Plan

The young woman, Shangguan Xue, remained clad in crimson robes, her dark hair bound by a single wooden hairpin, a broken blade clutched in her hand.

Any discerning observer could tell that the crimson robe was a spiritual treasure, adapting to the wearer’s changing form.

“Success,” Shangguan Xue declared, her previously somewhat hoarse voice now remarkably tender.

With her small hands, she lifted the heavy blade, which now consisted only of its hilt and a mere fragment of the blade itself.

“This way, by simply reassembling the Hegemon Blade, I can briefly regain my strength.”

Hearing her words, which suggested everything was going according to plan, the others finally let out a sigh of relief before observing the now-diminutive Shangguan Xue.

“You’re… quite adorable.”

Standing before her, Shi Ledong lowered her head, unable to resist ruffling Shangguan Xue’s hair.

“Dong-jie!” Shangguan Xue protested, though her indignation only served to make her appear even more endearing.

“Indeed,” Jia Nan chimed in, leaning closer to poke Shangguan Xue’s cheek. “The texture is much better now too.”

“Shangguan-jie,” Ziyan said, grinning playfully. “Shouldn’t you be calling me ‘Sister’ now?”

“Um…” Beigong Qingmei raised her hand once more. “Why twelve years old?”

‘I knew it, only Qingmei has serious matters on her mind,’ Shangguan Xue grumbled inwardly.

“Because the Child of Fortune is also twelve,” the young woman explained. “When I defeat him later, he won’t be able to use the excuse that I’m older than him, thus preventing his dao heart from collapsing.”

Shangguan Xue understood Hao Jin, that fellow, quite well, knowing he could only accept success and not failure.

As the Child of Fortune, his journey had been smooth sailing.

During that time, merely fighting to a draw with someone his age had almost plunged him into despair.

Therefore, if he were to suffer a truly devastating defeat at the hands of someone his own age, he would likely crumble entirely.

“So that’s how it is,” Qingmei murmured, a light of understanding dawning upon her.

“Oh, and Qingmei, could you do me a favor?” Shangguan Xue scampered over with tiny steps.

“Tell me about it.”

“Qingmei, please arrange for me to attend the Grand Spirit Academy.”

“No problem at all,” Beigong Qingmei readily agreed.

As the Pavilion Master of the Ink Pavilion, arranging for someone to study at a subordinate academy was quite effortless, even if it happened to be the finest academy.

“Also…” Shangguan Xue began, a hint of awkwardness in her voice as she asked, “What are the rules for your academy and palace? Specifically… how many years of study are involved?”

This time, Beigong Qingmei was genuinely taken aback.

“You’ve known me for decades, and you actually don’t know this?”

Jia Nan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Remember? She never used to discuss work with us.”

Ziyan nodded in agreement.

Shi Ledong delivered the final, merciless blow: “She doesn’t even know where the Sun Palace’s main city is.”

“Is it necessary to know its exact location? If I leave an anchor point and can teleport there, isn’t that enough?” Shangguan Xue retorted, baring her teeth.

“But you can’t teleport now,” Shi Ledong countered, delivering another jab.

“Which means,” Jia Nan added, joining the chorus of playful jabs, “you can’t even get to the Sun Palace’s main city right now.”

“Can’t I just ask for directions?” Shangguan Xue protested, though her voice had noticeably weakened.

If she allowed them to continue their banter, night would soon fall, so Beigong Qingmei had no choice but to interject.

“The academy admits youths who are twelve years old and have not yet reached the Body Tempering Realm, training them for three years.”

“Should they achieve the Free-Spirited Realm after three years, they can then enter the palace academy for five years of study.”

‘Understood. So, one is like junior high, and the other… high school plus two years of college?’

Shangguan Xue nodded, indicating her comprehension.

“By the way,” Beigong Qingmei inquired, “will you be using your true name?”

“Go ahead,” Shangguan Xue waved a dismissive hand. “After all, people only know the Martial Saint; they don’t know the Martial Saint’s name.”

“What about your spirit cultivation technique? Shall I help you find a suitable one, or will you continue using your previous one?”

“I’ll just continue using the Martial Technique,” Shangguan Xue sighed. “Given my talent, it’s the only one I can truly utilize.”

The cultivation of spirit techniques is intimately tied to one’s innate talent.

Only those with extraordinary talent, such as Shi Ledong, Beigong Qingmei, and Ziyan, could cultivate Saint-grade spirit techniques; those with moderate aptitude practiced premium-grade techniques.

Shangguan Xue’s talent was exceptionally poor, meaning she could only practice the Martial Technique, one of the weakest among all mortal-grade spirit techniques.

“Regardless,” she suddenly burst into laughter, her eyes alight with triumph, “I managed to cultivate to the Pinnacle Creation Realm using the Martial Technique back then, and I can certainly do it again.”

“That’s a valid point,” Beigong Qingmei conceded, still acknowledging her capabilities. “Is there anything else?”

“Nothing else,” Shangguan Xue replied, shaking her head. Then, turning to face the other three, she added, “Well then, I’ll need your help too.”

“Come over here,” Beigong Qingmei said, giving her a light kick on the backside.

“Absent-minded,” Jia Nan remarked, offering her assessment.

Leaping before the three, Shangguan Xue first addressed Shi Ledong.

“Dong-jie, I’ll need your Sun Palace to increase its patrol efforts significantly and eliminate more Nightmares recently.”

“Alright.”

“Jia Nan, in my current state, I’ll need a guardian to back me up. So, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you.”

“Ah… fine, I’ll be your guardian.”

“Yan-zi, please get me some Foundation Establishment pills, ones without side effects.”

“Mm-hm…”

“Well then, ladies,” Shangguan Xue announced, hopping onto a nearby stone, “that should cover everything for now.”

“Wait a moment,” Dong-jie interjected, producing a piece of paper from her sleeve and handing it to Shangguan Xue.

“What’s this?” Shangguan Xue asked, glancing at it after unfolding it, nearly choking on her own saliva.

“On the way here, we discussed it,” Qingmei explained. “Fearing you might disappear as soon as the matter was resolved, we collaborated to create this.”

“But there was no need to make it a deed of indenture!” Shangguan Xue exclaimed, shaking the contract wildly. “No, wait! This is a s*ave contract, isn’t it?!”

“Are the terms particularly harsh?” Dong-jie questioned.

“Not really, no…” Shangguan Xue had to admit.

‘But I want my freedom!’ she added silently in her heart, casting a pitiful gaze at Ziyan.

This time, however, Yan-zi didn’t side with her. “Only this way can we keep you close.”

‘I almost forgot, you have yandere tendencies…’ Shangguan Xue sighed a long, drawn-out sigh, as if to hide her tears, and then looked towards Jia Nan.

Jia Nan first let out a displeased “Hmph,” before speaking.

“If you behave well, I’ll consider letting you go.”

“Jia Nan… you spoil her too much,” Shi Ledong commented, casting a helpless glance, yet offering no words of objection.

“You all agree with Jia Nan?”

Upon receiving an affirmative reply, Shangguan Xue, her face etched with despair, pressed her finger print onto the contract.

“Alright then, does anyone else have anything?” she asked, tucking away the contract. “If not, shall we head somewhere first?”

“Where to?” Jia Nan asked, ever the most enthusiastic.

“To seize the protagonist’s — the Child of Fortune’s — opportunities.”