It must have been given by the Sect Leader.

Because Shi Qingjun once gave Zhu Pingniang an opportunity, so it’s possible that Ah Qing is the second lucky person. The Sect Leader likely values Ah Qing’s talent in Sword Dance and taught her this set of Ancient Sword Dance.

But why not Wen Li?

In terms of Sword Dao Talent, Wen Li is stronger?

Li Zhibai was a bit puzzled but then shook her head.

No, such a charming Sword Dance is not suitable for Wen Li. Clearly, giving such a charming Sword Dance to Wen Li would be a waste.

Moreover, since the Sect Leader values her, Ah Qing must have other secrets that haven’t been discovered.

’If that’s the case...’ Li Zhibai squinted her eyes.

Judging by the name, Ah Qing seems to have a connection with Shi Qingjun?

If the Sect Leader really revealed the name to Ah Qing, then for a Half-Demon like Ah Qing, adopting the name of a benefactor makes sense. It’s also normal for her to be surprised seeing the benefactor now.

If Ah Qing really received the opportunity given by the Sect Leader, then everything can indeed be explained—for example, why Shi Qingjun appeared in the brothel.

It’s very likely because of Ah Qing?

Look, the logic gradually forms a closed loop, as if Li Zhibai’s guess is the truth, and it seems like Ah Qing truly received the opportunity given by Shi Qingjun.

’No, that’s not right.’ Li Zhibai furrowed Liu Mei’s brows even more.

Given the Sect Leader’s personality, setting aside how they met Ah Qing, she would really care about someone coming to the brothel to watch her performance?

Impossible.

...Not really.

Glancing at Zhu Pingniang who was meditating, Li Zhibai shook her head.

The Sect Leader is no longer what she used to be; not only does she care about Zhu Pingniang’s destroyed Glazed Body, she’s even interested in drinks and had a recent toast with Zhu Pingniang. Li Zhibai experienced this firsthand, so one can’t view the Sect Leader with the previous godly attitude as she gradually shows signs of being womanly.

If she is such a Sect Leader, caring for someone given an opportunity is understandable, right?

’So... did Ah Qing really have a true mentorship with the Sect Leader?’

Li Zhibai thought this.

’If that’s the case, then Tong Jun... is really good at picking people from the mountains.’

Looking at Zhu Pingniang’s silly smile beside her, Li Zhibai held her forehead.

No, this time it might not be certain.

If Ah Qing has the opportunity given by the Sect Leader, the fact that Ah Qing was picked by Tong Jun from the mountains might be a coincidence or an arrangement by the Sect Leader... it’s hard to say.

From the fact that the Sect Leader specifically came to the brothel to appreciate Ah Qing’s performance, she clearly cares about this connection—even though she still uses a questioning tone, in her heart, she no doubt already believes it. Since the rumor of Ah Qing being the Demon Sect Lady is initially non-existent.

"Master Li."

At this moment, to Li Zhibai’s surprise, Wen Li suddenly walked over to her.

"Wen Li? What’s the matter?"

At this time, because of sudden dizziness, Ah Qing’s dance stopped, staring blankly at the audience. Li Zhibai withdrew her gaze, looking at Wen Li approaching.

"Master Li." Wen Li paused in her tone.

After thorough thinking, and confirming that even Xu Chang’an couldn’t sense the special traits on Ah Qing, she decided to share her speculation with Li Zhibai.

She glanced at Zhu Pingniang who seemed uninterested, then whispered a few words in Li Zhibai’s ear.

"Alright, I understand. Don’t worry about it." What surprised Wen Li was that after hearing her, Li Zhibai showed no surprise at all, and instead nodded thoughtfully, instructing her not to overthink, seemingly in control.

Thus, Wen Li returned to her seat, letting out a soft sigh.

"Senior sister, what did the teacher say?" Xu Chang’an asked.

"Master Li had already noticed a problem within the Sword Dance." Wen Li shook her head, thinking she was still too confident.

Thinking about it, if she noticed the problem within Ah Qing’s Sword Dance, how could Master Li possibly miss it?

