Chapter 21: Dignified Sect Master Is About to Turn Into a Grumbling Housewife
Seeing the sect leader looking so haggard, Song Zhen was genuinely touched.
“Master, you’ve been so good to me. I’ll make sure to take care of you when you’re old!”
Seeing how utterly serious Song Zhen looked, the Sect Master’s mouth twitched, and he inwardly rejected her words with all his might.
Retirement? How could he possibly need someone to take care of him in his old age? He was in his prime—still young and vigorous!
Ji Fan noticed the Sect Master’s darkening expression and hurriedly clamped a hand over Song Zhen’s mouth.
“Master, Junior Sister is just joking. You’ve worked hard traveling around these past days. Please rest well—we’ll take our leave now.”
With that, he dragged Song Zhen away. As she was pulled along, Song Zhen wore a completely baffled expression.
What just happened? Why was he dragging me off all of a sudden? Was there something wrong with what I just said?
As a disciple, wasn’t taking care of one’s master when they’re old a perfectly normal thing? Why did Fifth Senior Brother react so strongly?
Once outside, Ji Fan knocked Song Zhen on the head and said in exasperation:
“You, can’t you be more careful with your words? Master hates anyone saying he’s old.”
“Besides, Master doesn’t need us to take care of him. In this cultivation world, life spans are unpredictable. We might die first anyway.”
In this world, it was common for children to bury their parents. And for disciples going on adventures, many never returned.
Song Zhen scratched her head, genuinely unaware that her master disliked hearing people call him old. If someone offered to care for her in her old age, she would be delighted—and she could have them start immediately.
Sighing, she said earnestly, “I wish someone would take care of me when I get old.”
Ji Fan rolled his eyes in disbelief. Dream on. She had only just begun cultivating and was already thinking about someone taking care of her when she was old.
“You should let go of that thought. People our age are far from having disciples to care for us.”
“If you have time to daydream, use it to cultivate. The trial tournament is about to begin. Every sect will participate. If we can take the top spot, the Mystic Cloud Sect’s reputation will soar.”
Speaking of which, Ji Fan couldn’t help but frown. Their disciples were strong, but every time, they lost in the end.
It wasn’t always about strength. By the later spars, it was about strategy and cunning. Some people were just smarter. Although Ji Fan hated to admit it, it was the truth.
Song Zhen, however, didn’t know what he was worrying about. All her thoughts were consumed by the tournament.
She had already made a name for herself in the Sword Sect. If she could shine at the tournament, it would be a major step toward her goals.
Even if she lost, it didn’t matter. Who said you couldn’t shine even in defeat? If she lost, she’d lose spectacularly.
She began secluding herself to practice seriously. Other disciples were watching her closely.
The tournament had stages: the first for Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment, the second for Golden Core, the third for Nascent Soul, and so on.
Disciples fought opponents among their own stage. It was fair and prevented accidents—after all, it was only inter-sect sparring.
If a Foundation Establishment disciple fought a Nascent Soul, there’d be nothing to see—and accidents were likely.
Even a strong Foundation Establishment disciple couldn’t match a Nascent Soul. But if you were strong or confident enough, you could challenge a higher stage—though no one had ever won.
The sect leader returned and barely rested two days before diving into preparations.
The tournament was a big deal. Winning first place could elevate the Mystic Cloud Sword Sect’s reputation immensely.
“No, these new disciples aren’t stable. If they participate, trouble is bound to happen,” one of the elders wasn’t too keen on letting Song Zhen’s batch of disciples participate.
They have caused too many incidents lately. Their cultivation progressed fast, but they were reckless.
Which sword cultivator attacks while aiming for the low blows or cutting others’ clothes?
Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were a bunch of lecherous scoundrels — though honestly, they weren’t much different from that right now.
Still, losing face at home was one thing.
If they were sent out and embarrassed themselves outside, then where would that leave the reputation of the Mystic Cloud Sword Sect?
Elder Liu disagreed.
“No, they should go. In the past, our disciples always lost in the final stages. It’s not that they weren’t strong, but their minds weren’t flexible enough.”
“Someone played a small trick and managed to fool them. Although Song Zhen and her group are usually a bit mischievous, they’re actually full of tricks themselves—much quicker-witted than their senior brothers and sisters.”
Saying “full of tricks themselves” like that felt a little off somehow.
Even the sect master felt embarrassed, because his own direct disciple, Song Zhen, was the one leading the group.
The elders argued over who should participate. Everyone had their own opinions. When selecting candidates, they naturally wanted the best, and everyone knew in their hearts who the most outstanding ones were.
After arguing for nearly half a month, in the end, it was still Song Zhen and her group who were sent.
The elder taking them this time was Elder Rong. He was always smiling kindly, and Song Zhen liked him very much.
During this period, Song Zhen had also figured out how the Tournament worked.
If a sect failed to arrive within the designated time, it meant they weren’t participating this round—counted as an automatic elimination.
While Elder Rong was explaining the precautions, Song Zhen’s thoughts had long drifted elsewhere.
If a sect failed to arrive… then that sect would be eliminated by default.
A very good idea seemed to spark in her mind.
It was a bit underhanded, true—but all’s fair in strategy, wasn’t it?
Elder Rong noticed her mischievous expression immediately.
“You little girl, what bad idea are you cooking up this time? Don’t go making trouble for me — I’m nowhere near as sturdy as your master.”
Since her joining, nobody in the sect had been able to control her.
The sect master had always been such a steady, composed person, yet now he came to him to complain every single day.
A perfectly dignified sect master was practically turning into a grumbling housewife.
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