Ling Yu met the three of them during her recruitment test into Lingxu. They were on site, assisting inner disciples and a few teachers who were conducting the testing. That day, Ling Yu saw how arrogant and dismissive most Lingxu cultivators were. If it hadn't been for the fact that she had a mission, she would've left already.
Their conflict started with something simple: Zhou Wenkai.
Zhou Wenkai was an outer disciple already chosen to become an inner disciple. The moment they returned to their sect in Yuyun Mountain, Zhou Wenkai would undergo the inner disciple ceremony.
This made Zhou Wenkai stand out among the outer disciples. Many tried to get close to him for their own benefit. His appearance wasn't bad either—neatly kept, with sharp-angled jaws that enhanced his masculinity. All of this made Zhou Wenkai something of a celebrity among the outer disciple circle.
On the day of the test, there were many humans gathered around, trying their luck. Most of them were between six years old to young adults below twenty. But there were also children as young as three years old, and adults above thirty years old. The scene was crowded and noisy.
Ling Yu and Li Ran were queueing to take the test. They were chatting in low voices about their plan, not really paying attention to their surroundings, when suddenly there was a commotion at the front.
Ling Yu and Li Ran snapped their attention forward, craning their necks and extending their senses to find out what was going on. Before they could get an idea, the crowd surged forward. In moments, people began pushing each other, children cried, there were also shouting, and the situation spiraled out of control.
Ling Yu got separated from Li Ran. She didn't dare use her spirit energy, afraid of alerting the teachers. Both she and Li Ran had suppressed their cultivation to meet the requirements. Without spirit energy, she could only look around for Li Ran, but it wasn't easy or effective.
And without protection of her spirit energy, she was like a normal non-cultivator. She could easy get hurt in situations like this. Some people shoved others with force. There were those who shoved back and started arguing.
The heat from the sun made it worse. Sweat. Shouts. Push. Shove. Not a good combination.
She could feel the crowd growing more agitated, and the initially innocent shoving escalated into fights here and there.
Before Ling Yu could circulate her spirit energy to protect herself, Zhou Wenkai swooped in and saved her. He yanked her out to safety. But instead of thanking him, she looked at him with obvious surprise in her eyes. So, not everyone is arrogant.
But Yu Meixian misinterpreted her look. She firmly believed that Ling Yu was just another of Zhou Wenkai's admirers—another rival for his attention. And the fact that Zhou Wenkai had his arm around Ling Yu's waist during the save, and kept it there, didn't help.
Ling Yu remembered shuddering involuntarily at Zhou Wenkai's touch. She didn't like it. It felt… wrong.
She immediately stepped away from Zhou Wenkai the moment she was safe. But Yu Meixian still caught them.
Ling Yu didn't know who they were or what their relationship was. But judging by the murderous gaze Yu Meixian gave her, she could guess. And Zhou Wenkai was indifferent about it, as if it were a daily occurrence. Adding to Ling Yu's dislike of their group.
Since then, every time Yu Meixian met Ling Yu, she would cause her trouble. And Han Zhiyuan always added oil to the fire.
Now, the three of them were standing in front of her. Zhou Wenkai with his usual weird smirk, Han Zhiyuan with his small beady eyes ready to stir trouble, and, of course, Yu Meixian, nose crunched up, lips pressed in contempt.
"It is Ling Yu Shimei! What a coincidence!" Han Zhiyuan answered his own question.
Ling Yu sighed and saluted. They were still her seniors. Lingxu was also petty about this. Anything could be used as a means to torture others.
Zhou Wenkai looked at her and smiled. He liked Ling Yu. There was something about her that attracted him. "Ling Yu Shimei, are you patrolling? Why are you patrolling alone? Let me accompany you."
Hearing that, Yu Meixian stared at Ling Yu as if daring her to say yes.
Ling Yu stayed calm and answered politely, "No need, Shixiong. I'm done. I'm about to head back."
"We're also heading back. Join us," Zhou Wenkai insisted.
Yu Meixian's face contorted. It was actually fun to watch, but Ling Yu couldn't be bothered. She never liked them, especially Zhou Wenkai. His smile, his words, and his whole attitude felt… fake.
Ling Yu declined politely again, "Thank you, Shixiong. But I still have something to do." She gestured at Xu Ming behind her.
When the attention shifted to Xu Ming, Ling Yu could hear the trio and the other outer disciples with them gasp loudly.
Xu Ming had stayed quiet during the entire exchange. At first, his mind was blown by Ling Yu's attitude. He couldn't believe that a Lingxu disciple didn't recognize him. Then he was confused by Ling Yu's kindness. No one had ever treated him with sincere kindness like she did. They either feared him, or hated him.
Then came the other Lingxu outer disciples. They also didn't recognize him. Am I not their Xu Ming?
Now, when all the attention shifted back to him, he felt relieved. At last, something I'm familiar with.
He once again straightened his back.
He is extremely good looking! My type! Yu Meixian was instantly intoxicated. She had just started to learn the Mystic Allure Art manual of Bewitching Lotus Peak. As a newly chosen inner disciple, she received the manual as a welcome gift. It was what all low-level inner disciples were practicing.
She activated her Mystic Allure Art, and she didn't hide it, causing a stir among the males in the crowd and even passersby.
She moved seductively, approaching Xu Ming. She extended one hand to touch Xu Ming's face, but stopped when she saw Xu Ming's gaze. Cold. Dangerous. Her hand faltered and shifted to try touching his sleeve instead.
Just before she made contact, she was brutally blasted back by Xu Ming's aura. Yu Meixian was pushed so hard she crashed into a nearby table.
The crowd gasped again. This time in fear.
Xu Ming's gaze moved to Zhou Wenkai, who had been observing him since he first saw him. Zhou Wenkai hated seeing anyone more good looking than him. Despite his appearance, Zhou Wenkai was rotten to the core.
He loved to take advantage of females of all ages. His victims already numbered in the hundreds, yet no one dared report him. After he joined Lingxu, he was ecstatic to discover that Bewitching Lotus Peak disciples practiced dual cultivation. He never spent a day without it, sometimes with two women at once. If not for the Peak's rule forbidding male members, he would have joined long ago.
When he saw Ling Yu on the day of the test, he felt intrigued because she didn't give him the usual reaction women showed. He could feel Ling Yu wasn't interested in him. Not in the slightest. Instead of feeling rejected, he took it as a challenge.
And in his crazy deluded mind, he believed Ling Yu was already his. It was only a matter of time. Her rejections meant nothing to him. And now, seeing Ling Yu was with another man, a more handsome man than he was, his pride couldn't take it. He looked at Xu Ming with a lot hostility.
Suddenly there was a sword in his hand and he dashed toward Xu Ming.
"Get away from Ling Yu!"