Chương 13: Chapter 14: Shifting Responsibility

Duan Zhonghua and Li Zidu exchanged a sharp, fleeting glance, their eyes clashing for a heartbeat before they both resumed their masks of cordiality and smiling harmony.

"Hehe, there is no need for my two senior brothers to bicker so," Liu Junru, the only female among Dan Chenzi's first four disciples, spoke up with a light, melodic giggle. She cast a playful look at her two squabbling seniors before stepping forward to loop her arm through Ji Yueli's.

"Why not leave this task to me? I believe a woman's touch is far more suitable for teaching a junior sister than you two men. My alchemy has already reached the first grade, my foundation is solid, and I am not currently facing a cultivation bottleneck. What do you say?" She tilted her head, looking at the ice-cold beauty beside her.

"How about it, Junior Sister Yueli? Would you be willing to let this Senior Sister stand in for our Master for a time?" Ji Yueli's gaze swept over Duan Zhonghua and Li Zidu, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she gave a slight nod. Her cherry-red lips parted as she spoke in a voice as cool and clear as a mountain spring.

"Then I shall trouble Senior Sister." Seeing Ji Yueli agree, Duan Zhonghua and Li Zidu shared another look and simultaneously stepped back, their competitive fervor dampened but not extinguished.

"Good. Yueli's arrangements are settled," Dan Chenzi said, his voice echoing in the quiet room.

"But you still have another junior brother. Although Reyn is only a registered disciple, no one from my Hundred Herb Valley can be ignorant of the alchemical arts. Who among you is willing to guide him for a period? Huaming—no, Zhonghua, how about you?" Duan Zhonghua's expression stiffened, a flash of hesitation crossing his features. He bowed deeply, his voice dripping with feigned regret.

"Master, I believe my second junior brother made a valid point earlier. I am currently at a critical juncture, preparing to break through the bottleneck of the late Foundation Establishment stage. I fear I truly lack the time. I humbly request that you choose another." Dan Chenzi nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as he gave Duan Zhonghua a look that seemed to pierce through his excuses. He then turned his gaze toward Li Zidu.

"Master, as the Eldest Brother just mentioned, I am merely a Grade 1 Alchemist," Li Zidu added hastily, waving his hands in a dismissive gesture.

"I fear my skills are insufficient. I wouldn't want to teach him poorly and delay Junior Brother Reyn's cultivation." A flicker of dissatisfaction crossed Dan Chenzi's eyes. He saw through their petty machinations clearly, but since their excuses were technically grounded in the pursuit of cultivation, he found it difficult to force the issue.

"Master, I will not participate in this," the third disciple, Hei Shi, grunted. True to his name—Black Stone—he was as cold and rigid as a rock, rarely speaking and never concerning himself with the affairs of others. Liu Junru rolled her eyes playfully and laughed.

"Master, I'm already taking care of Junior Sister Yueli. Adding another person would surely hinder my own progress. You can't possibly push this onto me as well!" Standing at the end of the line, Reyn watched the display with a silent, bitter smile. He could see he was being treated like a piece of unwanted refuse. Stepping forward, he bowed respectfully.

"Master, please do not trouble yourself. My senior brothers and sister speak the truth. Furthermore, my aptitude is dull; there is no need to delay their cultivation for my sake. If you could simply provide me with some basic manuals, I will study them on my own." Dan Chenzi fell into a brief silence, contemplating the boy. He knew that with Reyn's lack of spiritual roots, the boy was unlikely to achieve much in the way of alchemy regardless of who taught him. Finally, he nodded.

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"Every disciple under my lineage is entitled to a medicinal garden within the Xuanxiao Sect to serve as their private cultivation grounds," Dan Chenzi said, perhaps feeling a twinge of guilt for his other disciples' blatant rejection.

"Though you are but a registered disciple, I shall make an exception today and grant you that right. Follow your Eldest Brother to the Spirit Apportioning Pavilion later and select a garden for yourself."

