Sword Emperor Ji Hongye and her fourth disciple, Liu Mingyan, did not wait long in front of the Mountain-Protecting Array of Among the Colorful Clouds.
They saw an unfamiliar young woman walking down from the mountain.
The girl wore a loose martial arts uniform and carried a Long Spear.
Her high ponytail gave her a heroic air, but her steps held a dignified and elegant temperament, as if she came from a prestigious family and possessed great refinement.
This noble aura blended perfectly with the martial artist’s spirit, appearing neither contradictory nor out of place; instead, the two traits complemented each other beautifully.
This person was Yun Qianxue.
‘That person… I haven’t seen her before. Is she a new disciple the Demoness took in?’ Liu Mingyan wondered as she noticed Yun Qianxue.
Although Yun Qianxue was a noble daughter, she was also a young woman in the prime of her youth, filled with curiosity about everything new.
She had been spending the past few days adapting to life in Among the Colorful Clouds.
Today, Yu Yi was checking her disciples’ cultivation progress, meaning Yun Qianxue finally didn’t have to accompany Chi Ming in her training until dark.
Thus, she had decided to wander around this beautiful Mountain Forest.
Yun Qianxue soon noticed the two people standing quietly outside the formation and walked over to ask, “You are…”
“Where is Yu Yi Jue? My Master is personally visiting today, so tell her to come out and receive us immediately!”
Liu Mingyan said rudely.
The moment she finished speaking, Ji Hongye gently poked Liu Mingyan’s waist with her finger.
Liu Mingyan felt as if she had been struck by lightning; she fell to her knees with a thud, cold sweat pouring down her face.
That spot was Liu Mingyan’s weakness.
“Watch your manners.”
“Yes,” Liu Mingyan said as she climbed up from the ground, looking at the confused Yun Qianxue.
“I apologize. Please go back and inform Senior Yu that the Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion requests an audience.”
‘Sword Pavilion… Pavilion Master?’ Yun Qianxue fell into deep thought.
If she remembered correctly… wasn’t the Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion that once-famous Sword Emperor?
When Yun Qianxue was little, she had heard her father tell stories of the Double Sovereigns.
The ambitious Foreign Tribe leader with a desire for conquest had frightened her, while the other—the righteous and grounded Sword Emperor—had become the model for all Orthodox Faction cultivators in Yun Qianxue’s eyes.
Was such a legendary figure visiting Big Sister today?
Yun Qianxue looked around, trying to find the figure of the Sword Emperor.
But… where was she?
“No need to look. I am right before you.”
A steady voice rang out, and Yun Qianxue’s gaze finally fell upon the person standing next to Liu Mingyan.
That person was holding a Silk Parasol, and her height only reached Liu Mingyan’s waist.
As the parasol was slowly lifted, Yun Qianxue saw her true face.
It was a girl with a petite build and a face that looked no older than 10 years old.
Her hair was as white as snow, like that of an elderly person, and her crimson pupils resembled the red leaves of late autumn.
Though her face was youthful, her eyes held a sense of maturity and stability that suggested she had lived for hundreds of years.
Her clothing was very mature, and her tiny bare feet—small enough to be held in a single hand—stepped upon a pair of red-strapped High-toothed Geta that looked quite antique, adding a bit of height to her stature.
“This is… that Sword Emperor?” Yun Qianxue was filled with shock.
She had found it strange when Ji Hongye poked Liu Mingyan earlier, but she never expected that this child was the Sword Emperor herself.
Furthermore, Yun Qianxue could not have misheard; the voice just now had definitely come from this white-haired loli.
“Master, you mustn’t!”
Liu Mingyan hurriedly lowered the Silk Parasol and barked at Yun Qianxue, “Why are you staring at my Master? How rude!”
The moment Liu Mingyan spoke, Ji Hongye’s finger poked her waist again.
Thud
“Watch your manners. Three strikes and you’re out. Prepare to be punished when we return, Mingyan.”
“I will accept my punishment, but Master…”
“I must eventually show this face to others. If I hide away for a lifetime, I might as well sleep forever beneath the earth,” Ji Hongye said, raising her parasol again toward Yun Qianxue.
“Young lady, I trouble you to lead the way.”
Yun Qianxue was deeply shaken and only managed to recover after a long while.
She initially wanted to turn around and head up the mountain to notify Yu Yi, but she then remembered what Blue Ling’er had told her: ‘When Master is busy, no one is allowed to disturb her.’
‘Does that “no one” also include this… Sword Emperor?’ Yun Qianxue wondered.
“Big Sister is not my Master. She is currently busy, so I’m afraid she cannot see you for the time being,” Yun Qianxue said seriously after a moment of thought, offering a polite bow.
Liu Mingyan could not hold back upon hearing this, looking as if she would rather accept punishment than fail to give Among the Colorful Clouds a piece of her mind.
The Sword Emperor herself was visiting, yet you tried to turn her away by saying she was “busy”?
Was that not a blatant lack of respect?
However, at that moment, a majestic and cold voice rang out from the horizon.
“Qianxue, bring them to see this Grandmaster.”
When this voice reached Liu Mingyan’s ears, she couldn’t help but tremble.
She quickly looked at Ji Hongye, fearing her Master would notice she had been intimidated.
Then Liu Mingyan saw a strange look flash through Ji Hongye’s eyes.
“Such an aura… she has achieved a Breakthrough,” Ji Hongye murmured to herself.
“You two, please follow me.”
After the Mountain-Protecting Array temporarily dissipated, Yun Qianxue led the way for them.
***
The main pavilion of Among the Colorful Clouds.
Four disciples stood respectfully beside Yu Yi, who sat upon her throne.
In their eyes, Yu Yi remained calm and unruffled, but the aura she faintly emitted was different from usual.
It was like the final calm before a violent storm.
The disciples knew the Sword Emperor had arrived.
They also knew their Master was not intimidated by the Sword Emperor, but was instead showing an unprecedented level of seriousness.
As the sound of footsteps approached, Yun Qianxue appeared in Yu Yi’s field of vision first.
Looking slightly behind her, one could see two people following.
“Big Sister, I have brought them,” Yun Qianxue said, bowing to Yu Yi.
“Offer them seats,” Yu Yi ordered indifferently.
“Yes.”
Yun Qianxue nodded and invited Ji Hongye and Liu Mingyan to sit.
True to her nature as a noble daughter, she maintained impeccable etiquette after sensing the serious atmosphere.
She neither diminished Yu Yi’s noble status nor lacked the grace required for hosting guests, making both parties feel quite comfortable.
Yu Yi’s gaze landed on the two people from the Sword Pavilion.
She took one look at Liu Mingyan and sensed a restless, young, and arrogant temperament that prided itself on talent.
Obviously, she could not be the Sword Emperor.
Then Yu Yi looked at the white-haired loli whose feet couldn’t even reach the floor after she sat down.
“…”
Yu Yi fell into deep thought for a moment.
Admittedly, she had not yet regained her memories regarding the Sword Emperor, and she found it hard to believe that the white-haired loli before her was that legend.
However, with just one glance, Yu Yi felt a heavy sense of history coming from the girl.
At this moment, she was like a thick book; the cover and paper were brand new, but the characters recorded upon them were like the eternal ages.
“Sword Emperor, what is the purpose of your visit to Among the Colorful Clouds today?”
Yu Yi asked indifferently.
She knew she was likely asking a question she already knew the answer to.
But what if the Sword Emperor had not come simply to demand that Wooden Sword back?
Facing Yu Yi’s question, the white-haired loli looked at her, a smile spreading across her porcelain-doll face.
She answered, “I missed you, so I came to see you.”
Yu Yi: “?”