Reluctant Talent on Display
Baek Cheong's eyes widened in surprise at Mongyo's sudden appearance. Thanks to her eldest brother introducing his senior brothers and sisters earlier, she knew that Mongyo was her brother's senior and had reached the late stages of Core Formation.
"Seeing you in person, you're way cuter and more adorable than I imagined."
Mongyo gently pinched and pulled at Baek Cheong's soft cheeks with both hands. Under that touch, Baek Cheong powerlessly yielded.
"Auu... Pwease wet go..."
As Baek Cheong let out a muffled whine with her cheeks squished, Mongyo burst into laughter and released her hands.
"Hoho, sorry! You were just too cute—I couldn't help it. Call me Mongyo unnie casually, okay?"
"Y-yes, Mongyo Unnie. It's an honor to meet you."
Baek Cheong gave an awkward smile and took a step back. The overly friendly approach from a stranger was bound to feel burdensome.
"Right, Cheongie. Have you ever thought about joining our Biun Sect?"
Mongyo abruptly suggested joining the sect. Baek Cheong questioned her own ears at the unexpected proposal.
"Pardon? Me? To the Biun Sect?"
"Yeah! Your big brother is already there, and our little junior Jinwi has been head over heels for you. If you join the Biun Sect, I'll buy you delicious spirit fruits every day and teach you how to ride clouds. Training with unnie would be so much fun—what do you say?"
Mongyo coaxed her in a sweet, tempting voice, like soothing a child. It stemmed from pure affection—the kid who had the youngest disciple Jinwi smitten for days was just too endearing, and she wanted to keep her close like a little sister.
But Baek Cheong saw it differently. The narrow gate that countless disciples risked their lives to enter was wide open before her, yet to her, a sect meant suffocating rules, rigid hierarchies, and endless factional infighting—another name for hell.
Better to refine pills in the pill room instead.
Baek Cheong desperately racked her brain for an excuse to refuse.
"Ah... The Biun Sect is such an amazing place. Someone like me, with trash O-yeong-geun, no talent, and a lazy bum who just loves playing around—I'd get kicked out in no time."
She played the part of an innocent flower raised in a greenhouse, building an ironclad defense.
But Mongyo breezed right through her walls.
"Pfft, no worries. Our sect is tough, sure, but unnie will stick right by your side and protect you. No one will touch our little Cheong! Senior Brother Baek Gyu will guard his adorable sister too."
Under Mongyo's persistent persuasion, Baek Cheong felt her insides burning. As she squeezed her mind for a way out,
"Senior Sister, please stop. You're putting Miss Baek in a tough spot."
Jinwi stepped forward like a savior, reining in Mongyo.
"Oh? What's our haughty little junior doing, blocking the way like this?"
Mongyo alternated glances between Jinwi and Baek Cheong with amused interest. A mischievous glint reappeared strongly in her eyes.
"How on earth did you melt our proud little junior? You've had him moaning your name and bedridden for days. Care to spill a little to unnie?"
As Mongyo winked at Baek Cheong, Jinwi's face flushed red as a persimmon once more.
"S-Senior Sister! Why say it so teasingly? I was simply deeply impressed by Miss Baek's enlightenment!"
"Enlightenment?"
Mongyo echoed in confusion, and Jinwi couldn't hold back, spilling everything about the scene Baek Cheong had shown him days ago.
"Miss Baek's deployment of multiple spells was nothing short of divine. She simultaneously cast five basic spells of different attributes without a single error or strain. Her divine sense division and precise energy control—it's a lifelong goal I'll chase!"
Mongyo's eyes widened round at Jinwi's fervent praise. Deploying multiple spells was something even seasoned cultivators rarely attempted recklessly. It wasn't recommended from the start—closer to something you wouldn't even consider.
"What? Five spells at once? Different attributes?"
Mongyo stared piercingly at Baek Cheong, hardly believing it. She'd seen the child only as a cute little sister, but now glimpsed a hint of intriguing talent. Her curiosity shifted from mere fondness to the inquisitive drive of a true cultivator.
"Cheongie, is that true? How did your channels not tangle? Could you show unnie just once?"
