NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: Trial? Leave it to me!
Sun Wei walked in and was taken aback by the sumptuous spread of dishes on the table.
“Greetings, Sect Master. Apologies for disturbing your meal.”
“No need to worry.”
Sun Wei’s gaze shifted to Li Ran beside her. “The Holy Son is here as well.”
“Elder Sun.” Li Ran nodded in greeting.
Although Sun Wei was a senior elder, Li Ran was also the Sect’s Holy Son. Their status wasn’t on the same level, so there was no need for Li Ran to stand and bow like other disciples would.
Sun Wei found it a bit strange that Li Ran had been present during the two recent visits he had made to see the Sect Master. They seemed to interact quite frequently lately, which was a departure from the past.
“It’s not even noon yet. Why is the Holy Son not focusing on cultivation and instead here at the Rakhasa Peak?” Sun Wei asked.
Before Li Ran could answer, Leng Wuyan spoke first, “Recently, Li Ran has been very diligent in his practice, and his cultivation progress has been rapid. I was concerned that too much diligence might lead to overexertion, so I invited him here to take a break.”
Li Ran struggled to hold back a laugh.
Diligent? Wasn’t that a euphemism for being deeply in love?
With the existence of the “Heaven-Seizing Art,” he could practically sleep all day!
Though his rapid cultivation progress was indeed true.
Leng Wuyan shot him a barely perceptible sideways glance, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“Oh?” Sun Wei looked at Li Ran, seemingly in disbelief. “The Holy Son has already reached the late stage of the Golden Core realm?!”
Last time he saw him, Li Ran was in the mid-stage. He had advanced so quickly in just a day or two?
Li Ran remained composed, saying, “It might be due to fortuitous circumstances.”
In reality, he was already a master in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, and with his powerful innate talent and the Heaven-Seizing Art, breaking through to the late stage was as simple as drinking water.
“Reaching the late stage of the Golden Core at seventeen, just a year and a half after advancing to the mid-stage? Such talent is truly astonishing!”
Sun Wei was starting to understand why Leng Wuyan had become so close to Li Ran. With such extraordinary talent, as long as he didn’t meet an untimely end, he would undoubtedly become a towering figure in the future.
“It’s thanks to the guidance of the Sect Master.”
Li Ran replied, and under the table, he discreetly squeezed Leng Wuyan’s hand.
Leng Wuyan bit her lip, trying to maintain her composure.
This guy was being too audacious!
She wanted to pull her hand away, but the tingling sensation in her hand made her powerless.
Thinking that Sun Wei couldn’t see them under the table, she decided to just let it be.
“Elder Sun, what brings you here?” She spoke up.
“It’s like this,” Sun Wei began, “The Sect’s trial is about to commence. I was wondering which disciple would be leading this time. The Elders from various peaks are quite concerned.”
The Sect’s trial was an important part of cultivating disciples in the Hidden Gauze Sect. Every three years, newly admitted disciples would embark on a trial into the Ten Thousand Mountains, where they’d complete tasks assigned by the Sect.
Each time, a senior disciple would lead the group.
Though it might seem like a bit of babysitting, it was an opportunity to identify talented disciples with good character and aptitude, making it easier to recruit them into their sect.
As a result, the Elders from various peaks paid close attention to this matter.
Leng Wuyan waved her hand dismissively. “Elder Sun, you can decide on the arrangement.”
It was clear that she wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about this.
“Alright, then I’ll…”
Suddenly, Li Ran spoke up, “I’ll take on the role!”
“You?” Both of them looked at him in surprise.
“As the Sect’s Holy Son, you should be focusing on your cultivation. Do you really need to worry about this?” Sun Wei said cautiously.
Li Ran shook his head, “I’ve been training quite intensely recently, so this is a good opportunity for me to readjust.”
“But…” Sun Wei hesitated.
“Furthermore, in the ten years since I joined the Sect, I’ve never participated in the trial. As the Sect’s Holy Son, I should contribute something to the Sect, right?” Li Ran said.
Since it had come to this point, Sun Wei had no choice.
“In that case, I’ll leave it to the Sect Master to decide.”
Leng Wuyan looked at Li Ran seriously, “Are you sure you want to lead the trial?”
Li Ran nodded, “I’m certain.”
The trial might be fake, but the divorce was real. It was a perfect opportunity for him to get rid of this inexplicable engagement.
“Very well, then I agree.”
…
After Sun Wei left, Leng Wuyan put down her chopsticks and fell into silence.
Li Ran cleared his throat and cautiously said, “M-Master…”
Leng Wuyan didn’t respond.
“Master?”
…
“Sweetie?”
“σ(⊙▽⊙a”
Leng Wuyan could no longer hold back, expressing her embarrassment and anger, “You shameless disciple, how can you say anything that comes to your mind?”
“It’s because you’re too adorable, and your disciple can’t help but speak his mind,” Li Ran continued shamelessly.
“Cut it out! Seriously, tell me the truth. Why do you suddenly want to lead the group down the mountain? You’ve never been this diligent before!” Leng Wuyan questioned.
Li Ran’s eyes shifted around, and he replied, “I’m feeling homesick.”
“Homesick?”
“I’ve been cultivating for over a decade and have rarely gone back home. I thought I could take this opportunity during the trial to visit home… You won’t blame me for that, right, Master?”
“Of course not!”
Leng Wuyan felt a bit embarrassed, “I’m sorry, I misunderstood you. I thought you were trying to…”
“Trying to what?” Li Ran curiously asked.
“Trying to avoid me…” Her voice grew quieter.
Li Ran chuckled softly.
His Master was truly quite adorable.
However, the more this was the case, the stronger his feelings of guilt became.
Leng Wuyan trusted him unconditionally, yet he had lied to her time and time again…
“The thing is, I can’t really tell her about this situation!” Li Ran sighed helplessly.