Volume 1, Chapter 23: Knocking at the Door

Dongfang Jue was dressed in a crimson silk robe, with protective soft armor beneath her chest and dark iron skirt-mail cinched at her slender waist. Her hair was bound with a red cord, and a smile danced upon her vermillion lips, her eyes and brows radiating a heroic, spirited air. Clutching a long spear, she possessed a bold and uninhibited demeanor, much like Mulan in the military ranks. With such national beauty, countless young masters both inside and outside the royal palace drooled over her. With her supreme natural talent, countless prestigious sects across the land sought her out with fervent desire.

This was not the first time Ye Qinghan had seen her; they had previously met at the Lingshan martial arts arena, where that girl had been her opponent. However, Ye Qinghan was also a peerless talent, and ever since their last match ended in a draw, Dongfang Jue seemed deeply dissatisfied with her. Whether it was the mutual appreciation of heroes or simple jealousy, she never failed to throw a few taunts whenever she encountered Ye Qinghan. Now that she knew Ye Qinghan had actually joined that pathetic sect, the Lingxian Hall, all for the sake of a broken sword, Dongfang Jue found it both laughable and frustrating. Among their peers, Ye Qinghan was the only one capable of fighting her to a draw. It was a waste of such immense talent to throw away a brilliant future for a mere sword.

Watching the gates of the Treasure Hall, which had been sealed shut the moment she entered, Dongfang Jue wore the smile of a victor. But when she turned around, even the exceptionally gifted Dongfang Jue could no longer smile. The two small dogs from before had expanded several times over, transforming into the ferocious beasts Xu Zhanfeng had described. Having replicated Dongfang Jue’s cultivation, both beasts were now at the late Foundation Establishment stage!

"Damn it, they’re quite intimidating!" Dongfang Jue spat, flicking her spear. "Heh, I shall see what you're made of!"

Ye Qinghan was in no hurry. She casually pulled a chair out from her jade pendant and sat outside the door to watch.

"Lady Dongfang has impressive skills!" Shi Yao remarked, unceremoniously plopping herself down onto Ye Qinghan’s lap.

Ye Qinghan was stunned. *Oh? This dim-witted Saintess certainly doesn't stand on ceremony!*

"Indeed, indeed! Shi Yao has long heard that Sister Dongfang’s spear work is nothing short of divine. Seeing it today, the rumors are truly well-founded!"

Dongfang Jue was so furious she could have cursed. Here she was, battling ferocious beasts, while those two sat outside watching! And they weren't just watching—they wouldn't stop chattering!

"Shut your mouths! Watch how this lady—"

A moment of distraction cost her, and Dongfang Jue was slammed against the wall by a beast’s claw!

"Hahahaha! Oh my, Lady Dongfang, how could you be so careless?"

Ye Qinghan laughed heartily; she was truly happy from the bottom of her heart. *You like to run your mouth? You like to show off? Why aren't you yelling now?*

"Oh? Why is Lady Dongfang silent? Are you naturally disinclined to speak?"

*You love to hog the spotlight! You love to snatch people's treasures! Go ahead and snatch them!*

"Ye Qinghan, you just wait. Once I finish off these two beasts, I’m coming out to deal with you!"

Ye Qinghan was happy to watch the chaos; if it weren't for the door blocking her, she would have gone inside to help beat Dongfang Jue up herself! Ye Qinghan remained silent, while Li Shi Yao, sitting on her lap, looked on with feigned worry. Seeing the beasts charge again, she hurriedly called out.

"Oh! Lady Dongfang, watch your back! Don't let these two puppies do you in!"

While Ye Qinghan chatted and laughed with Shi Yao, watching Dongfang Jue struggle and get beaten up, she no longer found Shi Yao quite so annoying. Of course, Ye Qinghan dared not imagine a dull and tedious life, for the person she had been waiting for had finally arrived.

"Little slut, I've finally caught you!"

Xu Zhanfeng turned abruptly, intending to take the life of the newcomer as he spoke, hoping to claim credit before his mistress!

