As the voice rang out, an ethereal figure slowly approached from the distance.
She wore a long white dress with a thin, gauzy shawl draped over her soft shoulders. Her eyes were charming and soulful, and her features were framed by a mesmerizing aura that radiated elegance.
The moment she appeared, a massive commotion broke out.
“The Saintess… It’s the Saintess!”
“Why is she here? Did the commotion in the Outer Sect draw her out?”
“It must be! That has to be it!”
***
Shen Lingxi arrived in front of Gu Ming and offered a slight smile. “It has been a long time.”
Gu Ming blanked for a moment and gave a wry smile. “We just saw each other yesterday. How has it been a long time?”
Shen Lingxi did not respond, only gazing at him with eyes as tender as water.
Being watched by her like that made Gu Ming feel a bit bashful.
Just then, a panicked voice drifted over from nearby.
“Saintess! *Sob*... Saintess! Thank goodness you’re here. I was scared to death… The Second Elder is terrifying…”
Following the voice, a dainty figure came running. Xiao Yue sobbed as she rushed into Shen Lingxi’s arms, hugging her tightly.
Shen Lingxi gently patted Xiao Yue and said softly, “You notified me with a Sound-Transmission Talisman; how could I not come? Besides…”
She paused, looking at Gu Ming with affection before continuing, “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Xiao Yue was moved to tears.
Gu Ming rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling somewhat awkward. He had the distinct feeling the Saintess was speaking those words specifically to him.
“Alright, we can talk about the details later.” Shen Lingxi gently pushed Xiao Yue away and looked up at the sky. Her voice turned cold as she asked, “Second Elder, what are you doing? Do you intend to wipe out the disciples of my Saintess Mountain as well?”
In the sky, the Second Elder’s brow twitched. He knew he was in the wrong and didn’t want to answer her directly. “That pretty boy of yours hit my grandson. I am only here to seek justice for him.”
“Is that so?” Shen Lingxi looked calmly at Gu Ming.
Gu Ming nodded. “He was the one who started the trouble. He was simply lacking in skill and lost the fight.”
The Second Elder flew into a rage. “Since it was a spar, you should have shown mercy! How could you be so ruthless? Look at my grandson’s face… It’s been ruined!”
“But he was trying to kill me,” Gu Ming countered.
The moment those words left his mouth, a sudden chill filled the air. Gu Ming was startled to see Shen Lingxi’s face turn as cold as frost. A terrifying aura erupted from her, and her voice dripped with ice.
“Second Elder, you must give me an explanation for this. Otherwise, this matter will not end here.”
Xiao Yue was frightened by Shen Lingxi’s demeanor and retreated several steps. This was the first time she had seen the Saintess so angry. Even when the Saintess’s White Moonlight, Ye Yun, had been beaten in the past, she would usually just tell Xiao Yue to go hit them back. If Xiao Yue couldn’t win, they would bring more people to help. The Saintess rarely, if ever, intervened personally.
Xiao Yue looked at Gu Ming with a strange expression. She felt like the world was turning upside down. This man wasn’t Ye Yun; he just looked a bit like him. Why was the Saintess so angry? Even Ye Yun had never received this kind of treatment.
Gu Ming was also stunned. The Saintess’s reaction was truly beyond his expectations. ‘Is this what it’s like to be a personal disciple?’ he wondered. ‘Having a protective and overbearing Master is quite a blessing.’
In the sky, the Second Elder felt a pang of alarm. Years ago, when the Great Elder had plotted to let Ye Yun fall into the hands of the Demon Cult, the Saintess had only thrown a tantrum, beaten a few insignificant Elders, and destroyed several mountain peaks.
This was the first time he had seen the Saintess this furious.
He began to waver. If it came down to a one-on-one fight, he was no match for her. After all, the Saintess was a ruthless woman who had dared to lead a group of experts into the heart of the Demon Cult’s territory.
The Second Elder sighed. “Saintess, my grandson is already in this state. He has received his punishment. Furthermore, your disciple isn’t even injured. Can we just turn the page on this matter?”
The Second Elder’s concession caused a stir among the disciples. In their memory, the Second Elder was a man of power and authority, yet he had backed down the moment he encountered the Saintess.
Shen Lingxi didn’t reply to the Second Elder immediately. Instead, she looked at Gu Ming and asked softly, “Is that alright?”
Gu Ming rubbed the tip of his nose, feeling embarrassed, and nodded. What else could he want? He had beaten someone up, escaped punishment, and even forced the victim’s grandfather to negotiate for peace.
Seeing his nod, Shen Lingxi turned back to the Second Elder in the sky and said coldly, “No.”
The Second Elder’s temper flared instantly. He had already conceded to such an extent, yet the Saintess still wouldn’t let it go. Moreover, he had clearly seen Gu Ming nod in agreement.
“If the Saintess insists on testing her strength against mine, I will accompany you to the end!” The Second Elder flicked his sleeve, showing no fear.
“Unless… he personally apologizes to my personal disciple,” Shen Lingxi stated.
The Second Elder’s eyes flickered. He gritted his teeth and nodded. It was better than losing face in front of all the disciples. It didn’t matter if his grandson lost face, but if he lost face, it would be a major issue.
Gu Ming smiled bitterly. The Saintess was truly too protective.
He recalled Ling Yuyan’s evaluation of the Saintess as being overbearing and unreasonable. Looking at her now, it seemed those words were true.
The Second Elder waved his hand, and a surge of pure Spiritual Energy lifted Long Feiyu. Without looking back, he departed.
As the Second Elder left, the Outer Sect disciples breathed a sigh of relief. The crisis had been averted.
Shen Lingxi smiled and reached out her hand. “Come, let me take you to your residence.”
Gu Ming hesitated for a moment before reaching out and taking her hand amidst the envious gazes of the crowd.
Shen Lingxi’s eyes crinkled with joy. She released a burst of pure Spiritual Energy to lift Gu Ming, and they soared through the air toward another part of the Inner Sect.
Seeing her leave, the disciples below hurriedly bowed in gratitude.
“Farewell, Saintess!”
Amidst the loud chorus of voices, Xiao Yue chased after them for a few steps in a panic. “Saintess! What about me?”
However, Shen Lingxi, who was already lost in her happiness, did not respond. She simply held Gu Ming’s hand, enjoying their time alone. She had waited a long time for this day.
Even without saying anything, Shen Lingxi felt extremely happy.
Looking at the smiling Shen Lingxi, Gu Ming felt a bit strange. He was reminded of what had happened at the Martial Arts Tournament. At the time, he had clearly lied to Uncle Li, but Shen Lingxi had still protected him.
Why?
This confusion had been weighing on Gu Ming’s mind for a long time.
Taking this opportunity, Gu Ming decided to ask. He cleared his throat. “Saintess… Lady…”
“Just call me Lingxi.”
Shen Lingxi interrupted him before he could finish.
Gu Ming looked into her tender eyes and opened his mouth, but only managed to say, “That might not be appropriate…”
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