Lu Hanyi put away the jade slip, and Xu Ning remained silent for a moment.
Her reaction caught him off guard.
He didn’t know what to say.
Xu Ning instinctively glanced at Shen Yi.
‘Could this also be part of Shen Yuwei’s arrangement?’
The thought barely formed before he suppressed it.
Lu Hanyi wasn’t the type to put on an act with anyone.
The surprise she’d shown when she saw him and Shen Yi together didn’t seem feigned either.
The duty disciple studied the three of them, opening his mouth several times only to hold back each time.
Shen Yi noticed and asked with a smile, “Senior Brother, what are you staring at?”
Caught off guard, the duty disciple’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“Miss Shen, this trip… it’s not just the three of you.”
All three of them turned to look at him.
Whether it was the cold aura radiating from Lu Hanyi or the two guests from Zhaoyue Cliff that made his heart sink, the duty disciple’s throat tightened.
He didn’t dare stall any longer.
“Th-there are three more traveling companions.”
“More people?”
The duty disciple nodded and flipped the register back a page.
“Qingwu Medicine Garden is delivering low-grade spiritual materials this time in addition to the yangmai grass.”
“Nothing high-grade, but the quantity is substantial.”
“Since most low-grade disciples don’t carry spirit storage bags, and Qingwu Medicine Garden is near the mortal counties to the southeast—sparse in spiritual energy—it’s not worth dispatching a flying vessel.”
“So the External Affairs Office added three more to the party, tasked with escorting and hauling the goods.”
This was the reality of Taiwei Immortal Sect’s vast resources—even cultivators at Perfect Qi Refinement were a dime a dozen, relegated to hauling supplies.
Lu Hanyi studied the register, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
“We leave today?”
The duty disciple blinked, then nodded.
“Most practical assessments work this way.”
“The sealed letters have deadlines, and the medicine garden has already prepared the spiritual materials. Unless there’s a special reason, one should depart as soon as the task is accepted.”
Lu Hanyi pressed her lips together, lost in thought.
The tasks she’d handled before were mostly arranged in advance by the elders of Cold Sword Peak.
This kind of assignment—picking up a jade token at Si Ji Hall, cobbling together a few people, and traveling to an outer estate to collect herbs on the same day—was something she’d never done.
Seeing her hesitate, the duty disciple said cautiously, “Senior Sister Lu, if this doesn’t suit you, Cold Sword Peak could send another disciple to collect the herbs. Such a trivial matter hardly warrants your personal attention.”
Before Lu Hanyi could respond, Shen Yi piped up curiously, “If we leave today, when would we reach Qingwu Medicine Garden?”
The duty disciple answered quickly, “By carriage, we should return in about ten days.”
Loose cultivators rarely owned flying swords, and no one would waste spirit travel talismans on a task like this.
Shen Yi nodded with satisfaction.
Xu Ning, however, frowned at the news.
‘At this rate, this assessment is less like the dashing adventures in sect tales and more like a courier job.’
That thought actually put him at ease.
Six people traveling together just to transport low-grade herbs—this clearly wasn’t a trial designed for a guest elder.
Shen Yuwei must have had a hand in arranging it.
Not far away, Lu Hanyi stole a glance at him.
Seeing the relaxed look on his face, she felt an inexplicable irritation.
Even if he completed this task, the reward was just a few qi nourishing pills.
The lowest grade of cultivation medicine.
Was such a paltry gain worth his obvious delight?
Everything she’d once wanted to give him had been worth far more than this.
Yet he insisted on being stubborn.
He had to start from menial chores, earning his own techniques and pills.
Shen Yi sidled up to Xu Ning and tugged at his sleeve.
“We’ll be back in ten days—not too rushed.”
“Do you need to prepare anything?”
Xu Ning suddenly asked, “Is Qingwu Medicine Garden far from Green Pond Town?”
Lu Hanyi’s eyelashes fluttered.
Shen Yi also turned to look at him. “Why do you ask?”
“Just want to know the direction.”
Xu Ning spoke frankly.
“If possible, I’d like to stop by on the way back, so I don’t lose track of how to get home later.”
Shen Yi studied him for a moment, the smile in her eyes visibly dimming.
“Qingwu Medicine Garden is to the southeast. Green Pond Town lies west. They’re poles apart.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Xu Ning’s face.
At the mention of Green Pond Town, Lu Hanyi suddenly recalled the river that water ghoul had once stirred into murky chaos.
