Qi Qing’s words were incredibly abrupt. The entire venue immediately fell silent, and everyone stared at her in astonishment, wondering why she would bring up leaving the sect at such a crucial moment.
The disciples of their own sect felt even more disgraced. Just yesterday, Ling Aorui’s scandalous affair had come to light, and now someone else was suddenly proposing to leave the sect. Were they determined to lose every bit of face they could?
Little did they know then that these words from Qi Qing would be the most insignificant thing she said all night. Every sentence that followed would be enough to turn the Heavenly Sword Sect upside down.
Qi Qing spoke firmly, neither servile nor overbearing. She knew that if she directly asked for Yu Yan’s whereabouts, it would only expose her own needs and allow others to manipulate her. Besides, they were unlikely to answer honestly.
The urgent task at hand was to make herself stand out, to force them to remove the formation so her movements would no longer be restricted.
She said this because Su Miaoyin had repeatedly emphasized that she should be patient and not mention leaving the sect for now.
Although she didn’t know why they had schemed so meticulously to keep her, what the enemy wanted was precisely what she absolutely could not give. Attacking their weakness directly was the key to breaking the deadlock.
Apart from those who had set the trap, others couldn’t perceive the effect of her words.
They merely found it baffling and didn’t know how Sect Master Mo would react.
Mo Tao didn’t answer immediately, but this wasn’t surprising. With the earlier uproar, it was hard to say if he had even heard her. Even if he had, there was no need to respond at this moment; he could have simply dismissed her.
Su Miaoyin, who was setting up a formation nearby, was the most annoyed. She didn’t understand why Qi Qing would suddenly cause trouble. After carefully thinking it over and confirming that their plan couldn’t have been exposed, she felt slightly relieved.
Qi Qing probably intended to use the presence of so many people to force their agreement.
She coughed lightly and said gently, “Qi Qing, didn’t I tell you? Whatever it is, we can discuss it after the birthday banquet. It’s not a major issue, why be so impatient?”
By saying this, she was essentially labeling Qi Qing as impolite and tactless. People like that could say or do anything, so naturally, no one would delve too deeply into why Qi Qing was speaking out.
As she spoke, she secretly deactivated the formation. The crowd that had been milling about in the venue gradually dispersed, returning to their respective places.
Qi Qing looked at the cleared space around her and knew her first step had been effective. If she stopped now, she would lose the advantageous position she had gained.
As if she hadn’t understood, she asked again, “Master, you make it sound so easy. My application to leave the sect was submitted days ago, but you’ve been stalling with various excuses—that the process is complicated, or that there are other arrangements. These arrangements you speak of, when exactly will they materialize?”
Seeing Qi Qing being so unappreciative, the smile on Su Miaoyin’s face gradually faded. She said sternly, “Qi Qing, I never said I wouldn’t process your request. But why must you bring it up at this particular time? Today is the Sect Master’s grand birthday celebration, and so many distinguished guests are here waiting to congratulate him. For you to bother him with this now, what does that make you look like?
Even if you don’t care about the sect’s reputation, you should consider your own background. Don’t blame your master for bringing up old matters. Think carefully yourself: when the beast tide attacked your village, who rescued you and made an exception to let you join the sect?
Is this how you repay our kindness from that day? Put yourself in others’ shoes. If someone were so disrespectful at your own birthday banquet, could you greet them with a smile?”
This series of questions from her, each appealing to emotion and reason, seemed non-aggressive but directly blocked any possibility of other sects accepting Qi Qing.
Being foolish isn’t a major issue, but ingratitude is a huge problem. After all, no one wants an ungrateful wretch, no matter how capable she might be.
Su Miaoyin wasn’t without apprehension regarding Qi Qing’s identity. However, the more critical that identity, the less she could afford to let her leave. No matter how ugly their public conflict became, there were plenty of ways to remedy it afterward. But if Qi Qing were allowed to leave, there would be no turning back, and the losses would be devastating.
Qi Qing knew Su Miaoyin would bring this up. After all, they had saved her life—a debt heavier than the heavens. Even if she had other reasons, she couldn’t simply disregard such a profound kindness.
This was the fundamental reason for Su Miaoyin’s confidence.
If the truth were indeed as Su Miaoyin presented it, Qi Qing would have no counter-argument.
But unfortunately for Su Miaoyin, the one standing here now was Qi Qing, a transmigrator who had already experienced a cycle of reincarnation and knew all the plotlines like the back of her hand. That so-called beast tide was an important event in the original novel, and Qi Qing knew the inside story far better than Su Miaoyin.
Simply put, that beast tide should never have happened.
Or rather, it shouldn’t have happened there.
The original owner of this body, a simple village girl in the novel, was supposed to die in that beast tide. However, Qi Qing’s arrival allowed her life to continue. This could be attributed to the system’s design, but Qi Qing’s survival would inevitably bring some changes to the world.
Qi Qing had been forced to learn some inside information—a horrifying truth that should never have seen the light of day.
If she hadn’t been pushed to a dead end, she wouldn’t have been prepared to reveal it.
