Unwanted teammate

A few days passed and I visited Baozhi's hall more often since we had to discuss on the plans we had for the hunting tournament, the few days has kept me occupied and when I got back to the hall, my master doesn't spare me a break as well, making me practice on using the whip and when I childishly complained, he always replies with; "Learn to use the whip or get whipped instead, your choice."

I wanted to cry at that moment but had no tears to shed, my fault for deciding to participate on the tournament out of the blue and I knew my master was only being strict with me so I can stay focused.

At my masters courtyard, I was being trained to use the whip and he was in full master mode as he observed my moves, at this point I was asked to convene the shimmering golden ropes again, the three tails of the whip I had summoned earlier. Using the whip wasn't specifically hard but drawing my spiritual flow into it was the hard part.

My master carefully observed me and when I lashed the whip forward, the same energy palpitated through my system once more and the golden whip glowed in it's dazzling golden light, I gasped as those three tails of the whip lashed out and my hands trembled but I tried keeping myself together.

"You've functioned the whip into summoning it's powers, good start but it'll all depend on your opponent's technique and amount of power you're going to use, knowing when it's the right time to strike and when you have to slow down on your pace...." he continued while the tails of the whip shimmered with power, moving with such stealth mode like they were waiting to attack and destroy. Understanding my masters word, I lashed the whip into a stone and watched as the stone split into three with a clean cut. The whip made a slithered sound after causing the lash and I dropped it once more unable to bear how strong the effect of it's powers where claiming my body. My master walked up to the stone I just sliced into three before turning to meet my gaze.

"Your powers are.....escalating too fast." he said almost like he was talking to himself and not to me, I gazed at the whip on the floor with a skeptical look, was it cause of the whip or is it just my spiritual flow being affected by the stone? I was confused myself and bent to pick it up once the power died.

"Do you think I should stop using the...."

"No." he cut me off before I could finish. "There's no need for you to do that, the whip drew your attention right from when you saw it, I don't expect you to drop it just yet." he said and I nodded to his words, a bit grateful he didn't agree to me dropping it.

"I obviously can't control how much energy flow's into the whip, what if I hurt someone?" I worriedly asked.

"You won't." he assured me. "Just reduce using the whip too often except for critical purposes okay?"

I replied with a bow but I was still curious about the power inside of me, I just hope the stone's energy leaves me soon but I was in a mood to change the topic and smiled when an idea popped up at the last minute.

"Qui Shan, I'm hungry for some fried sauce noodles and I'm wondering if you'd like to make one with me." I innocently asked but then realized all too soon the mistake I've made, how could I possibly invite my master to the kitchen and immediately shook the thought away.

"I...I mean forget it." I hesitantly added but he was standing right beside me with a charming smile on his lips and I met his gaze.

"How could I possibly forget, I might have a key ingredient for this."

His words made me remember our first time in the kitchen but then it was all pure coincidence, I blushed and lowered my gaze.

"What key ingredient would that be?" I shyly asked and he held my hand placing it around his arm.

"You'll find out once we start." The thought of cooking never excited me as it did now and with that, he took me straight to the kitchen.

~ ~

I was summoned the next day at Baozhi's hall, it was so sudden I couldn't help wondering on the way what the problem might be. When I got there, truly, they didn't seem too happy which got me worried, did something happen? they noticed my prescence, glancing my way and I walked up to them, Zhangjie was the first to show his annoyance.

"Our plans just got twisted Shanxia." he said leaving me confused and puzzled at the same time.

"I don't understand."

They suddenly casted their gaze on something behind me and when I turned around to see what it was, MingXia was heading towards us with a smile on her cherry red lips, my eyes grew wider at the sight of her and the recollection of how she tried to frame me made me hiss out in complete annoyance.

"No one smile at her." Zhangjie whispered so only the three of us could here and I cleared my throat once she approached us, after her plan failed awfully the other day, there could be a chance she'll try to harm me again but today, she completely ignored me which wasn't surprising at all, infact I liked it and I realized all four of us had our gaze on her.

"Don't just stare at me, we need to figure out how to get the prize." she uttered walking over to a table to grab a book which Zhangjie literally snatched from her.

"You should know you aren't welcomed here." Zhangjie stated clearly and really wasn't smiling but MingXia remained calm with folded arms.

"I don't get you at all Zhangjie, she's welcomed here but I'm not." she gestured towards me while I blinked at her still confused by the whole situation.

"She's more tolerable than you." Bai QingQing added with a her lips slightly curved which seemed to annoy MingXia but she held herself and smiled once more.

"There's obviously nothing you can do to change that I'm on your team now, our master's already spoke and besides we're of the same year in cultivation unlike someone whose powers got limited."

I knew she was talking about me and I tried my best not to glare at her, Yang Fe finally intervened.

"That's disrespectful MingXia, watch your words unless you're ready to face it's consequences." he bit back and I blinked at him, surprised he just stood up for me. MingXia seeing everyone was against her immediately faked innocence.

"Don't get serious Yang Fe, I didn't mean it okay?"

Gosh she looks so innocent anyone would believe her words but it seems Baozhi's disciple knew her too well to know she was faking it, that I felt really glad for.

"What is your main purpose for joining our team?" Yang Fe questioned while Bai QingQing nodded in agreement.

"The hunting tournament is in four days time, why decide to join out of the blue like this?"

Their question made sense, if MingXia actually planned on joining them, she could have said it before now. MingXia paused for a while and suddenly let out a sigh.

"Alright fine, I have no problems with you three, I joined cause you three are literally the best in Mount Xuandu and this years prize is a satisfying one, if we could work together just this once and get that dagger, you do know what it means for Mount Xuandu."

Baozhi's disciple remained quiet, she smiled and continued. "I want our sect to get that dagger so I'm willing to work with you cause we're skilled and more experienced. We might not have participated together but there's always a first time for everything am I right?"

I studied her for a moment, although her words sounded genuine, I couldn't accept the fact she doesn't actually have a motive behind it but our hands were tied and she was part of team now, there was nothing we could do and as for me, it's like trouble decided to visit me once again.