Chapter Ten: The Sorrow of the Ants

The High Priest raised an eyebrow and looked at Feng Queyi, "Why did you let her dress like this? A cloth robe over a coarse hemp garment, it's so odd."

"The Saintess—she said not to waste anything." Heaven knows, Feng Queyi was struggling hard to suppress her laughter.

"Pfft." The High Priest couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. "The Saintess always likes to be different. Forgive us, Immortal, if this amuses you."

The oppressive aura vanished.

That ethereal, airy voice laughed as well, "I was too caught up in appearances. Since you say your sister comes from another world, it's only natural she differs from us."

Hearing this, Feng Queyi's heart tightened. She thought: The 'difference' here must refer to the mind-sea. The Immortal, with her higher cultivation, truly sees things differently. That girl isn't from our world; how could she possibly be like us in every way?

The High Priest chuckled, "Snow Sister, your insight is keen."

"What is your name?" The Immortal suddenly asked.

"Feng Liqian..."

Before she could finish, the oppressive force slammed down again. Stars flashed before her eyes, and Feng Liqian tasted blood in her throat, then spat it out.

"Insolence! How dare a mere ant offend the sages!" The Immortal's voice turned sharp, like icy blades slicing across Feng Liqian's face.

Unable to withstand it, Feng Liqian's body slumped and she coughed up more blood.

The High Priest hurriedly stood, alarmed, and pleaded, "Snow Sister, please calm your anger!"

Feng Queyi trembled, terrified, and knelt to beg for mercy, "Immortal, please be merciful!"

The Immortal let out a disdainful snort, then lazily asked, "I'm speaking to you. What is your name?"

"Reporting to the Immortal, this girl is called Feng Ke'er." Feng Liqian struggled to rise and answered with difficulty.

The pressure vanished. The Immortal's voice returned to its ethereal softness, "Feng Ke'er, a fine name. But do not be so muddle-headed again. If you can't even remember your own name, people will laugh until their teeth fall out. What's more, you're a rootless waste. How dare you desecrate the sacred name of the sages? Remember my warning: from now on, you must erase that name from your heart completely. Feng Ke'er, have you understood?"

"I understand. Ke'er will obey your teaching," Feng Liqian replied through clenched teeth. Being a worthless cultivator, her name of over twenty years was mercilessly stripped away.

Feng Liqian—no, Feng Ke'er—had never hated this place, this cultivation world, as much as she did now. She wanted nothing more than to return home, as soon as possible!

(The author pops in with a gentle reminder for readers: this is a turning point. From now on, the heroine's name is Feng Ke'er.)

"Good. That's all I ask." The Immortal smiled with satisfaction. "Ke'er, lift your face so I may see you."

Feng Ke'er obediently raised her face, but dared not lift her eyes, afraid to offend the Immortal and suffer unjustly.

"Not bad, you have a nose and eyes, and your features are passable." The Immortal reached out, and a white jade bottle with a red stopper appeared in her palm. "Ke'er, I am Gong Moxue, first disciple under Master Hui Lan of the Azure Cloud Sect. Though you are a rootless waste, you have joined our sect and come under our master's tutelage. From now on, you are my junior sister. Earlier, I was careless and injured you; this jade bottle contains two pills: the black one is a Rejuvenation Pill to heal your wounds, the red one is a Beauty Pill, my gift to you. It will keep your looks unchanged for fifty years."

With a flick of her hand, the jade bottle floated over and hovered steadily before Feng Ke'er.

"Thank you, Senior Sister, for the gift of spiritual pills." Feng Ke'er received the medicine with both hands and bowed respectfully.

Immortal Moxue nodded slightly, "Queyi, go with your junior sister and instruct her in using the Rejuvenation Pill."

Queyi accepted the order and rose to help Feng Ke'er leave.

Behind them, the High Priest's voice wavered with inquiry, "Snow Sister, does she truly have no spiritual root?"

Feng Ke'er staggered slightly. Strange—didn't the High Priest already know this? Why pretend ignorance before the Immortal?

A sharp glint flashed in Feng Queyi's eyes; her grip tightened as she whispered, "Hurry!"

Once outside the hall, the clan leader and others immediately surrounded them.

Seeing blood at Feng Ke'er's lips and her pallor, the clan leader was shocked and lowered his voice to ask questions.

Feng Ke'er understood none of it.

Feng Queyi answered for her, explaining that Ke'er was simply too weak and couldn't withstand the Immortal's aura, thus she was injured.

Everyone gazed at her with fear and concern.

Thanks to the language spell, Feng Ke'er could not understand the others, but she could comprehend Feng Queyi's words. Being exposed so publicly, she was mortified.

Feng Queyi pursed her lips and whispered in her ear, "Sister, don't blame everyone for being nosy; they're just worried about your safety. The High Priest placed a soundproof talisman at the door, so they heard nothing from inside."

So that's it. Feng Ke'er forced a smile despite her pain. "Please thank them for me. And could you ask someone to bring a bowl of clean water so I can take the medicine?"

