7. It is better to resolve a feud than to settle a score.

"Jiang Xuan is a potential-filled stock; a true protagonist only grows stronger in the face of adversity. He hasn't faced any major setbacks yet and his life is too comfortable, which is why his strength is currently lacking. Give him a little hardship, and he will stun everyone..." the System explained in a nagging, incessant tone.

Cui Huai wore a mocking smile. "Oh, is he that good? Tell me, if I were to kill him, would your mission fail?"

The previously chatty System fell into abrupt silence. Cui Huai thought to herself that she hadn't misjudged it—it really was foolish enough to be baited so easily.

It was a pity that Cui Huai was not one to kill the innocent without cause. However, she would keep a close eye on Jiang Xuan. The moment he took a wrong step, she, Cui Huai, would immediately act on behalf of the heavens and send him and the System to their graves together!

The System had no idea what was running through Cui Huai's mind. It remained silent, deciding that to save the protagonist's life, the "woo-the-male-lead" mission would have to be put on hold for now.

On her way back through the small woods, the canopy tree looked as elegant and refreshing as always. When she was in a good mood, the surrounding weeds were an eyesore; now that she was in a bad mood, they were like thorns in her sight.

Cui Huai made a swift decision. She went to find Elder Qingyan, reasoning that there was no time like the present to clear out those weeds and sweep away the gloom in her heart.

Elder Qingyan cared little for that patch of woods. Hearing that Cui Huai wanted to tidy it up, he readily agreed, even feeling quite gratified.

It was rare for a new disciple to have such a sense of belonging to the sect, wanting to contribute before even beginning her formal studies. Furthermore, he had heard that she had just exchanged blows with Jiang Xuan and defeated that rascal with her swordsmanship. Harmony and ambition among the disciples—this was a sign of a flourishing sect.

With her master's approval, Cui Huai had every right to clear the trees as she pleased.

The sect's swords were not designed for chopping wood, and having used her sword techniques earlier, her "seven-colored spirit root" body was too frail to handle more strain. Chopping trees was best done with raw force. Cui Huai specifically left the sect to borrow an axe from a woodcutter on the mountain.

"Old sir, may I borrow your axe? I will leave the felled trees by the main gate of the Xiaoyao Sect. You can pick them up tomorrow, saving you the effort of cutting them yourself."

The woodcutter agreed readily.

Having successfully obtained the axe, Cui Huai hacked away at the weeds surrounding the canopy tree until they were gone, then painstakingly hauled the logs to the gate for the woodcutter.

After returning the axe and accepting the woodcutter’s repeated thanks, she mused to herself that she was truly kind-hearted and helpful.

With the space around the canopy tree now clear, Cui Huai brought a chair and sat beneath it. A cool breeze blew, and the sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on her plain robes. Leaning back, she closed her eyes to rest, forgetting her previous troubles. It was pure bliss.

***

Fu Qin was in a good mood today. Although his junior sister had refused to spar with him, he had discovered a decent spring on a nearby mountain.

Phoenixes love to drink from sweet springs, but there were none in this remote wilderness. The sect’s water came from a well, and it was mediocre at best. Fu Qin spent his days wandering about, searching for a water source that might barely meet his standards.

Today was the sixth day of his search, and he had been lucky enough to find a clear, sweet spring—far superior to the yellow, astringent water of the Xiaoyao Sect. It was just good enough for his refined taste.

With this progress, even the mountains seemed greener and the sky bluer. However, his light-footed pace faltered the moment he reached the entrance of the Xiaoyao Sect.

What was lying next to those two pathetic stumps that served as the sect's pillars? Why did they look more like paulownia wood the more he stared?

Fu Qin couldn't help but step closer, squat down, and stare. He went rigid, his fists clenching, his teeth grinding.

It was paulownia!

Who? Which blind fool had chopped down a perfectly good paulownia tree?

Clinging to a final shred of hope, Fu Qin walked toward the small grove. Seeing the sparse layout and the now conspicuously exposed canopy tree, his heart plummeted off a cliff.

After a moment of grief, he noticed someone sitting under the tree. He forced the words out through a tight throat: "Junior sister, what happened to the paulownia trees here?"

Cui Huai, reclining on her chair, was startled by the voice but felt no displeasure. This third senior brother was lucky enough to be the first to witness her handiwork.

