The inner gate was suddenly pushed open, and the veiled woman in black appeared like a ghost at the entrance. Her voice was cold as she demanded, “What is all this noise?”
The courtyard fell silent. Only the muffled cries and pained whimpers of the boys in the pavilion remained. Xiao Bangchui took a deep breath—she had hit people. Would she be disqualified?
Although the woman was entirely covered in black gauze, the children could still sense her gaze sweeping slowly across the courtyard. It lingered briefly on the pavilion and then on Xiao Bangchui before she spoke again: “There is still half an hour until the first selection ends. If I hear any more disturbances, regardless of who it is, they can go home immediately.”
No one dared to make a sound. The children held their breath as they watched the veiled woman leave and shut the door behind her.
Xiao Bangchui let out a sigh of relief—good, she could still stay for the second selection. She turned and looked at the bloodied little boy beside her. He was still crying, his shoulders trembling, too afraid to make a sound. He looked both pitiful and weak.
“If someone hits you, either fight back or run faster. Crying won’t make them stop.” She frowned, not waiting for a response before grabbing his clothes and dragging him back toward the others.
Ye Ye and the Baili siblings were still standing in their original spots, stunned. Seeing Xiao Bangchui return, Baili Gelin couldn’t help but whistle. “Xiao Bangchui, you’re so brave!”
Not just brave—fierce. She had single-handedly beaten all those arrogant rich boys until they cried. Grinning in admiration, she grabbed Xiao Bangchui’s hand, eyes shining with awe.
Ye Ye chuckled as well. “Well done. You were faster than me. Otherwise, I would have gone over to stop them myself.”
Noticing the injured boy behind Xiao Bangchui, his face now covered in dried blood, Ye Ye’s tone softened. “Are you alright? Here, wipe the blood off first. I have some medicine for your wounds.”
The boy sniffled, his voice choked as he stammered, “Th-thank you, hero…”
“Hero?” Xiao Bangchui wrinkled her nose. “You’re useless. All you do is cry.”
The boy’s lips quivered—he looked like he was about to cry again. Ye Ye quickly pulled him aside. “Come on, let’s clean your wounds first.”
Baili Gelin tugged Xiao Bangchui’s sleeve and whispered, “You really scared me just now. None of us expected you to jump in like that.”
Xiao Bangchui had given them the impression of someone aloof and indifferent, not one to meddle in other people’s business. If Ye Ye or Baili Changyue had intervened, it wouldn’t have been surprising—Ye Ye had a strong sense of justice, and Changyue, despite her calm demeanor, had a fiery temper and couldn’t stand bullying. But for Xiao Bangchui to be the first to act? That was unexpected.
Baili Gelin tilted her head, studying her. At first, she had thought Xiao Bangchui looked rather ordinary—too thin for a boy. Ye Ye, just a year older, was much taller and far more striking. Xiao Bangchui had dark skin, thick eyebrows, and average features, nothing particularly outstanding. But now, after what she did, she suddenly seemed… heroic. Even her tanned skin looked more appealing.
Was this what they called manly charm? The young girl’s heart stirred ever so slightly.
Xiao Bangchui, however, remained indifferent. “I just couldn’t stand it.” She wiped the boy’s blood from her hands onto her clothes.
Honestly, even she was surprised by her own reaction. Normally, she wouldn’t have cared. Bullies existed everywhere, and she couldn’t possibly stop them all. If she tried to interfere every time, she’d exhaust herself to death.
But maybe, in that boy, she had seen a glimpse of her own future. If she failed the second selection, she would be alone, wandering the world with no place to call home. Eventually, she might become just like him—weak, helpless, beaten down by life, afraid of even looking others in the eye. That was her greatest fear. It had driven her forward before she even had time to think.
Ye Ye returned, leading the boy, who had now cleaned his wounds and applied the medicine. Without the dirt on his face, despite the bruises and cuts, he looked rather delicate and well-mannered. He nervously stepped in front of Xiao Bangchui and bowed. “Th-thank you… for saving me.”
Xiao Bangchui turned her face away, her tone cool. “You were just useless. Don’t thank me.”
The boy’s eyes reddened again, but this time, he held back his tears. In a small voice, he said, “You’re right… I’m too weak.”
