Su Jing heaved a sigh of relief as she caught sight of the residence. She had to run up and down the peak after the two visitors left to see Yawen.

Of course, Su Jing did not, particularly desire to intervene - but thinking about Yawen, she did not wish to complicate things for him - especially with the presence of that Chu Rule Cultivator. At least if she completed her training and stood there beside him, they wouldn't suspect her of doing something odd! 

Like escaping. Tianhui Sect was strict with laws!

Su Jing sighed and put her hand in front, easily deactivating the barrier blocking her. She stepped through the entrance and, for a second, the way was confusing with all the plants, and Su Jing did not know where to go and find them.

But as she walked, the three figures came out of the closest building, as if awaiting her arrival.

Yawen quickly noticed her and saluted her, signalling her to come closer. 

Su Jing breathed in and prepared herself, feeling that things would get troubling seeing how ugly Feng Huohua's face was. Even the Chu Cultivator wasn't looking too happy.

”Greetings, master Yawen.”

Su Jing thought that she had to continue her act as a docile maid. However, in the next moment, Yawen made a confused expression.

”Master? Haven't I told you that you could call me brother? There is no need for useless formalities.”

Su Jing caught with the corner of her eyes how Feng Huohua enlarged her eyes in a slight shock, breaking from her usual character for a second. Su Jing's heart quickened, sensing that this unexpected reaction from a villainess was not a good sign.

Even the Chu Cultivator appeared surprised.

”Master Yawen is too kind, haha.” Su Jing laughed forcibly, wanting to get herself out of this mess, ” I wouldn't dare to disrespect you like that. I am not even a disciple here.”

Yawen raised his eyebrows as he gazed at her, seeming perplexed. However, before he could say anything else, the Chu Cultivator approached her.

"Junior Uncle Wen explained your situation to me, and I was truly unreasonable. I sincerely apologize if I have made you uncomfortable."

Su Jing peeked at Yawen, puzzled about the situation. Yawen instead only gazed at her, indicating that she should play along.

Accepting the man's bow, Su Jing tried not to further complicate matters.

”It is alright. Honoured disciple does not need to bow to me.”

Feng Huohua was silently observing the interaction. Chu's unexpected acknowledgement seemed to throw her off balance, but she quickly composed herself.

"We appreciate your understanding, Junior Sister Su," Feng Huohua said, her tone courteous but with an underlying tension, "Brother Chu was merely adhering to the sect's regulations. I hope he didn't scare you too badly."

Su Jing noticed that Feng Huohua was feeling upset and nodded sympathetically.

"Senior Sister Feng, please don't worry. I can understand Disciple Chu's motives.”

Chu nodded in agreement and then pulled out a small metallic coin from his sleeve. Su Jing looked curiously at his actions, feeling that this coin had a rather familiar look.

"Here, take this temporary badge until we can get you a new one. This will let our fellow sisters and brothers know not to charge you," Chu explained.

Su Jing took the coin from his hand, surprised by how heavy it felt despite its small size. 

"Now that this matter is resolved, let's not disturb Uncle Wen any further. It would be impolite of us, Hua'er." Feng Huohua nodded in agreement, shooting a flirtatious glance at Yawen as they all prepared to leave.

Su Jing was in horror seeing that.

"If Elder Brother Wen ever feels unwell, you are always welcome to my master's treatments. He may be of assistance, especially with Senior Sister Zhu's absence”, she then paused, giving a glance towards Su Jing, ”Of course, Junior Sister is always welcome too! Maybe I'll get to learn something from you.”

”...”

Yawen absently nodded in response, saluting. Su Jing followed suit, not wishing to engage in any further interaction with Feng Huohua. That woman, if she wanted, would end her calm and serene stay in this sect anytime and by any means.

She would rather not step on her territory.

As the two left, Su Jing looked thoughtfully at how they had flown on their swords. 

"Did you act that way to avoid offending Lady Feng?" Yawen smiled gently, standing with his cane. His hair was flowing elegantly in the windy weather. 

”She is still the Sect Masters disciple.” she responded, uprising the corner of her lips.

And a cruel villainess.

Perhaps sensing her unease, Yawen tried to reassure her, "There is no need to worry about her. No matter how powerful she is in the inner cycle, she is still just a disciple just like the others. "

Glancing at Yawen, Su Jing felt his words were more a formality given his position.

”And you yet refused to welcome her in the peak?”

Feng Huohua naturally could have come directly to Yawen, but since she searched for someone from the peak, in this case - Su Jing, it was clear that he refused to welcome her in previously.

Yawen chuckled.

”I simply followed my master's wishes. It wasn't my direct saying.”

Yawen motioned for her to follow him, and as they walked together, Su Jing couldn't help but notice the sudden change in weather. A few raindrops started to fall, and the lightning from earlier had dissipated.

"How strange..." Su Jing mumbled, catching up to Yawen, who was already on the porch.

