Ms Liou let out a long sigh, knowing that with the Lotus Sword Venerable here, it would be as hard as reaching the sky to harm this human youth.
She lanted, as if questioning:
"Does the Lotus Sword Venerable not know about the tragedy eighteen years ago?"
Although He Shutong was not a firsthand witness of the heated debate back then, she had heard so rumors. If the victim of the deceitful theft of the Demon Pill were not the declining Snake Race but the powerful Demon Races like the Golden Roc or the Divine Ape, which inhabit the Star Shining Divine Mountain, the debate might have directly ignited the war between the Human Race and the Demon Race. This conflict definitely would not have been left unresolved just because the culprit was missing.
"I am aware."
"Since you are aware, why do you, the Lotus Sword Venerable, still allow your disciple to repeat the sa mistakes with our Snake Race’s Second Young Lady?! Does the Human Race assu that they can just take advantage of our Demon Race?!"
By the end, Ms Liou was gritting her teeth.
Even if this youth is the Lotus Sword Venerable’s disciple, so what? Even if he has a promising future, so what? As the saying goes, the heart of one not of our race must be different.
Though so humans and demons have achieved good outcos together, such cases are very few. With the intensification of conflicts between the two races over the past millennium, such good outcos are nearly nonexistent. She does not believe this young man would remain true at heart, nor does she believe this human youth would defy the will of the Human Race to bring any great benefits to her Snake Race. This relationship is predestined to end poorly, and in the end, it is them, the Snake Race, who will suffer.
The two young ladies of their family are already the products of tragedy, and now the Second Young Lady is walking down her mother’s old path. This makes her feel even more lancholic, only feeling that these humans, even more cunning than snakes, are not targeting the Demon Race, but targeting their weaker Snake Race.
"I have absolutely no such intention, and there is no need for you to be so aggressive." As the cool wind brushed past, He Shutong’s elegant hair drifted, and she furrowed her delicate brows slightly.
The resentnt in the old woman’s words was clearly not just directed at this incident, but an attempt to vent all the injustice suffered by her Snake Race over the years on her. According to He Shutong’s usual deanor, she would never exchange more words with such an old woman. Yet, for You Su’s sake, she chose to offer a further explanation:
"They are in love with each other, and it is absolutely not for selfish gain. I believe that they will not let tragedy repeat itself. I have nothing more to say. You may take your young lady away, but you cannot harm that youth."
He Shutong hesitated for a mont, then added:
"Additionally, if your Snake Race and Ji Lingruo herself are willing, I would like to take her as my direct disciple."
Ms Liou’s expression froze, sensing the impatience in the Lotus Sword Venerable’s words; she felt embarrassed by her own outburst on soone else’s turf. If the other party were a fiery-tempered Venerable, there could be a thousand reasons to make her pay for her disrespect in the Zhongyuan Continent.
But what truly unsettled Ms Liou more than anything else were the words "direct disciple of the Venerable."
The entire Snake Race does not, in any strict sense, have a cultivator of the Realm of Void Venerable, yet the Second Young Lady has a chance to receive the legacy of Lotus Sword Venerable, who is considered to be exceptionally talented even among the Human Race. This effectively ans finding a powerful backing of a Venerable for the Snake Race, significantly elevating their standing in the East Japan Continent.
This benefit compared to the trivial compensations received by the Snake Race over the years is truly a treasure that can change the future of the Snake Race. And from the tone of the Lotus Sword Venerable, it is clear she values this youth highly, indicating that this relationship is the key to the Second Young Lady becoming the second direct disciple of Lotus Peak in the Profound Sky Sect.
Suppressing the turbulence in her heart, Ms Liou asked, "Are you serious about this, Lotus Sword Venerable?"
He Shutong did not respond verbally, answering with silence—a Venerable like her had no need to deceive to gain the trust of this old woman.
Her desire to take Ji Lingruo as a disciple was not a sudden impulse, but rather a calculated plan. Ji Lingruo’s talent in Sword Dao was exceptional. The lack of a supportive Demon Pill previously hindered her entry. Observing her now, with a transford aura and Demon Pill energy abundantly present within, she is definitely a sword dao seed and together with You Su as a pair, they can certainly glorify the Yuan Sword.
