Chapter 67 – Still One Left
Xue Qilin and them came to a square used for gatherings behind the Middle Peak.
Reportedly, most of the surrounding buildings here belong to the various departments of the outer temple. It is the central zone of the outer temple.
People in the square are coming and going, all dressed in the blue and white colors of the Merak Temple.
As she walked, Xue Qilin felt a gaze stabbing the skin on her back.
As a Heaven Realm master, the lass’s perception ability is very keen. She is very sensitive to the gazes of other people. That gaze felt like a needle pricking her, which made her uncomfortable.
Unable to help herself, Xue Qilin sighed, “Really, why are you staring at me!”
“Little Senior Disciple Sister, you look pretty. People like to look at pretty things.” Shui Yuner responded with a mischievous smile.
Xia Xue made a “huh” sound and said in a strange tone, “You’re not the only one being stared at.”
Indeed, Xue Qilin is not the only one being stared at.
There are numerous eyes focused on this small group headed by Xia.
But it is understandable. Even if Xue Qilin who is exceedingly beautiful is disregarded, there are still three beautiful girls – Xia Xue, Shui Yuner, and Nangong Mingming – in this small group.
Of course, Xia Xue’s identity as the Fifth Elder is also one of the factors that attracts attention.
It has to be mentioned that Nangong Mingye’s ability to attract gazes is not worse than that of the girls in the small team, successfully catching the eyes of not a small number of female disciples.
This should be the effect of to his likable, elegant face.
When this fellow grows up, there will be trouble! Taking note of Nangong Mingye’s situation, Xue Qilin laughed in her heart.
“We’re here.” Xia Xue stopped suddenly.
Unwittingly, they have arrived in front of a courtyard house.
“It’s here?” Xue Qilin blinked and quickly sized up the building in front of her. Her gaze finally fell on the plate above the gate.
“Outer Temple Internal Affairs Department…”
“This place specializes in outer temple affairs, and the person in charge here seems to be a disciple of the old fellow Liu [1].” Xia Xue introduced.
Shui Yuner tilted her head and asked hesitantly, “Old fellow Liu…”
“Oh, Little Zong [2] is the Law Enforcement Elder [3]!” Xue Qilin explained.
“Ah…” Shui Yuner blinked her eyes, as if she heard something incredible.
Nangong Mingming asked in surprise, “Isn’t that person very powerful?”
Xia Xue adopted a mocking expression and said with an enigmatic smile, “Quite powerful. He even butts heads…”
“Cough cough…” Xue Qilin held her fist in front of her mouth and coughed twice to stop Xia Xue from continuing.
“Little Xue, today’s weather is pretty good.”
Although Shui Yuner and the Nangong siblings can already be regarded as disciples of the Merak Temple, but there are certain things that should not be mentioned.
“…”
Xia Xue glanced at the lass and sighed helplessly. “Your skill in changing topics is even lamer than your hand-to-hand kung fu [4].”
With this, she stepped into the courtyard house.
Didn’t I help you to smooth things over? Xue Qilin wrinkled her nose in displeasure and followed behind the other party.
When they walked into the courtyard house, several disciples discovered Xia Xue and saluted her, surprised. Looking indifferent, she just passed them by.
Although it is disrespectful, but Xue Qilin thinks it is harmless. After all, on one hand, Xia Xue has such a temperament, on the other hand, if she responded to them one by one, it would be tiring.
Matching Xia Xue’s pace, Xue Qilin and them came to a door.
When she saw the wooden sign standing in front of the door saying “new disciple registering, please enter”, Xue Qilin suddenly made an “ah” sound.
“What’s with you?” Xia Xue turned around and asked, annoyed.
“Oh, it’s nothing, it’s nothing.”
While taking another step, Xue Qilin couldn’t help but glance at the wooden sign again. She recognizes the graceful handwriting.
That’s Qi Qiqi’s handwriting.
After entering the room, the first thing that caught their eyes is a spacious cabinet that reached the ceiling full of documents.
In front of the cabinet, there is a long counter. A male disciple is sitting between the counter and the large cabinet. With a brush in hand, he is handling some documents.
Noticing that someone has entered, the male disciple raised his head suddenly and ran his eyes over the visitors rapidly. As his gaze moved, his eyes gradually registered astonishment.
“Ah? As if he had discovered something, he turned his eyes doubtfully, and then finally fixed his gaze on Xia Xue abruptly.
“Elder Xia!” He exclaimed.
The male disciple obviously recognizes Xia Xue.
“Greetings, Elder Xia!” He hurriedly walked out from behind the counter and clasped his hands in salute.
Xia Xue responded with a “mhm” sound.
“Elder Xia, what brings you here?” The male disciple asked, doubtful.
“Why are you alone?” Xia Xue frowned and asked back.
“Everyone else has gone to eat.”
After he said this, Xue Qilin realized that it is noon already.
The male disciple glanced at Xue Qilin and the others standing behind Xia Xue and asked probingly, “… And they are?”
“They are new disciples.” Xia Xue said flatly, “I just brought them to register.”
“Oh, I see.” The male disciple showed an expression of sudden enlightenment.
Xia Xue cast a glance behind her, “Go ahead and register them.”
“Yes, Elder Xia.”
Satisfied with the male disciples reply, Xia Xue nodded her head.
“Then I’ll entrust it to you.”
