“Place the Sky Heart herb in this furnace; wait for me to refine it for seven days, and the pill will be formed.”

Tian Xianzi looked at the slowly rising white smoke from the furnace and couldn’t help but sigh sincerely. “Indeed, it is a sacred-grade spirit plant. Even the qi emitted during alchemy is full of spiritual energy. If you take the pill, your cultivation will definitely greatly increase.”

The Sky Heart herb is highly beneficial for improving cultivation. After returning from Liuming Mountain, Tian Xianzi took the initiative to offer to help Ning Ning refine the pill. In his own words, “The bookworms in Nianchun Hall are just seeking some fun. If you really want to refine a pill, you have to rely on your master, me.”

“I’m not bragging, but when I was young, in order to earn money to buy sword techniques, I studied alchemy desperately. Even high-level alchemists praised my high comprehension and talent in this area.”

Tian Xianzi couldn’t stop talking about the glorious past, grinning with his tail almost pointing to the sky. There was no semblance of being a mentor or role model. “The Master of Nianchun Hall even asked me if I was interested in learning alchemy with him. I decisively refused without hesitation.”

Ning Ning took a breath of the refreshing fragrance around her, smelling the invigorating scent of flowers, wood, and rain. The spiritual energy in her body gathered peacefully and leisurely, as if being nourished.

She was a bit curious. “Master, then why don’t you continue to refine pills and make money now?”

The young man with clear features raised an eyebrow, a hint of unruliness in his eyes that was hard to conceal. “Making money by refining pills means that the things I work hard to create have to be handed over to others—I don’t like that feeling.”

As he spoke, he reached out and casually touched a wisp of white smoke. The fair fingertips were quickly stained with a faint pink color from the heat. “No one should think they can command me. Instead of listening to those people endlessly talk about demands, it’s better to draw the sword and have a satisfying battle.”

Working for someone else was out of the question. He was truly a well-known sword expert from all corners of the world. Even if he became as poor as a beggar, he would never be the submissive party.

Ning Ning could only nod again. Tian Xianzi saw her deep in thought and asked curiously, “What are you thinking about?”

“I think,” she obediently responded, her gaze not moving away from the white smoke, “cultivation, for the vast majority of people, is actually not very fair. Ordinary people don’t have outstanding aptitude, and they don’t get the chance to seek opportunities. I’m afraid most people won’t see things like these natural treasures in their entire lives—they can’t escape the fate of being mediocre, unremarkable, and ordinary throughout their lives.”

Before, Ning Ning used to think that cultivation and the college entrance examination in the world she once knew were not much different. Both were about climbing up step by step, relying on continuous accumulation to become stronger.

But now, looking back, the cultivation world seems much more cruel than the college entrance examination.

In terms of talent, decades of hard work might not compare to the innate sword talent since birth.

In terms of family background, children from prominent families and sects have been supplied with spirit herbs since birth, making it difficult for their cultivation not to soar. Like when she obtained the Sky Heart herb in the secret realm, she could effortlessly cover a thousand miles in a day, but ordinary people without wealth and opportunities may never see many spiritual elixirs in their lifetime.

The monopolization of resources by prestigious families and clans left ordinary people with no way out. The better-off became even better, while the worse-off fell further behind, creating a vicious cycle.

“Why is Ning Ning starting to ponder these issues?”

Tian Xianzi smiled with raised eyebrows. “As the saying goes, there is destiny in the unknown. In cultivation, besides the thresholds of talent and background, there is also an emphasis on ‘fate.'”

The young girl beside him showed a slightly puzzled expression. He paused for a moment and patiently explained, “Many people believe in predestined fate. Even if they are ordinary individuals, once the time comes for a turn of fortune and triggers an opportunity, they can rebound from adversity and rise straight to the top.”

Predestined fate.

Ning Ning thought the novel she once read was probably about Pei Ji’s predetermined destiny.

But—

“Master.”

Almost involuntarily, she spoke out, asking, “While it’s true that there are turns of fortune, what if one’s fate is destined for calamity? Should one just resign to fate, powerless to do anything but await death?”

Tian Xianzi made a thoughtful sound, “Hmm.”

Then, with a slight lift of his eyebrows and a smile, he looked down at her and said, “Recite the title of your master.”

Ningning hesitated for a moment, then spoke as instructed, “Tian xianzi.”