To her, it had merely been a place she’d passed through on a demon-slaying mission.
But to Xu Ning, it was home.
Seeing that none of the three had objections, the duty disciple checked the register.
“The three traveling companions are waiting outside. I’ll have them brought in.”
Xu Ning naturally had no issue with that.
Before long, three figures entered through the side door.
The man at the front wore a teal-blue robe with a jade pendant at his waist and fine embroidery marking him as part of the External Affairs Office.
He was young, with unremarkable features, but his smile carried a certain merchant-like shrewdness.
“Luo Zhao. Greetings to all.”
As he spoke, he clasped his hands toward Lu Hanyi first.
His courtesy toward her was noticeably more deferential than toward the others.
“Never expected to travel alongside Fairy Lu today. This is my good fortune.”
Lu Hanyi’s expression remained icy.
“Mm.”
That was all she offered.
She didn’t even spare him a second glance.
Luo Zhao’s smile didn’t waver.
“Fairy Lu’s trial by the cold pool back then—one strike breaking through three feet of ice—those of us in the External Affairs Office never witnessed it firsthand, but we’ve heard the tale many times over.”
“I heard the fairy was unwell recently?”
This time, Lu Hanyi simply turned away, unwilling to acknowledge his concern.
Luo Zhao’s expression stiffened slightly.
He lowered his hand awkwardly.
Behind him, a broad-shouldered man clasped his fists.
His skin was dusky, and a coil of hemp rope and several empty medicine sacks were strapped to his back.
“Sun Buping.”
Last came a female cultivator in a light brown dress, her voice gentle.
“Liu Manqing.”
She curtsied to Lu Hanyi, then gave Shen Yi and Xu Ning a light nod.
“I hope we can all look after one another on this journey.”
Only then did Luo Zhao seem to notice Xu Ning, his gaze settling on the Zhaoyue Cliff guest elder token at the latter’s waist.
“Oh? You?”
Xu Ning offered a bow.
“Xu Ning.”
Luo Zhao looked him up and down, the smile fading from his face.
“What cultivation are you?”
The words were blunt, and everyone present caught their sharp edge.
Xu Ning answered without hesitation.
“I’ve just achieved qi introduction. I haven’t broken through yet.”
Just achieved qi introduction?
The others exchanged varied looks—only Liu Manqing offered Xu Ning a warm smile.
Luo Zhao let out a derisive snort, his disdain plain for all to see.
Lu Hanyi’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
She knew Xu Ning’s situation well, yet seeing those three expressions made her eyes sting.
Shen Yi, who had been quiet until now, suddenly laughed.
“What’s with that look, Fellow Daoist Luo? Have you taken a fancy to my Xu Ning?”
Luo Zhao turned to her, his gaze brightening slightly.
“And this young lady is?”
“Shen Yi.”
“Is Miss Shen also from Cold Sword Peak?”
“Sort of.”
“Sort of?”
Shen Yi reached up and tapped her disciple token.
“My master is Shen Zhenren.”
The interest in Luo Zhao’s eyes deepened.
“So you’re a disciple of Shen Zhenren’s.”
He continued, “Then why is Miss Shen taking part in a guest elder assessment?”
Lu Hanyi was merely passing through and wouldn’t participate in their task.
As a disciple of Taiwei Immortal Sect, Shen Yi shouldn’t be involved either.
“I’m not.”
Shen Yi smiled brightly, pointing at Xu Ning. “I’m here as Xu Ning’s protector.”
Luo Zhao’s smile faltered.
“Protector?”
His gaze returned to Xu Ning.
Just achieved qi introduction—hadn’t even touched the threshold of qi refinement.
And his task was nothing more than delivering sealed letters and collecting spiritual materials—the most menial of chores.
Yet such a person needed a Perfect Qi Refinement cultivator as a personal escort?
Luo Zhao’s smile quickly recovered.
“Brother Xu is quite fortunate.”
His eyes lingered a beat too long on Shen Yi’s face.
“Miss Shen has earned Shen Zhenren’s favor, and now she personally accompanies Brother Xu on his assessment. Truly enviable.”
Who exactly was envious went without saying.
Shen Yi seemed not to notice the mockery in Luo Zhao’s words, still smiling brightly.
“Perfect Qi Refinement is barely sufficient, really. But isn’t Senior Brother Luo also at the consummate stage?”
At this, a note of pride crept into Luo Zhao’s expression, though his words remained modest.
“It’s merely the support of my elders at home. Nothing impressive.”
