Chapter 36: The Sect Gathering

Ji Chuxue pressed her forehead, wondering if her master could be a bit more dignified.
“That’s the motorcycle Little Six built for Master. He’s riding it right now,” Ji Chuxue explained.
“Little Six is truly gifted!”
Xie Lingzhou had seen Ji Chuxue’s red motorcycle before, but he hadn’t expected mechanistic arts could craft such a mount. He couldn’t help but marvel that Sixth Junior Brother was indeed a genius.

——————————

The day of the sect gathering arrived swiftly. Jiang Yan and the little dwarf dragon followed the map on their invitation and reached the location.
What met their eyes was neither barren wasteland nor a thatched cottage, but a massive, ancient-styled black castle…
Jiang Yan rubbed his eyes uncertainly, looked again, and yes, it was still a castle. Was this really the impoverished Qilin Sect he’d imagined?
And since when did any sect build a castle? The whole aesthetic was completely off!
It looked just like the lair of a demon king, radiating villainous vibes from top to bottom.
The little dwarf dragon, seeing such architecture for the first time, was thoroughly excited. “Wow, Jiang Yan, I had no idea your sect had such a hidden gem! Come on, let’s go inside and take a look.”
Full of doubts, Jiang Yan nonetheless followed the little dragon into the mysterious castle.
Once inside, his careful observation only deepened his astonishment.
Every brick and tile here exuded an ancient and elegant aura, as if at any moment he might step back into distant medieval Europe and become a knight with sword raised to the heavens.
Was this really still the cultivation world? Had he transmigrated yet again?
He heard voices and laughter drifting down from upstairs.
“Come on, stop standing there daydreaming, let’s go up,” the little dwarf dragon said excitedly.
It was utterly enchanted by the sparkling surroundings and could have rolled about here in delight all day.
Jiang Yan and the little dragon climbed to the second floor and pushed open the doors of the banquet hall, only to be stunned by the scene before them.
If their eyes weren’t deceiving them, the hall was filled with beastfolk standing upright and conversing just like humans. In the center, a long table was laden with spirit fruits and all manner of meats.
The little dragon was wide-eyed at the abundance of delicacies, while Jiang Yan was more shocked that beastfolk were present at the sect’s gathering.

Jiang Yan stood at the threshold, unable to enter, feeling as though the world inside and outside the door were two separate realms…
“Little Six, why are you and this little dragon still dawdling outside?” Xie Lingzhou approached with two plates of spirit fruit.
“Third Senior Brother, are those beastfolk inside? Why are they here at our sect’s gathering?” Jiang Yan asked.
“Didn’t Master or First Senior Sister tell you?” Xie Lingzhou replied with a question.
Jiang Yan shook his head. “No.”
Xie Lingzhou explained, “They’re the residents who live in seclusion on the neighboring mountain—descendants of beastfolk and humans. Our sect is too sparsely populated, so we invited them to liven up the gathering!”
Jiang Yan was utterly astounded. Beastfolk and humans could have offspring together? Was this proof that love knows no boundaries? But wouldn’t that defy species isolation?
He shook his head—never mind, in novels, common sense doesn’t exist!
“So that’s how it is, Senior Brother. Let’s go inside.”
The little dwarf dragon, once through the doors, dashed toward the food like a wild horse loosed from its reins.
Jiang Yan, meanwhile, scanned the crowd for his master, Xiaobai, and the senior sisters. Come to think of it, he’d yet to meet the rest of them.
Just then, a gentle force tapped his shoulder, and Jiang Yan spun around abruptly.
“So you’re the legendary Sixth Junior Brother?” came a cold, clear voice.
He looked up to find a woman in a long black dress standing before him; Jiang Yan immediately guessed that this was Second Senior Sister, Qin Feifei.
He remembered the First Senior Sister’s disciple handbook had mentioned that Second Senior Sister favored black dresses and had an aloof, striking air.
“Second Senior Sister, I’ve long heard of your reputation. I’m Jiang Yan—just call me Little Six,” he replied with a polite smile.
“Little Six, how did you know I was your Second Senior Sister?” A glint of curiosity shone in Qin Feifei’s beautiful eyes.
“Hehe, I read the disciple handbook and memorized it all,” Jiang Yan said with a grin.
“Little Six, then try to guess which senior sister I am?” A young woman in a pink dress approached, laughing softly.
While Qin Feifei was the cold beauty, this one radiated sweet, girlish charm.
Jiang Yan recalled that the handbook mentioned Fifth Senior Sister Wu Qianqian loved pink dresses more than anything.

“You’re Fifth Senior Sister,” Jiang Yan blurted out.
Wu Qianqian’s eyes brightened. “Little Six, you really are clever.”
“Second Senior Sister, Fifth Senior Sister, where’s Fourth Senior Sister?”
He was quite curious about the yet-unmet Fourth Senior Sister. The handbook described Wen Yue as meticulous about her makeup, with unique taste.
Qin Feifei smiled and replied, “Your Fourth Senior Sister is still getting ready. She’s very particular about her appearance, so she’ll need some time.”
“Haha, so it’s true—Fourth Senior Sister is quite the perfectionist when it comes to makeup,” Jiang Yan said, a trace of amusement in his eyes.
Wu Qianqian sighed lightly, her tone laced with sympathy: “Alas, poor Fourth. She once fell deeply in love, only to have her heart broken. She’s convinced she was rejected because of her looks, so ever since…”
Jiang Yan found this hard to believe. What sort of man would spurn his senior sister? As far as he could tell, all the disciples of Qilin Sect were strikingly attractive!
Could it be the fellow was a scoundrel who wooed her only to abandon her?
“Fourth is just too hung up on it. If you ask me, there’s plenty of fish in the sea—why hang yourself on a crooked tree?” Qin Feifei said indignantly.
“Second Senior Sister, look—Master and First Senior Sister are here! And First Senior Sister’s holding a white cat!”
Wu Qianqian, a true lover of all things fluffy, made a beeline for the cat in First Senior Sister’s arms, burying her face in its fur for a few deep breaths.
This must be what they call ‘cat inhaling’!
“Qianqian, don’t be rude to your junior brother,” Ji Chuxue gently stepped back, her tone admonishing.
“Meow, meow, meow, meow.” Xiaobai protested, “This woman is terrifying!”
“Junior brother? I didn’t do anything to him. We were just having a lovely chat,” Wu Qianqian replied, thoroughly confused.
Sensing her bewilderment, Jiang Yan explained, “Fifth Senior Sister, this white cat is called Xiaobai. He’s Master’s new disciple.”
“Hehe, I absolutely adore junior brothers like this! Master, you have to take in more disciples like him!” Wu Qianqian gazed at her master with hopeful eyes.
Lin Qi glared at Wu Qianqian, putting on a stern face. “Do you think I take in disciples so casually? Your junior brother has a supreme water spirit root—among ordinary animals, that’s exceedingly rare.”