As Rinne and Lyra stepped into the Outer Affair Hall, the bustle of activity within subsided for a moment.


    Their appearance drew curious glances from the disciples waiting in line. Lyra felt a little embarrassed, but she remained silent, following Rinne’s lead. Rinne, on the other hand, strode forward with unwavering confidence, seemingly unbothered by the attention.


    When their turn came, they approached the counter where Talia was.


    "Oh, hello again. Is there anything else you need?"


    She paused, her eyes flicking between the familiar short figure in the outer disciple uniform and the taller, unfamiliar one in the handyman’s attire. She couldn’t help but feel surprised.


    It had only been a few hours since Rinne''s last visit, yet here she was again, only this time she had brought a follower.


    “Already recruiting handymen into your circle?”


    Talia muttered under her breath, half joking. But in her heart, she became a little worried. She couldn''t help but think that perhaps a new strange group wearing masks had formed within the sect.


    Rinne''s response was as brief as ever.


    “This time, it’s not about me but her. She has reached the 4th level of the Spirit Gathering stage today, so her information needs to be updated. She also needs to rent a house.”


    As she spoke, Rinne gestured toward Lyra.


    Talia’s eyes lingered on Lyra for a moment before she extended her spiritual sense. Sure enough, the aura of the 4th level of Spirit Gathering stage emanated from the taller figure.


    “Alright, give me your token. I’ll change it to a new one for outer disciples.”


    When new disciples failed to reach the 1st level of the Spirit Gathering stage within a month of recruitment, they were automatically demoted to handyman status without needing to wait for the annual assessment. However, if they managed to reach the 4th level before turning twenty, they could temporarily regain the status of an outer disciple.


    Of course, they would still need to prove themselves during the assessment later.


    Lyra obediently handed over her sect token, and Talia began the process of transferring the information. A faint glow surrounded her fingers as she imprinted the updated data onto a new token. A moment later, she handed it back to Lyra along with a small pouch.


    “Fenira, right? Here is your new token and your monthly resources. I’ve also included the location of your residence in the token. The rent will be five spirit stones per month, which I’ve already deducted from your resources.”


    Lyra accepted the items with both hands, bowing slightly in gratitude.


    “Thank you.”


    She couldn’t help but think that the sect’s security seemed surprisingly lax. It was disturbingly easy to usurp someone’s identity. The thought settled heavily in her mind as she clutched her new token.


    This realization only solidified her suspicion that the Qadistu clan had likely infiltrated the Frostfire Sect long ago. Perhaps it wasn’t just the Frostfire Sect; even the Immortal Alliance itself might have been compromised. Yet, amidst these worrying thoughts, Lyra felt a small sense of relief. Fortunately, Senior Agrat did not seem to be her enemy.


    Talia glanced between the two figures again, her curiosity barely hidden. She hesitated as if she wanted to ask something but ultimately decided against it. Instead, she offered a polite smile.


    “Anything else?”


    Rinne shook her head.


    “No. That will be all.”


    With that, the pair turned and left the hall, walking toward the location of Lyra’s new home as indicated on the token. The path was quiet, but tension hung in the air.


    On the way, Lyra finally broke the silence.


    “Thank you, Senior. After I return to the inner gate, I will repay your kindness.”


    Rinne didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she asked,


    “What will you do after this?”


    Even without asking, Rinne could already guess the likely scenarios Lyra would pursue. She simply hoped that whatever path Lyra chose, it wouldn’t lead to her untimely death. After all, it would be a pity if someone she saved ended up dying anyway.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Lyra hesitated for a moment before answering, her tone filled with determination.


    “First, I want to uncover my sister, Celia’s conspiracy and prove my innocence to my father, Elder Zhelar. Ultimately, I aim to restore my inner disciple status.”


    She had briefly considered seeking Agrat’s assistance to collect evidence. With the power of the Qadistu clan, it likely wouldn’t require much effort. However, Lyra wasn’t sure how to broach the subject. She had nothing of value to offer as compensation and feared making the wrong impression.


    However, before she could do that, Rinne’s words ruthlessly denied her plan.


    “Your plan won’t work.”


    Lyra stopped in her tracks, staring at Rinne in shock. “Why not?”


    Meanwhile, Rinne didn’t stop. She continued walking, while voicing her view on this matter.


    “Celia Zhelar is Elder Zhelar’s only daughter. Even if she’s in the wrong, he’ll do everything to protect her. In fact, he already knows you’re innocent but still chose to sacrifice you. If you continue with your plan, you’ll likely be accused of another crime—or worse, assassinated.”


