Chapter 23: They Come Calling
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Dongfang Jue now wore a crimson brocade robe, a soft protective breastplate across her chest, and beneath her slender waist lay a skirt of black iron armor.
Her hair was bound with a crimson ribbon, her vermilion lips curved in a smile, and her eyes and brows radiated a heroic spirit.
Gripping a long spear, she radiated a bold, unrestrained aura, like a military heroine.
With such captivating beauty, countless young nobles within and beyond the palace walls lusted after her.
With her peerless talent, she was coveted by countless prestigious clans and great sects across the land.
Ye Qinghan wasn't seeing her for the first time. Their last encounter had been on the martial arts arena of Ling Mountain, where that fellow had been her opponent.
But Ye Qinghan was also a prodigy. Ever since their last draw, Dongfang Jue seemed to harbor deep resentment toward him.
Call it mutual admiration among heroes, or call it jealousy—whatever the reason, whenever he saw Ye Qinghan, he couldn't resist hurling a few taunts her way.
Now she learned Ye Qinghan had actually joined that worthless sect, Lingxian Hall, all for a broken sword!
Dongfang Jue found it both laughable and frustrating. Among her peers, Ye Qinghan was the only one who could fight her to a draw.
Possessing such innate talent, yet sacrificing his promising future by joining Lingxian Hall for a mere sword.
Gazing at the Treasure Hall's gates, sealed shut the instant she entered, Dongfang Jue wore a victor's smile.
But when she turned around, even the exceptionally gifted Dongfang Jue couldn't muster a smile.
Those two little dogs from earlier had now swollen to several times their original size, transforming into the ferocious beasts Xu Zhanfeng had spoken of.
Both had replicated Dongfang Jue's cultivation level, each reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage!
"Damn, that's pretty intimidating!"
Dongfang Jue spat, swinging his spear. "Hmph, I'll see what you've got!"
Ye Qinghan, however, showed no urgency. She casually pulled a chair from her jade pendant and sat outside the door to watch.
"Miss Dongfang, what skill!"
Shi Yao didn't bother with formalities, plopping right onto Ye Qinghan's lap.
Ye Qinghan froze. Huh? This brain-dead saintess sure doesn't hold back!
"Indeed, indeed! Shiyu has long heard of it—that Sister Dongfang wields her spear with divine skill. Seeing it today, her reputation is truly well-deserved!"
Dongfang Jue was so furious she could curse her mother right now!
So while she was here fighting the beasts, those two were just watching from the sidelines!
Fine, let them watch! But why couldn't they keep their mouths shut?
"Shut your mouths! Watch this girl…"
One moment of distraction, and Dongfang Jue was slammed into the wall by the beast's claw!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha, oh dear~ How clumsy of you, Miss Dongfang~
Ye Qinghan couldn't stop laughing—she was genuinely delighted!
You're the one who never stops talking, aren't you?
Aren't you the one who loves to yell?
Why aren't you yelling now?
"Huh? Why isn't Miss Dongfang speaking? Is she naturally quiet?"
You love to show off! You love to snatch other people's treasures!
Go ahead and take them!
"Ye Qinghan, just you wait! I'll deal with these two beasts first, then come out and deal with you!"
Ye Qinghan watched the spectacle with relish. If not for the door blocking her, she'd have joined in to beat Dongfang Jue!
Ye Qinghan remained silent, but Li Shiyao, sitting on her lap, looked worried. Seeing the ferocious beasts approaching, she hurriedly spoke up.
"Hey~ Miss Dongfang, watch your back! Don't let those two little dogs kill you!"
While Ye Qinghan bantered with Shiyu earlier, watching Dongfang Jue struggle and take a beating now, she didn't find Shiyu's chatter bothersome at all!
Of course, a dull, monotonous life was something Ye Qinghan dared not imagine. The one she had been waiting for had finally arrived.
"You little bitch, I've got you now!"
