Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

Yang Hui sifted through the pile of refined iron with practiced speed, his fingers brushing over each piece one by one. He could tell, without a doubt, that the maker had gone through the complete process of starting as a novice and gradually becoming skilled.

His disciples had walked that same path.

Refining was a demanding art, one that required relentless effort. Every breakthrough came with its share of sweat and persistence.

So, to claim that Yun Jin had grasped the fundamentals in such a short time felt like utter fantasy to him.

But these pieces of refined iron…

If the materials had all been uniform in quality, he might have suspected she bought them from somewhere.

However…

Each piece clearly bore marks of gradual improvement. It was as if he had watched a smith progress with each strike, growing better day by day. No one could fake that. There was no way someone could conveniently buy a perfectly staged collection of refined iron showing such a logical progression.

There was only one explanation: Yun Jin had forged them all herself.

Yang Hui's hands trembled as he picked one up.

This particular piece was flawless—both in quality and technique.

It was enough to suggest that its maker was already nearing, or had already reached, the standard of a second-grade artifact refiner.

Second-grade? In just a month?

Was that even possible?

Yang Hui felt like he was losing his mind.

It was absurd—so absurd that if he ran to report this to Zhao Wuji, he'd probably be thrown out on suspicion of rambling nonsense.

He clutched at his hair in frustration.

A growing urge gnawed at him: to march up to Yun Jin, drag her out, and interrogate her for three days straight. Otherwise, he'd feel like all his years of diligent study had been a joke. Could a flash of genius from a prodigy really outpace a lifetime of grinding effort?

Yang Hui began pacing, restless.

He was a peak master. He had to carry himself with dignity. He had to stay composed. Calm.

But how?

How could anyone stay calm after this?

He looked at the little mountain of refined iron again. An idea struck him. His eyes lit up and he immediately called over a disciple.

"Go to Tianjian Peak. Ask Yun Jin to come over," Yang Hui said with forced serenity. "She left behind a storage pouch with some things inside. I don't make a habit of keeping other people's things. Ask her to come collect it. I'll compensate her with spirit stones."

The disciple acknowledged the task and left.

Yang Hui finally let out a slow breath.

She should come now.

He had mentioned before that Lingi Peak would purchase refined black iron at a high price once it became refined iron. That wasn't an empty promise. Refined iron and tempered iron were among the most commonly used materials. No matter how much they bought, Lingi Peak would never lose money on it.

Of course, Yang Hui wasn't doing it for profit. He just wanted an excuse to meet Yun Jin again.

This time, he would get a clear explanation.

What he would do after that, he hadn't quite decided.

Not long after, the disciple returned.

Yang Hui resisted the urge to lean forward eagerly. He stayed seated on his platform like nothing unusual was happening.

But the disciple came back alone.

"You came back alone?" Yang Hui's composure cracked.

"She said she didn't have time to come. Told me to bring her the spirit stones," the disciple replied with innocent confusion.

Yang Hui ground his teeth. "And you just... came back?"

The disciple looked baffled. What else was he supposed to do? Junior Sister Yun's request was perfectly reasonable.

Yang Hui glared at him for a while, but couldn't figure out what to scold him for. In the end, he just waved him away.

"The spirit stones…" the disciple asked hesitantly. He had already promised to deliver them.

"Get out!" Yang Hui threw something at him in frustration.

Startled, the disciple fled without another word.

Yang Hui sat alone, fuming, then slowly broke into a bitter smile.

That Yun Jin!

She wasn't too busy. She was just making him come to her.

And annoyingly enough, he was really dying to know the truth.

Late at night.

A sneaky figure slipped into Tianjian Peak.

He remained cautious at first.

But strangely, there wasn't the slightest trace of defense. He walked straight into the inner peak without resistance.

When he reached Yun Jin's residence, even the bamboo hut's door was left wide open.

Yang Hui immediately understood.

She had been expecting him.

That open door looked less like a welcome and more like a trap—a yawning gate into the abyss.

But still…

"Well, I'm already here," he muttered to himself.

He stepped inside.

Yun Jin greeted him with a beaming smile. "Peak Master Yang, would you like some tea?"

Could he even say no at this point?

Yang Hui sat down in silence.

Gu Jinghong courteously poured him a cup.

Yang Hui cast a glance at Gu Jinghong.

He had heard rumors, but seeing him so obedient and well-behaved under Yun Jin's command was still a shock.

Yang Hui cleared his throat. "I saw the refined iron. You forged it yourself?"

Yun Jin nodded, looking troubled. "You're right, Peak Master Yang. Artifact refining is so difficult. I spent twenty whole days working day and night before I barely managed to reach second-grade. Isn't that a little too hard? At this rate, wouldn't it take me over ten years to reach ninth-grade?"

Yang Hui: "..."

He suddenly didn't want the tea anymore.

He wanted to throw the cup in Yun Jin's face.

But he held back.

Maintaining a strained calm, he said, "You must have studied refining before. That's the only way you could pick it up so quickly."

Yun Jin thought for a moment. "I've watched a blacksmith forge iron before. Does that count?"

Her expression was utterly sincere.

Yang Hui fell silent.

Yun Jin, however, knew what he was feeling.

Because just now, he had granted her a triple [+500 Emotional Value.] burst.

Yang Hui gritted his teeth. "That doesn't count. So you're really saying... you started from zero?"

"If that doesn't count, then I guess I did," Yun Jin sighed. "Without a teacher, it's hard to improve quickly. You're right, Peak Master, I should look for a proper mentor. Oh, do you think any artifact master would be willing to take someone like me? After all, it took me twenty days just to become second-grade. Does that mean I'm bad at it?"

She looked at him with such honest concern that it made Yang Hui want to scream.

He forced the words out, one by one. "No, I think... your talent is acceptable."

Yun Jin nodded thoughtfully.

It probably was acceptable. Because Yang Hui gave her another [+500 Emotional Value.]

Still looking distressed, she added, "But don't try to comfort me. I spent twenty whole days reaching second-grade, and it even took me seven days just to upgrade the Tai'a Sword. Doesn't that make me completely useless?"

She gazed at him, as if genuinely seeking comfort.

Yang Hui: "..."

He gripped the teacup.

Teetering between dousing Yun Jin with it and not.

In the end, he managed to ask calmly:

"The Tai'a Sword. You upgraded its rank?"