Cui Huai had held a high position for many years, used only to others reading her expressions; she possessed not a shred of social intuition. Ignoring Fu Qin’s gloomy face, she shared with a touch of excitement: "Third Senior Brother, the area used to be crowded with weeds. Now that I've cleared some away, doesn't it look much better? This canopy tree is a joy to behold. Without the weeds competing for nutrients, I’m sure it will grow even better. Don't you agree, Senior Brother?"

Fu Qin’s neck stiffened as he nodded. "Junior sister has a point. I saw the felled trees at the gate just now."

Hearing this, Cui Huai spoke of her good deed: "The woodcutter on the mountain works hard. I borrowed his axe, so I gave him the wood I cleared. Just a small gesture to help him out."

"Junior sister is truly kind-hearted, a role model for us all. I saw the second senior sister looking for you earlier. If you aren't busy, you should go find her; I’m afraid she’ll be worried if she can't find you."

Cui Huai felt sufficiently rested and prepared to take her chair with her.

Fu Qin waved a hand to stop her. "I see you’ve been enjoying the tranquility here, Junior Sister. Leave the chair for me; I’d like to rest for a while too."

"Alright, I'll come back for it after I see the senior sister."

It wasn't that Cui Huai was stingy about a chair. It was just that in the Xiaoyao Sect, each room was allotted only one chair. For a pauper like her, the chair was a vital asset; otherwise, she wouldn't even have a place to sit back in her room.

***

Cui Huai found the second senior sister, who claimed she hadn't looked for her today. However, since classes were set to begin the day after next, the senior sister kept her there to discuss various sect matters, telling her not to be nervous or rush for results.

It seemed that her five days of seclusion had left a deep impression.

The senior sister was talkative but clearly cared for her. Surprisingly, Cui Huai didn't feel annoyed and patiently listened to every word.

By the time they parted, the sky was dim, with only a sliver of sunset fighting the encroaching darkness.

When she went to retrieve her chair, Cui Huai couldn't believe her eyes.

The grove was empty. Where was her magnificent canopy tree?

***

Only Fu Qin remained where the canopy tree had been, lounging in the chair. Cui Huai’s voice rose involuntarily as she demanded, "Senior Brother, where is the canopy tree?"

Fu Qin smoothed his sleeves and answered unhurriedly: "Junior sister, the woodcutter on the mountain works hard. I borrowed his axe, so I gave him the wood I cleared. Just a small gesture to help him out."

This was a clear admission of malice.

Cui Huai was furious. Having stood at the pinnacle of the cultivation world for years, her preferences were never ignored. Whenever she voiced a liking for something, countless people would scramble to satisfy her, hoping for even a fraction of her favor.

She never expected Fu Qin to dare trick her into leaving just so he could chop down her canopy tree while she was gone. He was truly audacious!

She gripped her sword hilt and declared war: "Senior Brother, you said this morning that you wanted to spar with me. Why don't we do it today?"

These words were exactly what Fu Qin wanted to hear. He agreed decisively—he still hadn't vented his anger from having his tree chopped down!

The moment Fu Qin nodded, Cui Huai pointed her sword tip directly at him. "Then please draw your sword, Senior Brother!"

Today, she would teach him a proper lesson and show him exactly who he couldn't afford to provoke!

***

The woodcutter was very happy today.

Usually, he was intimidated by the cultivators on the mountain. People often warned him: "How dare you wander near the cultivators? If you accidentally annoy them, taking your life would be nothing more than a wave of their hand."

He was just a mortal, and he was terrified. But the mountain was lush, and he had to eke out a living.

After all, if he didn't make money, he would starve to death immediately. Even if he were killed by a cultivator, wouldn't that at least be a few extra days of life?

As it turned out, the people of the Xiaoyao Sect were all kind, and there had never been any trouble over the years.

Today, a beautiful immortal fairy had come to borrow his axe. He had been scared to death at first, only to find that she was giving away free, pre-cut wood. What a kind person!

Just after the fairy returned the axe, another immortal as handsome as Pan An came to borrow the axe. Was the Xiaoyao Sect holding some kind of event that required so many axes?

The immortal looked gloomy and clearly very angry. Yet, his tone was polite, and he didn't take his anger out on him, even promising to give him some good timber.

The Xiaoyao Sect truly had many good people!

He hoped the Xiaoyao Sect would hold these "tree-chopping events" more often so he could follow along and reap the benefits!