Within three days, even the winds atop the Ninth Heaven were restless. The news that Su Wanwan would be leaving the Su Clan temporarily to search for her disciple spread through the Immortal Realm as if it had grown wings, drawing waves of skepticism from every direction.
Some factions once allied with the Heavenly Emperor mocked her in private, sneering that she โplaced personal feelings above her clan.โ Neutral immortal sects worried that turmoil in the Su Clan would disrupt the balance of the Immortal Realm, and even several rogue immortals who had benefited from the Su Clan tried to persuade Wei Ling in secret to stop her once more.
Su Wanwan, dressed in a pitch-black immortal robe, with a fully restored jade pendant at her waist, walked slowly out of the ancestral shrine. Wei Ling had already assembled the personal guard, ranks drawn up in readiness, their dark armor gleaming coldly in the morning light, though it could not hide the concern in her eyes. โYoung Mistress, will you truly not wait a while longer? Last night, the Dan Ding Sect even sent someoneโโ
โNo need to wait.โ Su Wanwan cut her off, her voice wrapped in spiritual power as it echoed through the Su Clanโs ancestral grounds. โFor ten thousand years, the Su Clan has not stood by hiding from troubles, but by holding fastโprotecting our peopleโs peace and upholding the rules that must be kept. Lin Mo is my disciple. He broke the rules. As his Master, I must go and bring him back myself.โ
As her words fell, several streaks of light shot across the skyโsect leaders whose doubts had been the sharpest. The foremost, Golden Radiance Immortal Lord, landed before her, voice pressing, โFairy Su! If you leave now, the Su Clan will be headless and the order weโve just restored in the Immortal Realm may fall into chaos! How can you place your personal feelings above the greater good of the Immortal Realm?โ
โPersonal feelings?โ Su Wanwan raised her eyes, all gentleness stripped away, leaving only a chill as sharp as a blade. โWhen my Su Clan was framed back then, not one in the Immortal Realm dared speak a word. When I was trapped in the Guixu, did any of you ever care for the so-called greater good? Now that I am seeking out a disciple who has broken the rules, to set right the order between master and pupil for the Immortal Realm, it suddenly becomes โpersonal feelingsโ?โ
She raised the jade pendant high above her head. Instantly, it burst into blinding golden light. A scene of a modern bedroom unfurled in midairโnot a posture of intimacy, but Lin Mo lowering his head, and in his eyes, the clear emotion that crossed the boundary between disciple and master, laid bare before every immortal present.
โSee for yourselves,โ Su Wanwanโs voice thundered, stirring the sea of clouds. โHe is my disciple, Su Wanwanโs disciple. He must remember his place! Today, I go to find himโnot to shield him, but to bring him back to the Immortal Realm, to teach him the rules anew. I will not permit such breaches to destroy the proper order!โ
Golden Radiance Immortal Lordโs face turned pale. He still wished to argue, but Su Wanwan raised her hand, summoning the Icy Rain Sword. With a deep hum, the blade shuddered, green sword aura piercing the heavens, splitting the clouds apart and revealing, faintly, the phantoms of Su Clan ancestors within the rift.
โI, Su Wanwan, swear here and now.โ Sword tip pointed at the sky, her voice carried across the Ninth Heaven. โIf I cannot bring Lin Mo back and set things right, I will forever remain trapped in the Guixu, never to step into the Immortal Realm again! If my temporary absence brings chaos to the Su Clan, then upon my return, I will use my own immortal essence to atone!โ
The sword aura, wrapped in her vow, sent shudders through the hearts of all the immortals present. All sneers and doubts vanished like mist in the sun.
Everyone understood that with this oath upon her immortal essence, Su Wanwan had bound her own fate and that of the Su Clan together. Such determination left no room for doubt.
Wei Ling gazed at her upright back, then suddenly dropped to her knees. All three thousand cultivators of the personal guard followed suit, one knee to the ground, their armor striking the earth in perfect unison. โWe humbly send off the Young Mistress! We swear to protect the Su Clan, and await the Young Mistressโs return with Young Master, to set things right!โ
Su Wanwan turned back, her gaze sweeping over the immortals present, finally resting on Wei Ling. A trace of warmth flickered in her eyes, but was soon replaced by steely resolve. โWei Ling, I leave the Su Clan in your hands.โ With that, she strode toward the light curtain before the ancestral memorial tabletโthe entrance guided by her jade pendant.
Just before stepping into the light, she cast one last glance at the sea of clouds over the Ninth Heaven. The jade pendant trembled faintly in her palm.
