How could he possibly still have feelings for Song Wanníng?
His heart belonged to Chuxue, and Chuxue alone.
But then why... why did it feel so bitter, watching Song Wanníng act so calm and indifferent?
Gu Qingyuan frowned and silently clenched his fists.
"Are you two done?"
Song Wanníng finally cut in, visibly fed up as she rolled her eyes.
"Anyone passing by would think you're trying to duel with words instead of swords."
If they were going to fight, then fight. What was the point of all this nonsense?
Lu Xingyao: "…"
He had just been scolded. Felt oddly wronged.
Gu Qingyuan: "…"
Junior Sister Song still cared about him after all.
He shot a smug glance at Lu Xingyao.
Lu Xingyao's expression darkened.
"Fine. Then let's duel right now. I'd like to see whether Gu Daoyou's skills are as sharp as his tongue."
He turned toward the dueling platform.
Gu Qingyuan snorted coldly.
He wasn't an idiot.
"I'm still recovering. I'm in no condition to fight yet. Give me a few days. When I'm ready, I'll make sure you see my full strength."
He exuded confidence, just as he always had.
Song Wanníng curled her lips faintly.
Gu Qingyuan had been throwing himself into training his disciple these past years, taking hit after hit for her. His cultivation had fallen behind. Did he really think he was still the same as before?
She was more than ready to sit back and enjoy the show.
Hmm... she should prepare some good snacks.
Eventually, Lu Xingyao left and headed for Yingke Peak.
As a man, it would reflect poorly on Song Wanníng's reputation if he stayed overnight on her peak.
Once the two men were gone, the air instantly felt lighter.
Song Wanníng calmly retracted her gaze, more convinced than ever—men were just trouble.
"Li Ruo, we've got a good show coming up. Let's cook up something nice these next few days."
"Got it!" Li Ruo nodded like a pecking chick, eyes shining.
She couldn't wait to watch Gu Qingyuan get beaten up. He totally deserved it for treating her Master so badly.
When she grew up, she was going to smack him around too!
—
Lu Xingyao's temporary stay in Wentian Sect quickly stirred up the disciples.
"Myriad Sword Sect is getting out of hand. Marching in like this, they're stomping on our pride!"
"Exactly. I saw this coming during the last Heaven's Chosen Tournament. They were already full of themselves back then."
"Ugh, don't remind me of that tournament. Ye Chuxue and Bai Yang both turned out to be disappointments."
"Do you think Elder Gu can win this time? If he loses again, it'll be a disaster…"
"Hard to say. Lu Xingyao's a famous sword cultivator. Even in Myriad Sword Sect, he walks like he owns the place."
"Sigh. If only Elder Song were the one stepping up. She's way stronger than Elder Gu."
The disciples were growing more doubtful of Gu Qingyuan's strength. After Song Wanníng had taken him down with ease last time, his image had taken a serious hit.
But the disciples weren't the only ones worried. The Sect Master himself was so stressed he had lost his appetite and couldn't sleep.
He stewed in frustration, finally sending a message to the Myriad Sword Sect Master, demanding an explanation. How could they sabotage the relationship between the two sects after years of mutual respect?
After all, they'd gotten along fairly well in the past. Now Myriad Sword Sect was turning its back without a word?
What the Sect Master didn't know was that, at that exact moment, the Myriad Sword Sect Master was also staring at the message, completely bewildered.
[What do you mean Myriad Sword Sect is being shady? What did we even do?]
Many sects were currently eyeing Wentian Sect, hoping to grab a share while it was weak.
Sure, Wentian Sect had reason to be on edge, but that was no excuse to start slinging accusations.
[Didn't you invite Lu Xingyao to come challenge Gu Qingyuan? Is Myriad Sword Sect just here to kick someone when they're down?]
Myriad Sword Sect Master: "?????"
His head spun with question marks. Then, his face fell.
That brat Lu Xingyao had actually gone and issued a challenge?
"Oh no—!"
He slapped his thigh in frustration.
"What's that fool doing showing up now of all times? Doesn't he know what this will look like?"
"Everyone will think I sent him!"
The Myriad Sword Sect Master was ready to cough up blood. Sure, he had hoped Wentian Sect would crumble and open a path for them, but spearheading such an offensive move would make them a target.
