Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

"Ye Jun is also coming?" Lin Ning, who had returned with food in hand, was immediately struck by a monumental piece of news from Yan Yu, leaving her feeling as if struck by thunder.

"It's not 'she is also coming'," Yan Yu corrected her calmly, "it's 'she is coming back'. Maintaining pre-competition order for the cultivator's tournament has always been her assigned task from the Dingbei Army; she was just called away for a few days due to other matters."

Lin Ning quickly fell silent. If Ye Qian Qian, whom she had met before, had made her feel threatened on a scale of ten, then Ye Jun posed a threat of a thousand, a billion, a googolplex!

After all, the captain had been on this side for over a week now—who knows what might have happened between him and Ye Jun? There's a saying that the unknown is the most terrifying. To Ningning, it was like gearing up for the college entrance exam only to find out there would be an additional subject she'd never prepared for—an understatement might as well be a quadrillion.

Her entire being tensed up. Watching Yan Yu eating the food he brought over with such composure, she quickly decided to test the waters.

Yun Jin, lend me your tactics!

"Oh," Lin Ning revealed a warm smile and said, "then Ye Jun is truly lucky, being a partner to our captain. She doesn't have to do anything, just enjoy being carried."

"Assuming based on yourself, right?" Yan Yu educated her deliberately and unruffled, fueling Ningning's inner rage, "You'd better get stronger quickly; otherwise, in the future, you could end up like Ye Jun: as soon as someone hears you're partnered with me, they'll conclude you're just freeloading, a vase being carried by me."

"Got it," Lin Ning replied outwardly coy and docile, her anger growing internally, "Then based on the captain's standard of evaluation, between me and Ye Jun, who better meets your requirements for a partner's strength?"

"It's definitely you," Yan Yu replied without hesitation.

Joy surged through Lin Ning's heart, and the anger she had been holding onto vanished.

See that, Ye Jun! The rapport I've cultivated with the captain over so long isn't something that just anyone can replace willy-nilly!

"But if we take away strength as a factor, then it's definitely Ye Jun," Yan Yu continued.

Lin Ning: ?

Eh??!

"What do you mean?" She asked, puzzled.

"You asked about 'strength standards,' and of course, you're stronger," Yan Yu stated factually, "But 'partner' doesn't necessarily depend entirely on strength, does it? Ye Jun's Xuan Guang Ruler has irreplaceable defenses in many situations. But your role... often I just need to put in a bit more effort, and I can do your job as well. You understand, right?"

Lin Ning certainly understood, but she couldn't accept it! As a Sword Immortal, I'm strong in offense and defense and support—how am I weaker than Ye Jun? Isn't she just relying on her Magic Treasure, Xuan Guang Ruler?

She was someone who couldn't stand being provoked, and if it weren't for Yan Jing's guidance previously, she might have already been jumping around in anger.

But even with restraint, Lin Ning regarded the soon-to-return Ye Jun as an enemy that needed to be vigilantly guarded against!

Meanwhile, Ye Jun, while en route from Pingjing to Yanjiao, was also quietly sorting through the information about Lin Ning in her mind.

Although the two did not have a deep relationship or understanding, Ye Jun had spent some time in the Zhenhai Team and was not entirely ignorant about Lin Ning.

Outsiders only knew that Lin Ning was the second Sword Immortal of the Zhenhai Team, best at quick strikes and rapid assaults, not knowing that her swordsmanship was personally honed by Yan Yu. On paper, they were captain and teammate, but in reality, they shared the bond of a mentor and student.

Of course, according to the conservative customs of Lu Country, a male mentor pursuing his female student is taboo, but a female student chasing after her male mentor is seen as yearning for beautiful love. In novels, male protagonists strictly forbid teacher-student romances; female protagonists are free to write whatever they please... so Ye Jun was certain that, with Yan Yu's habit of posturing and caring about face, he was most likely not going to provide fodder for gossip by expressing his feelings for Lin Ning.

He must be standing there, acting arrogant, letting Lin Ning make the advances!

With that, she could dismiss the possibility of mutual affection and losing at the starting line.

As for how to outshine Lin Ning, Ye Jun hadn't given it a thought. Lin Ning was a member of the same team, expected to be together day and night—how could she possibly stop that?

What mattered was Yan Yu's attitude!

If he truly liked Lin Ning, there wouldn't be a chance for herself. In over a year, Lin Ning would have likely succeeded already.

Since nothing had happened between them, trying to develop a relationship with Yan Yu seemed perfectly normal, right?

Thinking so, Ye Jun made up her mind. Once she met Yan Yu, she mustn't vie with Lin Ning for attention but focus solely on building Yan Yu's affection.

Upon returning to the Zhenghai Mansion, Ye Jun didn't rush in. Instead, she checked her appearance in her phone's camera, twirling the slightly curled ends of her hair around her fingers, before revealing a smile as refreshing as spring.

Perfect condition!

Reaching Yan Yu's residence, she saw Lin Ning washing dishes in the kitchen. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Jun sat down next to Yan Yu and smiled,

"Looking pretty relaxed there, having your teammate come over to cook for you?"

"She didn't cook because it was her job," Yan Yu felt he had to clarify lest he be misunderstood as a Demonic Sect Enchantress relying on someone else for meals, "She came to consult me about swordsmanship and cooked to reward me along the way, otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to face herself."

"Of course," Ye Jun brushed her hair behind her ear, seemingly nonchalantly saying, "It seems I also owe you a favor. I'm not good at cooking, but if you're willing, I could learn too."