18

CHAPTER 68
The Attitude of the Holy Mountain Elders
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"How about it? Feeling much better?"

Su Muchan blinked her beautiful eyes. She did feel better. While quietly regulating her breath, she also pondered why Ye Qinghan had suddenly spared her.

"What do you want me to do?" Su Muchan suspected Ye Qinghan must need her help with something, which was why he'd spared her life.

"With your half-baked skills, you can barely climb onto a bed. All I need is for you to stay far away from me—and far away from my master!"

Su Muchan began to grasp the situation. Ye Qinghan had discovered her ability to hear Su Cheng's thoughts. Could it be…?

"Miss Qinghan, you can hear it too?"

"Shut your mouth and get out of here. Don't make me regret sparing your life!"

Ye Qinghan's eyes widened, her expression shifting instantly—gone was the earlier calm composure!

So it was true! Ye Qinghan could hear Su Cheng's thoughts too!

That was precisely why Ye Qinghan wanted to kill her!

So that's it! Su Muchan suddenly understood! If that was the case, everything made sense!

If she were in Ye Qinghan's position, she'd likely make the same decision!

But she truly hadn't expected Ye Qinghan to be this terrifying!

And there was another mystery: who had saved her? Who was the mysterious figure Ye Qinghan had mentioned?

Meanwhile, before Su Cheng could turn back to look, Ye Qinghan had already quickened her pace to catch up with her master.

As if he'd never left, Su Cheng glanced at Ye Qinghan in confusion…

[Was it an illusion? It felt like something major had just happened…]

When Su Cheng and Ye Qinghan arrived at Ling Mountain, Li Shiyu and Shi Mingyi were already there, just in time to see Dongfang Jue take the stage.

"Senior Sister! Senior Sister! Over here! Shiyu is here!" Li Shiyu bounced and waved from afar, always radiating joy as if nothing could dampen her spirits.

"Coming, coming! Shut up, Shiyu! Don't yell so loud!"

Watching the two interact like sisters, laughing and chatting, Su Cheng found himself warming to Li Shiyao a little more.

"Master Su?" Shi Mingyi wasn't one to keep things bottled up. Hearing Shiyu's words, he went straight to find Su Cheng.

"Elder Shi, what brings you here?"

Shi Mingyi’s visit to Su Cheng revolved around two matters: one was sleep… the other was seeking apprenticeship.

If possible, Su Cheng would much rather discuss the latter with Elder Shi than the sleeping arrangements.

"Last night, Shiyuo trespassed into your bedroom. I'd like to ask you…"

Su Cheng froze. Wait, what? This wasn't about reprimanding her?

Quite the opposite—Shi Mingyi adopted an extremely humble posture, as if begging Su Cheng for a favor.

"Though Shiyu is somewhat playful, she remains the Sacred Maiden of Holy Mountain. This concerns the mountain's reputation. I implore you, Master Su…"

"Elder Shi, there's no need to worry. Shi Yao isn't a bad child—I actually quite like her. How could I do anything to tarnish her reputation? Not a fourth person will ever know about this." Su Cheng patted his chest, his expression solemn and earnest.

Elder Shi understood his meaning, but her attention now focused on the crucial implication within his words…

"Master Su, are you saying you're quite fond of Shiyu?"

Su Cheng froze. Huh? Was there a problem with that? Wasn't that just a polite remark? Couldn't she tell?

"Er…"

"Shi Yao mentioned you accepted her request to become your disciple. Is that true?"

Su Cheng was now a bit bewildered too. What the hell was that look of delight on Shi Mingyi's face?

【I have no cultivation! I had no choice!】

【With the fire already at my eyebrows, how could I refuse her?】

【As long as she could get dressed and get out of bed, I'd have taken her as my master!】

【Elder Shi, can't you even see that? Can't you tell I was forced into it?】

Shi Mingyi had no idea what was going through Su Cheng's mind, but it didn't matter!

