"W-what… wh-what are you saying? Zhiran… d-don't joke around."
Su Ruyue couldn't help but stutter at his bold words, distancing herself from him, her face flushed red.
When did her honest advice turn against her? When did she ever say she would be his if he became strong enough?
'He must be dreaming.'
She couldn't help but pout in anger, feeling completely speechless.
She knew Zhiran's talent was low, and he hadn't even entered the middle stage of Qi Condensation yet.
How could he enter the inner sect like this?
Wasn't he dreaming?
'And even if he did enter, why would I…?'
'Who does he think he…?'
Controlling her flustered emotions, Ruyue finally came to her senses, growing angrier and angrier at Zhiran.
But before she could lash out at him, Zhiran suddenly let go of her hand and looked at her faintly.
"Okay, it is decided. Once I enter the inner sect this time, you will be mine. Don't try to run at that time."
He warned a little domineeringly and ruffled her hair with a smile, completely ignoring her anger before continuing,
"As for the incident with Wu Kang, I already dealt with it in the Affair Hall. You don't have to worry. Though I am happy that you care so much about me."
He smiled like a gentleman and then waved his hand.
"Okay, I have things to do, so I will leave now. You also practice seriously and try to enter the inner sect, alright?"
After saying that, Zhiran turned around and left before Ruyue could react.
"Wait…"
By the time she wanted to say something, Zhiran was already far away, leaving her speechless.
"You bastard, where are you running off to now? Who said I will be yours if you enter the inner sect?"
Seeing him leave her all alone after saying his piece, Ruyue couldn't help but curse in anger.
"It seems I am too soft. He even dares to bully me now."
She mumbled while gnashing her teeth in frustration.
"Do you think I am a prize you can get just by entering the inner sect?"
"Hmph… at least have the guts to be first in the competition, and I might consider it. Just entering the inner sect…? Heh… anyone can do that."
She scoffed in anger, mocking Zhiran, when suddenly she felt someone tap her shoulder from behind, jolting her in surprise.
"Hey, I forgot to ask, but… do you know the way to the Cemetery?"
When she turned around, she saw Zhiran once again looking at her with a smile, asking for directions.
It seemed he heard everything she mumbled just now, as was evident from the look on his face.
"Th-that way…"
Su Ruyue was so ashamed of having her thoughts exposed that she suddenly turned completely red and awkwardly pointed in the general direction of the Cemetery.
She didn't even ask why he was looking for such a place.
"Oh? Thanks! I am leaving now, take care."
After getting the directions, Zhiran nodded in appreciation before leaving, this time for real, without showing any reaction to Ruyue's words just now.
However, just when Ruyue thought that he might not have heard what she said, a faint whisper suddenly landed in her ears, making her entire cheek crimson.
"I will make sure to be first in the competition in a month. So, be prepared to be mine, Ruyue. I won't let you go at that time."
It seemed her hope that he hadn't heard her mumble was just a dream, as Zhiran had already replied.
"Bah… who are you kidding here? Don't make me laugh."
Although she was ashamed, Ruyue still cursed and looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Zhiran in the far distance.
From the look of it, it seemed he had sent that whisper through his Qi to her ears.
Ruyue wasn't surprised by this, as it was a typical use of spiritual energy and Qi that could be used by a Qi Condensation cultivator.
Anyone at the late stage of Qi Condensation could do that.
Even Ruyue, who was in the realm of Sixth Qi Condensation, could transmit her voice like this if she tried hard.
So, it wasn't a big deal.
Only—
'Wait a minute… how can even Zhiran use voice transmission from such a long distance?'
But, if it were Zhiran, then it made no sense for him to be able to do voice transmission, as he was only at the early stage of the Qi Condensation realm, right?
Su Ruyue thought in shock, wanting an answer, but saw that Zhiran had already disappeared from her sight.
***
"Shuren is dead? Are you sure?"
Somewhere in the Divine Cauldron sect, in a dark room, with only the smoke of incense floating in the air, a faint female voice sounded, clearly filled with shock.
"Hehe… I am one hundred percent sure. He is dead and was definitely killed by someone."
In response to her disbelief, a faint, creepy laughter echoed through the room as if amused by the situation.
"My Necrotic Touch clearly sensed the aura of death just now. That old man was truly unlucky."
"But… who would kill him?"
The female voice ignored the unsettling laughter as her focus was entirely on analyzing the incident.
She couldn't understand who would dare kill Elder Shuren after he had entered the sphere of influence of the Divine Cauldron Sect, that too when he was already hiding like a mouse.
'Is it… another elder? But why would he?'
The only explanation she could imagine was betrayal, perhaps by another elder who had come under the guise of helping him.
Yet she had been keeping a close watch over the entire sect and had noticed no movements at all. She couldn't understand how he could have been killed like this all of a sudden.
"Hehe… I don't know who killed him. Do you want me to investigate? I'm quite interested in this incident myself."
The creepy voice asked with clear enthusiasm, eager to discover who had snatched his prey from his grasp.
"No need. I will handle it myself. Don't make unnecessary moves, or you might get spotted by the Divine Cauldron Sect. That would not be good."
But to his disappointment, the female voice denied him directly, her tone returning to cold and devoid of emotion.
"Tch… fine, fine…you're the captain, so I can't say much."
Though annoyed, the creepy voice still obeyed her. Yet before fading away, it didn't forget to deliver a warning:
"Yan Yue, the leader, has given you an ultimatum this time. He said that if you still can't produce the results he wants, you can return and serve as his concubine. Don't waste his time any longer. Hehe…"
At last, the voice trailed off with mocking laughter, savoring the words.
"You don't need to remind me. I know what I must do. Now leave."
Sure enough, after hearing his words, the female voice grew sharper with annoyance as she raised her hand and waved it lightly, severing the connection to the ancient mirror before her.
"Sigh… I am running out of time."
Only after she was certain the link had been cut did the icy coldness in her tone finally disappear.
In its place appeared a deep, unshakable worry, one that even the heavy darkness of the room couldn't manage to conceal.