The Cultivation World had always revered the strong. In the face of absolute power, all righteousness was futile.
The disciples of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect gazed at Song Wanning, their eyes sparkling with stars.
The battle today had completely shattered their perceptions. They had thought Grandmaster Song was just a woman lost in the throes of love, but it turned out she was an incredibly powerful warrior!
'So damn cool!'
Then, looking at Gu Qingyuan, many of their expressions turned strange.
The Sect Master and the elders were also deeply shaken. Only now did they realize just how formidable Song Wanning was. In the past, she had always seemed to hide quietly behind Gu Qingyuan.
They exchanged glances. No one dared to stick their nose into this business any longer.
Gu Qingyuan was the one in the wrong to begin with, and they had no need to offend Song Wanning for his sake.
Everyone fell silent, leaving only the sound of incessant gasps of amazement.
Gu Qingyuan endured the pain and slowly got to his feet, his fists clenched tight and his eyes filled with humiliation.
He had intended to capture Song Wanning and force her to treat Ye Chuxue, but now, all of that had come to nothing.
But Chuxue's life had to be saved.
Gu Qingyuan walked back to Song Wanning step by step, his eyes shot with blood, unable to conceal the thick hatred within them.
Song Wanning stood motionless, her somber gaze holding a hint of a smile.
She waited quietly.
THUD—
Gu Qingyuan's knees buckled, and he knelt before Song Wanning.
His once unyielding spine had bent once more for Ye Chuxue.
"Save Chuxue."
"I'm begging you."
His eyes shimmered with unshed tears and the fear of losing Ye Chuxue.
The lofty Grandmaster Gu, kneeling before his own junior sister for the sake of a disciple!
Everyone was stunned by this act.
Song Wanning's heart was struck a heavy blow once again, but this time it wasn't painful. Instead, it felt ironic.
If Gu Qingyuan had dared to show his true feelings like this from the start, she might not have twisted into such a jealous caricature. Perhaps she would have let go long ago.
She had her own pride, after all.
But he had concealed and explained away his actions time and time again, causing her to constantly doubt, resent, and deceive herself.
The man before her still had that same cold face, but it no longer held the untamable, aloof arrogance she had once loved.
'So this is all he amounts to.'
'So my years of obsession were for nothing more than this.'
Watching his pleading gaze,
Song Wanning slowly lowered her head, reaching out to gently caress Gu Qingyuan's face.
'I really want to destroy this face!'
Her sharp nails instantly raked across his cheek, leaving a bloody gash on his pale white skin.
It was glaring, captivating, and intoxicating.
Her slender fingers lightly brushed over the long wound, as gentle as a lover's whisper.
Gu Qingyuan looked up, only to meet a pair of eyes that seemed to have returned from hell.
The gloomy, thick Evil Qi sent a chill down his spine.
The hand paused at his neck. Gu Qingyuan froze, not daring to move.
The onlookers gasped, their hair standing on end, too terrified to make a sound.
Just as everyone worried that Song Wanning would deliver a fatal blow to Gu Qingyuan, she suddenly curled her lips into a smile, pulled her hand back, and stood up.
"Fine, I'll save her."
'He wants me to save her?'
'In his dreams!'
"Really?"
Gu Qingyuan was stunned for a moment, then stood up in pleasant surprise. The intense pain in his chest made his face pale, but it couldn't hide the joy on his face.
"Of course. However, I can only do my best. You can't blame me for the specific outcome!"
'Save her?'
'Heh.'
"Okay!"
Gu Qingyuan couldn't be bothered with the details. As long as she agreed to save her, it was all worth it.
Song Wanning nodded. With a swift step, she flashed past the crowd, her elegant figure quickly receding into the distance.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Gu Qingyuan followed. The elders exchanged a look and immediately went after them as well.
The spectating disciples excitedly discussed what had just happened as they gradually dispersed.
No one paid any attention to Bai Yang, who was still sprawled on the ground.
It was as if they didn't even see him.
Bai Yang stared blankly in the direction Song Wanning had disappeared, an inexplicable tightness in his chest.
'Master... she actually ignored me!'
'Why?'
His master today was like a completely different person from yesterday. Her attitude toward him had changed entirely.
But he clearly hadn't said or done anything wrong!
Song Wanning could obviously save the person, yet she deliberately made Senior Uncle Gu beg her in such a humiliating way.
'How vicious!'
Bai Yang struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and limped after them.
Chuxue was still waiting to be treated. He had to go watch Song Wanning to be at ease!
......
Song Wanning gave Ye Chuxue's poison a cursory examination, a cold glint in her eyes.
The skin on the face of the person in bed was like tree bark, covered in wrinkles. Her life force was draining away like that of a withered old tree.
This was indeed the effect of the poison she had administered.
She took out an Elixir Pill.
"Swallowing this Elixir Pill will neutralize the toxins in her body. However, because her previous injuries were too severe, the poison has already entered her meridians, so it will inevitably leave behind a latent ailment."
"Whether she can fully recover will depend on her own fortune from now on."
'Neutralize the poison?'
'I've added a little something to this Elixir Pill that will help me track Ye Chuxue's location.'
Gu Qingyuan frowned upon hearing this.
"Is there no way to remove it completely?"
Song Wanning's medical skills were outstanding, and she was an Alchemy Grandmaster. Could it be she couldn't even cure this simple poison?
He didn't believe it.
"No. If you have a way, then feel free to find someone more capable."
With that, she tossed the Elixir Pill to Gu Qingyuan, turned, and strode away.
COUGH, COUGH, COUGH—
Gu Qingyuan coughed anxiously, but Song Wanning didn't look back.
"Junior Brother Gu, just detoxify her first! We can worry about the latent ailment later!"
The Sect Master stepped forward to stop Gu Qingyuan, preventing him from causing more trouble for Song Wanning.
'If he pushes her too far, it won't end well for anyone!'
"That's right, as long as she's still hanging on, that's good enough!"
The Second Elder interjected with a sarcastic, mocking tone, shooting Gu Qingyuan a scornful glance.
'The nerve of him!'
"Shut up!"
The Sect Master shot her a glare, then turned to persuade Gu Qingyuan, "Junior Sister Song must have been provoked today. Don't push her any further!"
"Wait a few days until she's calmed down, then you can ask for her help again!"
"Right now, Ye's life is what's important!"
Gu Qingyuan looked back. Chuxue was lying there, devoid of life, a sight that tugged painfully at his heart.
He suppressed all his thoughts and finally fed the Elixir Pill into Ye Chuxue's mouth.
Her originally withered face quickly regained its luster. Ye Chuxue slowly regained consciousness and coughed up several mouthfuls of black blood.
The injuries on her body were healing at a rapid pace, a stark contrast to her previous state.
Song Wanning's Elixir Pills were truly extraordinary!
"Alright, alright, Chuxue's injuries are no longer life-threatening. We shouldn't disturb her recovery!"
The Sect Master and the others didn't want to stay and be an eyesore, but they couldn't just let the matter go either.
He first had the elders leave, then called Gu Qingyuan outside.
Just then, Bai Yang arrived, barely managing to stay on his flying crane. He staggered, unsteady on his feet.
But he was frantic and quickly rushed into the room.
Lu Nanfeng was checking on Ye Chuxue when he saw the injured Bai Yang walk in, and was instantly shocked.
Beside him, An Ze's face darkened as he asked angrily, "Eldest Brother, who injured you?!!"