Striding through the dusty roads of the Outer Sect, a grey-robed disciple scanned his gaze over each house he passed.

  The disciple was older than most in the Outer Sect, somewhere in his early twenties.

  “Where the hell are they!?” The older disciple roared and kicked a nearby bucket, filling the air with splinters. “Shit! Some commoner shows up and just starts getting friendly with the Princess like it’s no big deal!?”

  When he heard the news that Zhao Xiaoli had entered the Inner Sect, this disciple, Yang Chen, felt grief over what he perceived as an opportunity lost.

  “Years of trying to ingratiate myself with that pompous…” The disciple stopped himself before saying too much and gently sighed.

  But the rumor that she had been speaking with the infamous commoner of the Outer Sect before her ascension to the Inner Sect, as if they were friends… That caused his stomach to drop like never before.

  He could come to terms with wasted effort, but now, he could imagine what others, those who knew of his toadying up to the Princess, must be saying.

  'How unpleasant must he have been, that a commoner seems fair company in comparison?'

  Imagining all manner of derision, Yang Chen grit his teeth. “No matter… I can still save face if I play this right.”

  … … … … …

  In her home, Jun Li was deeply asleep, exhaustion having collapsed on her the moment she found her bed. Under her notice, the small white snake she had brought back from the forest began to acquaint itself with its new surroundings while she slept.

  At the bedside, the small snake, whom Jun Li had named 'Little Yun,' would occasionally glance up towards her, almost entranced by an uncanny sense of familiarity.

  Jun Li didn’t know why the small beast was so comfortable in her presence, and the snake, being as young as it was, knew even less.

  It merely followed its instincts and stayed beside Jun Li, who felt almost like kin.

  From outside the room, a violent knocking on the door sent Jun Li tumbling from her bed, landing knees-first on the hard wooden floor. “Ugh… my muscles…”

  Suddenly and painfully awake, Jun Li found that a night’s rest had done nothing to mend the fatigue and damage from the trial, merely allowing it to settle in fully.

  “Open up already!” Slowly climbing to her feet, Jun Li quickly hobbled over to answer the door. Leaning against the doorframe, Jun Li quickly opened the door, which was still being battered fiercely by whoever was on the other side.

  With their fist swinging into open air, the disciple who was knocking on the door finally set eyes on Jun Li. “Finally! You… uh…”

  Looking Jun Li over, the older disciple seemed somewhat at a loss, as though having expected something else.

  Sensitive to the change in the disciple’s gaze, Jun Li looked herself over.

  Her clothes were torn in some places, and sleeves were entirely cut off to be made into makeshift bandages during the trial, not to mention how almost every part of her body was covered in dried blood by this point.

  But despite all of this, the disciple didn’t seem to notice the grimy or ragged clothing. Instead, something about Jun Li’s face seemed to seize their attention.

  After a moment, the disciple cleared his throat and composed himself before speaking out in a suddenly much more polite tone. “My name is Yang Chen, eldest son of the great Baron Yang Meng, whose land stretches across the western provinces of our glorious Zhao Kingdom.”

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  Hearing Yang Chen’s spiel, Jun Li felt unsure what to take from it.

  A few weeks ago, she would have been filled with admiration and envy upon hearing such a thing, and a full year ago, she would have been completely awestruck to be in Yang Chen’s presence after hearing of his pedigree.

  Now, however… the soreness that radiated through Jun Li’s body weighed more heavily on her mind than Yang Chen’s supposed prestige.

  “Right… did you need something?” Unable to hide her exhaustion, Jun Li tried to push the conversation forward.

  “And you are Jun Li, correct?” Again, Yang Chen looked Jun Li over, this time with an almost quizzical expression. “Yeah, that’s me. Should I know what this is about…?”

  Yang Chen’s gaze suddenly turned cold. “Ah… I was hoping you weren’t who I was looking for.”

  Saying this, he shrugged. “But! It can’t be helped.”

