After the True Heiress Travels Back
Chapter 233: If There Were No Cheng Lingdang

Chapter 233: Chapter 233: If There Were No Cheng Lingdang

"No matter what, it was never your turn to become a disciple."

Cheng Lingdang, super in love with her own reflection, touched her cheek and snickered, "After all, with a gem like me setting the precedent, only the blind wouldn’t prefer me over you."

"Besides... I know my grandparents well, they are absolutely sharp-witted and far from blind."

Having said this with confidence, Cheng Lingdang deliberately snorted with an air of smugness, "In conclusion, your wish to become a disciple is destined to be unfulfilled. People ought to be self-aware. What I just demonstrated was merely one of my countless skills; you stand no chance against me. I suggest you drop the idea of discipleship sooner rather than later."

Her words were quite rude.

Shi Yiqing’s face turned red with anger, "I don’t want you as my master, who are you to make decisions for Mr. Xiao and Mrs. Xiao?"

Her eyes brimming with tears, she looked pitifully at Xiao Cenyang and his wife, "I really wish to become a disciple under both of you, I earnestly beg you once more, could you give me a chance, please?"

Her tearful, sorrowful appearance would undoubtedly move any man’s heart deeply.

Unfortunately...

She was facing Xiao Cenyang, who was famously devoted to his wife, and Mrs. Xiao, who had her beloved granddaughter as the apple of her eye.

To Mrs. Xiao, Shi Yiqing’s tear-stained face held little impact.

Especially knowing that her own granddaughter did not like Shi Yiqing.

Before the birthday banquet, Cheng Lingdang had already shared Shi Yiqing’s news with Mrs. Xiao in advance.

Knowing that Shi Yiqing was not a good person, she naturally felt indifferent toward her.

At this moment, Mrs. Xiao had not been affected by the plot, so she had no special feelings towards Shi Yiqing.

It was even less likely that she would hurt her own granddaughter’s heart for Shi Yiqing’s sake.

So, she rejected her calmly.

"I’m truly sorry, but my husband and I are also getting on in years, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to take on any more disciples. Lingdang alone is enough for us."

Speaking calmly and unhurriedly, Mrs. Xiao said, "Today, those who have come to our birthday celebration are the leading figures in their respective fields. Shi... if the young miss has any aspirations, she might as well inquire among them for advice."

Shi Yiqing naturally was not willing to give up.

She came here today specifically for Mrs. Xiao’s secret perfume formula.

Who in the social circle didn’t know that Mrs. Xiao’s secret perfume formula was the best?

If it weren’t for Mrs. Xiao gradually stepping back in recent years, her craft would likely have been listed as an intangible cultural heritage.

If she could inherit from Mrs. Xiao...

Shi Yiqing became even less willing to let go the more she thought about it.

But Mrs. Xiao had already made up her mind, and Cheng Lingdang was not likely to relent easily.

Unless—

Shi Yiqing thought sinisterly to herself.

If Cheng Lingdang died, would she no longer stand in her way?

This thought flashed by, startling Shi Yiqing herself.

She patted her chest to calm down, struggling not to let it affect her.

Even so, she couldn’t suppress the malevolent thought at the bottom of her heart.

Clutching to the slim chance, she decided to wait a little longer.

A voice inside her insisted that she absolutely couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Because of this, she outright rejected Mrs. Xiao’s suggestion.

If she agreed now, it would be inconvenient to come back and ask to be Mrs. Xiao’s disciple if something unexpected happened to Cheng Lingdang later on.

Mrs. Xiao, unaware of her scheming, did not press further when she showed no inclination to become anyone else’s disciple.

Cheng Lingdang was somewhat surprised to see her give up so easily.

She ran over to Shi Yaoguang and whispered for her opinion, "Shi Ge, does she have a belly full of ill intentions or what? Why do I feel like she’s not giving up?"

Shi Yaoguang gave her a confirming look, "You guessed right."

"Ah?"

Cheng Lingdang immediately became anxious, "What do we do then?"

This person was up to no good, she...

She couldn’t handle it!

Seeing Cheng Lingdang like this, Shi Yaoguang pulled out a folded talisman and handed it to her.

Cheng Lingdang took it and looked at the contents...

Um, the strokes were ethereal, in an artistic style she could not comprehend.

Knowing that Cheng Lingdang couldn’t understand, Shi Yaoguang explained, "This is a talisman for peace."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Lingdang’s eyes lit up.

Then, as if she thought of something, she looked stunned, "You didn’t draw this talisman yourself, did you?"

"Yes," Shi Yaoguang answered.

Shi Yaoguang then asked, "Is there a problem?"

Cheng Lingdang shook her head repeatedly, "No problem, no problem, it’s just that I find it too unbelievable."

"Shi Ge... no, Master, what all can you do?"

She had thought that cultivation was the limit, yet here she was, capable of drawing talismans.

Anyone could scribble a talisman, but to draw one that’s actually effective was not something just anyone could do.

As far as she knew, many of the talismans circulating in the market were ineffective.

Truly effective talismans never had the chance to circulate publicly.

Of course, out of trust for Shi Yaoguang, Cheng Lingdang never doubted that the talisman given to her would be ineffective.

"I haven’t counted what I can do," Shi Yaoguang simply answered Cheng Lingdang’s question.

It wasn’t that she was deliberately being pretentious.

She genuinely did not know everything she was capable of.

This was probably... the trouble with having too many skills.

...

After chatting for a while with Cheng Lingdang, Mrs. Xiao called her away.

Today, some friends she knew were present, and she certainly needed to introduce her granddaughter in detail to everyone.

"Little Lingdang, come here, this is your Uncle Lin, he used to hold you when you were little..."

"This is Grandma Hu, she’s got a great relationship with you..."

Cheng Lingdang was led by Mrs. Xiao to meet many elders.

To her, these were all valuable connections.

Shi Yiqing watched from the crowd, her heart aching.

She inexplicably felt as if someone was telling her in the dark that all this should have been hers.

But now Cheng Lingdang had taken it all away.

Already feeling indignant, this sensation only made it harder for her to stay calm.

Just as her expression was nearly distorted with anger, from the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a girl in red on the second floor.

"Shi Yaoguang!"

She murmured under her breath and then lifted her skirt to rush up.

Internally, she couldn’t help but curse her up and down.

Damn it.

Shi Yaoguang was clearly coming here just to oppose her!

Today she wore a pink dress, and Shi Yaoguang wore bright red.

What did she mean by that?

Was she deliberately mocking her?

Shi Yaoguang looked at Shi Yiqing standing in front of her, her face full of anger, her expression almost twisted, and hooked the corner of her mouth, "Why are you here again? Haven’t you learned your lesson?"

Shi Yiqing knew she was referring to the fact that she never came out on top in their encounters.

But...

Even though she was aware of it, she wasn’t willing to just admit defeat.

Why?

Why was she inferior to Shi Yaoguang in every way?

Wasn’t it Shi Yaoguang who came from the countryside?