The day of the Super Martial Assembly arrived—
Weekend, early morning.
"Today, I'm going to participate in a competition. Are either of you interested?" During breakfast, Ye Chuan casually asked Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke for their thoughts.
A competition?
"What kind? A game?" Lan Xiaoke was curious.
"Fighting," Ye Chuan replied succinctly.
"I ain't cut out for that~" Lan Xiaoke immediately shook her head like a rattle drum. Fighting was a no-go—people could die.
Well, ghosts could die too.
She'd already died once and didn’t have any HP left!
"You’re a Qi Condensation cultivator now. Can’t you be a little braver?" Ye Chuan pinched Lan Xiaoke’s cheek. This coward had decent strength but was still so timid.
"I don’t like fighting," Lan Xiaoke muttered.
Hearing that, Ye Chuan didn’t push her. After all, she was just a mascot anyway.
"Qianshuang, what about you?" Ye Chuan turned to Bai Qianshuang.
Bai Qianshuang remained as calm as ever, silently nibbling on her fried pancake before giving a slight nod.
She didn’t mind.
Besides, if Ye Chuan was competing, Bai Qianshuang figured she could be of some use—as long as the opponents didn’t have anyone stronger than a Golden Core cultivator.
"Then… should I go too?" Lan Xiaoke pointed at herself after seeing Bai Qianshuang joining.
"Just stick close to Qianshuang."
"Okay."
After breakfast, Ye Chuan received a call from Wang Yanran—
"Ye Chuan, I’ve arrived at the place you mentioned. Should I drive in?" Wang Yanran glanced at the urban village’s surroundings, which could only be described as slightly run-down. No—more like downright shabby.
From her vantage point, she could see residential buildings wrapped in tangled electrical wires, starkly contrasted against the towering skyscrapers hundreds of meters away in the distance.
A jarring disparity, a visual clash of eras.
This urban village seemed frozen in time, untouched by the city’s development for decades.
Wang Yanran couldn’t help but wonder—given Ye Chuan’s means, moving out should’ve been easy. Why stay in such a dilapidated place?
But these weren’t questions she could casually ask, so she kept her curiosity to herself.
Over the phone, Ye Chuan’s voice replied, "Just wait by the roadside. We’ll be out soon."
"Alright."
A short while later, Ye Chuan emerged with Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke in tow.
Lan Xiaoke, still wary of Wang Yanran—the woman who had once electrocuted her—hid behind Ye Chuan, her gaze faintly accusatory.
"Ye Chuan, Miss Lan." Wang Yanran greeted them warmly before noticing Bai Qianshuang.
Dressed in a simple half-skirt and a sleeveless light-green top, her skin so pale it seemed to glow.
Since it was Wang Yanran’s first time meeting Bai Qianshuang, Ye Chuan introduced her, "This is my senior sister, Bai Qianshuang."
Senior sister?
That meant she was even stronger than Ye Chuan?
Wang Yanran immediately bowed respectfully. "Miss Bai, it’s an honor."
Though Bai Qianshuang didn’t understand why Ye Chuan called her his senior sister, she didn’t refute it. She simply gave Wang Yanran a slight nod.
"Will Miss Bai also be participating in the Super Martial Assembly?"
"No, I’m enough on my own. She’s too strong—I’m afraid she might accidentally wipe everyone out," Ye Chuan said.
Wipe them out?
Seriously?
Wang Yanran’s throat tightened as she glanced at Bai Qianshuang with even greater reverence.
Once in the car, Wang Yanran pulled out a document folder. "Ye Chuan, the IDs are ready."
"Oh?"
Ye Chuan took it, tore open the seal, and pulled out the ID cards and household register.
Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke’s IDs were all set, both registered under Ye Chuan’s household with their relationship to him listed as "non-relative."
"Here’s your ID," Ye Chuan handed the card to Bai Qianshuang. "Now you’re officially part of this world."
Bai Qianshuang instinctively took the plastic card, staring at the photo on it with a dazed expression.
"That is…" She pointed at the ID, then noticed the household register in Ye Chuan’s hand.
"This is the household register. Proof that you’re part of my family."
"..."
Family.
Such a simple booklet, yet it gave Bai Qianshuang an inexplicable sense of belonging. She leaned closer to Ye Chuan. "I want to see."
"Sure." Noticing her proximity, Ye Chuan handed it over.
Taking the register, Bai Qianshuang stared at the basic information, her eyes lingering for a long time.
Wang Yanran, sitting across from them, was puzzled by Bai Qianshuang’s reaction.
Miss Bai… didn’t even know what an ID or household register was?
But after a moment, it clicked.
An ancient sect!
Seclusion!
No wonder she was unfamiliar with these things!
Miss Bai must have only recently stepped into the secular world. This was Wang Yanran’s chance to prove her usefulness.
If she could strengthen ties with Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang, the Wang family might soar to new heights!
"Miss Bai, if you ever need anything—anything at all—please don’t hesitate to ask," Wang Yanran said warmly.
"Just call me Bai Qianshuang." Since Wang Yanran was Ye Chuan’s acquaintance, Bai Qianshuang saw no need for formalities.
Delighted by the chance to grow closer, Wang Yanran beamed.
"Of course, Qianshuang."
She even shot Lan Xiaoke an appreciative look.
If not for that incident where she’d tried to capture Lan Xiaoke, she never would’ve met Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang.
Lan Xiaoke was the MVP!
"What? I-I’m not scared of you!" Lan Xiaoke shrank back against Ye Chuan under Wang Yanran’s intense gaze.
Was this woman planning to electrocute her again?
"Uh…" Wang Yanran chuckled awkwardly. She hadn’t meant anything by it.
"Ye Chuan…" Bai Qianshuang suddenly tugged at his sleeve.
"What’s wrong?"
She tilted her chin up slightly, whispering into his ear, "I forgot my weapon."
Her breath tickled his ear, and Ye Chuan glanced at her. "No big deal."
It wasn’t entirely Bai Qianshuang’s fault. Life had been too peaceful lately—her immortal sword had practically become a display piece, sitting on a shelf where she occasionally polished it.
Besides, Ye Chuan had previously forbidden her from carrying weapons outside.
"Guess I’ll have to get her a storage pouch soon," Ye Chuan mused, stroking his chin. He had an unlimited inventory space, but Bai Qianshuang needed a proper storage tool.
Looks like a trip to the Tianxuan Continent was in order.
Time to "borrow" one from the Qingyun Sect.