Chapter 11: The First Encounter with Sheng Shuer

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Song Junyu instinctively covered her wooden token and turned her head, only to see a little girl blinking her eyes, looking at her with particular curiosity.

"Who are you?"

Seeing Song Junyu’s expressionless face, the little girl realized her outburst was a bit presumptuous and immediately smiled sheepishly.

"Oh, oh, my name is Li Zhaodi. I’m a menial disciple from Yangliu Peak... I just became a registered disciple a few days ago."

"My wooden token is a dull, deep black wood, but just now I saw yours seemed to be glowing, bright and sparkling, so... I’m really sorry."

Song Junyu watched her spill everything like pouring beans and felt a bit helpless.

Could it be that after being betrayed so many times by petty people years ago, heaven was now compensating her by letting her meet these... innocent souls?

Well, it did save her from scheming and deceit.

She withdrew her gaze, nodded slightly, gripped her token without a sound, and shifted it in front of her before casually hiding it in her sleeve. Then she pointed toward the blazing sun overhead.

“Perhaps it’s just the light shining on it. There’s no difference from yours.”

Li Zhaodi, without suspicion, glanced toward the dazzling white light and blushed, nodding her head.

The air grew momentarily awkward. She cautiously changed the subject, asking, “What’s your name?”

Song Junyu was a little stunned by the question, paused for a moment, then turned and replied, “Liu... Yu.”

Li Zhaodi believed her without doubt, leaning forward with a look of envy in her eyes. “That’s such a beautiful name. Mine isn’t really my own, but I have no choice. My parents want me to have a younger brother to break through the mortal realm and walk the path of immortality, but it just never happens.”

Seeing her forlorn expression, Song Junyu didn’t pry further but gently reminded her, “Once you enter the Immortal Sect, you can choose your own name, or perhaps your future master will give you one.”

Li Zhaodi’s face lit up with hope but soon she bit her lip, shaking her clothes’ hem and whispering, “Names and surnames come from parents. Since my parents gave me this, it shall remain. But I believe that if I work hard enough and improve my strength, I can bring honor to them. Maybe then they’ll be willing to change it.”

Song Junyu heard this and said nothing more.

Everyone has their fate; she had no habit of forcing others to change their minds.

Under the scorching sun, many disciples had already been waiting for two full hours. Some were restless, calling out for the process to speed up.

Halfway up the mountain, a tall, thin old man, hands on hips, took a gulp of spiritual energy and scolded harshly, “Stop nagging! You little brats, cultivating immortality requires calm and patience. How many of you can actually manage that?”

“If you keep pestering me, all of you can just go back!”

With a single command, silence instantly fell around.

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This man was Old Shu. Relaxing his strength, he fanned himself and sat down heavily, then resumed examining the wooden tokens.

At that moment, a gentle voice, soft as spring rain, said, “Old Shu, let me help you.”

Old Shu turned and frowned upon seeing a delicate young woman in pink. “This is the registration desk. The people working here are assigned by the sect. Miss Sheng, don’t bother yourself with this. This old man can handle it!”

Sheng Shuer felt a bit embarrassed by the blunt refusal, biting her lip and continuing, “My master asked me to come help. I see so many disciples here. While this tests their patience, the elders also have to wait a long time...”

“Hmph, the elders regard each day as a breath, and don’t find it long at all. Miss Sheng, you’d better leave quickly and not disrupt official business. If you don’t leave, don’t blame me for throwing you out!”

“Also, tell Master Baoluo that the registration is handled by the main peak’s people. No need for his concern!”

Many below the mountain clearly saw this unexpected young woman appear halfway up.

Song Junyu noticed the obvious discord between the two.

Her perception was sharp, honed by past blood refinement and pearl forging. Reading their lip movements was effortless, and she roughly guessed the gist of their conversation.

This woman’s master was Baoluo?

Since she entered Baoluo Peak, she had never seen any female disciples besides herself. Could this be someone newly accepted during her three-year coma?

While Song Junyu was speculating, a half-length sleeve of blue-green fabric suddenly appeared, seemingly dragging the pink-clad woman away unwillingly.

Song Junyu’s eyes sharpened as she realized something.

She would never mistake this sleeve’s pattern; the hand just now belonged to Chen Xiangshui! The day he rushed away, he muttered a woman’s name.

Could this be that Shuer?

Having solved the puzzle, Song Junyu restrained the hatred swelling in her heart, calmly hiding the cold light in her eyes.

Old Shu was known for his impartial face-reading and loyalty solely to the main peak. His impatience just now showed he obviously disliked this Shuer as well.

But that was understandable. What good could come from Baoluo, that cold-hearted old bastard?

Perhaps due to the earlier incident irritating Old Shu, the checking and registration sped up considerably. When Song Junyu’s turn came, she bowed slightly, handing over her wooden token with humility.

Old Shu stroked his beard, showing more satisfaction.

“Name?”

“Liu Yu.”

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Old Shu’s hand, about to mark the name, paused slightly before continuing as if nothing happened. Yet suddenly, Song Junyu heard a secret voice in her ear.

“Child, I advise you to change your surname.”

In an instant, the atmosphere stilled. Song Junyu suddenly realized something and looked sharply at Old Shu. Under all those watchful eyes, she couldn’t voice her suspicion. Instead, she moved her lips slightly and whispered, “Please assign the surname Ji.”

Old Shu’s eyes flashed with insight. He nodded and stamped a red seal on her token.

“Proceed to the back for cultivation level assessment.”

“Yes.”

Song Junyu stepped back, her heart heavy.

“Liu” was the surname of Lady Liu, famed in the Zhen Tian Sect. There was no other surname like it.

Old Shu must have known Lady Liu. Back then, when she was young, no one knew why Lady Liu perished and lost her path—everyone assumed it was a mishap during her trial.

Now... it seemed Lady Liu’s death was far from simple.

As Song Junyu pieced together these clues, she was suddenly tapped on the back. She snapped back to reality, barely restraining the instinct to shove the person behind her away.

Li Zhaodi smiled, pointing at Song Junyu’s token. “Liu Yu, your wooden token really is glowing.”

Song Junyu frowned and looked at the token with her name freshly inscribed. Its edges seemed to bear a halo of light, indeed brighter than the others.

She sighed softly and looked at Li Zhaodi, diverting the topic. “It’s just a token. Choosing a master depends on your skill. How’s your preparation going?”

Li Zhaodi’s attention was indeed shifted, and she nodded vigorously.

“Mm-hmm! I’m already at the mid-stage of Qi Refining second layer. This time, I’m definitely going to find a master!”

But no sooner had she spoken than a burst of laughter erupted.

“Ha ha ha! Talking big at Qi Refining second layer? Hilarious! Little girl, I think you’d better just go back home, Zhaodi!”