Mongyo clasped Baek Cheong's hands tightly, pleading earnestly. Baek Cheong bit her lip inwardly cursing Jinwi at the sudden turn.
Damn that clueless pure-root kid! Stirring up trouble for nothing.
She yanked her hands free and waved them frantically.
"N-no! Senior Brother Jinwi must have seen wrong. It was just a trick, nothing more."
She flailed to escape, but the water was already spilled. Jinwi's excited voice and Mongyo's dogged insistence drew the attention of everyone nearby. The minor commotion in one corner of the camaraderie banquet spread even to the Biun Sect members.
"Ho, multiple spells, eh? I'm dying to see what talent captivated our junior from the Baek family."
The Biun Sect's eldest senior brother, Wang San, turned his gaze with interest. His fellow seniors looked on with curious eyes as well. Only Baek Gyu watched with eyes full of brotherly pride, as if it was only natural for his sister.
Soon, every eye in the banquet hall focused on Baek Cheong.
Haa...
Baek Cheong sighed deeply inside and stood from her seat. Since it had come to this, better to show something moderate and wrap it up quickly.
No choice...
She walked to the center of the banquet hall. Though it felt like a stage under countless gazes, it only filled her with annoyance from unwanted attention.
"My meager skills might trouble the eyes of all you seniors, but I'll give it a try."
She laid the groundwork first, then closed her eyes. From her dantian, she drew up the five elements' energies. She split off a portion of her divine sense lightly into five strands. Using the divided senses, she controlled the energies according to the incantations.
Opening her eyes, she lightly raised both hands into the air.
Flame orb, water stream technique, earth wall technique, wind blade, illumination spell. Exactly the same five basic spells she'd shown Jinwi.
Five distinct spells of different attributes clearly bloomed from her hands simultaneously. There was no clashing between them or tangling of channels.
It was control as natural as breathing.
"Ooh...!"
Exclamations erupted from various spots in the banquet hall. Mostly from the Baek family elders who had only heard rumors.
The Biun Sect members watched the scene with surprised eyes too. Maintaining such stable forms while deploying mutually clashing five elements' energies simultaneously proved exceptional channel sturdiness and divine sense handling.
But the Biun Sect's astonishment ended there.
Impressive talent, sure... but still just basic spells.
Wang San observed with interest but rendered his inner verdict. The other seniors wore light smiles, as if watching a novel trick.
They were top talents of the Biun Sect to begin with, and with basic spells, they could replicate it on the spot if they tried. Basic spells imposed minimal strain on channels or divine sense, so it came off as a talented Refining Qi child's neat trick.
Thus, only the young and low-realm Jinwi gazed in awe with sparkling eyes. Baek Gyu simply beamed proudly at his cute sister showing off, bragging to his seniors that she was his sibling.
Good, that should be enough.
Baek Cheong, satisfied with the atmosphere of a child performing a feat, dispersed the spells. She deliberately avoided using her white pearl magic tool or overwhelming displays like the ice dragon chain—just in case she got dragged into the sect as a disciple.
She returned to her seat amid the adults' praise.
"Wow! Cheongie, that was amazing! Unnie's totally smitten!"
Mongyo clapped as she rushed over and hugged Baek Cheong tightly.
"Refining Qi stage, yet handling divine sense like a pro. So pretty and talented—I want to drag you to our sect right now!"
At Mongyo's sincere praise and relentless recruitment, Baek Cheong broke into a cold sweat.
"A, ha, ha... Thank you. But the sect is... I'll visit to look around when I have time later."
She tossed out a vague excuse to escape the persistent attention.
But Mongyo latched onto it.
"Oh, really? It's a promise! Unnie will be waiting, so you have to come play!"
Mongyo leaned in close, demanding confirmation. Baek Cheong had no choice but to nod.
Meanwhile, Jinwi, watching from behind, couldn't hide his beaming face.
Ah... Feels like I've really stepped in it.
Baek Cheong sweated coldly at the promise sealed in an instant. An unwanted schedule seemed to have popped up out of nowhere. She already started brainstorming excuses in her head.
...I never said when.
With that, Baek Cheong inwardly justified her ironclad alibi and flashed an awkward smile.