Jiang Qiuning knew better than anyone just how ruthless and powerful Jiang Ze was.
She stood firmly in front of Xu Wanci, wrapped tightly in her resolve. Her fingers twitched slightly, and in the next moment, she clenched a spiritual talisman capable of withstanding a strike from a Tribulation-stage Revered.
At this moment, she didn’t dare glance back at Xu Wanci, afraid that a single lapse would lead to Jiang Ze harming her.
Taking a deep breath, she forced down her worry for Xu Wanci’s injuries and lifted her head to look steadily at Jiang Ze.
“Uncle, why did you hurt her?”
Before he could speak, she bit her lip and pressed on.
“Wanci has been injured many times. The wound from the Xuanming Needle just a few days ago still hasn’t healed. You, as a Great Ascension cultivator, how could you…”
“How could you do this to someone already so badly hurt?”
In Jiang Qiuning’s heart, Xu Wanci was inherently kind. After learning about the Immortal Lord’s affairs, she had been utterly devastated.
It was she, along with Sect Leader Ning and the others, who had used countless spiritual treasures just to barely save her life.
Such a Xu Wanci could never have done anything to provoke Jiang Ze.
So, all of this had to be Jiang Ze’s doing.
Just like the Xuanming Needle incident from the other day.
Thinking this through, Jiang Qiuning clenched her talisman tighter, still shielding Xu Wanci in front of her.
Her voice was respectful but carried a barely perceptible chill.
“Though the Taiqing Sect is the foremost sect in the cultivation world, its disciples are many, and disturbances are inevitable. Perhaps the Jiang Family would be a quieter place.”
“If Uncle truly dislikes the noise and commotion, why not return to the Jiang Family to cultivate? That way, no one would anger you.”
Jiang Ze listened to Jiang Qiuning’s seemingly respectful words, which in truth were a veiled suggestion for him to leave, his voice heavy with an oppressive weight that lingered.
“Oh?”
Jiang Qiuning tensed further, her spirit tightening as an intense pressure bore down on her. Her surrounding spiritual energy began to flow uncontrollably.
At that moment, Xu Wanci, who had just finished recuperating her depleted spiritual energy, reached out and placed a hand gently on Jiang Qiuning’s shoulder. Her voice was soft.
“Young Master Jiang, Young Master Moze and I were merely sparring, nothing more…”
Before she could finish, Jiang Qiuning interrupted her with a flurry of anxious, yet cautious movements.
She carefully cupped Xu Wanci’s left hand and, seeing the bloodstains on it, her voice trembled slightly.
“Your left hand… is it injured again?”
As the heir of the Jiang Family, she understood all too well the consequences of the Xuanming Needle.
If it was seriously wounded again within three days…
Having witnessed Xu Wanci’s life hanging by a thread several times, Jiang Qiuning threw all her usual calm and rationality aside. At this moment, there was only one thought in her mind:
She could not let Xu Wanci come to harm!
Taking a deep breath, she tried to make her voice as steady as possible.
“It’s alright. I’ll go back to the Jiang Family to—”
“My left hand isn’t injured,” Xu Wanci said, looking down to shield all emotion from her eyes, her voice gentle, even soothing.
“Young Master Moze and I were only sparring. The wounds on me are all minor.”
Hearing Xu Wanci’s words, Jiang Qiuning finally steadied her nerves.
Sharp and perceptive, she quickly realized something she had overlooked moments ago.
However, even after learning that Xu Wanci’s injuries were not severe, Jiang Qiuning’s brows remained tightly furrowed.
She silently took out a medicinal pill for external wounds from her storage pouch, dissolved it with the Jade Crystal Water, and carefully sprinkled it over Xu Wanci’s injuries.
Once all the wounds on her body had healed, Jiang Qiuning finally lifted her head and cautiously asked,
“Were you just… practicing swordsmanship?”
She still vividly remembered the moment when Xu Wanci, before her eyes, carved out the Ink Frost Sacred Orchid from her own flesh and blood. In that moment, Jiang Qiuning saw peace, saw release, but most of all, she saw utter deathly silence.
At that time, Xu Wanci was not even remotely concerned with cultivation—her will to live was completely extinguished.
But today, she was actually sparring with her uncle-in-law.
Was it of her own volition, or...?
“Yes,” Xu Wanci replied evenly. “I’ve been studying sword techniques recently.”
For a brief moment, a flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Qiuning’s eyes. She forced a gentle smile, her voice unusually tender:
“Training is certainly good, but your wounds haven’t fully healed yet…”
Her words suddenly faltered.
Though she didn’t know exactly what had happened, now that Xu Wanci no longer carried that aura of deathly silence and utter despair, and finally had something she wanted to do—
Even though…
Looking at the countless scars on Xu Wanci’s body, and the pale color of her face from spiritual exhaustion, Jiang Qiuning pursed her lips slightly.
As long as there was hope, that was enough.