If things went wrong, they'd just become someone else's scapegoat.
"You little ancestor… you really picked the perfect moment, didn't you?"
But it was too late. All he could do was try to explain that it had been Lu Xingyao's personal decision.
Even as he said it, the words sounded hollow.
Let alone the Wentian Sect Master—he didn't believe it himself.
Back in Wentian Sect, as he read through the oily and evasive reply, the Sect Master hurled several teacups in a row.
"Unbelievable! Utter nonsense!"
"You old fox, just wait. We'll make you regret this."
He immediately rushed to Gu Qingyuan's peak to fawn over him, stuffing pills into his mouth like there was no tomorrow. He wasn't going to let anything jeopardize the upcoming duel.
—
Half a month passed.
Under the Sect Master's constant supervision, Gu Qingyuan finally flushed the internal injuries from his system and fully recovered.
For those two weeks, the Sect Master had hovered like a nagging old mother hen, visiting daily. At this point, Gu Qingyuan's ears practically twitched from hearing his voice.
And still, on the day of the duel, the Sect Master wouldn't stop lecturing.
Gu Qingyuan barely restrained himself, his jaw tight with irritation.
But since the man had supplied all those pills, Gu Qingyuan bit back the urge to argue. He could put up with it for now.
Cutting him off mid-ramble, he said coldly, "Chuxue should be returning from Erosion Wind Cave today. I'll go bring her back. Then I'll head straight to the dueling platform."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and sped off—so fast the Sect Master couldn't even grab him.
"H-He—!"
The Sect Master nearly collapsed in rage.
What the hell was wrong with Gu Qingyuan? The duel was about to begin and he still had the nerve to run off and pick up his disciple?
He wanted to crack open that head and see what was inside.
But there was no time. Gritting his teeth, he took the elders and headed for the dueling platform.
—
The day of the duel arrived.
The arena was packed, a sea of disciples crowding every inch of space. Everyone was serious-faced. Even though they weren't the ones fighting, they all knew just how important this match was. There could be no mistakes.
The Sect Master sat at the top platform with the elders, but his heart was heavy.
The disciples were more nervous than Gu Qingyuan himself.
What a headache.
As they settled in, Song Wanníng finally arrived with her group, fashionably late.
Lu Xingyao walked beside her, his eyes cold, sword aura flowing off his body like waves—untouchable and sharp. Yet the half of his aura nearest to Song Wanníng was perfectly calm, completely restrained.
It created a strange, striking contrast.
Behind them walked Bai Yang and Li Ruo, the space between them as wide as a galaxy. Neither acknowledged the other.
These past days, Bai Yang had thrown himself into cultivation.
He'd thought it through. His master's current favoritism toward Li Ruo was just a phase. Once she wasted resources and saw no results, she'd regret it.
And when that day came, she would realize—he had always been her most outstanding disciple.
But the moment he stepped out of seclusion and laid eyes on the man beside his master…
His heart skipped a beat.
Lu Xingyao—of that Myriad Sword Sect. The famed sword cultivator. The nightmare of countless opponents.
And now he was here, walking beside Song Wanníng like it was nothing.
===
Here's a new novel I'm currently translating! "My Daughter is the Empire's Lucky Charm"
What happens when a modern-day lottery winner gets yeeted into the body of an overlooked princess in a historical novel? For Yun Shu, the answer is simple: Keep calm and keep scrolling.
After her family's sudden windfall, Yun Shu was all set for a life of luxury—until she woke up in the body of the fifth princess of a dynasty she literally read about in a book. Good news? Her mega-mansion came with her as a cheat-like pocket dimension, complete with Wi-Fi (thank heavens for food delivery). Bad news? The original novel did not promise her a happy ending—just a quick exit as a cannon-fodder side character.
But there's a twist: Her new "dad" is the all-powerful Emperor Xuanwu, a man with a mysterious system that predicts the future… and keeps pointing to her as the key to saving the empire.
Yun Shu just wants to nap and binge fried chicken, but fate (and her suddenly very attentive imperial father) has other plans. Between dodging court politics and accidentally becoming the empire's secret lucky charm, can this transmigrated slacker survive—or will she end up crowned empress?
Feel free to give it a try, and if the blurb catches your interest, don't forget to add it to your library~ (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