“Tian xian… Tian xian, when I chose these two words back then, it was for the sake of being carefree and unrestricted, letting even the heavens have no control over me.”

His features gradually blurred in the light smoke, but his exceptionally bright and clear eyes remained particularly eye-catching. It was like a cloudy night, and suddenly two stars pierced through the darkness, bringing out a radiant brilliance.

“All this talk about fate being unavoidable and knowing one’s destiny is all nonsense. If the heavenly path is unjust and unfavorable—”

Tian Xianzi tapped her forehead and raised an eyebrow, saying, “Then break the heavenly path. Sword cultivation, it’s only me, only the sword, not bound by the heavens.”

=====

After bidding farewell to Tian Xianzi and calculating the time, it happened to be when Zheng Weiqi appeared in the original work.

Following the prompts given by the system, Ning Ning arrived at the mountain gate and looked up to see the senior sister standing in front of a stall selling goods.

Zheng Weiqi’s name sounded elegant and gentle, but her personality was completely opposite. In simple terms, she was undoubtedly the literary and artistic genius of Zaun, with an explosive personality. It was said that after returning from the mountain, she learned a bunch of unspeakable vulgar words. Before she could compile a beautiful and touching book called “The Guide to Scoring at the Crematorium”, she was put on a gag spell by the master, Tian Xianzi——

As long as she used vulgar language, she would lose control and do all kinds of embarrassing things, more terrifying than Sun Wukong’s tight-fitting curse. It was a complete psychological torture, truly in line with Tian Xianzi’s taste for eccentric behavior.

At this moment, she leaned against the mountain gate, hands crossed in front of her chest, and looked sideways at the two female disciples choosing items in front of the stall.

With her dark hair tied high and dressed in a male shirt, when the wind lightly brushed by, it outlined a slender and leisurely posture.

At first glance, she indeed looked somewhat like a handsome and unrestrained young lad, with long, narrow eyes that seemed to be smiling. This drew the discreet glances of the two female disciples, who occasionally burst into laughter.

“Like this one?”

Seeing one of the girls pick up a book and examine it carefully, Zheng Weiqi yawned and stepped forward a bit. “Junior sister, I see your bones are extraordinary. You must be a rare martial arts genius once in a hundred years. This book, ‘Flowing Light Sword Technique: From Beginner to Buried,’ was drawn by me personally. With you, it’s definitely worth more than its weight in gold.”

Her voice was quite refined, with a hint of casual coldness, and very pleasant.

The junior disciple was surprised at her words, “Is this a sword technique? I’m sorry, I thought it was a book for common people, telling the adventures of a centipede demon.”

“Centipede demon?! I give up—all the unpleasantness is discarded. Let’s sit down calmly and discuss reason with peerless beauty like you.”

Zheng Weiqi, about to erupt, probably thought of the gag spell that Master Tian Xianzi had imposed on her. She had to forcefully twitch the corner of her eye, forcibly adjusting the expression that was about to distort, and pull out a smile that looked like she had just finished eating human flesh buns. “Junior sister, does what I drew resemble a centipede demon?”

The young girl was startled, timidly reaching out and pointing to the first page, where a bizarre creature with 12 abdominal muscles, each round and swollen, was larger than its head.

This thing, not to mention a centipede demon—even if someone claims it’s a humanoid Leifeng Pagoda, there will be believers. Following it upwards, you might even climb directly into the sky, shoulder to shoulder with the sun.

“This is called abdominal muscles, understand?”

Zheng Weiqi hated the fact that iron could not become steel. She knew that the sword manuals could not be sold. She raised her head angrily and met Ning Ning’s eyes.

As disciples under Tian Xianzi, although she and the original host were not familiar, they were somewhat recognizable. So, she immediately relaxed her brows and said, “Junior Sister.”

“Sister.”

Ning Ning’s heart stirred, and she responded softly.

In the original story, the original host particularly disliked this unconventional senior sister, feeling that it disgraced the sect’s reputation.

Coupled with Zheng Weiqi’s excessive intelligence and talent in swordsmanship, it aroused jealousy and disgust. Whenever they met, there would be some snarky remarks.

Now, Zheng Weiqi has returned to the mountain with many novel items to sell. Ning Ning came this time to mock these goods and declare that she would never buy such shoddy things.

Who doesn’t know how to engage in verbal banter?

