On the third day of the eighth month, Huaguang County was blessed with clear skies. Before dawn had even broken, the children had already left the inn. Today was the day they would enroll at the Young Phoenix Academy, and they were so excited they could hardly sleep. As soon as they stepped out, they hurried to hire a carriage, needing to reach the Zhao Ancestral Temple over ten miles away before noon, where the Rainbow Deer Carriage would be waiting to take them to the academy.
Along the way, Baili Gelin chattered incessantly like a little sparrow: "What do you think the academy will be like? Built on a mountain? Or by the sea? If it's by the sea, that would be amazing—I’ve never seen the ocean before!"
"I heard the Young Phoenix Academy is located in a place so perilous that ordinary people could never reach it. It must also be protected by incredibly powerful Immortal Techniques. My guess is it’s either underwater or underground," Ye Ye chimed in enthusiastically.
Lei Xiuyuan muttered, "Underwater? Wouldn’t we drown before even getting there?"
"With Immortal Techniques protecting it, we probably don’t need to worry about that," Xiao Bangchui interjected. "I also think it might be underwater."
They tirelessly speculated about the academy’s appearance, even debating whether their cultivation instructors would be male or female, beautiful or ugly, old or young—every topic was filled with excitement. This was the happiest day of their lives so far, with the future shrouded in mystery and promise. For the first time, they were stepping into the realm of the Celestials, and even if they joined an official sect a year later, nothing would compare to the joy and anticipation they felt today.
Soon, they arrived at the Zhao Ancestral Temple. Strangely, there wasn’t a soul in sight, and the walls and houses along the street were draped with bright yellow cloth. Rows of armored guards stood imposingly on either side of the road, and as soon as the children approached, weapons were raised to block their path.
"Bold peasants! This road is closed today—scram!" The guards, seeing they were just a group of shabbily dressed children, immediately shooed them away.
"But we need to go to the Zhao Ancestral Temple. Today is—" Baili Gelin began, only to be rudely cut off.
"Don’t care where you’re going! A noble guest is arriving at the temple today—don’t dirty the place! Get lost!"
The arrogant attitude instantly enraged the hot-tempered Xiao Bangchui and Baili Changyue, their brows furrowing as they prepared to retaliate. Ye Ye, however, subtly tugged at them from behind and stepped forward with a smile. "Brother, we’re new disciples of the Young Phoenix Academy, enrolling today. Here are our name tags—please let us pass."
To their surprise, the moment the guards heard "Young Phoenix Academy," they immediately surrounded them. The leader sneered, "Then it’s you we’ve been waiting for! Quick! Seize them and bind them! How dare lowly peasants presume to study alongside His Highness the Prince? The only one worthy of entering the academy is Prince Ying! Today, none of you will leave alive!"
With a wave of his hand, the guards rushed forward, brandishing chains and ropes—clearly prepared in advance. Just as they were about to capture the five children, a sudden gale swept through, kicking up dust and debris. Instinctively, everyone shut their eyes. When the wind died down and they reopened them, the five children had vanished.
"They had chains and ropes ready—they must have planned this all along!" Baili Gelin whispered furiously from atop the temple wall. "They wanted to capture all the other students enrolling?!"Ye Ye pondered for a moment before saying, "It must be someone higher up giving orders. Listen to what he said—only their prince is qualified to enter the Academy. It seems the imperial family wants to suppress others' cultivation paths. Such things aren’t uncommon."
"But some of the selected might be nobles from other countries. Isn’t this approach inappropriate?" Lei Xiuyuan asked.
Ye Ye shook his head. "First, this is within Yue Kingdom’s borders. Second, I’ve heard that Xuanshan Zi of Star Rectitude Hall is a member of Yue’s imperial family. With such a formidable Celestial overseeing things, Yue has been expanding its territory year after year. No wonder they act so arrogantly."
Lei Xiuyuan was surprised. "If Xuanshan Zi is from Yue’s imperial family, why not directly take that young prince under his wing at Star Rectitude Hall?"
Ji Tongzhou had exceptional talent, and his clan had a powerful Celestial as an elder. There was no need for him to come to Young Phoenix Academy at all.
"Hmph! Immortals value tranquility, non-action, and equality. They would never allow such favoritism!" Baili Gelin still held a favorable view of Celestials.
Ye Ye chuckled. "How could Celestials be free of conflict? Cultivation itself defies the natural order—birth, aging, sickness, and death are the way of heaven... Celestials often have even stronger ambitions and desires than mortals. As for that young prince, how could outsiders like us guess the reasons? Let’s not dwell on this. Let’s circle around and take a look."
The group crawled along the ancestral hall’s wall and soon reached the back gate. Sure enough, both entrances were heavily guarded. In the backyard stood a Rainbow Deer Carriage, and in the nearby pavilion were only the Black-veiled Woman, Ji Tongzhou, Lan Ya Junzhu, and another young man in bright yellow robes. The vast backyard was otherwise empty—it seemed the other children had been driven away by the guards outside and hadn’t been allowed in.
"Is that the emperor?" Xiao Bangchui asked, noticing the dragon patterns embroidered on the man’s clothes.
