In this world, running into the exact person you're trying to avoid is practically guaranteed. It's like so cosmic law – the more you don't want to see soone, the more likely they are to appear right behind you.
For a mont, I considered pretending I hadn't actually heard anything, but that would probably just make things worse. Turning around slowly, I ca face to face with Wu Lihua. If anything, she was even more breathtaking than before.
She stood there in her purple Core Disciple robes, her long black hair caught the late afternoon light, creating an almost hypnotic effect as it shifted in the gentle breeze. Those eyes with their hints of golden light fixed on with an intensity that would have been flattering if it wasn't so terrifying.
As for the aura rolling off her, it was... impressive, to say the least. Elental Realm. Well, that explained why she'd stopped following around – she must have been busy breaking through. The pressure of her qi alone made the air feel heavier, like being underwater but without the wet part.
So part of had hoped that after reaching the Elental Realm, Wu Lihua would be too busy to rember the existence of a re Outer Disciple. Apparently, cultivation realm advancent didn't cure obsession.
"Senior Sister." I bowed with exactly the right degree of respect – not too shallow to offend, not too deep to suggest familiarity. "Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Elental Realm."
Her smile was gentle, but I knew better than to trust it. Jade beauties with that particular expression usually preceded either a marriage proposal or an assassination attempt. Sotis both.
"You left the sect for a few weeks," Wu Lihua said, her tone carrying just a hint of reproach. "Without even saying goodbye."
I blinked at that. We'd had maybe one or two conversations where she'd watched practice, made so vaguely suggestive comnts that caused my cultivation-novel-danger sense to go into overdrive. Since when did that create a social obligation to inform her of my travel plans?
"It was an... unexpected journey," I replied diplomatically. "An opportunity arose, and I had to act quickly."
"Calculating sincerity levels," Azure chid in. "Results suggest even a rock would doubt that statent."
Through our soul bond, I felt Yggy stirring restlessly. The vine had picked up on my unease, and I got the distinct impression it was ready to burst out and wrap Wu Lihua in a cocoon of angry plant matter if needed. While the ntal image was satisfying, I doubted it would improve the situation.
"I see you visited the Core Disciple quarters," Wu Lihua continued, her head tilting slightly. "But you didn't co to say hello."
Oh, right. Because obviously my first priority after sparring with a stone guardian should have been to track down the cultivation world equivalent of a stalker. I wondered if there was a polite way to point out that we weren't actually friends, or even particularly well-acquainted.
"I was focused on training," I said instead. "It must have slipped my mind."
"Of course." She nodded as though this made perfect sense, though her eyes suggested otherwise. "Speaking of training... Qi Condensation Stage Six. Breaking through three sub realms is quite impressive progress to make over a month."
The way she said it made it sound simultaneously like high praise and a subtle threat. I was beginning to understand why Young Masters in cultivation novels always seed to develop persecution complexes. When every conversation felt like walking through a minefield, paranoia started to look remarkably sensible.
I shrugged, keeping my expression humble. "Just got lucky with a few minor breakthroughs. Nothing compared to entering the Elental Realm. This junior offers his sincere congratulations on Senior Sister's advancent."
"Mmm," she humd thoughtfully, and sohow even that simple sound was lodious. "Wu Kangming has shown surprising talent recently, his progress has been... unexpected."
I nodded enthusiastically at the ntion of her ex-fiancé. Yes, let's talk about him instead! Such an interesting topic, that Wu Kangming. So much more worthy of attention than little old ...
"His sword arts are quite remarkable," I agreed. "That Azure Edge technique he used against Zhou was particularly impressive."
Co on, take the bait. Go obsess over the guy who actually wants your attention...
"Indeed." Her golden eyes fixed on with an intensity that made want to activate Blink Step and disappear over the horizon. "It makes one wonder which of you is more worthy of attention."
I blinked. Then blinked again. Surely I had misheard that.
"I... what?"
"There seems to be only one way to properly evaluate this," she continued, her smile taking on an edge that sent warning bells ringing through my mind. "You and Wu Kangming will have to fight at the tournant. Then I'll know which one truly deserves my consideration."
For a mont, I just stood there, trying to process the layers of wrong in that statent. Was she seriously trying to set up a battle between two Outer Disciples like we were competing for so dating show?
"Senior Sister," I said carefully, "I think there may be a misunderstanding. I have absolutely no interest in..." I paused, searching for a diplomatic way to say 'please stop stalking ' that wouldn't get killed. "That is to say, Wu Kangming clearly still cares for you. Any competition between us would be inappropriate."
