Chapter Sixteen: Coerced Apprenticeship

"I'm not here to become a disciple; I'm only here to testify for Dongfang Mo, and Bai Hao has already chosen Penglai for me," I said.

"There's nothing good to learn in Penglai. They're always proving their innocence by stabbing themselves to death—how terrible! Foolish!" Bai Xi remarked.

I thought to myself, proving innocence? Is he talking about the Immortal Lord Biyou of Penglai? Not everyone who trains in Penglai ends up stabbing themselves, so what does it have to do with me?

"Bai Hao said it's more suitable for me. He also said Yuqing Realm wouldn't accept me."

"That's because he thinks you..." Bai Xi hesitated briefly, then continued, "He thinks you're too ordinary, that you have no skills."

"Is that so... Well, I know my limits. I'm just here to testify and watch the excitement, then I'll leave."

"No way! Since you're here, don't even think about leaving. Whether you want to or not, you must become a disciple!" Bai Xi's mood shifted abruptly.

"You just said I have no skills, so why insist I become your disciple!" I found Bai Xi utterly unreasonable. If I had known he'd be so relentless, I should have used the Xuanjing Sword to force him to let me go earlier. I regretted giving him the sword out of softness—now it's too late to change that.

"I'm happy to do so. It's compensation for giving me the Xuanjing Sword."

"What kind of compensation involves forcing someone!"

"That's just how I am. If you don't become a disciple, I'll kill you." Bai Xi waved his folding fan, his expression relaxed but his tone threatening.

"Do as you wish. I can't do anything anyway. Even if I become a disciple, with my immortal aptitude, I won't pass a single trial," I replied coldly.

"Learn now. If you can't, I'll kill you."

"If I can't learn, just kill me."

I figured, being Bai Hao's elder brother and a relative of Yunxiao Lord, there's no way he'd actually kill me; he was only trying to scare me.

Seeing my refusal, Bai Xi grinned maliciously, "Fine, you're not afraid of death. I won't kill you—I'll kill Dongfang Mo instead."

"You can't beat him!" I retorted.

Hearing this, Bai Xi's expression softened, "Little Crow, let me ask you a question: is Dongfang Mo more handsome, or am I?"

"He's much more handsome than you!" Though this was a lie—Bai Xi was indeed stunning, unmatched by Dongfang Mo—I simply didn't want to see him smug.

"Oh? Then is Dongfang Mo more handsome, or Bai Hao?" Bai Xi pressed further.

"What does it matter to you? I'm the most handsome!" I replied. Truthfully, I thought Bai Hao might not be as beautiful as Bai Xi, but his heroic demeanor surpassed him.

Bai Xi smirked devilishly and leaned in close, "Handsome my foot! Tell me honestly... do you like Bai Hao or Dongfang Mo?"

"Ridiculous! I don't like either!" My face flushed with anger.

"If you don't like anyone, why are you blushing? That must mean you like me." Bai Xi stared at me.

The scent on him was overpowering—far less pleasant than when he collected protection fees.

"Ah-choo!" I sneezed loudly.

Bai Xi shielded his face with his sleeve and jumped away, "Ugh! You sprayed saliva all over me, disgusting! Are you going to become a disciple or not?"

"No!"

I had promised Bai Hao I wouldn't become a disciple, so I wouldn't go back on my word.

Bai Xi's eyes flashed with malice. He raised his hand and summoned the dagger hidden in my arms, drawing it out.

"You already took the Xuanjing Sword—why are you taking my dagger too?" I snapped. If he took the dagger, I'd have nothing left for self-defense.

"Is this yours?" Bai Xi asked.

"Of course! Don't tell me it's your second uncle's as well!" I exclaimed.

Bai Xi waved the dagger before me, smiling, "Little Crow, you really like using this, don't you?"

"None of your business! Give it back!"

"Oh, such a sharp thing kept in your arms—what if you stab yourself?" Bai Xi feigned concern.

"I'm not stupid!"

"Who says you're not? I don't like the look of it." With that, Bai Xi tossed the dagger off the cliff.

Watching him throw away my only 'treasure', I was furious and heartbroken... What had my dagger ever done to him!

