"Any progress on the investigation?"an elderly man asked and everyone in the panel of eight seated around a table turned to look at the youngest man in the room.
"I'm not sure about the details but Lady Bingya here thinks it's the work of a dark cultivator,"Yang Tianyou replied humbly and everyone's attention shifted towards the beautiful young woman seated beside him.
Most girls of her age would feel tense or flustered being the only woman in the room and having all eyes on you but nineteen year old Feng Yuexin didn't falter even in the slightest way possible. Instead she took her time to explain the details of the investigation. Her confidence was a part of her cold personality and sometimes condescending attitude. In the panel,there were seven men and her being the only lady. It comprised of Yu Lei,the Sect leader of Blue Snow Sect ,Feng Yuexin(Lady Bingya),Yang Tianyou the eldest disciple known famously as the Little Sword Sovereign ,Fu Guo the deputy sect leader and four elders.
The rising cases of young boys disappearing had caught their attention ,plus the emperor's message to them, they needed to investigate it thoroughly. But it seemed the culprit was so good at being discreet that the top most sect in Tieguo State found it hard to trace him. After the meeting,Feng Yuexin walked out after everyone had left and found Yang Tianyou waiting outside for her. Judging from his expression,he wanted to talk to her and so she stopped in front of him. He was one of the few people at the sect she considered worthy of her attention.
"Junior sister Yuexin,today we're taking in new disciples and master said you and I could take in one or two disciples,"Yang Tianyou revealed excitedly.
"Not interested,"Feng Yuexin replied coldly.
"Seriously? Are you not excited to have someone call you master?"
"I don't need more nuisances in my life," she replied again indifferently,"I'm going back to the pavilion so I should take my leave."
Without sparing an extra glance at Yang Tianyou,she walked away her confident gait disappearing with the increase in distance. Yang Tianyou sighed with exasperation to another time of failing to get the desired reaction out of Feng Yuexin. Talking to Feng Yuexin was a daunting task. Her indifference was disheartening and cheering her up was futile.
"Did she ignore you again?"
Yang Tianyou turned towards the source of the voice coming face to face with the approaching Chen Chenxi,her junior sect sister ,Feng Yuexin's agemate. Unlike Feng Yuexin ,Chen Chenxi was more jovial,sweet and talkative. She wasn't uptight,always willing to compromise to things as long they stayed within ethical principles. But the surprising thing was that Yang Tianyou was attracted to the cold and unyielding Feng Yuexin.
"Yeah you know how she is ,"Yang Tianyou sighed wearily.
"Shi Xiong,Yuexin hates clingy people maybe that's why she behaves that way with you," Chen Chenxi commented.
"You're saying I'm clingy?"Yang Tianyou scoffed feeling a little offended by her words.
"Yeah only when it comes to her."
"I'm not clingy with her. We're in the same sect ,we share common issues,we learnt the same swordsmanship techniques , we're already engaged, we're…" Yang Tianyou rambled feeling flustered by his own words.
"Seriously? All that to prove you have a right to get clingy with her?" she ridiculed him.
"That's not what I'm saying!" Yang Tianyou snapped getting defensive at the accusation.
"But don't worry you're the most handsome guy in the sect every girl wouldn't mind you acting clingy with them. Even me,"she said emphasizing the last part. Of course she secretly fantasized about him and didn't get why the guy would torture himself chasing after a snob such as Feng Yuexin who didn't even acknowledge personal relationships.
"I'd rather not,"Yang Tianyou denied politely, cringing inwardly at the thought. They finally left the place and headed together to Yunxia Hall where new disciples were being admitted.
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The process of recruiting disciples included testing their abilities or potential through assigning tasks and evaluating them. Those who performed well would be taken in either by Yu Lei or Fu Guo and those who failed were mostly likely to get rejected. So far most of the disciples had been picked by the two grand masters,Yang Tianyou picked six because many disciples had turned up and of which Chen Chenxi volunteered to help him to teach incase he got occupied with the sect's matters.
Thirteen year old Li Xu'er stood stranded at the center of the big hall,head hung low in embarrassment, feeling dejected for lacking an opportunity to join the sect of her dreams. She sucked at performing tasks and was naturally weaker than others.
"Miss, I'll have someone escort you out of the sect,"Yu Lei said stroking his beard proudly.
"I'll take her in,"Feng Yuexin's firm voice interrupted and her graceful self walked in confidently carrying her sheathed sword effortlessly.
Everyone was left staring at her in surprise that she had agreed to take the weakling as her first disciple. Feng Yuexin greeted the grand masters and fellow disciples and turned to face the girl who stared at her ethereal face dreamily,her large doe eyes taking every detail of her face.
"Really? You'll..take me in?" Li Xu'er questioned timidly not believing the other's words.
"I need someone to clean my Treasure Pavilion once in a while,"Feng Yuexin replied indifferently.
"I'll gladly become your cleaner,"Li Xu'er nodded eagerly. Even if it was cleaning she was willing to do it to stay at her dream sect.
"Follow me,"Feng Yuexin instructed curtly,turned on her heel to leave and the younger girl trailed after her like an excited puppy leaving the others in awe.