Why Does My Master Give Me Special Treatment?

Yun Zhaowei overnight became the most valuable gossip in the Taichu Immortal Sect.

How valuable? So valuable that the next day, as soon as she stepped out of her room, Senior Sister Zhou, who usually looked down her nose at her, actually gave her an extremely bright—bright enough to be creepy—smile.

"Junior Sister Yun, up so early." Senior Sister Zhou even kindly handed her a box of Beauty Pills that she usually treasured dearly. "The mountain fog is heavy, a girl needs proper care."

Yun Zhaowei paused mid-step, almost thinking she was still dreaming.

She stiffly twitched the corner of her mouth, didn't dare take the box, and slipped out of the disciple quarters.

Along the way, similar scenes kept happening.

On the outer sect path, the disciples who usually avoided her like a snake, afraid of catching her "trash luck," were now in small groups. Though still whispering, their gazes toward her mingled envy, scrutiny, curiosity, and exploration, but the former contempt was missing.

"Look, it's her. That Lingxiao Token is hanging right on her waist."

"Tsk, appearances can be deceiving. I thought she was doomed, but who knew she'd have such fortune."

"What do you think the Immortal Venerable sees in her? In terms of cultivation, she's at the very bottom; in terms of family, the Yun family doesn't even rank in the cultivation world..."

"Hah, you don't understand. There's a kind of skill in this world called 'born with a good skin.' Look at her tiny waist and those hooking eyes..."

These words drilled into Yun Zhaowei's ears word for word. She looked straight ahead, but her hand tightly clutched the Lingxiao Token at her waist.

The Lingxiao Token was heavy, pressing against her waist and her heart.

She herself wanted to ask: What does Master see in me? Could it really be because of that outrageous manual?

But the manual only had the first item written!

Dazed, Yun Zhaowei walked into the dining hall. The steward on duty today saw her approaching, and his usually overcast face miraculously cleared up.

"Junior Sister Yun, what would you like to eat today? This Spirit Sparrow Soup was just braised this morning, very nourishing. I'll give you extra meat."

Yun Zhaowei looked at the two large chunks of sparrow meat in her bowl and felt a chill run down her spine. She found a random corner to sit, but before she could settle, a green figure sat down across from her.

"Yo, Miss Yun, how's the sparrow soup?" Shen Mingtang looked at her with a teasing grin.

"Shen Mingtang, if you keep teasing me, I'll dump this soup on your head." Yun Zhaowei glared at her.

Shen Mingtang laughed out loud, leaned in, and lowered her voice. "You're the talk of the whole sect now. On my way back to the Alchemy Hall, I heard no less than five versions of the rumor. The wildest one says you're actually the Immortal Venerable's long-lost illegitimate daughter, and he came specifically to find you."

"Pfft—cough cough!" Yun Zhaowei choked on the soup, tears streaming. "Illegitimate daughter? Are their heads filled with paste? Immortal Venerable Qingheng hasn't come down the mountain in three hundred years, and I'm only nineteen!"

"Well, in the cultivation world, people live too long; they need to entertain themselves." Shen Mingtang patted her back, then turned serious. "Seriously, Zhaowei, you need to be careful. You got the Lingxiao Token too easily. There are plenty in the sect eyeing that position. Especially that one from Tianyan Peak..."

Yun Zhaowei fell silent. She knew who Shen Mingtang meant.

Su Wanhe.

The woman universally acknowledged as the best match for Immortal Venerable Qingheng.

"If I don't provoke her, she wouldn't bother with a waste like me, right?" Yun Zhaowei muttered.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as hoped.

Half an hour later, when Yun Zhaowei hugged the well-worn "Introduction to Qi Drawing" and stepped properly onto the lecture platform of Lingxiao Peak, the first person she saw was Su Wanhe.

Su Wanhe wore a simple, elegant moon-white robe today, a single green jade hairpin in her hair. She stood by the platform, holding a jade slip, discussing something in low tones with several elite inner disciples.

The morning light fell on her, soft and picturesque.

Yun Zhaowei stood at the bottom of the steps, looked down at her own outer disciple robe, washed clean but clearly shrunk and too short, and suddenly felt like Cinderella lost in a fairyland.

She wanted to turn back, but remembering Immortal Venerable Qingheng's words, "Use the main entrance from now on," she could only steel herself and move forward.

"Junior Sister, have you come to the wrong place?"

A gentle, sweet voice, yet carrying an undeniable pressure, landed at Yun Zhaowei's feet.

Su Wanhe had turned around, smiling at her.

The inner disciples around also turned their heads in unison. Pei Du was among them. When he saw Yun Zhaowei, his brows automatically twisted into a knot, with an expression of "You again?"

Yun Zhaowei took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice from sounding weak. "Senior Sister, I am Yun Zhaowei. By order of Immortal Venerable, I am here to... attend the lecture."

At these words, silence fell.

An inner disciple couldn't help but sneer. "Attend? The lectures here discuss how to stabilize the Dao foundation below Nascent Soul. Junior Sister Yun, you haven't even drawn Qi smoothly. What can you understand?"

"Immortal Venerable is always rigorous; how could he allow an outer disciple to disturb here?" another chimed in.

