CHAPTER 5

— Too Naive —

"Hey, have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"That thing!"

"What exactly are you talking about...?"

"Oh, you're so slow... Ah, she's here, she's here! Look over there!"

"What's the big deal...? She's just an ordinary girl. Why all the fuss?"

"I heard Senior Brother Su Yan thinks highly of her! Even Lord Jiya favors her!"

"Really? That can't be..."

"It's true! Lots of people saw it that day!"

"Ahhh! Where is justice in this world?! I'm clearly much prettier than her..."

Tong Tong struggled to control her facial expression, trying not to show too obvious dissatisfaction—heaven knows why she had already become the target of public criticism just after arriving—was it all because she was looked down upon by that strange horse that resembled nothing at all?

If she had known that getting involved with that guy named Su Yan would lead to such treatment—she thought she still wouldn't have had the courage to jump out of his embrace... compared to her life, everything else was insignificant!

Walk your own path and let others envy you!

Though she tried to console herself with a bit of Ah Q-style optimism, Tong Tong couldn't help but sigh. Wasn't it just too pathetic to be caught in such a cliché, melodramatic plot—the kind usually reserved for teenage campus dramas—at the age of twenty-three?

T/N: [Ah Q-style" (阿Q精神) refers to the psychological defense mechanism of "spiritual victory" (精神胜利法), where a person rationalizes defeats, humiliation, or failure as triumphs to maintain self-esteem.]

As she rubbed her sore arms, she grumbled inwardly about a certain Su someone who had landed her in this miserable state, and even took a few jabs at the unreliable Ding Ding while she was at it.

The whole mess had started a month ago, when she was first brought to Qingyun Court.

After safely escorting her and Ding Ding to their destination, Su Yan and Jiya had left with an air of effortless cool—a scene that, unfortunately, had been witnessed by some keen-eyed individuals and spread among the disciples faster than a virus.

By the time Ding Ding had finished handing her over to the dean of Qingyun Court and left after receiving a summons from their master, the news had already reached every disciple on Zhuomo Peak—proof of just how deeply Su Yan's influence ran in everyone's minds.

The dean of Qingyun Court was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties. On the way there, Ding Ding had secretly warned her that this man, named Zheng Guanghe, might appear kind and amiable on the surface, but he was actually a cunning old fox who could swindle people out of their last coin and still make them thank him for it. If anyone broke the rules and fell into his hands, they'd be ground to dust without a trace... As he said this, Ding Ding had flashed a sinister grin that sent shivers down Tong Tong's spine, making her want to flee on the spot.

Seeing that she had been personally escorted by the Sect leader's direct disciple, Zheng Guanghe was extremely polite, wearing a benevolent smile the entire time. However, the occasional glint of shrewdness in his eyes made her feel inexplicably uneasy.

After Ding Ding left, his smile remained unchanged as he spoke gently to Tong Tong. "Tong Tong, is it? Come with me first to test your spiritual roots." With his hands clasped behind his back, he walked while explaining some basics to her. "The attributes of your spiritual roots determine what kind of magic you can learn. The rarer your spiritual roots, the greater your potential achievements in this field... Of course, it's not an absolute rule. Many cultivation seniors have achieved great things through sheer hard work..."

Tong Tong nodded respectfully, though inwardly she was skeptical. Hard work? She'd already figured it out—cultivation was all about talent! Ninety-nine percent genius, with just one percent effort, was enough to achieve the Great Dao!

—How utterly unscientific!

Following the dean into a dimly lit room, she felt uncomfortable under the intense, almost alien-like gazes of two fair-faced young attendants at the door. She hadn't dyed her hair or worn colored contacts—she had two eyes, one mouth, and a typical East Asian appearance, modestly pretty at best. Was there really a need to stare at her so intently? Did they think she wouldn't feel embarrassed? ...Well, fine, she actually didn't.

But when Su Yan had glanced at her, her heart had raced, her face flushed, and she'd felt utterly flustered... So it seemed that when someone was beautiful, even their gaze had a uniquely penetrating power! Souka! [ a Japanese expression that translates to: "I see," "Is that so," or "Aha!"]

After her mental detour, Tong Tong saw the dean point to a table placed in the center of the small room.

Following his gesture, she felt three imaginary black lines streak across her forehead—wasn't this supposed to be an Eastern fantasy world? Why was there a crystal ball, a prop straight out of Western magical realms?

Noticing Tong Tong's stunned expression but mistaking it for curiosity upon encountering something unfamiliar for the first time, Zheng Guanghe smiled and explained, "This is a magical artifact crafted by a master artificer using top-grade spirit stones, specifically designed to test a disciple's spiritual roots and spiritual power. All you need to do is place your hand on it."

"Oh," Tong Tong replied, spreading her palms to examine them. The lines on her right palm were chaotic, with calluses at her fingertips from years of holding a brush. Her left hand, however, was smooth and slender—perhaps it could pass as a delicate, graceful hand? Hmm, I choose you! Go, divine left hand!

In her mind, she accompanied the moment with a stirring, epic soundtrack, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the crystal-clear artifact as she began uncontrollably fantasizing about what kind of extraordinary spiritual roots she might possess—a mutated spiritual root like Young Master Ding's? Preferably a single-element one! Though in some novels, the protagonist has all five elements, only to encounter some master, ancestor, or secret manual... She had already checked, and there didn't seem to be any hidden space within her body, so that path of fortuitous encounters was likely closed...

Despite her wandering thoughts, her gaze remained unwavering. After several seconds, the artifact finally began to change—first, a faint green glow appeared, soft and serene, shimmering gently within its confines. Then, a burst of red flames surged, consuming the green light entirely. Just as she was growing puzzled, specks of blue light emerged, spreading and connecting to form wave-like shapes that enveloped and extinguished the lively red flames. Finally, the blue light gradually faded and dissipated within the transparent crystal sphere.

