The spacious hall was nearly empty, with only a handful of disciples, making it feel unusually cold and quiet. No wonder. It was already the end of the month, and most disciples had finished their assigned tasks.
Xie Zhaolin calmly scanned the room, letting her gaze linger on a few corners. Everything seemed normal on the surface, but she could sense a few eyes watching her from the shadows. A faint, imperceptible smirk tugged at her lips. Pretending not to notice, she walked straight to the task registration desk.
"Here for a task?" The disciple at the desk didn't even look up, his tone dripping with impatience. "Show your jade token."
Xie Zhaolin's expression remained calm as she handed over the jade token. "Outer sect disciple Xie Zhaolin. Thanks, Senior Brother."
The moment he heard her name, his hand froze mid-motion, and the casual expression on his face instantly stiffened. He slowly lifted his head, a strange glint in his eyes as he sized her up.
"You're Xie Zhaolin?" His voice took on a sarcastic edge. "The genius who made three elders send people to investigate the moment you arrived?"
Xie Zhaolin's expression didn't change. "You flatter me, Senior Brother. I was just a bit lucky, that's all."
"Hmph!" The disciple sneered, tossing the jade token onto the desk. "Lucky? I'd say you're just clever. A newly arrived outer sect disciple, and yet three elders send people to check you out?"
The commotion drew the attention of nearby disciples, whispers rising like a tide.
"That's the arrogant one who just joined, right?"
"Not bad-looking too, no wonder…"
Hearing the murmurs, the disciple's sneer deepened. "What? Thinking you've got Elder Mo backing you, you can ignore sect rules? Showing up at the end of the month, expecting easy tasks? What do you think this place is?"
Xie Zhaolin's expression remained calm. "Senior Brother, you misunderstand. I would never act like that. I'm just new and still learning the sect rules."
"Not familiar?" He slammed the desk hard. "Then learn them!" He roughly flipped open the task book, jabbing at several lines with his finger. "Here, these are the ones left. Take them or leave them!"
Xie Zhaolin's eyes scanned the page. Every single task was marked high-risk: clearing a wolf beast den a hundred miles outside Qingxi City, collecting Bone-Eating Grass from Broken Soul Cliff, retrieving Frost Jade from the bottom of Netherwater Pond…
Nearby disciples gasped.
These tasks usually required a team, and now a new outer sect female disciple was expected to handle them alone?
Before Xie Zhaolin could respond, the hall's doors swung open.
A familiar figure entered with several disciples—Wei Qingwu.
"Senior Brother Zhao, is the task I asked you to reserve still available?" she asked with a sweet smile, her eyes casually flicking over Xie Zhaolin.
"Perfect timing, Sister Wei," he said with a smile. "The Spiritual Herb Garden task you wanted is still reserved." He shot a glance at Xie Zhaolin. "Unlike some people, who show up late and get only the scraps."
A chill flashed in Xie Zhaolin's eyes.
She realized this must be Zhao Ming, the one Liu Feng and the others had mentioned. His behavior was clearly at Wei Qingwu's instruction. She was deliberately trying to make things difficult.
Feigning surprise, he looked at Xie Zhaolin. "Oh, isn't this Sister Xie? You're here for a task too?"
He stepped subtly closer, speaking with fake concern. "You're new, so these tasks might be tricky, right? Let Senior Sister help you take a look."
At the same time, Wei Qingwu casually rested her right hand on the desk edge. The teacup on the table toppled with her sleeve, spilling over the task book.
Flustered, she reached to wipe it, but her sleeve brushed against Xie Zhaolin's jade token.
"Ah!" She cried. The token landed right on the wolf beast den task. A flash of spiritual light registered the task as completed automatically.
"This…" Wei Qingwu feigned embarrassment, though a glint of triumph shone in her eyes. "Sorry, Sister Xie. Senior Sister's hand slipped…"
Zhao Ming sneered from the side. "Once a task is taken, it can't be returned. Sect rules." He deliberately raised his voice. "Sister Xie, you'll have to perform well, since you chose this task yourself."
Disciples around them were stunned. Nobody expected Wei Qingwu to pull a move like that, and no one dared challenge her due to her status.
Xie Zhaolin looked at the registered task, a spark of killing intent flashing and fading from her eyes. She picked up the jade token, lightly wiping off the water.
"You've been thoughtful, Senior Sister," she said in a calm, terrifying tone. "This generous gift is noted."
Wei Qingwu covered her lips with a light laugh. "Don't misunderstand, Sister Xie. I really didn't mean it." She leaned in, lowering her voice. "But… if you knelt and begged me now, I might help you out."
Xie Zhaolin smiled suddenly, a smile that made Wei Qingwu feel an inexplicable chill.
"No need." She tucked the jade token away and turned, ignoring Wei Qingwu completely.
Stepping out of the task hall, Xie Zhaolin exhaled slowly. Having spent so long in Blackwater Abyss, she almost instinctively wanted to unleash her baleful qi and crush the two in front of her.
Luckily, the thought passed in an instant.
She rubbed her forehead, realizing that her time in Blackwater Abyss had affected her more than she expected. The baleful qi accumulated from practicing Xuanyin Foundation Technique had subtly influenced her temperament. She was always vengeful, but in the past, she wouldn't have acted so impulsively before regaining her strength. If she'd actually struck, the consequences could've been disastrous.
Moreover, the sect strictly forbade private fights. Any grudge had to be settled officially on the arena. Acting first would only make her look guilty. Also, with her displayed stage six cultivation, defeating Wei Qingwu, a peak stage six disciple, would attract even more attention.
Most importantly, under sect rules forbidding private combat, she didn't want to waste energy on such a petty clown. If it were outside the sect, Wei Qingwu would've been splattered with blood.
Wei Qingwu wasn't foolish, of course. She knew this and wouldn't step outside the sect anytime soon.
Xie Zhaolin had to admit—this move was cunning. If she'd been a mere outer sect disciple without any background, this high-risk task could have been deadly. Even surviving, Wei Qingwu would've escalated her harassment. But for her, this seemingly dangerous task was just a game. Since they were eager to play, she didn't mind joining in. Besides, she needed a proper, satisfying outlet to vent the baleful qi surging inside her.
And as a bonus…
She'd prepare a "grand gift" for Wei Qingwu.