Once she spoke it, she would be making an enemy of the entire Heavenly Sword Sect.
Beast tides… Generally, ferocious beasts—these huge and savage carnivores—do not gather in groups. They each have their own territory, and if they meet, it’s a fight to the death.
But these solitary creatures will only gather and act in concert under one condition: when an ancient ferocious beast appears in their vicinity.
Ancient ferocious beasts are incredibly powerful and prey on other ferocious beasts, making them the natural enemy of all such creatures. The appearance of one would cause a great disaster, so it must be suppressed at the earliest opportunity.
However, it takes time for cultivators to arrive. Before they do, beast tides of varying sizes often occur in the vicinity, formed by ferocious beasts fleeing for safety.
Once ferocious beasts sense the appearance of an ancient one, they instinctively begin to flee. Initially, their escape is chaotic, heading in all directions, but the general direction is consistent—always away from the ancient ferocious beast.
As more and more beasts join the flight, they gradually gather, forming a massive torrent that rushes in a predetermined direction. This stampede cannot be stopped by human intervention, and anything in their path is trampled into dust.
This, of course, included human villages.
Qi Qing calmly and unhurriedly explained the concept of a beast tide, bit by bit. No one present dared to interrupt her.
They had all, of course, heard of beast tides; some had even been to the scenes and directed the evacuation of victims. But cultivators’ abilities were ultimately limited. They could protect themselves, but they couldn’t stop a beast tide.
They would stand safely in mid-air, doing their best to guide the tide’s direction and minimize casualties, but ultimately leaving it to fate.
They were, of course, heartbroken, but only from the perspective of onlookers.
Qi Qing offered them a completely new perspective. It was as if they were stripped of their armor, transformed into newborn infants as countless ferocious beasts charged wildly towards them. Helplessness, fear, despair… before they could even cry out, they were utterly deprived of the ability to make a sound.
Even the powerful figures in high positions were shaken by it.
“In that beast tide,” Qi Qing continued, “my friends, parents, siblings, even our family’s little spotted dog—all of them were trampled to death. Only I was rescued. It was a miracle, wasn’t it?”
“I am truly grateful to the Heavenly Sword Sect for giving me the chance to live. But what I want to ask is, that ancient ferocious beast should have been suppressed much earlier. How did it manage to break free from the sealing formation and escape on the morning of the second day?”
She paused, her gaze falling on Mo Tao in the main seat.
Mo Tao met her gaze and suddenly seemed to realize something. He abruptly stood up and shouted, “Silence! Someone, drag her away!”
His disciples stood behind him, but for some reason, none of them moved. In the end, it was the young attendants serving him who rushed out. However, their cultivation levels were insufficient; it took several of them piling on to barely restrain Qi Qing.
“Now you want me to be silent, is that right?” Qi Qing didn’t lower her head. Instead, she struggled forward a step. How could those few attendants overpower someone nearing the Core Formation stage? They were forced to fall back.
Others also sensed that something was seriously wrong. Immortal Lord Qingxu, the most prestigious among the guests, directly cast a Sacred Edict Charm on her. While the charm was active, her personal safety would be guaranteed, and no one could hinder her in the slightest.
However, this charm was not without its drawbacks. It was originally used for commoners to voice their grievances and tolerated no slander—if she lied, she would immediately face heavenly retribution.
Qi Qing seemed completely unfazed. She said firmly, “Sect Master Mo, I want to ask you: that Great Expansion Starburst Beetle, which should have been subdued by the Heavenly Sword Sect, how did it suddenly break through the formation and escape to the vicinity of Cold Far Mountain, inciting countless ferocious beasts from the mountain’s miasma, causing a beast tide, and taking the lives of sixteen members of my family?”
Mo Tao’s hand, gripping his sword, twitched slightly, a movement immediately noticed by those around. Immortal Lord Qingxu narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, “Yu He, let’s hear her out. If she speaks falsely, it won’t be too late to punish her then.”
He spoke politely, but he was in fact telling Mo Tao that he couldn’t harm the witness. This was an unwritten rule: if someone cried out a grievance, regardless of what they said, they had the right to finish speaking.
Everyone present tonight was a renowned, powerful figure in the immortal cultivation world. Even if Mo Tao’s cultivation was formidable, he couldn’t possibly escape unscathed while surrounded by so many of them. His imposing manner faltered slightly. He gritted his teeth and looked behind him, but his disciples were all hidden in the darkness, their expressions completely obscured.
He had no choice but to sit down, his fist resting on the table clenched tightly.
Qi Qing took another step forward. “This culprit who caused the ferocious beasts to escape, how did he then cover up the truth afterward, framing the beast tide as an accident? How did he send his personal disciples to sweep through all the villages trampled by the beasts, finishing off the dying and severely injured villagers one by one, silencing them all?”
As soon as she said this, the atmosphere in the hall instantly froze.
If what Qi Qing had said before could still be explained away as an ‘accident,’ then silencing witnesses was undeniably an evil act.
