Chapter 5: 5. Chapter 5: Ultimately Underestimated

Chapter 5: Still Underestimated After All

“Don’t think that just because you’re Fan Jin’s little tag-along now, I can’t discipline you. No matter where we are, I am still your Senior Sister.”

“Look at you, what kind of cleaning is this? Did you not eat this morning? You can’t even wipe away the dust properly?”

“Baobao, go, pick up a rag and bring it to her again.”

The leopard cat immediately jumped down from Luo Ling’s arms, picked up a rag from the steps, and hopped in front of An Zhi.

Looking at the leopard cat that once depended on her for survival, An Zhi felt a truly bitter ache in her heart. She reached out to stroke it, but was scared back by a hiss from the cat. She stood there, stunned and motionless, her heart feeling as if it were being torn apart.

Luo Ling watched this, smiling triumphantly as she said, “Come, Baobao, Mommy’s leg is hurting.”

The leopard cat nimbly snuggled up to Luo Ling’s feet and began licking her ankles, the aura emanating from it feeling cool and refreshing.

“Oh my, thanks to your training. If only Baobao’s ‘Heavenly Rain and Dew’ level were a bit higher.”

...

Just like that, An Zhi couldn’t even believe she had endured nearly an hour of Luo Ling’s nagging. It wasn’t until a disciple came to report that Elder Fan Jin had returned that Luo Ling, with the leopard cat in tow, walked triumphantly toward Fan Jin’s pavilion.

*Slap.*

After Luo Ling left, An Zhi slammed the rag onto the ground, saying viciously, “Sooner or later, I’ll make you pay the price.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sanqing Blessed Land, Dragon Head Pavilion.

Luo Ling walked quickly toward the pavilion, her heart still buzzing with the excitement of having just lectured An Zhi. She was so carried away that she didn’t regain her composure until she reached the entrance and saw Fan Jin standing in the main hall with his back to her.

She gently placed the leopard cat at the door, then walked into the room holding a sword, bowing respectfully: “Luo Ling pays her respects to Martial Uncle!”

“*Cough, cough, cough*...” Hearing her, Fan Jin leaned on his cane and turned toward his chair. “Ling’er, come, come, sit.”

Luo Ling was the Senior Sister of Sanqing Palace. Even though Fan Jin was nominally retired, he still took good care of her.

“Ling’er, the reason I called you here is to ask about An Zhi.” Fan Jin felt that An Zhi was still young; if she were to be stuck in the Blessed Land for the rest of her life, her future would be ruined. He still wanted to fight for her.

Upon hearing this, Luo Ling’s face darkened immediately. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “Martial Uncle, there are sixteen female disciples in the sect. Shen An Zhi has the poorest aptitude. It’s been over a year, and she hasn’t even mastered the most basic demon-capturing techniques. In the assessment a few days ago, she placed second to last.”

“Who was last?” Fan Jin asked casually.

Luo Ling reported, “Li Xiaoyan. She has been assigned to the kitchen by the Senior Brother.”

Fan Jin frowned, his gaze fixed blankly on the doorway. Such results were indeed not presentable.

Luo Ling observed the changes in Fan Jin’s expression. She was terrified that he would plead for An Zhi. After all, given Fan Jin’s seniority, as long as he spoke up, both the Sect Leader and the other elders would have to give him face.

“Martial Uncle, you are the most prestigious elder in our Sanqing Palace. Actually, although Shen An Zhi lacks wisdom, I feel that she is better off with you than with anyone else. I’ve noticed she’s become more diligent these past few days.” Luo Ling wanted to use this rhetoric to dissuade Fan Jin from pleading for her, hoping to keep Shen An Zhi confined to this place—which was essentially a nursing home—for the rest of her life.

Sure enough, Fan Jin’s face broke into a smile. “Yes, yes, yes, this girl is quite diligent.”

“Now that you are getting on in years, it’s good to have a helper to tidy up the courtyard and organize the scriptures and ancient texts. As for cultivation, I think you can slowly enlighten her in the future,” Luo Ling reiterated her point.

Seeing that Fan Jin didn’t respond directly, Luo Ling decided to face the issue head-on: “Martial Uncle, I know you want us to give An Zhi another chance, but this decision was already discussed by the Sect Leader and the other elders. Furthermore, if I were to pull strings, how would I manage the other dozen female disciples on the mountain? I suggest we put this matter on hold for now?”

Fan Jin nodded. He had indeed intended to plead for An Zhi and ask Luo Ling to give her another chance, but after Luo Ling’s brainwashing, he abandoned the idea—at least for now. He would talk about it again later.

“Fine, fine, fine. In any case, the girl is quite diligent. As the Senior Sister, you should be more patient and provide more guidance.” After saying this, Fan Jin leaned on his cane and walked out of the room. “Keep this matter in mind; if there’s an opportunity, give her a chance.”

