The first day of the competition had finally ended, eliminating half of the participants. The Flower Pinning Conference was unlike any other, where a single loss meant no chance of redemption. Thus, the disciples gave their all, fighting for the honor of their Sects and to avoid early elimination.
By evening, after taking care of the Conference matters with great forbearance, the first thing Chu Lei and his wife did was to rush to check on their daughter Xuanji's injuries.
He Danping had held back her tears all day, but they finally fell when she saw Xuanji's head wrapped in bandages.
"Are the injuries severe? Does it hurt?" She took her daughter into her arms, tears streaming down profusely.
Xuanji was eating, her mouth stuffed with stir-fried meat, and she mumbled unclearly, "Mom, I'm fine, it doesn't hurt at all. Look!" She tapped on the wound with her hand, indeed showing no sign of discomfort.
He Danping quickly caught her hand, chiding softly, "Don't move it! What if the wound opens up again?"
Chu Lei gently lifted the bandage to check on the injury, only to find that although the bandage was stained with blood, there wasn't a single scratch on her head, just a patch of hair soaked with blood and clotted together. The scalp underneath was unharmed, not even a small cut could be seen.
He couldn't help but marvel internally, utterly confused about what had happened.
After a long contemplation, he finally sighed, "It's also because you haven't mastered your skills well enough, that you had to suffer this ordeal. Had you been half as diligent as others, you wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state today."
As soon as Xuanji heard him starting to blame her again, her enthusiasm waned, and she could no longer eat, just chewing the stir-fried meat in her mouth without speaking.
Linglong pouted, "Dad really is biased. Sister got hurt so badly, but instead of blaming others, he blames her..."
She didn't finish speaking when a glare from Chu Lei made her stop immediately, stuffing food into her mouth in a huff.
After Chu Lei re-bandaged her, he said gently, "Fortunately, the wound isn't severe, and there's no serious harm to your body. Most of the power of the Five Thunders Technique must have dissipated by the time it reached the edge of the arena; you'll be better in a couple of days."
He frowned slightly before adding, "That Wu Tong... such a young age, yet able to use talismans, he's bound to be no ordinary individual in the future. But how come I didn't see him at the last Flower Pinning Conference?"
He Danping laughed, "Big brother, you are concerned and thus confused. Wu Tong just turned eighteen this year, the right age to compete. When we went to Dianjing Valley last time, Daoist Jiang had him serve us tea, you must have forgotten!"
Chu Lei had a sudden realization, "Oh?! Was it the tea server from last time? Back then he seemed just a mischievous boy, truly the terror of the young, not seen for a few years and now he has grown so formidable!"
He Danping sighed softly, brushing a grain of rice from Xuanji's face, "Our fight this time can be considered a terrible loss. But if it were just hand-to-hand techniques, Duanping might not have lost."
Chu Lei shook his head, "For cultivators, martial arts techniques are just for self-defense, while the mastery of Immortal Techniques and spells is key. Duanping's skills were inferior, and his loss was not unjust. Our Sect requires the disciples to reach the age of twenty before they start learning the Immortal Law, and Daoist Jiang indeed was open-minded to let his disciples learn at an earlier age."
As he spoke, he fell into deep thought.
Having been married to him for so many years, He Danping knew what he was thinking and couldn't help but smile, "Big brother, are you considering letting the disciples learn Immortal Law earlier?"
Linglong had been listening intently and, upon hearing this, quickly approached, excitedly crying out, "Really?! Dad, will you let us learn Immortal Law ahead of time? Can we start learning it tomorrow?"
Chu Lei tapped her forehead and said with a laugh, "Always impatient, aren't you? There's no need to bring it up for now. I will discuss it with the Elders of the various halls before making a decision."
Linglong knew that his words meant it was definitely feasible and, overjoyed, she threw her arms around his neck, coyly saying, "Dad, seeing how badly that villain hurt my sister, you should punish him a little, right? Otherwise, it's such a loss of face for our Shaoyang Sect!"
With a stern face, Chu Lei replied coldly, "You even know about losing face. But remember, this loss of face is due to your own lack of skill, it has nothing to do with others."
Linglong argued urgently, "But he's older than us! Wait until I and sister are eighteen, if we're still no match for him, you can criticize us then."
Chu Lei said smilingly, "With your current slothful attitudes, I'm afraid you won't match him even at eighty."
