Zhu Zhao's gaze was as cold as frost, sweeping over him with undisguised sarcasm. "After Song Yao left, this courtyard was sealed by the joint efforts of the main peak's personal disciples, Shen Queshan and Wen Tang. No one can break it by force except those two. How many more times do I have to repeat this?"
"Are you truly unable to break it, or do you harbor treacherous intent?!"
The leading cultivator's face darkened as he took a step forward, his tone carrying a heavy hint of pressure. "Since you have publicly sworn allegiance to Sect Master Feng, you should show some sincerity. It doesn't matter if you can't break the seal on this courtyard. As long as you tell us where Song Yao's Guiyu Sword is hidden, Sect Master Feng will still credit you for it."
Zhu Zhao replied unhurriedly, "The Guiyu Sword was sealed in the Earth Realm by Shen Queshan long ago. If Sect Master Feng wants it, she can lead her people there to retrieve it herself."
"Nonsense!"
The cultivator refuted sharply, "That is a divine sword wielded by Song Yao herself! How could something so rare and precious be thrown into a desolate place like the Earth Realm? You are clearly concealing the truth on purpose!"
"...A divine sword? A rare and precious treasure?"
A faint trace of mockery played on Zhu Zhao's lips. "Didn't you just say her residence was a demon's den and her sword was an evil thing?"
Unfazed by her retort, the cultivator merely cleared his throat, sounding even more self-righteous. "It is indeed a highly malevolent and dangerous weapon. Precisely because of that, Sect Master Feng cannot rest easy until she personally confiscates and suppresses it, lest it fall into the hands of those with ulterior motives and bring disaster to the world. If you stubbornly refuse to speak, that's fine. I have plenty of time to waste here with you!"
Seeing Zhu Zhao in such a tight spot for once, Song Yao clicked her tongue from above. Just as she was contemplating whether to blow this place up as well, her Second Senior Sister's cold and ruthless voice suddenly echoed in her ear: "Song Yao, scram."
Song Yao: "..."
Fine.
Liar.
She had clearly just promised not to be mean to her anymore.
There were too many people here, and worried that Moqi might catch up, she didn't linger. Sweeping her gaze downward to scan the area, she flew toward Qiangua Peak.
Qiangua Peak was barely guarded, with only a few Beiyao Sect cultivators patrolling around the mountain gate.
Song Yao scaled the courtyard wall with practiced ease, bypassed the stone paths and vegetation, and made her way straight to the quiet room at the very back. Peeking through a crack in the window, she quickly slipped inside.
The sun had already set, and only a single lonely lamp was lit in the room, its flame flickering weakly.
Xie Zhou sat at the table, eyes downcast as he drew talismans. His long eyelashes cast faint shadows on his eyelids. He was enveloped in his usual aura of cold solitude, looking like a piece of jade submerged in a freezing pool, making even the surrounding air feel a few degrees colder.
Hearing the noise, he looked up, his lips slightly pursed. Before he could even speak, Song Yao had already kicked off her shoes with practiced speed, scrambled to the side of the bed, pulled back the blanket, and slipped right in, leaving only half of her face exposed. "Fourth Senior Brother, let me sleep here for a bit."
Xie Zhou: "..."
He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. Suddenly, the wooden door of the quiet room was slammed open with a loud bang.
The night wind rushed in, carrying the mountain-peak chill, and the lonely lamp on the desk flickered violently, nearly blowing out.
Feng Qing strode in wearing her black-and-gold Sect Master robes, her hem brushing over the threshold. The heavy pressure of one long accustomed to high status weighed down on the room. Behind her followed a dark-faced Moqi, with several sword-wielding cultivators filing in after them.
"That Seventh Junior Sister of yours certainly has quite the nerve!"
Feng Qing's brows knit tightly, her eyes flashing with lingering anger. "I kindly settled her on Wangyun Peak and even sent medical cultivators to keep her alive. Yet, while the entire sect was gathered to listen to instructions, she vanished without a trace. Did you people hide her in some secret realm again?!"