“Understood, Martial Uncle. Ling’er will certainly follow your teachings.” After speaking, Luo Ling watched Fan Jin’s departing figure, her expression shifting from forced smiles to deep gloom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Evening.

An Zhi was exceptionally happy. Although Luo Ling had come to provoke her, it didn’t dampen her joy in reminiscing about destroying the Paulownia Tree Demon in the back mountain. On the contrary, she was looking forward to the arrival of night, as she felt an urge to return to the back mountain.

“Snake Treasure, Snake Treasure!” After ensuring no one was around, An Zhi began searching the bookshelves for the spirit snake.

“Snake Treasure, where are you? Come out, let’s go to the back mountain.” An Zhi wondered why the spirit snake had disappeared.

Leaning against the fourth-floor balcony, An Zhi stared intently at the only path leading down the mountain.

Finally, the disciples of Sanqing Palace walked by with their usual arrogant strides, returning to their respective peaks in high spirits.

Unable to suppress her excitement, An Zhi grabbed the peach wood sword from the table.

“What are you staring at? If you want to go, just go. Old Man Fan has gone to Yuqing Peak.” The spirit snake suddenly appeared behind her.

Hearing this, An Zhi excitedly scooped the spirit snake into her hands. “Where did you go? You scared me to death.”

“Heh, you need to cultivate, and I, a snake, need to cultivate too.” The spirit snake got straight to the point: “Hurry, if we’re late, Old Man Fan will be back. We must return before he does.”

“Let’s go!” An Zhi grabbed the peach wood sword from the table and ran downstairs.

Just like before, she quietly reached the courtyard wall, slipped through the dog hole, and the girl and the snake snuck into the back mountain of Sanqing Palace.

The back mountain at night was exceptionally eerie, filled with thick fog, various phantoms drifting about, and hollow wails echoing one after another.

“Don’t be afraid. Just circulate the spiritual energy in your body, and you’ll be able to sense the demons.” Seeing An Zhi too nervous to move forward, the spirit snake encouraged her: “With me here, don’t worry.”

An Zhi was still timid, but she tried her best to circulate the spiritual power within her.

Sure enough, once her eyes turned green, she saw things she shouldn’t have, and she even sensed one behind her.

“Don’t turn around. Stab backward,” the spirit snake whispered on An Zhi’s shoulder.

An Zhi gripped the sweat-slicked peach wood sword, found the right moment, and stabbed backward.

“Awoo...”

After a piercing wail, the demon spirit behind her quickly manifested, clutching the peach wood sword that had pierced its body as it retreated repeatedly.

*Whoosh...*

Before An Zhi could react, two vines descended rapidly from the sky.

An Zhi dodged just in time, and the vines struck the mud like sharp swords right where she had been standing.

Immediately after, an inexplicable force seemed to grip An Zhi’s throat, making it difficult for her to breathe.

“Quick, circulate your spiritual power to your palms and use the Palm Thunder!” the spirit snake shouted upon seeing this.

The Palm Thunder was a technique Meng Hong had taught An Zhi in her dreams. It had ten levels, and An Zhi’s current Palm Thunder was only at level one.

An Zhi was in extreme pain, her eyes turning red, her head feeling as if it were about to explode.

She struggled to concentrate her spiritual power into her palms, and within seconds, a ball of lightning condensed between them.

“Palm~~~ Thunder!” An Zhi painfully shouted the name of her ultimate move and struck out with all her might.

Two bolts of lightning flew out from her palms and struck the demon spirit, causing a crackling sound.

The demon spirit was severely injured and immediately released its tentacles, preparing to flee. Having regained her composure, An Zhi picked up the peach wood sword from the ground and threw it. The sword pierced through the demon spirit like a flying needle and embedded itself into a tree opposite.

After several fierce battles, An Zhi finally eliminated three demon spirits. By now, the excitement of her first kill had faded; she was slightly more mature and calm as she squatted down to pick up the demon spirit seals from the ground, staring at them in her palm.

“How was it?” The spirit snake crawled over nimbly. Seeing the six demon spirit seals in An Zhi’s palm, it said excitedly: “Aha! Congratulations, you’re one step closer to becoming a Demon Slayer.”

Hearing the praise, An Zhi’s confidence grew firmer. She tucked the demon spirit seals into her satchel, stood up, and looked into the depths of the back mountain. “Snake Treasure, let’s go. There must be many more demon spirits inside.”

“Yeah! Our An Zhi has finally grown up, hahaha.” The spirit snake jumped onto An Zhi’s shoulder in excitement.

...

Just like that, An Zhi stayed in the back mountain from nightfall until late at night, collecting a total of ten demon spirit seals. She didn’t even know how many demons she had killed; she was just exhausted when she returned, and she fell asleep the moment she lay down.