Three months passed quickly. Jun Peak was lively as ever. The Da Shixiong taught them martial arts, the Second Shixiong taught them how to play Guqin, and their beloved Yu Shixiong taught them all about talismans. It's not that bad to be selected for Jun peak. They are ninety-seven. A small group. But no animosity was maintained against one or the other. Even the Second Shixiong, who did not prefer Yu Lingyu, never did anything to hate or hurt Lingyu at all. Jun Peak would no doubt be more peaceful without the occasional shouting created by weasels and San Jie and Shen Ming clashes.
"Hey, if I catch you, I'll pull your hair out one by one and feed you to the crocodiles." Shen Ming shouted, brushing his wavy hair behind his ear. "Bah. I'm afraid you will." San Jie scoffed. Both rode well and turned in the mud. Indeed, no one at Jun peak interfered with their matters. So, they all just stood around and waited.
"Stop that, will you? If Da Shixiong comes, both of you will be beaten," said Luo Cheng, who always tries to spread harmony.
"Look at them, Yu Shixiong." Unable to stop them with his words, Luo Cheng went out to a nearby tree and begged Yu Lingyu in his half-asleep state.
"Let them fight as much as they want. They will stop when they have enough." Yu Lingyu murmured sleepily as he patted the head of the weasel in his lap.
"Don't say that, Yu Shixiong. If Da Shixiong or the Meng Shixiong come, they will punish us all. It is unfair that eleven are helpless because of two." said Xu Jin, the other girl in the group of apprentices. She was truly beautiful and had a peaceful personality. Duan Xia, who was standing next to her, shook her head and steadied her.
"Last time we all had to weed. It was tiring. Please Yu Shixiong!"
Yu Lingyu opened his eyes. With his hands behind his head, he sits with one leg crossed over the other. "Hu Mao," he called to his weasel. Even now, Yu Lingyu's pet weasel Hu Mao is loved by everyone at Jun Peak, well except for one.
Running like lightning, Hu Mao clung to San Jie's shoulder, making him gasp in fear. "Get rid of this monster!" he shouted.
"Get rid of this brat, Yu Shixiong!"
"San Shidi Oh San Shidi, only if you promise not to fight again." Yu Lingyu stood up and spoke. He didn't even bother to look up at San Jie. "Dude! I didn't start it- ok ok I won't fight again, so get off my face!" San Jie yelled at the weasel that was tugging at his hair. Summoning Hu Mao to him with a suppressed smile, Yu Lingyu patted his head. Brushing his cloak, San Jie rushed towards Yu Lingyu but did not dare to get closer.
"Yu Shixiong, this is very unfair. He is always the one who starts the fight." San Jie was accused of a blackened face. "So, he's not afraid of weasel, San Shidi." Yu Lingyu said lightly.
"You and your damn bastard need to go to hell." San Jie left the place angrily as laughter erupted among everyone.
"Go back to your old job." Yu Lingyu said as the other twelve frowned. The apprentice group was entrusted to him because the second, third, and fourth disciples already had their own student groups. Therefore, Yu Lingyu, the fifth and final inner disciple, was naturally destined to take care of the new group. Nevertheless, all five of them taught all the disciples what they knew without greed or envy. Naturally, Da Shixiong played the role of their shizun. Friendly and kind Da Shixiong, Jun Peak must be very lucky to have someone like that.
"Oh Yu Shixiong, let's stop for today. The Moonlit Sword Festival is coming up." one begged. As if they didn't need to look for more herbs. "That's true. A friend of mine at Juyao Peak said they were already ready. please Yu Shixiong!" Yu Lingyu, who had thrown aside his sleep at these innocent pleas, stood up. Dusting off his robes, he faced his apprentices with his hands on his hips.
The Moonlit Sword Festival is an annual festival of the Wen sect. More than a festival, it can be called a competition between peaks. There are three basic competitions. Boating, mountain climbing, and finally the most special part called the sword clash. The peaks presented their most talented disciples for this competition. Only the main disciples of all the peaks were not allowed to participate in this competition. At the end of it all, the grand finale is held on a full moon night in an open-air arena. At the end of the competition, various elements will be presented by peaks during the moon banquet. It is truly a magnificent spectacle. It was a common occurrence for novices to be interested in it.
"So how are you guys going to prepare for it?" Yu Lingyu asked.
"You will help us, won't you? Because Jun Peak never won, let's change that this time, Yu Shixiong." Xu Jin said.
"Hmm, our number is low. so, Xu Jin Shimei, how can we win?" Yu Lingyu asked with a smile.
"People are not everything. If Yu Shixiong will help us, we will do our best." Luo Cheng assured. He had already made great progress in his cultivation.
"Good, good, but by the time of the Moonlit Sword Festival, I will be the only one left at our peak. Da Shixiong and the other three Shixiongs will go to Luoyang City to solve a problem." Yu Lingyu presented another problem. The apprentices looked at each other.
"It's okay, you're not going, right?. Help us, Yu Shixiong." said another. Yu Lingyu smiled as he removed a dried leaf from his head due to the strong wind.
"Good, good, now rest." Yu Lingyu said. Yu Lingyu was well aware that no matter what else he said, they would make more excuses. He looked at Hu Mao on his shoulder and then looked at the crowd scattering with happy shouts. He could force them to collect herbs if he wanted. But Wei Yunhe had never done that to him, so naturally he wouldn't influence his juniors either.