"Ah, probably the emperor of Yue," Lei Xiuyuan nodded. The children pricked up their ears as the emperor smiled and said, "It’s already noon. Why not set off, Celestial?"
The Black-veiled Woman’s voice was icy. "Not everyone has arrived yet."
The emperor replied, "They must have been delayed. There’s no need to wait."
The Black-veiled Woman sneered. "Then perhaps we should ask Your Majesty about that."
The emperor feigned ignorance. "Celestial, what do you mean? How would I know?"
The Black-veiled Woman stood and walked out of the pavilion, scanning her surroundings. Calmly, she said, "Though Your Majesty is the ruler of a nation, within our immortal sects, there is no distinction of mortal status—only differences in strength. Today, Your Majesty’s grand display, even driving others away, is willful and selfish. Such behavior is unwise. I hope you refrain from it in the future."
She tossed a vermilion Curse Seal into the air, and in an instant, a ferocious red dragon appeared midair, spewing flames as it circled the ancestral hall. Outside, flames erupted, and screams filled the air.
The three in the pavilion paled instantly. The emperor cried out, "Celestial! What is the meaning of this?! Please show mercy!"
The Black-veiled Woman ignored him, simply looking up and saying, "All of you, come down."
With a rustling sound, over a dozen children jumped down from walls, trees, and rooftops—all hiding spots where they had evaded the guards. Xiao Bangchui and the others also leaped into the backyard. The emperor’s face turned green as he stammered, "You... where did you... Guards! Guards!"Baili Gelin, seething with anger, shouted, "Stop yelling! Your guards can't hear you! How outrageous! This academy isn't your family's property! What gives you the right to block the road and arrest people?!"
The emperor abruptly fell silent, his expression darkening as he glared at the black-veiled woman. "Celestial, Huaguang County is within Yue Country's borders! Even if you are an esteemed guest from the immortal sects, how can you set fires and harm people?!"
The black-veiled woman snapped her fingers. Instantly, the flames extinguished, the smoke dispersed, and the surroundings fell into complete silence, as calm as if nothing had happened. The emperor's face changed again, and he hastily cried out, "Guards! Guards!"
The doors were quickly thrown open as a large group of guards charged in aggressively, unharmed by burns or any other injuries. The raging flames, thick smoke, and screams from moments ago seemed like nothing more than an unreal nightmare. The emperor finally began to panic in earnest, exclaiming, "Prepare the carriage! Let's leave this place!"
The opulent golden carriage was right at the entrance. Without looking back, the emperor hurried out, supported by his guards. Ji Tongzhou couldn't help but chase after him, calling out, "Imperial Brother..."
The emperor shook his head. "I'm returning. Everything is in your hands now—don't disappoint me."
The carriage soon disappeared into the distance, and the yellow cloth blocking the street was removed. The children all quietly sighed in relief. Ye Ye murmured, "Arrogant, extravagant, blindly self-important, bullying the weak... Yue Country is doomed. If even the imperial family is like this, what about the nobles and officials? Even if Xuanshan Zi is overseeing things, what does it matter? Celestials, too, have their day of departure. I fear the kingdom will face utter ruin long before that little prince grows into his role."
Lei Xiuyuan added, "Just like Gaul Country back then."
Ye Ye's expression shifted slightly. After a moment, he let out a long sigh and said nothing more.
With everyone now gathered, they boarded the Rainbow Deer Carriage in order. Inside, the carriage was still a sea of pear blossoms, with a delicate courtyard. Just as Xiao Bangchui reached the pear tree, the black-veiled woman slowly approached and said, "Come with me."
Looking for her? What could it be about? Filled with confusion, Xiao Bangchui followed the black-veiled woman through the pear blossom grove. After crossing a wooden bridge, they arrived at a small courtyard. The black-veiled woman raised her hand and knocked lightly on the door, her voice carrying ten times more respect and solemnity than usual. "Zuoqiu Xiansheng, I've brought the child."
A hoarse male voice soon responded from inside, "Come in."
The door opened soundlessly. Xiao Bangchui felt nervous—why had she been summoned alone? And who was Zuoqiu Xiansheng?
The black-veiled woman led her inside. Behind a bamboo table sat an elderly man with white hair, engrossed in a book. Without looking up, he waved them over. "Come, sit."
A bamboo chair slid out soundlessly. Xiao Bangchui didn't dare to breathe too loudly and obediently sat across from him. The old man finally closed his book.
He looked extremely old, perhaps in his nineties, yet his eyes were remarkably clear, the whites and blacks sharply distinct. The moment Xiao Bangchui met his gaze, her heart raced nervously, as if no secret could remain hidden from those eyes.
What was he looking at? Why wasn't he speaking? Had he seen the Fox Demon inside her? She struggled to conceal her unease.Zuoqiu Xiansheng's thoughts were equally complex. His discerning eyes could tell at a glance that Xiao Bangchui's innate talent was far from exceptional, yet her performance in the forest had been astonishing. The miasma in the woods couldn't even come close to her body—there was a radius of several feet around her, like an invisible wall that completely repelled both demonic qi and miasma. Even more intriguing, he could faintly sense an immense reserve of spiritual energy within this child.
