Just after seeing Lin Zhen off, another commotion arose outside the small courtyard. Qi Yuan turned his head to look and saw three male cultivators dressed in the robes of Inner Sect Disciples heading toward his residence.

The leading male cultivator wore a jade crown and an embroidered belt. He was tall and somewhat handsome in appearance, yet he gave off an indescribably sinister and vicious aura that instinctively repelled people.

Behind him were two Inner Sect Disciples who looked like lackeys, one fat and one thin. The fat one had a face full of coarse, brutish features, his small eyes darting around shrewdly.

The thin one had dark, leathery skin with narrow, elongated eyes and eyebrows, looking every bit like a rat.

The three of them walked straight to the entrance of the small courtyard and stopped. Seeing Qi Yuan in the yard, the fat cultivator looked him up and down and said in a gruff voice:

“You’re the new Inner Sect Disciple, Big Qi, right? Freshly arrived and you don’t even know to pay your respects to us brothers. Really ignorant.”

The thin man beside him chimed in.

“We heard you were quite the tough guy in the Outer Sect. But this here is the Inner Sect. I advise you not to be so arrogant, or you’ll have a hard time.”

Qi Yuan knew at once these three were here to pick a fight. He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked with a light laugh:

“Senior Brothers, what brings you running over here? Did you get lost?”

Then, with an air of seriousness, he pointed in a direction. “Exit and turn right to get on your way. Take care, I won’t see you out.”

Hearing the dismissive tone in Qi Yuan’s words, the fat cultivator instantly flew into a rage, bellowing:

“Who said we came here to find our way? We’re here to… pah! You’re the one who should get on your way!”

“Enough, Junior Brother Pang!”

Seeing this scene, the leading male cultivator could listen no longer. He coldly shouted, cutting off the fat man’s words. Then he fixed a sharp gaze on Qi Yuan and said in a deep voice:

“Big Qi, I am Yin Hong. I am currently a Duty Disciple of the Merit Assessment Hall and also Wang Luchuan’s cousin.”

Qi Yuan nodded and said indifferently:

“So it’s Senior Brother Yin. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner!”

His tone was lazy; though he spoke of apologies, there wasn’t a shred of respect.

Hearing this perfunctory remark, Yin Hong’s expression grew even darker. He said coldly:

“We came here to inform you that according to sect rules, all newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples must complete their first sect-assigned task from the Merit Assessment Hall within three months.”

“If not completed on time, the monthly stipend for Inner Sect Disciples will be suspended, and corresponding merit points will be deducted until the task is completed.”

“You need to go to the Merit Assessment Hall to accept a sect task before the Hour of the Dragon tomorrow morning. If you exceed the deadline, it will be considered as abandoning the task. At that time, the Merit Assessment Hall has the right to deduct merit points equivalent to ten times the task’s reward.”

After saying this, Yin Hong paused briefly, seemingly waiting for a response.

However, Qi Yuan’s reply remained casual.

“Oh, got it.”

Qi Yuan’s attitude toward this so-called cousin of Wang Luchuan was as usual.

If this Yin Hong didn’t provoke him, then all would be peaceful. But if he annoyed him… well…

“Hmph!”

Seeing that the other party didn’t take him seriously at all, Yin Hong felt his lungs were about to explode with anger. He could only let out a heavy snort as a warning before turning away with his two lackeys in tow.

After the three left, before Qi Yuan could return to his room, footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard yet again.

What on earth is going on today?

Qi Yuan couldn’t help but frown.

To avoid being disturbed as much as possible, he had specifically chosen the most remote cave dwelling. Yet people kept coming one after another, all clustered together. It was really strange.

As he was thinking this, a familiar female voice reached his ears.

“Junior Brother Qi, are you there?”

The Demon Sect True Inheritor Ji Chan’er?!

Hearing this voice, Qi Yuan’s eyelids twitched. He hurried out to greet her.

“Senior Sister Zhen, what brings you here?”

Ji Chan’er was standing gracefully at the door. Seeing Qi Yuan, a smile appeared on her face—which could only be described as delicate and pretty—as she said warmly:

“Junior Brother Qi, Senior Sister has come uninvited this time to congratulate you on winning first place in the Grand Competition and being personally promoted to Inner Sect Disciple by the Sect Master. This is a gift Senior Sister prepared for you.”

As she spoke, she took out a jade vial from her storage pouch and handed it to Qi Yuan. “These ten top-grade Gathering Qi Pills inside are just a small token of Senior Sister’s regard.”

Qi Yuan’s gaze shifted subtly. After discreetly confirming there was no poison applied to the surface of the jade vial, he finally reached out and took it. With a smile on his face, he said:

“Senior Sister Zhen is too kind. Your presence alone is more than enough; there was no need for such expense. Please come in quickly.”

While ushering Ji Chan’er into the room, Qi Yuan remained secretly vigilant, guarding against any sudden attack from her.

He believed his relationship with Ji Chan’er was far from being this close. This Demon Sect True Inheritor hiding within Falling Cloud Valley wasn’t guarding that ten-thousand-year spirit herb but had specially come to give him a gift? No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t seem normal.

Demon Sect disciples were always full of cunning schemes that were hard to guard against. Qi Yuan dared not let his guard down.

Of course, he would never dare take any pills inside that jade vial, even if beaten to death.

Ji Chan’er entered and sat down, looking around before saying to Qi Yuan:

“Junior Brother Qi’s place is really quite simple here. How about Senior Sister sends over some furniture and items in a few days to properly decorate this place?”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan quickly shook his head in polite refusal.

“Thank you for your kind thoughts, Senior Sister. But I’ve always been rough around the edges; I don’t like overly complicated furnishings. Having a place to stay is enough.”

Seeing this, Ji Chan’er didn’t press further but instead said with a smile:

“Junior Brother’s performance in the Outer Sect Grand Competition was truly breathtaking. Such dazzling talent is rare even among the Seven Great Holy Lands. Senior Sister admires it greatly.”

As she spoke, her gaze toward Qi Yuan was full of appreciation.

Something’s wrong!

The more she acted like this, the more certain Qi Yuan became that this Demon Sect female cultivator harbored ulterior motives.

As they say: Unwarranted kindness hides either treachery or theft.

But on the surface, he was merely a newly entered Inner Sect Qi Refining realm rookie; there was nothing about him worth stealing for this Demon Sect True Inheritor.

If it wasn’t theft, then… Could it be that she’s after my body?

The Demon Sect’s notorious reputation is inseparable from all sorts of corrupt practices within its ranks.

It is said many female disciples within the Demon Sect specifically like finding robust male cultivators for ‘plucking yang to supplement yin,’ aiming to increase their cultivation base.

Thinking of this, Qi Yuan suddenly felt somewhat panicked.

If she really came for that… should I resist, or should I resist…