She paused and continued, “Senior Sister, this time you came down from the mountain; it’s really like the return of the prodigal. How can one tell if you are male or female?”

Zheng Weiqi stared at her in a daze. “Huh? What did you say?”

She almost forgot; this senior sister wasn’t very literate, and when she heard convoluted sentences, she would directly skip over them.

Ning Ning smiled. “I mean, after Senior Sister came down from the mountain, it’s really hard to tell that you’re a girl. The land is vast and boundless.”

Following her gaze, Zheng Weiqi looked down and let her eyes fall on her flat chest.

Unexpectedly, a few seconds later, she burst into laughter, as if she had received the greatest praise: “Junior Sister has a good eye! My chest wrap is made of silk from the celestial silkworm, which is crystal clear, soft, and extremely elastic. If Junior Sister likes it, I’ll give you a few. Also, this set of men’s clothing, mixed with mermaid gauze and azure silkworm silk, when worn in the summer, will give the body unparalleled coolness and comfort. Junior Sister, are you interested?”

Although she didn’t have much education, she at least knew that “vast and boundless” was a complimentary term! Can words spoken with a complimentary term be displeasing to people?

Ning ning: …

Can’t you tell this is a sarcastic remark, Sister! Please wake up quickly, don’t be so happy after being scolded, and don’t look at her with that “Indeed, you have good taste” expression!

Ningning rubbed her forehead, deciding to give up on the snarky banter and directly focus on her stall.

Zheng Weiqi, being a wealthy sword cultivator, managed the small business of the stall with ease, making her the low-level carrying queen of the Lingxu Peak rural romance version.

Seeing Ning Ning hesitating, she secretly took out a book from the pile and handed it to her. “Is Junior Sister interested in this?”

Ning ning looked down, and, lo and behold, there were bold letters:Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days Between Me and Zhenxiao Sword Master.

Below were densely packed introductions: The entire Xuanxu Sword Sect knows that the Zhenxiao sword master is cold and noble. Until one day, a junior disciple accidentally saw him pressing a newly accepted personal disciple against the wall, his eyes glaring crimson: “Afraid of me, hmm? Call me Master, and I’ll give you my life.”

Zheng Weiqi said, “This is a recently super popular novel, telling the love-hate entanglements between the cold-hearted and handsome Master and the mischievous troublemaker junior disciple. Definitely worth a read.”

The synopsis had too much flavor, and Ning Ning almost felt embarrassed. She reluctantly responded, “No need.”

After a moment of thought, she whispered again, “I’ve seen the setup of the cold-hearted master and the mischievous disciple before. The protagonists are called Tang Sanzhang and Sun Wukong. Has Senior Sister ever heard of them?”

Zheng Weiqi naturally shook her head. “I haven’t read many novels. What you’re talking about, I’ve never heard of it.”

The two female disciples, who were lingering in front of the stall, had disappeared. Ning Ning’s gaze roughly passed over the miscellaneous books and novels, stopping at the rouge and powder in the corner.

In the established plot, the original host would vehemently criticize these cosmetics as low-quality and not presentable, tearing apart her relationship with Zheng Weiqi on the spot.

She should have done the same.

However, in the original text, [Ning Ning picked up a box of rouge and sneered, “Is this rouge made of lime powder? It looks like it’s for a ghost marriage.”] This kind of plot—

With so many miscellaneous items in front of her, how would she know what rouge is and which one is lipstick?!

Ning Ning once again found herself in a dilemma.

The original host grew up pampered, indulging in all sorts of pleasures. Regarding the cosmetics commonly used by women, such as rouge and powder, there was no doubt that she considered them treasures.

But she, this counterfeit, was different.

She could accurately identify Dior, Armani, and Yang Shulin, but who could tell her what these bottles and jars with similar and bizarre shapes were used for?

Ning Ning pretended to be calm and took a deep breath.

The items on the stall were mainly red and white. The white should be similar to foundation, and the red should be lipstick or blush.

She used her intelligence to confirm the purpose of one of the round boxes:

Not too bright red, not as thin as lipstick or paper; it should be blush.

The original host was the one who first used it.

Ning ning obediently followed the plot, dipped a little blush onto her hand, and gently applied it to her right cheek.

The quality of this item was actually quite good. As soon as it touched the skin, it gently spread out, creating a faint and light red color. Just as she was about to nitpick, she heard Zheng Weiqi gasp beside her, “Little Junior Sister, what are you doing?”

