Chen Qingqiu was still dazed, her mind completely blank. Her speech grew even more stuttered, “Y-you are also a personal disciple of Nine Saints Hall, her junior sister. I thought... I thought you would know something...”
Song Yao understood. “I see. Unfortunately, I can't be of much help. It's getting late, so I shall take my leave. Saintess, please don't cry anymore, lest it make others' hearts ache.”
With that, she solemnly cupped her hands and began to walk out.
Chen Qingqiu subconsciously blurted out, “Whose heart would ache?”
The young girl's sleeves fluttered as she walked, her steps never faltering. Without looking back, she casually tossed over her shoulder, “Mine.”
The word floated into the hall, crashing straight into Chen Qingqiu's ears.
It made her freeze in place, completely stunned.
The scene was so familiar that it sent a shiver down her spine.
At the end of that winter, she had been ordered by her master to hunt down their enemies. Because of a momentary lapse of resolve, she had spared a young child, and as punishment, her master made her kneel in the snow for three days and three nights.
She had long grown numb to such punishments since childhood. Often, she would freeze until she fainted, only to wake up and continue kneeling. If she couldn't wake up, she would be whipped awake with the discipline whip.
Yet on that particular occasion, just as she was on the verge of collapsing, Song Yao had arrived, riding on a sword.
The youth stood atop the roof, high-spirited and radiant. Bathed in a clear glow, she was a world apart from Chen Qingqiu's half-dead state.
With a teasing smile in her eyes, Song Yao had joked, “Rank eight hundred on the Heavenly Revelation Board, and you've ended up in such a miserable state? Can we still compete?”
Already stifled with frustration, the provocation sparked a sudden rage in Chen Qingqiu. Raising her sword, she prepared to charge.
To her surprise, Song Yao had effortlessly dodged her, pinched her chin to feed her two pills, and even lightly brushed her frostbitten cheek with her fingertips.
Her tone carried a trace of playful, roguish flippancy. “If we fight now, wouldn't I be taking advantage of you? Rest up well, Sister Saintess.”
The pills were of high quality; within a few breaths, her condition had fully recovered to its peak, even gaining a slight boost.
But unfortunately, she was no match for Song Yao at all.
She had never seen such a sword style before—utterly chaotic, yet every strike was fierce and relentless, pressing her back step by step.
She had also never met such a sword cultivator.
Even while fighting, Song Yao would touch her occasionally and tease her without pause: “How can you really not say a single word?”
“Could you actually be mute?”
“If you knew how to beg for mercy like I do, maybe your master wouldn't have punished you so harshly.”
“...”
Incredibly annoying.
Utterly detestable.
Naturally terrible at interacting with others and having suffered a total defeat, her shame and embarrassment made her want to end her own life right then and there.
To her surprise, Song Yao had panicked, begging her not to die.
Before leaving, Song Yao had casually tossed over her shoulder in the exact same way, “The next time we meet, don't get punished again, lest it make others' hearts ache.”
Possessed by some strange impulse, she had stuttered out a question, asking whose heart would ache.
The youth had flown off on her sword, smiling brightly. “Mine.”
...
Back at her lodgings, the courtyard candles were still lit.
None of the Nine Saints Hall group had gone to sleep. They were gathered around a stone table, seemingly in the middle of an intense discussion.
Song Yao paused. “What are you all doing? Planning to pull an all-nighter?”
Seeing her, Ming Ran immediately jumped up. “Little Master, you're back!”
Cheng Yue, who was sitting nearby, explained, “Senior Brother Chen suggested earlier that we map out our action plan for the secret realm and arrange our marching order. That way, if we encounter danger upon entering, we can protect you immediately.”
Song Yao: “...There's really no need to be so thorough.”
Jiang Jin suddenly stood up from his seat, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to a quiet corner. Frowning deeply, he asked, “What did the Saintess say to you when she pulled you aside just now?”
