Strictly speaking, none of this had truly been Song Wanníng's fault. Her methods had been aggressive, yes, but Mu Zixu was hardly innocent. It was wiser to retreat while there was still room, rather than dig his own grave any deeper.
Hearing his companion speak up for him, Mu Zixu clenched his fists tightly, then slowly let them go. "You have my word, Immortal King. I won't trouble her again. Let's treat this as if it never happened."
In the end, he chose to let it go.
The pressure was too great. He had no choice but to concede.
"That damn girl. Her luck was absurd."
Immortal King Moyang had been waiting for those words. Whether Song Wanníng accepted his inheritance or not, she was someone he had taken a liking to. And with his own cultivation showing signs of breaking through because of her, there was even more reason to sweep away all obstacles in her path.
"Good."
With that single word, his figure vanished in a flash.
The air stilled once more. Mu Zixu and Wang Yang both exhaled in relief.
"He's gone too far. That was just excessive!" Mu Zixu seethed, though he only dared to mutter under his breath.
Wang Yang gave him a helpless look, then turned his attention to the water mirror.
Onscreen, Song Wanníng stood cold-eyed before the unconscious girl lying at her feet. Immortal King Moyang's parting words still echoed in her ears. She narrowed her eyes. After some thought, she ultimately chose to believe him. Killing Ye Chuxue now would bring more trouble than it was worth.
She would take it step by step. There was no rush.
After all, she had all the time in the world to repay these debts.
She stepped up to Ye Chuxue's body and raised her hand.
A beam of light spilled from her fingertip and sank into Ye Chuxue's spiritual sea.
"You wanted the inheritance, didn't you? Then I'll give it all to you."
Her lips curved in a gentle smile, her gaze rippling with a soft shimmer.
But anyone who saw her smile just then would have felt a chill down their spine.
"She's rotten to the core! Just like that other one!" Mu Zixu slammed the stone table in fury, itching to rush in and teach Song Wanníng another lesson.
Cunning, vicious, sharp as poison. No wonder Immortal King Moyang had chosen her.
"You still haven't learned? Careful, or the King of Hell will come right back," Wang Yang teased.
Mu Zixu immediately fell silent and glanced nervously around. Once he was sure Moyang hadn't returned, he let out two grumbling huffs, but no longer dared to curse her openly.
Wang Yang suddenly sighed. "I actually think that girl's pretty smart. It's a shame we won't get to see how her story ends…"
Mu Zixu turned his head with a snort. "Hmph. Who wants to see how she ends up? If she ascends, I'll call her Father!"
—
"Junior Sister Ye!"
"Chuxue, wake up!"
Ye Chuxue slowly opened her eyes under the anxious calls of her companions. Her face was pale, her clothes tattered and bloodied. The sight was frightening.
"Chuxue, are you alright?"
Gu Qingyuan cradled his disciple in his arms, his eyes red with heartache.
Who had done this to her?
"Senior Sister Ye, how did you end up here? What happened?"
Bai Ze was pacing in circles inside the inheritance hall, his face flushed with worry, but he hadn't found a single suspicious trace.
Bai Yang and Lu Nanfeng remained silent, but their concern was written all over their faces.
Ye Chuxue's mind slowly cleared. The last moments before she fainted flashed vividly in her memory. She jolted upright and quickly checked her spiritual sea.
Inside floated a single book: Medicine King's Codex.
Joy surged through her.
She flipped it open. Sure enough, it contained numerous pill recipes.
"Master, I... I've inherited the teachings of the Yaowang Sect!"
Her voice trembled with excitement as she grasped Gu Qingyuan's hand.
"Is that so? Is the recipe for the Myriad Venoms Pill in there?"
His eyes lit up immediately. He held her hand in return.
The Myriad Venoms Pill could neutralize all toxins in the world.
If they succeeded in refining it, they would never need to seek out Song Wanníng again.
"Yes! It's all here!" Tears streamed down Ye Chuxue's cheeks like beads falling from a broken string. With this inheritance, she would one day surpass Song Wanníng. And when that day came, she would make her feel what it was like to fall from the heavens into the abyss.
She and her master were overjoyed, but the three fellow disciples nearby exchanged strange looks.
Everyone knew Gu Qingyuan had feelings for Ye Chuxue...
Especially Bai Yang. His displeasure was clear as he watched the two hold hands.
He narrowed his eyes and studied Ye Chuxue closely.
If Gu Qingyuan had feelings for her, then what about her?
Ye Chuxue suddenly recalled something and brought it up.
"When I entered the inheritance hall, someone had arrived before me. She tried to kill me. She forced the senior predecessor to give the inheritance to her!" Just thinking about it made her angry. The predecessor had liked her. He had the right to choose, so why did that woman try to take it by force?
"Luckily, the senior dealt with her. Otherwise…"
A strange flush crept over Ye Chuxue's pale face but faded quickly.
"And... she looked a lot like…"
"Senior Aunt Song!"
It was pure instinct.
Ye Chuxue frowned. That woman had disguised herself, but something about her reminded her too much of Song Wanníng. But there was no proof. Without evidence, it was hard to convince anyone.
"Junior Sister Ye, Master is in seclusion. There's no way she could be here." Bai Yang's voice turned sharp, a trace of anger in his tone. "Even if she's a bit extreme, Master has always acted with integrity. You can't go around accusing her like that."
His defense of Song Wanníng was immediate, almost automatic.
Everyone knew Master opposed Ye Chuxue openly. She had never once tried to hide it.
Why would she sneak around and disguise herself?
"Exactly, Junior Sister. Don't speak carelessly. If Master hears you, she'll come looking for trouble again." Lu Nanfeng's tone was gentler, but the worry in his eyes ran deep. So did the affection.
But that affection was buried too deeply to show.
Ye Chuxue and the eldest disciple were clearly a perfect match. He wasn't worthy of her.
"But... it really looked like her…" Ye Chuxue bit her lip, feeling wronged. In the past, even if she said nothing, people would automatically blame Song Wanníng. But now? No one believed her.
She glanced at Bai Yang. He had grown distant lately, as if his heart was no longer with her…
"That's enough."
Gu Qingyuan frowned and withdrew his hand from hers.
"Song Wanníng may be willful, but she isn't that kind of person. You must have been mistaken. She's been in seclusion for a long time. It's impossible she was here."
He knew Song Wanníng better than anyone. This wasn't her style.
"I..."
Ye Chuxue was left stunned, her words cut off again and again. Embarrassment flushed her face, and a trace of anger flickered in her eyes. She hadn't even said anything terrible. Why were they all so quick to defend Song Wanníng?