Su Yuexi’s voice was soft, but it made Lu Ning’s body tremble violently.
“Master… Master, you’ve come out of seclusion?”
Su Yuexi nodded.
“Good disciple, your Master has come out early. I’ve come this time because there’s a very important matter that requires your personal presence.”
Lu Ning felt slightly confused upon hearing this.
“Master, what… what do you want me to do?”
“Don’t be nervous.”
Su Yuexi chuckled, her smile carrying a hint of playfulness.
“This is a good thing for you.”
“That devoted disciple of yours, the Saintess of the Tianmo Sect, Gu Qinghuan.”
“She has come to our Baihuagu.”
What?
Gu Qinghuan was here?
Hearing this news, Lu Ning’s mind went blank.
‘How did that rebellious disciple find her way here?’
“What… what is she here for?”
“What for?”
The corners of Su Yuexi’s mouth curved upward.
“Naturally, she’s here to find her dear Master.”
“She seems to have sensed your presence in our Baihuagu. Right now, she’s in the Yushi Hall, specifically demanding that I hand you over.”
“And…” Su Yuexi paused, a flicker of “distress” passing through her gentle eyes.
“That good disciple of yours seems to have encountered a great opportunity. Her cultivation has actually broken through to the Mahayana Stage.”
“She’s acting quite formidable now, threatening to flatten our entire Baihuagu if I don’t hand you over.”
The Mahayana Stage!
‘That rebellious disciple Gu Qinghuan actually broke through to the Mahayana Stage?’
Lu Ning was utterly shocked by the news.
How long had it been?
“Master, aren’t you… aren’t you at the Great Perfection of the Mahayana Stage? Are you really afraid of her, someone who just reached the Early Mahayana Stage?”
Lu Ning asked subconsciously.
“Afraid?”
Su Yuexi acted as if she had heard something hilarious, covering her mouth as she laughed softly.
“Naturally, I am not afraid of her.”
“It’s just…” Su Yuexi’s face took on a “troubled” expression.
“On the surface, I have always just been the Sect Leader of Baihuagu at the Early Integration Stage.”
“Furthermore, your dear disciple and I used to address each other as sisters. She even helped me with one small favor before. I can’t exactly turn against her over such a trivial matter, can I?”
Su Yuexi’s gaze fell upon Lu Ning, the meaning in her eyes clear without being spoken.
Lu Ning understood instantly.
Su Yuexi wanted to continue hiding her strength and act as the mastermind behind the scenes.
She didn’t want to personally step forward to deal with Gu Qinghuan.
“So, what you mean is…”
“Exactly.”
Su Yuexi nodded, a “kind” smile appearing on her face.
“I’ve thought it over, and it’s most appropriate for you, the Master, to personally step forward and resolve this matter.”
“Go and persuade your dear disciple to go back.”
“Tell her that you are just a guest here at my Baihuagu and will naturally return to the Tianmo Sect after some time.”
“As long as you can fool her into leaving and stop her from bothering me, our Master-disciple relationship can be put on hold for a while.”
As Su Yuexi spoke, she reached out and gently pulled Lu Ning into her arms.
The warm, soft contact made Lu Ning’s body tremble slightly.
She could feel Su Yuexi’s restless hand tracing light circles on her lower back.
“Of course…” Su Yuexi’s voice rang in her ear, carrying a hint of threat.
“If you don’t handle this well and she discovers something she shouldn’t…”
“Then your Master will have to use some special methods to help your dear disciple give up hope.”
“For instance, letting her have a good look at what her high-and-mighty Master looks like in front of me.”
As she spoke, Su Yuexi took out the image-recording stone that Lu Ning hated with a passion from her storage ring and waved it before her eyes.
“You wouldn’t want her to see this, would you?”
Despicable!
Shameless!
Lu Ning cursed Su Yuexi thousands of times in her heart.
But she knew she had no choice.
She couldn’t let Gu Qinghuan see the contents of that stone; if the girl fell into darkness because of it, the consequences would be even more severe.
More importantly, with Gu Qinghuan’s impulsive nature, if they actually started fighting, she would be in grave danger.
Her current strength was no match for Su Yuexi.
Staying here would not only fail to help Lu Ning but would also provide Su Yuexi with another bargaining chip to threaten her.
Having her return to the Tianmo Sect first was indeed the best choice for now.
“Fine…” Lu Ning nodded with difficulty.
“I promise you.”
“That’s more like it.”
Su Yuexi smiled with satisfaction.
She released Lu Ning and gave her a light kiss on her still-flushed cheek.
“My good disciple is so obedient.”
As she spoke, she took a set of brand-new clothes from her storage ring.
It was a simple, elegant long dress as white as snow, with several delicate orchids embroidered in silver thread along the hem.
It looked ethereal and untainted by the dust of the world.
“Come, Master will help you change.”
Without letting Lu Ning refuse, Su Yuexi began to dress her.
Soon, a “fairy” with an otherworldly beauty and an aura as refined as an orchid appeared in the cave dwelling.
Looking at the masterpiece she had personally dressed, a flash of admiration and obsession crossed Su Yuexi’s eyes.
“Truly beautiful,” she praised sincerely.
Immediately after, she took Lu Ning’s hand and led her out of the cave.
“Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep your dear disciple waiting.”
Baihuagu, Yushi Hall.
