How to Be the Perfect Junior Sister to a Reborn Villain - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

Early the next morning, the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon.

In the back courtyard of the Li residence, Li Xi, who had been too excited to sleep all night, was already dressed and ready, standing anxiously by the door. The moment her father finished breakfast, she grabbed his arm and dragged him out to go “seek a master.”

Master Li, with his round, drum-like figure, nearly stumbled from her sudden pull.

The carriage rattled out of the city gates and rolled along the countryside road.

After about an hour’s journey, they arrived at the Cloudsky Sect (Tai  Xian Men).

It sat nestled at the foot of a green mountain range, surrounded by lush fields of crops. A cool breeze swept down from the hills, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and grass. Though it was still unbearably hot back in the city, here the air was fresh and pleasant.

But Li Xi’s enthusiasm cooled instantly.

Was this really a cultivation sect?

The courtyard walls were cracked in several places, weeds grew between the stones, and the plaque above the gate was so faded that she couldn’t even tell what color it used to be.

Li Xi stood frozen at the gate, staring at the pitiful sight. She just knew it any sect that accepted disciples “whenever someone showed up” couldn’t possibly be a great sect.

But did it have to look this run-down?

“Father,” she asked doubtfully,  are you sure this place is legitimate? What kind of reputation does it have?”
She had a sinking feeling she was about to get scammed.

Master Li waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry. Cloudsky Sect has a decent name around here. Many merchant caravans hire them as escorts when traveling long distances. They even hold free medical clinics from time to time, good, kind-hearted folk.

Escort work, huh? So… they were poor, but at least they weren’t frauds. Mercenary cultivators needed some credibility to get business.

Still… for a so-called “immortal sect,” this place looked way too shabby.

 Li Tian brings his daughter to seek a master’s guidance. We humbly ask the honored immortals for permission to enter.

Inside the sect, a group of disciples was practicing sword forms in the courtyard.

At that booming call, every single one of them froze. Their swords drooped mid-air, and their eyes went wide with disbelief.

Someone wanted to join their sect?!

Impossible, Unheard of. This was the biggest miracle of the year.

Li Xi took one look at the dozen or so men and women barreling toward her, all dressed in washed to fading robes, and felt her soul leave her body.

Oh no.

This sect is so poor!

She wanted to turn around and bolt.
But one glance at her father’s round, expectant face told her she wouldn’t get a second chance.

So she swallowed her despair and forced a polite smile.

The disciples beamed as they welcomed them warmly, exchanging pleasantries as if this were the happiest day of their lives.

Led inside by the enthusiastic crowd, Li Xi noticed that though the sect wasn’t large and the outer walls were old, the inner courtyard was surprisingly tidy. The buildings were clean, and a faint fragrance of osmanthus flowers drifted through the air.

She relaxed a little. All right, maybe it’s not completely hopeless.

Soon, they were brought to the main hall.

An elderly, thin man in blue robes shuffled forward carefully, producing an ancient-looking object.

Spiritual testing disk.

He motioned for Li Xi to place her hand on it.

Li Xi’s heart skipped a beat. Ah, this part I know spirit root testing, just like in all the cultivation novels.

She tried to recall the name of some Daoist ancestor to pray to, but her mind went blank.

So she settled for a desperate thought: Please, heaven above, have mercy on this faithful soul!

Taking a deep breath, she placed her trembling hand on the testing disk.

The moment her fingers touched it, a mysterious energy spread from her fingertips, coursing through her entire body in a warm wave.

Then.

Whoosh!

The disk lit up with two bright colors: blue and green.

The old man’s eyes widened. Water and wood dual spiritual roots!” he cried in delight. 

Our Cloudsky Sect has truly been blessed by the heavens.

Their little sect had actually received a disciple with such good potential! It was a miracle!

Li Xi’s heart leapt. Heaven really was on her side.

She exhaled in relief and immediately shot her father a triumphant glare as if to say, Told you we should’ve gone to a bigger sect.

Master Li, however, was lost in his own world, eyes glazed over. Does the Li family actually have a spiritual destiny?

He was already planning in his head that after this, he’d bring his two sons to get tested at one of the major sects. Who knew? Maybe they had hidden talent.

Not a single glance was spared for his daughter.