"Hu Mao, do you think we can win?" After everyone had left, Yu Lingyu muttered as he stood alone in the medicinal garden. On one side of the garden was a small open-air pavilion, which was surrounded by tall plants, so it was very shady. With no one around, Hu Mao returned to his true form jumping out from Lingyu's shoulders. He ran to the pavilion and stretched out on the cold wooden ground.
"Why not?" he asked in a sly tone. "I'm here."
Yu Lingyu frowned. "Do not interfere in any way. Understood?" He said in a warning tone. "Oh ok ok." Hu Mao said, sitting on the pavilion with his arms raised. A few dried leaves rested on his new black robes.
"Your Luo Shidi will be able to attempt this time." Hu Mao said the same thing Yu Lingyu was thinking.
"Also, Duan Shimei is excellent with water. Ah, her soul form is a fish after all."
"There are several fish forms in the Wen Sect, Hu Mao, do you really know anything?" Yu Lingyu said in a nonchalant voice. Hu Mao glares at Lingyu.
"I know, why don't you ask your Xuan for some advice."
"My Xuan? Hu Mao you-" Before Yu Lingyu's verbal attack hit, Hu Mao, who had transformed into his weasel form, dashed off and disappeared near a bush. It had been over a month since Yu Lingyu last saw Wu Xuan. However, they were not able to engage in much conversation. After meeting with Wei Yunhe to discuss something, he smiled at Yu Lingyu and left quietly.
well! It's not like they are connected.
"Yu Shixiong," Yu Lingyu turned to look at a sudden voice. At the entrance to the garden stood a disciple at Jun Peak.
"Oh say,"
"Shizun wants you to go to the conference. Da Shixiong and the other shixiongs are not at the peak."
Yu Lingyu bit his lip tightly. He naturally hated that kind of thing that most people hang out with. "No problem. I'll go." He said with a forced smile. After making sure that his mask would not come off, Yu Lingyu hurriedly left the medicinal garden.
He no longer needed the mask as he was near Hu Mao, but he continued to wear it due to the discomfort in front of the crowd.
Before leaving, Yu Lingyu looked for Luo Cheng or someone to inform them about his leave, but they were not found, so Lingyu left quietly to the hall of Juyao Peak.
When he entered, the hall was full and there was only chaos. Meanwhile, there was a group of students dressed in blue clothes that Lingyu was not familiar with. Yu Lingyu walked to the front seats reserved for the main disciples and sat down in Wei Yunhe's seat. Yi Qiu from Chuangzhou remained at his other side.
Seeing that Yu Lingyu was there instead of Wei Yunhe, Yi Qiu's face turned black like a rain cloud.
"What is a coward doing here?"
Yu Lingyu only smiled slightly. He was well used to these insults. He looked around and only Wu Xuan's seat was empty.
"Looking for someone?" Yu Lingyu, startled by a voice from very close, quickly turned to his right. "Wu Shixiong!"
Dressed in his usual clothes, Wu Xuan gave him a smile.
Motioning Yi Qiu to go to the other seat, he sat next to Yu Lingyu. Yi Qiu, angry that he had been disrespected, glared at Wu Xuan but did not dare to say a word against him.
"So, how have things been lately?" Bending his elbows on his thigh, Wu Xuan asked Yu Lingyu while resting his face on his right hand. In that pose, he looked like a baby who needed to be cuddled by his mother.
"Nothing wrong." Yu Lingyu gave a short reply, but he was in a happy mood because he met Wu Xuan.
"Yu Shidi, do you see those people in blue clothes?" Wu Xuan asked, turning his head to the group of people sitting behind them and chatting.
"They are from the Lingxiao Sect,"
Yu Lingyu looked at them for a while. The Lingxiao Sect is a Northern cultivation sect. Like the Wen sect, they were a very powerful and large sect. They were all dressed in cloud-blue robes and were known as Fengshen's followers. They are kind and friendly people.
Then, although there is not much interest in the religion of God in the present, the Wen sect is a follower of War God in the past.
"Wu Shixiong, what is the Lingxiao Sect doing here?"
"They're attending the Moonlit Sword Festival this time. Well, that's a change." Wu Xuan said turning to Yu Lingyu.
"So how's the preparation at Jun Peak?"
"Not yet. Da Shixiong is very busy these days. So-"
"If you need help, ask." Wu Xuan said without further thought. "After all, we are sect brothers, aren't we?"
Listening to Wu Xuan's conversation, Yi Qiu coughed rapidly. He looked at Wu Xuan as if he were looking at someone who was bound by a demon.
"Thank you, Wu Shixiong." Yu Lingyu said thanking God that Xuan couldn't see his heated face thanks to the mask.
Come on Lingyu, what's wrong with you???
After a few more moments, all voices were drowned out as Shi Xieren entered the hall. He first welcomed the disciples of the Lingxiao Sect and without further ado, he got straight to the point. Accordingly, the disciples of Lingxiao Sect will also participate in this year's Moonlit Sword Festival. And their host was assigned to Jun Peak?
Yu Lingyu quickly coughed as he held the words in his mouth. It must be true that when trouble comes, it comes in droves. Yu Lingyu did not know how he alone could host these Lingxiao disciples without Da Shixiong or any other senior disciples.
"Accept it." Wu Xuan whispered into his ear.
"Ah yes indeed. It is a privilege to host the Lingxiao Sect." Yu Lingyu said as he stood up with his legs crossed. Then smiled at the Lingxiao disciples and sat down quietly.
Shi Xieren, who had told some information about the Moonlit Sword Festival, prepared to end the meeting.
But Wu Xuan stood up to interrupt it.
"Shizun, this disciple has something important to say."