13. Trial by Experience

That evening, Lin Jiuge used the excuse of cultivation and couldn’t bring Lin Jiuci along.

Lin Jiuci agreed verbally, while Li Yun and the Enlightened Dao Venerable breathed a sigh of relief. Isn’t this easy to handle?

But an hour later, the Enlightened Dao Venerable was defeated and handed over a sobbing Lin Jiuci to Lin Jiuge.

“I’ll go with you,” he declared.

“You’re no good at this, old bookworm,” Li Yun said, unable to understand how such a small respected elder couldn’t manage a child.

“You didn’t see it. The girl crying loudly is one thing, but her quiet sobbing, trying not to be noticed, truly breaks my heart,” the Enlightened Dao Venerable sighed. The child was only two years old; they couldn’t bear to see her suffer.

Soon, Lin Jiuge had coaxed his younger sister to sleep. Yet even in slumber, Lin Jiuci clung tightly to his clothes.

“Master, what did you summon me back for?” Zhou Yan asked perplexedly upon returning to the main hall.

“Tomorrow, your senior uncle will take you and your junior sister to the back mountain of the sect for training. Bring these items carefully; remember, do not get injured,” the Sect Leader instructed, handing over a storage ring.

“Yes, Master. I will prepare immediately,” Zhou Yan said happily, finally thrilled to explore the back mountain.

The Sect Leader worried silently but hoped his two disciples were right about the safety of the back mountain.

Li Yun shared his thoughts and speculations with the Sect Leader. After observing for a month, the Sect Leader finally agreed. After all, he couldn’t keep Zhou Yan confined forever!

“This is the back mountain,” Zhou Yan said excitedly the next day.

Lin Jiuge looked up at his brother, who seemed about 1.8 meters tall, puzzled. How could such a big guy be a first-timer at leaving the sect?

“Exactly, Ah Yan, both you and Jiuge have never been here before. It’s simple: survive inside for three days and test what you’ve learned. As long as you don’t face life-threatening danger, neither I nor your senior uncle will intervene,” the Sect Leader explained.

“Master, senior uncle, here is food for Baby Fu, this is drink, these are snacks, this is for Baby Fu’s bath at night, these are clothes, and this is Baby Fu’s toy,” Li Yun finished listing, only to hear his disciple boss him like a caregiver. Taking care of a child was so complicated!

“Master, senior uncle, I’ve marked each item for daily use. This piece of clothing must be held by Baby Fu while sleeping at night,” Lin Jiuge carefully explained, unpacking the storage pouch. After receiving many storage pouches as gifts last time, he had organized everything thoroughly.

“Don’t worry,” said the Sect Leader, wondering whose training this really was.

The two set off. Lin Jiuge walked slowly, and Zhou Yan’s initial excitement gradually cooled. Well, even as an adult, he was less steady than a child.

“Junior sister, what are you looking at?” Zhou Yan couldn’t help but ask. What was there to see?

“That plant, a level-one spirit herb—Seven Star Grass seedling,” Lin Jiuge pointed out.

“Useless again?” Zhou Yan was puzzled.

“It is useless, but this is the first time I’ve seen it untreated. Naturally, I must observe it more,” Lin Jiuge said. This was practical learning, a rare opportunity.

Zhou Yan thought about it and agreed; if they passed by treasures without recognizing them, that would be regrettable!

They didn’t venture too deep, learning bit by bit—spirit plants, demon beasts—absorbing knowledge as they went, without rushing.

From a high vantage point, two observers watched the pair with satisfaction. They were neither arrogant nor impatient, studying diligently—very good.

After quickly finishing lunch, the two ventured further, gradually becoming more cautious. Instead of staying together to observe the spirit plants and demon beasts, one would watch while the other remained alert.

“Ah Yan has been protected too well,” sighed the Enlightened Dao Venerable.

“Indeed, but given his situation, we dare not let him go unchecked,” Li Yun sighed, holding Baby Fu, who was quietly nestled in his arms. Sister, help! She was actually floating in midair!

“Hopefully, our assumptions are correct,” the Enlightened Dao Venerable stroked his beard.

“Ah Yan is special. We’re completely restrained. This time, I hope it helps. The only problem is Jiuge’s cultivation is too low,” Li Yun sighed.

“You fool, Ah Yan is important, but Jiuge is crucial too,” the Enlightened Dao Venerable continued.

The two in the back mountain deliberately avoided crowds. Occasionally, they saw others fiercely fighting over a single level-one spirit herb.

“Aren’t they fellow disciples?” Zhou Yan asked in confusion.

“They are fellow disciples and competitors,” Lin Jiuge, having spent time in the miscellaneous courtyard, naturally understood why.

“Competitors? How so?” Zhou Yan muttered as if speaking to himself.

“Senior brother, this is the reality. We are exceptions, having studied under renowned masters. Resources are tightly controlled for us, and our status is higher. But it’s not our fault,” Lin Jiuge’s tone shifted.

“It only shows we are outstanding. Our value is recognized, so we receive the sect’s investment first,” Lin Jiuge said clearly.

“Receiving investment means giving back to the sect. The sect nurtures me, so when I grow stronger, I protect the sect in return!” Lin Jiuge said firmly.

“To protect the sect, junior sister, senior brother understands now,” Zhou Yan, not given to sentimentality, quickly came to terms with it.

“Jiuge sees clearly,” the Enlightened Dao Venerable finally understood why Lin Jiuge used the spirit plants in his room without hesitation.

“Tsk tsk, many geniuses perish young, but Jiuge’s tone is quite arrogant,” Li Yun admired, yet his words implied otherwise.

“Come on, you just like Jiuge’s boldness. If the Master were here, he’d probably like Jiuge even more,” the Enlightened Dao Venerable said, speech contradicting his heart.

“Hehe,” Li Yun smiled but said nothing.

The two pressed on. Lin Jiuge tried digging up spirit plants and battling demon beasts, suffering injuries but emerging victorious. So far, their progress was satisfactory.

At night, even within the sect, danger lurked. Zhou Yan activated a concealment formation, and Lin Jiuge looked on enviously, recalling how she had once wanted to learn formations.

“Junior sister, why don’t you study the arts?” Zhou Yan, unaware of Lin Jiuge’s remarkable feats, asked curiously as he saw her envious expression.

Logically, their senior uncle should have taught Lin Jiuge some arts, or at least one.

“I haven’t even mastered the sword yet. Don’t bite off more than I can chew,” Lin Jiuge replied seriously.

Hasn’t he seen anyone with better sword talent than her?

Both of them who were soothing the sleeping Lin Jiuci in midair changed expressions simultaneously, recalling Lin Jiuge’s days learning the arts. Honestly, they had once held some hope then.

After the conversation ended, they entered meditation separately. Lin Jiuge took a long time to settle her mood and began cultivating seriously. The night was cool, with gentle breezes blowing.

After cultivation, Lin Jiuge thought of her wind attribute aptitude and then drifted into deeper contemplation.

Wind, the symbol of freedom. The Master had said that all things in heaven and earth are composed of the Five Elements, and they were special cases among them, some strong, some weak.

What was her wind composed of? Tonight, the cool breeze carried water and wood elements. It was slightly chilly. What about fire and wood?

“Jiuge is acting strangely.”