Fox Tail Sword Spirit—a 3rd-rank peak-grade spiritual tool.
It was forged by a Human Race Artifact Refiner in imitation of the Fox Tribe’s divine ability of hiding a sword within a tail.
Due to an error during the refining process, its greatest current use was likely to utilize the sword spirit used in its creation by fusing it into a weapon to enhance the blade’s edge.
However, Nalan Yunyan felt it was quite suitable for Qian Yu.
On a Half-Yao like her, who possessed Fox Tribe blood, perhaps it could manifest some other effects.
“Still, I can’t just give it to her like this.”
No matter how many resources one had, they had to be released little by little to maintain a monopoly and the sense of scarcity.
Nalan Yunyan favored Qian Yu, but the girl was a newcomer after all.
Everything she had done so far was mostly just talk.
If she simply gave the item away, it would be unfair to veterans like Tang Qiurou.
Furthermore…
Nalan Yunyan was somewhat concerned about that moment when Gu Qinghan’s gaze had met hers earlier.
Hadn’t the other woman already heard the recording and grown to loathe Qian Yu?
Why would she also take notice of this Fox Tail Sword Spirit?
Unable to figure it out, Nalan Yunyan, who had a straightforward personality, decided to ask her directly.
However, after she and Gu Qinghan bid farewell to the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable together.
The first sentence out of the other woman’s mouth made her temper flare instantly.
“Hey, Gu Qinghan, wait a moment. I have some things to ask you.”
“…”
Gu Qinghan looked at the approaching Nalan Yunyan and fell into thought.
Since she had experienced Rebirth, she could not be like her previous life—hesitant and indecisive, watching things deteriorate until they were unavoidable.
She had to take proactive action.
For example, by using hints to advise Nalan Yunyan to take this battle against the Demon Race seriously, so that she wouldn’t have the chance to take the field.
Even if the effect was small, it was better than just watching.
“I can answer your questions.”
Having made a decision in her heart, Gu Qinghan looked levelly at Nalan Yunyan and gave a “cold” smile.
“But if it isn’t anything important, I think you should go back and focus on your cultivation. The competition with the Demon Race is vital. I don’t want you to bring shame to the Sect after you lose.”
After saying this, Gu Qinghan felt a few degrees more satisfied.
She felt that after her Rebirth, both her level of thinking and her manner of speaking had indeed improved significantly.
First, when “hinting” to Nalan Yunyan, she didn’t speak as bluntly as before.
Instead, she took a roundabout way to spark the other’s attention through the lens of the Sect’s honor.
This was the art of circumvention.
Second, to prevent the atmosphere from becoming too icy, she did not remain expressionless but instead showed a kind smile.
This was the etiquette of communication.
Thinking of this, Gu Qinghan felt that her smile just now seemed a bit too faint, so she smiled once more at the Nalan Yunyan in front of her.
“I hope you understand what I mean. Work hard.”
Mhm. This way, Nalan Yunyan surely wouldn’t misunderstand her intentions.
Just as Gu Qinghan was thinking this, in the next second, the blonde girl in front of her suddenly blew a fuse.
She had no idea how “sinister” and “scornful” her smile had looked just now, nor how much destructive power her naturally cold tone added to it.
“Gu Qinghan!!!”
Nalan Yunyan was stunned.
Although she had always disliked and even hated Gu Qinghan, considering they briefly shared a common enemy, she had intended to exchange information after asking about the matter regarding Qian Yu.
She never expected that from the moment she walked up, the woman would keep sneering at her.
After sneering, she even mocked her with cold words, telling her to work hard with an arrogant face.
Did she really look down on her strength that much?
Born into a great family, Nalan Yunyan was no stranger to acting high and mighty herself, and she had always intended to provoke Gu Qinghan before.
But it wasn’t until the woman actually fought back that she realized how infuriating it was when this icy woman started mocking people.
“Mind your own business.”
Nalan Yunyan wanted nothing more than to draw her sword on the spot.
Considering they hadn’t left the Sect Master’s sight yet, she could only suppress the fury in her heart and speak coldly to Gu Qinghan.
“Counting the matter with Xiao Ya, things between us won’t end just like this!”
The young lady brushed past and left.
