Inside the cave dwelling.
Lu Ning looked at the flickering emerald-green light on the tip of Hua Lingyue’s finger and felt the strange, dissolving power contained within it.
‘This is bad,’ she thought to herself.
Her supposedly perfect disguise from the Seamless Mask was likely about to be shattered.
“Fairy, let us talk this out…” Lu Ning attempted one last struggle.
However, Hua Lingyue gave her no opportunity at all.
The smile on her face remained innocent and romantic, but her large, expressive eyes twinkled with a sense of playfulness.
“Do not worry, I am simply helping you wipe some dirt off your face.”
As soon as she finished speaking, that wisp of emerald light drifted down and landed on Lu Ning’s face.
A cool sensation instantly spread through her entire body.
The Seamless Mask on Lu Ning’s face began to dissolve and disintegrate at an incredible speed.
Immediately afterward, the bones in her body emitted a series of faint popping sounds.
Her figure and aura, which had been deliberately disguised, returned to their original state at that moment.
When the last trace of the disguise vanished, a peerless face was completely exposed to the air.
What kind of face was it?
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, and her eyes resembled the shimmering ripples of autumn water.
With a delicate nose, cherry lips, and skin as smooth as congealed jade, she possessed two completely opposite temperaments—one cold and aloof, the other soft and charming.
They blended together perfectly to form a unique charm capable of making anyone sink into obsession.
The moment Hua Lingyue saw this face, she was stunned.
Her eyes widened, her small mouth parted slightly, and the movements of her hands came to a halt.
Her expression shifted from initial shock to total infatuation.
She had seen many beauties.
For example, her own master, Su Yuexi, was one of the top beauties in the world.
The Saintess of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Gu Qinghuan, was likewise elegant and possessed unparalleled features.
But the face before her seemed to have gathered all the spiritual essence of heaven and earth; it was beautiful beyond the limits of her imagination.
Especially those eyes.
They were clear and indifferent, as if they contained the vast stars and the great sea.
A single glance was enough to make one sink into them, unable to pull themselves away.
Gulp.
Hua Lingyue subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
She felt her heart skip a beat in that moment.
So… the rumors were true.
No, the rumors weren’t even enough to describe one-ten-thousandth of her beauty.
“You…”
Hua Lingyue’s voice carried a hint of a tremor.
As she looked at the face before her, the last shred of doubt in her heart was finally resolved.
She finally understood why those two incredibly arrogant women, Gu Qinghuan and Ji Linglong, would become jealous and even come to blows over her.
If it were her, she would probably do the exact same thing.
“It seems you really are that Sect Master Lu of the Heavenly Demon Sect.”
Hua Lingyue’s voice carried an inexplicable excitement.
Since things had come to this, Lu Ning knew there was no point in continuing the disguise.
She simply gave up on further excuses.
Although her body was still weak, the loftiness and cold arrogance belonging to the Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect returned to her in an instant.
She looked at Hua Lingyue quietly, her cold eyes showing not a single ripple of emotion.
“Indeed. I am Lu Ning.”
Seeing her admit it so frankly and immediately switch back to her “Great Demon” aura, Hua Lingyue did not feel afraid.
Instead, she felt even more excited.
“As expected of the North Region’s strongest demon.”
The cynical smile returned to Hua Lingyue’s face.
“Even if a tiger is fallen, its majesty is still beyond that of ordinary people.”
As she spoke, she used a nearly frivolous gesture to pinch Lu Ning’s chin.
“However…”
A devious light flashed in Hua Lingyue’s eyes.
“Not long ago, your precious disciple, Gu Qinghuan, made me lose face in front of the disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley. I nearly lost my life.”
“Tell me, how should we settle this debt?”
“You have to give me an explanation, don’t you?”
Hearing this, Lu Ning’s brow furrowed slightly.
She knew Hua Lingyue was intentionally looking for trouble.
In her current state, it was impossible for her to give the other party any kind of “explanation.”
But she could not show weakness.
