Chapter 32: The Spoiled Young Lady

Walking at the back of the group, Lin Shu stepped on something and stumbled, nearly falling over.

"Be careful," Mu Qianqian said, her hand darting out to grab his sleeve, "watch your step."

Lin Shu patted his chest, "Thank you, Senior Sister Mu."

As they filed out through the exit, a leopard's roar echoed across the skies beneath Cloud Shore Cliff a moment later. By the time Yun Zhao and the others emerged, all the disciples participating in the sect tournament had returned. The elders took a headcount and realized only Song Zhiyuan was missing.

Lu Mingdao couldn't help but sigh, "Sect Master, that child Zhiyuan is truly too reckless. With only the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn before the secret realm closes, he actually risked everything just to win first place for our Qingyun Sect!"

"But," he added worriedly, "if he doesn't come out soon, once the realm seals, he will..."

Master Guiyuan frowned. No one understood Song Zhiyuan’s character better than he did; logically, he would never put himself in such danger for the sake of mere vanity. Once the secret realm closed, one would have to wait until the next tournament to enter again.

In the crowd, Xue Hairui saw Yun Zhao and Bai Lingxiao emerge together, but noticed Song Zhiyuan was nowhere to be seen. Her hands, hidden beneath her sleeves, clenched tightly. *Weren’t Yun Zhao and her group supposed to have left the realm first? Why is she with Bai Lingxiao?*

After a moment’s thought, she walked up to Yun Zhao and asked timidly, "Senior Sister Yun, have you seen the Senior Brother? He hasn't come out yet."

"I haven't," Yun Zhao replied, looking puzzled. "Wasn't he with you? Didn't you come out together?"

Xue Hairui bit her lip and shook her head, "Senior Brother said he had some matters to attend to, so he told me to leave first."

Yun Zhao had a sudden realization, "Then perhaps he isn't finished yet. There is still a little time before the realm closes, don't worry. Senior Brother Song will surely make it out in time."

Xue Hairui forced a smile, "I understand, Senior Sister Yun."

Before leaving, she cast an inadvertent glance at Bai Lingxiao. She saw Bai Lingxiao standing beside Yun Zhao, the two acting quite close, looking nothing like people who had just fought one another. Xue Hairui’s heart sank. *Could Song Zhiyuan have been plotted against?*

But there was nothing she could do. Fortunately, in the final second before the realm closed, Song Zhiyuan was teleported out. He looked disheveled, his robes in tatters and stained with blood.

Master Guiyuan hurried forward to check on him, "Zhiyuan, are you injured?"

Song Zhiyuan steadied himself and said to Master Guiyuan, "Just a few minor wounds, Master, please don't worry."

After examining him and confirming he was alright, Master Guiyuan had two disciples support him. Xue Hairui rushed to his side, asking with concern, "Senior Brother, what happened to you..."

Song Zhiyuan motioned for her to be silent, "I am fine, let's talk when we return."

Xue Hairui handed him a handkerchief, wanting to say more but holding back. Song Zhiyuan took it to wipe his face and asked, "Xiao Rui, what is it?"

"Senior Brother," Xue Hairui bit her lip again, "there is something I don't know if I should tell you..."

She spoke hesitantly, her eyes glancing toward a certain spot. Song Zhiyuan followed her gaze and was momentarily stunned. Then, his expression darkened, "Xiao Rui, we have been..."

Seeing the two disciples supporting him from either side, Song Zhiyuan swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and changed his tone, "I can walk on my own; you two junior brothers need not trouble yourselves."

Once they were alone, Song Zhiyuan continued, "Xiao Rui, I fear we have been plotted against by them!"

Xue Hairui was at a loss, "Senior Brother, what should we do?"

Song Zhiyuan took a deep breath, "Do not act rashly for now. Let us wait and observe."

The Qingyun Sect took first place as expected. Following the plan, while the various sect masters were bidding each other farewell, Yun Zhao proposed inviting Bai Lingxiao to stay at the Qingyun Sect for a few days.

Master Guiyuan couldn't help but say, "Zhaozhao, I recall that you and young friend Bai were not acquainted."

Yun Zhao said sheepishly, "Sect Master, Senior Sister Bai and I met in the secret realm, we..."

She recited the script they had agreed upon—seven parts truth and three parts fabrication. In short, they had fought, become friends, and hit it off. "Senior Sister Bai’s swordsmanship is incredible, and I admire her greatly. I wanted to exchange pointers with her."

"Also, Senior Brother Gu and Senior Brother Meng are coming too; we had all agreed on it."

The sect masters of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, Luo Qingxu, and the Spirit Talisman Sect, Chen Zongyue, had been standing by as mere background figures, but Yun Zhao’s words pulled them all into the conversation.

Luo Qingxu let out an "Ah," and asked, "The two of them are involved, too?"

Yun Zhao said as if it were only natural, "Our four great sects are like branches of the same tree, how could we leave out our two senior brothers? We had already discussed it."

Chen Zongyue laughed, "Since you have all agreed, then go and have fun."

Luo Qingxu felt the same. Only Hu Guichen remained silent. Yun Zhao gave Lu Mingdao a pleading look, and Lu Mingdao stepped in to mediate, "Sect Master Hu, the children have all made plans, why not agree to it?"

"It is only a short visit. If Sect Master Hu is worried, when the time comes, I will personally send young friend Bai back."

The Heaven Sword Sect Master, Hu Guichen, said with difficulty, "If this were any other time, it wouldn't be an issue, but Lingxiao’s sword spirit is about to advance, and she must go into seclusion for a while."

"How about this? Once Lingxiao emerges, I will have her go to the Qingyun Sect to find you, how is that?"

Yun Zhao was insistent, "But Senior Sister Bai and I hit it off immediately; I wish we could be together every day from now on. Surely the sword spirit’s advancement isn't so urgent that it can't wait?"

"Senior Brother Gu and Senior Brother Meng are going too, how could we leave Senior Sister Bai behind? Uncle Hu, please, just agree to it."

Hu Guichen turned his gaze to Master Guiyuan. Master Guiyuan tried to offer some advice, but Yun Zhao closed her eyes and pretended not to hear, playing the role of a spoiled young lady to the end.

In public, Yun Zhao, a young girl, began to tear up in front of the older men, immediately drawing the attention of other cultivators. The other two sect masters felt awkward and began to help persuade Hu Guichen.

"Old Hu, the children get along well, let them gather. It shows the close relationship between our four great sects."

"Yes, indeed. The sword spirit's advancement can wait. Besides, the juniors of our four sects haven't gathered in a long time; they've become quite distant..."

Master Guiyuan also sighed helplessly, "Sect Master Hu, Zhaozhao has been spoiled by us since she was young. Please don't hold it against her. Why not just grant her this one request?"

With everyone persuading him, Hu Guichen, though reluctant, couldn't voice a clear reason for his refusal. Helpless, he could only agree.

Yun Zhao was overjoyed. After thanking them, she hurriedly pulled Bai Lingxiao and the others toward the Qingyun Sect’s spirit boat.

"This girl," Lu Mingdao laughed and scolded, "truly unruly. Running so fast, as if there were ghosts chasing her."

Chen Zongyue chuckled, "It's better that she's lively, certainly better than before..."