Lin Yue struggled against the violent medicinal energy in his body while keeping his mind alert for any anomalies that might appear.
His mind replayed every detail of tonight.
An Xiaoxiao’s innocent smile.
The harsh scraping sound of her wooden spoon against the earthenware pot.
Her morbidly dilated pupils when she grabbed his sleeve.
And finally, her light, threatening words before she left.
“If Senior Brother dares to lie to me, I’ll cut off your flesh piece by piece and stew it into soup like this, okay?”
These words were like a curse, echoing endlessly in Lin Yue’s mind.
‘This woman’s possessiveness has already twisted to another level.’
Lin Yue calculated inwardly.
The reason she didn’t make a move today was, first, because of his flawless “noble and righteous” speech.
Second, because she couldn’t figure out what trump card Chu Wanning had left on him.
The butterfly knot tied to the jade token was both a warning and a test.
If Chu Wanning discovered the abnormality on the jade token tomorrow, she would surely act.
And An Xiaoxiao would definitely be hiding in the shadows watching.
‘She’s using me as bait to hook Chu Wanning, the big fish.’
Lin Yue’s eyes snapped open, a glint of sharpness flashing within them.
The medicinal energy in his body had completely subsided.
He let out a long breath of turbid air, which shot out like a sword, creating a sonic boom in the void.
Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
With the help of that nourishing soup, Lin Yue not only stabilized his foundation but also smoothly broke through.
But he couldn’t be happy at all.
He lowered his head to look at the soft, comfortable bed.
The quilt still seemed to retain An Xiaoxiao’s body heat.
This wasn’t a bed.
It was clearly a spiderweb meticulously woven.
And he was the foolish flying insect who thought himself clever.
‘I guess a peaceful life is impossible.’
Lin Yue muttered to himself, turning over to get out of bed.
He didn’t continue sleeping there.
The suffocating feeling of being watched and wrapped made him extremely uncomfortable.
He walked to the corner, leaned his back against the cold wall, and hugged the heavy black iron greatsword.
Only this lifeless iron pillar could give him a true sense of security.
In this outer gate with no friends, no support, In an environment where even the person sleeping beside him could be a yandere murderess, Lin Yue could only trust himself.
He closed his eyes and entered a light sleep state.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, the “Karma Ledger” in his spiritual sea flashed again.
A line of faint gray words quietly appeared: [Three days until the Nine Heavens Sect’s ‘Ten Thousand Swords Ceremony’. The eye of the storm has formed. Host, please prepare for the full settlement of karma.]
The morning bell broke the silence of Outer Gate Peak.
Dong—dong—dong—
The melodious bell echoed among the mountains, announcing the start of a new day.
Lin Yue’s eyes snapped open.
His gaze was clear, with no trace of grogginess from waking.
He stood up, stretched his slightly stiff neck, and a series of cracking sounds came from his bones.
He pushed the door open.
The fresh mountain wind greeted him, carrying a hint of the morning’s chill.
The pink butterfly knot outside the door still hung quietly on the door knocker, as if mocking his predicament.
Lin Yue didn’t even glance at it.
He shouldered his greatsword and strode toward the Outer Gate square.
Today was the day for outer disciples to receive their monthly allowance and attend morning lessons.
It was also the day he had to face Mo Feng and the eyes of the crowd.
After yesterday’s battle at Longkou Gorge, Mo Feng’s attitude toward him had definitely undergone a sea change.
Sure enough.
When Lin Yue slowly walked to the edge of the square,
Mo Feng, who was originally lecturing a group of outer disciples, abruptly stopped.
Mo Feng’s perpetually stern face, the moment he saw Lin Yue, switched like a Sichuan opera mask into an extremely fawning smile.
He even forgot to maintain the dignity of a steward, directly abandoning the disciples he was instructing and running over in small steps to greet Lin Yue.
“Aiyo! Junior Brother Lin! You’re finally here!”
Mo Feng stretched out both hands from a distance, as if to embrace a long-lost father.
The surrounding outer disciples stared in disbelief.
“Is… is that Steward Mo? Did he take the wrong medicine today?”
“That waste Lin Yue carrying the black iron rod, how come the steward is so polite to him all of a sudden?”
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Lin Yue frowned.
He really couldn’t stand Mo Feng’s bootlicking demeanor.
“Steward Mo, so early in the morning, with such enthusiasm, this humble body can’t handle it.”
Lin Yue sidestepped to avoid Mo Feng’s “enthusiastic hug,” and at the same time, he slammed his greatsword into the ground.
Thud!
A dull sound.
The blue stone slabs of the square even trembled slightly.
Mo Feng’s movement froze instantly.
He glanced at the pitch-black iron pillar, and the terrifying image of Lin Yue shattering the Blood Python with one blow and instantly killing the Foundation Establishment traitor at Longkou Gorge yesterday replayed in his mind.
Cold sweat instantly soaked Mo Feng’s back.
He quickly restrained his excessive enthusiasm, replacing it with an extremely respectful, even somewhat fearful expression.
“Junior… Junior Brother Lin’s lesson is well taken. I was too abrupt.”
Mo Feng lowered his voice and moved close to Lin Yue.
“Um, about what you instructed yesterday, I’ve already taken care of it. The sect’s records clearly state that it was me who repelled Zhao Wu. You… you slept in the carriage the whole time, not even a hair was harmed.”
Lin Yue nodded in satisfaction.
“Clever.”
“But…” Mo Feng hesitated, seeming to have something to say.
“Spit it out if you have something to say.”
Lin Yue glanced at him sideways.
“The sect’s higher-ups are very concerned about the sudden appearance of the Blood Fiend Sect. The Inner Gate Discipline Hall has passed down word that for the ‘Ten Thousand Swords Ceremony’ three days from now, all outer disciples are required to attend as spectators.”
Mo Feng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
“Even… even Senior Sister Chu has sent a message that she will personally question this matter at the ceremony.”
Lin Yue’s movements stopped.
Chu Wanning will personally question it?
He instinctively touched the green jade token tied with a pink butterfly knot at his waist.
This was a big problem.
If at the Ten Thousand Swords Ceremony three days later, Chu Wanning publicly asked about the jade token, How would he explain the pink thread on it?
Tell her that his yandere little junior sister tied a “little dress” on it to claim ownership?
That image was too beautiful for Lin Yue to imagine.
He looked up and gazed toward the other end of the square.
Among the bustling crowd, he immediately spotted the petite figure in a goose-yellow dress.
An Xiaoxiao.
She was standing among a few female disciples, talking with a radiant smile.
As if feeling Lin Yue’s gaze, She turned her head slightly, piercing through layers of people, and accurately locked eyes with Lin Yue.
Then.
She extremely discreetly winked at Lin Yue with her big, watery eyes.
The corner of her mouth curled into an extremely sweet, yet chilling smile.
Lin Yue withdrew his gaze and let out a long sigh.
“The Ten Thousand Swords Ceremony, huh?”
He patted the iron pillar beside him, and his gaze gradually deepened.
“Fine. I want to see who the real protagonist of this play is.”