Chapter 8: Rest Assured, I Will Be Gentle

“Why?”

Each peak master attracts disciples with good talent through their own abilities, but when disciples first begin cultivation, they must study on the peak that matches their spiritual root.

For example, Song Zhiyuan has a metal spiritual root; when he first started, he studied on the Metal Peak.

Xue Huairui hesitated, looking reluctant to speak.

Song Zhiyuan frowned. “Did someone bully you?”

“No, no,” Xue Huairui quickly replied, “I just feel that since the Cold Moon Peak is close with Senior Sister Yun, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go there.”

Song Zhiyuan thought for a moment. “Then I’ll accompany you. Don’t worry, with me here, they won’t dare to bully you.”

Xue Huairui possessed an exceptional ice spiritual root and should have been accepted by Master Cold Moon, but since he didn’t recruit disciples yesterday and she expressed a wish to join the main peak, she became a disciple of the sect leader, Master Guiyuan.

Xue Huairui gratefully said, “Thank you, senior brother.”

Song Zhiyuan smiled, “We’re fellow disciples; no need to thank me.”

“But I must,” Xue Huairui insisted, “In all my life, you’re the first person who’s ever been kind to me.”

Song Zhiyuan was surprised. “Junior sister, your family…”

“I have no family,” Xue Huairui forced a smile. “My parents, because I was a girl and my spiritual root wasn’t detected when I was young, often beat and scolded me.”

“Later, there was a fire at home. They didn’t escape. My mother sent me out in the snow to buy candy for my brother, and that’s how I survived…”

After hearing Xue Huairui’s tragic story, Song Zhiyuan felt even more pity for her.

…

The Qingyun Peak Library.

“I don’t want to look anymore.”

Yun Zhao’s face was ashen. “How long will this take?”

Qi Yan expressionless: “Why don’t you get me out first, then talk?”

Yun Zhao looked back and immediately felt embarrassed. “Sorry, I got too carried away just now and didn’t notice.”

She had been searching for books while tossing them aside, accidentally burying Qi Yan under a pile of books—almost crushing him.

After some digging here and there, Yun Zhao finally freed Qi Yan.

“Senior Sister Zhao,” a young disciple’s voice came from outside the library, “I’ve finished cooking. Let’s eat first, then continue searching.”

The young disciple was called “Xiao Tong.” Officially, he was a registered disciple of Yun Zhao’s father, but in reality, he was assigned to take care of Yun Zhao at Qingyun Peak.

Previously, only Yun Zhao and Xiao Tong were at Qingyun Peak. After Yun Zhao began fasting, she had little appetite, and the kitchen at Qingyun Peak was practically unused.

Xiao Tong, skilled in cooking, had no chance to show his talents.

But since Qi Yan arrived, needing three meals a day, Yun Zhao also started eating regularly.

“Senior Sister Zhao, try this fried Red Feather chicken leg. Does it taste like you imagined?”

Xiao Tong looked at Yun Zhao expectantly. Yun Zhao took a bite and immediately gave her a thumbs-up.

“Mmm, this is exactly the taste!”

What a treasure of a junior sister—she had perfectly replicated the flavor!

Xiao Tong shyly smiled. “I’m glad you like it, Senior Sister Zhao.”

Qi Yan: “……”

Why do I feel a bit… dazzling?

Just as they finished eating, Mu Qianqian arrived. Seeing the library in such disorder, she asked in confusion, “Was there a robbery here?”

“No,” Yun Zhao made space for her to sit. “Senior Sister Mu, we’re searching for something.”

“What are you looking for? I’m free; I’ll help you.”

Mu Qianqian’s offer was very natural. Yun Zhao tilted her head. “You… want to help me?”

Mu Qianqian snapped, “Otherwise, should I help Song Zhiyuan?”

Yun Zhao immediately replied, “Better help me then!”

The four of them busied themselves all afternoon. Mu Qianqian’s eyes grew tired, but they couldn’t find anything that met Yun Zhao’s needs.

She casually flipped through the last book and decided to rest after finishing it—she really couldn’t keep going…

“Hey, this book seems to record methods to unseal cultivation.”

Yun Zhao suddenly popped up from the sea of books. “Where, where? Let me see.”

The two of them leaned over the book together. After reading, Yun Zhao closed it excitedly. “Senior Sister Mu, you’re amazing—you found it right away!”

Mu Qianqian was modest. “Not really amazing, just so-so.”

It was a tattered little book, detailing many strange and exotic methods for unsealing cultivation.

Qi Yan looked it over and was at a loss for words. “Does this really work?”

“How will we know if we don’t try?”

Yun Zhao opened to the first page enthusiastically. “Let’s try this one first—the fire therapy method. It uses fire spiritual energy or the world’s spiritual flames to temper the body and thus break the cultivation seal.”

She finished reading and looked at Qi Yan.

Qi Yan felt a bad premonition. “Yun Zhao, you don’t intend to…”

Yun Zhao closed the book, flashing a perfect smile. “Let’s try it. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle and careful.”

She herself had a fire spiritual root and didn’t need help from anyone else.

Qi Yan wanted to escape but couldn’t. At Yun Zhao’s command, Xiao Tong used spiritual power to bind him.

Faced with such a ruthless scene, Mu Qianqian exclaimed, “Goodness!” To avoid accidental injury, she flew away on her sword.

Xiao Tong left too, leaving only Yun Zhao and Qi Yan in the room.

Qi Yan pressed his lips tightly. “Yun Zhao, don’t come closer…”

Yun Zhao paid no heed. A ball of flame appeared in her hand as she smiled innocently at Qi Yan. “Don’t be afraid. Your clothes are water and fire resistant, so no worries about any… exposure~”

Qi Yan’s face darkened.

Who’s worried about that?

I’m worried you’ll burn me to death!

Wait, what do you mean by ‘exposure’? Explain yourself!

To prevent accidents, Yun Zhao had prepared many defensive spiritual artifacts to wear.

Qi Yan saw this and said grumpily, “You really value your life.”

Yun Zhao busily practiced her spiritual power and casually said, “Fire is dangerous. Who wouldn’t value their life?”

Qi Yan looked at himself, wearing no defensive spiritual artifact at all. “……”

Is she trying to kill me while she’s at it?

This was Yun Zhao’s first real use of spiritual power. It wasn’t difficult; she quickly mastered it.

She controlled the flames to fly toward Qi Yan, who immediately felt a scorching heat from all directions.

To his surprise, the spiritual power inside him loosened slightly!

Yun Zhao watched his expression closely and asked eagerly, “Is it working? Should I increase the firepower?”

Qi Yan nodded without hesitation, “Increase it!”

Yun Zhao obeyed, slowly intensifying the flames.

“Bang—”

The fire suddenly surged. The spiritual power inside Yun Zhao was rapidly drained, and her face turned pale!

The firepower spiraled out of control. Flames spread all over Qi Yan’s body. He grimaced in pain as his clothes burned piece by piece.

Yun Zhao’s face changed drastically. She quickly activated the prepared spiritual artifacts and rushed to Qi Yan’s side!

She held him tightly, the artifacts shielding them completely. Fortunately, the room was arrayed with protective formations, so the flames gradually died down.

When Xiao Tong arrived, half the room was already burned to ruins.

Xiao Tong looked at the two charred human-shaped figures and tentatively called out, “Senior Sister Zhao? Junior Brother Qi?”

Yun Zhao coughed out a mouthful of black smoke. “It’s me, Xiao Tong!”

“The first method didn’t work; let’s try the next one!”