Team Competition (Deep Water Bonus Update)

The communication talisman suddenly trembled at that exact moment.

Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing each had a communication talisman of their own, so they naturally knew what a vibration meant.

Someone was looking for Ye Yunyin.

Qi Xianqing’s gaze fell on the communication talisman in Ye Yunyin’s hand.

The woman lifted her head and looked at them hesitantly.

Qi Xianqing: “It’s fine. Go ahead and answer it.”

Her gaze felt almost physical, fixed on Ye Yunyin without blinking.

Ye Yunyin frowned slightly, picked up the communication talisman, and sent her divine sense into it.

A deep male voice came from within. “The fifth is already dead. Qingqing, how are you?”

Ye Yunyin replied, “I’m fine. I’m not dead.”

The man’s voice turned anxious and angry. “If you’re not dead, what are you still doing out there? Get back to my side right now; do you hear me?”

“When you come back, I’ll deal with you.”

In the quiet room, Ye Yunyin lowered her eyes and silently listened to the person in the talisman. Her hand hanging at her side clenched into a fist, and her body trembled faintly.

A surge of fury slowly rose from the depths of her heart; it almost swallowed her whole.

Soon, she put away the communication talisman.

Qi Xianqing: “What did they say?”

Ye Yunyin was silent for a moment before saying calmly, “Your Excellency told me to return at once.”

After saying that, Ye Yunyin looked straight at Qi Xianqing.

She knew Qi Xianqing would definitely not let her go.

People of the righteous immortal sect hated demonic disciples to the bone; now that Qi Xianqing had finished questioning her, she should be killing her next.

Yet Ye Yunyin’s heart was strangely calm. Life in the demonic sect had always been perilous anyway; when she first entered it, she had never expected peaceful days.

A man may be killed, but he cannot be humiliated. As long as Qi Xianqing didn’t strip her naked and throw her into a brothel, that would already be the best outcome she could hope for.

Qi Xianqing thought for a moment. “You can leave.”

Ye Yunyin froze and looked up.

Qi Xianqing turned her hand over; a faint green light flickered in her palm.

Ye Yunyin’s pupils contracted.

“Your demonic faction’s actions this time have killed many innocent people. Even if I were to cut you to pieces here, it still wouldn’t be enough, let alone throw you into a brothel and leave you to fend for yourself.” Qi Xianqing clasped her hands behind her back and stood quietly before her, looking down at her.

Perhaps to reinforce her words, the little phoenix beside her suddenly stood up and let out an indignant “Wuu-ao—” at Ye Yunyin.

Qi Xianqing: “Choose one of us to form a master-servant contract with, and then you may leave.”

Ye Yunyin looked at Qi Xianqing in disbelief. In almost an instant, she understood what Qi Xianqing meant.

Qi Xianqing naturally would not let her go so easily, but she wouldn’t kill her either.

She wanted to maximize Ye Yunyin’s value; after forming a master-servant contract, Ye Yunyin could go and serve as a spy beside the Jueming Valley Demon Lord.

Ye Yunyin’s gaze darted wildly between Qi Xianqing and Yan Jue as she racked her brain for a way out, but Qi Xianqing seemed unwilling to give her any more time. Supporting her by the arm with her right hand, she helped her to her feet and led her to the window.

Ye Yunyin looked at the drunken man below, and her face instantly darkened.

She turned back and stared fixedly at the two of them.

The two women before her were very different. Qi Xianqing had a cool, detached air and didn’t speak much; even if she were to form a master-servant contract with her, she likely wouldn’t torment her.

Yan Jue, on the other hand, was lounging bonelessly in a hu chair behind Qi Xianqing. Her amber phoenix eyes were long and narrow, the autumn ripples in them shimmering and flowing; at a glance, she looked like someone who was very good at dealing with people. If she formed a master-servant contract with her, who knew how much trouble that would bring.

After only a brief thought, Ye Yunyin trembled and knelt down. She moved a little closer to Qi Xianqing and looked up at her. “Please, Immortal Lord, form a master-servant contract with me.”

Yan Jue froze.

-

After Ye Yunyin formed a master-servant contract with Qi Xianqing, she left.

