Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Song Wan Ning Leaves Seclusion

“Quiet!”

The Sect Master finally stepped in, voice cracking like a whip. The courtyard fell into tense silence.

His expression was hard to read, but the way he looked at Li Ruo was anything but friendly.

It wasn’t only the disciples. Even he believed Li Ruo had framed Ye Chu Xue. Everyone knew Ye Chu Xue gave out pills. Everyone also knew Song Wan Ning’s temperament.

Petty. Harsh. Vindictive.

It wouldn’t be strange for her to do something like this.

But the problem now was forcing Li Ruo to admit it. They couldn’t exactly beat a confession out of her.

If they did, once Song Wan Ning left seclusion, she would never let it go.

After turning the matter over in his mind, the Sect Master tossed the problem to Gu Qing Yuan.

No matter what, Song Wan Ning would still give Gu Qing Yuan some face. It had been more than half a year—surely her anger had faded by now.

“Junior Brother Gu,” the Sect Master said, “how do you think this should be handled?”

“Master,” Ye Chu Xue cut in immediately, grabbing Gu Qing Yuan’s sleeve as if she could anchor him to her side, “let this disciple take the punishment.”

Over the past half year, Gu Qing Yuan’s attitude toward Song Wan Ning had shifted. Ye Chu Xue could feel it in small things—the way his eyes sometimes lingered, the way his voice sometimes softened when Song Wan Ning’s name was mentioned.

She couldn’t allow that.

If Song Wan Ning dared strike at her, she had to pay the price.

“No,” Gu Qing Yuan said without hesitation.

“It wasn’t your fault. Why should you bear responsibility?” His brows drew together, disappointment sharpening. The junior sister from the past was gone for good.

He walked up to Li Ruo. Pressure crashed down like mountains and seas.

Li Ruo instantly couldn’t breathe. Her body locked, trembling uncontrollably.

“Tell the whole story from beginning to end,” Gu Qing Yuan said coldly, “or don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Li Ruo struggled, shaking her head. “I didn’t… it wasn’t me…”

For something she hadn’t done, she would never admit it—even if it meant death.

Gu Qing Yuan’s eyes narrowed. “Since you refuse to confess, then don’t blame me for using Soul-Search.”

A ripple of horror moved through the crowd.

Soul-Search was a cruel technique. Those who endured it often ended up crippled or witless, their immortal path shattered.

Gu Qing Yuan raised his hand and reached for Li Ruo’s head.

He only meant to frighten her—to force a confession and end this quickly.

But the moment his palm lifted—

The winds changed.

The sky, clear a heartbeat ago, turned black with rolling clouds. A killing intent vast enough to smother heaven itself poured down from above.

Everyone looked up.

A massive sword cleaved through the air, descending straight toward them.

“Boom—!”

Endless killing intent pinned everyone to the ground, leaving them unable to move. It felt like a blade hovered at each throat, cold and sharp, brimming with murderous resolve.

Move even a little, and you would be torn apart.

A golden flash tore across their vision. The glare forced them to shut their eyes.

When they opened them again, several bodies were already sprawled on the ground.

Ye Chu Xue, Bai Yang, and An Ze lay in blood, long cuts across their throats.

Gu Qing Yuan was no better. His robe had been split down the middle, hanging in tatters. The jade hairpin on his head was shattered, and his long hair spilled loose, whipping in the wind.

Worst of all, the sword wound had nearly cut him in two. White bone showed through torn flesh, gruesome and raw.

If that sword had been just a little higher, his head would have been split cleanly.

Terror iced every vein in the courtyard.

The Sect Master and elders went pale as death. Only because they’d dodged fast did they still stand at all.

A cold voice laced with killing intent rang out, and every heart clenched.

“While I was in seclusion, you bullied my disciple. Is this how the Heaven-Questioning Sect does things?”

In the distance, a figure flew toward them, approaching with steady inevitability.

She wore a flowing red dress. Ribbon and hair danced in the wind, brushing the sharp, seductive corners of her eyes. With every step she took through the air, it felt as if she stepped on everyone’s hearts.

Intoxicating.

Terrifying.

Song Wan Ning—newly out of seclusion.

“Master!”

Li Ruo stared for a heartbeat like she couldn’t believe it was real. Then her eyes flooded red with grievance, and she cried out as she stumbled toward Song Wan Ning.

For half a year, with Master gone, these people had forced her, bullied her, and even tried to destroy her with Soul-Search.

Only now—only with Master here—did she finally have someone to rely on.

Song Wan Ning watched her little disciple run to her, filthy and shaking with fear. Her gaze darkened, layer by layer, until it was almost black.

She descended slowly, then reached out and patted Li Ruo’s head, gentle in a way that made the air feel even colder.

“Don’t be afraid,” Song Wan Ning said. “Master is here. No one can bully you.”

She tucked Li Ruo behind her and walked toward the crowd.

Gu Qing Yuan was already on one knee, a pool of blood spreading beneath him. His injuries were severe.

The Sect Master hurriedly changed him into a fresh robe, hands shaking. Lan Le fed pills to Gu Qing Yuan and the others, moving as fast as he could.

All the while, everyone watched Song Wan Ning like prey watching a predator—terrified she might strike again and drag them down with her.

“Junior Sister Song,” the Sect Master rasped, fury trembling in his voice, “how could you strike so heavily? Gu Qing Yuan is your fellow disciple!”

Song Wan Ning didn’t get angry. She flicked the hem of her skirt as if dusting away a speck. “If I truly struck heavily, Gu Qing Yuan’s head would have exploded already.”

Her gaze slid to Gu Qing Yuan, then back to the Sect Master, her smile slow and dangerous.

“Just now, he was about to Soul-Search my little disciple, and I didn’t see you scolding him.” She tilted her head. “Sect Master, you’re so biased. That really breaks my heart.”

“Cough… cough…” Ye Chu Xue struggled upright, blood smeared across her face, making her look pitiful and furious all at once. “If you hadn’t sneak-attacked, I… my Master wouldn’t have lost!”

Her voice sharpened into hate. “You’re truly despicable!”

Since it had come to this, she might as well tear off the mask completely.

Song Wan Ning deserved hell.

“Sneak attack?” Song Wan Ning clicked her tongue. “If you think that was a sneak attack, it’s only because you’re too weak.”

“I struck openly,” she continued, calm as a blade. “He simply couldn’t react in time. If you don’t believe it—ask him yourself.”

Ye Chu Xue whipped her head toward Gu Qing Yuan. “Master!”

Gu Qing Yuan didn’t respond.

He stared at Song Wan Ning as if seeing her for the first time, stunned into silence.

Only after a long moment did he speak, voice hoarse with disbelief.

“You advanced to late Nascent Soul Stage?”

Above Nascent Soul, advancement was a cliff most people never climbed. Decades—centuries—could pass without a single step.

Yet Song Wan Ning had reached mid-stage only a little over twenty years ago.

Now she’d advanced again.

Surpassed him outright.

Gu Qing Yuan’s clenched hand went white. Unwillingness rose in his chest, tangled with a faint, ugly jealousy.

The most outstanding person should have been him.

How could Song Wan Ning surpass him?

Song Wan Ning folded her arms, smiling without warmth. “Yeah. Thanks to you.”

“After you broke off the engagement,” she added lightly, as if discussing the weather, “I had an epiphany and advanced by accident.”