Song Yao shook off his hand and casually brushed him off, “Oh, she thought I looked like a hearty eater, so she invited me over for another meal.”
Jiang Jin saw through her nonsense instantly. “The Saintess is of noble birth and usually dislikes interacting with others. How could she possibly seek you out just for a meal? What did you two actually talk about?”
“You wouldn't believe me even if I told you.”
Song Yao didn't even bother to lift her eyelids. “The Saintess looking for me is naturally a matter between her and me.”
Jiang Jin's face darkened, his tone stubborn and carrying a sense of self-righteous dissatisfaction. “How can you compare the relationship between you and me to others? I naturally have the right to know.”
What a ridiculous protagonist.
Did he think even an extra like her had to revolve around him?
Song Yao couldn't hold it in. “When we get back to the sect, why don't you visit the Ward-Off-Illness Hall to get your head checked?”
Too lazy to waste any more breath on him, she turned around and went straight into her room.
Jiang Jin froze. Realizing what had happened, he chased after her. “How can you say that about me? I admit I was a bit too anxious just now, but you...”
Before he could finish, the heavy door slammed shut with a loud bang, nearly clipping the bridge of his nose.
Ming Ran walked over triumphantly and shoved him aside with her shoulder. “Shoo, shoo! Don't disturb my master's rest.”
Jiang Jin trembled with rage. “You—I am still your senior brother!”
Ming Ran took it as a matter of course. “How can a senior brother outrank a master? Since you're my senior brother, doesn't that make you junior to my master? Why don't you kneel down and kowtow to her too?”
Jiang Jin: “...”
He whipped his sleeve and said coldly, “Anyway, the relationship between Lin Mu and me is not what you think. You'll understand in the future!”
Ming Ran stared at his retreating figure as he headed back to his room, utterly baffled. “What is he muttering about?”
Cheng Yue silently walked past. “Probably losing his mind.”
...
The next day, before dawn had even fully broken, the disciples gathered outside the Myriad Bones Forest, waiting for the secret realm to open.
Song Yao was deathly tired, so she leaned her head against Cheng Yue's shoulder to catch up on some sleep.
Being the oldest, this was Chen He's first time leading so many new disciples out. He fretted over them like an anxious father, giving instructions to each one. “Junior Sister Cheng, you must keep up. Remember to listen to me and absolutely do not wander off.”
“Junior Sister Ming, you absolutely cannot just charge in and hack at every demon you see. There will be plenty of opportunities to fight in the future.”
“Sixth Senior Brother, if you want to chat with anyone, make sure to let us know beforehand. In the secret realm, people will do anything to snatch treasures. They might try to trick you.”
“Seventh Senior Sister...”
Chen He looked at Song Yao, who could barely keep her eyes open, and paused. “Just make sure you don't fall asleep inside the secret realm. We'll handle the rest and protect you.”
The others agreed readily, each promising they wouldn't hold the group back.
However, once they stepped inside, they were all dumbfounded.
Why was it like the demon realm, where positions were randomly assigned?
Didn't that mean all the tactical positioning they had discussed the night before was completely in vain?
On the Viewing Platform not far from the secret realm, Ninth Elder stared at everything displayed on the cloud screens. Clutching his cup tightly, he looked at Feng Qing in disbelief. “How did the secret realm turn out like this?!”
Not only were the entry locations scrambled, but there were also very few cloud screens, allowing them to observe only the outer perimeter of the secret realm.
Feng Qing pulled her sleeves together and leaned lazily against the table, her every movement elegant and noble. “It's a secret realm. Since it hasn't been opened for so many years, changes are only natural. Brother Yun, you are getting far too worked up.”
Just as Ninth Elder was about to argue, he glanced around and noticed that the leaders of the other sects were all completely calm. His heart sank, and his face instantly turned cold. “Y-you all knew beforehand that the secret realm would change? Why didn't any of you mention a single word to me beforehand?”
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