Ye Ye tried to ease the mood. “Well, at least those bullies won’t dare mess with you anymore. Don’t be scared. I’m Ye Ye, this is Baili Gelin, Baili Changyue, and the one who saved you is Xiao Bangchui. What’s your name?”
“I’m Lei Xiuyuan.” The boy blushed, his voice soft. “Thank you all for helping me. I will never forget your kindness.”
He spoke with an air of refinement, suggesting he came from a once-educated family that had fallen on hard times.
“Kindness? You make it sound so dramatic!” Baili Gelin laughed. “Xiuyuan, are you here alone for the selection too?”
Lei Xiuyuan nodded.
“Then let’s stick together.” She grinned and pulled him closer. Suddenly, remembering something, she asked, “By the way, why did you point at that girl earlier?”
Lei Xiuyuan’s expression darkened instantly. Tears welled up in his eyes again, his voice trembling. “I recognize her… Half a year ago, I was begging on the streets with Brother Lu. He accidentally startled her dog, and she ordered her servants to beat him half to death. That night, Brother Lu… passed away.”
The group fell silent. They had all suffered their own hardships, but hearing Lei Xiuyuan’s story still left a heavy weight in their chests.
His sobs grew louder, drawing attention from the other children in the courtyard. Baili Gelin sighed. “Um… Xiuyuan, maybe stop crying now…”
Lei Xiuyuan hiccupped, trying to stifle his sobs. “I… I can’t help it…”
Xiao Bangchui, growing impatient, snapped, “Are you made of water? Crying at everything. Are you even a man?”
Lei Xiuyuan froze, then furiously wiped his eyes. Though his face was still tear-streaked, no more tears fell. He muttered, “Brother Lu used to say the same thing to me… I understand now. I was wrong, Brother Xiao Bangchui, I won’t cry anymore.”
Brother… Xiao Bangchui…
Xiao Bangchui almost burst out laughing. Her? Called “Brother”?!
She struggled to hold back her laughter, but Baili Gelin had no such restraint—she collapsed onto the ground, laughing uncontrollably. Even Ye Ye couldn’t keep a straight face, and soon, even Lei Xiuyuan was laughing with them.
The first selection of the Chufeng Academy finally came to an end. Out of all the children in Lugong Town, only fifty-six had passed. Among them were children from noble families, well-dressed and graceful, as well as ordinary peasant boys. But children as ragged as Xiao Bangchui’s group were extremely rare.
The veiled woman stood beside the Rainbow Deer. Her voice, though soft and delicate, carried a cold indifference.
“Now, when your number is called, step onto the carriage. One at a time.”
Xiao Bangchui looked around—fifty-six children, packed together like a dense crowd, yet there were only four carriages. They were large, yes, but could they really fit a dozen or more children into one?
How would they be transported?
The veiled woman called out the numbers rapidly. As the first carriage filled with over a dozen children, there was no noise from within. The children waiting outside grew both anxious and curious.
Baili Gelin leaned in close to Xiao Bangchui’s ear and whispered, “Do you think they used some kind of immortal magic? There’s no way a carriage can fit that many people…”
Xiao Bangchui shook her head. She had no idea either.
Soon, the veiled woman called out her number. “Three-five-nine.”
Xiao Bangchui quickly walked toward the second carriage. Lifting the curtain slightly, she saw nothing but darkness inside, with a faint glow emanating from within. A sweet, floral fragrance drifted out, pleasant yet unfamiliar. She stepped inside cautiously, taking a single step forward—
Suddenly, the scenery changed.
A soft, radiant light replaced the darkness. Before her lay a vast courtyard filled with elegant pavilions, winding corridors, and distant misty mountains. It looked like a landscape painting brought to life. She found herself standing in a grove of pear blossoms, their white petals swirling like snow. The air was filled with the intoxicating scent of flowers, and as she inhaled deeply, she felt an inexplicable sense of tranquility.
Was she dreaming?
Xiao Bangchui stared around in disbelief. Hadn’t she just stepped into a carriage? Then why was she suddenly in a place like this, with blooming trees and grand buildings?
“Three-five-nine, come with me.”
A figure emerged from beneath the pear blossom trees—a young woman, around twenty years old. But she did not look entirely human. Her long hair was an unusual shade of green, cascading down her back. Her exposed shoulders and arms were covered in delicate, emerald-colored scales.