Su Wanwan took a deep breath, pressing all her longing and turmoil into the depths of her heart, holding only a single resolve: to find Moโer, to teach him what it means to call her โMasterโ againโnever to let the title of master and disciple be tainted by such absurdity.
The curtain of light slowly closed behind her, leaving only silent immortals in her wake. Throughout the Ninth Heaven, the legend of Fairy Suโs vow to uphold order and seek out her disciple began to spread in hushed tones.
ใThat swordโฆใ
ใThat sighโฆ Youโve already made your decisionโฆใ
The messages on the interface continued to refresh.
But at this moment, Su Wanwanโs mind was entirely elsewhere, far from any simulation.
Thatโs right. She was Su Wanwan. She was Lin Moโs teacher.
She was someone who likedโฆ Lin Mo.
Was she truly just his teacher?
Then why, just now, did she have the feeling that if she truly severed the red thread of fateโฆ
In that instant, Su Wanwanโs heart was thrown into utter chaos.
โLin! Mo!โ Su Wanwanโs voice suddenly rose, the corners of her short-sleeved T-shirt fluttering from the surge of spiritual energy. She was supposed to โset things rightโโso how had she ended up lying on the same bed as Lin Mo? This scene was even more shocking than what the pendant had shown, making her want to draw the Icy Rain Sword on the spot and split the soft mattress in two.
But just as she raised her hand, Lin Mo unconsciously grasped it, as if disturbed by her voice. Instead of moving away, he snuggled closer, his head nestling against her shoulder, just like he used to rest beside her after exhausting sword practice in the Immortal Realm.
That familiar sense of reliance wrapped around her, and Su Wanwanโs anger suddenly hit a snag. Her ears flushed bright red, and even her voice softened by half. โY-Youโฆ How dare you! Let go!โ
Though her tone was fierce, she didnโt dare pull her hand away forcefully, afraid of waking himโand even more afraid that such closeness would make her forget โwhoโ she was. Rigid with tension, she stared at the chandelier on the ceiling, her mind in turmoil: one side screaming, โA masterโs dignity must never be violated!โ; the other side savoring the warmth against her shoulder, her very breath growing cautious for fear of disturbing this absurd, yet strangely comforting, moment.
Just then, Lin Mo murmured drowsily, rubbing his face against her shoulder, his voice husky with sleep. โMasterโฆโ
โDonโt sleep!โ Su Wanwan snapped back to herself, but the moment she moved her hand, Lin Mo, as if someone had flipped a switch, rolled over abruptly and pressed against her, his arm circling her waist as he nuzzled in like she was a pillow, mumbling, โMasterโฆ Just five more minutesโฆโ
Su Wanwan instantly stiffened like a board, feeling his warm breath on her pale neck, his armโs weight at her waist, even the ticklish brush of his hair against her skinโall clear as day. Her cheeks turned a vivid crimson, the flush spreading from her ears down her neck, her voice shifting an octave. โY-Youโฆ Move away right now!โ
She shouted, but didnโt dare push hard, afraid of waking him and losing control of the situation. She was even more afraid that in her flustered state sheโd lose her dignity as a master. All she could do was freeze, glaring at the ceiling, her mind a battlefield between two immortal beastsโone howling โA masterโs dignity must not be disgraced!โ, the other scratching โBut isnโt it kind of warm, being held like thisโฆโ
As her inner struggle raged, Lin Mo stirred again, fumbling for her until he found her tightly clenched hand. Without thinking, he squeezed it. โMaster, why are your hands so coldโฆโ
That did it. She yanked her hand backโand lost control, accidentally smacking Lin Mo right on the forehead with a loud โsmack.โ
Lin Mo yelped in pain and finally opened his eyes, blinking at her in confusion. โMasterโฆ Why are you glaring at me?โ
Su Wanwan looked at the bewilderment in his eyes, recalled her own embarrassment just now, and was seized by both anger and shame. She grabbed the pillow at hand and threw it at him. โGlaring at you? I want to hit you! Who let you sleep on the same bed as your teacher! Such audacity!โ
The pillow hit Lin Mo squarely in the face. He froze for two seconds before slowly sitting up and scratching his head. โHuh? Havenโt we always shared a bed tonightโฆโ
Su Wanwan: โโฆโฆโ
Right now, she didnโt just want to split the bedโshe wanted to throw this disciple whoโd forgotten โthe order between master and pupilโ right back into the furnace and start over!