Chapter 3
Finally, the elders’ speeches drew to a close.
The white-bearded elder cleared his throat. “Does anyone have questions?”
Everyone shook their heads, eager to finish the initiation and become “honored ShenduSect disciples.”
I raised my hand.
“Excuse me, is quitting the sect troublesome?”
The Discipline Hall elder glared at me and scolded me for wishful thinking.
“Withdrawal requires an elder council vote and self-destruction of all cultivation.”
“Never mind then!”
I bowed deeply and turned to leave.
Dad always said: always secure an exit strategy first.
StarfallPastry is delicious, but freedom is worth more.
“Wait!” It was the white-bearded elder again.
He handed me another token. “With this, you may leave ShenduSect unconditionally at any time.”
“SuXiaotang, any other questions?”
I asked, “Um… is CommuteStudy allowed?”
“As in, going home every day…”
The Discipline Hall elder glared again.
I quietly watched the sect leader.
He glanced at QiYaoheng first, then gave the white-bearded elder a very subtle look.
The elder immediately said, “Allowed.”
That was way too easy.
It felt suspiciously like those shady membership schemes from my previous life.
So I muttered—just loud enough for those nearby to hear—
“Awesome! CommuteStudy means I can go home for good food every day!”
The little princess, already drooling over the snacks in my bag, immediately shouted,
“We want unrestricted access to the sect too!”
Others chimed in.
The white-bearded elder looked up, smile vanishing.
“You may also choose—to leave right now.”
Everyone shut up.
I felt relieved.
ShenduSect really wanted me because of my fortune luck.
After formal cultivation began, it honestly wasn’t much different from going to school in my previous life.
Those special occasions the white-bearded elder mentioned—where I could finally taste the top-tier StarfallPastry—were still nowhere in sight.
I just muddled through day by day.
The little princess seemed to hold a grudge against me for the opening ceremony incident where she lost face to the elder.
I didn’t want to make enemies.
One day she showed up with two burly guys, clearly ready to start trouble. I immediately stood straight, lifted my head, bowed deeply, and greeted her loudly:
“Hello, Laoda!”
She looked pleased with my attitude and seemed to forget why she’d come in the first place.
From then on, I became the princess’s follower.
The princess stuck to QiYaoheng, QiYaoheng stuck to me.
The three of us were inseparable.
One day in class, the little princess suddenly let out a loud fart and everyone turned to look at us.
She frantically signaled me with her eyes.
I got the hint instantly, shot to my feet, and apologized to the whole class:
“Sorry everyone, that fart Laoda just let out was mine!”
The entire class burst out laughing.
Even QiYaoheng—who’s usually expressionless all year round—curved the corners of his mouth slightly.
Everyone knew perfectly well that my Laoda was the little princess.
That’s when she seemed to realize she’d just embarrassed herself.
Her face flushes bright red with anger, and she signals her two attendants—who double as bodyguards—to come teach me a lesson.
QiYaoheng taps lightly with his finger.
Both of them fly backward.
Everyone freezes in shock.
No one expected QiYaoheng to already have this kind of strength.
I’m stunned too.
If I’d known he was this powerful, why was I even pretending to be meek?