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"You're too modest, Junior Brother," she laughed. "But don't worry, everything will be settled soon enough."
With that, she turned and walked away, her robes flowing around her like water. Each step left a perfect afterimage, a display of power that was probably ant to be alluring but just made more concerned about my imdiate survival prospects.
"Well," Azure said after she'd gone, "that was..."
"Completely insane?" I suggested.
"I was going to say 'problematic,' but your assessnt works too."
Yggy conveyed a series of impressions that roughly translated to 'that two-legs has more thorns than sense' along with sothing that seed suspiciously like a suggestion that she wasn't actually that pretty by vine standards.
"I don't think human and vine beauty standards are quite comparable," I thought back with a smile. "But I appreciate the sentint."
As I headed back toward the Outer Disciple area, I couldn't help but feel that sothing about this whole situation felt off.
Why was soone who had just broken through to the Elental Realm playing these gas with Outer Disciples? Shouldn't she be focused on stabilizing her cultivation or pursuing greater achievents? Where were all the Inner Disciples and Core Disciples who would normally be competing for her attention?
Unless...
"Perhaps she enjoys the drama," Azure suggested. "Or maybe she's bored. Cultivators often develop... eccentric hobbies after breakthroughs."
"Azure, what do we know about cultivation thods that require emotional energy?"
"There are several docunted cases of techniques that draw power from strong emotions – particularly love, hatred, and regret. The Heartbreak Dao is perhaps the most infamous..."
"Right," I nodded. "And what better way to gather that energy than by manipulating people's feelings? Setting up love triangles, creating dramatic confrontations..."
It was just a theory, but it would explain her strange behavior and her insane cultivation progress. Perhaps her cultivation thod required her to generate intense emotions in others, and Wu Kangming's lingering feelings made him and anyone she could connect to him perfect targets.
It made wonder what her inner world looked like…
"That does sound more likely than her being attracted to you, Master."
"Thanks?"
Through our soul bond, Yggy sent another impression – sothing that roughly translated to 'crazy lady needs more sunlight.' Coming from a plant, that was probably the harshest criticism possible.
I couldn't help but laugh at that. "You might be right about the sunlight, buddy. Though I don't think that's her main problem."
Though, whether this was all just a ga or part of her cultivation, wasn't the issue at the mont. If Wu Lihua had told Wu Kangming that he needed to defeat to win her back... well, that would end badly. Very badly.
"We have a protagonist-class cultivator with mysterious sword arts gunning for us," Azure concluded. "Wonderful. Shall I start calculating funeral arrangents?"
"Very funny." I paused, considering our options. "No, we need to talk to Wu Kangming directly. Clear up this misunderstanding before it turns into a full cultivation novel plot arc."
"You want to approach the possibly unstable sword cultivator who just killed an Inner Disciple and tell him you're not interested in his ex-fiancée? The sa ex-fiancée who's been showing obvious interest in you?"
When Azure put it that way, it did sound rather suicidal.
"But knowing my luck, he's probably already sohow heard about my little chat with Wu Lihua."
I looked up to notice the sun painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. Under normal circumstances, it would have been beautiful. Right now, it just reminded of Wu Lihua's robes, which wasn't helping my mood.
When I arrived at the Outer Disciple region, I spotted a familiar figure waiting near the entrance. Wu Kangming stood with his plain sword at his side, but there was nothing plain about the aura surrounding him. It felt ancient, like standing near a sword that had tasted the blood of emperors.
"Well," I muttered, "at least we won't have to look for him."
A group of disciples passed between us, then quickly scattered when they felt the tension in the air. One of them actually stumbled in his haste to get away, dropping his sword with a clatter that seed unnaturally loud in the sudden silence.
"Any last-minute advice?" I asked as I walked over to Wu Kangming.
"Don't die?" Azure suggested.
"Really helpful."
Yggy sent an impression that basically amounted to 'let fight sword guy,' complete with ntal images of vines crushing a sword into pieces.
"No," I sent back to Yggy, "we need to handle this carefully. Wu Kangming isn't just so opponent we can overwhelm with force. He's got protagonist-grade power now."
The vine's response was decidedly unimpressed, sending images of more elaborate vine attacks, now including so rather creative uses of Explosive Seed that I actually made a ntal note to try later. But not now. Definitely not now.
"Brother Ke Yin." Wu Kangming's voice cut through our conversation as I stood before him. "There is sothing we need to discuss."
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