With these words, Ningning’s heart sank halfway.

Then she heard her say in an extremely surprised tone, “Why are you applying nail polish to your face?!”

Ning ning: …

She mentioned how smooth the blush was. It turns out it was nail polish all along.

Ning Ning forced out a stiff smile.

Zheng Weiqi looked at her in shock, wanting to speak but hesitating.

How could there be a girl in this world who couldn’t distinguish between rouge and nail polish? Clearly, even the most ordinary families would prepare some cosmetics like rouge and powder for their daughters!

Could it be—

“Little Junior Sister.”

Zheng Weiqi, who spent more than half of the year down the mountain and knew nothing about the information of her junior brothers and sisters, tried to lower her voice and soften her tone as much as possible. “Did you learn about makeup before joining the Xuanxu Sect?”

Ning Ning made a joke, and if she stubbornly claimed to be proficient in this field, it would probably only lead to more trouble.

So she told the truth: “My family said I was too young and not suitable to learn this.”

Zheng Weiqi was greatly shocked and sighed deeply.

Poor girl, in today’s society, where girls study makeup from a young age, how could there be such a thing as “too young to learn”? Perhaps Little Junior Sister didn’t know that her parents told her this—

Simply because the family couldn’t afford to buy these things.

They were a pair of poor parents, doing the only thing they could to protect their daughter’s fragile self-esteem.

“Yes, yes, you’re still young and indeed not suitable to learn.” Zheng Weiqi was slightly moved by this small, kind lie. She didn’t want to expose this well-intentioned falsehood and sighed softly. “But now that you’re a grown girl, hasn’t your mother taught you something in this regard?”

“I—”

Ning Ning didn’t have the memories of the original host and had to answer with a straight face, “She did teach, but the tools were not like these.”

She tried to recall and described with effort, “Lipstick is a long tube that can be directly applied to the lips; lip powder is similar to the skin color, so it won’t appear too obvious when applied; and there’s eyeshadow for the eyes, colorful, with various patterns.”

After her description, Zheng Weiqi listened in astonishment.

Little Junior Sister’s family… actually made their own rouge and eye shadow.

Something that could easily fit into a tube had to be liquid. Why turn lipstick into a liquid? It could only be because there was very little lipstick at home, so they added water to extend its usage. How could lip powder have a color similar to the skin? Clearly, whether it was lead powder or pearl powder, it would look no different from white dough after applying. To make it match the skin color, they must have added something else. White and light brown powder, could it be…

Soil and lime?!

Zheng Weiqi was shocked.

Her already precarious brain capacity couldn’t withstand the tossing about of the so-called “eyeshadow.”

Colors of all kinds—what kind of patterns could ordinary families come up with? It must be squeezing the juice out of flowers and applying it to the eyes.

Heavens.

What kind of life has Little Junior Sister been living?

A sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl is struggling to squeeze out the last bit of liquid from a small tube, applying it to her pale lips.

Her face was covered with traces of mud and lime, and her eyes still retained the colorful colors of flower petals, smiling so contentedly and so happily.

Behind her, there was a smiling middle-aged couple, their faces marked by the traces left by time, simple and unadorned.

Zheng Weiqi was momentarily speechless and murmured after a while, “You truly have wonderful parents.”

Little Junior Sister frowned slightly, showing a hint of confusion. She knew the other person wouldn’t understand the purpose of her words. After a brief pause, she tentatively asked, “Are your father and mother still living well now?”

A hint of melancholy finally appeared in Ning Ning’s eyes. “I don’t know… They are both in another world.”

Zheng Weiqi: !!!

Zheng Weiqi didn’t dare to ask any further.

Now, even her most beloved parents had gone ahead.

No one would mix mud with lime and force a smile on her to make her happy anymore.

She had heard that this girl had a tough time in Xuanxu Sect, with little to eat, and her childhood was already so bitter. How could she let Little Junior Sister join the sect and still be lonely and pitiful?

With a strong sense of justice, Zheng Weiqi made up her mind. From now on, she was willing to help Little Junior Sister rebuild a warm home.

“Little Junior Sister.”

With tears in her eyes, she looked at Ning Ning with deep affection. “Today, Senior Sister and you have a fateful encounter. Don’t hesitate to take anything from the stall.”

