The azure sky stretched endlessly above as a cold wind howled.
Against the afterglow of the setting sun, a slender figure receded into the distance.
The scene was breathtaking, like a corner of a magnificent, picturesque landscape.
On the field, the crowd exchanged puzzled glances.
What was going on? She started a fight without warning, and when it was over, she left just as abruptly, turning around with a flourish. That woman was truly strange.
Chen Yang watched until Gu Zhiqing disappeared from sight, then withdrew his gaze with a private sigh.
If they had fought for real, without using his Ancestral Power, he likely wouldn't be a match for her. Gu Zhiqing must have realized that from their brief clash, too. But still... she just turned and walked away.
Chen Yang was almost certain she wasn't afraid of his Ancestral Power. With her personality, she wouldn't shy away from a battle even if she knew she would lose. The only explanation was that she knew her cousin, Gu Tianxing, had been in the wrong. So, even though she felt resentful, she had no intention of pressing the issue. That last sword strike was just a way to vent her anger. Like she said, Gu Tianxing was her cousin. When your cousin gets his head cut off, who could just ignore it and do nothing? The real reason Chen Yang sighed was that this woman was too upright. In this day and age, people like that are easily taken advantage of. Maybe that's why her relationship with the Biluo Sword Valley is so poor.
What Chen Yang didn't know was that not long from now, Gu Zhiqing would be ambushed and besieged by the Biluo Sword Valley.
That battle would be tragic.
It would also be the battle where the world witnessed firsthand just how formidable the combat strength of Yuning Mountain's renowned icy beauty truly was.
"See? I told you two admire each other, didn't I?"
Just as Chen Yang was lost in thought, Shen Shaotian leaned in close, whispering mysteriously. He then shook his head with an air of profound wisdom. "Just you watch. My gut tells you two are going to stir up so kind of scandal sooner or later. You've caught each other's eye, haven't you?" He finished with a final jab, "Utterly shaless!"
Chen Yang: "..."
Chen Yang's face instantly darkened. He retorted, "I heard that people from your Southern Dipper Academy are on their way here?"
"Allow to ask you, Young Master of the Southern Dipper Academy, where are your people at this mont?"
At his words, Liu Changzheng, Liu Qingi, and everyone else from Red Lotus Valley fixed their eyes on him, their hostile auras flaring.
Shen Shaotian: "..."
Why do I feel like I'm in a den of wolves?
A piercing chill shot from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, making the Southern Dipper Academy's Young Master shiver involuntarily.
"Um, they went to Shisu Town. They won't be coming to Red Lotus Valley," Shen Shaotian said, rubbing his nose awkwardly. He then patted his chest. "They're them, and I'm ! How could I, Shen Shaotian, associate with that bunch? In fact, I'm ashad to be associated with them!"
"No matter what happens in the future, I, Shen Shaotian, vow to stand with Red Lotus Valley until death!"
His words were firm and resonant as he stood tall with his chest puffed out, the very picture of righteousness.
After speaking, he didn't forget to glance toward Liu Qingi.
However, what t his gaze was an expressionless face.
Perhaps out of politeness, Liu Qingi eventually managed a slight smile and a nod in response to Shen Shaotian's gaze.
Instantly, Shen Shaotian looked utterly intoxicated. He grabbed Chen Yang, beside himself with excitent. "Did you see that? Your cousin smiled at ! Hehe, her smile... it's so beautiful!"
Chen Yang rolled his eyes, speechless. And this is the Young Master of the Southern Dipper Academy? Is this all it takes to impress him?
Afterward, the remaining mbers of the Biluo Sword Valley were dealt with. As the disciples cleaned up the scene, Liu Changzheng led Chen Yang into the Red Lotus Valley.
Shen Shaotian, feeling not at all like an outsider, eagerly trotted along behind them.
After much hesitation, he finally mustered the courage to approach Liu Qingi and cautiously strike up a conversation.
「Red Lotus Valley.」
It was situated on a mountain peak. Chen Yang had found this puzzling from the beginning, but his confusion cleared up only after he stepped through the main gate.
From the outside, it looked like the summit, but upon entering, the terrain gradually sloped downward.
Rows of simple, quaint courtyards were scattered in a picturesque arrangent within the hollow between this peak and another one opposite it. The sheer size of the area was astonishing.
There were pavilions, small bridges, and flowing streams—it had everything.
Most striking were the various flowers planted everywhere, all blooming in a vibrant competition of beauty.
「Night shrouded the earth.」
A lively family banquet began.
Chen Yang was undoubtedly the absolute protagonist of the day, the center of everyone's attention.
The opinions of the Red Lotus Valley disciples about him were sharply divided.
So said that Chen Yang's arrival brought hope. With his talent, given ti, he might lead the entire Red Lotus Valley to soar to new heights.
Others claid he was an unmitigated disaster. While his decisive annihilation of the Biluo Sword Valley mbers was gratifying, it had also planted the seeds of a major calamity.
Once the Biluo Sword Valley had a chance to recover, they would surely invade with their full strength. When that ti ca, would the Red Lotus Valley have any chance of survival?
If Chen Yang hadn't intervened, Liu Qingi would have already gone to the Biluo Sword Valley, and the storm that had been brewing for nearly a month would have naturally subsided.
The person leading this faction was Liu Xuejun, who had previously tried to persuade Liu Qingi to sacrifice herself for the valley.
Father has really grown senile. He can't even tell right from wrong anymore.
Surrounded by a crowd, Liu Xuejun shot a glance at Chen Yang. He was being led around by Liu Changzheng, mingling among the core mbers. Liu Xuejun's expression was sullen, her gaze ice-cold.
When Liu Changzheng announced that the map fragnt obtained by Red Lotus Valley would be given to Chen Yang, the atmosphere across the large banquet froze.
Everyone stared blankly at Liu Changzheng.
This didn't surprise Liu Changzheng. He swept his gaze over the crowd and said with a smile, "If you have a better candidate, feel free to nominate them."
No one spoke up.
But to just hand over the map fragnt they had worked so hard to obtain to an outsider... Many of them felt unwilling. On what grounds?
"I disagree! And Father, isn't this decision of yours far too hasty?" Liu Xuejun could no longer sit still. She stood up and said bluntly, "Let's not even discuss whether an outsider like him is qualified! The most critical point is that he's a disaster who has put our Red Lotus Valley in a deadly situation with no way out."
"We haven't even settled our score with him, so how can we give him the map fragnt?"
As she said this, many people subconsciously nodded in agreent.
Most, however, remained silent, watching to see how the situation would develop.
"A disaster?" Liu Changzheng laughed, his deep eyes narrowing to slits. "So, you're saying we should have just stood by and let them slaughter us? That we should have handed Qingi over?"
"Qingi agreed to it herself!"
Seizing on this point gave Liu Xuejun the courage to continue. "This crisis would have been resolved peacefully! But he had to show up and kill so many people, thoroughly antagonizing the Biluo Sword Valley. Now, there's probably no room left for negotiation at all."
"If he's not a disaster, what is he?"
Her words were forceful and emphatic, as if she were the very embodint of justice.
"You..."
Liu Changzheng was furious, but Chen Yang stopped him. "I won't take the map fragnt," he said calmly. "But I will announce to the outside world that Red Lotus Valley's fragnt is with . Moreover, I will be leaving Red Lotus Valley tomorrow."
Liu Xuejun: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Did this guy really know what he was saying?
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