The master-servant contract would make it convenient for Qi Xianqing to search her divine sense at any time and learn the demonic faction’s plans more easily. If Ye Yunyin had any thought of warning them, Qi Xianqing would be able to detect it the moment it happened, even from a hundred li away, and directly crush her qi sea.

“Senior Sister, why did she choose you?”

On the mountain path, Yan Jue was completely baffled, her eyes full of confusion as she looked at Qi Xianqing.

Qi Xianqing curved her lips slightly and walked slowly along the stone steps. “Maybe because I’m more easygoing.”

Yan Jue: “...”

Time passed quickly; before long, spring had returned to Five Dragons Mountain.

Flowers were in full bloom, and the grass was lush and green.

Sunlight poured down from the sky, warm and bright.

Yan Jue refused to be convinced. “I’m clearly the more easygoing one.”

Qi Xianqing’s eyes and brows curved. She nodded. “Yes, yes, it’s Junior Sister who’s more easygoing.”

The mountain path was quiet; the two of them chatted idly now and then.

That was what it was like walking with Qi Xianqing. What should have been a long mountain road somehow always felt especially short.

Before long, they arrived at the mountain gate of Thunderflame Sect.

Qi Xianqing looked back at her. “There’s something I want to ask Junior Sister.”

Yan Jue: “What is it?”

Qi Xianqing: “The team competition at the Five-Dragon Summit is about to begin. Why don’t you team up with me?”

Yan Jue paused slightly.

The individual competition of the Five-Dragon Summit had already concluded several months ago.

The Five-Dragon Summit was divided into an individual competition, a team competition, and a leisure event.

Because of Chu Fu’s sudden descent into demonic cultivation, the team competition and the leisure event had both been postponed.

Yan Jue had simply not expected the delay to be this long; only now was it finally beginning.

Since Qi Xianqing had said so, Yan Jue didn’t hesitate at all and nodded. “Sure.”

After a pause, Yan Jue said solemnly, “My girlfriend invited me, so of course I can.”

Qi Xianqing frowned slightly, confused. “Girlfriend?”

Yan Jue immediately said, “Dao companion. I mean dao companion.”

Yan Jue’s word choice had always been strange; Qi Xianqing had long since grown used to it.

Just as Qi Xianqing was about to leave, Yan Jue suddenly grabbed her hand.

Qi Xianqing turned back to look at her.

In the sunlight, Yan Jue’s fair face had a faint blush. She looked a little embarrassed; her gaze darted around aimlessly.

The moment Yan Jue noticed Qi Xianqing looking at her, she instantly wilted and asked in a low voice, “You’re just leaving like this?”

Qi Xianqing glanced over there. The mountain path was empty, with only the occasional Thunderflame Sect disciple passing by. A smile rippled at the corner of Qi Xianqing’s lips as she asked softly, “Then what would Junior Sister Yan like?”

Yan Jue looked at her, biting her lip hard, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Yan Jue: “There’s a tree over there...”

Yan Jue took Qi Xianqing’s hand and led her over, but her arm was suddenly caught by Qi Xianqing.

Qi Xianqing leaned in and gently kissed her lips.

Yan Jue’s whole body stiffened at once. She hadn’t expected Qi Xianqing to dare do that here...

Qi Xianqing kissed Yan Jue with restraint; her fair face also flushed red. Then she stepped back. “The reward for this team competition is the divine weapon Chuxiu. I heard it’s a pipe; it’s rather novel.”

Yan Jue blinked. “What’s so novel about a pipe?”

Qi Xianqing: “As long as you blow it once, it can create a sky full of fog. The thick mist can interfere with people’s vision.”

Yan Jue’s eyes lit up. “That does sound interesting.”

Yan Jue had a collector’s obsession; ever since she had transmigrated into this world, she had liked collecting strange things.

Qi Xianqing looked at her, the faintest smile in her eyes. “If you like it, then I’ll take first place and give it to you this time.”

Yan Jue smiled and hooked her arms around Qi Xianqing’s neck, acting coquettish. “You make it sound like we’re not on the same team. Anyway, if Senior Sister takes the championship this time, I’ll definitely be able to get that magical treasure too.”