All eyes turned to Mo Tao. His face was ashen, and sweat began to bead on his forehead. It was unclear what he was thinking, but his expression grew increasingly pained, and a faint demonic energy began to seep from his body.
Qi Qing walked right up to him, her gaze burning as she looked up at him. “By the time other sects arrived, he had already completed all the necessary ‘clean-up.’ He just didn’t expect that a small fish had slipped through the net, hiding in a corner, witnessing everything.
When she was rescued, she was terrified, seemingly remembering nothing. So he felt relieved. In front of so many people, he couldn’t very well silence her then. But he feared she might cause him trouble in the future, so he ‘kindly’ brought her back to the sect and made an exception to accept her.
To deceive others, he pretended not to know this disciple. But privately, he investigated her thoroughly. After confirming she had no living relatives, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Killing her would have been easy, but he needed a pretext; otherwise, it would only arouse suspicion.
He placed her under the tutelage of his most trusted confidant and instructed that she not be allowed to become an inner disciple. He feared that as her abilities grew, she might indirectly threaten his safety.
Now, she stands before you. Can you look her in the eyes and tell her why her family had to die in that disaster that day?
They had done nothing wrong, lived simple, kind lives for decades, and were about to welcome their seventh child.
Suddenly, the world turned dark. Countless fangs and iron hooves trampled their home. After crushing them to death, the beasts didn’t stop, turning their bodies into minced flesh, then dust, until only faint bloodstains remained. Even the slightest proof of their existence vanished.
Sect Master Mo, tell me, why did they have to suffer such a fate that day?”
When she finished her last sentence, the entire banquet hall fell uncannily silent. Everyone held their breath, the shock in their hearts beyond words.
Most of the people present had experienced that disaster. The Heavenly Sword Sect, being the strongest and closest, had been able to arrive first. Everyone had assumed the Starburst Beetle’s escape was an accident—at worst, a result of their incompetence, something not to be harshly criticized.
But now, it seemed that was likely not the case.
The most direct evidence was Mo Tao’s current expression.
Demonic energy had begun to flicker around Mo Tao when Qi Qing first approached him. After her repeated, pressing questions, this demonic energy had grown increasingly turbulent.
As everyone knew, demonic energy originated from evil thoughts. If he were truly innocent, he wouldn’t be suffering such a strong backlash. Moreover, the disciples standing behind him remained silent, apparently with no intention of defending him.
He was already deserted and isolated, standing on the edge of a precipice.
Immortal Lord Qingxu reacted the fastest, immediately summoning his magic artifact and directing it towards Mo Tao. Others quickly followed suit. In less than half a breath, the demonic energy surging from Mo Tao was mostly suppressed.
“Yu He, do you have anything else to say?”
Immortal Lord Qingxu was a merciful person; even at this point, he didn’t pronounce a death sentence.
But everyone present understood that Qi Qing’s words were largely true. Even if Mo Tao denied it, there were his disciples. Uncovering the truth was only a matter of time.
Mo Tao remained silent for a long time. He understood that he was powerless to change his fate. For years, he had been eroded by demonic energy, suffering immensely. His disciples were likely in a similar state; their silence was a condemnation of his irresponsibility.
He also lacked the audacity to kill so many people and then act as if nothing had happened.
He seemed to see countless innocent, wronged souls behind Qi Qing. They had been haunting him for over a decade. During these years, he had been tormented day and night, suffering unbearable pain. The demonic energy in his heart was almost uncontrollable; forcing himself to hold on would only be a waste of time.
So many disciples had helped him kill. He knew they had done so unwillingly. Could they withstand the torment of their inner demons and still testify for him?
After much thought, he knew it was all over.
The moment he resolved to admit his guilt, he suddenly felt much lighter. Perhaps, deep down, he had always been hoping for someone to come and deliver him from his torment.
Finally, he choked out, “I had no choice… I had no choice… I am over a thousand years old. If I didn’t find a way, I might never have another chance to ascend…
I had my disciples maintain the formation while I flew into the air to steal the ferocious beast’s inner core. But without my power anchoring it, the beast immediately broke free, and the formation collapsed instantly.
I didn’t expect that to happen. But since it had, how could I resign myself to fate and let others condemn me? Failing to ascend was one thing, but to also end up with an eternally infamous reputation? Who could accept that?
When I brought you back, my original intention was indeed to monitor you. But for so many years, you showed no signs of remembering, so I thought the matter was over, that perhaps you had forgotten what happened.
You lay low for so long, all to avenge them, right?
You should have your revenge, and I should pay with my life. But before I die, there’s one thing I want to ask of you. I know I have no right to make requests, but this isn’t for myself. I only ask that you don’t take your anger out on my disciples. They were all forced by me; none of them wanted to kill.
These past years, they have been tormented by their inner demons, to the point where even their daily lives have been affected. I don’t want them to suffer for my sake any longer. I am willing to accept any outcome, whether it’s death by a thousand cuts or being torn apart by five horses. I will have no complaints.”
Saying this, he removed his weapon and crippled his own cultivation, leaving himself to Qi Qing’s mercy.
