Chapter 41: The Pain of Failure and the Weight of Success

Failure is undoubtedly painful, but a friend’s success is even more heart-wrenching.

Just moments ago, Xiao Yao Yun You was still immersed in a double dose of sorrow. Then, he heard a series of conversations coming from the doorway. Initially, he didn’t pay much attention, thinking it was just some of his dorm mates playing around.

But gradually, he began to sense a crisp female voice. While it was unusual for female cultivators to visit the male dorms, they were allowed as long as they notified the caretaker below.

With growing curiosity, Xiao Yao Yun You threw off his covers.

What he saw was his roommate, ‘Rongqiao,’ who seemed as stiff as a board, and his crush, ‘Zhou Zhiruo,’ locked in a tender gaze, completely infatuated with each other.

Witnessing this scene, Xiao Yao Yun You felt his anger rise. After all, he had been bullied and had his treasured items confiscated earlier, and now his roommate was flaunting their romance? Overwhelmed by these mixed emotions, Xiao Yao Yun You erupted in anger.

Hearing Xiao Yao Yun You’s thunderous outburst, Rongqiao and Zhou Zhiruo reacted like startled rabbits, much like students caught by the principal in a school romance drama.

However, Xiao Xixi, who was present, did not react the same way. Instead, she looked at Xiao Yao Yun You with curious, wide eyes.

How did Xiao Xixi recognize Xiao Yao Yun You so accurately in this external disciple dorm? Because there was a large yellow exclamation mark above Xiao Yao Yun You’s head.

Side Quest: Rescue the Collector (Difficult)

Quest Description: As a collector, Xiao Yao Yun You desperately wants to collect the entire set of ‘Jin Xiumei’ painted by the famous artist ‘Se Sezi.’ Having already gathered nine volumes, his collection was just confiscated by an elder, leaving his spirit shaken. Host, please help ‘Xiao Yao Yun You’ collect nine volumes of ‘Jin Xiumei’ (any nine volumes will do).

Quest Reward: One mysterious small item

Failure Penalty: Due to his shaken spirit, Xiao Yao Yun You’s cultivation stalls, and four years later, he meets his demise in a secret realm ambush.

Seeing this quest description, Xiao Xixi confirmed that the person with the yellow exclamation mark was indeed Xiao Yao Yun You.

However, seeing his red, tear-filled eyes and considering the ‘Side Quest’ information, Xiao Xixi, who had intended to apologize on behalf of her brother, hesitated. After all, Xiao Yao Yun You looked incredibly miserable!

… …

Just after declaring his ‘explosion,’ Xiao Yao Yun You calmed down a bit and noticed a small figure hiding behind his roommate’s girlfriend, Zhou Zhiruo.

He saw a timid little girl blinking her bright, curious eyes at him.

In the cultivation sect of Qingluan, it was rare to see children, and this little girl had even made her way to the male dorms. Although Xiao Yao Yun You preferred the mature and seductive ‘Su Mei,’ the peak master of Zixia Peak, he found this little girl incredibly adorable, despite her not being his type.

Despite his personal preferences, Xiao Yao Yun You quickly composed himself to avoid frightening the little girl.

Xiao Xixi, who had been observing Xiao Yao Yun You, saw his attitude soften and remembered that her brother’s red exclamation mark quest had a time limit. She mustered her courage and approached him.

As she stood before Xiao Yao Yun You, Xiao Xixi, with her neck craning to see his face, suddenly realized something: she was quite short!

… …

Xiao Yao Yun You watched the little girl approach, her delicate face tilted up, her balance a bit unsteady. He wondered why she had come so close.

Suddenly, he heard the familiar, clear, and soft voice of the little girl.

‘Cloud Wanderer Senior Brother, I am Xiao Changgu’s younger sister, Xiao Xixi. Lately, my brother has been giving me some small pills, and on my way here, I heard many seniors say those pills were stolen by my brother!’

Xiao Xixi spoke slowly but clearly, her words sounding incredibly cute.

However, upon hearing this, the three in the room were stunned. The little girl, with her sweet and charming appearance, seemed completely unrelated to the recently arrived ‘evil’ inner disciple, Xiao Changgu!

Seeing their shock, especially Zhou Zhiruo’s question, ‘Little Xixi, were you threatened?’, Xiao Xixi felt like crying. How could her brother have gained such a notorious reputation in just a few days since joining the sect? This was unbelievable!

Although Xiao Xixi had prepared herself for this, she never imagined her brother’s image would be so dangerous. To help her brother shed his ‘villain’ image, Xiao Xixi had a plan: instead of describing how her brother wasn’t a villain, she decided to portray him as a ‘brother complex’ character.

After all, stealing resources for one’s cultivation is less appealing than stealing for the sake of loving one’s sister. Xiao Xixi quickly continued, ‘Cloud Wanderer Senior Brother, as well as other seniors, the pills I took this morning were all given to me by my brother. Now I want to ask, what kind of pills were they, so I can return them to you?’

Xiao Xixi had never received any pills from Xiao Changgu, and her nervousness about lying made her lower her head. To the three watching, it seemed like she was repenting on behalf of Xiao Changgu.

Seeing Xiao Xixi’s adorable behavior, Xiao Yao Yun You’s resentment towards Xiao Changgu lessened. After all, having such a cute sister, one might do anything to indulge her.

Moments later, Xiao Xixi successfully obtained a bamboo slip from Xiao Yao Yun You. This slip listed the ‘elixirs’ and ‘names’ of those stolen by Xiao Changgu.

Looking at the slip, which recorded the names of more than a dozen external disciples and their elixirs, Xiao Xixi felt both helpless and relieved. She was helpless because her brother had done so many wrong things in just five days at Qingluan sect, truly living up to his villainous reputation. She was relieved that it had only been five days; if the misdeeds were too numerous, his reputation might be beyond repair!

However, a new problem arose for Xiao Xixi: how could she return the stolen elixirs and still maintain her brother’s ‘brother complex’ image? After all, not returning the elixirs would be like borrowing money and not paying it back. Who would care if you were a ‘brother complex’ if you didn’t return what you owed?

But where could she find the elixirs? Should she ask her master? Thinking of her master, Xiao Xixi remembered the enormous debt she owed—one original stone. In the cultivation world, elixirs were extremely expensive, and Xiao Xixi feared that borrowing more would lead to an ominous feeling.

As for her martial sister? Thinking of Bai Luozhu, Xiao Xixi instinctively touched her slightly swollen, red lips. She felt that borrowing from her might be even more dangerous!!!