Chapter 2: The Handsome Chore Boy and the Doting Senior Sister

Along a secluded path in a corner of the Lingtian Sect, Ye Cha strolled, a bucket in his hand, walking with an air of utter boredom.

The bucket wasn’t heavy, nor was it full.

Yet, in Ye Cha’s grasp, it swayed precariously, constantly sloshing out water that speckled the path he had traveled.

Even after the already half-empty bucket lost more water to its careless sloshing, leaving less than half a bucket remaining, Ye Cha himself remained utterly unconcerned.

After all, this water was destined for the kitchen to cook spirit rice, and as an outer disciple, he wouldn’t get to eat it anyway.

Speaking of which, Ye Cha felt he should thank Senior Sister Xiaoyue from the Hall of Affairs. Half a month prior, she had elevated his status from a mere chore boy to a higher-ranking outer disciple.

However, Senior Sister Xiaoyue always gazed at him with fervent eyes and never failed to shower him with concern. Even now, the memory left Ye Cha feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Senior Sister Xiaoyue was not unattractive. With bright eyes, white teeth, and a charming smile, she was the epitome of a delicate, refined young woman from a good family.

Ye Cha’s aesthetic preferences weren’t unusual, and he was currently single. Had he been pursued by such a beauty before his transmigration, he would undoubtedly have been the envy of other men.

However, in this cultivation world where yin overshadowed yang, there were countless women as good-looking as Senior Sister Xiaoyue.

Yet, the vast majority of them remained unmarried…

As an outer disciple, Senior Sister Xiaoyue only held a position in the Hall of Affairs. This barely added any points to her appeal, making men glance at her for a moment longer.

Meanwhile, handsome and tall male cultivators like Ye Cha were exceedingly rare in a cultivation world mostly populated by ‘crooked gourds and cracked dates’. Thus, even with his abysmal five-spirit root aptitude, he was exceptionally recruited into the sect by the female steward responsible for disciple recruitment.

As a mere chore boy, he had successfully entered the number one righteous sect, Lingyun Sect!

The other female disciples of the sect had no objections to this at all. Upon seeing such a pleasing-to-the-eye junior brother join the sect, they all smiled so broadly their eyes crinkled shut.

The male disciples, however, were highly displeased. Especially after seeing Ye Cha’s outstanding good looks, alarm bells rang in their hearts. They worried Ye Cha would exploit his appearance to gain unfair advantages and secure preferential sect resources.

After all, Ye Cha’s five-spirit root aptitude was truly abysmal. Even a four-spirit root cultivator would absorb spiritual energy faster.

However, if a significant amount of resources were allocated to him, even with his five-spirit root, his cultivation speed wouldn’t be slower than others.

He might even rival the cultivation progress of a three-spirit root!

The cultivation world had always been a place where the strong preyed on the weak. Regardless of the means employed, only becoming stronger was the ultimate truth.

However, the male disciples worried for nothing.

Ye Cha had been in the sect for over half a year. During this time, apart from his exceptional promotion from chore boy to outer disciple by the Hall of Affairs, he had consistently performed his duties diligently, chopping wood and delivering water, never slacking off for a single day.

He appeared to be an honest man.

“Ye Cha, quickly put that bucket down! If it chafes your hands red, my heart will ache.”

As Ye Cha walked, a female voice suddenly rang out from behind him. Before he knew it, the woman swiftly approached, and a pair of soft, boneless hands immediately snatched the bucket from his grasp.

As she took the bucket, she didn’t forget to pretend to accidentally brush her fingers against his well-defined, knuckled hand.

Unlike a woman’s soft hands, a man’s palm was firm.

‘It felt so good to touch.’

‘Oh my heavens, she had finally touched a man’s hand!!!’

‘Yes, it was decided. She wouldn’t wash her hands today.’

“Senior Sister Xiaoyue, I can carry it. Please give the bucket back to me quickly! If others see this, they’ll surely complain about you again.”

Ye Cha didn’t take the woman’s subtle flirtation to heart. At that moment, his sword-like brows furrowed slightly, and words of concern spilled from his lips. Upon hearing them, Zhou Xiaoyue was utterly moved.

‘Sob, sob, Junior Brother Ye Cha is still so gentle and considerate. He’s vastly different from those spoiled male disciples.’

Although Lingyun Sect was the number one righteous sect, given the overall imbalance of yin over yang in the cultivation world, it couldn’t avoid the trend of having a scarcity of male disciples.

Conversely, there was an increasing number of outstanding female disciples, which greatly troubled the sect elders.

