Ning Yu swept her cold gaze over the crowd once more before finally taking out a sheet of paper and reading its contents aloud, line by line.
“All the rooms on this deck have been prepared for you to rest in. There are snacks and water inside—if anyone is hungry or thirsty, feel free to help yourselves.”
“However, these items are for immediate use only and are strictly forbidden to be taken off the ship, especially hiding snacks and water bottles in your crotch!”
“You may rest on this deck or enjoy the scenery on the deck, but wandering around at will or making loud noises is prohibited.”
“There are latrines at both ends of the ship on this deck. It is forbidden to relieve yourself elsewhere. Anyone caught will be immediately expelled from the ship!”
“No quarrelling, fighting, or causing disturbances.”
“The Xianzhou is a magical treasure, but the potted plants, ornaments, and tableware aboard do not all contain spiritual energy.”
“Regardless of whether these items have spiritual energy or not, theft is strictly forbidden. Don’t even think about trying to get away with it.”
“It is forbidden to directly bribe the elders and disciples on board with roast chicken, roast duck, suckling pig, gold, silver, spirit stones, or other visible items.”
“It is also forbidden to use suggestive gestures such as throwing flirtatious glances, licking your lips, or speaking in a provocative manner to harass… cough, to subtly bribe elders and disciples.”
“Especially the latter—if caught, you’ll be kicked off the ship immediately!”
“So unless necessary, do not casually strike up conversation with elders or disciples, lest you be suspected of harassment.”
“If anyone suddenly feels, after the ship departs, that their talent is mediocre and they cannot pass the test, or if you regret your decision and no longer wish to join the Xuantian Sect, wanting instead to join another sect, you can simply tell us.”
“We will send someone to escort you out of the Xuantian Mountain Range alone. So please, don’t start crying and suddenly jump off the ship.”
“The Xuantian Mountain Range has always been the territory of the Xuantian Sect. I fully understand that some people consider their lives worthless, but littering is strictly forbidden here.”
“It is not recommended to do unnecessary chores like sweeping or mopping in front of us. The Xianzhou has a self-cleaning function and remains unsullied by dust.”
“We will not let you pass the test and join the sect just because you’re especially good at sweeping.”
“Of course, if you say this is your hobby and you feel uncomfortable if you don’t work for a day, we understand.”
At first, everyone listened very seriously to the Xuantian Sect disciple’s words, but as they listened, many began to look either bewildered or guilty.
Everyone: Uh… is there something not quite right about these rules?
Yun Miao, on the other hand, was the opposite. She had been waiting absentmindedly for this forced plot event to end, but found herself listening more and more intently.
After a moment, Ning Yu finished reading, her cold gaze sweeping over everyone once more.
“That’s all I have to say. Did everyone understand? If you have any questions, ask me now. Otherwise, if you accidentally break the rules later, you’ll regret it.”
This time, most people avoided her gaze, afraid that even one more look might get them accused of harassment and kicked off the ship.
Just as Ning Yu was feeling secretly satisfied, she suddenly caught sight of a girl in green among the crowd, staring straight at her with bright, shining eyes.
As their gazes met, the girl in green immediately raised her right hand high and spoke loudly: “I have a question!”
“What’s your question?”
Ning Yu thought this was a troublemaker, so her voice grew even colder. But then the girl in green shouted even louder.
“I want to ask, do you still need that paper in your hand? Can you give it to me? I want to keep it as a souvenir!”
Ning Yu and the rest were stunned: A souvenir?
Huaxin hadn’t expected Yun Miao to start causing a fuss the moment she boarded. She gritted her teeth and muttered, “Can’t you stop wanting to collect everything? What’s so special about that paper?!”
Yun Miao replied, “But it sounds really interesting! As the saying goes, behind every ridiculous rule is an even more ridiculous story, a painful lesson, and a handful of bitter tears. Don’t you think behind these rules…”
There’s something worth keeping.
“Ahem!”
Ning Yu quickly snapped back to her senses, coughing dryly to interrupt the girl in green.
“I’ll post this paper at the entrance of the cabin later. If you really want it, you can take it down yourself after everyone disembarks.”
Yun Miao: “Thank you!”
Ning Yu pretended not to hear the thanks, her face cold as she asked the others if they had any objections. Seeing no one speak, she nodded slightly and tossed the sheet of paper.
The paper fluttered gently and landed perfectly on the wall at the entrance to the cabin. No matter how hard the wind blew, it didn’t budge an inch.
She then retreated to stand with the other Xuantian Sect disciples, silent once more. No one dared approach her, and most people went inside the cabin to rest, leaving only a few lingering on the deck.
Having been squeezed away by the crowd earlier, Guan Dahai and Gao Zhu immediately walked over to Huaxin and Yun Miao. “The sun is too strong out here. Let’s go inside and rest.”
