Xuan did say he would prepare for the jade beauty’s arrival, but as it so happened, the moment he arrived back to the disciples’ quarters, he fell asleep.

And now, due to the loud banging of the Grand Jade Temple’s bells, he finally woke up, nearly falling off the bed.

"Huaa..." Xuan yawned. I barely slept. I was going to eat, but some bastard stole my lunch.

Whoever it was, Xuan was going to find them eventually, but until then, he decided to supplement his hunger by going to the cafeteria.

Of course, he dressed in some comfortable orange Daoist robes and then walked out of his room. However, as he was about to head toward the cafeteria, he saw a line of monks running past him, heading toward the Martial Training Grounds.

He rubbed his eyes groggily, confused by their actions. That was when one of the monks halted and walked over to him. It was a monk who had done the endurance training alongside Xuan.

What’s his name though? Fei Lei? Bin Lei? Something Lei, whatever...

"Sup." Xuan waved, then gestured with his chin toward the people. "What did I miss?"

Lei rolled his eyes. "You forgot me again, didn’t you?"

"Hm...? No? I know your name, but you’re just now strong enough for me to say it," Xuan dodged the question like a cockroach.

"Tsk... It’s Su Lei. And we’re going to go meet the women. Won’t you go as well?" Su Lei replied.

"Eh, it’s fine. The women won’t be going anywhere, and while you sweaty bastards are out there fawning over them, I can devour the entire cafeteria." Xuan puffed his chest and tapped Su Lei on the shoulder.

"Good luck. Hope you find a wife."

With those words, Xuan made his way past the monks and into the cafeteria. It was empty as expected, except the food was still warm, so Xuan did not hesitate to fill his belly.

Meat, potatoes, and eggs. At least these monks did not believe in that religious shit, so they were not limited by anything. They could eat all foods and even keep their hair if they wished.

But these guys think being bald is better because of aerodynamics or something stupid... Their loss.

Xuan continued eating the food happily, but as he stood up to get some more, he spotted a cloaked figure enter through the cafeteria’s entrance.

The figure looked around frantically, and eventually, their gaze landed on Xuan.

Through the cloak, he saw bright blue eyes. For just a single moment, he thought it might have been Yuelan who came here, but when the figure took a step closer, long white hair flowed down their side.

It did not take a genius to know that this was one of the women who should have arrived today.

So Xuan, like the gentleman that he was, nodded at her and pointed behind the kitchen’s counter.

"Pretty sure there’s a meatloaf lying around. Or maybe I ate it... I forgot," Xuan said plainly, scratching the back of his head and taking a bite out of his third meatloaf.

The cloaked woman’s brows twitched as she stomped her way over to him and sat down.

However, because he had stacked the plates as though they were sand castles, he could not see her.

"Don’t you think it’s indecent to hoard all this food?" the woman asked, her voice gentle.

"Nothing indecent about it. I’m hungry," Xuan raised a brow. "Isn’t that why you came here while no one was around?"

The woman suddenly stood up and walked around the stacks of plates before sitting down to his right.

She maintained a fair distance despite that as she tugged at her cloak, not letting him see her face.

"I didn’t come here to loot anything." The woman pouted, crossing her arms, her voice lowering. "But I would appreciate it if you shared something... Like this dish, what is it called?"

Xuan chuckled. "If only I knew which dish you’re talking about, miss mysterious."

He put aside his meatloaf and grabbed a lamb chop, holding it in front of her.

"Want some meat?"

Staring at it for a few moments, she nodded and gracefully accepted the lamb chop. Without saying another word, she began to chow down.

The cloak wobbled with every bite, and he could see her puffed cheeks. She really looked like some chipmunk.

Eating as if I’d steal it from her... Hah. Xuan held back a laugh.

With such a peaceful atmosphere, he decided to simply indulge in the food before heading off to train.

Or that was the plan, but right as he was about to take another bite, the woman slammed the lamb chop’s bone onto the table.

"I want another one," she announced.

Xuan sighed. "Reach out and take it then."

Hearing that, the woman froze, turning toward him.

He did the same, and when their eyes met, he finally got a good look at her face.

It was as if her face was made out of porcelain. Her features were perfect, and with a face like that, she could charm any man.

Yet her blue eyes and snow-like white hair were the things that stood out the most.

Her hair reminded him of the many times he had climbed the Grand Jade Temple’s mountain tops, and her blue eyes reminded him of the reward he saw the moment he reached the mountain peak.

A clear blue sky atop a snowy mountain peak.

Xuan smiled, and the moment he did, the woman turned her gaze away, clenching her fists.

"What’s your name?" Xuan asked as he reached for the lamb chop that was literally an arm’s length away from her.

Even so, he held the lamb chop in front of her. She reached out, trying to grab it, but at the very last moment, he pulled away and took a bite out of the lamb chop, startling her.

Xuan stood up, and with the lamb chop in hand, waved at her.

"We all have secrets, I guess, even if it’s something as simple as a name." Xuan turned around, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"But if you want something, then don’t expect others to get it for you. Get it yourself, princess." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

With those parting words, he walked out of the cafeteria, lamb chop in hand. He had to catch up on some training, especially because he slept for so long.

So with a hum, Xuan headed straight for the Martial Training Grounds, leaving the confused woman behind with a plate of lamb chops in front of her.