The Yin-Yang Sect consisted of nine great peaks: one main peak, five great halls, two pavilions, and one garden.
One of the Five Great Halls of the sect, the Combat Hall was a vast, multi-tiered arena designed for unrestricted martial training. Unlike the austere training grounds of lesser sects, this hall was built to endure destruction, its walls inscribed with reinforcement arrays, its floors self-repairing from the constant barrage of techniques. Here, disciples could unleash their full power without restraint, sparring against combat puppets, testing weapons, or engaging in brutal duels to prove their strength.
The most recent competition was a battle royal to decide the top seventy-five to receive a token to the secret realm. While the majority of the duels were conflicts between sect members.
As a sect that accepts people from all walks of life, conflict is inevitable. The elders, who themselves have experienced what the outside world was like, knew that conflict was a stimulant for growth if used properly. As long as the disciples did not break sect rules, they were able to use dueling as a way to reach a compromise, as long as the two parties consented. The winner takes all while the loser gets nothing.
The Combat Hall, which was normally quiet with a small number of disciples practicing, was bustling with activity. From the outer disciples to the elders, every member of the sect was excited for the upcoming duel.
Bai Shuying wore her new robes that she received from her master, which were more white and less pink with a blue sash around her abdomen; she strapped the refilled Yin Gourd to her waist, and her red hair that cascaded to her lower back was tied into a high ponytail. Bai Shuying turned her gaze to her right ankle to see if the anklet was there, since she did not want to repeat the same mistake she had made with Hua Qingyan. She sighed in relief seeing it there. She walked out of Su Meilin's residence and made her way to the Combat Hall.
"Hmm, why is it so quiet today?"
Bai Shuying curiously observed her surroundings and found it odd that there were no disciples around; usually, the sect was filled with disciples doing their own thing. As Bai Shuying came closer to the Combat Hall, she saw a small figure wearing pinkish robes with twin tails swaying in the air.
"Shuying!"
Xiao Yunxi, with a bright smile, bounced up and down, waving her hand, signaling Bai Shuying with excitement. Bai Shuying's lips curved into an effortless smile at the sight of her, and she closed the distance between them with eager strides.
"Yunxi, what are you doing out here?"
"Of course, I'm here to cheer you on!"
Xiao Yunxi said, waving her little fist in the air.
Bai Shuying smiled, feeling warmth in her heart, knowing that a friend was cheering her on. Suddenly, Xiao Yunxi pulled out a plain paper book from her spatial ring. Bai Shuying's smile froze, seeing the book, she wanted to turn around and flee. Xiao Yunxi held the book up, covering her mouth, her big eyes shining, and she rapidly stepped closer to Bai Shuying, almost hitting her face with the book. Foiling her opportunity to escape.
"Shuying, did you read the new volume?!"
Xiao Yunxi excitedly said. Bai Shuying shook her head.
"Aww, that's too bad. When you have a chance, you should definitely read it."
Bai Shuying could only helplessly nod her head.
"But Shuying, I was right!"
Xiao Yunxi said with a serious expression, confidence in her voice, while Bai Shuying tilted her head in confusion.
"Right about what?"
"Mo Yan happened!"
When did Mo Yan happen?!
Bai Shuying yelled internally while Xiao Yunxi opened the book and explained, since she felt Bai Shuying was dense in matters involving love.
"See, after the two fought, they held hands and looked at the sunset. The author Xiao Bai is clearly expressing the blooming of love, even in the previous book, where the author built a lot of sexual tension between the two. What a true love guru Xiao Bai is!"
Tension between rivals, not sexual tension! It's not the blooming of love! It's sisterhood!
Bai Shuying retorted Xiao Yunxi in her mind, but did not dare to say it out loud. Bai Shuying could see how invested Xiao Yunxi was in this pairing. Bai Shuying felt complicated on the inside. She never thought of making Mo Yan happen, but everyone seems to think she, Xiao Bai, wants Mo Yan to be a thing.
So frustrating!
Bai Shuying thought. She was annoyed that what she wrote and intended was being misunderstood, turning into something she never meant to be.
When Bai Shuying started to write Love in the Ashes, her motive was to get rich quickly, and the best way was to ensnare the hearts of many people through love novels. So, the first volume included everything Bai Shuying believed to be an ideal love based on all the cotton candy lovey-dovey stuff she read in her past life, and this was a great hit to all the women and a small number of the young men in the Yin-Yang Sect.
But after learning about Hua Qingyan's past, she changed her motive, trying to impart valuable lessons through her books, so the second volume was about Ye Ming betraying Su Yan for Mo Xinyu. Bai Shuying failed to realize that cheating was a common occurrence in the Yin-Yang Sect.
This is what led to the creation of the three relationship groups that Bai Shuying never expected to happen. Tired and confused, Bai Shuying said fuck it, and flipped everything for the third volume.
She made Su Yan and Mo Xinyu fight, then reconcile, realizing that Ye Ming was not worth it, expressing that love was fleeting but friendship was eternal. Bai Shuying felt the path of a single dog was the true way, but she would realize in the future that such a path does not welcome her.
By doing this, Bai Shuying messed up again!
When she wrote this ending, she wrote it with a man's mentality. Men fight, trade blows, then brush it off with a laugh. No hard feelings, right? But women? Women remember. Look at Hua Qingyan, how many years had she dreamed of slitting that bastard's throat? Only time and the weight of motherhood dulled the edge of her rage.
So when the demonesses of the Yin-Yang Sect read these books, they were expecting one of the women to be killed, some even started to wager and speculate which one would die, but they never expected the two women to reconcile. To these demonesses, it felt as if an explosion went off in their minds. Usually they compete for food, cough, men!
