Chapter 25: Accident-Prone

Wei Yunting glanced at the Wei family disciples seated on the ground and immediately noticed that Yunxi and Zonghao were missing. Her breath caught in her throat, and it took her a long moment to recover her composure.

“You all wait here. I’ll go back and look for the two of them.”

Before she could leave, Wei Yunqing’s eyes flickered and she spoke up, “Yunting, do you think they’ve been eliminated and dropped out? Will you even find them if you turn back?”

Hearing this, Wei Yunting paused in her steps, truly annoyed at heart. Truthfully, all the Wei family disciples knew that even if they were eliminated during the trial, they could still become menial disciples of the Vast Virtue Sect. Unlike other candidates who would be sent home if they failed, they would not be turned away.

Yet this wasn’t something they could publicly declare, and both Yunxi and Zonghao had already succeeded in drawing spiritual energy into their bodies. They had a strong chance of passing the test and becoming outer disciples. The difference in status between outer disciples and menial ones was significant.

Within the Vast Virtue Sect, menial disciples were usually cultivators with four or five spiritual roots. Without luck or opportunity, they might remain stuck at the Qi Refining stage for life. Only by breaking through to the late Qi Refining stage could they be promoted to outer disciples.

Those with exceptional spiritual roots who passed the sect’s entrance test would enter the outer circle. If they reached Foundation Establishment within five years, they could be promoted to the inner circle, drawing the attention of the sect’s elders and gaining a real chance to become apprentices.

Of course, if one’s spiritual roots were truly outstanding—such as single or variant roots, or a spiritual root value above ninety—they might be marked out as a named disciple by a sect elder upon entry, and formally accepted as a true apprentice after Foundation Establishment.

Wei Yunxi was fairly satisfied with the Vast Virtue Sect’s promotion system. At least, on the surface, it seemed fair and based on ability.

Now, what irked Wei Yunting was that Yunqing’s “careless remark” had lowered the starting point for their family’s disciples, which would only widen the gap between them over time. Yet, she could hardly reprimand her harshly.

In the end, all she could do was glare at the troublemaker Yunqing, then close her eyes and begin to meditate. Being so close to the Vast Virtue Sect, the spiritual energy here was far denser than in Kunyu City, and she had to seize every moment to improve her cultivation.

Meanwhile, Wei Yunxi, who had caught up with the main group, used her spiritual sense to listen in on the conversation between Wei Yunting and Wei Yunqing. Sensing the pride lurking in Yunqing’s tone, she smirked coldly but didn’t rush over to reveal herself.

Beside her, the chubby Wei Zonghao urged, “Can we catch up with Yunting and the others?”

Wei Yunxi’s eyes twinkled. “I overheard their conversation. They think we’ve been eliminated!”

Zonghao immediately pouted, “Hmph! We’re not eliminated! Let’s go show them we’re perfectly fine!”

But Wei Yunxi stopped him.

“Wait, let’s just follow from a distance. When we’re almost at the sect, we’ll give them a surprise, how about that?”

Zonghao hesitated, “Is that really okay? Isn’t it unsafe for just the two of us?”

Thinking of the main character’s penchant for attracting trouble, Wei Yunxi felt it was safer to keep some distance. She grinned, “Zonghao, I have a defensive formation plate. We’ll be perfectly safe—it’s just right for two people. With more, I couldn’t protect everyone.”

Zonghao was convinced and agreed to stick with her. With company, he wasn’t afraid.

That very night, Zonghao felt lucky about his decision, for Wei Yunting’s group was attacked by a pack of first-rank Jade-Eyed Wolves.

The moment the first wolf’s howl rang out, Wei Yunxi’s eyes snapped open. She instantly extended her spiritual sense and sensed wolves running beneath their sleeping tree. Without a word, she smacked the snoring Zonghao awake.

Zonghao was still groggy, but the wolf howls sobered him up instantly, and he instinctively lowered his voice, “Yunxi, what’s wrong?”

Wei Yunxi simply pointed downward for him to see.

When Zonghao realized a pack of wolves was passing below, he quickly covered his mouth, eyes wide in alarm.

Once the wolves had all passed, he whispered, “Those are Jade-Eyed Wolves. What are they after?”

Wei Yunxi shook her head, unsure, but cautioned, “We’d better stay in the tree tonight and wait until dawn.”

Zonghao nodded at once. Only a fool would go down now. He’d thought sleeping in a tree was uncomfortable, but compared to discomfort, his life was more important.

Wei Yunxi’s spiritual sense continued to trail the wolves, and the more she observed, the stranger her expression became. The wolf pack had surrounded Wei Yunting’s group of six, attacking their protective formation.

She stroked her chin, suspecting that the wolves were once again drawn by Yunqing.

Inside the formation, the six were terrified. They never expected to be attacked by Jade-Eyed Wolves at night. Even the Wind-Commanding True Lord, who hid in the shadows, found it odd—this group had terrible luck: first chased by weasels during the day, and now beset by wolves at night.

Wei Yunting and Wei Zonghan exchanged glances within the formation, then turned their gaze toward Yunqing. Had their younger cousin picked up something she shouldn’t have while gathering firewood?

Seeing their looks, Yunqing hurried to defend herself, “I didn’t take anything, just gathered some firewood—it’s all on the fire, you can check my storage pouch if you don’t believe me.”

The two shot each other a glance. Zonghan went to the fire and, quick-eyed, plucked out a burning stick, doused it, and sniffed it. Suddenly, his eyes widened.

“This is Spirit Jade Wood. When burned, it soothes spirit beasts that are giving birth.”

At those words, everyone turned to look at Yunqing again.

“I… didn’t know…” she stammered.

Wei Yunting took a deep breath, saying nothing. She couldn’t blame Yunqing for this—she herself hadn’t recognized the Spirit Jade Wood either. It was just their ill fortune.

Wei Yunxi nearly laughed aloud. Seeing the heroine at a disadvantage always brightened her mood. She felt that as long as she stayed away from Yunqing, the latter seemed to attract all the bad luck—as if, without her as a shield, all the misfortune was directed at Yunqing alone.

She patted her plump chin, feeling as if she’d stumbled upon a clue.

In the novel, her role was the Lucky Child, blessed with fortune—how else could she discover treasures? The only downside was never being able to keep them.

When Yunqing stuck close to her, she could snatch up treasures and seize opportunities that weren’t truly hers. It was as if Wei Yunxi was taking on some of Yunqing’s misfortune, or dispersing some of the world’s trials aimed at the heroine.

Now that she was away from Yunqing and no longer dividing the brunt of fate, all obstacles were falling upon the heroine. In fact, if Yunqing had not tried to excuse herself but instead taken responsibility, she might have earned the respect of her kin. But by acting weak, she’d already lost ground.

Having worked all this out, Wei Yunxi turned to Zonghao, “Zonghao, you sleep first. I’ll keep watch for the first half of the night, and we’ll switch later.”

“Alright,” he agreed.

Meanwhile, the six members of the Wei family were still being besieged by the Jade-Eyed Wolves.