Ran Yunting gave a slight nod, her cold gaze sweeping across Qing Ya's face.
Perhaps because of Yang Kai, Ran Yunting suddenly found this outer-isle disciple, who also hailed from the Profound Mystic Continent, rather irksome. The image of Yang Kai's tactless face flashed through her mind, putting her in an even fouler mood.
"What are you all arguing about here? Don't you know Su Yan is in seclusion?" Ran Yunting barked sharply.
The two female disciples guarding Su Yan's quarters exchanged a panicked glance. Sensing that the Grand Elder was in no mood to be trifled with, they immediately shrank back, stammering.
The woman surnamed Zhou shot a glance at Qing Ya and complained, "Reporting to the Grand Elder — this junior sister insisted on going in to see Su Yan. We've already tried to stop her, but she keeps standing here nagging and refuses to leave!"
"Grand Elder, please understand — we didn't mean to disturb Su Yan! There really was a reason!" the other woman cried out as well.
Ran Yunting's piercing gaze landed on Qing Ya. "She won't leave, and you don't know how to beat her back? What have you been cultivating for all these years — nothing?"
At those words, Qing Ya and the other two women froze.
None of them had expected the Grand Elder to say something like that.
Within Ice Heart Valley, while rivalries and friction between senior and junior sisters were common, no one had ever resorted to physical violence.
Yet here was the Grand Elder, ordering them to beat Qing Ya? The woman surnamed Zhou's mind went blank for a moment, and she stood rooted to the spot.
"What are you standing there for? Are your ears deaf?" Ran Yunting snapped again.
The woman surnamed Zhou jolted back to her senses, realizing the Grand Elder wasn't joking. The anger from being scolded had nowhere to go, and upon hearing this, she shouted, "Yes! This disciple respectfully obeys the Grand Elder's command!"
As she spoke, her Saint Source circulated, and she thrust a palm toward Qing Ya.
"Grand Elder—" Qing Ya opened her mouth to plead, but before she could finish, a violent surge of energy struck her chest. Her delicate body was sent hurtling backward almost beyond her control. While still airborne, she coughed up a mouthful of blood that stained her pristine white robes red.
Booom…
Qing Ya flew over a dozen zhang before crashing into an ice wall. Only then did she tumble to the ground in a wretched heap.
Her face was deathly pale, drained of all color. She forced herself to climb to her feet but couldn't catch her breath for a long while.
Her current cultivation was at the Saint King Stage, Second Layer. But the woman surnamed Zhou who struck her was at the Return to Void Stage, First Layer — the enormous gap in their levels of cultivation meant she had no way to withstand the blow at all.
A single palm strike, and Qing Ya was already injured.
Her beautiful eyes trembled violently as she stared at Ran Yunting in disbelief, still unable to comprehend why the Grand Elder would suddenly issue such a heartless order!
"Get lost! If you dare set foot on the inner isle again, this Elder will personally expel you from Ice Heart Valley!" Ran Yunting showed no mercy, her voice cutting like a blade.
"Qing Ya!" Su Yan's door suddenly burst open, her face etched with alarm. Her slender body swayed as she moved to rush toward Qing Ya.
Moments ago, she had heard the argument between Qing Ya and the woman surnamed Zhou, but under Ran Yunting's orders, she hadn't dared show her face and could only remain behind closed doors.
But now, with Qing Ya injured, she could hold back no longer.
The two of them had both come from the Profound Mystic Continent, both taken into Ice Heart Valley to cultivate — they were closer than sisters. How could she just stand by and watch Qing Ya be beaten?
Yet the moment she stepped out, Ran Yunting flicked her hand casually, and a fierce gust of wind surged forward, slamming Su Yan back inside.
"If you take one more step, I'll kill her right now!" Ran Yunting stood outside the ice chamber, looking at Su Yan's grief-stricken face with an expression as cold and severe as steel.
A flash of fear crossed Su Yan's features. She gazed at Ran Yunting with a look so unfamiliar it was almost alien, opened her mouth, and ultimately didn't dare act rashly. After a long moment, she took a deep breath and said through clenched teeth, "I beg Master to consider that this was Qing Ya's first offense, and to spare her further punishment!"
Ran Yunting nodded. "Be obedient, and I won't make things difficult for her."
Su Yan bit her lip, her pink fists clenched tight, and whispered, "This disciple will obey Master."
Only then did a hint of satisfaction appear on Ran Yunting's face. "Good. The reason I've come is to inform you — that man has already arrived on the Ice Extermination Isle. You can either sever your own emotions and desires to mend the flaw in your state of mind, or you can have me do it for you."
Su Yan's body trembled. She stared at Ran Yunting with utter terror, her beautiful eyes brimming with pleading. "Master…"
To sever her own emotions and desires would be equivalent to cutting every tie between herself and Yang Kai — from that point on, they would be nothing to each other.
To let her Master handle it had only one outcome: Yang Kai would be killed.
Neither was something Su Yan could accept. Either would be worse than death itself.
"Besides these two, there is no third option! I'll give you a few days to think it over. Give me your answer when you've decided!"
The light in Su Yan's beautiful eyes faded instantly, as though obscured by storm clouds that blotted out the road ahead. She stood there, dazed and motionless.
By the time she came back to herself, Ran Yunting was already gone, and so was Qing Ya. Only the two fellow disciples remained at the doorway, regarding her with smiles that practically dripped with schadenfreude.
Those smiles felt so blindingly painful.
For the first time in over thirty years, the thought of shattering the chains binding her and fleeing this place crossed her mind.
It had to be admitted that Ran Yunting had been exceedingly good to Su Yan. From the moment she brought her to Ice Heart Valley, she had devoted herself to the girl's instruction, providing the valley's resources as abundantly as possible and cultivating an extraordinarily favorable environment for her progress.
But while teaching Su Yan with such wholehearted dedication and holding nothing back, Ran Yunting had also locked her in chains.