"Yes! This disciple thanks the Master for his grace!" A genuine look of joy appeared on Reyn's face as he performed a deep, respectful salute.

"Very well. From this day forth, I shall enter a period of secluded cultivation. You may all depart," Dan Chenzi said, closing his eyes and waving a hand. Reyn and the others bowed once more before slowly filing out of the room.

"Junior Sister Yueli," Duan Zhonghua said, standing outside the Hundred Herb Valley with a warm, practiced smile.

"Though I am busy with my breakthrough, if you ever find yourself confused by alchemy or cultivation, feel free to come to me. I should be able to offer you some guidance." Li Zidu chuckled and chimed in, "Our Eldest Brother is right. If you face any difficulties, my doors are always open to you as well." Ji Yueli gave a curt nod, her face indifferent to their heated enthusiasm. However, she suddenly turned her head toward Reyn.

"Reyn, if you encounter any trouble in the future, you may come find me as well." Her sudden words caused every gaze to snap toward Reyn. Duan Zhonghua and Li Zidu both narrowed their eyes, a strange, sharp light flickering within them. Even Liu Junru looked surprised, unable to fathom why this peerless beauty with top-tier spiritual roots would spare a glance for a rootless commoner like Reyn.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Yueli," Reyn replied, catching the glint of hostility in the eyes of his senior brothers. He sighed inwardly; it seemed he had just been marked as a target by both of them.

"Alright, I need to get back and start Junior Sister Yueli's lessons. We won't stay to chat. Senior brothers, we'll take our leave first," Liu Junru said, casting a somewhat schadenfreude-filled look at Reyn before pulling Ji Yueli away.

"Senior Brother, I shall depart as well," Li Zidu said. He shot a cold, subtle look at Reyn before cupping his hands to Duan Zhonghua and walking away. Duan Zhonghua's face went cold the moment the others were out of earshot. He looked at Reyn with an icy, expressionless gaze.

"Since Master gave you the right to a garden, follow me." Without another word, he turned and strode away, not bothering to check if Reyn was keeping up. Reyn followed silently, a wry smile playing on his lips. Though he lacked spiritual roots, his wits were sharp. He understood exactly why the atmosphere had soured. He couldn't help but lament the ancient wisdom: A beautiful face is truly the root of all disasters.

They soon arrived at the Spirit Apportioning Pavilion, the hub responsible for distributing all cultivation resources within the Xuanxiao Sect. As a vital location, it was overseen by the Third Elder, a powerful cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage. However, the Third Elder was obsessed with his own path and rarely handled mundane affairs, leaving the daily operations to his disciples.

"Junior Brother Duan! What brings you here today? Hehe, it has been quite some time since we last met. I see your cultivation has reached the peak of the sixth level of Qi Condensation; it seems the seventh level is just around the corner!" As they entered the pavilion, a slightly portly man hurried forward to greet them with a wide smile. He was a peculiar sight; he lacked the ethereal, transcendent aura of a typical cultivator, looking instead like a shrewd, worldly merchant from the secular markets.

"Senior Brother Ma, you flatter me. I've been busy with my training, and whether I can actually break through this bottleneck remains to be seen," Duan Zhonghua replied with a polite smile, cupping his hands. Despite the man's unimpressive appearance, Duan Zhonghua didn't dare be careless. Rumor had it that this Ma Tu was already at the eighth level of Qi Condensation and could attempt Foundation Establishment at any moment.

The two exchanged pleasantries at the entrance of the pavilion for several minutes before finally turning to the matter at hand.

"Senior Brother Ma, I've come today on my Master's orders to bring Junior Brother Reyn to claim a medicinal garden. Though he is a registered disciple, Master has made an exception for him." Ma Tu blinked in surprise, his eyes falling upon Reyn. He scrutinized the boy for a long moment before laughing heartily.

"Ah, so this is the new disciple Fifth Uncle took in. Very well, follow me to the second floor to pick out a plot." With that, Ma Tu led the way, guiding them up the stairs to the second level of the pavilion.