Finally, the day of the conference arrived. The smell of morning dew filled the air as the sun started to rise. With Yin Li hidden in his chest pocket, Ye Chen was preparing to make his way to the main hall when Elder Ming called out to him.
"Take this." Elder Ming handed over a bag of potions and herbs.
Ye Chen took a closer look at some of them and recognized half of them. They range from recovery medication to beast enhancing potions.
"What's this?" Ye Chen picked up an unfamiliar small blue bottle and attempted to sniff it.
"That is a powder-gas that knocks out spiritual beasts within 5metres from where you open the bottle. Use only during an emergency." Elder Ming warns. "It will also affect Yin Li since you are unable to hide him because you're not contracted to it." Elder Ming sneered and snatched the bottle from Ye Chen, dumping it in the bag.
"And this?" Ye Chen pulled out a bag of orange pills in odd shapes.
"That is something to strengthen your spiritual energy temporarily for about 10 minutes. It also gives you stamina"
"Wha...Shizun, you are so kind!" Ye Chen grinned and felt really lucky to have a master like Elder Ming.
"...You realize you call me Shizun right?" Elder Ming rolled his eyes and tapped his disciple on the temples.
As daylight started to fill the sky, Elder Ming shoo-ed Ye Chen off so he wouldn't be late. "Oh, I left a note inside the bag with the information of the potions I have never taught you about. Take care and please tread carefully."
"Yes Shizun, please be well and be careful too. We are still not sure exactly who the target is… Oh, Yin Li, shouldn't you say goodbye to Shizun?"
A small furry face popped up from the robes to look at Elder Ming, purred sleepily before diving back in to continue his nap.
"This disciple will make his way." Ye Chen excused himself and walked towards the main hall.
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As Ye Chen walked past groups of disciples making their way to the hall, all of them had a serious expression and did not speak to each other. All of them, including Ye Chen, entered the hall in an orderly manner and gathered in a line for attendance.
"Name?" A female disciple about 2 to 3 years older sitting at the desk asked as Ye Chen stepped in front of the registration counter.
"Ye Chen"
"Let me check" The female disciple looked down on her list of names and furrowed her brows "There's no Ye Chen, are you sure you are supposed to go this year?" She scratched her head in confusion.
"Ah.. yes. I have never been to the Conference before… will you please check again?"
"Still no Ye Chen" By the time she went through the list again, she was already looking annoyed and sighed really loudly to announce her displeasure.
"Ah… please check again?" Ye Chen's eyes twitched as he watched the female disciple roll her eyes at him upon his request again.
"I already double checked and triple checked. There is no Ye Chen here. Please don't give me any trouble. From the looks of it, you are too young and you don't even look like an inner disciple, did you sneak in?" I will report you to the elders If you keep impersonating an inner disciple. Please leave."
"..."
"What is holding up the line?" A deep voice came and interrupted the tense atmosphere between the two disciples.
"This disciple gives my greetings to Sect Master Wu." Ye Chen greeted the elderly.
"Sect Master Wu, I found a disciple impersonating as an inner disciple and held up the line by forcing me to recheck the list when his name wasn't even there!"
Sect Master Wu has strands of white and grey hair in his brows and he gave a surprised face when he saw Ye Chen standing right in front of him.
"Ye Chen, you are in the wrong line." The elderly squinted his eyes as he pointed to the right side of the hall. At that side of the hall, Wen Jun and a few other direct disciples were seated and chatting amongst themselves, not aware of the commotion happening at the registration table.
"Sect Master Wu, what do you mean?" The girl's confused look deepened as she wondered how the Sect Master was able to remember the name of this boy.
"He's the direct disciple of Elder Ming. He must have entered the wrong line for registration. Ye Chen, come with me to the right registration counter for direct disciples."
"Elder Ming…?" The female disciple's confused look turned into a shocked expression.
Upon the sight of that, Ye Chen started chuckling as he followed Sect Master Wu.
When the female disciple saw Ye Chen chuckling, she stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes at him as she gestured for the next person in line to come forward for registration.
"Don't blame your Shimei for not recognizing you. You hardly come to events and stay in the peak most of the time, she probably has not seen you before since she just became an inner disciple this year" Sect Master Wu told Ye Chen as they walked towards the direct disciple registration table.
"It is alright. It didn't bother me" Ye Chen replied politely and made his way alone to the registration table.
Wen Jun, who noticed his Master walking over towards the area, hopped up and greeted him.
"This disciple greets Shizun."
"Mmm. Are the preparations ready?"
"Yes, Shizun."
"Good. Just don't leave a trace."
"Yes." Wen Jun bowed and watched as his Master walked away before letting out a big sigh.