-

Yan Jue went back to the dormitory carrying her bag, only to see Du Ying sitting on a small stool in the courtyard, eating pastries.

The pastries were a pale green in the sunlight and looked very fragrant. As Du Ying ate, the white fox and the little wild boar crowded around her, staring.

Especially Little Pig; its two bead-like black eyes stared straight at the pastry in Du Ying’s hand, and a string of crystal-clear saliva dripped down just like that.

Yan Jue couldn’t help twitching the corner of her mouth.

What exactly was living in her dormitory now?

Little Pig, the little white fox...

Yan Jue took out her Qiankun bag, and a little golden phoenix head poked out. The little phoenix still wore the same disgruntled expression; after showing its head, it hurriedly wriggled its whole body out of the Qiankun bag.

The little phoenix flapped over and landed right on top of Du Ying’s head.

Du Ying screamed, and the pastry in her hand fell straight to the ground. The little wild boar’s eyes went wide; it immediately trotted over on tiny steps and swallowed the pastry in one bite.

Yan Jue coughed lightly, then put on a smile. “Du Ying.”

The moment Du Ying heard Yan Jue’s voice, she turned around at once and said in shock, “Yan Jue!”

Yan Jue: “Long time no see.”

Du Ying didn’t even have time to put on her outer robe before hurrying over and grabbing her hand. “You!!! Are!!! Fi!!! Nally!!! Back!!! As expected of an immortal lord who can take on an A-rank mission; you’re so busy all the time we can barely even catch a glimpse of you. The team competition and leisure event in Five Dragons Sect are about to start; if you didn’t come back soon, our team would be short one person.”

Yan Jue was taken aback. “Team competition?”

Du Ying smacked her on the head. “You forgot? You just promised me a few months ago. For the Five-Dragon Summit team competition, you were going to team up with me.”

Yan Jue: “...”

Only then did Yan Jue suddenly remember that several months ago, when the individual competition of the Five-Dragon Summit had just ended and she and Qi Xianqing still weren’t together yet, she really had agreed to team up with Du Ying for the Five-Dragon Summit team competition...

But she had forgotten just now, and already promised Qi Xianqing...

Yan Jue lamented inwardly and muttered, “I’ll go ask Senior Sister...”

Her voice was very soft, and Du Ying didn’t hear it. Counting on her fingers, Du Ying said, “Our team has four people total; with you, that makes five exactly. Ah, this time the Five-Dragon Summit competition has especially strict requirements for team formation. If we’re missing even one person, we can’t participate.”

Du Ying added, “Thank goodness you came back, Yan Jue. Otherwise, at this critical point, I really wouldn’t know who to find to fill the last spot on our team.”

Yan Jue: “...”

This was really... far from good.

-

Back in her room, Yan Jue sat on the bed for a while and only felt sleepy beyond belief.

Something seemed off, so she checked, and it turned out her period had arrived.

A fox’s period was already long to begin with. Yan Jue still remembered that her last one had been at Yuxu Sea. At times like this, not only did she become especially tired, she also became especially lonely.

Yan Jue lay on the bed for a while, but she really couldn’t keep lying there, so she got up and, by habit, climbed out the window.

She was going to Cold Pool to find Qi Xianqing.

It was spring; fresh shoots had already sprung up in the grass by Cold Pool, and everywhere she looked was a brilliant green.

Yan Jue stood with her hands behind her back by Cold Pool for a while, taking deep breaths of the still chilly air, then strolled along slowly and soon reached the fence outside Frozen Peach Haven.

Qi Xianqing was seated at the table, head lowered as she organized the books and scrolls on it, then opened the topmost one to read.

Yan Jue walked in with practiced ease and stood beside her. When she saw what was written on the scroll, she couldn’t help pausing slightly.

Qi Xianqing was reading an arrangement list for the Five-Dragon Summit team competition. Under the dim candlelight, she held a brush in hand, her back straight, slowly writing on the book.

As the chief disciple of Five Dragons Sect, Qi Xianqing basically had no free time of her own. After returning to the mountain, she naturally had to deal with all of these matters.

Yan Jue dragged a chair over and sat beside her, then looked at her carefully. “Senior Sister...”