Chapter Six: Junior Sister, What Are You Doing?

The moon hung bright in a star-scattered sky.

In the rear mountains of the Sole Me Sect, Wang Ran lay sprawled atop a massive boulder, overcome by a wave of drowsiness, his mind drifting into a haze.

“System, why didn’t you warn me that learning Daoist arts would make me lose consciousness?” Wang Ran summoned the will to ask this question of his system, his thoughts weak and unsteady.

A cold mechanical chime answered, “Ding. The host did not inquire about this precaution.”

The system’s detached reply made Wang Ran want to cough up blood in exasperation.

“This is the wilderness! If I faint and that assassin actually comes after seeing the bounty, what am I supposed to do? I’m too young to die here,” he thought hopelessly. If he had known, he would have gone home before starting. He’d imagined it would be like the stories: a flash of golden light and all the knowledge would be his. Who could have guessed unconsciousness was part of the process?

The system chimed again, “Ding. Defense function has been automatically activated. While the host is unconscious, your personal charm will be magnified to its utmost, inspiring feelings of affection and admiration in others, dispelling any malicious intent.”

“Note: This function is ineffective against cultivators above the Core Formation stage.”

The system’s reply only deepened Wang Ran’s dizziness. His eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and unable to resist the sudden exhaustion, he finally drifted into sleep. Just before his consciousness faded, one final thought flitted through his mind: System, you traitorous cheat…

In the next instant, all awareness vanished, plunging him into utter darkness.

“Ding. Diamond Glass Body is now being acquired. Progress: one percent…”

Beneath the bright moon, Wang Ran’s form remained motionless atop the boulder, but within him, a tempest of change had begun.

Every inch of skin, every hair, every cell and organ was transforming wildly.

This was the power of the Diamond Glass Body at work. Outwardly, his flesh appeared white as jade, glowing with a luminous sheen and a tender softness, but in truth, it was as hard as iron, indestructible.

Even his hair was changing; his long tresses, black and smooth as a waterfall, would be flexible enough to craft the finest rope should they be cut.

While Wang Ran’s body underwent this silent metamorphosis, elsewhere in the Sole Me Sect, at the rear entrance of the Disciplinary Hall, three shadow-clad figures slipped furtively into the night.

“Boss, he’s only a minor cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage. Is he really as dangerous as you say?” whispered one masked man.

“Of course. Would I lie to you? That brat may only be at Qi Condensation, but he wields a formidable artifact. Even Xuanwu, who specializes in defensive arts, couldn’t withstand a single blow. You’d better be careful,” replied another, his voice tinged with lingering fear.

“Don’t worry, boss. However strange he may be, he’s still just at Qi Condensation. As long as we’re cautious, he’s nothing to fear. The real insult is that he posted your portrait all over the mission hall and called your proud Vermilion Bird tattoo a mere chick. As the Disciplinary Hall, we can’t let this pass!”

“Enough. Remember, don’t mention the Disciplinary Hall outside. This is a personal matter for Senior Brother Ye, and we already lost Old Fourth because of it. If word gets out… well, I don’t need to tell you the consequences.”

His warning silenced the group. They slinked off toward the rear mountains where Wang Ran lay.

This so-called Vermilion Bird was, of course, the hapless assassin who had failed to kill Wang Ran and was blackmailed instead.

He’d assumed that dealing with a mere Qi Condensation novice would be easy for himself and Xuanwu, but Xuanwu had been instantly slain by a weapon called a “hand grenade,” the memory of which still haunted Vermilion Bird.

Still, the wealth Wang Ran had extorted from him gnawed at him, and he was determined to seek revenge. After all, Wang Ran was just a Qi Condensation rookie.

Worse yet, the insult of having his proud Vermilion Bird tattoo depicted as a chicken and posted everywhere for a spirit jade reward was unbearable. For a Disciplinary Hall member like him, it was a grave humiliation.

So he decided to turn the tables. Tonight, whether or not Wang Ran was in the Purple Bamboo Grove, he would go to the rear mountain to reclaim his pride. To be safe, he brought two companions.

The Disciplinary Hall was the Sole Me Sect’s internal enforcement agency, managed by Inner Sect elders, responsible for upholding order and acting as the sect’s guard. Due to its unique nature, the Hall was divided into four specialist types: White Tiger and Azure Dragon for offense, Xuanwu for defense, and Vermilion Bird for intelligence.

Only elite disciples could join; all members were Inner Sect disciples, usually operating in squads of four.

This assassin was one of them, but harbored ulterior motives, having engaged in secret and unsavory dealings more than once—how else would he carry twenty spirit jades with him?

But as a Disciplinary Hall disciple, killing fellow disciples was a grave crime. If discovered, he would face the elders’ wrath and expulsion. So when his wanted poster appeared everywhere, panic set in.

Tonight, with his companions, he was determined to wash away his disgrace with blood and take revenge on Wang Ran.

…

Meanwhile, on the rear mountain, Wang Ran remained unconscious atop the boulder, his Diamond Glass Body nearly complete.

From the bamboo grove nearby came the tinkling of wind chimes. A young girl peeked out, half-hidden, and gazed cautiously at Wang Ran.

“Huh? Isn’t that the senior brother from earlier today?” she wondered, a hint of joy lighting her face as she skipped toward him.

“Senior Brother, I finally found you!” Her clear voice carried ahead of her before she spotted Wang Ran lying motionless on the boulder and her tone changed. “Hey? Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”

Seeing him so still, the girl tilted her head in puzzlement.

She was the junior sister who had assigned Wang Ran his task that morning—a simple-hearted girl of fifteen or sixteen, who had never met another disciple quite as interesting as Wang Ran.

So, that night, she couldn’t resist sneaking to the Purple Bamboo Grove on the rear mountain, hoping to catch another glimpse of this intriguing senior.

She hadn’t expected to find him in the midst of cultivation, motionless atop a boulder.

But once she laid eyes on him, she simply couldn’t look away.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, her heart began to race—faster than it had during the day. Wang Ran’s ordinary, pale face seemed to possess a strange magic; she simply couldn’t tire of looking at him.

Her cheeks flushed a bright red, making her look all the more adorable as the first stirrings of affection blossomed within her.

“Senior Brother… he’s so handsome,” she murmured, covering her cheeks in embarrassment and swaying shyly. Pouting, she whispered to herself, “Grandfather always said that the greatest heroes possess a charisma that sets them apart, captivating those around them even in their sleep. Could Senior Brother be one of those?”

The more she thought about it, the shyer she became. She stared at his pale profile for a long time before finally lowering her head. Puckering her cute lips, she planted a gentle kiss on Wang Ran’s cheek.

“Oh, this is so embarrassing!”

Her lips barely brushed his skin for a second before she sprang back as if shocked by lightning.

Standing beside him, face aglow with shame, who could guess what thoughts were swirling in her head?

“Mmm… so comfortable.”

At that moment, Wang Ran’s cultivation ended. He squinted, blinking sleepily as he sat up on the boulder.

Though he’d been unconscious, he felt no pain—only a profound relaxation, as if he’d just enjoyed a perfect night’s rest. There was even a faint… fragrance?

Wait—fragrance?

Wang Ran’s eyes darted around, and he spotted a girl with a bell at her waist, cheeks flushed, standing beside him.

Wasn’t this the junior sister from earlier?

He stared at her in confusion before finally finding his voice.

“Junior Sister, what… are you doing?”