Chapter 394: Reaching the Quarters

’Outer Sect Registration Hall.’

Yi Chen read the words that were placed on top of the building’s entrance before making his way in alongside Grand Elder Jian.

"Greetings, Grand Elder Jian!"

Elder Yu Xong, who had been waiting all this while for their arrival, stood up along with the clerical staff the moment they entered and greeted them in a respectful manner.

"Apologies for keeping you waiting for so long, Elder Yu Xong. I just took a liking to this lad and ended up teaching him some basic swordsmanship. Time really flies by when you’re engrossed in something...hahaha."

Grand Elder Jian chuckled with a hint of embarrassment evident on his face.

"There’s no need for you to apologise, Grand Elder Jian. It’s only right for you to spend extra time with talented disciples like Yi Chen."

Elder Yu Xong instantly waved his hand, not daring to accept Grand Elder Jian’s apology, and stated while glancing towards Yi Chen with a hint of admiration evident on his face.

Seeing this, Grand Elder Jian smiled warmly and said while gesturing towards Yi Chen, "Then, I’ll be leaving him in your care. Please help him with the registration and brief him on everything so that he won’t have any trouble as an Outer Sect Disciple in the future."

"Yes, Grand Elder Jian. Rest assured, I’ll ensure to brief him about everything."

Elder Yu Xong clasped his hands and bowed towards Grand Elder Jian to convey that Grand Elder Jian really didn’t have to worry about anything.

However, while at it, a subtle frown formed on Elder Yu Xong’s face.

’This... Is he still an Outer Sect Disciple after all that? All the peak masters had gathered together for the first time in our sect’s history during the recruitment phase... Wasn’t it all in order to take him in as their personal disciple? Just what was the result in the end?’

Suddenly, a random thought crossed his mind, making him draw a short breath in. ’C-Could it be that...he rejected them all?’

However, just when he was about to fully buy into this, Grand Elder Jian’s formless voice echoed inside his head.

He’ll be putting up a request to challenge an Inner Sect Disciple in a month’s time. At that time, I’ll be depending on Elder Yu Xong to ensure that all the administrative hurdles are taken care of.

’This...’

A trace of confusion immediately formed on Elder Yu Xong’s face, but not wanting to keep Grand Elder Jian waiting for long, he immediately nodded his head and transmitted his voice back to him.

...Yes, Grand Elder Jian. I’ll see to it that everything plays out well.

It was only when the pressure to reply disappeared, and his mind cleared a little, that Elder Yu Xong was finally able to extrapolate and analyse the given set of information.

’So that’s how it is...’

Elder Yu Xong’s eyes widened in realisation as he brought all the scattered dots together in his mind.

"Mhm. I’m relieved after hearing that."

Grand Elder Jian nodded after hearing that, and then turned his head towards Yi Chen with a meaningful smile. "Alright then, keep working hard. The next time we meet, I hope you’re already an Inner Sect Disciple."

To the clerk who had been listening in on their exchange, it sounded like nothing more than words of encouragement, but both Elder Yu Xong and Yi Chen knew that that wasn’t the case.

"Yes, Grand Elder Jian. I’ll ensure that it happens as fast as possible." Yi Chen nodded with conviction evident in his eyes.

The little time, which was at most just an hour, that he had spent being trained by him had only intensified his thirst to become Grand Elder Jian’s disciple in the future.

By now he had long realised that choosing to become Grand Elder Jian’s personal disciple was one of the best decisions he had taken in his life.

Therefore, he couldn’t wait to master all three moves to perfection and utterly defeat the First Qi Absorption Stage cultivator whom he was going to challenge later on.

"I’m looking forward to it then."

Grand Elder Jian stated with an encouraging smile before turning towards the clerk and Elder Yu Xong to give a momentary nod before finally turning around.

Sounds of steps echoed in the room as Grand Elder Jian’s figure finally left the premises.

A momentary silence took over the room the very next moment.