Qi Qing didn’t make a move. After a long moment, she said lightly, “You are not qualified to bargain with me. Besides, I didn’t reveal this for revenge. Although they died because of your actions, they didn’t all die directly by your hand. Everything is a matter of fate and karma.
Although you may not have kept me here out of kindness, I did indeed survive because you rescued me. The only thing I cannot accept is that you would use that act of saving me to demand repayment and control me.
My tolerance didn’t lead to a good outcome, so I had to reveal the truth. Otherwise, what justice would be left in this world?”
With that, she turned to Su Miaoyin. “Immortal Lord Qing Shan, what do you say?”
Su Miaoyin was completely stunned. She had known nothing about this matter; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so self-righteous earlier.
Before this, she had considered herself Mo Tao’s closest confidante. She never imagined he would hide such a monumental secret from her, even placing Qi Qing under her tutelage without any regard for her own well-being.
How could this not make her furious?
But now was not the time to settle scores.
With things having reached this point, Mo Tao was undeniably finished. Even if Qi Qing were willing to spare him, the immortal cultivation world would no longer tolerate him. But even if he was gone, the Heavenly Sword Sect remained. And without a Sect Master, someone would have to take his place.
If she stepped forward now, calmed the situation, wouldn’t the position of Sect Master be hers for the taking?
In an instant, she made her decision.
First, she apologized to Qi Qing, claiming ignorance and saying how much Qi Qing must have suffered all these years. Then, she ordered people to take Mo Tao into custody, using the most secure restraints to prevent his escape. Finally, she apologized to the guests, stating that tonight’s events were purely accidental and expressing her regret for the trouble caused. She added that since everyone had come, it wouldn’t be right not to offer hospitality, and invited them to finish their meal before returning to rest.
But who had any appetite now?
Everyone looked at each other, only wanting to leave as quickly as possible.
Soon, Immortal Lord Qingxu, the most senior among them, was the first to bid farewell. Others quickly followed his lead, saying there was no need for further trouble.
Su Miaoyin apologized profusely again, saying it was her fault for spoiling everyone’s appetite and that it was probably best for them to return and rest early. She assured them she would arrange for people to escort them all back.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to leave, Qi Qing suddenly spoke, “Wait. I haven’t finished speaking.”
Her voice was soft, as if she were talking to herself, but its effect was no less than a clap of thunder on a clear day. None of the guests dared to be the first to leave and quickly sat back down.
It wasn’t that they were eager for more drama; it was just that her background was too tragic, and her scheming, hidden for so many years, ran too deep. No one wanted to clash head-on with such a person. Who knew if she might suddenly erupt and try to take everyone down with her?
Seeing that everyone had obediently returned to their seats and the scene had quieted, Qi Qing finally said, “This matter isn’t over yet, is it, Immortal Lord Qing Shan?”
“What else is there…?” Su Miaoyin asked, feigning puzzlement.
Actually, Su Miaoyin understood perfectly well. On the surface, Qi Qing had achieved her revenge. However, Qi Qing’s initial demand hadn’t been revenge; this explosive development was merely a response to Su Miaoyin’s earlier attempt to guilt-trip her.
What Qi Qing wanted was to leave the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Su Miaoyin was very clear about this, but she would not agree.
Firstly, there was the original reason: Qi Qing’s identity was special. Letting her go was equivalent to letting go of the sect’s fortune. The Heavenly Sword Sect was already in a precarious situation; if she left, it would face utter ruin.
Secondly, with Mo Tao’s downfall, ascending to the position of Sect Master would not be a simple matter. She needed a powerful ally to help her secure her position, and Qi Qing was the best candidate.
They had no personal feud; in fact, they both hated Mo Tao. Why not form an alliance for a win-win situation?
Previously, she wasn’t the Sect Master, possessed limited power, and couldn’t offer sufficient bargaining chips. Now, with the Sect Master position vacant, she could certainly use incentives to persuade Qi Qing.
Everyone has desires. Now that Qi Qing had avenged her great suffering, she would surely want a brighter, more glorious future. Su Miaoyin believed she could satisfy Qi Qing’s desires, even increasing the offer a hundred or a thousand-fold if necessary.
“Qi Qing,” Su Miaoyin began, her tone conciliatory, “I misspoke earlier. I hope you can overlook my ignorance and not hold it against your master. Rest assured, the Heavenly Sword Sect will never let any villain go unpunished, nor will it fail any good person.
I will enforce justice impartially and sentence Mo Tao to the harshest punishment. As for his disciples, if you wish to kill them, you may. One must take responsibility for their wrongdoings. He has no right to bargain with you, and I will not be so petty either.
However, killing carries a heavy burden. You are still young and so talented, with a limitless future ahead of you. There’s truly no need to let hatred blind you.
If you are still willing to call me Master, I am willing to teach you everything I know. Even for things I don’t know myself, if you wish to learn them, I can open the sect’s scripture pavilion for you to choose freely. Consider this compensation from our Heavenly Sword Sect. I hope you can be magnanimous and allow us to turn conflict into concord.”
