To Stay or Not To Stay

The time for the Tranquil Waterfall's monthly disciple ranking test had arrived.

"As per tradition, the task you will have today is simple." The Tranquil Waterfall's Sect Master explained. Brimming with dignity even with one hand. "I want all of you to make a fasting pill. It only takes half an hour to refine. I will be back here in 45 minutes. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Sect Master!"

The 10 Core Disciples answered in unison, they cupped their hands in reverence while watching the sect Master leave the alchemy room alongside the elders.

A food may not be important to a cultivator, but they still need it. The Fasting pill does as the name implies, it allows the cultivator to forego food for two whole days. With a body ripe with qi, hunger hampers a cultivator not by starvation, but by making the body burn more qi than usual.

5 spirit leaf, 3 Ganoderma, and 2 cloves of Lingzhi Mushroom.

Carefully, Liuming threw a the necessary ingredients into her cauldron. The temptation to add 2 more spirit leaf was there. After all, it was the main ingredient that regulated hunger and provided the body with the necessary qi to substitute the energy they got from food.

If she added 2 more, surely a cultivator can go for 3 days and not just two, right?

Then, Liuming remembered Xiao's advice during their training...

"The problem with you is that you try to innovate an already proven recipe. With a rare flame like yours, you can refine a medium grade pill with ease!"

As vivid as Xiao's voice was in Liuming's mind, so too were Xiao's hands trying to tease and distract her, exploring Liuming all over while she tried focus on heating up the cauldron with her flame.

"Are you okay? Why are you getting beet red?" Lin, who happened to be in the next table asked.

"It's none of your damn business! Focus on your own cauldron!" Liuming shouted.

It was an outburst that Lin had no problem answering with an outburst of her own. Rudeness against rudeness, if you will. However, since it was her last day at the sect, Lin couldn't find it in her to spend her final day in this place cursing.

"And here I thought Xiao finally knocked a bit of kindness into you. You're still the same old annoying bitch." Lin shrugged her shoulders as she heated up her furnace using her qi.

"The fuck did you say!? Just you wait until our combat test! I'm going to make you grovel before me!"

Lin laughed at the threat. Even if Liuming defeated her the position of the ranked 1st core disciple is something she was about to abandon anyway. More importantly, Lin could sense the change in Liuming's cultivation. This time, she has the strength to back up her arrogance.

"Then it's a date, Liuming. I look forward to the result of your time spent training with Master Xiaoyu."

"Who would ever want to go on a date with you!?"

"Oh, you ask as if you weren't eyeing me in the bath house the other day?" The smug Liuming questioned.

It was statement that brought the eyes of their fellow core disciples to them, making Liuming's purple flame blaze higher due to the embarrassment.

"Shut up! Shut up! That's not true! I am going to kill you, Lin!"

Laughing at Liuming while she shouted her profanities, Lin continued refining her pill with a steady flame. She can't wait for their combat training later on.

But first, Lin would like to see if Liuming's atrocious alchemy had indeed improved under Xiao's tutelage.

The sect Master returned. Meixiu examined the pills, giving satisfactory ratings to others until she had arrived to Liuming's table.

Under her scrutinizing gaze, Meixue cracked a smile.

"My, isn't this a surprise. This medium grade pill is well done. Some of the part is scorched, evidence of temperature mishandling, but other than that, this is a bonafide medium grade pill. 51 points for you Liuming."

Sweet music to her ears. Liuming had to admit, the genuine words of praise were like a melody from the most skilled harpist.

Liuming smiled from ear to ear as she cupped her hand in reverence.

"Thank you, Sect Master!"

Meixue moved on to Lin's table, picking up the green pill and examining it.

"Such a fine pill. Did you go all out knowing this would be your last in this sect?"

Liuming's brow raised. Lin was already leaving the sect!? Lin had already told her, but Liuming couldn't guess it would be this abrupt!

"I did, Sect Master." Liuming's smiled wryly

"With this pill, you could take on even alchemy path practitioners. It would be a shame to let you go but since that is your family's decision, I don't really have much say in it." The Sect Master sighed. Truly a waste. "59 points for this exquisite pill."

Liuming gulped. Lin was 1 point away from a perfect score! This bitch was overshadowing her again. It was a good thing that she was finally leaving. With Lin gone, she can finally become the rank 1 core disciple.

But then what was the constricting feeling in her chest? Like, when Xiao first disappeared. It felt like the person she bantered with was going to disappear again. She can just pick on the other core disciples, but...it wouldn't be the same.

Liuming clicked her tongue in anger. An anger melding with confusion, does she or does she not want Lin gone!?

Next, the core disciples moved on to the outdoor training arena. Where the inner disciples spectated with glee as their sect's mightiest Disciples are about to clash.

"Well done everyone, with this, it's finally time to showcase your mettle against each other. Prove that you are worthy for the spot that you are in right now. Fight for it."

Liuming stepped forward.

"Sect Master, I shall pair up and fight Lin. As my farewell gift to her, I will kick her ass."

Such brazen words, the other core disciples along with the elders gasped. Surely Lin won't take this level of disrespect!?

On the contrary, Lin's lips arced into a smile. Seemingly amused by Liuming's audacity.

Meixue's glance drifted towards Lin, she asked, "What say you, Lin?"

"It would be my honor to put Liuming in her place before I leave."