Song Yao immediately closed her eyes and played dead: "..."
This was truly a case of impeccable timing.
The moment she crawled under the covers, the target of her evasion arrived.
She was debating whether to pop out and say hello or just keep pretending to be asleep.
Xie Zhou had already put down his ink brush. He walked slowly and unhurriedly to the bedside, his voice flat. "Seventh Junior Sister is physically weak and has trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places. She is only used to sleeping in my room. Sect Master Feng is so busy with a myriad of affairs, yet you must personally oversee where a disciple sleeps at night?"
Having rushed in, Feng Qing hadn't noticed someone lying in the bed. Her gaze suddenly swept over, her brows knitting as she clearly found it hard to believe. "You... you two sleep together?"
Xie Zhou cast his eyes down. "Junior Sister is timid. She cannot sleep soundly without someone nearby. What is wrong with me watching over her?"
Song Yao nearly burst out laughing with her eyes closed.
Her Fourth Junior Brother had truly grown up, telling such a lie without even batting an eye.
But Moqi suddenly lunged forward, reaching toward the person under the blanket with spiritual energy gathering in his palm. He spoke viciously, "She's probably pretending to sleep! I still have questions for her!"
Before he could get close, two pale golden talismans materialized in front of him. The golden patterns flared up, forcing him half a step back.
Xie Zhou said calmly, "Ask her tomorrow."
"Audacious!"
Moqi's expression twisted in rage as he barked, "A bunch of prisoners, and you dare to negotiate with me? I will ask whenever I want!"
Xie Zhou didn't move an inch.
However, dozens of bright red paper talismans fluttered up from all corners of the room, suddenly surrounding Moqi. They carried an almost eerie pressure, giving everyone an ominous feeling.
"You want to fight me?!"
Moqi's face turned pale with anger, and the spiritual energy around his body tensed up.
A flash of interest crossed Feng Qing's eyes, and she had no intention of stopping them.
She had a use for Xie Zhou and didn't want to harm him for the time being, but he was indeed far too arrogant and defiant. If he suffered a little and learned to submit to her, it would be a good thing.
Moreover, Moqi was already at the Nascent Soul Stage, and she wanted to see what level Xie Zhou's strength had reached.
But just as the tension reached its peak, Song Yao chose that moment to "wake up" right on cue, looking at the people in the room with feigned panic. "W-what's wrong? What happened?"
Moqi glared fiercely at Xie Zhou, then suppressed his anger and turned to her, demanding sharply, "I ask you, when did you leave the side courtyard of Wangyun Peak?!"
Song Yao blinked, seemingly confused by his question. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Wangyun Peak? I left before I went to sleep."
Moqi: "...Cut the nonsense! Did the explosion on Wangyun Peak have anything to do with you?!"
Song Yao gasped, then asked with slight anxiety, "Wangyun Peak exploded? Then... then is the Second Elder, and my junior brothers and sisters from the hall, are they all okay?"
Her reaction didn't seem fake.
Moqi still felt something was off, and his brow furrowed as he prepared to press further, but a hand pressed down on his shoulder. "That's enough. Wasn't the barrier deployed very quickly after the explosion? She is injured to this extent; if it were really her, she wouldn't have had time to escape. I already know who did it. There is no need to ask further."
Moqi: "But..."
Feng Qing: "There are no 'buts'."
"..."
Since Feng Qing had spoken, he could only swallow his words in frustration and respectfully retreat behind her.
Song Yao, of course, was not foolish enough to believe Feng Qing would let her off so easily. A flash of vigilance crossed her eyes.
In the next second, Feng Qing stepped forward, stopping right in front of her. As her shadow fell over her, her expression was uncharacteristically gentle. "How are you feeling? Is there anywhere you still feel unwell?"
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