"Wuwuwu, am I not even qualified to work in an electronics factory?" Little Wei felt her own insignificance.
This was just too pitiful.
"Do you really like electronics factories that much?" Si was genuinely exasperated.
What’s so great about them anyway?
"Of course not, even a dumb dog wouldn’t go there." Little Wei still remembered those bleak days working in the factory.
Being scolded like a dog every day and forced to work overtime constantly.
It was downright torture.
"If you really like it, I can introduce you to one." Si suddenly became unusually eager.
Little Wei: "..."
"Ah, no no no, let’s not go there." Little Wei quickly declined.
"Look at you, always teasing me like this. Do you find it amusing?"
If this girl were standing in front of him, Si would’ve kicked her.
"Not at all!" Little Wei snorted lightly.
"Anyway, just do your best. If there’s time, I’ll give you a surprise." Si said with a smile.
"Huh?" Before Little Wei could ask, she heard Duan Lingyun calling her.
"Master, later… you’re not planning to go in with the sect leader and the others, are you?" Duan Lingyun asked worriedly.
"I definitely have to go." Little Wei felt uneasy.
Her spine tingled—she suspected Si had been staring at her and Duan Lingyun this whole time.
Great. Ignorance was bliss, but now that she knew, her heart only grew more anxious.
Still, she didn’t let go of Duan Lingyun’s hand.
If this girl turned dark, the entire Qingdao Sect would be doomed.
"Master, can’t you just not go?" Duan Lingyun had originally wanted her master to take her along, but her cultivation was too weak. Even if her master allowed it, the sect leader would never tolerate such recklessness from a disciple.
"I have to go." Little Wei glanced at Duan Lingyun.
At least she still had ways to deal with demonic creatures. If the sect leader and elders went in, what then?
Just to throw their lives away?
She patted Duan Lingyun’s hand. "The other disciples are already warning people not to enter Sunset Forest. Go help them."
Duan Lingyun pressed her lips together, but before she could say anything, Little Wei tightened her grip.
"No need to be so nervous. Your master has a plan, and I’ve even got something special—a natural counter to demonic creatures." Little Wei showed Duan Lingyun the little creature nestled in her arms.
"A… cat?" Duan Lingyun frowned.
How could a mere cat protect her master?
"This isn’t a cat. It’s a tiger." Little Wei’s lips twitched.
Even the usually well-behaved Phantom Light Tiger in her arms started baring its teeth.
Thankfully, Little Wei reacted fast and held it down—otherwise, Duan Lingyun’s face would’ve been marked with bite prints.
"Will it really help?" Duan Lingyun remained skeptical.
"Don’t you know how to research? Go look it up—it’s called a Phantom Light Tiger." Little Wei was at a loss.
With her disciple like this, she’d probably end up fighting the tiger in seconds.
"A Phantom Light Tiger?" Duan Lingyun paused, then crouched slightly to examine the "kitten" in Little Wei’s arms.
"It… doesn’t look like one." Duan Lingyun hesitated.
The little "cat" snarled, its claws itching to scratch Duan Lingyun’s face.
"It’s angry." Little Wei found it amusing.
This tiger was feisty—yet for some reason, it didn’t lash out at Duan Lingyun.
Maybe it sensed the fragment of a divine soul within her?
"But it must be real. The phantom wings match the descriptions in the books, though they’re much smaller." Duan Lingyun tugged lightly at the wings.
She knew exactly how formidable a Phantom Light Tiger could be.
Now that her master had such a companion, her worries eased.
"Master, you must protect yourself. Otherwise… I’ll be worried." Duan Lingyun’s voice softened.
It was rare to see her like this. Little Wei couldn’t help but feel like laughing.
"Alright," Little Wei agreed. "I’ll take care of myself. Go back to the inn and stock up on spirit beast meat or any good dishes for me. I’m starving."
She really was.
Earlier, when they’d rested at the Liu residence, she hadn’t eaten much. Now, she was practically dying of hunger.
"Understood, Master. Do you want anything now? Some shops in town might still be open, but if we wait any longer, there won’t be anything left." Seeing her master rub her stomach, Duan Lingyun understood.
By now, the sky had darkened completely.
If not for the lanterns lighting up the town, the cultivators wouldn’t even be able to see each other.
Still, there was some good news.
Few ventured into Sunset Forest at night, and those who intended to were stopped by Qingdao Sect disciples.
The only ones left inside were those who had entered during the day.
"Alright, buy extra and share it with the other disciples." With a wave of her hand, Little Wei produced three mid-grade spirit stones—more than enough for good food and wine.
"Got it, Master. I’ll go now."
Duan Lingyun was obedient and sensible.
Little Wei watched her retreating figure, a faint smile on her lips.
When Duan Lingyun returned, the disciples were already sitting on the ground.
With no one entering Sunset Forest anymore, they could finally take a breather.
Duan Lingyun hurried to the outskirts of the forest and distributed the food from her storage bracelet.
"Thank you, Senior Sister!"
"Many thanks, Senior Sister Duan!"
"Senior Sister Duan is so kind! May you reach Golden Core soon!"
The disciples chimed in cheerfully.
Watching them, Duan Lingyun suddenly understood why her master had spent so many years with these juniors.
She felt an unfamiliar warmth.
"It’s nothing." For once, Duan Lingyun allowed herself a small smile.
Seeing this, Little Wei couldn’t help but boast to Si, "See? My plan worked, didn’t it?"
"Yeah, it really did." Si nodded.
When Little Wei first read the disciple records, she’d noticed Duan Lingyun’s glaring personality flaw.
The girl avoided socializing and was indifferent to human connections.
Such a temperament might suit a cultivator, but Little Wei didn’t think it was healthy.
If someone with such flaws could change through effort, all the better.
People like that needed to learn how to embrace warmth.
"Master." Duan Lingyun sat beside Little Wei and conjured a large jade table.
Many disciples had similar items, but hers was exceptionally spacious.
"Uncle, come join us." Little Wei called out.
Old Dan, the Alchemy Peak master, shook his head.
"I won’t intrude on your master-discendant bonding. This girl’s thoughtful—the pancake she gave me is stuffed full, and the porridge is plenty."
Old Dan had no interest in sitting at a table full of women.
Too awkward.
"Fine." Little Wei shrugged.
For the next world, I’m thinking of writing a supernatural mystery—a whodunit. How does that sound?
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