Free Web NovelChapter 321: Chapter 321: Seeing the Two Again
Song Wanning’s expression remained neutral at his words. She couldn’t care less whether those two were getting along or not.
"As long as you’re sure it’s them, that’s all that matters. Take me to them."
She glanced at the pile of ledgers to one side. The annotations on them were clearly visible.
Mo Yuan hadn’t failed to live up to his position. He was working hard to manage the Demon Palace.
"Alright, Senior. Just a moment!"
Mo Yuan didn’t dare to delay. He called over his subordinates, gave a few orders, and then immediately set off with Song Wanning.
He piloted the Demon Boat, speeding toward the location where Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan had been spotted.
In Song Wanning’s presence, Mo Yuan dropped all pretense. He spoke much faster, sharing everything that had happened within the Demon Clan recently.
Song Wanning listened intently, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Mo Yuan gazed at her, his eyes shining.
’Senior clearly seems gentler now, but it somehow makes her feel even more distant.’
’In the end, it’s just because my own cultivation is too low.’
He silently clenched his fists, resolving to redouble his efforts in cultivation.
’Once I ascend to the Spirit Realm, I’ll continue to follow Senior. I’d even willingly be her dog!’
The Demon Boat traveled for two days before reaching the border of the Demon Clan’s territory. He didn’t rush to land, instead hovering silently in mid-air, awaiting Song Wanning’s command.
By this time, Song Wanning’s Divine Sense had already descended upon a cave, where she saw the bickering pair.
Ye Chuxue was as stubborn as ever, but with her cultivation crippled and the journey having been so arduous, she was now like a hedgehog—all sharp spines, ready to bristle at the slightest touch.
Gu Qingyuan, meanwhile, had fallen from being a lofty, favored prodigy to a weathered, pitiable wreck.
With his graying hair, he looked utterly unfamiliar.
Seeing them in such a state didn’t bring Song Wanning any joy. ’If anything, I’ve let them off too easily, allowing them to live this long.’
「In the cave」
Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan were still oblivious to the approaching danger.
"Master, I’m planning to try my luck at that cave we found the other day. Are you coming with me?"
All Ye Chuxue wanted now was to quickly increase her strength. A sense of panicked urgency left her sleepless day and night, consumed by worry.
Even though she was still at odds with him, she knew full well that her only guarantee of safety was to stay by her master’s side.
Otherwise, with her current level of cultivation, she wouldn’t even be a snack for a demonic beast.
Gu Qingyuan hesitated. He wanted to refuse, but considering the recent strain in their relationship, he ultimately nodded in agreement.
"You must stay behind me later. Your body can’t take any more strain."
He had gone to great lengths to save Ye Chuxue, and he didn’t want all that effort to go to waste.
But what were clearly words of concern sounded entirely different to Ye Chuxue’s ears.
She had always been a proud person. ’No matter how I listen to it, it sounds like Gu Qingyuan is looking down on me.’
Ye Chuxue pressed her lips together tightly, a flash of defiance in her eyes.
’One day, I will return to my peak and make everyone who looks down on me regret it!’
Pushing down her thoughts, Ye Chuxue followed Gu Qingyuan out of the cave.
They had previously discovered a cave that her Treasure Hunting Mouse told her contained something valuable. However, a fearsome demonic beast was guarding it, so they hadn’t dared to make a move.
Now that Gu Qingyuan seemed to have recovered somewhat, she naturally couldn’t sit still any longer.
「In mid-air」
Song Wanning concealed the Demon Boat so well that not even Gu Qingyuan sensed a thing.
She looked at Gu Qingyuan’s exhausted expression and raised an eyebrow.
’He was once my equal, but now he can’t even sense me right above him.’
Thinking back on her own tragic fate in her past life, she understood one thing with even greater clarity.
’Indulging in sentiment only makes you fall behind.’
’Only by single-mindedly pursuing the path of cultivation can one achieve true greatness!’
"Senior, are we just going to watch them go?"
Seeing that Song Wanning showed no intention of acting, Mo Yuan looked confused.
"Yes. Let’s wait."
Song Wanning smiled faintly. "Killing them now would be so dull. It’s far more interesting to let someone’s hope swell, only to crush it with your own hands."
She wanted to make Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan experience the pain of having success within their grasp, only to see it shattered in an instant.
’Besides... they’re going to die anyway. If I can squeeze a little more value out of them, their deaths won’t be a complete waste.’
Mo Yuan understood immediately and raised an eyebrow.
’He loved this about Senior—her way of hitting people where it hurts. I’m sure those two will be very "grateful"!’
The Demon Boat followed the pair, watching as they encountered demonic beasts, fought briefly, and then hurried onward, looking quite desperate.
Gu Qingyuan’s injuries clearly hadn’t fully healed, and his combat strength looked extremely limited.
Despite this, he still accompanied Ye Chuxue.
’Now, isn’t that just love?’
The smile on Song Wanning’s lips deepened. The more pathetic her enemies became, the more gratified she felt.
Finally, Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan stopped in front of a cave.
Gu Qingyuan took the lead while Ye Chuxue hid behind him, and they slowly made their way into the cave.
Deep inside the cave, a stalk of white grass not far away came into view.
The stem of the grass was green, but its single leaf was white, making it look rather peculiar.
It was Xucao Grass, a plant that could enhance one’s cultivation.
Ye Chuxue’s cultivation had been crippled, but her meridians were already widened from before. To start over, she just needed to continuously fill her Dantian.
And this stalk of grass was exactly what she needed.
It was, one might say, tailor-made for her situation.
That was why she had to try, despite the risks.
"Master, that’s it!"
Ye Chuxue was overjoyed and tugged on Gu Qingyuan’s arm.
"You lure the demonic beast away, and I’ll grab the Xucao Grass."
"...Alright."
Gu Qingyuan suppressed his unease and nodded in agreement.
’He was always the one to face danger head-on. He seemed to be used to it by now.’
So, when the demonic beast emerged, Gu Qingyuan charged out without hesitation and engaged it in a fierce struggle.
Ye Chuxue hid nearby, and when the beast was drawn away, she darted toward the grass.
But the beast had been watching the grass the whole time. It instantly noticed her intent, abandoned Gu Qingyuan, and lunged at her.
"AHHH—"
Ye Chuxue retreated in a hurry, her eyes filled with panic due to her diminished strength.
Fortunately, Gu Qingyuan rushed to her rescue, allowing her to escape.
But in the process, Gu Qingyuan was clawed by the beast, and blood streamed from a long gash on his arm.
Hidden from view, Song Wanning clicked her tongue with amusement.
Every time Gu Qingyuan was about to overpower the demonic beast, she would secretly intervene, leaving him battered, bleeding, and increasingly frustrated.
"Master, faster!"
Ye Chuxue was sweating with anxiety. She had just noticed the demonic beast was about to tear out the Xucao Grass.
’If it succeeds, what will I do about my cultivation?’
Gu Qingyuan grew anxious as well and increased his Spiritual Power output, only to be sent flying by the beast’s headbutt. He crashed hard near the cave entrance.
In a daze, he thought he saw a familiar figure watching him from a distance.
Gu Qingyuan froze instantly.