The moment she showed weakness, she would completely become a plaything in the other’s hands.
“Oh?”
The corners of Lu Ning’s mouth curved into a slight arc.
“Then what do you want?”
“It is very simple.”
Hua Lingyue’s thumb gently rubbed against Lu Ning’s smooth chin.
“Since she is your disciple, then this debt should naturally be repaid by you, her master.”
“As the saying goes, a disciple’s debt is the master’s to pay. It is only right and proper.”
Hearing this, Lu Ning’s voice turned cold.
“I advise you not to push your luck.”
“Although my cultivation has plummeted, I am still not someone you can manipulate at will.”
“Once I return to the Heavenly Demon Sect, I will have my disciple personally come to Hundred Flowers Valley to offer a formal apology. How is that for an explanation?”
“Additionally, I can actually help you with other matters…”
Lu Ning tried to use this stalling tactic to stabilize the situation.
She was well aware of how much impact her current appearance had on someone like Hua Lingyue, who shared similar “tastes.”
She had to get rid of this troublesome woman as quickly as possible.
However, after hearing her words, Hua Lingyue reacted as if she had heard some sort of massive joke and burst out laughing.
“Hahaha…”
Her laughter was crisp and pleasant to the ear, yet it sent a chill through Lu Ning.
“Sect Master Lu, have you misunderstood something?”
“Do you really take me for a three-year-old?”
“You still want to use such words to fool me?”
“Return to the Heavenly Demon Sect? A formal apology?”
“Do you think I will easily let you leave today?”
Hua Lingyue’s tone suddenly became sharp.
She approached Lu Ning step by step, releasing the pressure of a Soul Transformation stage cultivator without reservation.
Driven back by this momentum, Lu Ning retreated repeatedly until her back pressed against the cold wall of the cave.
She had no way left to retreat.
Hua Lingyue reached out and braced her hand against the wall next to Lu Ning, trapping her between herself and the stone.
“Do you think I don’t know what you are thinking in that heart of yours?”
“You want to stabilize me and then find an opportunity to escape, right?”
Having her thoughts exposed, Lu Ning’s expression changed slightly, but she still forced herself to remain silent.
“It seems I guessed correctly.”
The corners of Hua Lingyue’s mouth curled into a wicked arc.
Looking at how Lu Ning was clearly nervous yet still pretending to be calm, the desire for conquest in her heart grew even stronger.
“However, you did remind me just now.”
Hua Lingyue’s tone shifted, and a sharp light flashed in her eyes.
“You said you could help me?”
Lu Ning’s heart stirred, knowing her chance had come.
She looked at the pretty face close at hand and spoke slowly.
“Correct.”
“I know you have always been infatuated with your master, Su Yuexi, but have suffered because you cannot have her.”
“I can help you.”
“I can help you gain her appreciation, and even…”
Lu Ning did not finish the sentence, but the meaning was already self-evident.
This was the only bargaining chip she could think of to negotiate with Hua Lingyue.
She did not believe Hua Lingyue would be unmoved by such a proposal.
Sure enough, after hearing her words, a flicker of interest flashed through those lively eyes.
But very quickly, she suppressed that interest.
“Heh.”
Hua Lingyue let out a soft laugh, her smile carrying a hint of mockery.
“Sect Master Lu, you are truly skilled at diverting attention.”
“Help me gain Master’s appreciation? Do you think I would believe such words?”
“Besides…”
Hua Lingyue’s gaze fell upon Lu Ning once more, her eyes showing unmasked aggression.
“Compared to some illusory future, I am more interested in you right now.”
“The fact that the dignified Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect is a woman of peerless beauty and that her cultivation has dropped to the Foundation Establishment stage…”
“Sect Master Lu, you probably do not want those enemies of yours who are watching you like tigers to find out, do you?”
Hua Lingyue’s voice sounded like a demon’s whisper in Lu Ning’s ear.
“Besides, as the master, you have a responsibility to first properly ‘atone’ to me for your precious disciple…”