Xiao Bangchui was startled. A demon? Why was there a demon here?
No one answered her unspoken question. The green-haired woman simply led her through the courtyard, past flowers and trees, until they arrived at a spacious compound. On either side of the courtyard stood rows of small buildings, and from the looks of it, the western side was already occupied.
The woman led her to the eastern side and gestured toward a door. “Three-five-nine, this will be your room.”
Xiao Bangchui hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. Inside, she found a fully furnished chamber with a large, pristine bed. The bedding was as white as clouds. On the far side, a bamboo curtain separated a small bath area. A clear, jade-colored pool shimmered under the light, with neatly arranged toiletries—wooden basins, combs, soap, and even chicken egg bath beans.
Was this really for her? She had never stayed in such a luxurious place before.
As she stood there in a daze, the green-haired woman spoke again from behind her. “Rest here for the night. The second selection will take place at Snowfall Lodge tomorrow. I will come to fetch you when the time comes.”
With that, she turned and left.
Xiao Bangchui glanced around the room again. The egg bath beans were a luxury she had never used. The bath itself was something she had only heard about. She stared at it for a long time. The bedding looked soft and inviting, but she hesitated to lie down, afraid her dusty clothes would dirty the pristine sheets. She gently ran a hand over the fabric—it was smooth, almost silky, and carried the faint scent of pine.
If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up.
Before long, voices echoed from the courtyard—one of them sounded familiar. Xiao Bangchui pushed open her door and saw Baili Gelin approaching, guided by another demon woman.
Despite being escorted by a supernatural being, Baili Gelin was completely at ease, chatting away excitedly. The moment she spotted Xiao Bangchui, she waved energetically and ran over, beaming. “Xiao Bangchui! This is great! We’re staying so close to each other!”
Xiao Bangchui couldn’t hold back her curiosity. “Is this… really inside the carriage?”
Baili Gelin shook her head. “I have no idea. But Ye Ye was guessing earlier—he thinks the carriage is enchanted with something called ‘Universe in a Sleeve’ magic. The inside might be a completely different world.”
Ye Ye seemed to know a lot. His background was probably not simple.
Noticing her thoughts, Baili Gelin grinned. “Ye Ye is really smart. He knows a ton of things. It looks like my sister and I are the ones looking after him, but actually, he’s been taking care of us this whole time.”
This girl was more perceptive than she appeared. A child who had experienced hardship could never remain truly naïve.
More voices filled the courtyard as a few more children arrived—Ye Ye, Baili Changyue, and Lei Xiuyuan. Whether by coincidence or design, the veiled woman had placed them all in the same area.
Ye Ye looked around and commented, “This is definitely ‘Universe in a Sleeve’ magic. But I didn’t expect it to be this grand. It makes sense, though—this is probably one of Chufeng Academy’s ways of promoting itself.”
Seeing their puzzled faces, he explained, “Think about it. The academy’s entrance exams are already a huge spectacle. Even ordinary people with no spiritual roots come to try their luck. The more applicants, the higher the chance of finding exceptional talent. And now, everyone who passes the first selection gets to experience this extravagant place. Even if they fail the second selection, they’ll go back and spread the word—telling everyone about the luxury and wonder of being here. That way, even more people will be drawn to apply next year.”
Xiao Bangchui thought about it carefully. That made a lot of sense. The concept of immortals had always been vague and distant, but Chufeng Academy had turned it into something tangible and enticing. The greater the spectacle, the larger the crowd it would attract, increasing the chances of discovering truly gifted individuals. A clever strategy.
The children chattered excitedly in the courtyard, their excitement bubbling over—until suddenly, a door on the western side slammed open.
A boy dressed in white stormed out, his expression furious. “You noisy commoners have been yapping non-stop since earlier! Shut up already!”
Everyone turned to look.
It was the same rich boy Xiao Bangchui had smacked with a silver ingot earlier. His face was still swollen on one side, making his otherwise handsome features look comically lopsided. So he had been assigned to live here too? If this wasn’t deliberate, no one would believe it.
Xiao Bangchui met his gaze calmly. “What did you say?”
The boy’s face turned an even darker shade of red. He opened his mouth to curse her but, upon seeing her expression, swallowed his words. Instead, he gave a loud “hmph!” and slammed the door shut behind him.
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