Song Yao mumbled, “What Immortal Venerable? I don't understand, I don't understand.”
“Ye Chongguang was an extremely ambitious man. He had long planned to annex the entire Tianshu Realm. Yet, after going to such great lengths to seize control of the Nine Saints Hall and the Beiyao Sect, his very first move was to look for you.”
Ignoring her banter, Zhu Zhao explained calmly and thoroughly, “When death was at his doorstep, he begged some Immortal Venerable for help, only to end up having his life taken by the entity inside that jade pendant instead. Whether it was his sudden surge in cultivation or that jade pendant, they must have been given to him by that Immortal Venerable...”
Song Yao interrupted her. “So you're guessing that this Immortal Venerable is the one looking for me?”
Zhu Zhao remained noncommittal.
Song Yao still felt somewhat unwell. Her chest felt tight, and before long, she could no longer stand. Sitting down on the threshold, she said, “Since it's just a guess, it might not be true. Besides, if that Immortal Venerable had to rely on Ye Chongguang to find me, it means he doesn't know my exact identity right now either. What is there to be afraid of?”
As she spoke, the remaining color drained from her face, leaving her skin almost translucently pale.
Looking at her, Zhu Zhao had a sudden, inexplicable illusion that she might vanish in the next second. The harsh words she had been about to say caught in her throat, and she reluctantly softened her tone. “Now that you've opened the array core, more and more people will learn of your identity. If that Immortal Venerable really has ties to Yong'an Tower, it's only a matter of time before his investigation leads him to you.”
Song Yao didn't care at all. “Then that's all the more reason for me to leave the Nine Saints Hall.”
Zhu Zhao didn't understand. “Why?”
Song Yao looked up with a smile, speaking as if it were obvious. “You've only just taken the position of Hall Master, yet you're already taking on such a huge troublemaker like me. Careful, or the elders might impeach you.”
Zhu Zhao: “...”
Failing to notice the darkening expression on Zhu Zhao's face, Song Yao continued, “Besides, have you forgotten who I am? It was the elders who wanted to send me away in the first place. Now that I've opened the array core, the number of people in the hall guessing my identity will only increase. Even if you and I have let bygones be bygones, what about them?
“Zhu Zhao, can they let bygones be bygones with me too?”
The wind gradually died down, and the bamboo-patterned curtains hanging along the corridor remained completely still. The air grew stiflingly heavy.
Only after a long silence did Zhu Zhao speak. “I will protect you, Song Yao. I am not afraid of impeachment.”
Song Yao found this even more absurd. Supporting herself against the threshold, she forced herself to stand, a lazy, playful smile playing on her lips. She reached out to touch Zhu Zhao's forehead. “No way, Hall Master Zhu. Have you gone mad with a fever? Since when did the two of us become close enough for this?”
She leaned in close to Zhu Zhao and teased, “Could it be that after fighting with me for so long, you've actually fallen in love with me out of hatred?”
Just as her hand touched the other woman's forehead, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. The grip was neither too tight nor too loose, yet it felt as unyielding as iron, making it impossible to break free.
Song Yao froze as Zhu Zhao took a half-step closer, instantly closing the distance between them. Zhu Zhao looked down at her, a turbulent darkness swirling in her eyes. “Then you can just assume I fell in love with you out of hatred.”
Song Yao: “?”
Zhu Zhao stared intently at her, her soft, shallow breath brushing against Song Yao's cheek. “As long as I am in the Nine Saints Hall, no one will ever be able to drive you away.”
Song Yao: “Wait, no...”
Zhu Zhao immediately let go of her wrist, stepped back a few paces, and didn't forget to add before turning to leave, “You might as well give up on any thoughts of leaving the Nine Saints Hall. It's not going to happen.”
“Recover well. I am very busy, but I'll come see you when I have time.”
She walked away clean and fast, leaving absolutely no room for negotiation.
Song Yao: “...”
Well, this was just great. Even Zhu Zhao had turned into an overbearing boss.
She rubbed the space between her eyebrows with a slight sigh.
Zhu Zhao was incredibly clever; there was no way she didn't know how much trouble keeping her in the Nine Saints Hall would cause.
Someone like her, whom everyone despised, was best off staying outside alone. That way, if anyone wanted revenge or to settle a score, they wouldn't drag others into it.
And then there was this Immortal Venerable Zhu Zhao had mentioned.
Though she had no idea how she had provoked such a person, going to such great lengths to find her certainly boded no good.
Anyone who could instantly kill Ye Chongguang was definitely no simple character. If she stayed, she might even bring complete ruin upon the Nine Saints Hall.
Any normal person would know which choice was the most beneficial, yet Zhu Zhao acted as if she had been bewitched...
And then there was her master.
She had no idea what kind of madness had possessed him either. After resolving the matter with Ye Chongguang, he had actually washed his hands of everything.
She sat in place to catch her breath and looked around her surroundings.
This wasn't the main peak.
It was Mount Mingjing, located deeper and higher than the main peak.
Usually, to avoid being disturbed—mostly to avoid being disturbed by her—her master would cultivate here alone. It was a rather secluded place.
She had once suspected her master was up to some shady business here and had forced her way in a few times. However, after finding nothing but a few small bamboo huts surrounded by mountains and rivers, she realized there was really nothing fun here and had never returned.
What did her master mean by bringing her here?
Did he want to lock her up here to keep her from going out and causing trouble for the world?
Song Yao sat by the door and rested for a while before slowly walking toward the mountain's exit.
As expected, the perimeter of Mingjing Peak was enveloped in a barrier so faint it was nearly invisible. The moment she touched it, fine ripples of spiritual energy spread out, completely sealing off all exits.
He really did intend to lock her up.
She pursed her lips. Lacking the strength to force her way through, she skirted around, following the direction of the strongest spiritual energy fluctuations.
The damp moisture, carrying the bitter scent of pine needles, drifted over. Just beyond the edge of the barrier lay a spiritual spring.
The surface of the spring shimmered with light. A figure draped in a white robe was half-hidden in the shadows of the trees by the bank, enveloped in layers of rising mist. Only the outline of his slender, well-proportioned shoulders and back was visible, hazy and indistinct.
Was he healing his wounds here?
Had he been injured during his clash with Ye Chongguang?
And even though he was injured, he still insisted on keeping her here?
Song Yao couldn't understand it. Walking to the edge of the barrier, she reached through the paper-thin spiritual shield and snatched the outer robe that was neatly folded on a rock.
A flame flared from her fingertips, and the plain white fabric instantly began to curl downward as sparks caught on it.
She looked up toward the spring, speaking with a fierce, defiant edge. “Let me out, or I'll burn your house down too.”
The figure slowly rose from the spring. The water vapor sliding down the clean lines of his shoulders and spine evaporated in the next instant.
Another outer robe appeared out of thin air, draping over his shoulders. By the time he turned around, he was fully dressed and walking toward the barrier with calm, composed steps.
The spiritual barrier that had firmly trapped Song Yao was like passing through wind or shadows to him; he stepped right through it.
As if completely blind to the robe she had just burned, he walked past her and headed straight for the bamboo hut.
His voice, carrying the damp chill of the lingering water vapor, was gentle and mild. “Go ahead and burn it. Once it's burned down, I'll just have the Third Elder rebuild it.”
Song Yao: “?”
What was that supposed to mean?
Was he provoking her?
Did he think she wouldn't actually burn it?
She turned and followed him. Seeing him step into the house, she conjured two Fire-Driving Talismans in her hand, lit them with a flick of her fingers, and tossed them straight into the room.
Rate on N.U.