"Lady Feng has been prohibited from entering this peak for a long time, but she ignored the rules and activated the master's array. That's why the weather suddenly changed. It's a recovery spell to nourish the wood qi in the plants," Yawen clarified as the rain intensified, dampening Su Jing's dress.

"Elder He Ning banished her?!" Su Jing exclaimed, finding the situation surreal. 

The seemingly virtuous white lotus had faced rejection even before Feng Zhihao arrived.

"But even I heard of her fame. Did the Sect Master approve of that?" 

Yawen strolled along the porch, heading toward the back of the courtyard.

"She can't defy the rules of other elders on their peaks. Next time you see her, try not to be swayed by her words.”

Did that mean the Chu Cultivator was biased in letting Feng Huohua go despite her illegal entry? Su Jing regretted assuming him to be a respectable disciple.

”I understand,” Su Jing responded, ”however she helped me avoid getting arrested by Disciple Chu. He wanted to take me to the Sect Master, but Feng Huohua intervened.” 

Hearing her call him like that, Yawen quickly corrected her.

"That was Chu Bingyi, Elder Song's second disciple and a Discipline Bureau's representative. Perhaps he followed Feng Huohua and accidentally saw you. But, thankfully, this turned out not to be such a bad thing."

Su Jing looked at the coin in her palm, agreeing with Yawen. No one could force her out without a good motive.

"You knew he was gonna come here?”

Yawen smiled, halting his steps and taking the coin in his hands. He fetched a piece of yarn and threaded it through the coin, making it easily attachable.

"Matters are resolved now. You have a free pass from him, so what need is there to further ruffle the feathers?" 

Yawen handed the coin back to her. Even though he didn't say it directly, Su Jing immediately grasped the meaning behind his words.

”What if Feng Huohua hadn't been there? The Sect Master would have punished you alongside me!"

Yawen laughed as if hearing a particularly amusing joke. 

"I knew Lady Feng would come here along with that hound trailing her. I received numerous talismans. I merely took advantage of the situation to save us a trip to Elder Song's peak. That man is quite frustrating to talk to."

”...”

So Feng Huohua came to get things from Yawen yet he made the first move and exploited her. 

Su Jing now understood Feng Huohua's frustrations.

”Did Feng Huohua request something from you?”

It was obvious she had something in mind. Yawen let out a sigh, appearing somewhat troubled.

"Lady Feng wanted to trade an artefact that my master had prepared for his upcoming medical contest. She insisted that she needed it for her breakthrough in foundation building."

Su Jing halted in her steps, remembering an important plot regarding the villainess.

Feng Huohua needed the exact spiritual plant Feng Zhihao won the contest. And as destiny was favourable only to Feng Zhihao, of course, Feng Huohua lost the spiritual plant. To think Yawen was at fault for this - Su Jing was surprised. It was as if she was behind the scenes.

”I suggested to buy it from the one who will win it. Because of that, she got furious and didn't want to stay here any longer. Chu Xinyan calmed her down, and after that, you came here.”

Su Jing put the coin under her belt, excited since she got to be so close to the catalyst of the future main events. It seems the plot was going to go closely as how the main story dictated it. 

”Chu Bingyi also talked to me about how you were trying to deceive Lady Feng,” Yawen continued, amused while watching her attach the coin, ”Just what did you do to him to appear under that impression? He is usually not as noisy.”

Hearing this instantly soured Su Jing's good mood. She did not even have the time to get used to Feng Huohua and she already was accused of things she did not do!

"I didn't deceive anyone. What would I even get by doing this?"

Chu Bingyi was one of Feng Huohua's little suitors! With such people was like talking to a wall!

Yawen smiled, not finding fault in her words.

"As her sworn brother, Chu Bingyi tends to be cautious about potential threats. It's nothing personal," Yawen reassured her.

Su Jing rolled her eyes inwardly, this kind of 'protectiveness' being the usual for a white lotus. It seemed like her encounters with Chu Bingyi might become more troublesome than she initially thought.

”Probably Chu Bingyi believes that you were another case like my sister, Yating and doesn't wish anything to happen to Lady Feng."

Hearing Yawen, Su Jing furrowed her brow, ”Why would they associate us two? "

She never even directly encountered Yating!

”Yating was staying here without a disciple permit, and Chu Bingyi arrested her after she fought with Feng Huohua. However, when they discovered her rare heavenly wind root, Yating was granted permission to stay here. It's possible that Feng Huohua felt that Yating's treatment was unfair."

Su Jing listened, now getting why Feng Huohua only mentioned Yazhu and not at all Yating. These two girls gripped each other hair! Again, this was not mentioned in the book, as Feng Zhihao never cared about Feng Huohua's relationships, but still, it surprised Su Jing.

”So, they believe I am a soon-to-be-talented disciple like her?” 