Ning Ning hurriedly shook her head. “I don’t want anything.”

Silly child, why make it so difficult?

Zheng Weiqi’s heart trembled slightly. Although her Little Junior Sister was rustic, she was stubborn, sincere, and unyielding.

This kind of simplicity, like a small white flower growing from barren soil, seemed inconspicuous at first glance. Only when you got closer would you understand the tenacity and bitterness of its growth.

She believes her parents, who are far away, are also silently proud of their daughter.

Zheng Weiqi’s thoughts were in turmoil, and next to her, Ning Ning observed her crying and laughing alone. It seemed abnormal, so she quietly moved away.

Unexpectedly, immediately, she heard Zheng Weiqi’s soft voice that sent shivers down one’s spine: “Over there are some snacks I brought back from out of town. Feel free to try them—what’s in front of you is milk cream, and the small spoon is in the white pouch on the side.”

If it were Ningning herself, she would surely feel embarrassed and politely decline after expressing her thanks. However, the script of the malicious supporting character, being nonchalant and carefree, played in her mind, forcing her to reluctantly pick up one of the boxes and scoop out a piece with a spoon after opening it.

The taste was unbelievably strange, making her genuinely grimace. “Your milk cream—”

Unexpectedly, Zheng Weiqi gasped, her eyes widening like bells. “My milk cream!”

Ning Ning:?

How did you steal my lines?

Before she could react, Zheng Weiqi continued, “This isn’t condensed milk! Which little brat with no eyes put facial fat here?!”

Facial. Fat.

No wonder this little thing looked so unique.

Hehe.

Ning Ning’s heart went on a direct journey with these two words. However, as the saying goes, life is a constant series of ups and downs. When God closes one door for you, He will surely lock another window.

In a daze, she heard a voice echoing in her ears: “There’s arsenic in here! Although not a lethal amount… Quick, I’ll take you to Nianchun Hall!”

Arsenic.

Ning ning lowered her head expressionlessly, looking at the translucent white solid substance in her hand.

Little devil.

Who sent you to her side?

=====

After practicing the sword for a day and night as punishment from Tian Xianzi, He Zhizhou immediately rushed into Nianchun Hall to lie down like a corpse. He didn’t know how long he slept until he was abruptly awakened by an urgent female voice.

He recognized the woman, Zheng Weiqi, one of Tian Xianzi’s disciples, who seemed to be one of Ning Ning’s targets.

As for the person she carried on her shoulder—

He Zhizhou’s pupils shook.

He saw Ning Ning looking dazed, a big, grotesque blush spreading across her face, as if she had been punched hard.

Even the medics in Nianchun Hall couldn’t help but exclaim, “Who beat Junior Sister Ning Ning into this appearance?”

Zheng Weiqi said something to him in a low voice, but He Zhizhou didn’t hear a word. All he knew was that after hearing it, the medic showed an even more incredulous expression: “You’re saying she ate arsenic herself?”

Zheng Weiqi covered her face with both hands and finally stopped lowering her voice. “It’s all my fault, all my fault.”

Then came Ningning’s low and murmured soliloquy, each sentence filled with sadness, making him inexplicably reminiscent of the Xiangxi ancient dried corpse after the scam. “Senior Sister, I don’t want your stuff. I really don’t want it… Senior Sister, am I too rustic?”

He understood everything.

Ning Ning, you’re really silly.

Knowing that you’re a girl with a thin face and being beaten up for snatching someone else’s things, you must feel very guilty.

—But there’s no need for you to swallow arsenic and kill yourself so mercilessly!

He Zhizhou felt like he was in an ice cellar, and the future seemed confusing, causing endless heartache.

Other people’s antagonists are skilled in everything, occasionally being charming and eccentric, which can also lead to screams from the readers.

But he and Ning Ning

One lay on the sickbed like a ragdoll, and the other directly had a mental breakdown, wanting to kill herself.

He wanted to cry, and he also wanted his mother.

When would they, these antagonists, be able to stand up again?

T/N:

1. Zaun

Zaun, also known as the City of Iron and Glass, is a large undercity district lying in the deep canyons and valleys threading Piltover. This is from the game League of legend.

2. Leifeng pagoda

3. Facial Fat/miàn zhī

It means moisturizing oil.An ancient facial treatment

4. Xiangxi dried corpse

Regional culture of Xiangxi region in China