Chapter 39: The Opportunity Meant for Her

“Master Mu, are you listening?” Ji Yao asked, skeptical.

“Oh, yes, ahem, please go on,” Mu Baiyun came back to himself, coughing to cover his embarrassment.

Ji Yao couldn’t begin to guess what went through the mind of such a prominent figure. Secretly, she imagined herself making a face. Surely he wasn’t stunned by her wild ideas just now? That would be rather self-important of her.

Composing herself, Ji Yao tried to make her expression more serious, but her attempt at adult gravity only made her look more childishly earnest, provoking a smile.

“Master Mu, you only need to repeat what I’ve told you to Master Suwen. He will understand. If he asks, say it was your own carefully considered decision.”

Mu Baiyun said nothing. He had never lied to his uncle before.

Sensing his reluctance, Ji Yao changed her tone.

“Uncle Mu, you know I am only an outer disciple of the sect, my words carry little weight. If the other masters learn of this, I will be accused of overstepping my bounds. Should I ever be fortunate enough to enter the inner sect, it will be difficult to find a master.”

Mu Baiyun wanted to reply, “If it comes to that, I will take you as my disciple.” With his cultivation, it was just possible. Yet, for some reason, the words stuck in his throat and would not come out.

“That is why only someone of your cultivation and standing can say these things without causing offense in the sect.”

Ji Yao did not say aloud that, more likely, those people would heap praise, declaring that the Lingyun Sect had promising successors, and that Uncle Mu lived up to his reputation—young and talented.

Her inner complaints aside, Ji Yao genuinely hoped Mu Baiyun would shoulder this responsibility. If things changed, at least there would be someone to bear the brunt for her.

She had nothing—no skill yet mastered, no cultivation, resources, status, standing, not even connections. The only person who could help was Ling Ru, a young girl who had just become a personal disciple, but her master, Zhaoming, disliked Ji Yao and had outright forbidden Ling Ru from associating with her.

Ji Yao felt as if, in her previous life, she had been shunned by other parents, forbidden to mix with the good students, and labeled a troublemaker. The sense of superiority in such matters seemed inescapable, and Ji Yao could only sigh.

Mu Baiyun finally understood Ji Yao’s intentions, and nodded slightly.

In truth, as he listened to Ji Yao’s sincere words and looked at her youthful face, Mu Baiyun felt a growing tenderness.

Ignoring his discomfort, Mu Baiyun personally escorted Ji Yao back to her little courtyard in the outer sect. Only after watching her enter and activate the protective wards did he turn and head toward the Hall of Discipline.

Mu Baiyun relayed Ji Yao’s instructions to Mo Daoyan, word for word. After pondering for a moment, Mo Daoyan issued a series of more detailed decrees.

Once everything was arranged, Master Suwen, Mo Daoyan, looked carefully at Mu Baiyun.

“These words, they came from that little girl Ji Yao, didn’t they?”

Mu Baiyun hesitated briefly, then nodded in admission.

“And did she tell you to claim them as your own?”

Mu Baiyun looked up, puzzled, and nodded again.

Mo Daoyan, sensing Mu Baiyun’s confusion, explained, “You’ve been here so many years; don’t you think I know what kind of person you are?”

“But that Ji Yao girl has truly surprised me!”

Mu Baiyun suddenly understood and asked, “Are you considering taking her as your disciple, Uncle?”

Mo Daoyan raised an eyebrow, “You’ve noticed?”

“I guessed as much,” Mu Baiyun replied. “But Ji Yao may be a music cultivator. I saw her studying a flute artifact today.”

Mo Daoyan frowned at this—music cultivation! In the Lingyun Sect, music cultivators faced many challenges. Though he understood music, he had little grasp of music cultivation techniques and could not guide her.

“Let’s observe her a bit longer,” Mo Daoyan sighed, feeling regret.

Ji Yao had no idea that the status she had just longed for had been postponed for years, all because of Mu Baiyun’s words. Nor did she know that she was already marked in the eyes of the head of the Hall of Discipline.

Meanwhile, Ji Yao finally had a quiet moment alone in her room to study her Clear Moon Flute.

Having just finished a piece called “Rainbow Dress Melody,” she rediscovered the feel of the flute from her previous life. Inspired, she tried channeling spiritual power into the flute’s sound as described in the cultivation manual.

Barely a few notes in, her control slipped—a sharp, jarring sound burst forth, sending an invisible wave like a whip lashing out, striking the wardrobe before her.

A loud crash followed, and the ordinary spiritual wood wardrobe splintered into pieces, scattering across the floor.

Only a brick-sized, iron-brown plank remained intact, landing with a dull thud.

Ji Yao swept aside the wood chips with a wind spell and bent to pick up the plank.

It felt light in her hand, resembling a brick in shape and weight, but rather than the reddish hue of brick, it was a deep iron-brown, and close inspection revealed fine wood grain on its surface.

Ji Yao infused a bit of spiritual power into it, but nothing happened. Probing it with her spiritual sense, she found it to be just ordinary spiritual wood.

Then, she drew her Free Sword and slashed at the plank. A faint spiritual glow flickered, and when she looked again, not a scratch marred its surface.

What on earth was this thing? Ji Yao scratched her head and weighed the plank in her hand.

Holding fast to the principle of asking when unsure, Ji Yao decided to seek help.

With that thought, she tucked the plank under her arm and appeared at the courtyard in her spatial domain.

Before even entering, she called out loudly, “Senior! Senior Situ, are you there? I’ve found another strange treasure! I don’t recognize it—come take a look!”

Ji Yao resolved to be herself in front of Situ Jing, abandoning all former restraint.

She marched straight into the bamboo house’s study, where, as expected, Situ Jing was reading jade slips.

Ji Yao eagerly presented the plank to Situ Jing, looking at her with anticipation.

She was now fully aware of her knack for finding odd items, and had developed a new hobby—discovering what they were.

Situ Jing looked at Ji Yao, then at the plank, unsure what expression was appropriate.

“This is Iron Birch Spirit Wood. Where did you find it?”

Iron Birch Spirit Wood? Wasn’t that the same as the iron birch tree?

Ji Yao replied, “I shattered the wardrobe in my room, and this fell out.”

Situ Jing accepted Ji Yao’s talent for finding strange treasures. “This is the hardest spirit wood in the cultivation world. It’s perfect for crafting wood-attribute flying swords.”

“But I tried cutting it with a sword—the surface seems protected!”

“Oh? That means someone has already refined it a bit. To break its barrier, you must first gain its approval.”

Ji Yao was confused by this answer. Was it really what she thought? Did she actually need to win the approval of a plank?

What had the world come to?