Chapter 3: Such a Little Girl

“No way!” Ning Buhui declared resolutely.

Luo Qingyao crossed her arms, resting one hand under her chin, a wicked smile playing on her lips. “Then don’t regret it later!”

With that, she turned and started to walk away.

But after just a couple of steps, Ning Buhui called out, “Stop right there!”

Luo Qingyao spun around, glaring at him. “You won’t give me anything, and now you won’t even let me leave?”

Ning Buhui shot her a sharp look, then his tone softened into one of resignation. “Ever since you little girl learned the Lingbo Weibu technique, the First-Class Pavilion has suffered more than a few troubles! I’m afraid you’ll turn around and come back to steal my treasures! So, considering your young age and your remarkable insight, which is truly rare, I’ll be generous once more and give you a treasure!”

At these words, Luo Qingyao’s face bloomed into a bright smile. She turned leisurely, grinning mischievously. “I knew Grandpa Ning was the best!”

Ning Buhui huffed in frustration, warning her, “But remember, this is the only time. No second chances!”

“All right, just this once!” Luo Qingyao nodded repeatedly, her smile sly as a fox. In her heart, she thought, once there’s a first time, why worry about a second?

With that, Ning Buhui led Luo Qingyao out of the room and toward the Treasure Pavilion.

The First-Class Pavilion was the largest intelligence agency in the world and the grandest auction house in the entire Lanxi Kingdom. From exquisite elixirs and supreme weapons to all kinds of spiritual pets and beasts, even battle armor and mounts, down to materials for refining pills, crafting weapons, and rare curiosities—if you could name it, the First-Class Pavilion definitely had it.

Today, Luo Qingyao had her sights set precisely on the Treasure Pavilion.

“Qingyao, be honest with me. How confident are you about the disciple selection competition three days from now?” Ning Buhui asked as they walked.

Luo Qingyao shook her head and answered honestly, “Not even a bit.”

It wasn’t that she lacked confidence—it was that she didn’t care.

Ning Buhui halted abruptly and turned to face her. “You really have no confidence at all? Though you may not match up to Princess Lan Ruoshui, you should be more than enough against the others, right? Besides, your mother once did a favor for Yuqing Palace. The former sect leader personally promised to take her daughter as a disciple—that’s common knowledge throughout the land. Because of that, the current head of Yuqing Palace, Yu Qingtian, would surely accept you.”

Luo Qingyao scoffed disdainfully. “If she truly wanted me as her disciple, why bother holding this so-called joint selection competition with Xiaoyao Pavilion? She could have just accepted me outright. This is obviously her way of showing she doesn’t want me in Yuqing Palace, but she’s too concerned about the palace’s reputation, so she’s playing tricks.”

Hearing this, Ning Buhui sighed with a hint of regret as he glanced at Luo Qingyao. What a pity. Though this little girl had no spiritual roots and couldn’t cultivate, her intelligence and insight promised a bright future. Yet, the path ahead would be difficult.

Perhaps it was because he cared for her so deeply that he allowed her to be so brazen—to fall for her tricks, drink her wine, and then give her chances.

But despite her youth, Luo Qingyao’s calm composure was rare—neither joyful nor angry, neither greedy nor resentful. Facing him, the head of the First-Class Pavilion, she only asked for three conditions and nothing else.

This only deepened Ning Buhui’s fondness for this little girl.