Gu Qinghan tilted her head again—who was Xiao Ya? Also, was she angry?
She didn’t understand.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Nalan Yunyan made her gilded openwork high heels click loudly as she charged straight toward the Cave Residence prepared for Qian Yu.
She had figured it out.
Gu Qinghan’s rudeness just now————it was all because of Qian Yu!
The woman was clearly incensed that she had instructed Qian Yu to betray her, which was why she spoke that way.
In that case…
“Qian Yu, after you finish your meditation, come with me to a certain place. This is your reward.”
After leaving a voice transmission at the entrance, Nalan Yunyan tossed the Fox Tail Sword Spirit she had just obtained from the Sect Master inside.
She didn’t care about rationing resources anymore.
She wanted to take Qian Yu and flaunt her in front of Gu Qinghan right now, immediately!
Wasn’t that woman angry because of this?
Then she would hold hands and put her arm around her shoulder right in front of her—anything would do.
In short, the eldest miss of the Nalan family, who had never suffered such an insult, was going to retaliate fiercely!!!
“Qian Yu, can you hear me?”
The Cave Residence in front of her showed no reaction, making Nalan Yunyan a bit anxious.
As a true lady of a great family, she didn’t just charge in and interrupt Qian Yu’s meditation, but the fire burning in her chest made her want to carry Qian Yu out right now.
She had already given the reward.
The girl’s aura showed she wasn’t in a deep state of meditation, so why wasn’t she coming out!
Just as she was considering whether to force her way in, the gate suddenly opened.
The Half-Yao girl with a pair of large fox ears walked out, looking up at her with a complicated expression.
“Senior Sister, did you take me in as your subordinate just to spite Gu Qinghan…?”
What else?
Nalan Yunyan was about to speak reflexively when she saw Qian Yu’s small hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, and she swallowed her words.
She remembered that this little Half-Yao liked her very much and was even willing to summon great courage for her sake.
If she simply nodded now, it would probably break the girl’s heart.
The anger in her heart was dampened slightly by Qian Yu’s soft, pitiful eyes, but soon, Nalan Yunyan remembered something else.
“Wait, I haven’t even said what I’m taking you to do. Why did you ask about Gu Qinghan?”
“Because you care about her too much, Senior Sister. Ever since you lost to her once, you’ve…”
“I didn’t lose!”
Before Qian Yu could finish, Nalan Yunyan interrupted her directly.
She hadn’t lost to Gu Qinghan at all.
The woman had just used a trick. In a fair fight, she wouldn’t lose to her.
“And what about after that? Why did your subsequent challenges all end in failure, Senior Sister?”
Disregarding Nalan Yunyan’s golden eyes that seemed to be spitting fire, Qian Yu continued.
“Moreover, Senior Sister, you know that Gu Qinghan didn’t even accept your challenges those later times. You were the one who took things like the number of demons slain or the time spent contemplating the Dao as competitions with her on your own. Then you got angry because you felt you lost. If that isn’t caring about her, then what is?”
“Qian Yu!!!”
Already fuming from her encounter with Gu Qinghan, having her most sensitive thoughts exposed by Qian Yu now caused Nalan Yunyan to finally lose control of her anger.
Her composure shattered.
Golden Lightning flickered across her body, and the space seemed to fall into a swamp-like dead silence in that instant.
No matter how much she favored her, she wouldn’t allow the girl to say such things to her!
What did she mean by saying Gu Qinghan didn’t even want to compete with her and that she was just being self-indulgent?
Was this how a subordinate should speak?
Just as she was about to give this ungrateful Half-Yao a lesson, a sensation like a soft cotton cloud suddenly pressed into her embrace.
“Senior Sister, I just want to tell you not to care too much about winning or losing. A true powerhouse will still become number one even if they hold a broken sword or face the Grand Abyss. Because they have already done their best.”
Qian Yu had actually hugged her.
As she gently patted her back, those quiet but tender words were soft and light, yet they carried an indescribable sense of trust and encouragement.
For the first time in her life, Nalan Yunyan’s mind went blank for a moment.
What did she mean by ‘as long as you do your best, no one can take your first place’?
And how did Qian Yu dare to hug her?
This feeling…
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