As the Sect Leader, he had many responsibilities, so after a brief conversation, he had to leave. Before going, seeing Linglong still annoyed, he said, "Don't get any wild ideas, and don't cause trouble at the Flower Pinning Conference. Daoist Jiang has already apologized for this incident. Let it be for now. If you can't get over it, then practice diligently and defeat him at the next Conference."
Linglong kept silent and pretended to be the good child. As soon as her parents left, she immediately pulled Xuanji aside. Seeing her face smeared with grains of rice and glistening with oil, she couldn't help but use her own handkerchief to wipe Xuanji's face, while sighing like an old soul, "Really a child, don't even know whether you're eating with your face or your mouth."
Xuanji swallowed the stir-fried meat and replied, "Like you said just now, we are still children, after all."
Linglong looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before lowering her voice, "Enough about that. Si Feng asked us to go to the back mountain tonight, right? Is everything ready?"
Xuanji hurriedly found a shovel and some hemp rope from behind the door, "What are these for? A trap?"
"How would I know what kind of crazy idea he has? Just get ready and let's go!"
Linglong pulled her out the door, checked to make sure no one was around, and the two of them stealthily ran toward the back mountain.
Sure enough, Zhong Minyan and Yu Sifeng had arrived early, waiting impatiently. When they saw the two girls running over, Zhong Minyan complained anxiously, "My dear ladies, what time do you call this! Why are you only just arriving!"
Linglong pouted, "Daddy came over and lectured me, I was scared to death, and yet you still have complaints!"
Zhong Minyan hurriedly put on a smile, holding her sleeve and cooed, "You got scolded? Okay, okay, my fault, don't be angry. A bitter face doesn't suit our Miss Linglong."
Linglong couldn't help but snort out a laugh and stamped her foot, "You're always talking nonsense! I don't want to be involved with you. Daddy said he would start teaching us Immortal Technique ahead of time, aren't you excited?"
Zhong Minyan was overjoyed, smiling foolishly.
On the other side, Yu Sifeng, seeing Xuanji's pale face, thought she was in pain from her injury and softly offered, "I have, from the palace, good medicine. Let me, apply it for you?"
Xuanji silently shook her head and tore off the bandage from her head, speaking lightly, "It's nothing, no wound at all, doesn't hurt one bit."
Yu Sifeng softly asked, "You're not very, happy. Did your daddy, speak to you again?"
Xuanji shook her head, raised the shovel and hemp rope in her hands, and asked, "Si Feng, you asked us to bring these, are they for digging a trap?"
He chuckled, "Half-right. Look at this, do you, still recognize it?"
He took out a little silver snake from his pouch, only as thick as a finger, with emerald eyes and silver scales, coiling around his wrist. Its triangular head wobbled back and forth, and with its tiny tongue flickering in and out, it looked both endearing and somewhat fierce.
Xuanji exclaimed in recognition, of course she remembered! It was the little silver snake she almost squeezed to death before!
"Its name is...?" she couldn't remember.
"It's called, Little Silver Flower." Yu Sifeng stroked its little head, somewhat proudly, "It's a spiritual beast I've raised. Grew up together since it was young. Don't be fooled by its size, it's very capable."
As if hearing its master's praise, Little Silver Flower made a hissing sound and shook its head and tail, full of its own importance.
Xuanji saw how adorable it was and couldn't help but laugh, "May I pet it?"
Yu Sifeng nodded, caught her wrist, and gently placed it on Little Silver Flower. It was obviously uneasy being touched by strangers, and its head raised up, staring straight at Xuanji.
"Shh... don't be afraid. Xuanji is a good person," Yu Sifeng whispered to comfort it.
Xuanji felt the touch on her finger cool and soft, and she chuckled, asking, "Si Feng, what do you want Little Silver Flower to do?"
He smiled faintly, his dark eyes sparkling under the moonlight like two pieces of top-grade black crystal.
"Tonight, we're digging a trap. I guarantee that he will, fall into it tomorrow or the day after, definitely break a leg."
At this, Zhong Minyan, who had been joking around, was also drawn in by his words, and Linglong curiously asked, "There are hardly any disciples who come to the back mountain. How can you be sure that he'll fall into your trap?"
Yu Sifeng nodded and motioned for them to come closer, bringing four heads together.
He whispered, "This matter requires your help. Aren't we helping Xuanji get revenge? Listen to me, we'll do it like this..."
After a while of whispering, they finally settled on a plan, and the kids began to dig the trap, laughing and fooling around as they did.