Yun Jin was startled. "Master? Senior brothers? Senior sister? What's wrong? Why do you all have dark circles under your eyes?"
Poor things. They were cultivators—how did they still end up with dark circles?
The group quickly circulated their spiritual energy, and the dark circles vanished instantly.
Lin Ya glanced at Yun Jin, visibly puzzled. Hadn't this little disciple just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage?
Then why did she look so gloomy?
Could he have misjudged her condition? Maybe she looked fine on the surface, but was actually dealing with something serious?
The more he looked, the more uneasy he became.
Yun Jin sighed deeply again.
That did it. Lin Ya tensed up, concern rising in his eyes. He asked gently, "Xiao Jin, what's wrong? Did something go awry during your cultivation? If there's a problem, just tell me. I'm your master. I'll definitely help you solve it."
Yun Jin looked at him, as though on the verge of speaking, then hesitated.
Lin Ya met her hesitation with an encouraging gaze.
Since she'd joined the sect, this was the first time she looked genuinely troubled.
He was both gratified and worried.
Gratified because, finally, he could be of use as her master.
Worried because Yun Jin had always gone through cultivation like slicing tofu. If something had finally shaken her, it might just impact her Dao heart.
Under Lin Ya's encouraging gaze, Yun Jin finally spoke with a troubled expression. "Master, my cultivation is fine. I just broke through to Foundation Establishment, and my foundation is stable. My problem is… something else."
So her cultivation was fine?
Lin Ya let out a sigh of relief. "Then what is it? Tell me. With your master here, no matter how big the problem, I'll fix it for you."
"Really?" Yun Jin's eyes lit up.
For the first time, Lin Ya felt like a proper master. He nodded earnestly.
Yun Jin leaned forward eagerly. "Then Master, could you help me figure out... where in the sect I can show off the most? Somewhere with lots of people watching! I—"
She hadn't even finished before Lin Ya's face darkened visibly.
Grinding his teeth, he cut her off. "I can't think of any!"
Yun Jin immediately looked wronged.
Fine, if he couldn't think of any, then so be it. Why be so fierce?
He was the one who'd offered help!
This was her biggest problem right now!
Lin Ya's beard trembled as he yanked Yue Zhao forward. "You're the eldest disciple. It's your duty to look after your juniors. Xiao Jin is yours now. I have other matters to attend to."
With that, Lin Ya bolted.
Hah. Worry about Yun Jin?
As if she needed it.
"Senior Brother…" Yun Jin looked at Yue Zhao innocently.
Yue Zhao sighed in resignation. Just as he was about to speak—
A voice, neither distinctly male nor female, rang out.
"Yue Zhao. Long time no see."
Yue Zhao's expression stiffened.
He turned and saw a man in red robes slowly approaching. His features were strikingly beautiful, his lips painted a deep crimson, giving him an eerie, unsettling allure.
Though the man greeted Yue Zhao, his gaze immediately locked onto Yun Jin.
He smiled meaningfully. "Oh? What an adorable little girl."
Yue Zhao stepped in front of Yun Jin, his face cold. "Gu Jinghong. If you want to act like trash, go back to your own quarters. Tianjian Peak isn't a place for your nonsense."
Gu Jinghong's lips curled into a peculiar smile. "Senior Brother Yue, no need to be so fierce. I'm here under Master's orders to deliver a message." His eyes flicked back to Yun Jin. "I heard this little junior sister fears nothing. So why is she hiding now?"
"Just say what you need to say!" Yue Zhao snapped, still blocking Gu Jinghong's line of sight.
But Yun Jin poked her head out from behind him, grinning brightly. "Senior Brother, since I'm so cute and beautiful, if this Senior Brother Gu wants to look, let him!"
She stepped forward, meeting Gu Jinghong's gaze head-on, her lips curving into a smile.
Gu Jinghong.
She remembered him very well.
In the novel, among Ye Danxia's suitors, there were loyal puppies, soft-spoken gentlemen, and every archetype in between.
Gu Jinghong was Ye Danxia's second senior brother—and a complete psychopath.
Well…
The book had a nicer term for it: yandere.
In her past life, just because Ye Danxia had cried, this yandere senior brother had kidnapped Yun Jin without a second thought and tortured her for a full day and night with Soul-Devouring Ants.
Logically, that pain should have felt distant by now.
But seeing him again, Yun Jin realized—
Not distant enough.
The suffering she had endured in her past life…
This yandere senior brother deserved to taste it all himself.
Yun Jin met Gu Jinghong's gaze without flinching.
Gu Jinghong paused, then grinned—a twisted, manic smile. "Oh? A brave little thing. Do you know? I have a habit of drinking blood… and I especially love the blood of girls like you."
He licked his lips, the picture of a deranged monster.
"Gu Jinghong, you—!" Yue Zhao was furious, worried Yun Jin might be frightened.
But Yun Jin just laughed. She stared straight at Gu Jinghong. "Do you know about your eldest senior brother?"
Gu Jinghong narrowed his eyes.
"In three months, he's going to die." Yun Jin smiled, slowly drawing a finger across her neck. "I'll take my sword—swish—and his head will go thud on the ground! Since you love drinking blood so much, I'll catch it in a bowl for you. How about that?"
She suddenly let out a creepy, exaggerated laugh. "Drinking ordinary blood is boring. Drinking the blood of a fellow disciple? Now that's exciting. Don't you agree, Senior Brother Gu?"
Her act was so convincing she out-crazied the crazy.
Yue Zhao silently stepped aside.
"…"
Well.
He probably shouldn't involve himself in this battle of psychopaths.
He was just an innocent bystander.
Gu Jinghong's smile faded. His expression darkened as he studied Yun Jin. "Interesting. In three months, when Eldest Senior Brother cuts you down, I'll savor every drop of your blood."
"Oh?" Yun Jin smirked. "Too bad you won't get the chance."
Gu Jinghong stared at her for a long moment before suddenly laughing. "Junior Sister Yun, I didn't come here just to bicker. Master did send me with a message."
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "Then spit it out."
Gu Jinghong's face darkened further, but he controlled himself. "All fifteen new disciples—including you and Danxia—have been selected. Master has ordered that tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), all new disciples must gather at the square. There, Master will distribute the sect's identity tokens." He paused, his voice dripping with malice. "He expects you to be there on time."
Yun Jin acted oblivious. "Got it."
But inside, she was thrilled.
Did everyone hear that?
All disciples.
Gathering in the square.
All of them!
Do you know what that meant?
A huge crowd.
And what did a huge crowd mean?
A massive influx of emotional value!
Thinking of Zhao Wuji, Yun Jin almost teared up.
What a good man he was!
First, he used his spiritual pressure to help her soul force break through to Foundation Establishment.
Now, knowing she was short on emotional value, he gathered the entire sect to deliver her a fresh batch.
Such kindness!
She would definitely repay him properly in the future!