  Before Jun Li could react, Yang Chen’s palm lashed out, sending her collapsing backwards. Stepping into her house, Yang Chen spoke. “I hear you’ve been getting close to the good princess, huh?”

  Jun Li opened her mouth to talk, but before she could say a word, she was interrupted. “I don’t know how you got it in your head that you’re in a position to be making connections here in the Sect, let alone connections with the royal family of all things, but…”

  Yang Chen crouched down to be eye level with the reeling Jun Li. “But it seems someone needs to teach you your place.”

  “Alas!” Yang Chen swiftly stood up and walked back to the doorway, allowing Jun Li the room to stand up. “I simply can’t do anything more than I have without infringing upon the rules of the Sect.”

  As Jun Li lurched to her feet, she saw that past the doorway behind Yang Chen, two other disciples were waiting, calmly watching Yang Chen’s performance. “But there’s something you can do, Junior Sister Jun!”

  As Jun Li gained her bearings, she finally found a moment to talk back. “What do you want from me then?” Yang Chen smiled at seeing Jun Li play along.

  “All you have to do is accept the terms of a duel!” Hearing this, Jun Li paled, remembering what had happened the last time she had accepted the offer for a duel.

  Seeing Jun Li’s expression change, Yang Chen quickly spoke up. “Ah, but I can’t expect you to accept a one-sided offer, so let’s see… What would someone of your station desire most…?”

  Tapping his head in mock thought, Yang Chen sneered. “Oh, but of course!” He reached into a pocket of his robe and fished out a small red cord, strung through a dozen thin metal plates that clinked together.

  Seeing the string of metal plates, Jun Li’s expression froze, and Yang Chen continued. “Ah, so sorry, I forgot, you’ve probably never seen what real money looks like? This is gold, you see, enough for someone like you to live half-decently for the rest of your days.”

  Listening to Yang Chen taunt her, Jun Li actually found herself becoming less anxious over time.

  Despite the fact that this scenario had played out before, and even though she had suffered for it in the past… Jun Li didn’t feel any real fear towards Yang Chen.

  The arrogance he displayed seemed altogether different from what Ren Liwei had displayed, and Jun Li struggled to consider him anywhere near as imposing.

  Jun Li looked Yang Chen over with a calm expression. “Alright… if that’s what I get from the duel if I win, what do you get?”

  Sensing Jun Li wasn’t entirely unwilling to duel, Yang Chen became more serious. “Simple. When… rather, if I win, you will publicly admit the inferiority of your nature and never speak to anyone of the royal family ever again!”

  Hearing Yang Chen’s demands, Jun Li almost couldn’t help but laugh at how petty it seemed. “Okay then, if you insist… I accept the terms of your duel.”

  Hearing her acceptance, Yang Chen grinned from ear to ear. “Perfect! Then-“

  Jun Li sharply interjected before he could continue. “However! I’m in no condition for a duel right now.” Saying this, Jun Li considered her battered state for a moment.

  Even with her cultivation, it might take a few days before she could fully recover from her injuries, but even so… Jun Li didn’t want to wait even a second longer than she had to if it meant directing that money to her family sooner.

  “…One day.” Jun Li spoke, looking down at her bandaged arm. “You can wait one day, right?”

  Listening to Jun Li’s request, Yang Chen frowned for a moment. “Very well… I’m gracious enough to allow some leniency here.”

  Pocketing the string of golden slats, Yang Chen smiled as he turned to leave. “Tomorrow then! I’ll request one of the Sect Elders to oversee our duel at noon. Until then, Junior Sister Jun!”

  Watching Yang Chen cheerfully saunter off, Jun Li felt a headache setting in. ‘Recovering from my injuries, refining the reward I got from the trial at the Alchemist’s Association, Cultivating with it, preparing for the duel… Ahh, there’s too much to do today…’

  As Jun Li slumped down in exhaustion, she found the new snake companion she had taken in from the forest looking up at her from the side. “First things first… a change of clothes, then I should get us some food, huh?”

  Jun Li gently picked up her new snake companion. "I need to figure out a proper diet for you, Little Yun…"