Chapter Twelve: Barred at the Door

Since her master had decided to join the sect, Su Bailu stepped forward slowly and explained the situation in a low voice to the two young disciples.

After a moment, one of them looked at Lin Ze with slight surprise. "The Master wishes to join our Eastern Yue Sword Sect?"

The other glanced at Xiao Bao and shook his head. "The sect only recruits mortal disciples once every three years. Little brother, you should return home for now and come back in two years."

This was a clear case of differential treatment.

A cultivator who had reached Foundation Establishment could be called Master, and even a sect as prestigious as Eastern Yue was willing to make exceptions for such individuals. As long as one sincerely wished to join, even starting as an ordinary disciple, the elders on the various peaks would not treat you poorly.

But as for mortals with no cultivation at all, they would have to follow the sect's rules properly.

Hearing this, Xiao Bao's young face grew anxious. He cared little for joining a celestial sect; he only understood from these two senior brothers' words that they seemed intent on separating him from his master. Not daring to speak, he pouted and inched closer to Lin Ze in silence.

"If the Master has made up his mind, I have here a booklet listing the peaks within our sect that are willing to accept wandering cultivators. Please see if any are familiar to you," the young disciple offered politely, drawing out a booklet and handing it over.

Lin Ze glanced at it but did not reach out to take it. Instead, he explained, "This is my disciple."

The young disciple paused, forcing a smile. "If you wish to join our sect, all former worldly ties must be severed. I can see your disciple is extraordinary—he will almost certainly pass the entrance trial in two years. There’s no need to rush."

"However, even if your little brother enters the sect, you may not refer to him as 'disciple' any longer. From then on, you must address each other as fellow brothers."

With that, he offered the booklet again, smiling.

Lin Ze sighed. "No need, I choose Little Green Mountain."

At these words, the young disciple's expression changed slightly, his brows knitting together. "Little Green Mountain is not in the booklet, Master. Please do not jest with us."

A Foundation Establishment cultivator might earn some respect from the sect, but that didn't mean they would tolerate insolence. The thing they disliked most about wandering cultivators was their unrestrained nature—as if the world revolved around them. If you want to enter the sect, you must follow its rules. Letting you choose at all was already a courtesy; do not overstep.

The two young disciples dropped their smiles and watched the green-robed Taoist in silence. "If the Master has not decided, then please leave."

Hearing this, Lin Ze was somewhat helpless. These two young disciples seemed polite, but from the start, they had never intended to listen to his wishes. Though the Eastern Yue Sword Sect was a celestial sect, surely a person should at least be allowed to make himself understood.

Su Bailu pressed her lips together and gently stroked Xiao Bao's bald head. "How about this: why not let us in, and I’ll take him to try out at Clear Breeze Mountain?"

"Indeed," Zhao Ling stepped forward, glaring at the two. "When Clear Breeze Mountain recruits, it is not for the two of you to interfere."

"Oh?" one of the disciples sneered. "If Senior Sister Zhao insists, then please have Master Qingfeng come personally to receive them."

With that, the two folded their arms and planted themselves firmly, making it clear they would not be swayed by words.

Zhao Ling stamped her foot in anger but could do nothing about them. The gatekeepers were their own faction within the sect and rarely interacted with the other peaks. The reputation of Clear Breeze Mountain carried little weight with them.

She couldn’t truly call Master Qingfeng out—not only had she not informed her master yet, she had only been bluffing. Even if her master did come, how would Elder Lin respond? Watching Su Junior Sister address someone else as master would unsettle even the most magnanimous.

Moreover, even if Elder Lin was broad-minded, she knew her own master's temperament all too well—his heart was no larger than a needle’s eye. If he found out, Su Junior Sister would be in for trouble.

A trace of suspicion appeared in Su Bailu’s eyes. She felt that Senior Sister Zhao was behaving oddly today. It was her own junior brother, and yet Zhao seemed more anxious than anyone, even putting on a show of concern.

But this was not the time to dwell on it. Previously, her master had planned their arrival for the sect’s recruitment day, instructing her and the others to come and seek admission. Why, then, had he sent her young junior brother—who was so little and bore no marks of cultivation—here in such a rush?

If the two gatekeepers insisted on upholding the rules and refused them entry, Su Bailu could not think of a better solution. Her master, though a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was old and a wandering cultivator at that; his chances of entering the inner sect were slim at best. He would likely serve as an outer-sect official, starting as an ordinary disciple.

She herself was only an outer-sect disciple.

No matter how she looked at it, she could not attract the gatekeepers’ notice.

After thinking for a while, she gritted her teeth and decided to appeal to Master Qingfeng. No matter what, she could not let her master return in disappointment today.

She raised her head, about to approach the ancient bronze gate, when she saw her master make a move.

Lin Ze turned to see the little one clutching his robe in anxiety and patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.

In truth, solving this problem was simple. Just because these two lacked discernment didn’t mean everyone in the Eastern Yue Sword Sect was blind. If he mentioned Xiao Bao’s potential, the old fellows within would scramble over themselves to claim him.

But Lin Ze did not wish to do that.

He had come to the sect to poach talent, not to hand over his disciple.

Other than that, there was only one solution left. Lin Ze shook his head, took an envelope from his belongings, and handed it to the two disciples.

He would not have drawn the sect’s attention so soon if it hadn’t been necessary. There were supposed enemies within the sect; the later his presence was discovered, the better—but he would not force matters.

"Please, friends, open the gate," Lin Ze said politely, for the two were only fulfilling their duties and had not deliberately made things difficult.

"Hmm?" One of the disciples glanced at the envelope. When he saw the emblem of Green Mountain, he frowned. "You are from Little Green Mountain?"

Before Lin Ze could reply, the other disciple suddenly called out, "Wait, I remember now—there are no more disciples at Little Green Mountain!"

At these words, everyone present recalled that just half a month ago, Little Green Mountain’s lineage had been severed, which had been the talk of the sect. After decades of decline, following the death of the last elder, Little Green Mountain was now an empty peak.

The only one who recognized the letter was Su Bailu, but even she was bewildered. The letter had been entrusted to her by a servant disciple from a neighboring peak, and the matter had been shrouded in secrecy.

So, it had come from Little Green Mountain?

"How dare you forge our sect’s correspondence—what are you after?" The two disciples drew their swords, ready for confrontation.

"Trying to impersonate a disciple of Little Green Mountain to sneak into our sect—do you really take us for fools!"

At this, Su Bailu, her face flushed with anger, tried to explain. The letter was genuinely from the sect; how could her master have forged it?

Before she could speak, Lin Ze frowned and said seriously, "I am not a disciple of Little Green Mountain."

"Ha!" The disciple’s thick brows shot up, and a jade slip appeared in his hand. He was about to crush it, which would summon a senior to apprehend this wandering cultivator.

Unhurried, Lin Ze continued, "But Little Green Mountain belongs to me."

"What?"

The two disciples’ hands, poised to crush the jade slip, hesitated for a moment.