Yunxi admitted she had done it on purpose. Watching the other girl bristle and force herself to endure made her feel as if she were drinking ice-cold tea in the dog days of summer. Only after she saw Wei Yunqing stalk back to her cabin, angry but speechless, did Yunxi give a cold snort and head off to find Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang.
Hao Yan and Hao Qing had, of course, seen the whole scene. They traded a look, and Hao Qing smiled at the corner of his lips. "This is Yunxi's real temperament. She can be playful too. We all defaulted to treating her as a mature cultivator because she advanced so quickly."
Leaning back in her chair, Hao Yan added, "This is good. Serious when she should be serious, carefree when she should be carefree. It benefits cultivation. Perhaps it is precisely this mindset that kept Yunxi from ever encountering a bottleneck."
The very Yunxi they were praising was, at that moment, shoving the copied jade slips into the hands of Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang, telling them to prepare early. If they had trusted same-sect companions, they could lend them a look as well. They were all on the same side now. Wei Yunqing was the only exception, and even without Yunxi saying it, the two understood.
"Thanks. We'll do our best to break into the semifinals and get more rounds in." Zhang Lingrui rubbed his hands together, eager for a fight.
They had gathered some information on Nascent Soul cultivators from the other four regions themselves, but compared to Yunxi's dossier, their notes were lacking. Neither wanted to waste her kindness.
Yunxi said, "I'm giving you this so you understand both yourself and your opponents. I am not asking you to fight to the death. This is a tournament match, not a life-and-death battle.
Do not forget the evil cultivators watching from the shadows. If you pour out every last card now and they strike later, what will you have left to resist?"
Lin Keyang nodded immediately. "Senior Sister Ran Xi is right. We must keep a trump card for the evil cultivators. If we are outmatched in the ring, we concede. The most important thing is not to get injured."
Yunxi shot him a look of approval. Lin Keyang completely understood her point.
Zhang Lingrui was not truly foolish either. He just sometimes lost himself when facing a well-matched rival. Times had changed. He would remind himself constantly.
After that, Yunxi visited the cabins of several other Nascent Soul cultivators to relay the two Zūnzhě's instructions. As for the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators, she sent a group message to their identity jade slips.
By the time she finished, the three flying boats from the Western Region had entered the Central Region. As the host of this Five Region Grand Tournament, Huaxian Gate had already sent people to greet them and guide the three flying boats to the outer gate, where they docked at a designated peak.
The five Zūnzhě from Mingjian Gate, Haoran Sect, and the Loose Cultivator Alliance headed straight to the most spiritual spot at the summit for a small gathering. Representing Haoran Sect was Yunxi, representing Mingjian Gate was Shi Jun, and representing the Loose Cultivator Alliance was Qing Ya Zhēnjūn. The three were negotiating with cultivators of Huaxian Gate.
By coincidence, their counterpart was Xian Xu Zhēnjūn. The instant he saw Yunxi, his expression froze. The muscles at the corner of his mouth twitched twice before he forced a smile.
Yunxi smiled dazzlingly, the dimples at her lips betraying her good mood. Her voice was soft and sweet. "Xian Xu Daoyou, I trust you have been well."
Stiffly cupping his hands, Xian Xu replied, "Wei Yunxi Zhēnjūn, I trust you have been well."
"Xian Xu Daoyou may call this one 'Ran Xi.' It is the Dao name bestowed by my Master. We are familiar enough. There is no need to stand on ceremony."
Yunxi's smiling tone made the other two think she and Xian Xu were old acquaintances. Only Xian Xu was cursing inside. Of all people, he had to be assigned to receive this woman. Their relationship was nowhere near that cordial.
Xian Xu delivered temporary jade passes allowing entry to and exit from Huaxian Gate, and he answered all of Yunxi's questions without omission. Once the handover was complete, he excused himself, claiming he had other sects to receive, and made a quick exit.
Still smiling, Yunxi watched Xian Xu leave. She planned to ask around later to see whether Xian Xu was participating in the tournament. She very much wanted to beat him fair and square on the stage.
Shi Jun had sensed something was off long ago. After Xian Xu left, Qing Ya Zhēnjūn glanced at Yunxi and asked with a smile, "Ran Xi Daoyou, are you well acquainted with Xian Xu Zhēnjūn?"
Yunxi said meaningfully, "Ah, it is a long story. In the Baohua Secret Realm, Xian Xu Daoyou took great 'care' of this one."
She bit down hard on the word "care." The other two were no fools. They understood this "care" was not the good kind and let the topic slide with polite laughter.
Meanwhile, Xian Xu, whose eyelids had been twitching all the way back, went directly to find Xian Yao.
Xian Yao had not taken any duties related to this Five Region Grand Tournament. She was dealing only with matters of Yaohua Peak, so Xian Xu found her in the side hall at the summit. "Junior Brother, why the panic?"
Seeing his ugly expression, Xian Yao raised a brow.
Xian Xu sat down of his own accord, pressed his lips together, and said, "Ran Xi is here."
"Ran Xi?"
"It is Wei Yunxi of Haoran Sect."
Xian Yao's hand paused over the jade slip she was reviewing. Memories from ten years ago returned. She set down her brush. "What did she say to you?"
"Nothing. She is Haoran Sect's representative, responsible for coordinating the tournament with the sect."
"Then receive her normally. Afraid she will eat you? This is Huaxian Gate, not Haoran Sect."
It was the only comfort Xian Yao could offer.
She did not know exactly what had happened between them, but judging from Xian Xu's attitude, she could guess he was the one in the wrong.
Xian Xu truly felt guilty. He frowned. "How has she cultivated? In only ten years she advanced to late Nascent Soul. How many heavenly materials did she consume? Do you think it was the Baohua Mountain Secret—"
"Junior Brother, mind your words."
Xian Yao's face darkened. She disapproved of his speculation.
Xian Xu knew he had misspoken and shut his mouth at once. Deep down, he understood perfectly well. He was jealous. A cultivator he once dismissed had, in ten years, risen above him. The gap left him reeling.
Xian Yao frowned inwardly, then said, "Since you accepted the duty, complete it properly and stop overthinking. Ran Xi may not have given a second thought to what happened in the secret realm."
"Senior Sister is right. I will return to my tasks."
After Xian Xu left, Xian Yao raised a hand and sent a transmission talisman, ordering someone to keep an eye on Yunxi.
The next day, after a day of rest, the sect disciples grew restless. A trip to the Central Region was not easy to come by. They wanted to try their luck, maybe pick up a few treasures.
There were still days before the formal matches began. The Zūnzhě would not stop them. The contestants changed into their sect robes and went down the mountain in small groups.
This time Yunxi did not go with Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang. She paired up with Wei Yunqing instead.
Wei Yunqing stared at her as if she had seen a ghost. "Wei Yunxi, what are you trying to do?"
Yunxi stroked the black storage bracelet on her wrist and smiled with her eyes. "Travel with you, of course. Otherwise, when you cause trouble, this one will have to clean up the mess."
Grinding her teeth, Wei Yunqing said, "I will not cause trouble. Stop following me."
She turned on her heel and headed down the guest peak. "Hmph. Think you are some prized pastry? I just do not want you picking up bargains behind my back."
Yunxi pinched the little creature hidden in her sleeve. "Dian Dian, it is up to you next."