Since she intends to redy the regrets of the Ice Heart era, nurturing a successor for the Yuan Sword is only fitting. Regardless of how gifted You Su is, he is ultimately a man who cannot grasp the true essence of the Yuan Sword, while she is the only Yuan Sword inheritor in the world.
Knowing she overstepped with her question, Ms Liou slightly bowed, saying:
"I apologize for the earlier offense, and I hope the Venerable forgives . Your intent to break the deadlock between the Human and Demon Races is truly admirable. However, my young lady has already co of age, and returning to the Demon Race for baptism is urgent. I hope the Venerable can patiently wait."
The great change in attitude was remarkable, and He Shutong shook her head secretly. Interests and enmity have always been a complex amalgam, and this is not an area she excels in. Her intent to take Ji Lingruo as a disciple is absolutely not a ans of bartering interests.
"I understand."
"Thank you, Venerable. I will take my young lady and leave now."
He Shutong looked down, her gaze piercing through the thin clouds. In the small residence at the center of her view, the youth, whom she had instructed to rest well, had already found his way to Ji Lingruo’s door. She sighed gently:
"Wait until dawn tomorrow, then take your young lady away."
...
"Junior Sister?"
You Su dared not call out loudly, only lightly knocking on the door. Although Master had warned him not to wander, surely coming to see his Junior Sister can’t count as wandering, right?
Yet he didn’t expect that the first to respond was not his Junior Sister but the Master, who appeared out of thin air.
"She is not here."
You Su froze, feeling guilty for being caught by Master while seeking out Ji Lingruo, and thus changed the topic:
"Master, has sothing happened?"
He Shutong’s tone was mild: "Her people have co to fetch her. Tomorrow at dawn, she will leave."
Hearing these words, You Su’s expression darkened. He knew the ti for parting was inevitable, but he hadn’t expected it to co so swiftly and suddenly.
"If she’s leaving tomorrow at dawn, why can’t I see her now?"
"She went into the city very early. If you want to see her, you can look for her in the city."
As soon as the words fell, You Su had disappeared, leaving the door of the house empty. He Shutong felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
She couldn’t pinpoint where this feeling of loss originated from. Lightly placing her right hand over her towering heart, she felt her spirit terrace continuously collapsing and her heart increasingly lting. She couldn’t help but ask herself:
"Is it worth it?"
She put her hand down, her heart having found the answer.
"Wangshu."
"Master." A young girl wearing a Jade Rabbit Mask appeared from sowhere, giving a bow to He Shutong’s back.
"I have been away from the mountain for eight years, do you feel lonely being by yourself?" He Shutong’s tone was gentle.
"Disciple often feels lonely." Fairy Wangshu’s pure eyes are nearly blue, like the unreachable sky, distant and desolate.
"Do you...know what loneliness is?"
"Disciple knows. When Third Elder was supervising and got drunk, she said she didn’t understand why you left without finding a junior brother, leaving alone on the mountain, how lonely I must be. So I asked her what loneliness was, and she said wanting soone to accompany you is loneliness. Master, is Third Elder right?"
Upon hearing this, He Shutong felt a pang of self-bla and heartache. Wangshu, with her Innate Purity, has a pure heart to perceive all things in the world. She is sensitive to both the malice and kindness of others, yet places imnse trust in her, a person of Ice Heart not adept at mastering.
Fairy Wangshu, though called her disciple, is more like a daughter she raised from a young age. Slowly walking to Fairy Wangshu’s side, she found that the other’s tall figure was already up to her eyebrows. Without hesitation, He Shutong lightly embraced her, the sudden gesture causing Fairy Wangshu’s entire body to stiffen.
"Third Elder wasn’t wrong, so, Wangshu, do you want a junior brother?"
Fairy Wangshu’s blue eyes finally showed a ripple of emotion, like a still lake finally stirred.
"I do."
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