It was then that Elder Yu Xong clapped his hands to draw everyone’s attention.

"Then... Let’s get you registered first." Elder Yu Xong said while glancing towards the clerk, who immediately started Yi Chen’s registration process.

Fifteen minutes later, three sets of white robes, a martial technique, a few bottles containing different pills and a pouch filled with one hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones were neatly placed on the reception counter in front of Yi Chen.

"These are all the items you’re entitled to as a newly joined Outer Sect Disciple."

The clerk said, gesturing towards the pouch, and continued, "This is your allowance for this month. As an Outer Sect Disciple, you’re entitled to a hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones every month from the sect, which you can claim at the start of every month from here. Is this clear?"

"Y-Yes." Yi Chen nodded with a smile evident on his face.

Even though he had no dearth of spirit stones, having more of something always felt better no matter what.

"Alright, with that, your registration is complete. Here’s the key to your room." He handed a set of keys to Yi Chen the next moment.

"127..." Yi Chen muttered while reading the number written on the key chain.

"It’s just a walking distance from here. Come, I’ll guide you there." Elder Yu Xong, who had been patiently waiting on the side all this while, said the next moment.

"T-Thank you, Elder Yu Xong," Yi Chen answered after shaking himself out of his momentary daze.

An uncomfortable feeling arose in his heart as his eyes looked at Elder Yu Xong’s feminine face.

’He’s more dangerous than I thought... In the case of Grand Elder Jian, it’s pretty evident that despite his way of dressing, he’s clearly a man. However, the same couldn’t be said for Elder Yu Xong.

’Even after knowing that he’s a man...I almost got swayed by his beauty for a moment, almost forgetting his actual gender.’

Yi Chen thought with a forced smile as he started walking next to Elder Yu Xong while constantly being on his toes.

Along the way, Elder Yu Xong naturally started briefing Yi Chen about all things that he should know one after another as Yi Chen kept listening to him with great interest.

"...For food, you can get free nutrient pills from the sect or buy the materials from the marketplace to prepare it in your room. That’s all there is to it..."

Elder Yu Xong said as they reached closer to a U-shaped building which had lines of individual rooms inside it, each room sufficiently large.

"This is the residential quarter for all the newly recruited disciples. The women have a separate quarter, so you need not try to look for them here." Elder Yu Xong said with a soft chuckle.

"I see..." Yi Chen nodded in understanding, realising that Feng Ning and the rest would not be here.

’So, there’s only Qin Yao...’ he thought to himself.

"Alright then, you’ll find your room inside. Arrange your belongings and rest afterwards, for tomorrow is going to be an extremely exhausting day for all of you." Elder Yu Xong stated with a soft pat on his back and turned around to leave.

"Also..."

Seeing this, Yi Chen, too, was about to leave, but just then his attention was drawn by Elder Yu Xong’s voice, making him turn in his direction.

"Yi Chen, did you choose to become Grand Elder Jian’s personal disciple?" Elder Yu Xong asked with a curious glint in his eyes.

"N-No, Grand Elder Jian was just giving me some tips so that I could improve my swordsmanship, and then we later had dinner together." Yi Chen explained after a brief pause.

"Ah, so that’s what happened." Elder Yu Xong nodded with a smile and turned around to leave.

’It’s good that he’s tight-mouthed.’ Elder Yu Xong nodded to himself as his figure soon disappeared from Yi Chen’s sight.

Phew...

Yi Chen let out a deep breath and muttered under his breath the very next moment, "That sudden question almost took me by surprise..."

His eyes then suddenly went towards the residential quarters where several other disciples could be seen outside in the courtyard.

A few were near their room’s entrance and were cleaning it.

The majority of the disciples were gathered in a large group in the middle of the courtyard, talking amongst each other.

When Yi Chen made his way in, everyone’s gaze instantly turned towards him in surprise.

It wasn’t just them. Even Yi Chen was taken aback as he soon got to see the person who had been the focus of all the men earlier.

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