Volume 1 Chapter 4: Junior Sister Is in Her Adolescence

Volume 1 Chapter 4: Junior Sister Is in Her Adolescence

According to Ye Anping’s original estimate, he and Pei Lengxue would still have seven full days of preparation by the time they arrived at Martial Creek Town.

But truth be told, there wasn’t much more to prepare.

He had already planned everything down to the last detail.

After all, this sword strike… he had been honing it for ten whole years.

So he chose to arrive at Martial Creek Town a week early. Part of it was precaution—just in case something unexpected cropped up. But the bigger reason was to help Pei Lengxue relax. He was worried that if she went into the mission too tense, she might make a critical mistake at the worst possible moment.

And really, who could blame her? She was, after all, just a fourteen-year-old girl.

Even Ye Anping himself—someone who had lived twenty years in his original world, and another fifteen since transmigrating—couldn’t say he wasn’t at least a little nervous.

They were about to face a Core Formation Realm cultivator, someone two full realms above them.

And once they reached Martial Creek Town, Ye Anping quickly realized he’d made the right call in coming early.

—Pei Lengxue wasn’t just nervous.

She was completely on edge.

He had just finished booking them a room at a local inn and was about to take her for a casual stroll through the streets, when she suddenly began eyeing every single passerby with suspicion, as if anyone could be a demonic cultivator.

When she spotted a Foundation Establishment cultivator buying steamed buns nearby, she leaned in close and whispered:

“Senior Brother, is that the demonic cultivator you told me about?!”

“…No, that’s just a wandering cultivator.”

“Oh…” she murmured, clearly unconvinced. Then she noticed a constable with a saber slung across his back.

“How about him, Senior Brother?”

“That’s a town guard.”

“Then what about… that disheveled guy over there?”

“…That’s just a beggar.”

Watching her point and whisper at everyone she passed, Ye Anping couldn’t help but laugh. “Junior Sister, you’re acting like a frightened little mouse right now.”

“You’re the mouse!” she puffed up, puffing her cheeks like a chipmunk. “I’m just being cautious…”

“Scared?”

“Of course I’m scared! We’re going up against a Core Formation demonic cultivator!”

Ye Anping reached out and pinched her cheek gently.

“Then trust your Senior Brother. Everything will be fine. Remember the first motto from the ‘Positive Energy Quotes’ I taught you?”

“I remember.”

“Say it.”

“No matter what obstacle comes your way, don’t be afraid. Face it with a smile. The best way to overcome fear is to confront it head-on. Let’s go!” Pei Lengxue balled her tiny fists, her tone suddenly earnest. “Ganbatte!”

“Exactly. So no more being scared.”

“…Senior Brother, I’ve been meaning to ask. What exactly does ‘Ganbatte’ mean?”

“Hmm…” Ye Anping paused, then replied solemnly, “Just think of it as a word that gives you strength and motivation.”

“Oooh~”

They continued walking through the market street, side by side. After a while, they heard the loud clang of gongs and drums ahead—some sort of celebration?

Soon enough, a lively wedding procession came into view.

A red bridal sedan chair led the way, followed by a string of people carrying meats, fish, and dowries. Musicians on either side played cheerful tunes on gongs and suona horns, turning the entire street festive.

Ye Anping didn’t find the scene particularly novel. But Pei Lengxue?

She was captivated.

Gone was the nervous girl from earlier. Her wide eyes were locked on the red bridal sedan as if it could whisk her away to a fairytale ending.

Honestly, it wasn’t too surprising.

She was born into a farming family, just a common village girl.

In this world, girls like her had only one dream growing up—to wear red and sit in a bridal sedan chair on their fifteenth birthday, marrying into a good family.

She is fourteen now.

Right in the middle of that dreamy, wistful stage of youth.

Ye Anping watched her for a moment, then smiled.

“Junior Sister,” he asked casually, “Want to go have a look? Maybe crash the wedding feast?”

Pei Lengxue quickly averted her gaze from the bridal sedan, hesitating for a moment before shaking her head.

“Aren’t we supposed to be hunting down that demonic cultivator? How do we have time to watch someone else’s wedding?”