"I've collected your protection fees; I'll protect you however I wish," Bai Xi declared.

But this was no protection—it was bullying! I was so angry I wanted to cry. Even after giving him the Xuanjing Sword, he still toyed with me.

"Why are you like this..." He had immobilized me, and my grievance grew, though I couldn't think of a solution.

"This is just how I am!" Bai Xi whisked me away to another location. Before I could react, he released the immobilization spell and dragged me toward the grand entrance of an ancient, majestic palace.

In front of the palace, immortals lined up in neat rows.

"Where are you taking me now?" Bai Xi's grip nearly lifted me off the ground.

"Yuxu Palace, of course! To formally become a disciple, silly!" Bai Xi replied.

"This is Yunxiao Lord's Yuxu Palace?" I exclaimed.

"Of course! Let's go in and wait for him!" Bai Xi said.

"I'm not becoming a disciple!" I struggled fiercely, but it was futile—he dragged me to the palace gates.

Without a word, Bai Xi parted the crowd and marched inside.

The immortals in line criticized us for breaking the rules, but Bai Xi ignored them, continuing to pull me along.

"Immortal Lord, please stop! Please observe the order and protocol for becoming a disciple," a black-robed immortal blocked Bai Xi, bowing respectfully.

Clad in black, his features dark and handsome, his expression righteous...

"Dongfang Mo!" I cried out.

"It's you!" Dongfang Mo recognized me as well.

Bai Xi looked Dongfang Mo up and down with a lofty air, then demanded, "You actually said this dark-skinned fellow is better looking than me?"

I shot Bai Xi a glare, ignoring him. Compared side by side, Dongfang Mo was indeed inferior to Bai Xi in looks and bearing, but I simply refused to admit it.

"What did you just say to me?" Bai Xi asked Dongfang Mo.

"Please observe the order, Immortal Lords," Dongfang Mo replied, sternly.

No sooner had he spoken than Bai Xi waved his sleeve, and Dongfang Mo was sent flying several yards, tumbling over and landing heavily. Dongfang Mo spat up a mouthful of black blood and struggled to get up, but failed.

"How dare you, thinking you can reprimand me!" Bai Xi calmly straightened his sleeve, then whisked me away in a streak of purple light to a secluded spot, binding me with immortal ropes and throwing me onto the ground.

"Little Crow, didn't you say Dongfang Mo was more handsome, that I couldn't beat him..." Bai Xi remarked, hands behind his back.

I stared at him in shock. I had thought, as Bai Hao's brother and a relative of Yunxiao Lord, he was merely eccentric and indulgent, not truly evil. But his jealousy and cruelty were beyond my expectation—and his power surpassed anything I'd imagined.

"You actually retaliate against Dongfang Mo like this..."

"That's not all..." Bai Xi opened his fan with satisfaction.

"What else do you intend to do!"

"I told you, if you can't become Yunxiao Lord's disciple, I'll kill Dongfang Mo. You saw just now, wasn't it as easy as crushing an ant?" Bai Xi tapped my nose with his fan.

"It was my words, so if you have a grudge, take it out on me! Dongfang Mo has nothing to do with it!" I tried to break free from the ropes, but I didn't know the spell. After two futile struggles, I stopped and started thinking.

"Now it has everything to do with him. So, will you become a disciple or not?" Bai Xi asked.

I bit my lip in silence, torn. I had promised Bai Hao I wouldn't become a disciple; he had kindly placed my name on the list with his jade pendant, chosen Penglai for me, and taught me sword riding and techniques. If I agreed now, I’d be betraying my promise to him... But Dongfang Mo had repeatedly suffered for my sake, utterly undeserved...

"Fine! Besides Dongfang Mo, I'll find a chance to poison Bai Hao's tea," Bai Xi said.

"He's your own brother!" I exclaimed.

"That's just how I am. When I'm happy, he's my brother; when I'm not, I recognize no one." Bai Xi shook his fan, looking completely at ease.

I bit my lip and stared at Bai Xi. His power was formidable, his temperament mad, and Dongfang Mo was already gravely injured by him. There was no telling what he might do to Bai Hao. Becoming a disciple was a small matter—both their lives were at stake. I could only agree for now. Thinking this, I gritted my teeth and said, "Fine! I'll become a disciple!"