With more excellent female disciples, while they continued to pursue the supreme Dao, their demands for the sect to arrange partners for them also increased.

But there were so few male disciples in the sect!

If they were to find ordinary men from the mortal world, at best, they would only live for a few decades.

If their luck was poor, they might die in a mere decade or even a few years.

Compared to female cultivators whose cultivation lives spanned hundreds of years, it was like comparing the lifespan of a cicada to a tortoise. One moment, they would successfully emerge from secluded cultivation, only to find their partner had passed away decades ago…

Such instances were not uncommon. Gradually, female cultivators preferred to remain alone rather than endure the pain of separation and death.

Therefore, ordinary men were out of the question. And male cultivators with spiritual roots were even rarer.

Even male cultivators like Ye Cha, with his five-spirit root, were highly sought after in the cultivation world. They had absolutely no need to worry about a lack of suitors.

Of course, entering the sect as a mere chore boy only happened because Lingyun Sect was simply too powerful.

If Ye Cha had entered other righteous sects, with his outstanding appearance, he could have secured at least an inner disciple status.

This was probably a world where looks reigned supreme, allowing one to do as they pleased!

“Junior Brother Ye Cha, thank you so much for worrying about me! But I’m not afraid, you see. I recently broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm and will soon be transferred from the Hall of Affairs to cultivate within the inner sect.”

The more Zhou Xiaoyue looked at Ye Cha, the more she liked him. Although Junior Brother Ye Cha was only at the Qi Condensation realm, he was diligent and earnest, without the effeminate quirks of other men. Even if his cultivation realm was a bit low, it wasn’t a big deal.

By her calculations, within a century, they wouldn’t have to worry about lifespan limitations.

Although she only possessed a three-spirit root aptitude, in the vast cultivation world, her aptitude could still be considered average, neither good nor bad.

If she were to encounter fortuitous opportunities or blessed lands in the future, she would have even greater good fortune. It was entirely possible for her to reach the Nascent Soul stage.

In that case, she could also provide Ye Cha with a wealth of cultivation resources. She would use various spirit stones and treasures to elevate Ye Cha’s realm. Consequently, Ye Cha’s lifespan would also increase with his realm advancement.

They would grow old together, staying by each other’s side for an eternity.

It was precisely because she had such a goal to strive for that Zhou Xiaoyue, in just one month, broke through a three-year bottleneck, successfully reaching the Foundation Establishment stage and becoming an inner disciple of Lingtian Sect.

Among the numerous outer disciples, the hardworking Zhou Xiaoyue, who reached Foundation Establishment in only three years, was already considered an outstanding talent!

Originally, Zhou Xiaoyue had lacked the confidence to pursue Ye Cha, but now she felt capable.

Her status as an inner disciple, though not the highest, was certainly more than sufficient.

Moreover, even heaven itself seemed to be bringing them together… Initially, due to various tedious matters concerning her entry into the inner sect, Zhou Xiaoyue hadn’t appeared in the Hall of Affairs for a long time.

This also meant she missed her daily opportunities to see Ye Cha. Today, having finally found some free time, she had nearly missed him again. Unwilling to give up, Zhou Xiaoyue chased after him, hoping to try her luck and see if she could find him.

Following the damp water trail on the ground, she eventually found Ye Cha!

Such a coincidence further affirmed that there was a spark between them; it was truly a destined connection spanning a thousand miles!

“Senior Sister Xiaoyue is so amazing! To have reached the Foundation Establishment stage at such a young age, you are destined for great success in the Dao and will surely become a Nascent Soul cultivator early on!”

Upon hearing Zhou Xiaoyue declare her new status as an inner disciple, Ye Cha’s face registered a perfectly timed expression of surprise. His handsome features made any expression a delight to behold.

The words of praise that spilled from his lips made Zhou Xiaoyue’s heart swell with joy.

She felt as if she had entered a realm of floating celestial music, her entire body so comfortable she wanted to moan.

‘Was this what a man’s praise felt like?’

‘Indeed, just as my girlfriends said, it’s truly delightful.’

‘If Ye Cha would agree to be her man, she would absolutely cherish him, protect him, and never allow him to suffer the slightest harm!’

Just as Zhou Xiaoyue was secretly pondering how to persuade Ye Cha to be with her, a rude male voice suddenly rang out from ahead. Hearing it, Zhou Xiaoyue’s delicate brows furrowed involuntarily.

“Ye Cha, you five-spirit root waste! How dare you sell your looks and secretly hook up with female cultivators to avoid your chore boy duties? You’re utterly despicable!”