Chapter Seventy-Seven: Unequal Treatment

Gu Weiyu instinctively looked up.

At the end of the stairway to the heavens, a plaza carved from jade stone unfolded before her eyes.

On the plaza, she could see quite a few disciples of the Myriad Swords Sect, all dressed in azure robes, with clouds and flying swords embroidered on their cuffs and collars.

Gu Weiyu summoned all her strength to continue climbing, and at last, she reached the final step!

Having climbed for so long, Gu Weiyu stood on solid ground, unable to suppress the weakness in her legs and the aching fatigue. She staggered and nearly fell to the ground.

She quickly steadied herself by grasping the jade railing at her side, barely managing to remain upright.

It was only then that she noticed, not far away, two others who had come to participate in the test just like her:

One was the youth in azure robes who had reached the jade steps first, and the other was the round-faced, sturdy little boy with whom Gu Weiyu had crossed paths once before.

Beside them stood two Myriad Swords Sect disciples.

The elder disciple greeted her kindly, “Junior Sister, please hand over your identity token. I’ll register your information.”

With unsteady steps, Gu Weiyu made her way to the two of them. She handed over her token, still clinging to the jade railing for support, her body trembling.

“Hey, you’re pretty impressive!” the sturdy boy chimed in, clicking his tongue in admiration. “You’re the third to arrive!”

Gu Weiyu was exhausted and had no desire to speak. She simply offered him a slight nod.

“Sis, my name is Wan Gu. I’m the second one here, and that’s Senior Brother Xu Weizhou—he was the first!” Wan Gu introduced himself with easy familiarity, even mentioning the youth in azure.

Perhaps because Gu Weiyu’s performance had been so striking, Wan Gu found that even the scar on her face seemed more pleasing to the eye.

“My name is Lian Hongyi,” Gu Weiyu managed to say at last, addressing Wan Gu.

She glanced at Xu Weizhou. That young man was icy and aloof, standing like a pillar, eyes fixed straight ahead.

“Hongyi, Senior Brother Xu isn’t much of a talker,” Wan Gu explained on his own initiative.

Gu Weiyu couldn’t help but twitch her lips. This guy gets into character awfully fast!

She shot Wan Gu another glance, silently lamenting how she always seemed to attract chatterboxes who acted as if they’d known her forever.

“All right, Junior Sister Lian.” The disciple, having finished the registration, handed back her token.

Gu Weiyu took it with a smile. “Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Wan Gu, unaware of her inner complaints, continued enthusiastically by her side, “I heard that everyone standing here is a prospective disciple of the Myriad Swords Sect. The first ten to arrive might even be chosen as personal students by a Golden Core master…”

Gu Weiyu’s reaction was indifferent. Her purpose in joining the Myriad Swords Sect was simply to seek protection and a place to cultivate. Beyond that, she hadn’t thought much.

Still, she didn’t interrupt him. For some reason, she was reminded of Chu Liuxing from the Treasures Pavilion, who had also been this familiar and talkative when they first met.

As Wan Gu was in high spirits, another figure appeared on the jade steps below:

She wore a pale violet dress, with rosy cheeks and peach-pink lips, eyebrows like distant mountains brushed in green, and eyes as gentle as flowing water. There was an ethereal grace about her.

The girl looked to be just over ten years old, yet it was clear she would grow into a breathtaking beauty.

Wan Gu, enraptured, fell silent without realizing it, his gaze fixed on the jade steps, muttering under his breath, “Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!”

Even Xu Weizhou, who had stood stiff and expressionless, showed a fleeting glimmer of amazement in his eyes, though it soon faded, leaving his gaze calm and unreadable.

Following Wan Gu’s gaze, Gu Weiyu saw the girl—indeed, remarkably lovely—but she couldn’t help thinking that her own Ninth Sister was even more stunning.

At the thought of Gu Weihuan, her spirit dimmed. She wondered how her Ninth Sister and the others were faring now.

When the girl reached the plaza, she too stumbled.

Gu Weiyu felt a gust of wind at her side and saw that Wan Gu had already appeared before the girl, reaching out to steady her, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you all right, little sister?”

Such different treatment! Gu Weiyu felt as if she’d been struck with a thousand blows and instantly added Wan Gu to her blacklist.

Liu Ruyan gave Wan Gu a grateful, gentle smile, her breath fragrant as orchids. “Thank you, but I’m fine.”

With that, she subtly sidestepped Wan Gu’s outstretched hand and walked over to Gu Weiyu.

Wan Gu gazed after Liu Ruyan, utterly entranced by her graceful steps, unable to tear his eyes away…

Liu Ruyan came to stand beside Gu Weiyu, mimicking her by holding onto the jade railing, her chest heaving as she gradually caught her breath.

The Myriad Swords Sect disciple nearby addressed Liu Ruyan with an even gentler tone. “Junior Sister, may I please see your token?”

Liu Ruyan handed over her token with a sweet smile. “Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brothers!”

Both disciples couldn’t help but smile back—what a beautiful and kind-hearted girl!

Wan Gu hurried over, eagerly offering some fresh, dewy fruit. “Sister Ruyan, are you thirsty? I have some spirit fruit here—should help a little…”

Gu Weiyu: …

Why hadn’t he said that to her? What a little lecher—one look at a beauty and he loses his mind!

Liu Ruyan waved her hand. “I’m not thirsty, thank you.”

Having grown up delicate and charming, she’d encountered plenty of boys like Wan Gu trying to impress her, and was quite unmoved by it.

Wan Gu was about to withdraw his hand when Gu Weiyu took the fruit. “Brother Wan, I’m actually a bit thirsty. Thanks!”

With that, she took a crisp bite. Indeed, it was juicy and refreshing—a perfect thirst-quencher.

Wan Gu: …

He looked at his now-empty palm, then at Gu Weiyu munching away, and felt as if he’d been stabbed in the heart. That was meant for Sister Ruyan!

Liu Ruyan couldn’t help but giggle at Wan Gu’s awkward expression, her laughter as light as a breeze. Dimples appeared on her cheeks, making her even more charming. Wan Gu, hearing her, stared blankly again.

Foolish goose!

Gu Weiyu thought to herself as she quickly finished the spirit fruit.

At that moment, another figure appeared on the steps below, drawing everyone’s gaze.

It was a boy who looked even younger than Gu Weiyu.

His legs trembled uncontrollably with exhaustion, yet he kept his back straight and climbed resolutely, lips pressed tight.

Gu Weiyu watched with admiration, feeling nervous for him, worried he might collapse at any moment.

“This little brother is impressive,” Liu Ruyan said softly.

Wan Gu immediately echoed her, “You’re absolutely right, Sister Ruyan!”

As he spoke, he ran to the edge of the jade steps, ready to help.

This actually earned him a bit more respect from both Gu Weiyu and Liu Ruyan—perhaps he wasn’t entirely hopeless after all.

The little boy had barely set foot on the gleaming plaza when a strong pair of arms caught him.

He looked up to see a big brother smiling down at him, and his own face broke into a radiant grin. “Thank you, big brother—”