Her elder didn’t react not because she didn’t notice, but because she already understood the reason.

Seems like she, who thought her Sword Dao was ahead of everyone, was a bit overconfident.

"Junior brother, be humble." Wen Li advised.

"Hmm." Xu Chang’an nodded with some understanding, then pointed to the stage: "Senior sister, what’s wrong with her."

Wen Li shook her head, "She hasn’t recovered well."

Neither she nor Xu Chang’an noticed Ah Qing’s gaze, so there’s nothing much to say.

On the side.

"Indeed." Li Zhibai squinted her eyes. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Just now Wen Li told her, she faintly sensed a complete avenue belonging to the Qiankun Realm from Ah Qing’s Sword Dance...

This simply confirmed her previous speculation.

Such a Sword Dao is the best evidence that Ah Qing received the Sect Leader’s opportunity, after first ruling out Ah Qing as the Demon Sect Lady, a guess she hadn’t considered, the only answer emerged.

Ah Qing is Tong Jun’s ’junior sister,’ they both received guidance from the Sect Leader.

And...

Li Zhibai took another look at Wen Li.

Unexpectedly, Wen Li was able to see the essence of Sword Dao on Ah Qing. To know even she did not discover it, she only found the potential connection between Ah Qing and the Sect Leader through speculation...

Who knows how far Wen Li’s Sword Dao has come.

Blink.

Li Zhibai looked at Ah Qing’s stiff expression, and the Sect Leader wiping her mouth with a handkerchief after eating an apple.

She suddenly became curious.

What will happen next?

Ah Qing clearly recognized the Sect Leader.

Will it be a scene of disciples recognizing their teacher?

Or will Ah Qing finish the performance first?

Or something else entirely?

Li Zhibai admits, she kind of wants to see the ’recognition’ scene, after all, witnessing someone transforming their personality is worth commemorating.

But she doesn’t want this scene to appear because if Tong Jun knows the relationship between the Sect Leader and Ah Qing, it would be very troublesome, and the Sect Leader’s identity hasn’t been exposed...

Li Zhibai internally resists others knowing that the Lord of Qing Province is appearing in a brothel.

Nevertheless, whatever she thinks won’t matter in the end. She has no right to interfere in the Sect Leader’s matters, so she can only watch the development from a spectator’s perspective.

——

Under the stage.

Ah Qing’s mind went blank, a faint misty layer enveloped the distant woman, and the devouring Cyan Snake’s aura was instantly disintegrated when it touched the mist, as if meeting its nemesis.

’This—’

Ah Qing couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Though considered an opponent, today’s disguise, apart from Xu Chang’an, the person she least wanted noticing it is undoubtedly Shi Qingjun.

But the fact is, at the far end of her vision, the woman eating an apple is the one she had in mind.

Both the unease and ominous feeling... were brought by her.

"???"

Question marks floated in Ah Qing’s Sea of Consciousness.

Wait, wait...

Is it...

Shi Qingjun?

This woman with apple juice lingering at the corners of her mouth, surrounded by courtesans... is Immortal Chaoyun?

Or did she get it wrong?

Indeed, upon discovering Shi Qingjun’s presence, Ah Qing’s first reaction wasn’t about her dance being seen by the ’enemy,’ but doubting her own eyes.

Who is Immortal Chaoyun?

She’s someone who truly purged an era, who genuinely rescued her from the dark ages, even if she later caught up with the deity, the other party, in Ah Qing’s heart... remains unattainable.

This is evident from her using Shi Qingjun’s name, as holding her own upon catching up suggests some pride.

Yet the woman she once admired...

Now sits in the brothel watching plays, listening to... music?

Even after being discovered by Ah Qing, Shi Qingjun showed no trace of reaction, continuing to chew the apples offered by the courtesans.

Is this Immortal Chaoyun?

No.

Change the gender, this is clearly a dissolute youth enjoying pleasures.

Truly peculiar.

Despite being seen awkwardly performing by a nemesis, Ah Qing felt no shame whatsoever as imagined.

Instead, she suddenly got somewhat angry.