Xu Zhanfeng spun around violently, his words dripping with intent to take the intruder's life—all to curry favor with his mistress!
Ye Qinghan turned, raised her hand to block Xu Zhanfeng, and spoke with a playful smile.
"I thought you'd either run away or died. Who knew you'd dare come looking for me?"
Ye Qinghan was genuinely surprised. Shangguan Rou's tone suggested she'd likely made a Breakthrough again, convinced she was now invincible!
"Hmph, you little bitch, you talk a big game. I wonder how much real power you have!"
As she spoke, Shangguan Rou channeled her true qi, her long sword poised at her side. She displayed strength rivaling Li Shiyao's, seemingly intent on letting Ye Qinghan witness her current power!
Ye Qinghan froze. She could tell this woman had already reached the Golden Core cultivation level. In terms of cultivation, excluding Xu Zhanfeng, she was undoubtedly the strongest in this secret realm!
But this true qi…
Was Shangguan Rou's Golden Core cultivation diluted? Could this even be called true qi? It was weaker than her own everyday protective aura…
"Sister Qinghan, be careful! She's incredibly powerful! Shiyu observed her—she likely made a Breakthrough within this secret realm! She's at the Golden Core stage now!"
"You don't need to narrate for her. I can tell."
Ye Qinghan rolled her eyes. She was such a little fool—just stick to your role!
By acknowledging her, you're just letting her pull off her act.
"Miss Shangguan, what could possibly be the reason for your intense hatred toward me?"
Ye Qinghan smiled, not rushing to expose him just yet. She merely hoped to avoid future complications.
Hearing this, Shangguan Rou's fury boiled over. Now that she possessed Golden Core cultivation, killing that bitch could wait!
"You have the nerve to ask?"
"Oh? What do you mean by that?"
"You feigned discipleship and used despicable means to swindle a magical artifact. Do you admit it?"
"Using seductive wiles to lure the leader of another sect—is that true?"
"Appearing virtuous while harboring a heart of steel—slaughtering the entire Pingyun Sect, desecrating ancestral graves to plunder treasures. Which of these deeds wasn't your doing?"
Ye Qinghan chuckled. Heh heh!
Indeed, I did all those things! You're absolutely right!
But Ye Qinghan needed to set one thing straight: she had never seduced any sect leader!
She couldn't let him spread such lies. What if her master found out and stopped liking her?
That would be a colossal injustice!
"Ever since becoming your disciple, Qinghan has devoted herself to cultivation. She's never harbored any disloyal thoughts—so where's the pretense?"
"Hmph. As for seducing other sect leaders? I'd rather your so-called Cheng Liang stay far away from me!"
"Sometimes I think you're downright stupid, really! Falling for a man like Cheng Liang! What on earth did you see in him?"
"Besides, if I truly wanted to seduce him, do you think you could keep him? Don't you dare look at yourself in the mirror—what are you? What is your Cheng Liang?"
"Don't you ever stop to think—has Qinghan ever given you or your master a second glance?"
"As for the rest, you're quite right. But don't you realize that even the Pingyun Sect couldn't stand up to me? What makes you think you could?"
Shangguan Rou sneered coldly, utterly oblivious to the danger approaching.
"Hmph, sophistry won't save you. Take this!"
Ye Qinghan couldn't care less. Those who refuse kindness deserve no mercy.
Ye Qinghan didn't care whether she'd lost her mind or was genuinely foolish. Nor did it matter if she was at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage—to Ye Qinghan, there was no difference.
Though he found her genuinely foolish, Ye Qinghan understood. Had he not overheard his master's little secret, he wouldn't have believed such a thing either.
Ye Qinghan harbored no doubt: his master hadn't taken her in for her innate talent, nor coveted her beauty. It was simply because she'd knelt obediently for an entire day, demonstrating sufficient sincerity.
Had anyone else knelt for a day, the master would likely have offered the Frostsword as a test.
Yet in Ye Qinghan's eyes, this was precisely what they called divine destiny.
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