The entire process was like a 3D fantasy drama. Though the protagonists were merely specks of light in three colors, the spectacle, comparable to computer-generated effects, captivated her completely.

—But, three colors?

Only belatedly did this thought occur to her. She quickly looked up at the silent, expressionless uncle. It would have been better if she hadn't—her heart sank halfway at the sight. What's going on? Give me some expression! Even if it's not awe, shock, or admiration to the point of prostration, at least a smile, a nod of approval, or some encouragement would do! What does this blank expression mean? If he had looked disdainful, she could have accepted it—maybe she was the legendary, heaven-defying prodigy!

But what is this now? This ambiguous, unsettling state, like a period that just won't end, is driving her crazy!

'Uncle, just tell me straight—am I alive or dead? I beg you...'

Anxiously, Tong Tong asked, "How is it?"

"Ah... not bad, not bad. You show promise..." Zheng Guanghe seemed to snap out of his thoughts, quickly offering Tong Tong a kindly smile, though it was somewhat stiff. Faced with such an expectant expression, even someone who prided themselves on having a heart of stone couldn't bear to tell her the truth—this child's spiritual roots... were far too ordinary!

Initially, seeing that she was a disciple recommended by Young Master Ding under the Sect leader, he had thought she might be some extraordinary talent with unparalleled spiritual roots... Turns out he had overthought it!

Wood, fire, and water—three-element spiritual roots, with spiritual power so thin it wouldn't last more than a few breaths. While not so abysmal as to be universally despised, this kind of aptitude would rank near the bottom even among the gray-robed disciples!

Where does that leave the dignity of him, the esteemed dean of the Qingyun Court? Even if he wanted to show favoritism, there was nothing he could do... Fine, fine. Just assign her a quiet courtyard and let her fend for herself! It all depends on her own fortune now...

"Wood, Fire, and Water spiritual roots—with diligence, there's still a promising future! Alright, I'll arrange a quiet courtyard for you. Tomorrow at dawn, report to the training ground, starting with the most basic form-shaping, foundation-building, and breath control. Qingfeng!" Zheng Guanghe neither wanted to face this girl, who in his eyes held little hope, nor did he wish to crush her self-esteem with the harsh truth. He raised his voice to summon a disciple.

"Disciple here." Qingfeng, with his neat features, could be considered a handsome young lad. His serious, grown-up expression made Tong Tong want to pinch his cheeks.

"Take Junior Sister Tong to the Yunyin [Cloud Seclusion] Courtyard." Waving his hand, Zheng Guanghe turned away with a melancholic expression, preferring not to see what troubled him.

"Yes." Bowing respectfully, Qingfeng nodded politely to Tong Tong. "Junior Sister Tong, please follow me."

"Oh, oh, goodbye, Headmaster!" Tong Tong hadn't quite deciphered the complex expression on the man's face, but she instinctively felt he wasn't very pleased... 'Oh well! Didn't he say I have decent talent too?'

Tong Tong grinned, setting her worries aside as she followed the young Qingfeng. Her mind began to wander, planning how she could stay low-key in the future to avoid jealousy from standing out too much...

So, sometimes innocence isn't such a bad thing, right?

Upon arriving at the place, Qingfeng tossed her a jade slip without a word and left, leaving Tong Tong feeling a bit wistful for not having pinched his cheeks.

However, the courtyard before her left her gaping in astonishment—the weathered plaque faintly displayed the characters "Yunyin Courtyard," though a line of small characters beside it, likely a signature, was too blurry to read.

The two guardian statues at the entrance showed signs of age and neglect. The one on the right was clearly missing a claw, while the one on the left had a large clump of weeds growing on its head. Paired with the peeling red paint on the gate, it all felt rather desolate—was this really where she would live from now on?

This courtyard, practically cosplaying as a haunted house... truly had character!

Calming her emotions, Tong Tong pushed open the gate and stepped inside, strolling around to take it all in.

The courtyard itself wasn't too dilapidated, but it looked as though it had been abandoned for a long time. It would need some cleaning before she could settle in. Fortunately, she wasn't some delicate young lady who'd never lifted a finger—simple household chores were well within her abilities.

After a quick survey, she chose a south-facing room in the center as her bedroom and rolled up her sleeves, ready to get to work. This room seemed to have originally been the master bedroom, complete with a bed, curtains, and a soft couch. All it needed was a good dusting.

It was a small two-courtyard residence, with a well in the backyard. The well water was relatively clear and could be used directly after drawing it.

Some basic living supplies were also available, though they needed cleaning after being unused for so long.

Finding clean bedding in a cupboard, she took it out to air in the courtyard. After tidying up a study and a bathroom, Tong Tong moved a chaise lounge under the pear tree in the yard, sprawled out on it, and immediately felt too lazy to move.

Only then did she remember the jade slip Qingfeng had given her. She picked it up, turning it over in her hands. The green jade slip had a smooth texture, devoid of excessive carvings, with only a dark character for "Yin [Seclusion]" engraved in the center.

Tong Tong ran her fingertip over the character from top to bottom. Unexpectedly, the dark character suddenly flashed with light, and she felt a stream of information forcibly injected into her mind, like a virus.

Her eyes glazed over, unable to move, she could only wait as the information was forcefully implanted into her consciousness.

In just a few moments, Tong Tong's eyes cleared, but she slapped her own head in frustration, muttering bitterly, "How foolish of me! All that effort for nothing, wuwu..."

It turned out that this jade slip was the key to controlling the entire Yunyin Courtyard. By touching the characters on it and visualizing how to operate it, every plant and tree within the abode could be controlled effortlessly, without needing to go through such great trouble...

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