Chapter 29: Ye Tian's Plan

Li Jiansan was taken aback. As expected of the protagonist—already scheming behind my back so quickly.

“Tell me in detail,” Li Jiansan said.

Upon receiving Li Jiansan’s command, Liu Nan recalled carefully as he spoke: “That boy has been fairly obedient lately, diligently fetching water and chopping wood, never slacking off. But I’ve noticed something strange: he’s been talking to himself a lot recently. I have no idea what he’s saying.”

Li Jiansan was surprised. “Talking to himself?”

“Yes, almost as if he’s speaking to someone else.”

Hearing this, Li Jiansan’s brow furrowed. No way, no way—is he awakening some sort of mysterious old master in a ring? But that day, he didn’t have any ring on him… Could it be that he fell into a cave and picked up some rare treasure? According to the plot of my own novel, the protagonist, Ye Tian, shouldn’t have any old master following him around. Could my presence have altered some events?

Li Jiansan asked, “Has he acquired anything new lately? Like a ring or a jade pendant?”

Suddenly Liu Nan remembered something. “Yes, Young Master. These past few days, he’s been carrying around a broken jade pendant he found somewhere. He wears it all the time, as if it’s some priceless treasure.”

A broken jade pendant? Damn it. That must be a super cheat with an old master inside…

Li Jiansan asked urgently, “Where is that boy now?”

“He’s in his room.”

“Take me there at once!” Li Jiansan commanded.

Meanwhile, inside Ye Tian’s room.

“Li Jiansan, you useless fool, how dare you sign up for the monthly tournament? Just wait and see how you embarrass yourself…”

In his room, Ye Tian sneered coldly. “He’s nothing but a loser. All that talk of being uninterested in cultivation is just an excuse to cover up his incompetence. Someone like him dares to enter the monthly tournament and even boast about taking first place? If he really claims first, then pigs could climb trees…”

Just then, Chu Xier burst into Ye Tian’s room, chattering non-stop, her cheeks flushed with amazement.

“Young Master, have you heard? Senior Brother Li… he actually defeated everyone and took first place in the monthly tournament!”

At Chu Xier’s words, Ye Tian’s expression darkened instantly, his face burning with embarrassment. “What did you just say?”

“Young Master, it’s hard to believe, isn’t it? I never thought Senior Brother Li was so powerful. He always seemed so unremarkable—he must have been keeping a low profile…”

But Chu Xier was too excited to notice the change in Ye Tian’s demeanor, and continued talking about Li Jiansan.

“Hmph, how could that brat possibly take first place? Xier, don’t be so naïve,” Ye Tian snorted.

Chu Xier frowned in confusion. “Young Master, what do you mean?”

“Don’t you see? He’s the Young Master of Shengjing Sect. If he wanted first place, nothing could be easier.”

Ye Tian’s voice turned cold. “All he has to do is give the order. Do you really believe he won through true strength?”

Chu Xier seemed a little upset. She didn’t understand why he had become like this. Why couldn’t her Young Master be kindhearted like Senior Brother Li? Her heart ached a little as she looked at Ye Tian.

“Young Master, how can you think that way?”

He sneered, “What, do you really believe someone with zero cultivation could, in just a few days, become strong enough to crush all the new disciples? Even if his father, the Sect Master of Shengjing, poured every resource into him, it wouldn’t be possible. In this world, cultivation depends on talent and effort.”

Chu Xier gazed at her Young Master. “You’re wrong. Senior Brother Li is just humble, that’s all.”

“Humble? He’s the Young Master of Shengjing Sect. When has he ever done anything humbly?” Ye Tian scoffed. “If you expect me to believe there was nothing fishy about him winning first, I simply can’t.”

After a pause, Chu Xier said again, “Young Master, Senior Brother Li truly is powerful. Let me tell you—during the tournament, so many influential groups came to watch because of him. In the end, even the Prince of Youzhou, the Mo family of Qingcheng, and the royal Chu family all tried to recruit him! But he refused them all.”

Ye Tian was stunned, then his expression turned ashen, shock written all over his face. “What did you say? All those factions came for Li Jiansan? Impossible—they were supposed to come for the Child of Martial Dao. Don’t tell me…”

Chu Xier nodded. “Yes, Senior Brother Li is the Child of Martial Dao. In the end, even the Grand Elder came forward to clarify.”

“Young Master, I’m telling you all this to encourage you, so you’ll work harder at your cultivation.”

Chu Xier looked at Ye Tian earnestly.

But at that moment, Ye Tian was thinking, “I can’t believe that bastard actually took first place in the monthly tournament. Damn it!” His eyes reddened, and he nearly ground his teeth to dust as he spat out the words.

He truly hadn’t expected that Li Jiansan, that arrogant good-for-nothing, could actually win first place. Just picturing Li Jiansan’s smug, superior expression filled him with rage he could barely contain.

It took a long while before Ye Tian regained his composure. He forced a smile at Chu Xier. “Xier, I was being narrow-minded before. Senior Brother Li has helped us so much; I shouldn’t have thought so poorly of him.”

Chu Xier smiled in relief. “Young Master, I’m glad you think that way.”

“Mm, from now on, I’ll focus on my cultivation and work even harder.”

Seeing Ye Tian’s sincerity, Chu Xier’s spirits lifted as well.

Noticing this, Ye Tian said slowly, “Xier, if I want to improve faster, I’ll need your help with something.”

“Of course, Young Master. Just tell me,” Chu Xier replied.

Ye Tian beckoned her over. “Come closer, Xier, and I’ll tell you.”

He leaned in, whispering softly in her ear, “Xier, just follow my instructions. First, go…”

When Ye Tian finished, Chu Xier’s expression changed. “Young Master, is this really the right thing to do?”

“Don’t worry, Xier. Nothing will go wrong,” Ye Tian assured her.

Yet Chu Xier still hesitated. “But…”

“Xier, I’m doing all this so I can protect you better in the future. Don’t you want me by your side?” Ye Tian feigned a pained look. “If that’s how you feel, you might as well stay here in Shengjing Sect and forget about me…”

Her cheeks flushed. “Young Master, what are you saying? How could I ever abandon you?”

“Then—”

Blushing, Chu Xier said, “I’ll do as you ask.”

Hearing Chu Xier’s answer, a fleeting cold smile crossed Ye Tian’s face…