it be because you want to go to the Mission Hall?"

Hearing this, Yuan Yao froze for a moment.

The Mission Hall is responsible for receiving various commissions and assigning them to suitable disciples to complete.

The Mission Hall happens to be located at the mountain's base, adjacent to the Servants' Hall, but it does not fall under the jurisdiction of any of the four peaks. Therefore, disciples from any peak, if willing, can freely enter and exit the Mission Hall, selecting tasks matching their strength to undertake.

Yuan Yao looked up and saw not far away a magnificent hall standing tall.

In the ten years since she joined the Carefree Sect, she had entered the Mission Hall only once.

She couldn't help but think of that person…

She smiled at that senior sister: "Yes, I want to take a look."

"If you senior brothers and sisters have matters to attend to, go ahead; I'm just going to check out the Mission Hall."

"Alright." The senior brothers and sisters exchanged glances and agreed.

After the senior brothers and sisters said farewell, Yuan Yao stepped forward toward the Mission Hall.

Upon entering the Mission Hall's lobby, she saw several fellow disciples staring at the task notices posted on the wall.

Directly ahead, a young man who looked like an immortal seemed to sense Yuan Yao's presence; he slowly lifted his gaze, a flicker of surprise flashing in the depths of his eyes.

As Yuan Yao raised her eyes, she inevitably met his gaze.

Facing such a handsome countenance and deep, unfathomable gaze, Yuan Yao felt an inexplicable awe rise in her heart.

Because this young man was precisely her master's junior martial brother, Yu Qingxue, she should, by rights, call out to him……

"Martial Uncle Yu." When she walked to within a few steps of Yu Qingxue, she stopped, raised both hands respectfully, performed the standard junior salute toward him, and spoke softly.

Yu Qingxue's gaze had already returned to calm.

"Hn."

Yuan Yao felt an inexplicable panic, she gave a light cough, "Martial Uncle Yu, I just wanted to take a casual look."

Yu Qingxue lowered her eyes, tidied the mission list on the table, "Go ahead."

His tone was flat, almost indifferent.

Within the Carefree Sect, the person who treated her most coldly was Martial Uncle Yu.

She had only come to the Mission Hall once before, and that time she was six; Martial Uncle Yu gave her a cold glance, which made her cry out in fear.

She clung to her master's neck, sobbing that she wanted to leave.

After many years, stepping into the Mission Hall again, she still harbored a lingering shadow in her heart.

This martial uncle of hers never bothered with the six senior martial siblings.

Since Yuan Yao knew him, he had never gone to Heaven Inquiry Peak, nor had he ever left the Mission Hall.