With that, Xia Xue found a chair, sat down, put an arm on the armrest, propped her head up, and put on a bored expression.
As for Xue Qilin, she removed Empyrean Universe from her back and leaned it against a pillar, and then sat down next to Xia Xue, ready to watch the registration process.
The male disciple withdrew his gaze from Xia Xue and turned to Shui Yuner and the others.
“New Junior Disciple Brother and Sisters, please follow me.”
“We’ll have to trouble you, Senior Disciple Brother.” Shui Yuner smiled back.
Silent, Nangong Mingming nodded her head.
“Sure thing.”
The male disciple asked Shui Yuner and the Nangong siblings to come sit in front of the counter, and then went behind the counter, took out a document from the large cabinet, and spread it on the counter.
“Show me your jade pendants.” The male disciple sat opposite the three and made a request.
Shui Yuner and them fished out their jade pendants from different places and handed them to the male disciple. The latter examined the jade pendants one by one, and then put them on the counter.
Then, the male disciple asked Shui Yuner and them for their names, and they reported their names one after another.
“Hmm…” Probably checking the list, the male disciple searched the document and made three brush strokes on the document.
“The Merak Temple’s outer temple has confirmed that you have arrived.”
“It’s that simple?” Xue Qilin looked at Xia Xue, surprised. She thought that they would have to fill a form or something. She didn’t expect that all it would take is to inspect the jade pendants, and then leave a few brush strokes on the list.
“Sometimes, you have a lot of nonsensical ideas…” Xia Xue sighed. “Their information was well recorded during the enrollment. Registration only serves to confirm whether the person admitted has arrived or not. If they have arrived, they will be officially recognized as disciples. If they haven’t arrived, they will be eliminated.”
“Really, so that’s how it is …” Xue Qilin scratched her face, embarrassed. If the other party hadn’t explained, she really wouldn’t know.
Xia Xue lowered her voice and mocked with an enigmatic smile, “What a good Young Ancestor you are.”
“Uh…” Xue Qilin’s face stiffened, speechless.
I have the highest seniority in the Merak Temple, yet I don’t know the temple’s internal proceedings. This fact cheapens my status.
“Ha-ha…” Thinking till here, Xue Qilin gave a hollow laugh and looked away guiltily.
After all, people want to save face, and the lass is no exception.
When her attention returned to Shui Yuner, Xue Qilin saw that the male disciple who had left during her conversation with Xia Xue has returned with three brand-new sets of the Merak Temple’s temple clothes.
“These are your temple clothes.”
He placed the three sets of clothes in front of Shui Yuner and the Nangong siblings respectively.
“These are tailor-made. Make sure to change into them before leaving the house.”
He pointed to the sheathed swords laying on top of each set of clothes, “These are standard practice swords, one for each person.” After a pause, he carried on, “You can go to the Sword-casting Chamber located opposite here with your jade pendants and select a sword… As for the room allocation – Shui Yuner is in Heyun Dorm, room 76, Nangong Mingming is in room 75; Nangong Mingye is in Lianyun Dorm, room 88.”
The male disciple took out three keys and placed them on the clothes in front of the three. “These are your keys.”
He looked up and asked, “Do you have any questions?”
“None.” Shui Yuner shook her head gently.
“Me either.” Nangong Mingming also seems to have no questions.
As for Nangong Mingye, he is already playing with the practice sword, repeating the action of unsheathing and sheathing the sword.
The male disciple nodded in satisfaction, “If there are no questions, then you can go and settle down.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Senior Disciple Brother.” Shui Yuner picked up the articles assigned to her, stood up, and thanked.
The Nangong siblings copied the other party.
“Sure thing. Now go and settle down – ah, that’s right.” The male disciple suddenly patted his forehead and said with a smile, “Tomorrow at dawn, the Elder of Martial Guidance will expound on martial arts in the square. Remember to attend.”
Elder of Martial Guidance? Xue Qilin looked at Xia Xue doubtfully.
“Don’t look at me, I also don’t know who it is.” Xia Xue’s eyes turned, and then she added, “This position has been empty for a long time. I reckon that someone has just been selected.”
So there’s also an Elder of Martial Guidance! Who might it be? Xue Qilin is a little curious.
“Elder Xia, little Senior Disciple Sister, we are done.” Shui Yuner led the Nangong siblings to Xue Qilin and Xia Xue.
“Then let’s go!” Xue Qilin jumped off the chair.
Just as she extended her hand to pick up Empyrean Universe…
“Wait!” Xia Xue called suddenly.
Under everyone’s gazes, Xia Xue stood up slowly, extended her porcelain forefinger, and pointed at Xue Qilin who has stopped in her action of picking up her sword.
Then, she parted her cherry lips, “There’s still one left.”
Everyone’s eyes moved to the lass from Xia Xue.
Staring blankly at Xia Xue, Xue Qilin wanted to ask – what do you mean by left?
However, before she had the chance…
“She is also a new disciple who came to register today.”
The lass got an answer from Xia Xue.
[1], [2] – Liu Chengzong, the guy whose “adoptive son” was killed by Luo Qing. He has it out for Xue Qilin for burying Luo Qing in the temple’s cemetery
[3] – It was stated at the beginning that Luo Chengzong is the “Attendant Elder”. Yang Yuening should be the “Law Enforcement Elder”
[4] – Kung fu
