I Just Won't Play By The Book

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

There was a total of twenty-four orders in the Sect of Returning Hearts, and each order had positions such as Order Master, Law Protector, Order Judge, Order Etiquetter, Order Enforcer, Sword Protector, Seal Protector, Black Flag, Blue Flag, et cetera.

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Moreover, this world did not have the Internet or photo albums or anything of the sort. Because of this, many disciples could not even tell the senior members of their own orders apart, let alone those from the other orders.

And just as Jiang Beiran was about to join his hands together in a salute and answer, three options appeared before his eyes.

[Option One: "I don't know." Reward for completion: Breaking Force of Rolling Thunder (Black Grade Low Tier)]

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[Option Two: "I guess you are Sword Protector Yu of the Order of Water Mirror." Reward for completion: Sword of White Mist (Yellow Grade Middle Tier)]

[Option Three: "I'm afraid that even in the entire Sect of Returning Hearts, one cannot find another person with such outstanding grace and posture. You must be Sword Protector Yu of the Order of Water Mirror. I have long admired you." Reward for completion: Random basic skill point +1]

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Jiang Beiran was surprised when he saw the three options. He was indeed different from the other disciples because he spent all day wandering about the mountain. Thus, he had seen far more people and incidents than those disciples who spent all day immersed in intense training.

But he had originally planned to go with the flow and act like most disciples, who didn't know much about the people in the other orders. However, he hadn't expected that to be the most dangerous option.

Although he was puzzled, Jiang Beiran still did not hesitate to choose Option Three. He bowed and said, "I'm afraid that even in the entire Sect of Returning Hearts, one cannot find another person with such outstanding grace and posture. You must be Sword Protector Yu of the Order of Water Mirror. I have long admired you."

[Chosen Quest completed. Reward: Fishing +1]

Jiang Beiran's words were by no means *ss-kissing. Law Protector Yu, who was standing in front of him, had a curved and slender body and her stride was graceful. She wore a long blue dress with her hair combed up, a few bead ornaments adorning her bun. A pearl hung before her forehead. Her jade-like skin had a translucent scarlet tinge, her brows were like crescent moons, and her eyes were bright like the stars. She was definitely one of the top-ranked beauties in the Sect of Returning Hearts.

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After listening to Jiang Beiran's respectful reply, Yu Manwen could not help but be surprised. She came here thinking that this Jiang Beiran must be a disciple who liked to hide his talents, so he would definitely behave like most disciples who knew nothing about the senior management of other orders, regardless of whether he really did know her or not. It turned out that she was wrong.

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'And rather honey-tongued as well,' she thought.

After reassessing Jiang Beiran in her heart, Yu Manwen nodded and said, "You are rather well-informed, but as far as I remember, I don't think I have seen you before. How did you recognize me?"

Jiang Beiran bowed again and said respectfully, "I had the honor to listen to you play the zither at Mount Xiyue before, Law Protector Yu. You played the zither to utmost perfection, as if one could hear a tiger chuff but not roar, or an ape mourn but not cry. It's unique and graceful, mournful and mellow. I deeply admire your skills."

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Yu Manwen couldn't help it and her eyes brightened. She said with a slightly excited expression, "Hear a tiger chuff but not roar, or an ape mourn but not cry. That's a really good line. I have unexpectedly found someone who understands my music in the Order of Blue Heart. Interesting. Very interesting."

As Yu Manwen spoke, she closed her eyes and shook her head for a while before continuing to say to Jiang Beiran, "Since you are so honest, then I will not hide anything from you, either. I came to find you today because I have a few things to ask."

"I will tell you everything I know," he replied.

"Good!" Yu Manwen nodded her head in satisfaction. "You have been a named disciple in this Order of Blue Heart for five years, yes or no?"

"Yes. I am foolish and really have no talent in cultivation, so I have let several mentors down," he said.

"Do extend your hand to me," Yu Manwen instructed.

'She still wants to test my abilities...' Jiang Beiran thought.

With an internal sigh, Jiang Beiran stretched his right arm out towards Yu Manwen.

Yu Manwen's slender fingers tapped on Jiang Beiran's spiritual pulse, and she soon wore a somewhat complicated expression.

'Surprisingly, he is really only at Level Five of the Qi Refining Period?' she thought to herself.

In the Land of the Black Dragon, to become strong one must first refine Qi, and the basic Internal Cultivation Methods of the major sects were created for this purpose.

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Generally, as long as one could pass the sect's aptitude test, then even if one's talent was relatively poor, one year would be enough for one to cultivate until Level 10 of the Qi Refining period. Thus, they would break through and become a Mystic, opening up the path of cultivation towards the goal of becoming a Mystic Emperor.

But this Jiang Beiran had been in the Sect of Returning Hearts for five years, yet he was only at Level Five of the Qi Refining period. This meant that he had absolutely no talent at all.

Watching Yu Manwen's increasingly complex expression, Jiang Beiran was very calm, because he had long been used to it. Yu Manwen was certainly not the first person to test his strength, and would definitely not be the last.

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Jiang Beiran had not worried about being detected after the first time he was tested because he found that the strength points, physique points, agility points, etc. awarded by the system were of a completely different structure from the combat power in this world. Even if his strength was sky-high, these masters could not detect it at all.

So, from that moment onwards, Jiang Beiran was enlightened! He and the people of this world were from completely different settings. If he really had to fight, he would certainly be completely underestimated. This kind of position could definitely be considered the one with the greatest potential as he could make use of his perceived weakness as a disguise!

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With a soft sigh, Yu Manwen relaxed her fingers and looked at Jiang Beiran again, this time with eyes full of regret.

Jiang Beiran saw her expression and immediately cooperated by looking up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, showing a resigned smile.

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This smile almost made Yu Manwen's heart ache so much that she wanted to hug Jiang Beiran.

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It was too tragic! Despite being able to pass the aptitude test of the sect, he turned out to be completely useless at cultivation. This was a very rare occurrence that might not even happen once in a hundred years. Yu Manwen simply could not imagine how much this child had suffered and how much hardship he had endured in the fiercely competitive and socially Darwinist Sect of Returning Hearts. She had even come here to look for him with a condemning attitude just now. How wrong of her to do so.

'No wonder he wanted to run away when he saw me. He must have already experienced this many times and didn't want to end up being looked at with sympathy again. That's why...

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'What a strong, determined boy,' she thought.

Turning her head to secretly wipe away the tears flowing from the corners of her eyes, Yu Manwen changed her expression to one without any emotion and asked Jiang Beiran, "Can you tell me how you managed to ensure that your junior Brothers and Sisters pass the trial every time you serve as an Iron Seal?"

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"Nothing more than caution. I observe and think a great deal before making any decisions. This way, many misfortunes can be avoided," he answered.

"Well said." Yu Manwen nodded with great satisfaction. "This is what the trials down the mountain are really intended to teach you. It seems that you have fully grasped the essence of it, Beiran."

"Law Protector Yu, you flatter me. I am just aware of my weakness, so I must be a little more cautious than the other Brothers," Jiang Beiran said.

"Eh!" Yu Manwen waved her hand. "You shouldn't say that. Being strong is not only characterized by having great combat power, but also by having a strong mind. Even though you are only at Level Five of the Qi Refining period, you have been able to ensure that all of your Sisters and Brothers pass the trial. It is impressive. Very impressive!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Law Protector Yu. I will definitely redouble my efforts in the future."

"Good! As a token of my trust in you, I have decided to appoint you as the Iron Seal of my most beloved disciple, and you are to help her complete her first trial quest."

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"Yes, Madam.... Wait, what!??"