Chapter 5: Are You Really Yun Zhao?

Then he would reluctantly try to accept...

No!

Qi Yan slapped himself mentally. Yun Zhao was his enemy; how could he forget his hatred just because of a few words from her?

Perhaps, just perhaps, she was acting again!

For no apparent reason, Yun Zhao noticed that Qi Yan was ignoring her again.

However...

[Favorability +1, current favorability: 2]

Oh, hypocrisy at its finest!

Master Hanyue only escorted them to the base of Qingyun Peak. "Zhaozhao, take care of yourself. Your uncle is returning to seclusion. If Song Zhiyuan bullies you again, send me a message."

Yun Zhao agreed obediently. After Master Hanyue left, she pulled Qi Yan into the house.

"That scared me to death!"

Yun Zhao flopped onto a stool and gulped down two cups of cold tea.

Qi Yan leaned against the wall, looking indifferent. "And yet you still protected me. Weren't you afraid I’d be exposed by the Demon-Reflecting Mirror and you’d be labeled my accomplice?"

Yun Zhao thought, *I have the system to help me mask your aura, so of course I wasn't afraid.*

But she said, "Didn't I say I would protect you? I can't break my word. Besides, you're so powerful and have techniques to mask your aura; surely you could evade the Demon-Reflecting Mirror."

"So, I wasn't afraid at all!"

Yun Zhao looked at Qi Yan with starry eyes and asked, "Ah Yan, you weren't panicked at all just now—do you have some way to trick the Demon-Reflecting Mirror?"

He did, indeed.

But why would he tell Yun Zhao?

This was his trump card.

Yet, under the gaze of her star-bright eyes, he answered instinctively, "Yes."

Yun Zhao pressed further, "What is it?"

Qi Yan realized he had spoken too soon and snorted, "Why should I tell you?"

Yun Zhao didn't take offense and smiled, "Then what technique do you use to restrain your aura? It’s so impressive!"

Speaking of this, if not for the fact that he couldn't mention his rebirth, Qi Yan would have boasted about it.

He had snatched this technique in his past life—right from under Song Zhiyuan’s nose. He had been thrilled about it for days.

Seeing Yun Zhao’s genuine curiosity, Qi Yan tried to divert her attention by bringing up the apprenticeship. "You mentioned earlier that you wanted to take me as a disciple on behalf of your father. I know that was just an expedient measure. Let’s pretend you never said it."

"How can that be?" Yun Zhao replied, dissatisfied. "The words are already spoken; how can I go back on them?"

Taking him as a disciple served three purposes: first, it gave Qi Yan a legitimate identity to remain at Qingyun Sect; second, it was the dying wish of the original owner's father, who wanted a disciple with a Wind Spirit Root to inherit his mantle.

Third, if Qi Yan became her junior brother, wouldn't their relationship become even closer? It would be easier to grind for favorability later.

Primarily for the sake of favorability, Yun Zhao was determined to make this happen, so she stubbornly insisted that Qi Yan accept it.

To stay by Yun Zhao’s side and seek his revenge, Qi Yan... endured it!

To avoid any more complications, Yun Zhao dragged Qi Yan to bow three times before the spirit tablet, sealing the apprenticeship.

Yun Zhao handed him the technique manual she had prepared. "A gift for your apprenticeship. I’m giving it to you on behalf of my father."

Strange to say, when she said the word "Father," it felt incredibly natural, as if she had said it many times before.

But how could someone like her have parents?

Because of her cursed constitution, she brought misfortune to relatives and friends alike, living in isolation until the system bound to her, giving her hope of shedding this curse.

Yun Zhao secretly made up her mind: she must seize this opportunity!

"Senior Sister Zhaozhao, Senior Sister Mu is looking for you."

A young disciple’s voice sounded outside. Yun Zhao took a few seconds to recall who "Senior Sister Mu" was, told Qi Yan to return to his room, and went to meet Mu Qianqian.