This sounded too ridiculous. I

"It's not uncommon for talented individuals to have their talent recognised after they've already joined the sect, especially if they are young and promising. In your case, since I vouched for you, they may have assumed you possess a hidden talent."

Su Jing felt a sudden pressure feeling like hitting her chest. She was not Feng Zhihao to have cheats and unlimited luck!

"This misunderstanding might work in your favour for now. Just play along, and eventually, they'll realize the truth. At that time they will not care about it that much," Yawen suggested, unbothered.

"...”

Su Jing was sure that Feng Huohua would try to reduce the chances of someone else stealing her light. Another Yating would, of course, annoy her!

She was restless, however, Su Jing understood that in the end, she could only grow stronger and try to protect herself if the villainess ever thought of attacking her.

Yawen smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry/. I will make sure to keep an eye out for you. I do not make baseless promises." 

Su Jing sighed, not having that much of a choice. Maybe this would work as a motivation for her to work harder in cultivation.

”It is alright. I had expected staying in a sect wouldn't be easy.”

Su Jing followed Yawen to a quiet corner of the residence, away from the main hall. The room was adorned with various spiritual plants, each emanating a unique aura. 

”Do you have any preference for tea?” Yawen asked, gesturing towards a small table.

”Anything is fine,” Su Jing replied, taking a seat.

Yawen started preparing the tea, and the room filled with the pleasant aroma of herbs. As the smell hit her, Su Jing was sure that it was medicine. 

Yawen poured the tea into delicate cups, handing one to Su Jing. 

"This tea is beneficial for restoring spiritual energy and promoting cultivation. It might help you recover after the training."

Su Jing accepted the cup, appreciating the gesture. A warm and soothing energy spread through her body as she took a sip.

Accidentally, her hand brushed against the flower braid around her neck, causing some leaves and petals to fall to the ground. She quickly picked them up and examined their withered state. It dawned on her that the proximity to Feng Huohua might have affected them. Yawen noticed Su Jing's actions and immediately understood what had happened.

”This type of spiritual plant is sensible to sudden Qi deviations. It's not your fault. ”

Su Jing nodded, looking at the flowers in her hand. "I should have been more careful," she replied with a hint of regret in her voice.

She reached out to clean the mess from the table but as soon as her fingers touched the debris, it transformed into tiny green sparkles, glittering in the light. 

The sparkles continued to trail outside and led towards the rain, where they disappeared, engulfed by the drops. 

Su Jing couldn't help but marvel at the magical sight before her.

”Is this Wood Qi?”

Su Jing was sure she saw it right.

"Yes, it is Wood Qi," Yawen confirmed, watching the sparkling remnants disappear into the rain. "Feng Huohua's touch, unintentional as it may be, triggered a reaction from the spiritual plants. They release their essence after withering, and since you touched them now, the Wood Qi reanimated back. it seems the rain is also helping them."

Hearing that, she couldn't help but get happy. 

She was finally able to see Wood Qi! 

She looked outside and concentrated, her eyes catching barely noticeable green lights from place to place. Thanks to the rain, they multiplicated rapidly, some even being flown with the wind into the room. 

Su Jing touched them and felt her hand vibrate. Yawen stared at her with his head in his hand.

”Feng Huohua was banished for this exact reason. She had a hard time controlling her power. Master disliked seeing his garden destroyed so he prohibited her from ever entering here. ”

So Jung listened, remembering that, yes, Feng Huohua was a rare and splendid heavenly lightning root. Her powers were brutal and difficult to fight off, even for someone as good as Feng Zhihao.

It looked like this viciousness of hers affected the mountain Wood Qi so that it shrank away upon her arrival. Was this an aspect the author felt the need to put to show how her true character was a ruthless one? Well, she was still revered for her powers across the realms!

Yawen began to work on some of his documents, letting Su Jing drink the tea and continue to play with the Wood Qi. 

The Wood Qi soon began to attach to her body almost suffocantly. 

At some moment Yawen seemed to notice it too, making him halt in his work and watch her again.

”Maybe you aren't as untalented as you think, haha,” Yawen chuckled as he collected all the near Wood Qi in his palm, whisking it away outside. 

Su Jing couldn't see exactly what caused the Wood Qi to be collected. As she wondered about it, Su Jing became curious about Yawen's spiritual roots. The last time he cured her, she felt a burning sensation, so could he have a Fire root like Zhu Taichang?

But Fire would only burn away Wood!

Su Jing furrowed her brow. 

”What roots do you have?”

Yawen looked up from his documents, his eyes meeting Su Jing's curious gaze. He smiled, putting away the papers neatly.

"My roots? I have dual roots - Earth and Water," he replied, "They're not particularly strong if that is what you are wondering."

Su Jing looked at him in shock. 

”You have water and earth roots too?”

That was unexpected. Wouldn't that mean Yawen had been confronting her problem in cultivation already?