“What shameless child dares to slander the Suyue Sect, claiming we collude with the demonic Hehuan Sect, and even disparage the Dong Fushang Sect? Seeking death!” Before Hong Qin could speak, a stern voice shouted.
Hearing this voice, her knees went weak, and she dropped directly to the ground. “Sect Master!”
Su Zhuyi’s heart was somewhat panicked—today might not end well for her—but her expression remained calm. She looked directly at the red-robed woman walking over, showing no fear of her pressure as she met her gaze. “My master lit a heart-blood soul lamp for me. Whether I’m seeking death or not isn’t your concern. If you want to seek death, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
She stood in place, chin raised arrogantly, looking at the red-robed sect master with eyes full of contempt. What a beautiful viper, but compared to me, you’re still lacking several points.
Seeing her so arrogant, Qu Ningsu’s heart wavered uncertainly.
Luo Ying had an excellent reputation throughout the world—her words needed no evidence for many to believe them. But was this girl child Luo Ying’s disciple? Everyone in the world knew Luo Ying had only accepted one disciple.
Yet this little girl maintained clear eyes and inner confidence under her pressure. It might be true.
Qu Ningsu smiled slightly. “I hear Luo Ying left a trace of Frost Sword energy on her disciple Qinghe. Since you’re her newly accepted little disciple, she should cherish you well.” With that, Qu Ningsu raised her hand, already gripping a long sword. “I don’t like wielding swords, and my swordplay isn’t refined, but drawing out a strand of sword energy is still possible.”
The azure long sword in her hand gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Under the sun, that azure appeared very transparent with a trace of crimson emerging inside. When she wielded it, the crimson spread like rosy clouds. “This sword is named Flowing Clouds. Little girl, catch this well.”
Su Zhuyi’s heart tightened, but she remained calm. “When my master’s Qianlong Sword energy cuts through your Liuxia Sword, just don’t cry!” She didn’t have Frost Sword energy, but she did have a strand of Songfeng Sword energy, though it was unreliable. At this critical moment, Qin Jianglan, please don’t fail me again. Later, I’ll make you a memorial tablet and offer three sticks of incense morning and evening.
Qu Ningsu’s smile froze. She said nothing more, swinging her Liuxia Sword toward Su Zhuyi.
Su Zhuyi held a cold smile at the corner of her mouth, watching the flying sword approach without moving a muscle. She was gambling—gambling that Qu Ningsu would make a feint and not dare truly strike her. She was also gambling that if Qu Ningsu attacked, it would trigger the Songfeng Sword energy.
Qin Jianglan’s Songfeng Sword energy was no weaker than Luo Ying’s. As long as the Songfeng Sword energy emerged, the Liuxia Sword would break.
The flying sword approached—the flowing clouds within seemed to rush before her eyes, entering her pupils and coating her long lashes with a hazy golden layer, making those obsidian-like eyes shimmer with flowing light.
“Clang!” A ringing sound!
The Liuxia Sword was severed in two. Su Zhuyi didn’t feel the Songfeng Sword’s intent. Looking up, she saw that red cloud floating in the sky.
“Who goes there!” Hong Qin’s magical treasure was a zither. She plucked the strings, expression wary.
“Qinghe.” Qinghe held no sword, standing on his fan facing the wind, his voice cold.
It was the Gujian Sect, really Qinghe!
Qu Ningsu’s flying sword had been severed. Her complexion wasn’t good, but she forced a smile. “So it is a little friend from the Gujian Sect. If there was any offense just now, please forgive us. However…” She looked up, smiling charmingly at Qinghe. “Our Suyue Sect is also righteous. This Gujian Sect friend has damaged our sect’s reputation—we still need an explanation.”
She didn’t believe they could find any evidence! If this little girl had entered the sect and been kept by her side, lurking for a few years might have given her a chance to find some leverage. But now, having just arrived, there definitely wouldn’t be any evidence.
Qu Ningsu questioned softly, but then saw a flying sword drop from above, landing heavily in the courtyard and smashing a large crater in the ground. Such strength, such sword energy—her expression changed dramatically.
“You…”
“Scram!” Qinghe was in a foul mood. Master had sacrificed herself to the sword, and those sword wounds on her body had never healed. Her arm was gone too, and all of this was within the Longquan Sword in his body. After the master fell unconscious, the murderous energy in him became restless. Along the way, he’d almost been unable to suppress it, and suppressing the Longquan Sword’s fierce aura had delayed him. Though it had calmed slightly now, his emotions were extremely unstable—if he wasn’t careful, he’d have to act and hurt someone.
Looking at the killer god above, Qu Ningsu was truly furious enough to vomit blood. Barging into my territory and telling me to scram? Towering rage filled her heart, but her face still wore a shallow smile. “Visitors are guests. We’ll go prepare some spirit fruits and fine wine first. Please wait a moment.”
With that, Qu Ningsu turned and left. Hong Qin and the others followed behind with dark faces, hurriedly scrambling.
