Chapter Thirteen: An Unexpected Visitor

To rise from a Tier D sect to a Tier C sect, one must fulfill three hundred orders. Ninety percent of these are Tier D tasks, while the remaining ten percent are more challenging Tier C assignments. Unlike the Tier D missions that revolve around daily errands, escorting, and other trivial matters, Tier C tasks gradually shift toward murder cases or the investigation of forbidden spell development. The criminals involved are either members of the demon race or spirit masters who have strayed onto the path of evil, making these jobs considerably more dangerous.

Of course, Bai Yujing was utterly unconcerned about such things. The real issue was that the Demon-Slaying App, worried that some reckless youths might overestimate their abilities and rush in blindly, had specifically set a cooldown period. During this time, applicants could cancel their attempt at any moment and return to accepting Tier D tasks to further hone themselves. Even if Bai Yujing chose to sprint for Tier C status immediately, he would still have to wait a night before the system would assign him Tier C orders to work toward the promotion. In fact, not even Tier D orders would be available until the cooldown ended. Moreover, applicants were required to remain at their registered sect; if they left, the system would reset the cooldown timer.

…

By dusk, the distant sky was painted orange and red by the setting sun, the clouds ignited in layers like a bold, vibrant oil painting. Bai Yujing brought the dining table outside, letting the last rays of sunlight illuminate the pizza, fried chicken, and burgers atop it. Raising his cola, he declared, “A toast to the growth of our Azure Cloud Sect!”

Liu Shuangling shot him a sidelong glance. “It’s just that we’re about to be promoted to a Tier C sect. Is all this really necessary?”

Tia, on the other hand, fanned the flames quietly, “With your strength, breaking through to Tier A would be no problem. Why not storm the Demon-Slaying App headquarters and force them to change the rules?”

Bai Yujing shook his head. “You’re still too young; you don’t understand the joy of achieving your goals step by step. When you reach my stage, you’ll realize there are only a few things in life worthy of being called goals. Once you’ve completed them all, what’s left to do?”

Both Liu Shuangling and Tia paused, momentarily stunned. They had never truly considered what came after achieving their dreams.

Bai Yujing took a sip of cola, his face full of melancholy. “I truly envy you both. With my goal ahead of me, you’ll never experience this kind of loneliness in your lifetime.”

Tia clenched her fists in silence, itching to land a punch on that face.

Liu Shuangling replied with veiled barbs, “The future is unpredictable. Who can say what may come?”

“I, too, hope for surprises,” Bai Yujing responded, donning disposable gloves once again. “If you really could kill me, what would you do next?”

Neither of them answered.

They were not the passionate heroines who wore their dreams on their sleeves, but more like those antagonists who developed quietly in the shadows, growing strong enough to become the protagonist’s adversaries. Facing the sudden silence, Bai Yujing did not force them to reply. Aside from forbidding them from doing harm, he imposed almost no mandatory requirements on them. His aim was to guide them back to the right path, to correct their evil inclinations, and mold them into the Azure Cloud Sect’s future pillars—not to dominate them or make them his servants.

If he had truly desired that, he would have already achieved it. At present, any task he assigned, they would carry out without hesitation. But Bai Yujing’s vision for the sect was not such an atmosphere; it should resemble the camaraderie that flourished when the former master was alive. Senior and junior brothers, though unrelated by blood, lived as close as family.

Thinking of his master and senior brothers, Bai Yujing drifted into reminiscence. Though their time together was short, it was truly wonderful—more valuable than many could hope to experience in a lifetime.

Lost in memory, Bai Yujing lingered in the past.

Tia quietly sipped her orange juice, her emerald eyes darting. Should she break the awkward silence? She couldn’t be too disrespectful to Bai Yujing, the sect leader, after all. What topic should she bring up?

While Tia was still pondering, Bai Yujing’s thoughts returned to the present, and he looked toward the entrance. A few leaves, caught by the wind, fell from their branches, but no one stood at the doorway. Still, he sensed someone approaching, ascending the steps.

Strange. Over the years, he had secluded himself in cultivation, making no new friends and unlikely to receive a visit from a Tier Nine spirit master seeking conversation.

Setting down his cola, Bai Yujing stood and said, “Hurry up and tidy things away. We have a guest.”

“Is it someone you know, Master?”

“No, I don’t know her at all.” His answer piqued their curiosity—who could it be?

Nevertheless, both moved quickly, lifting the table together and carrying it inside. To give such attention to a simple table—naturally, neither wished to do the work alone, especially since the sect leader had said they should clean up together.

They returned the table to the dining hall, then moved the three high-backed chairs as well. Bai Yujing did not remain in the courtyard but turned back into the main hall, seating himself in the central chair.

“Shuangling, go to the gate and welcome our guest. Tia, prepare the tea. No matter who comes, a guest is a guest; we cannot let anyone say our Azure Cloud Sect is discourteous.”

Bai Yujing cared little for his own image, but the sect’s reputation was another matter entirely. This was the treasure his master and senior brothers had left him, and he would not allow it to be sullied.

Tia hesitated and asked, “Master, where is the tea?”

A trace of annoyance flickered across Bai Yujing’s heart—he hadn’t thought to prepare tea for guests. He corrected himself: “Then just boil some water, and be sure to cool it to a pleasant warmth.”

Tia hurried to the kitchen.

Liu Shuangling stood at the gate, eyes fixed on the steps ahead. Soon, a tall woman ascended from below. Her features were dignified and gentle, the corners of her eyes slightly lifted, not with sharpness but with a gentle radiance.

Liu Shuangling knew this face all too well. Frequently seen on television and in short videos on social media, she was hailed as one of the ten goddesses of the Xia Kingdom—the beautiful and powerful Fairy Si, Luo Lingxi.

What business could Luo Lingxi have at the Azure Cloud Sect?

Puzzled, Liu Shuangling nonetheless stepped forward. “Fairy Luo, the sect leader has asked me to welcome you. Please, come in.”

“Thank you for having me.” Luo Lingxi seemed slightly surprised. She had not concealed her spiritual pressure, but it was not something a weak practitioner could sense—only one of equal rank would notice. According to her research, the last remaining member of the Azure Cloud Sect had, at that time, only reached the first rank and was therefore left behind to guard the sect. She hadn’t expected that he had since broken through to the ninth rank—a speed impressive enough to earn Qiao Sen’s admiration.

However, with Tia’s future at stake, Luo Lingxi had pondered for a long while before deciding to visit Bai Yujing in person, hoping she could persuade him to let Tia join her. She liked that talented and well-behaved child too much to see such a gem left to gather dust.