He turned to Shen Yi, his tone softening further.
“Fairy Shen, however, has earned a Golden Core Realm true person’s regard at such a young age. That’s a genuine stroke of immortal fortune.”
Shen Yi’s eyes curved.
“Senior Brother Luo flatters me.”
That was what she said, but she remained rooted beside Xu Ning, not making the slightest move toward Luo Zhao.
Luo Zhao’s gaze swept between the two of them.
Xu Ning dressed plainly, with only the Zhaoyue Cliff guest elder token at his waist, his spiritual energy so faint as to be almost negligible.
Yet Shen Yi spoke to him with such natural ease, standing close enough that she seemed accustomed to guarding his side.
The two must be either siblings or childhood friends.
The smile on Luo Zhao’s lips held steady, but a hint of dismissiveness crept into his eyes.
A passing connection, nothing more.
It was only natural.
People new to the path of cultivation couldn’t yet recognize the gap in talent, clinging instead to ties forged before their ascension.
They’d see reality soon enough.
“Brother Xu is quite fortunate.”
Xu Ning looked up at him.
Luo Zhao smiled. “Arrangements like this—ordinary sect disciples wouldn’t dare dream of it.”
Xu Ning’s expression remained calm, showing no intention of responding.
Seeing this, a flicker of annoyance stirred in Luo Zhao’s heart, but he pressed on.
“Brother Xu needn’t worry. Labor like hauling spiritual materials, we’ll naturally take on more of the burden.”
“These next few days, just make sure you guard the sealed letter well.”
The words sounded thoughtful.
But they placed Xu Ning squarely in the position of someone who needed to be looked after.
Xu Ning was about to speak when Shen Yi stepped half a pace forward.
She was petite, yet that single step perfectly blocked Luo Zhao’s line of sight to Xu Ning.
“Senior Brother Luo is so warm-hearted.”
Luo Zhao chuckled.
“We’re traveling together—it’s only right we look out for each other.”
“Looking out is fine.”
Shen Yi’s eyes curved.
“But making decisions for him? Not necessary.”
Luo Zhao’s smile froze.
Shen Yi pointed at the register in the duty disciple’s hands.
“The task ledger says Xu Ning, not Luo Zhao.”
“If you really want to arrange things for him, why not go change the name first?”
Behind the desk, the duty disciple’s fingers twitched, nearly knocking over another jade token.
Surprise flickered in Liu Manqing’s eyes.
Even Sun Buping, quiet as a stone, looked up at Shen Yi.
Luo Zhao’s smile stiffened for a moment before quickly recovering.
“Miss Shen misunderstands. I was merely worried that Brother Xu, being new to leaving the sect, might not be familiar with the administrative procedures.”
Shen Yi nodded.
“Then there’s even less to worry about.”
She turned to Xu Ning, her tone light.
“Xu Ning, who do you deliver the sealed letter to?”
Xu Ning answered, “Manager Zhou Huai at Qingwu Medicine Garden.”
“And what do you collect?”
“Spiritual materials and the manor seal.”
“And who returns the manor seal to Si Ji Hall?”
“Me.”
Shen Yi turned back with satisfaction.
“See? He remembers perfectly.”
The exchange, like coaxing a child, carried no awkwardness between the two.
If anything, it added a certain warmth to their closeness.
Luo Zhao’s smile could no longer hold.
He let out an awkward laugh and lowered his hand, though a hint of resentment crept into his gaze as he stared at the oblivious Xu Ning.
Lu Hanyi watched Shen Yi.
She’d thought Xu Ning’s cultivation was too low to go on a sect assessment this risky.
But when Luo Zhao had tried to relegate Xu Ning to the position of the weak, it had grated on her ears.
She hadn’t expected this unfamiliar junior sister to be so sharp-tongued, shutting down that chatterbox in just a few pointed words.
As the three went to collect their jade tokens, Xu Ning turned to Shen Yi.
“Junior Sister.”
Shen Yi glanced at him.
“Mm?”
“Thank you.”
A small smile tugged at Shen Yi’s lips.
“It’s what I should do.”
Luo Zhao stood not far away, and hearing that, the smile on his face dimmed.
Liu Manqing tucked away her task jade token while Sun Buping bent down to gather his medicine sacks.
Luo Zhao reached for his token as well.
As his sleeve lifted, the jade pendant at his waist flipped over.
Xu Ning had already looked away, but in that instant, he caught a tiny character etched on the pendant’s reverse side.
Dan.