Chapter 31 - 23 The Awakening of the Loyal Servant

Words : 1462 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 31: Chapter 23 The Awakening of the Loyal Servant"Yue Jinghua" does not remember any specific information about the Royal Xuanji Royal Academy; she does not know that Xuanji Academy is divided into an Outer Court and an Inner Court. The Inner Court is where true elite education takes place. The students either possess astonishing talent or come from extraordinary families, and there are many who have both. Lie Sisi is exactly the type of student that the Inner Court favors to recruit—born into a prominent family and blessed with remarkable talent, destined to be a distinguished individual among people. As for the Outer Court, they accept people like Yue Jinghua, whose Dark Skill is a complete mess, whose family has fallen into decline, but for various reasons cannot be outright rejected by the Academy. The matter of the Dark Pill is nothing more than an excuse by Xuanji Academy. With the Dark Pill lacking a name or an owner, how could it be determined whether or not it was acquired by Yue Jinghua herself? Returning from Xuanji Royal Academy today, Hongling knelt outside Jingxin Courtyard, refusing to rise despite Lady Lie Rou's persuasion. "Jinghua, tell Hongling to get up. She is not to blame for the Dark Pill matter. Over these past years, she has been loyal to her duties, leaving her hometown behind along with her family and friends to accompany us, mother and daughter, to the Lie Family Mansion. She is injured, let her stand up first," Lie Rou sighed, feeling a rush of annoyance. If the Old Castle Master Lie Changgong were still around, they wouldn't dare act this way. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; a feeling of desolation inevitably rises in Lie Rou's heart. Yue Jinghua and Hongling both understand that the matter of the Dark Pill is nothing but an excuse concocted by the Inner Court of Xuanji Royal Academy, feeling that recruiting a useless student like Yue Jinghua tarnishes the Academy's reputation. Since the Dark Pill bears no name or owner, and considering Yue Jinghua's inability to practice Dark Skill, it indeed cannot be determined whether the Dark Pill was obtained by her own hands. In previous years, there had been many family scions who, after having their Dark Practitioners slay Dark Beasts, replaced their own achievements with those of others to sneak into Xuanji Academy, yet not a single one was exposed, except for Yue Jinghua who was "identified" this time. Hongling shook her head, biting her lips tightly. During the day, she could not bear to hear those people wantonly cursing and mocking her young lady, and got into a conflict with them. How could Xuanji Academy be an ordinary place? She was surrounded by several students from the Inner Court and reprimanded, suffering injuries to her limbs. After hearing the whole story, Yue Jinghua did not ask Hongling to stand up, but said, "Mother, go back to your room and rest. I will handle Hongling's matter." The clearness of Yue Jinghua's voice in the cold night air resonated with indomitable spirit, reaching Lie Rou's ears, almost impossible to resist. Lie Rou looked at her daughter uneasily and, upon seeing the firm determination in her eyes, involuntarily nodded and turned back to Jingxin Courtyard. At the entrance to the secluded courtyard, the rustling of slender bamboo in the wind carried the hoarse chirping of night insects. A silence fell upon the master and servant; Hongling had knelt for an entire night, the blood on the wounds of her hands and feet had already dried up. She bowed her head, her eyes filled with nothing but apology and dejection. For a long time, Yue Jinghua, looking down with an air of superiority, gazed at Hongling, who was consumed with self-reproach and as pale as paper, and asked softly, "Hongling, if my memory serves me right, you are a servant born into the Yue Family, having followed my daughter and me since you were little. In all honesty, how do you think we have treated you?" "Lady, you have a kind and generous heart, treating me as if I were your own daughter. The young miss has been even more like a real sister to me. I still remember when I was ten years old, I accidentally broke an ancient jade vase that the master treasured. The housekeeper wanted to beat me to death, but it was the young miss who, after going without food for a day and a night, pleaded with the master and saved my life. It was also the young miss who earnestly requested the master to allow me to train in martial arts along with her, which is why I have achieved the cultivation level I possess today. I will never forget the goodness of the young miss and Lady in this lifetime, and I would willingly lay down my life at a word from the young miss," recalled Hongling with a choke in her voice, her eyes brimming with tears. Lie Rou might not know what was on Yue Jinghua's mind, but Hongling, having been with Yue Jinghua since childhood, knew that Yue Jinghua was eager to enter the Inner Court, all to get more private time with Fa Xiaoyi. For this reason, the young miss did not hesitate to brave the dangers of Hundred Beast Mountain herself. She even remembered clearly, just before departing for Hundred Beast Mountain, how the young miss's face was flush with excitement, pulling her along and chatting ceaselessly. But all of the young miss's meticulous plans were thrown into disarray because of her own uselessness. If only she had been stronger, she would certainly have been able to shut up that group of students from the Inner Court. "Like a daughter, like a sister? Hongling, my mother just said that for over a decade, you have been dutiful and devoted yourself to the Yue Family. However, I believe that although you are loyal, it is a blind loyalty. You indeed made mistakes today, even worse than those from Xuanji Academy," Yue Jinghua's words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into Hongling's heart. The young miss had never spoken to her with such severity; the young miss was different now. Hongling suddenly looked up, disbelievingly looking at Yue Jinghua. In the darkness of the night, Yue Jinghua's face seemed somewhat blurred. "Young miss." Feeling insulted, Hongling bit her lip so hard she nearly drew blood, "Even though the young miss is the master, Hongling must say, I do not accept the words you just spoke." "Do not accept? You speak well of 'not accepting', at least you know to argue back. Hongling, the most unacceptable thing in life is to devalue one's own life and belittle oneself. You were originally born into the Yue Family, but now that the Yue Family has fallen into decline, you are you, there's no need to die for anyone. Even your life, I disdain to take; what use is it to have someone whose life, even their own body and hair can't protect?" Yue Jinghua's hand landed on Hongling. A soft and unending force, resembling Dark Power yet not, surged instantly into Hongling's wounds. seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The pain in the wound faded quickly, and Hongling heard Yue Jinghua's voice lingering in her ears: "I give you another piece of advice: never underestimate the poor young; fortune may shift in thirty years. Tonight, you kneel here and remember each person who mocked, insulted and cursed you during the day. Come to my room first thing in the morning, and tell me if you have realized where you went wrong." Having said that, Yue Jinghua turned and left, reaching the entrance of Jingxin Courtyard when Yue Chen stood at the door, having heard the entire conversation just now. His mouth was slightly open, with his porcelain-like face standing out in the night. "Why aren't you resting? A child who doesn't get enough sleep won't grow tall," Yue Jinghua, as light as a feather's touch, flicked Yue Chen on the forehead. Yue Chen's delicate nose wrinkled, he raised his hand to cover his forehead, his little face crinkling like a peach bun. After glancing at Yue Jinghua's tall figure and his own short limbs, he pursed his lips in grievance and obediently went back to his room to rest. Hongling knelt on the ground, not rising all night. At dawn, she dusted the dirt off her knees and walked towards Yue Jinghua's room.

Chapter 31 - 23 The Awakening of the Loyal Servant

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