The terms she offered were indeed very tempting; even the onlookers felt they showed sufficient sincerity.
But Qi Qing merely smiled faintly. She looked around and took a wooden sword from a young attendant standing nearby. This type of wooden sword was used by disciples below the Foundation Establishment realm; nearly every such disciple had one. Although wood couldn’t conduct spiritual energy, the sword was sharp enough to cut a hair blown against its edge.
Everyone’s heart tightened. Su Miaoyin couldn’t help but take a step back—even if she’s not satisfied with my offer, she wouldn’t resort to violence, would she?
But Qi Qing had no intention of harming anyone. She held her breath, focused her spirit, and closed her eyes slightly. When she opened them again, the sword was already drawn. A set of sword techniques flowed out like water. Her youthful figure was naturally upright, and as she performed the sword dance, she exuded a vibrant, heroic aura. Clear sword hums resonated continuously in the air. Before anyone realized it, she had completed the entire sequence.
Her movements were clean and decisive, each step swift and graceful.
The onlookers couldn’t help but admire her silently. Being experienced and knowledgeable, with most of them having many disciples of their own, they could naturally see she was a promising talent for sword cultivation. However, they couldn’t fathom her reason for this display.
Is she trying to showcase her own talents? they wondered. But even if her aptitude were ordinary, Immortal Lord Qing Shan probably wouldn’t renege on her offer.
Just as they were idly speculating, someone suddenly noticed that Immortal Lord Qing Shan, standing opposite Qi Qing, looked extremely unwell, her face as white as a sheet of paper.
Su Miaoyin was, of course, shocked and in extreme anguish.
Others might not recognize this sword technique, but she was all too familiar with it. It was the Limitless Soaring Dragon Sword, created by her own master, Sword Master Wuji.
Back then, she and Mo Tao had studied under the same master. Both had wanted to learn this sword technique, but their master had taught it only to Mo Tao, and had also passed the position of Sect Master to him.
In other words, this was a sword technique that only the Sect Master was qualified to learn. Even she, a personal disciple of their master, had not been qualified to learn it. How had Qi Qing come to master this sword art?
Could she have obtained it from a secret realm left behind by our master?
Regardless of how Qi Qing had come by it, this was not good news for Su Miaoyin.
Although Mo Tao was now crippled, the orthodox status of this sword technique remained unchanged. If Mo Tao hadn’t passed this sword technique to anyone else, then Qi Qing, by knowing it, could be considered their master’s disciple in name, naturally possessing the qualification to inherit the Heavenly Sword Sect.
She was not at all qualified to be Qi Qing’s master, let alone teach her sword techniques. Had Qi Qing laid low for so long, all for the position of Sect Master?
That’s right! By publicly exposing Mo Tao’s shameful deeds, she had naturally positioned herself on the side of justice. Now, she had publicly performed the Limitless Soaring Dragon Sword. Others might not understand its significance, but the sect elders were not blind. If Qi Qing declared her intentions, she could genuinely ascend to the position of Sect Master.
Moreover, among the people present, who wasn’t hoping for the Heavenly Sword Sect’s downfall?
They enjoyed watching the drama and wouldn’t mind if things escalated. Supporting a young girl with no established foundation to take power was an outcome that would perfectly align with their desires. With so many people potentially siding with Qi Qing, what chance did Su Miaoyin have?
She had, in essence, lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.
What should I do? What should I do?
Su Miaoyin racked her brains but realized she had no way to contend with Qi Qing. Her only potential bargaining chip, Immortal Lord Minghuai, couldn’t be mentioned in front of so many people.
Otherwise, it would confirm the crime of kidnapping a distinguished guest.
Mo Tao had already faced justice. If she were also discovered to be his accomplice, her path ahead would become even more difficult. It was only then that Su Miaoyin realized Qi Qing had kept all these guests here precisely to corner her. Otherwise, Qi Qing might have already attacked or fled.
But with so many people around, if she made any suspicious move, it would surely not escape their notice. That would be admitting her guilt without a fight.
No, I absolutely cannot go down Mo Tao’s path.
Qi Qing doesn’t know about Immortal Lord Minghuai’s kidnapping yet. Her only leverage is this sword technique. If she truly overestimates herself and proposes to become Sect Master, that’s not something that can be decided on the spot.
Once tonight is over and these powerful figures leave, Qi Qing will lose her backing. Then, I’ll have plenty of ways to silence her.
Besides, I still hold the trump card of Immortal Lord Minghuai. If I threaten her safety, I can win without a fight.
Just as Su Miaoyin was deep in her calculations, Qi Qing suddenly spoke, “Now you should understand. You also have no right to bargain with me. Alright, tell me, where have you hidden Immortal Lord Minghuai?”
“What…!”
Before Su Miaoyin could answer, the onlooking guests were startled. Immortal Lord Qingxu frowned. “We haven’t indeed seen Immortal Lord Minghuai tonight. What’s happened? Where is she now?”
They spoke up because, while the previous matter concerning Mo Tao had been shocking, it had been resolved. They couldn’t find fault with the resolution, and it didn’t directly involve them.
