Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Old Friend?

On Cloudsky Peak, Song Wan Ning sat beneath a tree with Li Ruo, answering questions and clearing up doubts.

When she accepted Li Ruo, it had been mainly to repay a life-saving debt. She didn’t want the girl to struggle in the Outer Sect.

But after taking her in, Song Wan Ning had been consumed by revenge and had neglected her teaching.

Li Ruo never complained. She cultivated diligently every day and tended the spiritual herbs on the peak with quiet care.

Whenever she saw Song Wan Ning, she would lift her head, eyes bright with adoration, and call, “Master,” in a sweet voice.

Only then did Song Wan Ning realize what it should feel like to have a disciple.

A Voice-Transmission Talisman suddenly shot over. Song Wan Ning caught it with one hand and listened to the Sect Master’s question.

When she learned Lu Xing Yao had come, her brows rose in surprise.

Lu Xing Yao of the Myriad Swords Sect had a single lightning spirit root. Before he was even a hundred, he had already advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage. His talent was outstanding, and his combat strength was terrifying.

But his relationship with them had never been good.

Back when he was still a teenager, every time he saw her, he challenged her. If Gu Qing Yuan was with her, he beat up Gu Qing Yuan instead.

Over the years, they’d crossed paths in secret realms and tournaments. The fights grew fiercer. Their relationship only worsened.

Now he was at their door.

The Myriad Swords Sect could no longer sit still.

Song Wan Ning narrowed her eyes and waited under the tree. She wanted to see what the Myriad Swords Sect was plotting.

In less than a quarter of an hour, two figures arrived on Cloudsky Peak.

Song Wan Ning and Li Ruo looked over at the same time, their gaze drawn to the man with the long sword on his back.

He looked like a gentle young master—strikingly handsome. His bearing was refined, the air of a noble lineage clinging to him like silk.

He was clearly a sword cultivator. Killing aura threaded through him, sharp and cold.

Yet his face was warm, almost mild. The contradiction only made him feel more dangerous.

“Junior Sister Song,” the Sect Master said with an overly friendly smile, “Fellow Daoist Lu heard that Junior Brother Gu isn’t in shape to fight, so I brought him to see you. Since you happened to be in the sect, I brought him over.”

He spoke on purpose in vague terms, shaping the impression that Lu Xing Yao wanted to switch opponents.

Song Wan Ning lifted her brows, not surprised in the least. If he didn’t come to bother her, that would be strange.

She smiled. “Fellow Daoist Lu, long time no see.”

Lu Xing Yao nodded once. “Fellow Daoist Song.”

His attitude was distant, almost cold.

The Sect Master’s mind spun. He stepped forward, eager. “Fellow Daoist Lu, since Junior Brother Gu is seriously injured and can’t fight, it wouldn’t be impossible if you wanted to challenge Junior Sister Song instead…”

“But Junior Sister Song has only just advanced. Fellow Daoist Lu, you should mind your strength!”

Song Wan Ning’s lips curved in quiet mockery.

When the Sect Master was young, he’d once been ambitious, determined to make the Heaven-Questioning Sect flourish under his leadership.

But the longer he sat in that seat, the more power and wealth rotted his ideals. He’d become this calculating, profit-driven man—disgusting to look at.

“Who said I’m here to challenge her?” Lu Xing Yao cut in calmly, severing the Sect Master’s fantasies in one stroke.

“I’m only here to catch up with Song Wan Ning.”

The Sect Master’s smile stiffened. His eyes flickered.

Not here to challenge Song Wan Ning?

That wouldn’t do.

He forced another smile, ready to prod again, but Lu Xing Yao spoke first.

“Whenever Gu Qing Yuan is ready to fight, that’s when I’ll leave the Heaven-Questioning Sect.”

“This duel is only a personal grudge between Gu Qing Yuan and me. It won’t involve anyone else.”

His words crushed the Sect Master’s plans completely.

The Sect Master’s face darkened. With his scheme ruined, he lost interest in pretending.

“Fine. If that’s the case, then Fellow Daoist Lu, you can wait.”

He turned and left without another pleasantry.

Lu Xing Yao didn’t know his place. He was clearly acting on the Myriad Swords Sect’s orders.

Now the Sect Master could only place his hopes on Gu Qing Yuan.

—

Only three people remained on Cloudsky Peak.

Song Wan Ning looked Lu Xing Yao up and down. “What, you’re not here to give me trouble this time? That’s really rare.”

Lu Xing Yao’s face didn’t change. “Can’t an old friend catch up?”

“Old friend?” Song Wan Ning raised a brow and leaned closer, studying him. The faint, clean scent that drifted off her made Lu Xing Yao lean back, something unreadable flashing through his eyes. “Did someone possess you? We’re friends now?”

“I always thought we were rivals.”

Song Wan Ning had never been good at softening her words. She was blunt about grudges and favors alike, and she’d made plenty of enemies for it—Lan Le, the Second Elder, and others had all been wounded by her sharp tongue and held onto their resentment.

As for Lu Xing Yao, she’d cursed him more times than she could count.

Especially when he used to beat up Gu Qing Yuan—it had made her furious.

So hearing him call her a friend genuinely threw her.

Lu Xing Yao stared at her in silence for a few breaths, face dark. Only when Song Wan Ning awkwardly touched her nose and eased back did his expression relax.

He shifted his gaze to Li Ruo. “Is this your new disciple?”

Li Ruo blinked up at him, cheeks round and eyes bright with innocent curiosity.

“Better than those three,” Lu Xing Yao said flatly.

“Yes.” Song Wan Ning patted Li Ruo’s head, her smile turning a touch more sincere. “Her name is Li Ruo. She’s my last disciple.”

Time with Li Ruo always seemed to ease something inside her—like a wound finally allowed to breathe.

Innocence and goodness were far out of her reach.

Song Wan Ning’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “Oh, right. An Ze was expelled by me, so there are only those two left.”

Thinking of An Ze’s miserable death, her smile grew even sweeter.

Lu Xing Yao pressed his lips together. “I know.”

Before Song Wan Ning could react, he took out a storage ring and handed it to Li Ruo.

“A greeting gift. Take it.”

His tone was firm, almost bossy, as he pushed it into her palm.

Li Ruo’s eyes widened. She popped up in a panic and looked to Song Wan Ning for help.

“Lu Xing Yao, why are you giving a greeting gift?” Song Wan Ning narrowed her eyes, suspicion sharpening. The longer she looked, the more something felt off. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous I took a disciple and want to harm her?”

Lu Xing Yao: “…”

He’d been strutting like a peacock for nothing.

“Take it or don’t. If you don’t want it, toss it.”

Song Wan Ning: “…”

There it was—getting angry at the slightest thing. That was more like him.

She finally relaxed. “Take it. Thank you… Senior Martial Uncle Lu!”

Li Ruo’s eyes brightened. She thanked him obediently, but couldn’t help glancing back and forth between Lu Xing Yao and her Master.