Bai Shuying wanted to emphasize friendship and sisterhood, but to the readers, it was the blooming of love! A forbidden relationship that made their hearts flutter with excitement. The majority of the sect had no such inclinations in same sex relationships, but the unique perspective and emotions conveyed by Xiao Bai made them question their behavior. For the demonesses to get ahead, they stepped on their fellow disciples' backs and destroyed many relationships. Now, all of them wonder if it was worth it. For their cultivation and pleasure, was it worth it to harm their peers?
Even Mo Xingyu, who hated Xiao Bai, started to have doubts because the story reflected her and Hua Qingyan's past.
Bai Shuying looked at the excited, heavy-breathing Xiao Yunxi, who squirmed as she reread certain passages. Honestly, Bai Shuying was creeped out.
"Cough, Yunxi, we should head into the arena."
Bai Shuying said, waking Xiao Yunxi from her odd behavior.
"Oh."
Embarrassed, Xiao Yunxi scratched the back of her head and placed the book back inside the spatial ring. She stuck her small tongue out at Bai Shuying and said.
"Let's go, Shuying!"
Xiao Yunxi turned and led the way, Bai Shuying shook her head, but a slight smile appeared on her face as she followed along inside the Combat Hall.
I'll just put this whole book thing behind me. I'm never writing again!
Bai Shuying thought happily as she completed the book and vowed not to release another book; the current one already gave her enough headaches.
Bai Shuying may not write another book, but in the future, she will realize that she will not be able to leave the one she has already written behind. Her biggest headache would be an all-female sect that dislikes men, which resonated with her work.
…
As Bai Shuying stepped into the Combat Hall, which she visited often due to the private tutoring by the local sword master Su, she was stunned.
The Combat Hall, which barely had any people to the point where you could hear crickets, was now filled to the brim.
"Hey, when is it starting?"
"Hopefully, soon."
"I'm betting on Xiao Wuji!"
Bai Shuying was overwhelmed at the number of people who came to watch her duel.
What's going on?! It's just a simple duel!
Unbeknownst to Bai Shuying, Mo Xingyu had taken it upon herself to advertise the duel to the entire sect, ensuring every last elder and disciple would be there to witness the spectacle. Not that it took much persuasion. Cultivators, for all their lofty aspirations and centuries-long lifespans, were still creatures of boredom at heart. The moment whispers of juicy gossip or the promise of a fight arose, they came flocking like crows to carrion, melon seeds already cracking between their fingers in anticipation.
Xiao Yunxi did not expect so many people either. She observed her surroundings and spotted something interesting. She turned her gaze to the dazed Bai Shuying and pulled on the sleeves of her robes.
Bai Shuying, who was focused on the crowd of people, felt a tug on her sleeve. She turned her attention to her sleeve and saw Xiao Yunxi pulling her in a certain direction. Confused, Bai Shuying looked at the place where Xiao Yunxi was taking her.
"Yunxi, do you want to place a bet?"
"Yup!"
Xiao Yunxi happily answered Bai Shuying and dragged her to the disciple, writing down bets.
"Senior brother, what are the odds?"
The young man who was writing paused and turned his gaze to the person who spoke. Seeing Xiao Yunxi and especially Bai Shuying, he froze. Bai Shuying tilted her head, and Xiao Yunxi waved her hand in front of the young man.
"Senior brother?"
The young man quickly shook his head, his face slightly red, and said.
"Y-yes, well, I can't give any specific numbers, but…"
Bai Shuying and Xiao Yunxi waited for the young man to finish his words, but the young man looked left and right, slowly leaned in, and said in a low voice.
"The odds are skewed in Xiao Wuji's favor."
Bai Shuying and Xiao Yunxi were stunned for a moment, but soon Xiao Yunxi covered her mouth with her hands, suppressing her laughter while Bai Shuying looked at the young man with an expressionless face, thinking.
Hmph, so they underestimate me by this much?
The young man found the behavior of the two juniors to be odd, but shrugged his shoulders and asked.
"Ehm, would you like to place bets? If so, just tell me your names and how much you would like to bet?"
"Yes! My name is Xiao Yunxi. I'll place 1000 small spiritual stones on Bai Shuying."
Xiao Yunxi cheerfully said. The young man quickly wrote it down on two sheets of paper, one he kept and the other he handed to Xiao Yunxi. After finishing, he turned his attention to Bai Shuying.
Xiao Yunxi smiled more brightly and urged Bai Shuying to hurry up. Bai Shuying's lips twitched because she knew what Xiao Yunxi was waiting to hear.
"My name is Bai Shuying. I'll place 100 medium spiritual stones on Bai Shuying."
The young man quickly wrote down what he heard, but after he finished writing, he froze and slowly looked back up at Bai Shuying.
"U-uhh, excuse me for asking again, but what was your name?"
Xiao Yunxi almost fell over from laughter while Bai Shuying smiled.
"My name is Bai Shuying."
The young man felt cold sweat on his forehead. He quickly handed the slip to Bai Shuying and fled.
Bai Shuying watched the young man leave and turned her gaze to the laughing Xiao Yunxi. Xiao Yunxi feeling Bai Shuying's gaze, looked at her face, seeing her lips curved up, but her eyes not smiling, made Xiao Yunxi feel a slight chill.
"Cough, well, Shuying, let's head to the contestant waiting area."
Xiao Yunxi said as she quickly turned and started to walk. Bai Shuying looked at her back for a moment, which made Xiao Yunxi flinch. Bai Shuying smiled and followed her.