Chapter 49: Seeking External Help
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Su Ming could hardly remember the last time Yu Zhao acted coy with him.
At some point, her temper had grown strange and far from endearing. Conversations with her rarely lasted before she grew angry, leaving Su Ming feeling frustrated. Being naturally temperamental himself, Su Ming soon decided he would only approach Yu Zhao when in need of spirit stones, avoiding her otherwise.
Yet, Yu Zhao’s recent vulnerability reminded Su Ming of the rare moments when she had been genuinely likable. His initial amusement dimmed, and his heart softened.
“Now you know to seek my help, huh? Hmph, it’s a good thing I’m magnanimous and don’t hold grudges for the times you extorted me. When you see Master Qing Yan, remember—no matter what Master says, don’t argue. Let Master handle everything. Once Master calms down, things won’t be so hard for you. Understand?”
Su Ming had expected Yu Zhao to be moved to tears by his supposed generosity. To his surprise, she stared at him blankly, her eyes hollow.
“Hey! Yu Zhao! Say something!” Su Ming demanded.
Yu Zhao didn’t move.
Frowning, Su Ming unconsciously tightened his grip on her wrist.
Crack!
Horrified, Su Ming looked down.
Her wrist shattered in his hand, splintering into unrecognizable fragments.
“Ah!” Su Ming screamed, falling back onto the ground with a heavy thud.
The impact didn’t hurt, but it felt like a slap to his face, shaking him awake. As he nervously glanced up, Yu Zhao was nowhere to be seen. Looking down again, he realized the “wrist” in his hand was merely a piece of wood.
He had been tricked!
Su Ming’s face alternated between pale and flushed. No wonder she had said such uncharacteristic things—it had all been an illusion of his own making.
Relieved no one else had witnessed his humiliation on the Lone Moon Peak, Su Ming’s anger and shame ignited into a burning fury.
“Yu Zhao! How dare you toy with me! You’re dead!”
With a roar, Su Ming stormed toward the peak’s summit.
…
Meanwhile, Yu Zhao returned to her cave dwelling, feeling unexpectedly calm.
She had a good idea why Su Ming had sought her out. She had only recently returned to the sect and hadn’t even seen Master Qing Yan, let alone provoked him. The only issue that might anger Master Qing Yan and involve her was Ye Cong Xin.
Yu Zhao guessed that Ye Cong Xin, having failed to best her in the Thorny Secret Realm, was now attempting to use Master Qing Yan against her. Shaking her head, Yu Zhao mused how absurd it was that a cultivator like Master Qing Yan, who had reached the Nascent Soul stage, could be manipulated by a mere Foundation Establishment disciple barely twenty years old.
What a tragedy.
At least when Yu Zhao had faced death, she had known who was behind it and why. Master Qing Yan and the others, on the other hand, were merely pawns, utterly unaware that they were nothing more than tools and sacrifices for Ye Cong Xin’s ambitions.
Ye Cong Xin didn’t want their affection; she wanted their fortune. Like a parasitic dodder vine, she clung to them, aiming to drain them dry.
Yu Zhao laughed uncontrollably at the thought, tears streaming down her cheeks. What would their faces look like when Ye Cong Xin’s true nature was exposed after her death?
Once her laughter subsided, Yu Zhao wiped her tears away and began plotting her next move. She knew she would soon face a storm of accusations from Master Qing Yan, coupled with Ye Cong Xin and Su Ming’s manipulative interjections.
Escaping unscathed would be difficult.
Rubbing her chin, Yu Zhao decided to seek external help.
…
“Master, Yu Zhao is truly insufferable! She disregards your summons, ignores me at the foot of the mountain, and walks away without any respect for you!” Su Ming exaggerated, painting Yu Zhao as arrogant and disrespectful.
Tears welled in Ye Cong Xin’s eyes as she softly defended, “Master, please don’t blame Sixth Senior Sister. She must still be upset with me. It’s all my fault.”
Su Ming immediately rebutted, “Nonsense! Little Junior Sister, this has nothing to do with you. As her senior, Yu Zhao should have willingly handed over the Starry Sky Stone to you instead of causing a public scene!”
“No, no, it’s my lack of ability. Master, Third Senior Brother, please don’t be angry with Sixth Senior Sister on my behalf. Otherwise, she might misunderstand me again,” Ye Cong Xin said, her innocent doe-like eyes brimming with fear and anxiety.
“She wouldn’t dare!” Su Ming roared, his face twisted in disdain. “If she dares harm you, I’ll deal with her myself!”
“Third Senior Brother~~” Ye Cong Xin’s voice trembled with gratitude, though inwardly she rolled her eyes. Useless fool.
“Enough,” Master Qing Yan interrupted, raising a hand. The two immediately fell silent.
“Su Ming, are you certain Yu Zhao refused to come see me?”
“Absolutely, Master! I intercepted her at the foot of the mountain, but not only did she ignore me, she also played tricks on me with her Illusion Technique!”
Having been genuinely deceived by Yu Zhao’s illusions, Su Ming’s complaints were full of conviction. Master Qing Yan believed him.
Master Qing Yan’s expression darkened. Yu Zhao’s behavior had caused far too many disturbances on the Lone Moon Peak—disrespecting her senior, lacking compassion for her junior, and acting willfully eccentric. What had he been thinking when he accepted her as a disciple?
He regretted it deeply.
Master Qing Yan waved his sleeve, conjuring a Water Thousand-Paper Crane, which flapped its wings and floated before him. “Go and bring that disobedient disciple back.”
The paper crane nodded and flew out of the hall.
Su Ming and Ye Cong Xin exchanged gleeful glances, confident that Yu Zhao’s impending punishment would leave her in misery.
To their surprise, half an hour passed before the paper crane returned, wobbling as if exhausted. Before reaching Master Qing Yan, it disintegrated into a mist of water.
Confused, Su Ming and Ye Cong Xin turned to the entrance as hearty laughter echoed through the hall.
“Master Qing Yan, forgive my uninvited intrusion!”