"That voice is really annoying."
Yun Hao rolled his eyes in disgust.
Ever since he'd gotten that script, his life hadn't been the same.
'Shameless senior brother?'
That title was better than the first—at least it didn't imply castration.
"Hey, voice, since you can predict the future, why don't you tell me where to find a heavenly treasure? Or a sacred medicine?"
He addressed the empty.
No answer came; it only made him feel foolish.
Spitting, Yun Hao resumed scrubbing his blood-streaked clothes.
When he finished, he dried them using his spiritual energy, which flowed out from his dantian to his fingers. As it passed over the fabric it felt like a heat that completely evaporated the water.
Well, today it made no difference.
'This sun's hotter than my Qi reserves,' Yun Hao joked to himself, staying focused.
He had the sensation of being watched by a pair of eyes.
Swallowing hard, he finished drying his garments.
Dressed, he left the river in quick strides, putting distance between himself and the spot and leaving it free for the ill-star.
…
After Yun Hao left, Shi Yueqian—who had been carrying two buckets—returned to the river with an expressionless face. But a shy look flickered in the depths of her eyes.
"Who was he? His power is at the Spiritual Core's final realm, so he isn't low-ranking," she reasoned about the young man.
It was impossible not to form an impression after seeing him without his lower garments. Even though he wasn't completely naked, his underwear was thin enough to reveal the outline.
'Shameless senior brother… why doesn't he carry an extra set of clothes? Isn't that basic? And the blood—on the thigh; the most likely explanation is he was sitting and got interrupted, coughing up blood downward.'
She had an idea of what had happened.
"This Holy Land isn't simple. Even high-level disciples can suffer setbacks. Better to be discreet and not draw attention. Accumulate strength slowly."
With that quiet goal set in her heart, Yueqian dunked both buckets into the river and, without effort, lifted them full of water. In the next moment she headed toward the servants' quarters beyond the North River.
An hour later she came to a plank bridge over the water. Crossing it, she noticed the place was busier than usual. Ahead, the other servants were openly anxious.
'So it's today, huh? The allocation of servants to the Ten Principal Disciples.'
For servant disciples, this was a chance to rise; for her it was just an unnecessary complication to her careful life. Ignoring the bustle, she was about to go to her quarters when she saw a man staring at her with a lecherous look that made her recoil.
'Should I kill him?'
She regarded the figure—a filthy-looking man with a drunken belly—with murderous intent.
'Trash.'
'He's utterly unfit for the Martial Dao; killing him would be a favor.'
She disliked the fat man's attitude. If he chose her, she would certainly kill him. Even if she wanted to live quietly, she would never let herself be defiled!
'Is my quiet life over? Do I have to replace a disciple today?'
There was a rule in the Holy Land.
Regardless of status, if a disciple defeats someone of higher rank, they could take that person's place.
As Shi Yueqian pondered this, the fat man Bai Zheng hesitated, then shook his head.
"Brother Hao would like a servant like this, right? Maybe I'll get a favor."
Bai Zheng was a pervert, but a calculating one.
His own position was only tenth; if he wanted to keep it, he needed allies. The number-one disciple, Yun Hao, was the best bet. The only problem was people rarely saw him. In social circles he was the most reserved.
"Manager Zhang! Assign this girl to Yun Hao. Tell him it's a gift from me."
…
The next morning, with half the sun risen on the horizon,
Yun Hao, who had been sleeping in the center of the Outer Courtyard, awoke with a feeling that something bad was about to happen.
'And the ill-star? Is she thinking of revenge?'
His nerves were on edge, but he soon calmed himself.
He hadn't done anything outrageous yesterday.
Knock. Knock!
A sound echoed from outside the cave.
"Who is it? The ill-star? Or some disciple looking for trouble?"
Doubt settled in his mind. After a deep breath, Yun Hao rose from bed and went to the entrance of his dwelling. Pausing at the door, he sighed again, took a token from his pocket, and placed it in the lock. The door automatically slid into the right wall, opening.
Outside, the worst thing Yun Hao could have hoped to avoid had happened.
The ill-star and a middle-aged man stood in front of his home. To make matters worse, the voice spoke again.
[The script of uncertainty has begun. Is the senior brother lying? Is he as perverted as the fat one? Was his face yesterday just a façade—a plan? The Daughter of Destiny is cautious around the senior brother. Depending on his actions, only death awaits him.]
'Damn! What did I do wrong?'
Yun Hao felt as if someone were toying with him.
This was intolerable.
'Using me as a stepping stone so much? And who the hell is that fat man! I swear, if I find out, I'll make him beg for his life.'
With that resolve set, he looked at the middle-aged man.
"What do you want?"
He asked coldly, watching the manager sweat.
"This girl was assigned to be your servant," the man replied quickly, trying to calm the situation. It didn't work—Yun Hao's presence made the air feel even colder. Swallowing, the manager looked at Yun Hao, who suddenly seized him by the throat and hoisted him into the air.
"I didn't ask for any servant."
""I—I…""
The manager tried to speak, but Yun Hao's grip squeezed his throat, making breath and voice difficult. If it continued, he'd die. Raising his hands in surrender, he signaled he yielded.
That gesture made Yun Hao loosen his hold.
"Tell me. Who asked you to bring me a servant?"
"Bai Zheng! He personally chose this woman for you," the man spilled everything. He didn't understand why Yun Hao was so furious. Wasn't it just a servant? Why was Yun Hao treating it like someone had planted an enemy in his home?
The manager didn't understand, and Yun Hao didn't explain. Tossing him to the ground, he said coldly, "Leave."
The man didn't look back; he bolted like a startled deer.
Left alone with the ill-star, Yun Hao didn't know what to do next.
Depending on his actions, he could die.
'Bai Zheng, huh? This young master will remember this favor!'