Free Web NovelChapter 315: Chapter 314: The Elegance of a Single Sword
Purple Bamboo Peak had a special rule: outsiders were not permitted to stay the night without permission. Consequently, Wen Qingye and Yann Xiangyang had to leave at dusk.
Yann Chuxue led the two of them down the mountain, chatting casually with Wen Qingye and Yann Xiangyang.
Now that they had arrived at the Celestial Profound Sect, the two young women finally understood that Qig Mountain Academy had been a greenhouse, and they, the flowers within it.
Here in the Celestial Profound Sect, strength was the only thing that mattered.
However, as the three of them were heading down the mountain, a slightly sharp yet clear voice reached their ears.
"Junior Sister Yann, long time no see. The sun must have risen in the west today for you to actually come out."
A group of women emerged from the left side of the path ahead. The one in the lead was a beautiful, radiant woman in a green gown.
Beside her was another woman dressed in sheer silks. Through the light fabric, one could almost glimpse her fair skin and captivating figure. Paired with her flirtatious looks, she was a sight to make one’s blood boil and lose all self-control. It was this woman who had just spoken.
Yann Chuxue whispered, "The one in green is Zhu Qingyun of Purple Bamboo Peak, and the one in white silks is Nangong Xin, also from our peak."
Wen Qingye heard Yann Chuxue and glanced at Nangong Xin. ’Nangong Xin,’ he thought. ’For someone in her twenties, her cultivation is impressive. She’s at the Peak of the Yin-Yang Realm. She must have some real ability, or she wouldn’t be ranked on the Cyan Cloud List, even at the very bottom. Though I have no idea what that list even is yet.’
’The one beside her, Zhu Qingyun, isn’t as strong—only at the Yin-Yang Realm Seventh Heaven. She probably only scraped by to become a Core Disciple because of her noble status in the Dayan Dynasty.’
Among the Seven Peaks, aside from this year’s newly promoted disciples, there were also older Core Disciples like Chu Bufan and Du Qianqian. They were the current backbone of the Celestial Profound Sect’s disciples, their cultivation levels far surpassing the Yin-Yang Realm.
Nangong Xin naturally felt Wen Qingye’s gaze on her, and a flash of disdain and disgust crossed her eyes.
"Senior Sister Nangong, Senior Sister Zhu," Yann Chuxue said with a light smile.
Nangong Xin nodded arrogantly, then frowned at Wen Qingye and Yann Xiangyang. "Junior Sister Yann, why are you bringing just anyone to *my* Purple Bamboo Peak? We have rules here. It’s not a place for any random person to enter."
Yann Chuxue’s eyes grew cold. "Of course I know that. This is an old friend of mine, and this is my sister. They only came to visit me, and I am seeing them off the mountain now."
Seeing Yann Chuxue’s tone turn cold, Nangong Xin thought of how Brother Chu treated her. A surge of anger rose in her heart, but she couldn’t very well take it out on Yann Chuxue. Instead, she turned to Wen Qingye and sneered, "A mere Yin-Yang Realm Fifth Heaven cultivator. Don’t you know there are some people you shouldn’t get involved with?"
"Nangong Xin, you’ve said more than enough." Yann Chuxue’s eyes flashed, looking as if they were a pair of Ice Swords ready to pierce through Nangong Xin’s body.
Seeing Yann Chuxue react this way, Nangong Xin giggled mockingly. "What’s this? Getting protective of him? Tsk tsk. If Brother Chu found out about him... hahaha."
Wen Qingye raised a hand to stop Yann Chuxue before she could speak. Shaking his head, he said, "Forget it. Don’t waste your time on them. It’s not worth it."
Seeing Wen Qingye act this way, Zhu Qingyun couldn’t help but scoff. "Hmph, so you’re just a spineless coward!"
"Hahaha!" "Hahaha!"
The women behind Nangong Xin and Zhu Qingyun all burst into laughter, doubling over as if they’d heard the funniest thing in the world.
Just then, in the midst of her laughter, Zhu Qingyun suddenly felt as if she were suffocating. Her breath came in short gasps, and her heart began to constrict violently.