At this moment, the atmosphere inside the hall—which was usually only opened for discussing major sect matters—felt somewhat oppressive.
A stunningly beautiful woman dressed in a black dress stood in the center of the hall with her hands behind her back.
She simply stood there silently, yet the pressure of a Mahayana Stage powerhouse enveloped the entire Baihuagu.
When Lu Ning followed Su Yuexi into the hall, the first thing she saw was that familiar back.
Just then, Gu Qinghuan seemed to sense something.
She slowly turned around.
When her gaze landed on Lu Ning, those eyes that were originally as cold as frost were instantly replaced by endless joy.
“Master!”
Gu Qinghuan’s voice trembled.
In the next moment, she could no longer suppress the emotions in her heart.
Her figure blurred, appearing before Lu Ning as if she had teleported.
Then, under Su Yuexi’s interested gaze, she reached out her arms and tightly pulled the figure she had missed day and night into her embrace.
“Master! I’ve finally found you again!”
Her voice was filled with the joy of regaining something lost.
Lu Ning was left breathless by the sudden hug.
She could feel Gu Qinghuan’s body trembling slightly.
“Qing… Qinghuan…”
“Master, I missed you so much…”
Gu Qinghuan buried her face in Lu Ning’s chest, greedily inhaling the familiar scent that had haunted her dreams.
“During the days I was in seclusion, not a single day went by that I didn’t think of you.”
“I was so afraid… so afraid that I would never see you again…”
Hearing these words of true feeling, Lu Ning’s thoughts were in a whirlwind.
She knew this rebellious disciple was sincere toward her, even if that sincerity was somewhat obsessive and unhealthy.
“I… I missed you too.”
Lu Ning hesitated for a moment before reaching out to gently pat her back in comfort.
After receiving a response, Gu Qinghuan’s body froze for a second.
She slowly raised her head, her clear eyes full of pleasant surprise.
She released Lu Ning and scrutinized her carefully.
Then, as if remembering something, she turned her head and looked coldly at Su Yuexi.
“Sect Leader Su, thank you for taking care of my Master during this time.”
Though her tone was polite, the suspicion in her eyes was unconcealed.
“Sister Qinghuan is too polite.”
Su Yuexi smiled gently.
“Sect Leader Lu is my benefactor; it’s only right that I look after her. I was originally thinking of sending someone to the Tianmo Sect to inform you once Sect Leader Lu’s injuries stabilized a bit more. It seems I’ve done something unnecessary.”
Gu Qinghuan snorted coldly, clearly not believing a word of it.
She turned her gaze back to Lu Ning, her expression instantly becoming incredibly tender.
“Master, after you displayed such divine might at the Dahuang Dynasty, why didn’t you return directly to the Tianmo Sect? Why did you come to Baihuagu instead? Do you know how worried your disciple was?”
Lu Ning glanced at Su Yuexi, who was standing to the side with a beaming smile as if watching a play.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Ning began her performance.
“Qinghuan, although I repelled the people from the Dahuang Dynasty back then, I also suffered significant injuries.”
A “weak” expression appeared on Lu Ning’s face.
“Afterward, I happened to pass by Baihuagu, and Sect Leader Su offered her assistance.”
“I planned to return to the sect once my injuries were fully healed.”
Lu Ning’s explanation was seamless.
Sure enough, although Gu Qinghuan still had some doubts in her heart, she didn’t press further.
She only wanted to take her Master back to the Tianmo Sect as soon as possible, back to the place that belonged only to the two of them.
“Master, since your injuries are no longer a concern, let’s return to the Tianmo Sect now.”
Gu Qinghuan took Lu Ning’s hand, her tone determined.
“There are many matters in the sect waiting for you to handle.”
“This…” A troubled expression appeared on Lu Ning’s face.
She looked at Su Yuexi, who was giving her a “kind” smile.
That smile seemed to say: ‘If you dare to leave with her, you’re dead.’
“Qinghuan,” Lu Ning spoke with difficulty.
“I still have some unfinished business here at Baihuagu.”
“How about this? You return to the Tianmo Sect first and take charge for me. Once I’ve handled things here, I will naturally return after a while.”
Hearing this, Gu Qinghuan’s brows furrowed instantly.
Deep confusion flashed in her cold eyes.
She didn’t understand.
What could be more important than returning to the sect?
‘Why is Master unwilling to go with me?’
Gu Qinghuan’s gaze fell on Su Yuexi again, the hostility in her eyes growing thicker.
She had an intuition that her Master’s refusal to leave was definitely related to this woman.
“Master.”
Gu Qinghuan’s voice grew cold.
“You must come with me today.”
“Don’t worry. If I want to take you away, no one in this Baihuagu can stop me.”
Her words were filled with immense confidence.
Although she knew Su Yuexi’s true cultivation was at the Late Mahayana Stage, she had absolute confidence in her own unique Great Yin Body.
Even though she was only at the Early Mahayana Stage, she had the power to fight someone at the Late Mahayana Stage.
However, to Gu Qinghuan’s surprise, Lu Ning slowly pulled her hand away.
She looked at Gu Qinghuan with eyes full of apology.
“Qinghuan.”
“I said, I don’t want to go back for now.”
As the words fell, the entire hall became silent.
Gu Qinghuan stared blankly at Lu Ning, her cold eyes filled with disbelief.
Her Master… had actually rejected her?