Ye Qinghan reached out a hand to stop Xu Zhanfeng, her eyes curving into crescents as she spoke. "I thought you had run away or died. I didn't expect you to have the nerve to come looking for me?"

Ye Qinghan was quite surprised. Given Shangguan Rou’s tone, it was likely she had made another breakthrough and felt confident in herself!

"Heh, little slut, your tone is quite arrogant, but I wonder how much strength you actually have!"

As she spoke, Shangguan Rou channeled her true energy, holding her long sword at her side. She revealed a formidable power that did not lose out to Li Shi Yao’s, as if preparing to show Ye Qinghan her current strength!

Ye Qinghan was stunned. She could tell the girl had reached the Golden Core stage; in terms of raw cultivation—discounting Xu Zhanfeng—she was undoubtedly the strongest person in this secret realm! But this true energy...

*Is Shangguan Rou’s Golden Core watered down? This is what she calls true energy? It’s not even as strong as my own passive protective aura...*

"Sister Qinghan, be careful, she is very strong! From what I can see, she must have broken through in this secret realm! She’s at the Golden Core stage now!"

"You don't need to provide narration for her; I can see it myself." Ye Qinghan rolled her eyes. *You’re a little idiot, just play your part well! If you engage her, isn't she just successfully putting on a show?*

"Lady Shangguan, I wonder why you harbor such hatred toward me?"

Ye Qinghan smiled. She wasn't in a hurry to slap the girl’s face; she simply hoped to have fewer troubles in the future. Hearing this, Shangguan Rou was even more incensed. Now that she had Golden Core strength, she didn't need to rush to kill this slut!

"You have the nerve to ask?"

"Oh? How so?"

"You feigned apprenticeship, used despicable means to defraud others of magical treasures—do you admit it?"

"Using fox-like charms to seduce the heads of other sects—did this happen?"

"On the surface, you act disciplined and law-abiding, but in reality, you are ruthless and vicious. You slaughtered the entire Pingyun Sect and dug up ancestral graves to steal wealth. Which of these things did you not do?"

Ye Qinghan chuckled. *Heh! I did indeed do all of those! You are absolutely right!*

However, there was one point Ye Qinghan needed to correct: she had never seduced any sect head! She couldn't let such rumors spread; if her Master found out and stopped liking her, what would she do? That would be a gargantuan injustice!

"After I became an apprentice, I have been focused on cultivation and have never had a heart of betrayal. Where does this 'feigned apprenticeship' come from?"

"Heh, as for seducing other sect heads? I actually wish that Cheng Liang of yours would stay further away from me!"

"Sometimes I think you are quite stupid, truly! You actually like a man like Cheng Liang! I don't know what you see in him!"

"Besides, if I really wanted to seduce him, do you think you could stop me? Why don't you take a look at yourself in a puddle and see what you are? And what kind of thing is your Cheng Liang?"

"You don't even stop to think: has Qinghan ever even considered you or your master worth looking at?"

"As for the rest, you are quite correct about those, but you don't stop to think—if even the Pingyun Sect was no match for me, what worth or ability do you think you have?"

Shangguan Rou sneered, completely unaware that danger was approaching. "Heh, sophistry is useless. Take this!"

Ye Qinghan didn't care. People who refused to accept kindness were not worth pitying when they died. She didn't care if the girl had lost her mind or was truly a fool. She didn't care if it was the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage; to Ye Qinghan, there was no difference.

Although she thought the girl was truly stupid, Ye Qinghan could understand it; if she hadn't been able to overhear her Master's little secrets, she wouldn't have believed such things either. Ye Qinghan had no doubt that her Master had not taken her in because of her talent, nor because he was greedy for her beauty; it was simply because she had knelt honestly for a whole day, showing enough sincerity. If someone else had knelt for a day, her Master would likely have handed over the Lingxian Sword just the same, as a test.

However, in Ye Qinghan's eyes, this was what they called "immortal affinity."