    From Elder Zhelar’s memories, Rinne could easily conclude that he loved his late companion dearly. Now that she was gone, their daughter, Celia, was a cherished memento of her memory. To him, Celia’s importance was incomparable, far exceeding that of an adopted daughter.


    Lyra’s steps faltered, her voice trembling as she murmured,


    “No, that can’t be true. Father is always wise and just…”


    She clenched her fists, her mind a chaotic storm of denial and despair.


    Rinne glanced at her briefly but didn’t press further. If it were Rinne in her second life, she would have ruthlessly advised Lyra to simply assassinate Celia and mask it as an accident or something. In that way, Elder Zhelar would have no one else to love other than Lyra. But, of course, she couldn’t give such heartless advice now.


    Rinne sighed, her breath forming a faint mist in the frigid air. She turned to Lyra and spoke with a calm yet detached tone.


    “We’re almost there. That should be your new home.”


    She pointed toward a modest house nestled among a row of similar snow-covered dwellings.


    The houses were small and unassuming, much like the one Rinne had rented when she first joined the sect. A thin layer of frost clung to the structures, giving the area an austere beauty.


    “You can think it through carefully later. But whatever you decide to do, don’t forget that you’re an injured person right now.”


    Her voice held no judgment, only a straightforward reminder of Lyra’s current vulnerability. Without waiting for a response, Rinne gave a slight nod and turned to leave.


    Lyra stood there for a moment, watching her savior’s figure recede into the distance. Her thoughts swirled chaotically, a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty. She held the token tightly in her hand, the cold feeling of the token was a stark reminder of her newfound status.


    “Thank you,”


    She whispered softly, even though Rinne was already out of sight.


    ???


    It was already afternoon when Rinne arrived at her atelier. Without wasting any time, she retrieved her spatial bag and began reorganizing and counting the gains she had accumulated throughout the day.


    First, there were several seeds that she had purchased from Talia. Rinne immediately planted them, carefully allocating space in her greenhouse. Her plant collection had expanded significantly, and now the second floor of the greenhouse was officially in use. The satisfaction of seeing her collection grow brought a faint smile to her face.


    Next, there were a few broken items, which she decided to store for now. These items would be melted down and repurposed at a later time, but today wasn’t the day for such tasks.


    Then came the eleven complete "puppet materials" she had collected. These were particularly important. Rinne stripped each of them methodically and placed them in basins filled with a special liquid. The solution was designed to plasticize the bodies, making them moldable and suitable for crafting puppets. They would need to soak for a few weeks before they could be used.


    Finally, there was the most significant gain of the day: Lyra’s inner disciple robe and inner disciple token. Recalling Lyra’s face, Rinne couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt.


    "Actually, you don’t have to thank me, since I also took something good from you. In fact, it should be me who’s saying thank you."


    But, of course, Lyra wasn’t there to hear her silent confession.


    Rinne began cleaning the robe, carefully removing the blood and dirt until it looked as pristine as the day it was first issued. She tried the robe on, activating its adjustment feature. Instantly, the fabric shifted, fitting her body perfectly. She admired the result for a moment before moving on to the token.


    Since she had already manipulated the information in a sect token once, doing it a second time was a straightforward process. Rinne erased Lyra’s spiritual imprint and personal details, replacing all of it with her own information. She scrutinized the token in her hand, now engraved with her identity.


    A small smile crept onto her lips. This could be considered as her unofficial advancement to inner disciple, albeit through illegal means. There was no need to wait for the annual assessment and struggle to reach a certain ranking in the said assessment. The token was her shortcut.


    "All that remains is to turn the illegal into legal."


    Staying as an outer disciple was certainly more stable, but the resources were undeniably skewed in favor of inner disciples and those of higher ranks. With the token, all that remained was to legitimize her new identity within the sect.


    The token bore the sword crest of Sword Peak, a clear indication of Lyra’s former affiliation. Rinne already had a plan in place: she would report a transfer to Alchemy Peak instead. This move would make it easier for her to gather ingredients for her medicinal baths and future experiments.


    As for her atelier, Rinne decided to extend the rent for another six months.


    The items stored there were too numerous and cumbersome to move at present. There was no urgency to relocate. For now, she would only need to bring her cauldron and a few essential solutions.


    Once she acquired a spatial ring, which could store items far more efficiently than her current spatial bag, she’d return to collect everything in one trip. Satisfied with her plans, Rinne placed the token into her robe’s pocket.


    She cast one last glance around the room before settling out.