Su Yingxue and
Before long, they arrived before a standalone pavilion. A female disciple with a refined, serene appearance emerged from inside — her cultivation appeared to be merely at the Emperor realm, likely a reception attendant of Yin-Yang Heaven.
The attendant curtsied gracefully to Su Yingxue and Qing Kui, then said softly, "Greetings, Elders."
Su Yingxue gave a slight nod, then turned to Yang Kai. "There are still half a month before the Dao Discussion Conference officially begins. Rest well here and conserve your energy. When the time comes, someone will come to notify you to participate."
Qing Kui slapped Yang Kai firmly on the shoulder. "Junior Brother Yang, it's all on you!" He looked every bit like a man placing great hopes on someone.
Yang Kai flushed with embarrassment and hurriedly said, "Senior Sister Su, Senior Brother Qing, I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding. I didn't come here to participate in the Dao Discussion Conference."
Both Su Yingxue and Qing Kui froze.
"What do you mean? If you're not joining the Dao Discussion Conference, why did you come all this way?" Su Yingxue frowned.
Yang Kai sighed. "This matter does have something to do with me. Since I found out, I naturally had to come and see for myself. Where is Senior Sister Qu now? Could I possibly see her?"
Su Yingxue stared at him, a flash of anger crossing her face. Qing Kui quickly cut in, "Junior Sister Qu isn't in a position to receive visitors at the moment. Junior Brother Yang, why don't you settle in first, and we can discuss what comes next later?"
He shot the attendant a meaningful glance.
The attendant gestured with her hand. "This way, please, sir!"
"We still have matters to attend to, so we'll be on our way. I'll come see you again later." Qing Kui patted Yang Kai on the shoulder, then channeled his power to envelop Su Yingxue as the two of them soared into the sky and vanished.
The words Yang Kai had on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down. He watched their receding silhouettes and had no choice but to follow the attendant into the pavilion to rest.
"He came all this way and then says he's not here for the Dao Discussion Conference!" Su Yingxue fumed. "If he doesn't participate, that's exactly what those families want! In the end, Junior Sister Qu will be forced to marry some Fifth-Order — and it might even be some doddering old man!"
Qing Kui chuckled. "You said it yourself — he came all this way. Whether he participates or not, is that really up to him anymore?"
Su Yingxue turned her head sharply. "What are you planning?"
Qing Kui put on an innocent expression. "Nothing at all. Come on, come on — we need to report this to Master first. Master's probably been climbing the walls these past few days."
As they spoke, the two of them streaked toward a spirit peak.
Moments later, they descended at a palace atop the peak and strode straight inside.
Before they even entered, they heard someone bellowing in rage: "Absolute scoundrels! Utterly shameless! What kind of dog-fart nonsense is this — those families dare pull this kind of stunt? They're treating my Yin-Yang Heaven like we're nothing! I'll go out right now and hack them all to pieces!" This was followed by the sound of things being smashed to bits.
Su Yingxue and Qing Kui exchanged a glance and couldn't help but shrink their necks. They waited until the noise inside subsided somewhat before steeling themselves and walking in.
The great hall was a complete mess. Numerous servants were scurrying about cleaning up, their faces pale with fright.
In the center of the hall stood a fierce-looking man with a golden crown atop his head and a python-embroidered robe draped over his frame, his hands clasped behind his back. A powerful Seventh-Order Open Heaven aura radiated from him without the slightest restraint, pressing down on the servants until they trembled from head to toe.
This man was none other than Yin-Yang Heaven's Inner Elder, Xu Linggong — and also the master of Qu Huashang, Su Yingxue, and Qing Kui.
Qu Huashang came mincing forward, both hands holding aloft a gold-backed broadsword even taller than herself. She presented it before the man and held it high, chirping brightly, "Master, here's the blade!"
"What for?" Xu Linggong turned his head to look.
Qu Huashang blinked her large eyes innocently. "Didn't Master say you were going to go out and hack them all to pieces? Then go right ahead! Your disciple will be right behind you cheering you on!"
"You think I wouldn't dare?" Xu Linggong's face hardened. He reached up, seized the broadsword, flipped back the hem of his robe, and strode powerfully toward the exit. "I'm going right now, and nobody had better try to stop me!"
Qing Kui and Su Yingxue's faces both turned grim. They exchanged another glance, then stepped forward from either side and each grabbed one of Xu Linggong's arms.
"Master, please calm down! Let's discuss this properly."
"Master, don't be impulsive. If you go out there and start hacking, it might feel satisfying, but it won't actually solve anything. Why invite trouble on yourself?"
The two of them took turns pleading.
Xu Linggong seemed to only now notice their return, and let out an "Oh." "So it's little Su and little Qing, back at last?"
Su Yingxue seized the opportunity to wrench the gold-backed broadsword from her master's grip. She tossed it casually to Qu Huashang and then shot her a sharp glare, which prompted Qu Huashu to stick out her tongue.
"Master, please sit down and have some tea to cool off!" Qing Kui guided Xu Linggong over to a chair, then hurriedly fetched a cup of tea from nearby.