Volume 1 Chapter 39: The Heroine, Raised in a Greenhouse

Tn: Edited at 7 / 9 / 2025

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Volume 1 Chapter 39: The Heroine, Raised in a Greenhouse

No one really knew how much time had passed when a familiar, energetic voice rang out from the cave entrance.

"I'm back!!"

The two girls who had been huddled together instinctively looked toward the opening—only to see a petite, delicate-looking figure striding inside, effortlessly carrying a snow deer that was at least seven or eight times her size.

Feng Yudie was a complete mess. She was covered in snow and mud, her clothes torn in several places. Her usually neat silver ponytail had unraveled into a tousled cascade. She looked like she had just survived a brutal battle—but her expression was as spirited as ever.

However, the moment she stepped inside and caught sight of Pei Lengxue and Xiao Yunluo sitting very closely together, she froze.

Why are they clinging to each other like that?!

Brows furrowed, Feng Yudie stomped over to the fire, tossed the snow deer onto the ground with a loud thud, and shot a suspicious look at Xiao Yunluo.

"Senior Sister Xiao... what exactly did you just do to Junior Sister Pei?"

Xiao Yunluo blinked. "What do you mean, do?"

"I mean... whenever I get close to Junior Sister Pei, she slaps me away like I'm a pest! But you? You get all snuggly with her and she doesn't even flinch?"

"…"

Xiao Yunluo had no response to that level of logic. She simply sighed and turned her attention to the giant deer on the ground.

"This deer…"

"Took me ages to find it," Feng Yudie said with a stretch, slapping the deer's side with pride. "The thing was fast as hell! I had to run after it for half the mountain."

Pei Lengxue, now sitting up, gave the deer a side glance and frowned. "I told you to find some food—not bring back a whole feast. That thing could feed a small sect."

"Come on, it's my first time seeing something like this," Feng Yudie said with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of her head. "I figured I'd test my skills— and hey, I caught it."

"…I'll do the butchering."

Pei Lengxue sighed, pulling off her outer robe and handing it to Xiao Yunluo. Then, she stood up, pulled a skinning knife from her storage bag, and walked over to the deer.

In an instant—steel flashed, blood spilled.

Draining, skinning, gutting. It was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance.

Within moments, all that remained of the giant snow deer were bones and entrails, neatly separated and stacked.

Xiao Yunluo and Feng Yudie watched the whole process unfold, both thoroughly shaken.

They had never seen a girl handle a demonic beast with such ease. The work was swift, clean, and efficient—so unlike the usual messy, gory process that even seasoned male cultivators balked at.

Xiao Yunluo gulped. "Junior Sister Pei… have you, uh, done this often?"

Pei Lengxue looked over and nodded cheerfully. "I used to live in a beast lair for a few months. Had to eat monster meat every day, so I got good at this. Hehe~"

As she remembered her time with her senior brother back then, she couldn't help but smile—a soft, sweet smile full of fondness.

But in Xiao Yunluo's eyes… it was straight-up terrifying.

A bloodstained beauty, with knife in hand and a grin on her face—what kind of nightmare is this?!

Soon enough, Pei Lengxue was calmly threading deer meat onto wooden skewers like she'd done it a thousand times.

Once they'd finished their impromptu feast, the three of them settled down again, focusing on meditation and spiritual energy circulation to pass the time.

Several hours later, the snow outside had finally stopped.

After packing up, they resumed their journey on foot, heading toward the main peak of the Profound Star Sect.

Descending from the Mountain, they entered a vast marshland.

Due to the intense spiritual energy in the area, the swamp was now thick with toxic miasma. Visibility was no more than a few meters. According to Xiao Yunluo, this place was called the Visionlost Swamp—a place where alchemists from the Profound Star Sect often came to collect poisonous insects for research. It was also home to demonic beasts like giant crocodiles and pythons.

So, the three girls had no choice but to slow their pace, moving cautiously, step by step.