“It’s fine,” Ye Anping replied with a teasing grin. “You were staring at that bridal sedan like it was made of spirit jade. Don’t tell me you’ve never seen a wedding in person?”

“I’ve read about them… in books.”

“Well then, this is your chance to feel what it’s actually like.”

Before she could protest, Ye Anping took her by the hand and gently tugged her along, following the wedding procession until they arrived at the home of the couple hosting the celebration.

He had a brief word with the steward at the entrance, saying they came to share in the joy and bringing out his Hundred Lotus Sect identity badge. In no time at all, the groom himself came over, politely inviting them in and seating them at one of the tables inside the courtyard.

Only after they sat down did Ye Anping realize—he wasn’t the only cultivator here for a free meal.

The entire table of eight they were seated at consisted of cultivators.

No sooner had he settled into his seat than the young man to his left—a cheerful-looking cultivator with a broad smile—struck up conversation.

“You two have time to come watch a wedding too, huh?”

Ye Anping nodded with a modest smile. “You flatter us, senior. My junior sister has never seen a wedding in person before, and since we happened to pass by, I figured I’d bring her to take a look.”

“Ah, so you’re brother and sister disciples. That’s sweet. You two seem really close.”

Ye Anping casually glanced around the table, sizing up the other cultivators. He had intended to strike up small talk and see if anyone had heard of someone named Wu You.

But then he noticed the person sitting directly across from him—and realized he didn’t need to ask anything at all.

The man had elegant features with a strangely androgynous charm, twin braids draped over his shoulders, and eyes that glinted violet with a faintly sinister light. His aura was both refined and quietly unsettling.

There was no doubt about it.

This man looked exactly like the Grand Elder of the Poison Gu Sect from the game—the same expression, the same presence.

And that raised a very obvious question:

What the hell was a demonic cultivator like him doing here at a commoner’s wedding? Was he that bored?

Ye Anping didn’t dare stare for too long. He offered a quick nod of greeting and turned his attention to the groom, who was currently making rounds to toast the guests.

But to his surprise, the man across from him—Wu You—was the one who spoke first.

“Young man, you look to be what, fourteen? Fifteen? Yet you’ve already reached the third layer of Qi Refining Realm. Very promising.”

“Ah…” Ye Anping quickly slipped into character, replying in a bashful, youthful tone, “Thank you, senior. It’s all thanks to my master’s teachings.”

“And this little junior sister of yours… if I’m not mistaken, she’s already at peak Qi Refining Realm?”

“Indeed. Thank you for the kind words, senior. She’s quite gifted and works hard at her cultivation.” Ye Anping laughed sheepishly, scratching the back of his head, then patted Pei Lengxue on the shoulder, pulling her attention away from the bride.

“Junior Sister, this senior just complimented you.”

“Ah…” Pei Lengxue blinked, startled, then turned to the mysterious man across the table. She nodded stiffly. “Thank you for your praise, senior.”

Wu You offered them a faint smile, then used a light touch of spiritual energy to lift the wine jug on the table, pouring wine into the cups in front of Ye Anping and Pei Lengxue without moving his hands.

“Two rising stars… A dragon and a phoenix. These two cups are a toast to our new friendship.”

Ye Anping returned the smile, eyes briefly flicking to the cups of wine now full before them.

The liquid appeared crystal clear—nothing visibly wrong—but he could tell. There was Poison Gu in these drinks.

Wu You must have already discerned that Pei Lengxue’s spiritual roots were far from ordinary.

But Ye Anping and Pei Lengxue hadn’t spent the past ten years for nothing. Years of training, of poison resistance, and deliberate exposure meant that a little gu like this wouldn’t affect them at all.

“Junior Sister, don’t just stare. This senior poured us some wine.”

“Ah— oh! Thank you, senior.”

Pei Lengxue raised her cup and downed it in one go, then immediately turned back toward the bride and groom. Her eyes sparkled as she tapped Ye Anping’s shoulder excitedly.

“Senior Brother! Look! Look! They’re about to bow to each other!”