Who cares who you take as master? What's this nonsense about "renowned orthodox sects"? True orthodoxy lies in raw power!

Last time Shiyao returned, she thoroughly educated the elders about Lingxian Hall! Especially about bathing in spirit essence!

If anyone else had mentioned such things, they wouldn't have believed it! But these words came from Li Shiyu's mouth!

They had no choice but to believe!

But when Li Shiyu mentioned she'd nearly cut Su Cheng down, the elders were all stunned! They were just relieved she'd returned alive…

That sword strike Su Cheng unleashed at the secret realm's entrance—it looked like the work of someone unmatched below the Immortal realm. The elders speculated he must be at least in the Great Perfection stage!

Judging by his effortless demeanor, he might even be half a step away from the Immortal Realm!

If that was the case, cultivating a relationship with Su Cheng was essential!

Elder Shi's visit this time was also intended to leverage Li Shiyao and Ye Qinghan's relationship to try and strengthen ties between Holy Mountain and Lingxian Hall.

But unexpectedly, Li Shiyao, relying solely on her own strength, was actually about to become Lingxian Hall's second disciple!

She even declared that regardless of the elders' approval, she would stay with Sister Qinghan!

How could anyone possibly object to that?

If Su City truly accepted Li Shiyao and could train the Holy Maiden to match Ye Qinghan's strength, even selling the Holy Mountain wouldn't draw a single objection from the elders!

"Yes, but I understand that Shiyu is the Holy Mountain's Holy Maiden. I might as well tell him that this concerns the Holy Mountain and requires the approval of several elders before she can be accepted."

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Su Cheng hastily clarified, "This isn't about disrespecting the Holy Mountain! I'm giving you elders the proper respect!"

"We old men are practically six feet under. We've long since lost the power to decide for this little darling!"

Shi Mingyi was quick to react. Think you can back out? Think again!

Granted, Lingxian Hall was a bit austere, but Ye Qinghan could endure that. How was our Holy Mountain's Holy Maiden any less than Ye Qinghan?

"What does Elder Shi mean?"

Su Cheng was dumbfounded. This felt like they were trying to force her onto him! Wasn't Li Shiyu your Holy Maiden?

"Shiyao is no longer young. Since she's decided to seek a master, we elders naturally can't stand in her way. You know, the Holy Maiden has her own right to choose."

Su Cheng nodded. Shi Mingyi hadn't deceived her on this point. Though the Holy Maiden seemed like a sore thumb on the Sacred Mountain, her major decisions were beyond question.

The Holy Maiden had the right to choose her own path, but she couldn't choose what to eat for lunch!

"You're quite right…"

How clever was Shi Mingyi? He wouldn't let Su Cheng finish speaking. Impossible!

"Then Shiyu is in your care, Master Su. I'll return now to prepare my initiation gifts…"

"Wait…" Su Cheng reached out to stop Shi Mingyi, but the man bolted faster than a rabbit, taking off the moment he spoke!

Su Cheng froze in place…

【Handing Li Shiyu over to me like that? How much does Holy Mountain despise her? Damn it!】

Ye Qinghan overheard Su Cheng's rant and turned to look at his master standing at the staircase corner.

Just as Ye Qinghan had anticipated, the future had already been altered. The so-called heavenly mandate was no longer accurate.

Glancing at his junior sister beside him, Li Shiyu shook her little head, her face beaming with excitement as she cheered for Dongfang Jue on the field!

Perhaps having a junior sister like this wasn't so bad after all?

Ye Qinghan smiled and patted Shiyu's head affectionately.

"Shiyu, Elder Shi has given you to your master."

"I know. Shiyu told Second Elder to prepare her dowry. Shiyu is going to marry into Lingxian Hall."

"Do you even know what becoming a disciple means?" Ye Qinghan's face darkened. Sometimes she truly believed this girl was feigning ignorance!

"Of course! From now on, Shiyu belongs to Sister!"

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