He might not like Song Wanníng, but the Sect Master had to admit—she had already surpassed Gu Qingyuan. As he led the guest up the mountain, little schemes bloomed in his heart. He began to calculate how best to fan the flames later.
On Yunxiao Peak, Song Wanníng sat beneath a tree with Li Ruo, patiently answering her questions. She had taken the girl in as repayment for a life-saving favor. She hadn't wanted Li Ruo to continue struggling in the outer sect.
But after accepting her as a disciple, she'd been too preoccupied with revenge to properly guide her. Even so, Li Ruo never complained. Every day, she cultivated diligently and even tended to the spiritual herbs on the mountain.
Whenever Song Wanníng saw her, she was met with wide, adoring eyes and a sweet call of "Master."
Only now did Song Wanníng understand what it meant to take in a disciple. This… this was how it should feel. Suddenly, a transmission talisman streaked through the air. She caught it with two fingers and activated it.
The Sect Master's voice rang out.
Upon hearing that Lu Xingyao had arrived, Song Wanníng raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
Lu Xingyao of Myriad Sword Sect—a single-attribute lightning root. Not even a hundred years old and already in the Nascent Soul stage.
Brilliant talent. Terrifying combat power.
But their relationship? Far from good.
Back when they were younger, he would challenge her every time they crossed paths. If Gu Qingyuan happened to be with her, he'd beat him up instead.
Over the years, they'd clashed at nearly every secret realm and grand tournament they'd attended. The fights only grew fiercer. So did the grudges.
Now he'd come all the way here. Clearly, Myriad Sword Sect couldn't sit still any longer.
Song Wanníng narrowed her eyes and remained seated under the tree, calmly waiting.
She wanted to see what exactly Lu Xingyao was planning.
Within half a quarter-hour, two figures appeared on Yunxiao Peak.
Song Wanníng and Li Ruo both turned. Their attention was instantly drawn to the sword-wielding man.
A refined gentleman, blessed with striking beauty.
His bearing was noble, his bloodline unmistakably distinguished.
Though he was a sword cultivator and carried a bone-deep killing aura, his face remained gentle and composed, an odd contradiction that lent him a certain mystique.
"Junior Sister Song," the Sect Master called out with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Lu heard that Junior Brother Gu was unable to battle, so I brought him here to see you instead. You happened to be in the sect, so I thought, why not?" His words were deliberately vague, hinting at a possible switch in opponents.
Song Wanníng arched a brow, clearly unimpressed.
If Lu Xingyao didn't come to pick a fight, that would be more surprising.
She smiled at Lu Xingyao. "It's been a while, Fellow Daoist Lu."
Lu Xingyao gave a curt nod. "Fellow Daoist Song."
His tone was cool and distant.
"Come," the Sect Master interjected with a chuckle, "let's sit down first."
He led Lu Xingyao forward, mind already turning.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, since Junior Brother Gu has yet to recover, if you wish to challenge Junior Sister Song instead, that can be arranged… But she only recently advanced. You'll have to be gentle with her."
Before Lu Xingyao could even speak, the Sect Master was already laying out the plan, eager beyond measure.
Song Wanníng's lips curled in a mocking smile.
Once, the Sect Master had been a young man with grand ambitions, dreaming of leading Wentian Sect to new heights. But the longer he sat on the throne, the more his ideals were corroded by power and greed.
Now, he was nothing more than a calculating opportunist. Disgusting.
"Who said I came to challenge her?" Lu Xingyao's calm voice broke the illusion. "I came to catch up with Song Wanníng. That's all."
The Sect Master's smile froze, a flicker of alarm in his eyes.
He wasn't here to fight?
That wouldn't do.
Just as the Sect Master was about to try coaxing him again, Lu Xingyao added, "Once Gu Qingyuan is ready to duel, I'll leave Wentian Sect. This is a personal matter between him and me. It won't involve anyone else."
His words shattered the Sect Master's plan.
The man's face darkened. His carefully crafted scheme had collapsed in an instant.
Rising stiffly to his feet, he dropped all pretense of courtesy.
"Very well. In that case, Fellow Daoist Lu, please wait as you see fit."
He turned and walked off, expression stormy.
Lu Xingyao was clearly acting on behalf of Myriad Sword Sect. Nothing else made sense.
Now, all hope rested on Gu Qingyuan.
Yunxiao Peak fell silent, leaving only three people behind.
Song Wanníng gave Lu Xingyao a once-over. "What's this? You're not here to cause me trouble this time? Now that's rare."
Lu Xingyao's face was stone. "Can't old friends catch up now and then?"
"Old friends?"
Song Wanníng raised an eyebrow and suddenly leaned in.
A soft fragrance wafted into Lu Xingyao's face, and he instinctively leaned back. His gaze flickered for a moment.
"Did someone possess you? Since when were we friends? I always thought we were rivals."
She had always been direct, clear about her likes and dislikes. Naturally, this had earned her plenty of enemies.
Lan Le, the Second Elder, and others had all clashed with her sharp tongue.
Lu Xingyao was no different. She'd cursed him out countless times.
Especially when he beat up Gu Qingyuan in the past—it had driven her up the wall.
So hearing him now call her a "friend" truly caught her off guard.
Lu Xingyao's expression darkened, but he said nothing. He simply stared at her for a few seconds.
Only when she awkwardly rubbed her nose and stepped back did he finally relax.
"That your new disciple?" He turned to look at Li Ruo.
Li Ruo blinked her big, round eyes and looked up at him, face soft with baby fat and full of innocent cheer.
She looked like a sweet, simple child.
"Better than the other three," Lu Xingyao said blandly.
"She is. Her name's Li Ruo, my closed disciple." Song Wanníng reached out and patted Li Ruo's head. Her smile grew more genuine.
Spending time with the girl had always soothed her heart.
That kind of purity and warmth… it felt distant, almost unreachable, to someone like her.
Suddenly, she grinned playfully. "Oh right, An Ze was expelled. So now there's only two."
She thought back to An Ze's gruesome end, and her smile turned even sweeter.
Lu Xingyao pressed his lips together. "I know."
Before Song Wanníng could react, he pulled out a storage ring and handed it to Li Ruo.
"A meeting gift. Keep it." His tone was firm, his gesture decisive. He shoved it directly into her hand.
Li Ruo's eyes went wide. She shot up in alarm and turned to her master, silently asking for help.
Song Wanníng narrowed her eyes. "What kind of gift is that? You jealous I took in a disciple and now you're trying to curse her or something?"
She eyed him suspiciously, her wariness rising again.
Was he possessed after all?
Lu Xingyao: "…"
He'd been trying to show off for half a day, only to realize he'd been performing for someone who might be blind. "Take it or leave it. If you don't want it, I'll toss it."
Song Wanníng: "…"
Quick to anger. Now that felt more like the Lu Xingyao she knew.
She relaxed.
"Go on, take it. Say thank you… Uncle Lu."
Li Ruo's eyes lit up. She clutched the ring and bowed sweetly, but her gaze kept drifting curiously between her master and Lu Xingyao.