After everyone left, Qinghe raised his hand to create a barrier and said to Su Zhuyi, “Master is severely injured and unconscious. She can’t travel around outside and needs to return for proper rest. You should come back with me, too.”
Su Zhuyi’s expression changed. Before she could refuse, she heard Qinghe continue, “Luoxue Peak has spirit springs and spirit veins. The abundant spiritual energy makes it an excellent cultivation site.”
“Master only accepted two disciples. All of Luoxue Peak’s cultivation resources will be available to you.”
“You can cultivate and advance easily, with enough spirit stones to support Little Skull. No need to worry about survival.”
Finally, Qinghe glanced back at the sleeping Luo Ying, his expression softening slightly. He continued, “Master sacrificed herself to the sword and was severely injured. She has no energy to constrain you. And I…”
He looked back at Su Zhuyi. “Have no time to deal with you.”
“Other Gujian Sect cultivators have no authority to manage you.”
Oh, the conditions sounded quite good. But did pies fall from the sky? There must be a reason. She wasn’t stupid—her mind turned, and she guessed it.
Su Zhuyi thought for a moment. “You want me to join the Gujian Sect so badly because of the ghostly creature Little Skull, right? Too bad—we’ve already parted ways.” No matter how good the conditions, she didn’t want to go. Qinghe was suppressing the evil Longquan Sword—one careless moment and he’d go into qi deviation. When that happened, all of Luoxue Peak would have only one severely injured, unconscious Luo Ying and one Qinghe who could become a bloodthirsty demon at any time. Staying there would be asking for trouble.
Parted ways?
Qinghe’s gaze fell beside Su Zhuyi. He pointed. “It’s right next to you.”
Su Zhuyi froze, instinctively calling out, “Wu’er?”
A skeleton head appeared at her side, right by her cheek, mouth open and panting as if exhausted.
Su Zhuyi had come via a teleportation array.
She’d used two teleportation arrays to get from Sufang City to the Fragrant Mountain of the Suyue Sect. Suyue Sect’s teleportation arrays were designed to transport living people to the sect, with recruitment officers controlling the arrays. Little Skull, a hidden undead creature, stepping on them was useless. With his limited knowledge, he could only blindly chase after her aura, circling Sufang City several times before crossing mountains and rivers to reach the courtyard.
He’d just seen several pretty sisters leave while his little big sister had a bloody mark on her face, so he stood on tiptoe, wanting to blow on it gently.
Originally panting from exhaustion and about to blow softly, he heard little big sister call his name. The spiritual energy barrier concentrated around his head immediately dissipated, revealing just his skull. He’d wanted to dispel the rest too, but remembering little big sister didn’t like dogs, he only revealed his head while keeping his body holding the dog hidden.
Su Zhuyi could smell the dog.
She frowned. “Where’s the dog?”
“Ah, here, here.” When little big sister asked, he was exposed. Timidly, he brought out the little yellow dog.
“I hate dogs.” Su Zhuyi looked at Wu’er. “When I was little, I was almost eaten by wild dogs. Since you secretly followed again, I’ll repeat—me and it, you can only choose one.”
Su Zhuyi felt her disgust and hatred for dogs were carved into her bones and blood.
She still remembered how much it hurt when dogs bit her back then.
At the village entrance of Changning Village, she’d been torn at by a wild dog, screaming in heart-rending agony that shattered the night’s tranquility. She’d hoped someone would help her—even a thrown stone could drive the wild dog away. But she’d only heard a voice irritably yelling, “Middle of the night—letting people sleep or not!”
She couldn’t remember how she’d fought the wild dog for her life, but she remembered that pain, that hatred, from when the wild dog’s teeth penetrated her bones and flesh. Even across a lifetime, she remembered it clearly.
Little Skull was holding that dog—she couldn’t kill it.
She could choose not to kill the dog, but likewise, she wouldn’t take Little Skull and raise a dog.
After speaking, Su Zhuyi turned to Qinghe. “What you want is Wu’er. When the time comes, take it and the dog. Don’t bother me anymore.”
Qinghe hadn’t expected Su Zhuyi to see things so clearly.
His gaze flickered as he said, “From now on, no dog will bite you.”
“No one will bully you.”
“Whatever misfortunes you experienced before—none will happen again.”
He looked quietly at Su Zhuyi. “You are Luo Ying’s disciple.”
After a pause, he added, “My junior sister.”
That year, he’d stood among a group of new disciples, shrinking to the back of the queue. Beneath his clothes were bruises and unhealed wounds. In his eyes lurked anger and defiance.
Master, in white robes, had walked through the crowd to stand before him, looking down to ask, “Are you willing to be my disciple?”
“Whatever misfortunes you experienced before—none will happen again.” She’d looked at him quietly, expressionless, with a calm tone. But at that moment, he’d felt that thin white figure was like the towering snow mountain behind her, with a red sun leaping from the peak, completely dispelling all the filth and darkness blocking his path.