"Xiaoning'er?"
"Leader Ning?"
"What's going on? Has something happened?"
Zhao Shuning looked at everyone on high alert and laughed. "What kind of expressions are those? Nothing has happened. Don't worry."
"What about these herbs then?"
"I didn't say I don't want them. I just said we don't need to put them all in my courtyard. Shuang'er, Se'er, later you two will help everyone divide the herbs evenly so that every courtyard gets a share. As for our courtyard, we'll just take our own portion."
"Leader, this is against the rules."
"It's okay. What I say is the rule. Everyone, since you trust me, Zhao Shuning, and have joined Shuiyunsheng, I won't treat you badly or exploit you. I hope that in the future, Shuiyunsheng will grow stronger and stronger, and you'll always follow me."
Everyone's eyes grew moist.
They were all spiritual herb masters who had gathered from all over.
Before coming here, their families had told them that in the Eastern Ze Wilderness, strength was the most important thing. Inequality was the norm here, and they should know how to yield benefits. Those of higher ranks deserved better things.
Everyone had witnessed Zhao Shuning's abilities.
From the moment they stepped into the Misty Rain Tower, they had made up their minds that no matter how they were treated in these three years, they would endure it.
But then Zhao Shuning appeared. With her small frame, she had shouldered the flag for the first - year students.
It was her who had united the scattered freshmen. As the leader, she was highly capable. She could have enjoyed more and gone further. She could have just looked after herself and ignored all these things.
But she didn't. She said that since she had become the leader of Shuiyunsheng, she would carry the flag and protect them.
"Leader, no matter where you go or what kind of future we may have, we'll only recognize you, Zhao Shuning, as our leader for the rest of our lives. Even if we leave the Misty Rain Tower in the future, we'll still be disciples of Shuiyunsheng."
Looking at everyone's emotional expressions, Zhao Shuning felt embarrassed again.
Were these kids so easy to be touched?
They clearly regarded her as their spiritual leader.
"Everyone, rest assured. Shuiyunsheng will be your home from now on. I'll protect you with all my might."
"We'll surely protect the leader too!"
Zhao Shuning smiled and continued walking forward.
Only then did she notice that the two maids beside her, Shuang'er and Se'er, had long since been crying their eyes out.
"What's wrong with you two?"
"Xiaoning'er, you're so kind—"
As Shuang'er said this, she picked up a small stool and tried to get closer to Zhao Shuning.
Zhao Shuning quickly reached out to stop her. "No, no, no. Shuang'er, with all your tears and snot on your face, I find you disgusting—"
"Xiaoning'er, you're so great. Since you're so loyal, I won't mind anymore that you don't call me elder sister."
Zhao Shuning was speechless. She looked at Se'er, who nodded and said, "Yes, Shuang'er has always minded that you don't call her elder sister."
Looking at Se'er's teasing expression, Zhao Shuning felt dizzy.
It seemed that even after being reborn, she still couldn't understand others' minds well. For example, Shuang'er, who was always happy - go - lucky and gentle with everyone, actually minded such a thing.
"Se'er, don't tell me you mind this too?"
Se'er quickly waved her hand. "I don't care. After all, names are just codes."
Zhao Shuning nodded. She could accept calling Zhao Huai elder brother, but it was really hard for her to call Shuang'er elder sister.
"Xiaoning'er, I like you so much. How can you be so amazing?"
"Shuang'er, stay a bit farther away from me."
"Xiaoning'er, do you dislike me? It's true. You're much younger than me and so capable, while I can only cry and act coquettishly. I'm not very capable. It's only natural that you dislike me."
Zhao Shuning felt a headache coming on. She really wasn't good at dealing with emotions.
Sometimes, when others were deeply touched, she didn't know what to do with her hands and feet.
Seeing Shuang'er's aggrieved expression, Zhao Shuning had no choice but to gently hug her like an elder sister and then quickly let go.
At once, Shuang'er stopped crying and smiled. Everyone else also showed smiles.
When they got to the courtyard and were distributing the herbs, Zhao Shuning noticed that many freshmen who hadn't joined Shuiyunsheng were peeping in from outside.
However, the enrollment time for Shuiyunsheng had ended. Even if they wanted to join, they had missed the chance.
Se'er walked up to Zhao Shuning and asked, "Leader, those freshmen seem to want to join our Shuiyunsheng too."
Zhao Shuning smiled. "I've noticed."
"Shall we accept them?"
"No."
When Shuiyunsheng was still in its infancy, those freshmen had just stood by and watched. They didn't want to join Shuiyunsheng or follow Zhao Shuning, who had just offended Steward Meng. They were so afraid of death that Shuiyunsheng couldn't accept them. Now, seeing the spiritual herbs in the courtyard, they wanted to get a share. There was no such good thing in the world.
Se'er nodded and went back to her work.
The freshmen who were watching from outside stood there for several hours. Seeing that the people of Shuiyunsheng ignored them, they had to leave dejectedly.
"Leader Ning, your decision is so wise. Our Shuiyunsheng isn't a place where just anyone can come in."
Zhao Shuning just smiled without saying a word.
She would only protect those who had trusted her before. As for those who were too afraid to take the first step and feared for their lives, she had no interest in them and didn't want to waste her energy on them.
After a while, when the people of Shuiyunsheng had almost received their share of the herbs in the courtyard, it was already evening.
At that time, Zhao Shuning stepped forward and found that the remaining herbs were the most precious ones.
Shuang'er and Se'er looked at Zhao Shuning and smiled helplessly.
"Xiaoning'er, I said I'd give these herbs to them, but they all refused. They only took a little bit and left the rest for you to use for body - tempering."
Zhao Shuning felt a warm feeling in her heart. Sure enough, hard work always paid off.
Not everyone was as sinister as An Susu and Lin Feng.
"Se'er, bring the remaining precious herbs to my room."
"Okay."
Zhao Shuning wasn't that pretentious. She would accept everyone's kindness. These herbs were very beneficial for body - tempering, and she hoped to become stronger soon and return to her former peak one day.
"By the way, Shuang'er, give more of the precious herbs to A Shui and A Yue. That pair of brothers were seriously injured today."
"Got it."
I wonder if the sun will be as warm tomorrow as it is today?