Transcending Dreams - D2 - Chapter 44

“Senior—” William cut himself off. She hadn’t introduced herself yet. “Are you part of the Jade Healing Sect?”

The looks he received from Xiu Jing and Wang Xiaoling said enough of how they felt about the question.

“You may call me Senior Xiu,” she noticed how she was addressed awkwardly. “And yes, I am indeed part of the sect. I am a probationary elder.”

“I see.” William didn’t see. He didn’t know that position existed. “Do you have to be in that position long, Senior Xiu?”

“I wouldn’t say so, but it depends on the individual’s expectation, Disciple Wei.”

He narrowed his eyes in confusion. He had never introduced himself, nor did he think he was important enough for his name to be well-known…unless that was indeed the case.

Xiu Jing led them to a compact building that couldn’t have been larger than a storage shed. Of course, with this being the Jade Healing Sect, it would have been the most aesthetic-looking storage shed ever created.

“Enter,” Xiu Jing motioned to the door. “Elder Yu is waiting.”

This was another one of those teleportation doors unless Elder Yu liked to be in pathetically small spaces.

“Thank you, Senior Xiu,” William bowed. He opened the door to confirm that it was indeed a door that led to another area, likely one of the buildings higher up the mountain.

He let Wang Xiaoling enter first before following her, closing the door behind them. They were transported to a well-furnished office.

A beautiful white desk sat in the center, surface covered in documents and small jade tokens, yet it was somehow organized. The shelves that covered most of the wall behind the desk were just as busy, with manuals leaving no space unfilled.

As for the rest of the office, it was minimal yet tastefully designed. The centerpiece was the small seating area consisting of a two-person couch and two single seats that exceeded the quality he had seen on the Red Floor.

Xiu Jing was wrong. Elder Yu wasn’t waiting for them.

“So, Wei Liang, is it a hobby of yours to make a terrible first impression?”

“Huh?” William replied dumbly.

“Oh, Senior Xiu, how long will you be stuck in that powerless position?” Wang Xiaoling mocked in a deeper voice.

“I didn’t say that!” William defended himself. He truly didn’t.

“It sure sounded like it, brat. I warned you to watch your words when we first met, and yet you clearly do not,” Wang Xiaoling shook her head. “You are in safe territory, so it matters little, but be more careful outside.”

“I would have to agree with those words,” Elder Yu’s voice made both flinch in shock. “However, I would say the same applies to you, mortal.”

William’s eyes darted between Elder Yu and Wang Xiaoling. Whatever the latter was, Elder Yu couldn’t sense it. There was no other reason Elder Yu would have called her mortal with such disgust.

“Before you lecture my disciple, perhaps you should consider your own words. Be careful when you aren’t in a safe territory.”

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This was a disastrous exchange. It was like Wang Xiaoling had personally offended Elder Yu. Whatever it was, he needed to stop it before the plan truly fell apart.

“It’s fine, Elder Yu. Sister Xiaoling has known me from the start. She could be considered family.”

“This one?” Elder Yu asked with disgust that William started to think he was missing something. Otherwise, this was a severe overreaction.

“I apologize for any disrespect I may have shown, Elder Yu,” Wang Xiaoling bowed deeply. “I never intended any.”

His knowledge of her personality meant that she must have been pained to give an apology where none was needed. Still, there was no sign of that unwillingness in her expression. She was trying.

Elder Yu didn’t care and looked ready to express how much she didn’t care if William hadn’t interrupted.

“Er, Elder Yu, is this really about how Sister Xiaoling spoke to me?”

He fidgeted when she put her full attention on him.

“That mortal is a reason I lost a promising talent,” Elder Yu’s glare somehow grew stronger. “You think Li Xinyue is the only one from her family that had potential?”

William blinked owlishly as he realized who she was talking about. “Li Jie?!”

“You know him?” Elder Yu’s rage was thrown, but only for a moment. “No matter. That’s the name. The boy who refused to cultivate to follow this mortal.”

“Elder Yu, I had no idea he made such a decision. Nor did I know he even had the opportunity!”

“Now, I see you next to her,” Elder Yu ignored Wang Xiaoling. “What has she been whispering in your ear, Disciple Wei?”

William’s comfortable future was getting increasingly out of reach the more Elder Yu spoke. Fatty Xu’s cooking. Owning part of a prosperous merchant house. Access to plenty of Spirit Stones.

All disappearing.

A glance at Wang Xiaoling let him know she was at her limit too. It was possible for her to still throw him around like it was nothing, but that definitely didn’t mean she could do the same to a nascent soul realm cultivator.

“Elder Yu, could we speak in private?” William didn’t get a reply, but the door behind them opened. Xiu Jing was on the other side.

“The mortal can wait out there until I call her back.”

“Of course,” Wang Xiaoling bowed with an apologetic smile. “I hope any misunderstandings are cleared up.”

William stared at her as she walked out until the door closed, leaving him alone with Elder Yu. He had never seen Wang Xiaoling with such dead eyes. As if all her emotions were suppressed to nothing. It made her look like a different person.

“Elder Yu, Sister Xiaoling has been of great help to me, and I can be sure that she has nothing to do with Li Jie declining the sect.”

“I don’t care for Li Jie,” Elder Yu narrowed her eyes. “That is in the past. What I’m concerned about now is her presence around you. As unlikely as it might be, your will to stay on the path of cultivation cannot be disturbed.”

William paused. “… That’s the reason for your anger? Nothing else about Sister Xiaoling?”

“You make it sound trivial.”

“Sister Xiaoling just gave me three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones to buy a martial skill from the auction,” William said bluntly. “If anything, she is actively helping me to become a better cultivator.”

That technically wasn’t the truth, but it was close enough. Worth it when it stopped Elder Yu in her tracks.

“… Fascinating,” a smile formed on her lips. “What martial skill is it?”

“Heavenly Thunder Scripture.”

The smile grew larger. “A martial skill to negate your weakness.”

“Er, yes.”

Elder Yu tilted her head, staring at him for a long second. “What does she want in return? I’m assuming this must be why you came here.”

“Well, it just so happens that she started a new merchant house. With the sect having close ties to Qingyun City, it would help greatly if the merchant house was given assistance to grow there,” William didn’t want to say more with Wang Xiaoling’s warning in mind, but the frown on Elder Yu’s face made him throw out the consideration. “I’m also a part owner. So Sister Xiaoling isn’t the only one being helped!”

He thought there was no chance when the frown didn’t disappear. It grew even more severe. He was frantically trying to decide what else to say before Elder Yu suddenly chuckled.

“This day wasn’t so terrible after all.”

“Elder Yu?” William’s hopes rose. He didn’t even have to mention Fatty Xu and his miraculous cooking. Though that had always been a last resort. Using him as a bargaining chip didn’t feel right… not that he wouldn’t resort to it if needed.

“I’ll listen to her proposal, Disciple Wei.”

The door opened immediately after she finished the sentence. Wang Xiaoling looked at Elder Yu warily before stepping into the office.