Feng Queyi nodded and instructed, "Fetch water. The Immortal has given spiritual pills to the Saintess for healing."

Hearing this, everyone relaxed a little and continued to look at Feng Ke'er with concern.

Only the clan leader turned and quietly ordered the Bodhi boy to fetch water.

The little Bodhi boy, pale-faced and dazed, finally responded and ran off trembling.

Feng Queyi looked at the jade bottle and said, "Saintess has used a Rejuvenation Pill before, so I'll spare the explanation." She glanced quickly at the hall door, hesitated, then carefully reminded, "Within the sect, sisters of the same rank often spar. As long as it doesn't threaten life, it's permitted. Injuries are common. New disciples, like those in the Qi Refining stage, receive supplies from the peak stewards every three months: one Spirit Nurturing Pill, one Rejuvenation Pill, and one Spirit Recovery Pill. It's far from sufficient, so every pill is precious. Immortal Moxue is a sect alchemist, making pills for elite disciples. The ones she gave you are better than those distributed to outer disciples. Don't lose them, or you'll waste her kindness."

She hadn't intended to say all this, but after three days together, she saw that Feng Ke'er was a good girl. Not only had she come from an unknown world and solved the Feng family's crisis, she had also readily agreed to bring the Bodhi boy into the Azure Cloud Sect. Out of pity and gratitude, Queyi decided to drop a hint, emphasizing the word "lose." Feng Ke'er was clever and would understand.

Indeed, Feng Ke'er began to wonder: this was the second time Queyi brought up Immortal Moxue's pills!

The first mention was of the Beauty Pill, which she took as informative; but now, seeing Queyi's intense gaze, she grew more uneasy and more suspicious—aside from the literal meaning, it felt like a hidden warning: perhaps it was best to "lose" the pills given by Immortal Moxue.

Had she misheard? Or not?

Just then, the Bodhi boy returned, sweating and holding a large black ceramic bowl, muttering something.

The clan leader frowned, glanced nervously at the hall, stepped forward, pushed the boy onto the stone path, took the bowl, and handed it reverently to Feng Ke'er.

The poor child, looking like a wilted eggplant, hung his head in the sunlight, staring at his toes. Sweat dripped onto the blue stone, splitting into several drops.

"Thank you." Feng Ke'er took the water, pulled out the yellow gourd gifted by the High Priest, took the half Rejuvenation Pill inside, pinched off a small piece, dissolved it in the water, and drank.

Feng Queyi relaxed quietly.

After taking the medicine, Feng Ke'er put the remaining piece back in the gourd and carefully tucked both the gourd and jade bottle into her cloth belt, pressing them to be sure. Since Queyi said the pills were precious, she would store them well.

Seeing the Bodhi boy still standing obediently in the sun, sweating, Feng Ke'er felt pity and pleaded with Queyi, "He's just a child; a few words of scolding are enough. Don't let him roast in the sun, or he won't be able to travel later." Poor kid—back in the modern world, he'd be just a grade-schooler, pampered at home, treated like a little emperor! How could he suffer like this?

Queyi glanced at the child and snorted, "Ignore him. A little hardship will teach him. The sect's rules are strict—the lower your cultivation, the harsher and more numerous the rules. No one cares about someone with no cultivation. If he doesn't mind his behavior, breaking the rules isn't just about standing in the sun. Whippings that flay the skin are the lightest punishment. One misstep and his life is forfeit."

Sister, is this advice actually meant for me? Feng Ke'er felt her eyelids twitch as she realized, much too late, that agreeing to impersonate someone in the Azure Cloud Sect was the dumbest thing she'd ever done.

Is Azure Cloud truly a cultivation sect? Why does it sound more like hell? Maybe staying in the Feng clan as a primitive time traveler wouldn't be so bad. And besides, it's almost like a matriarchal society here.

Too late—once the arrow is loosed, there's no turning back. She had already met the Immortal and received her gift. There's no room for regrets now.

So, Feng Ke'er ended up just as discouraged as the Bodhi boy, her spirits utterly depleted.

Queyi asked with concern, "Are you uncomfortable? Should I fetch another bowl of water for you?"

"I'm fine, really." Feng Ke'er sniffed. "I'm just a little homesick." Though she could eat well on her own, her home was tied to her belt. Here, she ate poorly, dressed poorly, had no entertainment, and was constantly threatened by rules and danger—nothing like the comfort and freedom of modern life.

Queyi sighed, turned away, and tried to comfort her, "Don't be too sad. Once you enter the Azure Cloud Sect, you may find a way home. I wish you success, sister."

"Thank you." Feng Ke'er felt much better at those words. She wasn't a child to be placated with a few words. Azure Cloud was strict and hierarchical; how could a waste like her easily meet the great cultivators?

Still, however faint, hope is hope. With hope, there is life.

As the old dean once said: Even ants do not speak of giving up their lives lightly. Humans, the most intelligent of creatures, should never give up easily. When all seems lost, sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and push through. Then, when you open your eyes, perhaps you'll find the darkness has given way to light.

Tongtian Codex, Chapter 10: The Sorrow of Ants—update complete!