Inside the sect master's hall, Luo Hantian finally got his wish of meeting Song Wanníng.
The first thing he did was admit his fault.
"Girl, I owe you an apology. This was my oversight, and it nearly got you into danger."
He had thought Song Wanníng was merely overthinking. He never expected that old scoundrel Mu Zixu to truly abuse his power. Now that the illusion had shattered, Mu Zixu's image in his mind had turned into that of a despicable villain.
Fortunately, he had immediately sent someone to investigate the matter. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Luo Hantian's face was filled with regret.
Seeing this, Song Wanníng's opinion of him improved slightly. At least Luo Hantian wasn't like the former sect master of Wentian Sect in the lower realm.
"Sect Master, this matter started because of me. There's no need for you to blame yourself. On the contrary, I should be thanking you for sending Elder Liu to fetch me. Otherwise, I would have fallen into their hands already."
She let out a soft sigh as she spoke, looking as though she had only just recovered from a scare.
Luo Hantian's distaste for the Medicine King Sect rose another notch. "Rest assured, they won't dare act against you openly again. In secret… that's harder to say."
After all, Song Wanníng couldn't stay within the sect forever. Once she traveled outside, danger might come knocking.
"It's fine. I'll be careful."
Song Wanníng smiled faintly. If soldiers come, she'd block them; if water floods, she'd dam it. She would simply take things as they came.
Her shift in identity was seamless. Even after falling from a highly respected Divine Transformation Zūnzhě to an ordinary Void Refinement disciple in Guhan Sect, she showed no sign of discomfort.
"This is the Sub-Trial Tower. I'm returning it to the sect."
She took out the miniature pagoda and placed it in her palm.
Luo Hantian's eyes lit up, his face brimming with excitement.
This was a treasure left by the sect's founding Ancestors. Now it had finally been returned.
"Good! Good! Good!"
He uttered three "goods" in succession before beckoning with one hand. The Sub-Trial Tower flew into his grasp.
The contract had already been willingly released by Song Wanníng. Luo Hantian stroked the tower gently, his expression almost tender.
After looking it over several times, he carefully put it away.
Then he tossed Song Wanníng a wooden token. "You've rendered great service by returning the Sub-Trial Tower. Go to the treasure vault and pick two items for yourself."
Counting her earlier gains, Song Wanníng was far from walking away empty-handed. "Also, remember to register for your identity jade token and collect the supplies for a True disciple."
Even the smallest mosquito is still meat, and the treatment for a True disciple of Guhan Sect was no small matter.
"Thank you, Sect Master."
Song Wanníng bowed with a smile before following Liu Xingzhi out of the hall.
Liu Xingzhi glanced down at her. Back in the hall, her demeanor had been completely different from before. He still remembered her arrogant manner vividly.
But just that brief, ordinary glance happened to be caught by Jiang Cen, who was hurrying over. Her heart gave a jolt, and a surge of possessive urgency welled up inside.
"This woman is beautiful. Standing next to Senior Brother, they actually look like a perfect match!
No. Senior Brother can only be mine. No other woman is allowed to take him away!"
What was that sound?
Song Wanníng's ears suddenly picked up an angry voice. Surprised, she looked up and saw a strikingly beautiful figure approaching.
The newcomer walked with a bold, breezy air. Her beauty was flamboyant, her bearing proud—clearly a woman of noble birth and high status.
"Senior Brother, you're finally back! Is she the one you went to pick up? Who is she?"
Hearing Jiang Cen's words, Song Wanníng arched a brow.
So it was this woman's voice earlier.
Had she… heard her thoughts?
In that instant, Song Wanníng recalled what the Heavenly Dao had said about the Three Lives Mirror—a treasure that could identify intruders.
It seemed this woman was almost certainly an intruder.
Song Wanníng's smile deepened, her gaze on Jiang Cen growing darker.
Jiang Cen felt a chill under that look and shot her a covert glare.
When Liu Xingzhi saw Jiang Cen, he didn't even want to speak to her. If not for the fact that her master had once done him a great favor, she would already be dead by his blade.
Her persistent attempts to get close to him only eroded what little patience he had left.
Ignoring her entirely, he pulled out a transmission talisman and summoned his disciple.
"Master, you called for me?"
A gentle figure came gliding in from the distance, looking for all the world like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens.
"Ugh, what's with this fake fairy act? She's just a conniving white lotus, a total manipulator.
And to think this white lotus is actually the female lead of this novel. I don't know what the author was thinking. Still, now that I've transmigrated here, the male lead Liu Xingzhi will be mine!
It's just a shame I transmigrated too late. The original owner had already offended Liu Xingzhi badly. Winning him over now is as hard as climbing to the heavens…"
Jiang Cen's thoughts echoed in Song Wanníng's ears once more. She listened lazily, but every word was etched into her mind, revealing plenty of information.
Transmigration?
Male lead and female lead?
Her gaze shifted subtly to Liu Xingzhi and the two beauties beside him, a flicker of understanding in her eyes.
For someone like Liu Xingzhi to be the male lead… that made sense. Unlike Bai Yang…
"This is Song Wanníng, Guhan Sect's newly promoted True disciple. Take her to register for her jade token and then to the treasure vault."
Liu Xingzhi issued the instructions curtly, then left without looking back.
Song Wanníng didn't expect him to exchange pleasantries. On the journey back, he had spoken fewer than five sentences to her.
"Senior Brother, wait! I still have questions to ask you!"
Seeing him leave, Jiang Cen's expression changed. She shot Song Wanníng and the other woman a brief glance before hurrying after him.
At the door, only Song Wanníng and Zhang Shuning remained.
"Junior Sister, hello. I'm Zhang Shuning. Please, come with me."
Zhang Shuning smiled warmly, her presence as serene and fresh as a blooming lotus.
A faint, pleasant fragrance lingered about her, blending with her soft and gentle aura.
No wonder Jiang Cen had called her a white lotus.
But what exactly was a "manipulator"?
It didn't sound like a compliment.
"I'll trouble you, Senior Sister."
Since Zhang Shuning had joined the sect earlier and was also in the Void Refinement stage, it was fitting to address her that way.
At this rate, Song Wanníng's generation rank was probably the lowest.
Steadying her thoughts, she walked alongside Zhang Shuning, chatting as they went.
Zhang Shuning's temperament was gracious, her voice gentle. The way she looked at Song Wanníng now and then carried such warmth it almost stirred her heart.
More importantly, the Three Lives Mirror showed no reaction to her. After some discreet testing, Song Wanníng ruled out the possibility of her being an intruder.
"Elder Li, this is Song Wanníng, our new True disciple. Please help her register for her jade token."
Zhang Shuning soon brought her to the Outer Affairs Hall.
At those words, every disciple in the hall turned to look, their faces filled with curiosity and surprise.
Elder Li was momentarily stunned, then recalled the message he had just received. His expression broke into a broad smile. "Ah, this must be Elder Liu's new disciple. I'll take care of it right away!"
Although he too was an elder, he was merely a minor steward. His cultivation was respectable, but his years were catching up to him, and without a stroke of fortune, his life would remain at this stage forever.