What was the reason for this?
The white paper talisman had been imbued with the demonic qi of the legendary Nine-tailed Fox Demon, after all. Countless immortal masters had hunted it for years without success, ultimately managing only to capture traces of its demonic qi to seal away. Only children who could withstand such overwhelming demonic power were truly gifted. The Academy sought only genuine prodigies.
This girl's aptitude was ordinary, yet she could accomplish what others couldn't. Could she possess some rare, once-in-a-millennium constitution? Or perhaps she carried some formidable mystical treasure?
He studied her carefully and suddenly noticed a string of amulet beads around her wrist. They looked familiar—if he wasn't mistaken, they belonged to Dongyang Zhenren of the No Moon Court. Had Dongyang Zhenren given them to her? Could it be these Evil-warding Pearls protecting her?
Zuoqiu Xiansheng suddenly smiled. "Little girl, those beads on your wrist look familiar. May I see them?"
Was he referring to the Evil-warding Pearls Dongyang Zhenren had given her? Xiao Bangchui obediently removed the beads and placed them in his palm. He examined them carefully, then fell silent again.
"Light the incense," he suddenly instructed the black-veiled woman beside him.
She immediately lit a pitch-black stick of incense in the burner. As green smoke dispersed, a strange odor filled the air, and Xiao Bangchui couldn't help sneezing.
Zuoqiu Xiansheng watched her calmly. "You don't like the smell of this incense?"
"It's alright," she replied, unsure of their intentions and playing along.
"This is miasma incense," he said, setting the Evil-warding Pearls aside with another smile. "Made from the hide and marrow of monstrous creatures. The miasma that filled the forest during the Second Selection came from this."
...So? Xiao Bangchui still didn't understand what he was getting at.
"In my opinion, it's not these Evil-warding Pearls that keep the miasma at bay," Zuoqiu Xiansheng said, smiling at her. "It's you yourself. Haven't you noticed anything unusual about yourself growing up? Never been bitten by insects? Never encountered wild beasts?"
Xiao Bangchui's mouth fell open in surprise. Now that he mentioned it, it was true—while her Master often suffered from bedbugs and fleas, she had never been bothered by insects. She'd assumed it was because she was cleaner than him.
Holding her breath, she waited for him to reveal more about her special constitution, but he lapsed into silence again.
After a moment, he suddenly said, "Your name tag—take it out."
She handed it to him. Seeing the three characters "Xiao Bangchui" written in brushstrokes, he smiled again.
"You're an orphan, raised by your Master, correct?"
She nodded and recounted how her Master had found her by the river and his sudden departure."The name Xiao Bangchui shall remain as your childhood nickname, but a person should properly have a formal name. Since you are a girl raised by your master, the character 'Jiang' (meaning 'ginger' but also 'to nurture a daughter') suits you. Your master found you in the river at dawn, and dawn is 'dawn' in Chinese. Thus, you could be called Jiang Li. However, 'Jiang Li' sounds like 'about to leave', which is inauspicious. Since you wish to find your master, you must not 'leave.The character 'Fei' (非) means 'to oppose.'' Xiao Bangchui, from today onward, your name shall be Jiang Li Fei."
After delivering this lengthy speech mixing classical and vernacular Chinese, Zuoqiu Xiansheng held the name tag in his palm and lightly brushed it with his hand. The characters "Xiao Bangchui" instantly vanished, replaced by her new name, "Jiang Li Fei," neatly engraved in seal script on the front.
He handed the completed name tag to her. Xiao Bangchui felt as if she were dreaming. Gently tracing the characters "Jiang Li Fei" with her fingers, she wondered—she had a name now? After all that half-understood, flowery speech, she suddenly had a name?
Seeing her frozen in silence, the black-veiled woman nudged her lightly. "Zuoqiu Xiansheng has given you a name. You should thank him."
Xiao Bangchui murmured, "But I... Xiao Bangchui... my master..."
She couldn't shake the feeling that accepting this new name meant abandoning "Xiao Bangchui"—as if she were forgetting her master. The thought made her uneasy and unsettled.
Zuoqiu Xiansheng smiled as he fastened the Evil-warding Pearl back onto her wrist. "Jiang Li Fei is Xiao Bangchui, and Xiao Bangchui is Jiang Li Fei. Since your master gave you a childhood name, and I may be considered half a master to you, I’ve given you a formal name. When your master learns of it, he will surely be pleased."
After a moment’s thought, she nodded silently, then bowed deeply to him and said clearly, "Thank you, Zuoqiu Xiansheng, for bestowing this name upon me."
Zuoqiu Xiansheng laughed heartily, his body suddenly dissolving into a wisp of white smoke. In his place stood a fresh green bamboo shoot. Xiao Bangchui started slightly, but the black-veiled woman explained, "Zuoqiu Xiansheng was not here in person—he manifested through the bamboo. The venerable one has now returned."
So that was it. Xiao Bangchui—no, she should now be called Jiang Li Fei—looked up. On this day, at the age of ten, she finally had a proper surname and given name. The little beggar known as Xiao Bangchui had become a thing of the past.
OpenNovel