Li Xi: 

She didn’t even need to read his mind to know what he was thinking.

“Welcome, little junior sister!”

“Junior sister, I’m your eldest senior sister, Lin Ruo.”

“I’m your second senior brother, Tao Wen.”

Finally, a small boy, no older than five or six, squeezed through the crowd and puffed out his chest. “I’m your fourth senior brother, Lin Zewu! Don’t worry, little junior sister, I’ll take good care of you.

Li Xi: 

Are you serious right now?

“Everyone, calm down! Don’t scare your new junior sister.”

A man dressed like a wandering swordsman strode through the crowd, his presence steady and commanding. His hair was streaked with gray, his clothes simple but neat, and there was a kind warmth in his gaze as he looked at Li Xi.

“I’m Lin Shanlai, the head of Cloudsky Sect,” he said with a gentle smile. “From now on, I’ll be your master.”

After saying that, he turned around briskly and instructed the disciples to prepare for the initiation ceremony.

Soon, he seated himself at the head of the main hall, his posture dignified. A futon was placed neatly on the floor before him.

The senior sister who had introduced herself earlier, Lin Ruo, guided Li Xi forward.

Li Xi knelt on the futon, tears welling up in her heart. Why does this feel like jumping straight into a pit of fire?

Disciple pays respects to Master, she said solemnly, handing him a cup of tea with both hands as the ceremony required.

Lin Shanlai accepted the tea, took a polite sip.
And almost yelped out loud.

The liquid was scalding hot, and for a terrifying second, he thought he might choke to death on the spot.

Tao Wen second Brother, the one who had prepared the tea, hunched his shoulders guiltily. He’d just remembered that the water came from the spiritual spring behind the mountain. It wasn’t ordinary water, and when boiled, it became much hotter than usual.

Lin Shanlai’s face flushed crimson. Still, he swallowed the tea down with great effort, forcing himself to maintain the dignity of a master.

Now that you have joined Cloudsky Sect, he said through gritted teeth, his voice slightly strained,  you must cultivate diligently from this day forth.

He wanted to say a few more words to encourage her, to appear like a benevolent and wise teacher, but the burning pain in his mouth made it impossible. So he hastily wrapped up the ceremony.

Tea, done. Words, said. Disciple, accepted.

Then a sudden realization struck him, he was supposed to give her a master’s gift.

Awkwardly, he rummaged through his nearly empty storage pouch for a long moment before fishing out an old, yellowed tortoiseshell. He handed it to Li Xi with a straight face.

It was pretty much the only thing he could give.

Still, he managed to look solemn and authoritative as he explained, Divination and augury are also important aspects of cultivation. You should learn a bit of everything in time.

Li Xi’s eyes, however, were glued to that small gray pouch dangling at his waist.

Whoa.

Was that a storage pouch?

At that instant, all her doubts vanished.

This really is a proper cultivation sect! she thought, relief flooding through her.

Even the old tortoiseshell in her hands suddenly seemed like a priceless ancient artifact.

“Your spirit roots are well-suited for medicine and alchemy,” said Elder Gao—the gaunt old man who had tested her spirit earlier. He handed her a small box containing a set of fine silver needles.

Her senior sister and second senior brother each presented her with hand-drawn talismans as their gifts.

Then, squeezing through the crowd again, her tiny fourth senior brother Lin Zewu proudly held up a little straw cage. Inside was a cricket.

“Junior Sister,” he said earnestly, “this is my Great General. I’m giving him to you. He’s undefeated in battle!”

Li Xi blinked.

There’s really no need for that…

And just like that, Li Xi officially became the youngest disciple of Cloudsky  Sect.

After the ceremony, she escorted her father to the gate.

Seeing him still lost in thought, she tugged at his sleeve anxiously. “Father, don’t forget to send over my things—clothes, food, all of it! And tell Xiaocui to come too, okay?”

She couldn’t live without her clever maid Xiao cui. Hairstyles in this era were ridiculously complicated—she’d never manage them alone.

Master Li, still distracted by his plans to test his sons at other sects, blinked and waved her off. “Yes, yes, I remember.”

Li Xi narrowed her eyes.

If she didn’t see her maid and belongings by tomorrow, her father had better prepare himself.

She’d yank out every single one of his beard hairs!