WHOOSH!
A dazzling flash of light streamed forth!
Fast!
Too fast!
The laughter cut off abruptly. The scene fell silent, an eerie quiet descending.
Sweat beaded on Zhu Qingyun’s forehead. She stared in terror at the sharp point before her, gulping nervously. For some reason, her body was frozen in place.
"Cherish your life!" Wen Qingye’s eyes were like a frozen wasteland, so bone-chillingly cold it seemed they could freeze Zhu Qingyun’s entire world.
"I was... wro... wrong..." Zhu Qingyun stammered reflexively. She didn’t know why she apologized, only that on a subconscious level, she knew it was the only correct choice.
Yann Xiangyang, of course, knew how formidable Wen Qingye was. He had defeated a genius like Yu, who was at the Seventh Heaven Peak of the Yin-Yang Realm, so what was a mere Zhu Qingyun to him? But Yann Chuxue, standing beside them, was visibly stunned. ’How long has it been?’ she thought in amazement. ’When did Wen Qingye get this strong? That sword strike was so fast... I didn’t even see him draw his blade.’
Seeing this from the side, Nangong Xin snapped, "What’s your name? How dare a mere Registered Disciple draw a sword on a Core Disciple?"
Wen Qingye sheathed his sword and smiled faintly. "My name? You should have heard it before."
Hearing this, Nangong Xin’s brow furrowed.
"Wen Qingye," he said, his lips parting to speak the two words.
Nangong Xin’s frown deepened, a hint of killing intent and hatred surfacing in her eyes. "So, *you’re* Wen Qingye?"
"That’s right," Wen Qingye said, his eyes crinkling into a smile. "If you want to kill me, now would be the perfect opportunity."
"Is that so?" Nangong Xin’s eyes swept over Wen Qingye from head to toe. She moved in close, her face just inches from his. Wen Qingye didn’t retreat, a faint smile still playing on his lips.
Nangong Xin stared at his chiseled jawline and his handsome, star-bright eyes. She lowered her voice, her breath fragrant as she whispered, "I won’t kill you now. I’m going to torture you, cruelly. I’ll wait for the day you get on your knees and beg me. *Then*, I might consider giving you a chance to live."
As she spoke, her hand reached out, as if of its own accord, toward Wen Qingye’s cheek.
Wen Qingye took two steps back. "Next time you dare to get this close," he said flatly, "don’t blame my sword for its lack of mercy."
"You!" Nangong Xin’s expression soured, clearly not expecting him to speak to her like that.
"Let’s go," Wen Qingye said to Yann Xiangyang and Yann Chuxue.
The two women nodded and instinctively fell in step behind him, continuing down the mountain.
"Se... Senior Sister Nangong," Zhu Qingyun stammered, swallowing hard as she watched Wen Qingye’s departing figure. "Is he really only at the Yin-Yang Realm Fifth Heaven? Why did he feel so... so terrifying?"
Nangong Xin snorted. "Hmph. A so-called genius from some backwater kingdom. Yann Chuxue truly doesn’t know what’s good for her. Such a golden opportunity right in front of her, and she rejects it. How laughable."
Zhu Qingyun, having calmed herself, slowly said, "Yann Chuxue’s looks are fine, but Senior Sister Nangong, you’re just as beautiful. I’m sure Brother Chu has admired you for a long time as well. Anything she has, you have too. And you possess qualities that she lacks."
Zhu Qingyun’s words pleased Nangong Xin, who smiled. "I know. When things work out between Brother Chu and me, Qing Yun, I won’t forget you. I know you’ve always admired Sunx Shijun, the High-Level King Grade Alchemist from Danxuan Peak."
"Then I must thank you in advance, Senior Sister Nangong," Zhu Qingyun said hurriedly, her heart leaping with joy.
Nangong Xin nodded. Gazing at the spot where the trio had vanished, she seethed internally. ’Wen Qingye, I was going to give you a chance, but you have a death wish. Don’t blame me for being ruthless.’