With this thought, her voice softened:
“I just remembered, I have a piece of Shark Silk in my private treasury. It’s perfect for warding off external injuries…”
As she spoke, she stood up. When she turned around, her eyes suddenly met Jiang Ze’s cold, piercing gaze.
Jiang Qiuning clenched her hands tightly and lowered her head, respectfully bowing to him:
“It was my mistake, Uncle. I hope you can forgive me.”
Jiang Ze paid no attention to what Jiang Qiuning said. His gaze remained fixed coldly on Xu Wanci behind her.
His eyes swept over her trembling right hand, weakened from exhaustion, before he turned away with indifference, his voice cold as ice:
“Continue tomorrow.”
Twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the Bamboo Grove.
Ning Menglan sat beside a stone table, holding a cup of spiritual wine, his voice hearty:
“Your wine here is still the best.”
In front of him sat a figure dressed in green robes, his handsome face calm and refined.
His gaze was gentle and warm, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. His entire demeanor was peaceful and approachable, like a spring breeze that made people feel instantly at ease.
Ning Menglan drained his cup with a smile and teased:
“Ting, if you don’t come back soon, I’m going to drain all the spiritual wine in the Bamboo Grove.”
Xie Tingbai chuckled softly as he poured him another cup:
“Looks like my timing to return to the sect is just right.”
“Perfect timing indeed,” Ning Menglan said cheerfully as he raised his cup. “In ten days there’ll be the sect’s grand competition. Let’s see if any disciples catch your eye.”
He wore the knowing expression of an experienced elder as he offered some advice:
“It’s about time you took on a disciple. At least when you wander around, someone can help tidy up Bamboo Peak for you.”
Xie Tingbai’s voice carried a hint of amusement:
“Since the sect leader took on a direct disciple, he seems to be deeply moved,” someone remarked.
“This time I’ve returned to the sect just in time to witness the disciple clinching first place,” another replied with a smile.
With a faint smile playing at his lips, the conversation quickly shifted to Chu Qingchuan.
Ning Menglan laughed heartily, saying, “There are always those better than you, and skies beyond skies. He still has much to learn.”
Just then, a glimmer of light flashed before him, and a bamboo slip fell at his feet.
It contained the names of all the Taiqing Sect disciples participating in the upcoming sect competition.
As a matter of routine, Ning Menglan scanned the bamboo slip with his spiritual awareness. But when his eyes landed on a certain name, his entire body froze in place.
Xu... Xu Wanci?
Impossible.
Xu Wanci was still neglecting her own injuries. How could she possibly have the heart to compete in the sect contest?
He furrowed his brow and scanned her name again, confirming it was indeed her spiritual power signature. Suddenly, a thought struck him, tightening his frown even further:
Could it be that she’s discovered the defensive talismans on her body?
The sect competition forbids disciples from carrying any magical artifacts or talismans. Is she planning to use this opportunity... to seek death once more?!
His grip tightened around the wine cup in his hand.
Xu Wanci’s injuries were barely healed after only a few days. Her sword heart shattered, her century-old cultivation utterly ruined.
For her to enter the sect competition now was no different from walking to her death.
Xie Tingbai noticed the change in Ning Menglan’s expression. His gaze flicked over the bamboo slip in Ning Menglan’s hand, a trace of contemplation flashing in his eyes.
Then, he glanced at the spirit wine in his cup and spoke at just the right moment:
“The Taiqing Sect has many affairs to attend to. If the sect leader has urgent matters, it’s best to go handle them first.”
“Tomorrow, I will have the Luo Zhu wine delivered to the Wugou Peak.”
Ning Menglan looked up, thoughtfully meeting Xie Tingbai’s gaze.
Although the matter concerning Xu Wanci and the Immortal Lord was top secret, Xie Tingbai, as the Seventh Elder of the Taiqing Sect, was not among those sworn to secrecy.
Besides, among all the elders, only he could persuade Xu Wanci.
With this in mind, Ning Menglan let out a sigh.
“Seventh Elder, come with me to Wanjian Peak.”
Seeing the puzzled look on Xie Tingbai’s face, Ning Menglan explained everything that had happened recently.
In the end, he sighed, “Cultivators are cold and indifferent by nature. When have they ever been so devoted and passionate?”
After hearing Ning Menglan’s words, Xie Tingbai gave a perfectly timed sigh, though his heart remained untouched.
Everyone knew the Seventh Elder of the Taiqing Sect as gentle, kind, and amiable—a mentor trusted by all disciples and a close friend to many cultivators.
No one knew it was just a mask. Beneath that gentleness lay a ruthless selfishness and coldness.
In Ning Menglan’s words, he sensed a familiar kindred spirit.
He lifted a gentle, sympathetic smile. “Then I will accompany the sect leader to see for myself.”
He wanted to know whether Xu Wanci was truly unwavering in her love, or simply a master of disguise, seeking to survive through death.
