The air fell completely still. Even the sword at her waist stopped vibrating, as if stunned.
Immortal King Moyang was also caught off guard. Perhaps it had simply been too long since anyone had refused him. The strange feeling it stirred in him was something he hadn't experienced in ages.
"Why?" he asked.
He wasn't being arrogant, but with his strength, even the immortal realm had droves of people begging to be his disciple. Yet this girl had just rejected him.
Song Wanníng raised an eyebrow. "I already walk the path of slaughter. Why would I choose the path of ruthlessness too?"
The path of ruthlessness demanded one sever all emotions.
No joy, no sorrow. No worldly attachment.
All things of the world were to be regarded as distant and irrelevant.
One must pursue only the Dao.
Some even went as far as killing their own kin to achieve it.
She was perfectly fine as she was. Why should she take that path?
Song Wanníng's face was cold, her expression unreadable. Even though such a formidable inheritance was right before her, she showed not the slightest interest.
Immortal King Moyang's brows lifted slightly, a flicker of puzzlement in his eyes.
Given her temperament, she shouldn't have missed the point.
"You're plagued by heart demons. Just now, you nearly fell into madness and strayed from your path. Cultivating the path of ruthlessness can help you sever those demons and see clearly." For someone in her current state, accepting his legacy would be the wisest choice.
"So, you saw it all." Song Wanníng's eyes darkened slightly. Her gaze swept across him, narrowing with suspicion. Then she curled her lips into a smile and shot Ye Chuxue a cold look.
"They were the ones in the wrong. So why should I be the one to take the path of ruthlessness? I still have people I care about. For a few scumbags, it's not worth it."
To take the path of ruthlessness meant cutting away her feelings, damaging herself in the process. As for those others, it wouldn't touch them. They'd walk away unscathed, indifferent.
What was the point?
She still had her parents, her clan, and her master waiting in the spirit realm.
And she was supposed to give all that up for a few hypocrites?
Absolutely not.
She rejected him cleanly, with no hesitation. A flash of killing intent sparked in her gaze.
"So what if I'm plagued by heart demons? I don't care."
The path of slaughter was meant to be walked with no regrets. In her past life, she had veered off course and lost her way.
But not this time.
She would not change herself for anyone or anything.
In the depths of her spiritual sea, demonic qi surged, as if provoked by her defiance.
But it was instantly suppressed by the little golden sword buried within her soul.
Song Wanníng's eyes curved with a smile.
One day, she would conquer her inner demons completely.
Make them bow to her and serve.
Clang, clang, clang—
The sword at her waist thrashed in its scabbard, trembling with excitement, as if eager to break free. Immortal King Moyang paused, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes, followed by a flicker of brightness.
The girl's answer—her defiance—had triggered something in him. His long-stagnant cultivation realm began to stir, as if loosening from its bottleneck. He looked deeply at Song Wanníng.
If she could persist on this path, they would surely meet again.
Perhaps next time, it would be in the immortal realm.
Immortal King Moyang did not force the inheritance upon her. His figure flickered and began to fade from her sight. His voice remained behind, echoing in her ears.
"Those blessed by great luck are chosen by the Heavenly Dao. If you try to eliminate them by force, it will only harm yourself. Luck isn't fixed. You can chip away at it slowly. Wait for the right moment, and strike when the time is ripe.
Rigid blades break easily. That is not the true essence of the path of slaughter. My legacy, I give freely. Perhaps within it, you'll find a slaughter path that is truly your own."
After a long pause, his voice came again.
"I hope we meet again in the immortal realm."
He had come without warning and left just as abruptly.
Song Wanníng frowned slightly.
Just who was he, really?