Although he loathed Song Wanning, the Sect Master had to admit that her abilities had now surpassed Gu Qingyuan’s.

The Sect Master, nursing his own agenda, began scheming about how to fan the flames later.

On Yunxiao Peak, Song Wanning was sitting under a tree with Li Rao, answering her questions about cultivation.

She had originally taken her in to repay a life-saving debt, not wanting the girl to languish in the outer sect.

But after accepting her as a disciple, she had been so preoccupied with her revenge that she’d neglected the girl’s training.

The young girl, however, never complained. She cultivated diligently every day and even tended to the Spirit Grass on the peak.

Every time Li Rao saw her, she would gaze at her with adoring eyes and sweetly call her "Master."

Only then did Song Wanning realize, ’So this is what it’s like to have a disciple...’

Suddenly, a Sound Transmission Talisman shot toward her. She plucked it from the air and heard the Sect Master’s voice asking a question.

Upon learning that Lu Xingyao had arrived, she raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Lu Xingyao of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect. He possessed a rare Thunder Spirit Root and had reached the Nascent Soul stage before the age of one hundred.

His talent was extraordinary, his combat prowess astonishing.

But he was not on good terms with them.

Back when they were just youths, he would challenge her every single time he saw her.

And if Gu Qingyuan was by her side, he would fight Gu Qingyuan instead...

Over the years, they had frequently crossed paths in various Secret Realms and major competitions, and their clashes had grown ever more fierce.

As a result, their relationship only worsened.

For him to show up now... ’It seems the Ten Thousand Sword Sect is getting restless.’

Song Wanning’s eyes narrowed. She remained under the tree, waiting. She would see just what the Ten Thousand Sword Sect had planned.

A short while later, two figures appeared on Yunxiao Peak.

Song Wanning and Li Rao looked over at the same time, their eyes immediately drawn to the man with a longsword strapped to his back.

A gentleman of incomparable beauty and grace.

His bearing was refined, his noble lineage apparent.

Though he was a Sword Cultivator with a formidable killing aura,

he had a gentle, kind face, a contradiction that lent him an air of mystery.

"Junior Sister Song, Mr. Lu heard that Junior Brother Gu is unable to accept his challenge, so he had me bring him to you."

"Since you happened to be in the Sect, I brought him right over."

He was being deliberately vague, creating the false impression that Lu Xingyao wanted to challenge her instead.

Song Wanning listened, unfazed, and simply raised an eyebrow.

’It would be stranger if he *wasn’t* here to cause trouble for me.’

She smiled at Lu Xingyao. "Mr. Lu, it’s been a while."

Lu Xingyao nodded. "Ms. Song."

His tone was distant and cold.

"Come, let’s sit down before we talk," the Sect Master said, his mind racing as he led Lu Xingyao forward.

"Ah, Mr. Lu, since Junior Brother Gu is still gravely injured and unable to fight, if you wish to challenge Junior Sister Song instead, it’s not out of the question..."

"But Junior Sister Song has only recently advanced in her cultivation, so you must hold back a little, Mr. Lu!"

Before Lu Xingyao could even open his mouth, the Sect Master had eagerly arranged everything.

His desperate eagerness made Song Wanning’s lips curl into a scornful sneer.

In his youth, the Sect Master had been an ambitious young man, determined to lead the Heavenly Inquiry Sect to new heights of glory.

But the longer he held the title of Sect Master, the more his ambition and will were corrupted by power and wealth.

He had devolved into the shrewd, profit-obsessed man he was today, and it was disgusting.

"Who said I was here to challenge her?"

Lu Xingyao said calmly, shattering the Sect Master’s fantasy.

"I merely came to catch up with Song Wanning."

At these words, the Sect Master’s smile froze, and his eyes flickered.

’He’s not here to challenge Song Wanning?’

’This won’t do!’

He forced a smile, about to offer a few more words of encouragement, but Lu Xingyao cut in, "I will leave the Heavenly Inquiry Sect when Gu Qingyuan accepts my challenge."

"This duel is a personal matter between myself and Gu Qingyuan. It will not involve anyone else."

His words completely dashed the Sect Master’s hopes.

The Sect Master’s face fell. His scheme had been thwarted, and his expression turned sour.

He stood up abruptly, no longer in the mood for pleasantries.

"Fine. In that case, you can wait, Mr. Lu!"

His smile gone, the Sect Master turned and stormed away.

’Lu Xingyao is so unappreciative! He must be acting on the Ten Thousand Sword Sect’s orders!’

Now, his only hope was Gu Qingyuan.

Only the three of them remained on Yunxiao Peak.

Song Wanning looked Lu Xingyao up and down. "What? You’re not actually here to cause trouble for me? That’s a first!"

Lu Xingyao’s expression was stern. "Can’t old friends catch up?"

"Old friends?"

Song Wanning raised an eyebrow and suddenly leaned closer to Lu Xingyao. The faint, pleasant scent that wafted from her made him instinctively lean back, a peculiar look flashing in his eyes.

"Have you been possessed? Since when are we friends?"

"I was under the impression we were rivals."

She had always been one to clearly distinguish between friend and foe, and her blunt way of speaking had earned her more than a few enemies.

People like Lan Le and the Second Elder had been on the receiving end of her sharp tongue and had borne grudges against her ever since.

And that went double for Lu Xingyao, who had been on the receiving end of Song Wanning’s curses more times than he could count.

She had been particularly infuriated whenever he fought Gu Qingyuan in the past.

So, to hear Lu Xingyao call her a "friend" was genuinely shocking to her.

Lu Xingyao’s face darkened at her words. He stared at her in silence for several long moments until she grew flustered, touched her nose, and backed away. Only then did his expression soften slightly.

"Is this your new disciple?" he asked, turning his gaze to Li Rao.

Li Rao blinked her big, sparkling eyes at Lu Xingyao, her cherubic face breaking into a wide smile.

She seemed like a sweet, innocent child.

"Better than the other three," Lu Xingyao commented, his face impassive.

"Yes. Her name is Li Rao, and she’s my closed-door disciple."

Song Wanning patted Li Rao’s head, her smile turning a bit more genuine.

Time spent with Li Rao always seemed to soothe her heart.

Innocence, kindness—such things felt so far out of her own reach.

Suddenly, she flashed a wicked grin. "Oh, right. I expelled An Ze, so there are only two of them now!"

The thought of An Ze’s gruesome death made Song Wanning’s smile grow even sweeter.

Lu Xingyao pursed his lips and said softly, "I know."

Before Song Wanning could react, he took out a storage ring and handed it to Li Rao.

"A greeting gift. Take it."

His tone was forceful and domineering as he pressed it directly into her palm.

Li Rao’s eyes widened. She shot to her feet, looking pleadingly at Song Wanning for guidance.

"Lu Xingyao, what’s with the gift? Don’t tell me you’re jealous I found a good disciple and you’re trying to harm her?"

Song Wanning stared at Lu Xingyao suspiciously. She was more convinced than ever that something was off about him, and she put her guard up.

’Could he really have been possessed?’

Lu Xingyao was speechless. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

He had been putting on a whole display, and it was like casting pearls before swine.

"Take it or leave it. If you don’t want it, throw it away for all I care."

Song Wanning was speechless.

’Getting angry at the drop of a hat... now *this* is more like the man I know.’

She relaxed. "Go on, accept it. Say thank you to... Uncle Lu."

Li Rao’s eyes lit up. She obediently offered her thanks, but she couldn’t help her gaze from darting back and forth between Lu Xingyao and her master.