Su Wanhe did not join the mockery. She just quietly observed Yun Zhaowei, pausing her gaze on the Lingxiao Token for a moment, then her smile became even more proper.

"So it's Junior Sister Yun. To receive personal guidance from the Senior Uncle is indeed your fortune." She stepped closer, her voice very soft but loud enough for everyone around to hear. "But, Lingxiao Peak is an important place; rules are strict. If you have something you don't understand or disturb the Senior Uncle's cultivation, it won't be easy to explain. How about you come with me to Tianyan Peak first? I can have someone find some basic techniques for you to practice?"

These words were perfectly said, even with an air of senior caring for junior.

But Yun Zhaowei understood.

She was saying: This place doesn't belong to you. Go back where you should be.

Yun Zhaowei tightened her grip on the book. She had heard countless nasty words in her life and had long developed thick skin. Normally, she would have laughed it off and backed down to save herself.

But at this moment, the icy touch of Qingheng's fingers when he checked her pulse flashed through her mind.

And those words: "Come back tomorrow."

Since he told her to come, she couldn't chicken out.

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Sister Su." Yun Zhaowei raised her head, her beautiful eyes meeting Su Wanhe's gaze squarely, and gave an extremely obedient, even somewhat silly smile. "I think it's my fortune too. After all, the Lingxiao Token was personally stuffed into my hand by the Immortal Venerable. If I didn't come, he might think I'm ungrateful."

"Sss—"

Several intakes of breath sounded around.

Personally stuffed?

That statement was even more shocking than the illegitimate daughter version.

Su Wanhe's smile froze for a split second, a trace of cold glare flickering in her eyes, but she quickly hid it.

"In that case..."

"Yun Zhaowei."

A cold, icy voice came from the main seat above the platform.

Everyone looked up.

Immortal Venerable Qingheng had already arrived. Dressed in plain robes, standing before the table, without a sword, yet he himself was like a blade piercing the sky.

He looked at Yun Zhaowei, his gaze cold but fixed.

"Come here."

Just two words, but they struck everyone's hearts like heavy hammers.

Especially Su Wanhe's.

Yun Zhaowei felt the gazes around her could burn through her. Clutching her book, head down, under the shocked stares of the elite disciples, she moved step by step onto the platform.

She didn't sit on the cushion below, but following Qingheng's look, she stood directly behind him, to the side.

That was the position for an attendant or a personal disciple.

Qingheng glanced at her. "Did you make progress with the method I taught yesterday?"

Yun Zhaowei immediately put on the look of a wronged little wife, her voice soft. "Immortal Venerable, I remembered half. The other half... I'm afraid I'll make a mistake and waste your instruction."

The disciples around turned green.

Remembered half? That was a unique secret technique personally taught by Immortal Venerable Qingheng! Many would beg for a single word and not get it. And she was here playing the victim?

But surprisingly, the Immortal Venerable didn't get angry. Instead, he said mildly, "No matter. I'll explain again."

And then, he actually turned around, temporarily set aside the jade slip engraved with basic formations, and began to explain that esoteric operation route to Yun Zhaowei in the simplest, most understandable terms, as if teaching a child.

The inner disciples below: "..."

Su Wanhe: "..."

Pei Du closed his eyes in pain.

This lecture, originally the monthly highlight of Lingxiao Peak, discussing profound sword intent fusion,

had now, because of Yun Zhaowei's presence, become a "Cultivation 101" class.

Yun Zhaowei stood beside Qingheng, her nose filled with the pleasant scent of pine. She stared at Qingheng's slender, jade-like fingers tracing patterns in the air, and the last trace of unease in her heart dissipated, replaced by a vengeful pleasure.

She quietly turned her head and quickly glanced at Su Wanhe.

Sure enough, that favored daughter of heaven's smile was barely holding up.

Master, oh Master, with this favoritism, the entire sect must be going crazy.

When the lecture ended, Yun Zhaowei felt she had become a target of public criticism.

She hugged her book and prepared to flee, but Qingheng called her back.

"Wait."

Qingheng walked up to her and took out a small jade bottle, completely green, from his sleeve.

"This medicine warms and nourishes the meridians. Take one drop in water every morning. When it's used up, come to Lingxiao Peak for more."

Yun Zhaowei took the bottle, her hands trembling. The fragrance was rich and pure; it was clearly no ordinary item.

"Thank... thank you for your kindness, Immortal Venerable."

Qingheng hummed in acknowledgment, turned, and left with a final instruction: "Same time tomorrow."

Yun Zhaowei ran down the mountain clutching the jade bottle, her steps floating.

She felt that the greatest adventure in her life was probably picking up that improper manual.

Back in her disciple room, she couldn't wait to pull out the little animal-skin booklet.

Sure enough, on the originally blank second page, a line of flamboyant handwriting slowly appeared.

【To make Master remember you, first break into his daily life.】

Yun Zhaowei stared at the line, then at the heavy bottle of spiritual medicine in her hand.

Daily life...

Does this mean she has to bother him every day from now on?

She hugged the book, slowly collapsed onto her bed, and her face showed an extremely complex expression, both excited and terrified.

"It's over," she whispered.

"I think... I'm really going to stir him up."