However, Immortal Lord Minghuai was one of their fellow guests.
Her position was the same as theirs.
If what this young disciple said was true, it meant the Heavenly Sword Sect had dared to risk universal condemnation by kidnapping a powerful, high-level cultivator. This implied that their own personal safety was also threatened.
Although they weren’t afraid of Su Miaoyin, whose cultivation was inferior to their own, the nature of this incident was far more serious. How audacious was the Heavenly Sword Sect to commit such an act?
Therefore, they had to speak out.
Instantly, many people understood the implications and began to question Su Miaoyin. Su Miaoyin never imagined Qi Qing would launch another sudden attack, striking directly at her weak point.
Without time for careful thought, she could only try to appease them. “Everyone, please calm down. I truly don’t know why Qi Qing is saying such things. I arrived with her just now; how would I know Immortal Lord Minghuai’s whereabouts?”
“Let’s just say you don’t know,” Qi Qing said. “But aren’t you skilled in divination? Why don’t you divine for us where she is right now?”
Qi Qing’s words dripped with sarcasm, as if she were treating Su Miaoyin like a mere divination tool. But Su Miaoyin didn’t dare to object. She was now completely on the defensive, her leverage gone. No matter how poor Qi Qing’s attitude, Su Miaoyin could only comply.
Su Miaoyin performed a quick divination. “She is still in the mountains,” she announced.
“Now, take us to her,” Qi Qing commanded.
How could Su Miaoyin dare to agree? Although Immortal Lord Minghuai was indeed unharmed, she was currently trapped by the Nine Dragon Glazed Lock, a treasure of the Heavenly Sword Sect. If Su Miaoyin led them there, her involvement would be immediately exposed.
Her only option now was to stall for time. Once people’s attention was diverted, she could secretly order someone to release the lock. Then, she could simply insist that Immortal Lord Minghuai had gotten lost. What could they do to her then?
Having made up her mind, Su Miaoyin said, “It’s not that I don’t want to take everyone. It’s just that divination can only reveal an outcome and a general direction, not Immortal Lord Minghuai’s exact location. There’s no need to be so anxious. Perhaps she merely took a wrong turn on her way here. I will send disciples to search for her immediately.”
She spoke very casually, her expression perfectly natural.
The crowd suspected nothing. Only Qi Qing knew Su Miaoyin was lying. If Yu Yan had truly gotten lost on her way, how could she have asked an attendant from the main peak to deliver a message to Qi Qing?
It was a clear contradiction. Su Miaoyin was stalling for time.
Why was she stalling? She must be plotting something.
Perhaps… to silence Yu Yan.
A chill ran through Qi Qing’s heart, and she grew increasingly anxious.
Although she had maintained an appearance of calm, relying on her knowledge of the plot and the sword techniques Ling Aorui had taught her in her previous life to expose Mo Tao’s hypocrisy and counter Su Miaoyin’s enticements, she now found herself at the final hurdle, completely out of ideas.
She wanted to prove Su Miaoyin was lying, but the only attendant who could corroborate the message was one of their own people and would naturally not testify against them.
Thus, the situation had reached a stalemate.
These powerful figures were not her allies; she was merely using their presence for leverage. They wouldn’t support her indefinitely. Once they left, she would be isolated and vulnerable, completely at Su Miaoyin’s mercy.
Even if she presented facts and reasoned with them, why would these powerful cultivators believe her over Su Miaoyin? What could she possibly offer to make them act according to her wishes?
Pleading pitifully? Making promises? Threats?
No. She had no leverage over them, so threats were useless. Pleading pitifully or making promises would be even more absurd; she had nothing to offer in exchange.
As long as Su Miaoyin adamantly denied everything, these cultivators wouldn’t completely break ties with her. This was, after all, the Heavenly Sword Sect’s territory, and no one would risk mortally offending the sect without concrete proof.
Seeing Su Miaoyin dispatching disciples, Qi Qing realized time was running out. There might be assassins among those sent out. Yu Yan’s life was already hanging by a thread; any further delay or complication would surely put her in dire peril.
But what could she do?
What could possibly make Su Miaoyin stop her scheme?
After a long moment of thought, she realized her only option was a desperate gamble: capture Su Miaoyin. Only then could she command the attendants and, if lucky, perhaps even extract the truth. But this was extremely risky. If her strike failed, Su Miaoyin would undoubtedly capture her.
The worst-case scenario was that she would be killed.
She was betting that Su Miaoyin wouldn’t kill her. Since Su Miaoyin had tried so hard to keep her, Qi Qing must be of some great use to her. In that case, Qi Qing could use her own life as leverage to force Su Miaoyin to spare Yu Yan.
If she succeeded, at least Yu Yan could be saved.
If she lost this gamble, neither she nor Yu Yan would survive.
However, there was no time left.
Qi Qing calculated the distance between herself and Su Miaoyin while secretly reaching for the wooden sword at her waist. She knew hesitation could lead to defeat, but she didn’t yet possess the steel nerves to harm someone so covertly without a flicker of emotion.
