Chapter 7: Would One Without Selfish Thoughts Spy on Master?
After sword practice concluded, Wei Zixi gazed reluctantly at Ming Ji’s retreating figure, muttering unconsciously, “Master…”
It was, after all, the longing of a youth. A mere few hours spent with his Master had surpassed everything in the past, filling his heart with jubilation.
“Do you truly believe Master was sincere in guiding your cultivation today?”
Wei Zixi was, at his core, still an innocent and lively youth who could not hide his thoughts on his face. Upon hearing this voice, his smile instantly vanished. His expression grew several degrees colder as he retorted without hesitation, “Regardless of anything, Master is still Master.”
“He loved Osmanthus cake in the past, and he remains the same now.”
With that, Wei Zixi retrieved a copper ring kept in his storage bag. In an instant, the ring that had spoken released a silhouette.
The figure was ethereal and formless, impossible to grasp. Yet, if one looked closely at the phantom formed of smoke, they would discover that its features bore a striking resemblance to Wei Zixi.
To be precise, it looked like a mature Wei Zixi, one who had reached the age of adulthood.
Hearing this, the figure slowly curled his lips into a mocking expression, his eyes filled with profound meaning. “Do you think Master checked your pulse out of concern for you?”
“No. He felt your behavior was abnormal, so he used that excuse to probe whether your body had been seized by another.”
It would have been fine had he not mentioned it, but the moment he did, Wei Zixi’s attitude shifted instantly, his tone filled with rage.
“Was it not you who told me that you needed to borrow my body to save Master? You said that otherwise, Master would be humiliated by others.”
“Is that not the case? The tea at the apprenticeship ceremony, and the disgusting looks in those people’s eyes…” Wei Zixi scoffed coldly, speaking with disdain, “Even so, you shouldn’t have spied on Master that day. Was such an act truly without selfish motives?”
The figure seemed to have been struck where it hurt, unable to speak for a long time. After a prolonged silence, he spoke slowly, “You are right. Master has indeed returned.”
Hearing this, Wei Zixi fell silent as well.
Thinking carefully, two years had passed since he last saw the real Ming Ji. Wei Zixi was no longer an ignorant, naive boy; his temperament had naturally matured significantly.
Having spent day and night together for so long, how could he have failed to notice the abnormalities in “Ming Ji” before?
After saying this, the voice laughed. The sigh that followed sounded like a heavy burden being lifted.
He whispered, “I have given you all my memories. You must protect Master well…”
Wei Zixi was stunned and asked subconsciously, “Then where will you go?”
“Wait until you become stronger…”
The voice spoke no more. As silence fell, the phantom dissipated, as if it had never appeared.
Soon, the conclusion of this one-sided conversation melted into the silence of the night.
Just as Ming Ji was discussing future events with System 10086, the Spirit Jade hanging at his waist suddenly glowed with a scorching light.
Ming Ji tapped the communication tool with two fingers, learning that the sect elders were inviting him to the Elder’s Hall to discuss the upcoming expedition to the Secret Realm.
It turned out to be the Tianyuan Secret Realm.
Ming Ji couldn’t help but ponder, slowly recalling the details of this realm in his mind.
The Tianyuan Secret Realm was not only free of life-threatening dangers, but everyone who entered also reaped bountiful rewards. Consequently, entry quotas for each sect were scarce.
The Qingmeng Sect had only managed to secure five spots, relying solely on the prestige of the previous Sect Leader.
Ming Ji contemplated his next move while channeling spiritual power to fly on his sword toward the Elder’s Hall.
It had to be said that although the Qingmeng Sect had been closed off for twenty years, the Elder’s Hall before him appeared even more magnificent and resplendent.
Ming Ji raised his eyes to glance at it, unconsciously evaluating it in his heart.
Upon entering, he saw the sect elders seated on both sides, leaving the central seat empty.
Needless to say, the highest seat—the Sect Leader’s throne—was reserved for Ming Ji.
He ascended and took his seat, his clear gaze sweeping over every elder. His voice, when he spoke, revealed neither joy nor anger.
“Our sect has been in seclusion for twenty years. I presume the various up-and-coming sects… have likely long forgotten the Qingmeng Sect’s reputation as the Number One Sect.”
After saying this, Ming Ji paused for a moment before continuing, “Fortunately, there has been no shortage of talented disciples in the sect in recent years, so…”
He looked around the room, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing through everyone’s hidden thoughts.
“For this Secret Realm expedition, I will lead the team as per custom, selecting disciples with high talent and a willingness to achieve.”
The troublemaking Second Elder, whose eyes had been darting around earlier, suddenly looked exceptionally obsequious upon hearing Ming Ji’s plan. He used magic to send a list to Ming Ji’s hand.
“Sect Leader, I have always been responsible for selecting disciples for Secret Realm expeditions. As per usual, I have already drafted the list recently. I hope you will review it.”
Ming Ji reached out to accept the document, scanning it without a change in expression. As expected, it included his two disciples, and…
He tapped his finger on two names, reading them out softly, “Ye Yu, Ye Ming.”
The Second Elder’s body stiffened. Just as he was about to speak, Ming Ji didn’t give him the chance.
He looked up at his junior brother, who was also the current Vice Sect Leader—Liu Changqing—and asked softly, “Junior Brother, what do you think?”
The man named by Ming Ji was tall, with a face as handsome as a painting. He was currently pursing his lips, lost in thought about something.
Hearing Ming Ji’s question, he immediately stood up and bowed with clasped hands, replying, “Although Ye Yu and Ye Ming have decent cultivation, they are ultimately impetuous and flighty.”
Having said this, Liu Changqing glanced at the Second Elder out of the corner of his eye. Seeing the Elder’s dissatisfied expression and face as dark as thunder, he could barely suppress the curve of his lips. He continued, “Senior Brother’s newly accepted final disciple, Wei Zixi, is exceptionally talented and has a steady temperament. As for the remaining spot…”
“I recall our sect has a youth from the Demon Race, does it not?” Ming Ji interrupted him, looking at him calmly.
“If I remember correctly, his name is Guan Yuce.”
“Then let us replace them with Wei Zixi and Guan Yuce.”
Seeing the Second Elder hesitating to speak, his face flushed red as if holding back a breath, Ming Ji remarked seemingly unintentionally, “Speaking of which, the Second Elder is also surnamed Ye. What a coincidence.”
The Second Elder swallowed his words instantly. At this moment, he truly dared not show dissatisfaction.
No matter how stupid he was, he vaguely understood that Ming Ji had begun to suspect his disloyalty; the words were laced with warning.
He surmised that Ming Ji also knew these two disciples were his nephews. If he proposed them again, Ming Ji would likely not be so pleasant.
After all, Ming Ji was a Nascent Soul cultivator, and the Second Elder could not clash with him head-on right now.
Thus, he lowered his head, hiding the extreme resentment in his eyes.
Exiting the Elder’s Hall, a faint smile hung on Ming Ji’s lips; he looked quite pleased.
[Host, you did all that just to bring along Guan Yuce, who is merely in the Qi Refining stage?]
The System seemed to be trying to learn the twists and turns of human nature, voicing its question at this moment.
“Naturally, it is because he is a promising talent and a rising star.”
[That doesn’t sound like your real thought, Host. Could it be because… he was the only one in the original text who tried to save your body from misery?]
Having been guessed correctly by the System for a rare change, Ming Ji did not hide his thoughts. He whispered, “He is an extremely sincere Demon.”
Ming Ji closed his eyes, unable to stop thinking about how the only person who helped this body ended up with a miserable fate. He let out a long sigh.
“You are right. I want to help him.”
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