Mu Qianqian was Master Hanyue’s disciple, and her relationship with the original owner was poor—one could say they were like fire and water.

Before reaching the room where Mu Qianqian was, the young disciple whispered, "Senior Sister, be careful. I noticed Senior Sister Mu didn't look very happy."

"I know," Yun Zhao patted her head. "Go play."

The young disciple nodded, but she didn't leave until Yun Zhao had entered the room.

Her feeling from yesterday was right—Senior Sister Zhaozhao... seemed a bit different.

"Senior Sister Mu, you were looking for me?"

As soon as Yun Zhao stepped inside, a teacup flew toward her. She dodged to the side, barely avoiding it.

Although this body had Foundation Establishment cultivation, she couldn't master it skillfully yet, and her footwork was clumsy.

Yun Zhao’s face darkened. "Senior Sister Mu, if you have something to say, say it. The teacups at Qingyun Peak are expensive!"

But once she entered, she saw Mu Qianqian’s eyes were severely swollen; she had clearly been crying.

Yun Zhao was baffled.

Wait.

I’m the one who had a cup thrown at me, right?

Mu Qianqian choked out, "Yun Zhao, you are truly going too far!"

"Me?" Yun Zhao pointed at herself. "How am I going too far? Senior Sister Mu, I don't think I’ve bullied you, have I?"

"You didn't bully me," Mu Qianqian said bitterly, "but Master was in seclusion. At a critical moment, he was suddenly forced to leave. Since returning, his old injuries have flared up. Are you going to tell me that isn't your fault?!"

Yun Zhao gasped. "How could that be..."

"How could it not? In the past, whenever you caused trouble, Master had to clean up the mess for you. Whatever you wanted, Master found a way to get it for you, and what’s more..."

Mu Qianqian ranted for a long time before angrily concluding, "But you weren't in any danger today! Why would Master go looking for you?"

The events at the Assembly Hall hadn't spread yet, so Mu Qianqian was unaware.

Yun Zhao thought for a moment and explained what had happened.

Mu Qianqian was stunned. "You’ve changed your affections?"

Yun Zhao corrected her, "It’s not a change of affection; Song Zhiyuan and I were never in love."

"Your focus seems a bit off, doesn't it?"

Shouldn't a normal person be concerned about Qi Yan’s identity?

Mu Qianqian snorted. "Don't tell me what to focus on. At least it's good that you don't like Song Zhiyuan anymore."

"You used to chase after Song Zhiyuan, fawning over him, and he only knew how to brush you off and deceive you, yet you treated him like a treasure."

"It’s just a pity for my Master. All the things you asked for were things Song Zhiyuan needed. Master gave them to you, and you turned around and gave them to Song Zhiyuan."

"However," Mu Qianqian questioned, "you aren't just giving him the cold shoulder because he’s been getting close to that new disciple, are you?"

Mu Qianqian strongly suspected that if Song Zhiyuan crooked his finger and said a few sweet words, Yun Zhao would be back all over him.

"How could that be?" Yun Zhao retorted. "I wouldn't. That hypocrite and petty man—how could he be worthy of me?"

Seeing her say it with such conviction, Mu Qianqian reluctantly believed her.

Wait.

She had come to vent her anger because her Master's old injuries had flared up. She hadn't expected Yun Zhao not to start a fight with her.

Mu Qianqian immediately looked wary. "Are you really Yun Zhao?"

Yun Zhao felt the alarm bells ringing in her head and said calmly, "What are you talking about, Senior Sister Mu? If I’m not Yun Zhao, then who am I?"

Mu Qianqian scanned her up and down. "Ever since you fell for Song Zhiyuan, you’ve never called me 'Senior Sister,' yet you called me that the moment you walked in..."

With a "swish," she drew her spirit sword and pointed it at Yun Zhao. "Who are you? Why have you occupied Yun Zhao’s body!"