Huaxin nodded and was about to pull Yun Miao into the cabin, but when she reached out, she didn’t feel anyone. Turning around, she saw Yun Miao already heading toward the group of Xuantian Sect disciples.
Huaxin immediately darted forward and grabbed Yun Miao’s hand. “What are you up to now?!”
Guan Dahai and Gao Zhuye hurried over as well, stretching out their arms to block her.
“They already said you could have the paper, didn’t they?”
“We’ll help you get it when we disembark.”
Yun Miao patted her small bundle. “I just want to say hello to that young lady and give her the flowers I picked.”
Hearing this, Ning Yu subtly turned her head in that direction. It was that girl in green again…
Huaxin’s expression was cold. “No way. She doesn’t accept bribes. You’ll get kicked off the ship.”
Yun Miao replied seriously, “I’m not bribing her to help me pass the test. I just think she’s pretty and want to be friends with her.”
Huaxin immediately took hold of both Yun Miao’s hands. “That’s even worse—judging people by their looks isn’t right.”
“Anyway, our main goal is to join the Xuantian Sect. If you get kicked off the ship now, your precious storage pouch will be gone.”
Hearing this, Yun Miao hesitated, casting a disappointed glance at the cool and beautiful disciple NPC.
“Fine. Then after I join the Xuantian Sect, can I go find her and be friends?”
Huaxin hesitated, then nodded. It shouldn’t be against the rules for disciples to befriend each other in the Xuantian Sect, right?
Yun Miao and her friends were speaking in low voices, but the disciples of the Xuantian Sect were at least at the Foundation Establishment stage, and Ning Yu herself was a Golden Core expert, so even though they were over a hundred meters away, they heard every word clearly.
Someone winked at Ning Yu, their lips moving almost imperceptibly.
“Sister Ning’s charm is really something!”
“If a lively, adorable little girl wanted to be friends with me, I’d agree right away.”
“If a lively, adorable little girl wanted to give me something, I’d be grinning from ear to ear.”
“Alas, no one has ever so warmly said they wanted to be friends with me.”
“Alas, no one has ever so warmly said they wanted to give me flowers. Sister Ning is so lucky!”
Ning Yu:
Ning Yu shot a cold glance. “Whoever keeps talking will be in charge of cleaning the Xianzhou’s latrines after the Disciple Recruitment Grand Ceremony.”
At these words, the disciples immediately shut their mouths and pretended to look out into the distance, dignified and silent.
***
Huaxin, afraid Yun Miao would cause more trouble, held her hand tightly as they walked toward the cabin.
Sure enough, the corridor on both sides was lined with rooms for rest.
Because one of the rules just read out was, ‘It is forbidden to lock the door and commit indecent acts during the day, sullying the purity of the Xianzhou.’
Everyone was afraid that closing the door would lead to misunderstandings, so all the doors were left open by mutual understanding.
All the room doors were wide open, and the sound of lively chatter drifted out. Huaxin knew that the rooms near the entrance would definitely be crowded, so she kept walking further in.
Yun Miao let herself be led, looking around curiously. “Aren’t we supposed to rest? Why aren’t you going into a room?”
Huaxin said, “There are too many people. I want to go further in and find a quieter room with fewer people.”
Got it. Now it’s time for a ‘side quest: Find a quiet room’!
Yun Miao slipped her hand from Huaxin’s. “Let’s split up and look!”
Huaxin: “Don’t run off!”
Yun Miao pretended not to hear, standing at each open door and peeking inside, checking room after room. Finally, she found one to her liking.
Inside, there were no tables or chairs, but twelve low, long tables.
The heavy, dark brown wood shone with a warm luster. On top were simple lacquered trays and ceramic tea sets, with assorted snacks stacked into little towers, and a teapot giving off a faint fragrance of tea.
On the floor at each side of the tables were three meditation cushions for people to sit and rest.
In the room was only one teenage boy wearing a pale apricot robe. Around his neck was a string of ornaments, a jade pendant at his waist—his whole appearance screamed ‘wealth.’
When Yun Miao looked in, she saw the boy sitting cross-legged on a cushion, holding a teacup high above his eyes and staring up into it intently, as if searching for something.
She glanced at him, lost interest, and turned to wave at Huaxin and the others in the corridor.
“Come here, this one has the fewest people—just one!”
Inside, Tan Xiaobai, who had been absorbed in peering into his teacup, was startled by the sudden voice. His hand shook, and a few drops of steaming tea splashed into his eyes.
“Aiya! My eyes!”
Huaxin and the others heard the cry and hurried to Yun Miao’s side, looking into the room.
Inside sat a pale, delicate young master, his eyes red and brimming with tears as he clumsily wiped them with his sleeve, looking utterly bullied.
Huaxin, Guan Dahai, and Gao Zhuye all glanced silently at Yun Miao, then quickly looked away.
Yun Miao had been standing outside the door the whole time, always in their sight, so they were certain she hadn’t done anything to this rich young master.