Volume One, Chapter Fifteen: Are You Teaching Me How to Do Things?

She was a peerless beauty, dressed in palace robes the color of blazing fire, her long skirt trailing behind her as she walked with measured grace. Along her path, every disciple from the beast stables she encountered lowered their heads in deference, not daring to display a hint of any other emotion.

“Greetings, Senior Sister Jiang,” they murmured.

Jiang Moli’s expression was cold and indifferent as she made her way straight into the beast shed of compartment eleven.

“That newbie is in real trouble,” whispered the gathered disciples, watching her receding figure with pity but not daring to follow.

“Senior Brother Ji, Senior Sister Jiang is here! She’s calling for you!” Wu Han soon arrived at Ji Die’s door, panting heavily.

“She’s here? I’ll go take a look,” Ji Die, having sensed the commotion, cut short his cultivation and stepped out of his room at the news.

By now, a crowd of disciples had gathered outside the beast shed. The moment he appeared, a cold, venomous gaze fell upon him.

Ji Die knew at once who it was, but he couldn’t be bothered to care. He strode straight toward the shed.

“Senior Brother Ji, you go on ahead,” Wu Han stopped outside, a hint of fear in his eyes, unwilling to enter.

Ji Die said nothing, simply heading in alone, though a trace of apprehension lingered in his heart. After all, he had struck her spirit beast first.

“Let’s see if your luck holds this time,” He Song watched Ji Die’s back, a sinister smile curling his lips, already imagining the scene of Ji Die being slaughtered on the spot by the furious Jiang Moli.

Inside compartment eleven, the black serpent’s weakness had all but vanished. It was rubbing its head against the feet of a woman, nuzzling her affectionately. Yet when a young man appeared, a flicker of fear instinctively crossed its eyes.

It seems the lesson lasted...

Ji Die withdrew his gaze from the serpent and bowed respectfully to the woman inside.

“Greetings, Senior Sister Jiang.” She had her back to him, offering only a silhouette, but Ji Die had already guessed her identity. He bowed deeply, head lowered, not daring to look further.

It was, after all, his first time meeting the owner of the black serpent since arriving at the beast stables—he had no idea what she looked like.

He couldn’t help but think, anyone fond of raising such strange creatures probably isn’t much to look at...

Ji Die had to admire himself; even at a time like this, he still had the presence of mind for such thoughts.

Just then, the woman turned and fixed him with an icy gaze.

“I heard you injured my Xuanwater Serpent?”

Ji Die’s eyes froze when he saw her face.

Unexpectedly, she was stunningly beautiful—eyebrows like distant mountains, a high, elegant nose, vermilion lips touched with red, and at the center of her brow, a crimson flame-shaped mark. Yet her brows were tightly knit.

She wore fiery red palace robes, her waist slender as a willow, and above it, her curves were magnificent—one couldn’t help but worry whether such a delicate waist could bear such a weight without snapping.

A cold, disdainful snort snapped Ji Die back to reality. He saw that her beautiful eyes now gleamed with a cold light. Awakened as if from a dream, he licked his parched lips and bowed, “It was me.”

“As long as you admit it.” Jiang Moli lifted a slender, jade-like finger; a small serpent of flame, more than a foot long, burst from her fingertip and shot at him with lightning speed.

What kind of technique is this…? Ji Die’s gaze fell on the serpent. He saw it actually open its mouth, revealing two fangs, and his pupils contracted slightly!

This fire serpent looked almost real, complete with two fangs! In the blink of an eye, it was upon him, jaws snapping—cold sweat poured down his back.

“I can help Senior Sister Jiang’s Xuanwater Serpent break through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement!!”

At his words, the fire serpent froze in midair, then, after a brief pause, dissipated with a thunderous burst.

“Ten days. Within ten days I can help it reach the fourth level,” Ji Die pressed on, seeing her hesitation and feeling a rush of relief.

This woman put enormous pressure on him; her strength was likely far above that horse-faced man’s—just how many levels of Qi Refinement had she reached? Five? Or six?

“Oh?” Jiang Moli’s beautiful eyes swept over him, and when she saw the certainty on his face, a glimmer of interest lit her gaze.

How intriguing.

An outer disciple who claimed he could help her Xuanwater Serpent break through to the fourth level! Was he trying to buy time, draw her attention, or something else?

Sensing her indecision, Ji Die felt as though a blade hung over his neck. Gritting his teeth, he declared, “Five days. Surely Senior Sister Jiang won’t begrudge me five days. If I can’t help it break through in five days, you may deal with me however you please!”

“Five days…” Jiang Moli had no idea where his confidence came from.

“Do you know the consequences of deceiving me?” Jiang Moli leaned against the doorframe, her smile both mocking and dangerous.

Her Xuanwater Serpent had indeed been stuck at the third level of Qi Refinement for some time, unable to keep pace with her own cultivation. That was why she never brought it along for sect missions or training expeditions.

But if it reached the fourth level, it would be nearly as useful as having a fifth-level bodyguard.

Ji Die remained perfectly composed.

“I don’t know, but I ask Senior Sister Jiang to give me a chance.”

Jiang Moli fell silent for a moment, her seductive red lips parting at last.

“Very well. I’ll give you five days. If you can help it reach the fourth level of Qi Refinement, I may consider letting bygones be bygones.”

“Yes...” Ji Die dared not say more, but he felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from him.

His plan had succeeded.

Yes, he had wagered with Jiang Moli: if he could help her spirit serpent reach the fourth level, she would let him off. This was his plan all along.

...

“Respectfully seeing Senior Sister Jiang off,” Ji Die bowed as he emerged from the beast shed.

Jiang Moli did not look back, departing with cool indifference.

“What’s going on? Senior Sister Jiang isn’t punishing him?” The disciples nearby stared, eyes wide, as Ji Die emerged unscathed.

It defied all reason!

“Senior Sister Jiang, don’t let his lies fool you!” He Song, unwilling to let Ji Die escape so easily, rushed forward anxiously as Jiang Moli walked away.

In his haste, he tripped on a stone at his feet and pitched forward, earning a burst of raucous laughter.

He Song ignored the laughter, crawling over to Jiang Moli’s feet and grabbing the hem of her skirt. “This brat dared abuse your spirit beast—he clearly has no respect for you! You can’t let him off so easily!!”

“Are you teaching me how to handle things?” Seeing the mud smeared on her skirt, Jiang Moli’s eyes flashed with a dangerous chill. A wisp of flame coiled into a tiny serpent at her fingertip, and she sent He Song flying, crashing him into the orchard behind.

“Serves him right,” Wu Han sneered.

“Damn it…” He Song coughed up blood, struggling to his feet, hatred burning in his eyes.

But when he met Jiang Moli’s icy gaze, fear overwhelmed him and he dared not utter a word.

Jiang Moli spared him a glance, then looked again at Ji Die.

“Remember, you have only five days.” Her voice was edged with warning.

“Yes. I will do my utmost to satisfy Senior Sister Jiang,” Ji Die replied with another respectful bow.