"That's the spirit!" Bai Xi cheerfully untied the immortal ropes.

"If, for any other reason, I fail to become a disciple, don't blame me, and don't hurt anyone else," I warned him.

Yunxiao Lord does not accept female disciples, and I knew my own weakness—if it came down to stripping for examination, I would never agree.

"With me here, there won't be any other reason."

Bai Xi conjured a mountain of scrolls—military tactics, formations, swordsmanship, five-element techniques, immortal cultivation and alchemy—and ordered me to master them all.

"This is too much for me to learn," I protested.

"Nonsense! If you can't learn it, I'll kill them both! You have one day—get to it!" Bai Xi threw me a copy of "Yuxu Tactics".

I kept silent, opened the manual, and focused on memorizing without trying to understand. Bai Xi kept urging me on. After finishing the tactics, I moved on to formations, imprinting the diagrams in my mind. Two hours later, I had memorized both tactics and formations. Next came swordsmanship...

"I don't have a sword; you already threw away my only dagger. My immortal power is weak—I can't pass the combat trial," I challenged him.

Bai Xi conjured a sword for me—called Blood Pact. The Blood Pact sword had no master; with a drop of blood, it would recognize the immortal for twelve hours. Its spirit was strong; it required little immortal power, and the stronger the will, the stronger the sword.

"Why must you force me to become a disciple?" I asked.

"Compensation, as I've said a hundred times! What sword techniques do you know?" Bai Xi said impatiently.

"Carefree Wanderer," I replied.

"Bai Hao taught you?"

"No..." I worried he'd harm Bai Hao.

"Enough, stop playing games. Carefree Wanderer is his own creation—no one else knows it. That kid actually passed it on to you. Hmph... his own fault." Bai Xi sneered.

"I'll learn whatever you ask me to..." I said hurriedly.

"Good, Little Crow. Use Carefree Wanderer, and I'll teach you another set—Falling Petals Sword. That's more than enough to beat those fools." With that, Bai Xi summoned a mace, which transformed into a dazzling purple sword with a flick.

The Falling Petals Sword was light and graceful—Bai Xi danced with it like a flower intoxicated, wandering beneath trees...

"The secret of Falling Petals Sword is its unpredictability. The falling flowers bewilder, do you understand?"

"I understand, as long as they don't land in your house," I muttered.

"My family's sword technique, and you act ungrateful! Practice it now!" Bai Xi scolded.

"You only taught it once—how can I learn it?" I protested.

"Enough talk. Do you want to tire me out? If any other disciple dared say that, I'd break their legs. Sword riding! Practice!"

Bai Xi took the Blood Pact Sword and cut my finger, letting my blood drip onto it. The sword flared up like a blazing fire, and soon the flames subsided, leaving the blade scarlet. Bai Xi stared in surprise, "You've got such fiery energy!"

"Maybe it's because I was poisoned by Broken Jade Spring earlier," I said, pressing my finger to staunch the blood, thinking how unlucky I was—injury after injury.

"Bai Hao treated you?"

"No, the healing house did." I lied, wanting to keep Bai Hao out of this.

"He didn't teach you Cloud Condensation Technique?" Bai Xi asked.

"No, never heard of it."

"The poison was too mild! Hurry and practice! If you can't learn, I'll kill you too!" Bai Xi suddenly changed his tone and shouted.

With no choice, I practiced the Falling Petals Sword once.

"My, not bad... You're so diligent—are you worried about Bai Hao? Dongfang Mo? Or yourself?" Bai Xi asked gleefully.

"I'm worried about you!" I ground my teeth in frustration.

"Little Crow actually worries about me, how touching! I'll reward you with something delicious!" Bai Xi said, then cast a spell to pull me over, forced my mouth open, and shoved a pill down my throat.

I tried to spit it out, but couldn't. "What did you make me eat!"

"Poison, of course. Let's see how it tastes..."

I could no longer speak; I felt my internal organs being torn apart, twisted like rope... The pain made me clutch my stomach and collapse, rolling on the ground, as darkness slowly descended before my eyes...