The dragon frowned a little, but shortly, it showed a contemptious smirk.

"Oh, it's just a mere Foundational cub." it laughed.

What?

Mei was a bit scared, but now she was just offended.

"I just joined the sect 3 months ago or so!" she said defensively. "Or was it 4..."

The dragon laughed.

"You'd be a cripple if you couldn't progress that fast when the qi is this dense!" it said. "Now shoo, go off to play somewhere else, you small human cub!"

A vein bulged on her forehead. This dragon was insufferable!

"Yeah? Says the one who got locked in a cage at an auction and had to be saved!" she shouted.

Mei assumed that was why the dragon was here in the first place.

"At least don't be an asshole to disciples of the sect that saved you, you ingrate!"

The dragon froze, taken aback. Then snapping out of it, it roared in rage, sending violent wind rushing through the air.

As the leaves around her swayed, Mei was blown off her feet and nearly off the branch as well. She barely managed to grab onto its edge, her feet dangling in the air.

"You dare to demand respect from me a dragon, a son of heaven? Even those of higher cultivation don't dare! And soon I will exceed them as well! Do you not see-"

"Mount Tai?" Mei asked.

"What? The heck is a Mount Tai?"

"Junior, you dare?" she shouted.

"Your whole family are the juniors! You dare mock me?"

Growling loudly, the dragon raised an arm. It was actually going to kill her! Mei quickly teleported away just as it slammed its claw onto the branch.

Soon after Mei dropped back into her room, cold sweat dripped down her face.

What was she thinking?

Right after she got mad, she stopped feeling all that afraid. Weird...

But that stupid dragon wanted to squish her even tho it was its fault to begin with! How would she not be mad?

Mei complained to herself until she realised her fear faded once again.

Huh.

For the first time in a while, Mei learnt new about herself. She wasn't sure if this was a good or bad thing.

Well, regardless, she was going to have to get revenge somehow!

She was going to tattle to an elder! Hmm... who though?

Qiao Shun, no way. Xuefang... he got bullied by a literal cat. Li Xuan was her master, but she felt like it might be awkward... The body elder... did he have a bad impression of her?

Mei was starting to realise she didn't actually know all that many elders.

She decided to suck it up and just ask Li Xuan.

...

Mei landed in the spirit elder's grove, heading into the residence built around a huge tree, though small compared to Heavenreach.

She walked over and knocked on the door.

No response...

She reached over to the doorknob and pressed her disciple token onto it, and the door unlocked with a faint click.

Great... but how was she going to find Li Xuan?

Oh. Right, soulsense.

As usual, her master's ridiculous 9 colour soul was blinding. She followed after it.

Finding the room, she knocked on the door. She could see the elder's soul walk over.

"What is it?" Li Xuan sounded rather displeased. "I finally got to rest after a few busy days!"

"Oh. Sorry..."

"And what are you doing here instead of studying at the Buddhist sect?"

"Um..."

Not sure what excuse to make, she instead just quickly told Li Xuan what happened.

"You can't be serious!" Li Xuan yelled.

She slapped her fist on a nearby metal table, flattening it.

Whoa! Li Xian knew the dragon too? Heh, seems like that stupid big snake was very good at pissing people off.

"What were you doing climbing the Heavenreach Tree anyway? Urgh... whatever, just go. I'll handle it."

With that, she slammed the door shut.

Mei stared at it for a few moments.

"Mei!"

"Xiao Mei?"

Why was she suddenly willing to talk again?

"There's something off about Li Xuan's soul. I couldn't tell back when I was still you, but I'm quite sure she's a split soul as well."

"Split soul?"

"Like me, basically."

"Oh."

"Well, we might not have to ask Qiao Shun anymore. Li Xuan might know more about increasing the distance I can control my puppet."

"But I think she's mad at me... maybe I'll ask Qiao Shun after all."

"Have it your way then."

Mei considered reading til bedtime, but after spending so much time reading aloud to a turtle... she didn't really feel like it.

She figured it was probably time she head back to the monk sect.

"Mei Xiu!" Xiuying said. "Where did you go? We heard you were cultivating, but we couldnt find you anywhere the last two days..."

"Um... yeah."

Mei had no idea where that came from, but she wasn't going to reject a convenient explaination.

Ding Zhe stepped forward to speak.

"It's good to cultivate diligently, but you missed a lot of training. Xiuying, can you do me a favour and help guide and inform her tomorrow."

"Alright! Mei, I'm proud of you! Keep it up!" Xiuying pat her on the back.

Mei felt a little guilty.

She nodded before heading her room, then to Wang Wei's. Nothing to do anyway, so she figured she'd see what he was up to.

Sliding open the door, to her surprise, Liu Qiang and Yingyi were there as well. She didn't remember him getting along with them!

"Oh, Mei Xiu!" Wang Wei said. "We were just discussing these blueprints."

"Blueprints?"

"Why are you randomly barging into his room anyway?" Yingyi huffed, but she ignored him.

Curious, she stared at the piece of paper before the three of them...

"Why does it look like a child's drawing?" she asked.

"Hey! I know I'm bad at art, but I'm not that bad!" Liu Qiang protested.

The other two boys laughed.

"Anyway, you know how I've learning about smithing? I figured it was time I try to make my own artefact." he continued. "I might be bad at drawing, but I think I can make it happen!"

He put his hand to his chest confidently, smiling.