TSVSFL 11 👑

Taking a Master

The system suddenly beeped:
“OOC warning! Please maintain character settings!”

Heh.

Ding Li looked at Chu Zilan expectantly.
“Then… can I call you Senior Sister?”

From behind Chu Zilan, Lin Ziyuan—who had been dutifully standing there the whole time—instantly widened his eyes in shock.

Xiao Lin, close that surprised mouth of yours. Never seen someone shameless before? Well, congratulations—you have now.

After a moment, Chu Zilan nodded.
“You may. Once you’ve recovered, follow me to formally enter under the Sect Leader.”

Lin Ziyuan’s jaw practically dropped to the ground. His expression looked like he’d just been struck by lightning.

Wait—this is allowed?!

His face clearly said: Then what was the point of us working so hard to pass the entrance trials?

Heh. It means you passed the entrance trials.

As soon as Chu Zilan finished speaking, Ding Li’s eyes lit up. She became visibly lively again and leaned forward, about to grab Chu Zilan—

But just before touching her sleeve, she seemed to remember something and quickly withdrew her hand, looking up in disbelief.

“Really, Senior Sister?”

Zero seconds to adapt to her new identity. Time to start being a good person again.

Chu Zilan nodded.
“Focus on recovering. Lin Ziyuan will stay here to take care of you.”

She turned and left. Lin Ziyuan hurriedly bowed.
“Take care, Senior Sister!”

As Chu Zilan’s figure gradually disappeared, Ding Li sighed again.

Even her departing figure was mesmerizing…

Lin Ziyuan only turned back after she was completely out of sight, staring at Ding Li in shock.
“You—you…”

Ding Li calmly lowered her raised hand, signaling him to relax.
“What do you want to say?”

Lin Ziyuan couldn’t calm down at all. He leaned closer.
“You’re incredible! Do you know how many disciples the Sect Leader has? In all these years, only three! And now Senior Sister just vouched for you and got you accepted directly under him—she treats you so well!”

“Mm,” Ding Li replied. “Because she’s kind.”

Ding Li soaked in the spring for another day. On the fourth morning, she removed her bandages and went to find Chu Zilan.

Chu Zilan lived at Lingxiao Peak, not far from Qingluan Peak where Ding Li stayed.

Lingxiao Peak wasn’t crowded—only a few early disciples lived there. The training grounds were spacious, and the facilities well-developed.

Qingluan Peak, on the other hand, was lively, filled with new disciples and guest quarters for visiting cultivators.

Every three years, sects exchanged disciples—selecting promising ones to study at other sects, learning from each other to improve.

To show her sincerity, Ding Li got up early at dawn.

Over the past few days, Lin Ziyuan had shown her around, so even without him, she could find her way.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, she arrived at Lingxiao Peak.

Just as she stopped at the entrance, a female disciple approached.
“Who are you?”

Ding Li bowed slightly.
“I’m Ding Li from Qingluan Peak. I’m here to see Senior Sister Chu.”

Hearing her address, the disciple immediately understood—this must be the girl Chu Zilan had rescued.
“Come with me.”

They walked for nearly another quarter-hour before reaching a courtyard.

The entrance had been grand, but the courtyard itself was quiet and elegant, simply arranged.

Ding Li pushed the door open. Inside, there were no rare flowers—just ordinary plants, neatly tended.

Chu Zilan sat at a stone table, brewing tea. Hearing the sound, she turned to look.

A beauty…

Truly a beauty…

Even such a plain setting became poetic because of her…

Ding Li took a deep breath and walked forward. Just as she was about to speak, Chu Zilan said:

“Your injuries are healed? Come sit.”

Ding Li walked over gracefully.

Without looking at her, Chu Zilan poured a cup of tea and placed it on the table.

Ding Li sat and took a sip. The fragrance filled her senses.
“Wonderful tea! Senior Sister, your tea is delicious.”

Chu Zilan said,
“You’re late—but not too late. Finish this cup, and I’ll take you to meet Master.”

Ding Li almost wanted to applaud. She tilted her head back and drank the tea in one gulp, then carefully set the cup down.

“Then… Senior Sister, shall we go?”

Chu Zilan nodded, and they stood.

The main peak of the Cangshan Sect was Cangyun Peak, where the Sect Leader and elders resided. After climbing the long front steps, a grand hall came into view.