She grasped the hilt. In her peripheral vision, she saw Su Miaoyin talking to a young attendant beside her, oblivious to Qi Qing’s actions.
Meanwhile, the attendant Su Miaoyin had dispatched was already at the door. If Qi Qing didn’t act now, she would lose her final chance.
Qi Qing gritted her teeth. A flash of sword light shot out, heading straight for Su Miaoyin’s face.
But in that fleeting instant, she suddenly saw a smile flicker across Su Miaoyin’s face. It was an eerie, strange, confident smile that had no business appearing on her face at that moment.
Qi Qing immediately understood: this was another of Su Miaoyin’s schemes.
Su Miaoyin was deliberately provoking her into attacking.
This way, Su Miaoyin could legitimately detain her.
Su Miaoyin was certain she would succeed because she intended to use a self-injury ploy to achieve what she had wanted from the start.
Su Miaoyin wanted to keep her here; Qi Qing wanted to leave.
After everything that had happened—Su Miaoyin’s feigned agreements, her attempts at guilt-tripping, her stalling tactics, her threats and enticements—her ultimate goal hadn’t wavered in the slightest. Such tenacity was truly chilling. But why? What was the reason for it?
What was it about herself that made Su Miaoyin so incredibly fixated?
Qi Qing couldn’t figure it out. But she knew that if this sword strike landed, everything would be irrevocably settled. Even if Yu Yan was rescued, Qi Qing herself would no longer be able to leave with her.
A wave of sorrow washed over Qi Qing. She began to suspect that all of this was fated, that no matter how she struggled or resisted, she was doomed to be a puppet of destiny.
She truly didn’t want to go down that path again.
If that was the case, then perhaps it was better to go all out and eliminate Su Miaoyin directly. That way, even if Qi Qing couldn’t escape, at least she wouldn’t be manipulated and used as Su Miaoyin’s pawn.
She tightened her grip on the sword hilt, her aura shifting abruptly as killing intent surged from her. Su Miaoyin clearly noticed the change, the smugness on her face instantly replaced by fear.
Su Miaoyin tried to dodge.
But it was too late.
Qi Qing’s sword was already upon her. To execute her ploy, Su Miaoyin hadn’t even activated her protective magic artifact. She saw the blade sink deep into her body, most of it disappearing from view.
Icy cold, razor-sharp, it instantly drained all her strength.
She slowly fell backward. For some reason, among all the powerful Immortal Lords present, not a single one seemed to have noticed Qi Qing’s sudden attack. But Su Miaoyin no longer had time to ponder this; the blade had pierced a vital spot, and excruciating pain engulfed her.
All my intricate schemes, only to end up costing me my life.
Su Miaoyin thought dazedly, How could this happen? The outcome I anticipated was a minor flesh wound for myself, followed by successfully imprisoning Qi Qing, making her serve me for eternity.
I would become Sect Master, then Alliance Leader. Everyone would kneel before me, revere me. All those things I’ve dreamed of would come true, one by one.
Now, it’s all just an extravagant hope.
…
Master, it hurts so much.
Why did you only value Senior Brother and never see my worth?
I worked so hard, so desperately. I even taught myself divination just to please you. Was my talent truly inferior to his? No! He was several hundred years older than me, yet he could only fight me to a draw!
He was a mediocre man—so timid, so mercenary! And just because he was a man, you gave him the Sect Master position! You were muddled, you were foolish! Someone like you could only ever be a good-for-nothing in a small, insignificant sect, achieving nothing in your entire life!
A good-for-nothing… Haha, aren’t I also a good-for-nothing?
After so many years of meticulous planning, I still couldn’t seize power from him. In the end, I actually had to rely on a teenage disciple to clear the obstacles for me.
And now, I’ve failed to grasp even this golden opportunity.
Master, I wish I could go back… back to when our sect only had a few members. We were all so ordinary then, without grand ambitions, just simple, contented happiness every day.
How long has it been… since I last felt that…
Su Miaoyin suddenly pitched backward with a thud.
Everyone around was startled. The disciple who had been speaking with Su Miaoyin earlier rushed to her side. Qi Qing, too, snapped out of her daze. Her first thought was: I’ve killed someone. I’ll spend the rest of my life in prison.
But everything that had just happened felt like a dream.
There was no sword in her hand. There was no blood on Su Miaoyin. They were standing quite far apart. No one connected Su Miaoyin’s sudden collapse with her.
A medical cultivator examined Su Miaoyin and announced that she had merely fainted.
“Fortunately, she only fainted. Otherwise, everyone present would be a suspect. Now that she’s unconscious, why aren’t you all leaving quickly?” A voice suddenly sounded from outside the door. Everyone turned to look and saw it was Immortal Lord Minghuai.
Her veil was gone, revealing a face of breathtaking, celestial beauty. The entire banquet hall fell silent for a moment. Everyone held their breath, as if afraid to offend this ethereal, fairy-like woman.
Qi Qing was also very surprised, unsure if this was reality or an illusion. Did I not kill anyone? Is Yu Yan alright? Was she really just lost?
