Song Wanníng was already suspicious. She wandered casually through the streets while quietly trying to track down the source of that gaze.
It took a few streets before she locked onto a shadowy figure. He'd been trailing her from the very beginning, keeping a distance that wasn't too close or too far. Every now and then he'd even stop to buy something, pretending he just happened to be out shopping.
Song Wanníng studied his face and realized he wasn't that Buddhist cultivator from earlier. He was a man she'd never seen before.
But his posture was strange. Almost like he was scared she'd recognize him. Could it be someone she knew?
Song Wanníng stayed alert and pretended she hadn't noticed anything. She continued strolling for a while, then booked a room at an inn.
The man checked into the inn across from hers.
Over the next few days, she didn't step outside once. The man across the street seemed to grow impatient, leaving and returning to the inn over and over again.
Just when he looked like he was about to snap, Song Wanníng finally walked out. She bought a few things, then casually pulled out a map and headed out of the city.
As she walked farther from civilization, the surroundings grew more and more desolate. All of a sudden, Song Wanníng stopped. She looked around with a face full of shock.
A rising howl echoed through the air. A violent wind whipped up out of nowhere, sweeping dead leaves and dust into the sky in a wild storm.
Before she even moved, swords burst out of the ground around her and shot toward her. Her expression sharpened instantly. She swung her sword.
Light flared out in all directions.
One arc shone darker than the rest, slicing straight toward a tall tree.
A deafening boom rang out.
The swords clashed with her sword light and waves of force blasted outward, scattering the raging wind. Stones shattered everywhere. The tall tree was split clean in half, the cut barely grazing the man hiding behind it.
He stepped out with a face covered in resentment, glaring at Song Wanníng.
The wind died. Everything fell silent.
The two of them stood facing each other, sparks flying between their eyes.
"Song Wanníng…"
His chilling voice slithered through the air, thick with malice that made her skin crawl.
"Who are you? Why don't you dare show your true face?"
Song Wanníng narrowed her eyes. She'd already guessed who he was, but she couldn't figure out why he'd go this far.
Sure, they had grudges, but not to this extent.
The man let out a cold laugh, then tore off the human-skin mask covering his face. Underneath was Feng San, the man who should've still been reflecting in the Sea of Bitterness.
Song Wanníng wasn't surprised at all. She'd only just ascended. She didn't have that many enemies. It wasn't hard to narrow it down. But she hadn't expected Feng San to be so petty that he'd sneak over to kill her in private.
"So it's you. Aren't you supposed to be serving punishment in the Sea of Bitterness?"
Song Wanníng raised her brows as if she was shocked, but her eyes were already icy. Since he'd delivered himself to her door, there was no reason to let him walk away.
"Hmph, you must be so proud."
Feng San's expression twisted. He stared at her with wild, crazed hatred.
"It's all your fault. I had a bright future ahead of me, now you've ruined everything!! What can you possibly use to compensate me? What can you use to pay me back?!!"
Feng San's voice cracked with fury. His eyes screamed the desire to tear her apart.
Song Wanníng frowned. "If you think beating you means I ruined you, I've got nothing to say to that."
"But a duel always has a winner and a loser. If you're not skilled enough, then train harder. Why stalk me in secret like this? Is this what Martial Uncle Mu taught you?"
Her voice grew colder with every word.
She'd only thought Feng San was arrogant. She hadn't realized she'd misjudged him entirely.
The moment she finished speaking, Feng San exploded.
"What do you mean beating me ruined me? I can handle winning and losing!!"
He was practically foaming with rage.
"But why did you set me up?! Why?!!"
His eyes turned blood-red. His hatred for Song Wanníng burned so hot it nearly burst out of him.
"I was the disciple Master valued the most. But now everything's gone! I went to the Sea of Bitterness, and when I came back, everything had changed! Master gave the entire inheritance to them instead…
My future is gone because of you…"
Every time Feng San remembered his master's disappointed expression, his chest twisted painfully. Master had been choosing the final inheritor. Feng San should've had the greatest chance. Now it was all gone.
His breathing grew ragged, but Song Wanníng couldn't make sense of a word.
"What do you mean I framed you? What're you talking about?"
She frowned deeply. She suddenly remembered the crime Feng San had been punished for, the one involving the woman. Could he be referring to that?
The moment it clicked, her face darkened.
Someone didn't frame Feng San… someone framed her.
"Stop pretending. You came to apologize to me. You asked me for a drink…
You drugged my wine. That's why I committed that mistake…
You ruined my future and ruined my reputation!"
Feng San's voice twisted with shame. This stain would follow him forever, always waiting for someone to bring it up. And all of it, in his mind, was brought by Song Wanníng.
"Feng San, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Song Wanníng's frown tightened. Her mood crashed. She'd been cultivating diligently, but someone had been plotting against her behind her back?
Could it be Situ Yue?
"I've been in seclusion at Alchemy Peak this whole time. Senior Sister Lan Yue and Senior Dao Qing can both testify. You can go ask them! And you're a pill cultivator. You got drugged without even realizing it. Don't you think that's ridiculous?"
Feng San's expression twisted even more. That was exactly the part that hurt him the most.
"They'll obviously take your side. You think I'd believe their testimony?"
He'd told his master the truth. His master only called him stupid. And forbade him from mentioning the incident, saying it was too humiliating. Master only told him coldly that he'd never receive the inheritance now. That indifferent face still haunted him.
Why?
He wasn't at fault, yet he was the one suffering the consequences.
"Master is taking your side too. I'm not allowed to reveal the truth. Song Wanníng, what kind of magic do you have? Why does everyone stand behind you?"
He hated her so much he could barely breathe.
All his glorious days were still fresh in his memory, yet now he'd lost everything. And in his mind, it was all because of Song Wanníng.
"Song Wanníng, you owe me. How're you gonna repay me?!"
He roared the words like he was tearing his chest open.
Song Wanníng's face only grew uglier.
"How could Mu Zixu possibly take my side? Have you ever considered the possibility that he did it on purpose…"