Ding Li had never been here before. The scenery was vast—mountains stretched endlessly, unobstructed and magnificent.

Chu Zilan walked ahead, while Ding Li followed behind, panting from the climb.

Entering the hall, they saw a man seated at the central platform—stern, dignified, wearing a wide-sleeved blue robe.

This was the Sect Leader.

Ding Li steadied herself and looked at him.

In the original novel, he had been killed by Su Xiangqing, with the blame shifted onto Chu Zilan.

Strange. A character barely mentioned before now felt so real.

Chu Zilan stepped forward and bowed.
“Master.”

Ding Li quickly followed suit.

Lowering her head, she heard the Sect Leader speak in a deep voice:

“This is the person you brought back?”

That tone… didn’t sound approving.

Ding Li knew her own shortcomings. But thinking of Su Xiangqing—petty and vengeful—she realized that upon hearing such disapproval, Su Xiangqing would have already begun harboring resentment.

Why bother? Ding Li thought. Bosses and employees never really see eye to eye anyway—that’s totally understandable.

After all, she wasn’t a genius like Xiao Wenjing, nor a diligent prodigy like Lu Qianchuan and Chu Zilan who had trained since childhood. It was only natural for the “leader” to be dissatisfied and the “teacher” to be unimpressed.

Chu Zilan said,
“Yes.”

The Sect Leader asked,
“A few days ago, you told me you wanted to bring her to see me. Do you wish for me to accept her as a disciple?”

Absurd! Ridiculous! Pure wishful thinking!

But the one speaking was Chu Zilan, the female lead.

“Yes,” she replied calmly.

Tsk. A beauty with decisiveness and presence—few words, but each worth a thousand gold!

Ding Li wailed internally for the thousandth time. Wouldn’t it be great just sticking with Chu Zilan? Why mess things up? She’s the female lead with plot armor! If anyone else dared ask the Sect Leader to accept a useless weakling as a direct disciple, they’d probably get slapped out the door!

Ah… leveling up and defeating monsters with her would be completely stress-free!

The Sect Leader had been looking at Chu Zilan the whole time—after all, she was his prized disciple. But now, he turned his gaze to Ding Li, sizing her up from head to toe.

“Average aptitude, no foundation. The path of cultivation will be long and difficult. However, since your Senior Sister vouches for you, from today onward, you will enter under my tutelage.”

“…”
Wow, thank you for that brutally honest evaluation…

Standing behind Chu Zilan, Ding Li immediately raised her head in shock. Her eyes lit up with excitement—she almost burst into tears of joy. She quickly knelt and bowed.

“Th-thank you, Master!”

The Sect Leader waved his sleeve.
“Thank your Senior Sister.”

Ding Li glanced shyly at Chu Zilan, then said brightly,
“Thank you, Senior Sister!”

Chu Zilan gave a simple “Mm.”

“Rise,” the Sect Leader said.

Ding Li stood up and followed Chu Zilan in bowing again.

“Thank you, Master. This disciple will take her leave,” Chu Zilan said, turning and walking out.

Tsk. The female lead really is cool and graceful—unstoppable!

I wish I could reincarnate again and be the female lead…

Ding Li hurried after her as they exited the hall.

As they approached a fork in the road, Ding Li hesitated for a long time before finally asking,
“Um… Senior Sister, will I be cultivating under you?”

She was anxious to confirm this because—in the original story, when Su Xiangqing first entered under the Sect Leader, the one assigned to guide her was… Xiao Wenjing.

A Sect Leader naturally didn’t have time to personally teach a useless beginner. Chu Zilan also didn’t have time, so she handed Su Xiangqing over to Xiao Wenjing.

And of course, the two disliked each other. Xiao Wenjing couldn’t be bothered with her, and Su Xiangqing didn’t want to deal with him either. So although he was supposed to guide her, in reality she was left to fend for herself.

Chu Zilan didn’t know about this, and neither of them would tell her.

Strictly speaking, Chu Zilan wasn’t wrong. Xiao Wenjing was only two years older than Su Xiangqing. She probably thought that, given his talent, Su Xiangqing would benefit from following him.

But Ding Li thought—Su Xiangqing’s later psychological instability, while partly due to cliché plot writing, might also have something to do with the lack of proper guidance.

Then again… even if someone tried to reform her—or beat her into shape three times a day…

…she still wouldn’t escape the author’s plot.