She moved towards her, about to speak, when she suddenly noticed something was wrong with Yu Yan’s condition. Yu Yan’s complexion looked normal, but a chilling aura emanated from her body. Even before getting close, Qi Qing could feel the intense cold.
What happened?
Qi Qing wanted to ask, but it was inconvenient to do so in front of everyone. She could see Yu Yan didn’t want to draw attention, so she supported her and helped her out of the main hall. However, Yu Yan stopped walking after only a few steps, and Qi Qing had to firmly support her to prevent her from falling.
Su Miaoyin had already been carried away by attendants, and Qi Qing had also left. The remaining guests had even less reason to stay.
Thus, they bid farewell to one another and dispersed.
As the guests exited, they saw Yu Yan and Qi Qing.
Although some intended to speak with Yu Yan, her extremely poor complexion made it clear she was in no mood for pleasantries. Not wanting to cause an awkward situation, they departed, though many cast lingering glances back.
Once everyone had left, Qi Qing finally asked softly, “Are you alright?”
“Something’s wrong. Take me somewhere warm,” Yu Yan managed to say before suddenly collapsing.
Qi Qing quickly caught her. As soon as she got close, the intense cold radiating from Yu Yan’s body made Qi Qing shiver. This was definitely not a normal body temperature; it could only be the result of some kind of cultivation technique.
Qi Qing could only circulate her own meager spiritual energy to try and warm Yu Yan, but no matter how hard she tried, Yu Yan continued to shiver uncontrollably.
And her condition was rapidly deteriorating.
This won’t do. I have to find a solution.
She picked Yu Yan up in her arms and scanned her surroundings. The nearest residence was Mo Tao’s Yu He Courtyard. It should have channels for underfloor heating; although it was summer, if there were flues, a fire could be lit.
Because of the recent upheaval, the entire Yu He Courtyard was deserted.
Qi Qing entered as if it were deserted, walking deep into the courtyard before finding a suitable room. She settled Yu Yan down, covered her with a silk quilt, and then ran out to find the entrance to the heating flue.
The entrance was easy to find, but there was nothing combustible nearby.
She had no choice but to grab a quilt and stuff it into the flue to burn. Soon, the room began to warm up.
She rushed back to check on Yu Yan. Although the room had warmed, Yu Yan’s body remained ice-cold; there was even frost on her eyelashes. It was the height of summer; such frost would only appear in extreme cold.
After a moment’s hesitation, Qi Qing unfastened Yu Yan’s outer robe to allow her skin maximum contact with the warm air. However, during this, Yu Yan lost consciousness from the cold. Qi Qing had no choice but to remove all of Yu Yan’s clothes and quickly rub her skin to generate heat.
But the effect was minimal.
For a moment, Qi Qing was at a loss.
She desperately wanted to save Yu Yan, but she didn’t know what else she could do.
As she pondered, the warm air in the room made her sweat. This gave her an idea—if all else failed, she could use her own body heat to warm Yu Yan.
But isn’t that a bit…
Qi Qing gritted her teeth. This is no time to worry about such things! Saving her is paramount!
She quickly bolted the door, then removed her own clothes and slipped under the quilt. Yu Yan’s body felt like a block of ice, covered in fine frost. The moment their skin touched, the cold was bone-chilling. Qi Qing could only grit her teeth and endure it, circulating her spiritual energy to generate warmth for Yu Yan.
This time, the effect was much better than before.
Yu Yan’s complexion visibly improved. Qi Qing pressed even closer, using her own warmest dantian to directly transfer heat to Yu Yan’s dantian.
The position was exceedingly intimate; even by modern standards, it would be hard to explain. But Qi Qing couldn’t care less about that now. As long as she could save Yu Yan, she was willing to bear any infamy.
The cool, faint fragrance from Yu Yan’s body slowly diffused as she began to thaw, eventually enveloping Qi Qing completely. Qi Qing closed her eyes, praying fervently that she could revive her quickly.
They didn’t have much time. If Su Miaoyin woke up, the first thing she would undoubtedly do was come looking for trouble.
But, as if her fears had summoned it, someone suddenly spoke outside just then.
“Huh? Why is the light on in here? Maybe someone’s inside. I’ll go take a look.”
An instant later, there was a knock on the door. “Who’s inside?”
Qi Qing didn’t dare to answer. Leaving aside the fact that both she and Yu Yan were naked, even if they weren’t, she had single-handedly brought down Mo Tao and nearly killed Su Miaoyin. With such grievous offenses to her name, all Heavenly Sword Sect disciples would view her as an enemy. If they knew she was inside, wouldn’t they seize the opportunity to attack her when she was vulnerable and settle old scores?
Fortunately, the door was bolted. The person outside knocked a few times without getting a response, then angrily kicked the door several times and shouted, “Listen up, whoever’s in there! Open this door right now, or I’m breaking it down!”
“Si Li, don’t resort to force. We can talk things through.”
A soft voice spoke up. Qi Qing’s heart plummeted. Of all the rotten luck, the newcomer was Ling Aorui.
There could be no situation more awkward than this.