Feng Yudie took the lead, slicing through vines and weeds with her sword to clear the path ahead. Her sharp eyes scanned for hidden scorpions or vipers—but her thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

'How should I cheer up Junior Sister Pei?'

Up to now, Feng Yudie had already tried over a dozen of the methods listed in her master's scroll, "The Art of Gaining Favor".

Not. A. Single. One. Worked.

Actually—scratch that. Not only did they not work, she was pretty sure Junior Sister Pei was beginning to hate her.

She'd tried acting cool and assertive—Junior Sister Pei looked at her like she was a brainless fool.

She tried playing the loyal dog—Almost got skewered with a sword.

She tried flattery—Completely ignored.

She tried making herself look weak so Junior Sister Pei could feel superior—Got punched in the face.

She tried being sweet and caring—Junior Sister Pei thought she was up to something shady.

…

"Uuugh—" Feng Yudie groaned aloud.

『Yudie, what nonsense are you thinking this time?』

A tiny spirit popped out from her forehead and floated lazily onto her shoulder, arms crossed and legs dangling like some grumpy fairy.

『Every time you sigh like that, you're definitely daydreaming about something dumb.』

Feng Yudie gave it a sideways glance and mumbled, "Xiaotian… why do you think Junior Sister Pei just can't smile at me? Just once…"

『Hah…』

The spirit let out a disdainful snort and rolled its eyes.

『Don't ask me! If you had a crush on some male cultivator, I could actually give you advice—maybe even help out a little. But a girl? No way! Not happening! Hmph!』

With a harrumph, Xiaotian delivered a light kick to her forehead before disappearing back into her soul realm with a puff of spiritual mist.

And just then, Feng Yudie suddenly stopped in her tracks and raised her hand.

"Wait—!!"

"Eh?! A beast?!"

Xiao Yunluo, walking behind her, jumped in alarm and immediately scanned the thick, misty swamp around them. But all she could see was fog and more fog.

At the rear, Pei Lengxue had also sensed something. She didn't hesitate to draw her sword, instantly shifting into a defensive stance.

"…Not a beast," Pei Lengxue said softly. "A person."

"A person?"

Xiao Yunluo blinked in confusion.

If it was a person, they were likely other sect applicants—this sect trial forbade infighting among disciples. Most people who ran into each other chose to team up to survive the beasts and traps.

But…

Seeing the grave expressions on Pei and Feng's faces, she asked, "What kind of person?"

Feng Yudie narrowed her eyes. "Someone just scanned us with their spiritual sense. And it wasn't friendly."

"Not friendly?" Xiao Yunluo echoed—still trying to wrap her head around it.

And then—

Clang!

Pei Lengxue abruptly twisted around, swinging her sword behind Xiao Yunluo with lightning speed.

The sound of steel meeting steel rang through the swamp like a bell. Sparks flew.

Xiao Yunluo froze in place, her body reacting a beat too slow. She turned her head and paled.

A masked cultivator in black stood mere steps away, dagger aimed straight at her neck. If not for Pei Lengxue's quick sword, she would've been dead—stabbed clean through the throat.

She didn't even notice when he'd gotten so close.

Panic shot through her chest. She fumbled into her storage bag and called out her sword—only to completely miss the grip.

The sword whooshed out of the bag… and soared right into the air.

The masked cultivator's eyes gleamed with ridicule.

Seeing an opening, Pei Lengxue flipped her blade and went in for a counterstrike at his neck—but the man used the momentum to leap backward, vanishing into the thick fog.

Then, from somewhere in the mist, a second voice rang out—male, mocking, and clearly amused.

"Such a fine sword… too bad its owner's all looks and no skill—AHAHAHA!"

Xiao Yunluo's eyes widened. My sword!

She glanced upward, but it was already gone.

"…"

She stood there in stunned silence, completely frozen.

Feng Yudie moved to stand beside her, while Pei Lengxue stepped in front. Together, they boxed her in, taking up defensive positions.

"Senior Sister Xiao," Feng said seriously, "stay between me and Junior Sister Pei. There are at least four of them. And the one who just attacked you… he's at least at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm."