"I'll go take a look."
Luan Jian's expression changed slightly, not expecting the people from Qingyin Pavilion to arrive so quickly. Although the sect had been on the verge of extinction earlier and his Seventh Junior Sister Qin Lingyun had accepted an olive branch from outsiders, since she now regretted it, she remained a disciple of the Jiushen Sect. For Qingyin Pavilion to come knocking and take people away like this showed complete disregard for the Jiushen Sect!
"I'm coming too." Han Feng stepped forward to follow. Luan Jian paused briefly in his tracks, but did not stop. Especially when he recalled that utterly humiliating incident, the thought of speaking even half a word more to Han Feng made his face burn.
"Forget it, I'm not going anymore! I'll talk to them myself!" Qin Lingyun strode past them, taking the lead instead.
Before long, the three of them arrived at the foot of the mountain one after another, and from afar saw a huge ancient zither of bizarre design floating in the air, resembling a strange ark.
Several strings glittering with crystalline brilliance supported a young man's figure. His eyes lit up as he looked at the hurriedly approaching Qin Lingyun, and he smiled. "Qin Guniang is truly a person of her word, though there is no need to be in such a rush. There is still a distance of ten thousand miles to my Qingyin Pavilion. Please, guniang, step aboard the zither boat with me."
Throughout this, he completely ignored Luan Jian and Han Feng standing behind Qin Lingyun.
Even more surprisingly, as the young man spoke, the strings on the giant zither boat actually rang out with a *zheng* sound, elevating his casual words with cadence and making them exceptionally melodious.
"Sorry, I've changed my mind!" Qin Lingyun had a forthright disposition and spoke her mind. She cupped her fists in a martial arts salute, exuding a strong pugilistic air.
Hm?
The young man was stunned. Frowning, he jumped down from the zither boat. Clear zither music rang out, and the huge zither boat behind him rippled with brilliance amid the music, shrinking at a visible speed until it finally transformed into a delicate, exquisite zither-shaped pendant hanging on the young man's chest.
Changing at will—this alone showed that this magical treasure was extraordinary.
Luan Jian stepped forward two steps, blocking in front of Qin Lingyun, and said in a deep voice, "May I ask which of the Feng, Chen, Lü, or Lu young masters of Qingyin Pavilion has graced the Jiushen Sect with their presence?"
"You are too polite, Daoist Luan." The young man smiled faintly. "I am Lu Qixian, representing Qingyin Pavilion. I dare not claim the title of young master."
"So it is Young Master Lu. A pleasure to meet you." Luan Jian nodded and said in a clear voice, "I'm afraid Young Master has made a wasted trip. After internal discussions within our sect just now, my Seventh Junior Sister, Qin Lingyun, still wishes to stay and cultivate in the Jiushen Sect."
"Of course, this matter was mishandled by our Jiushen Sect. On behalf of the sect, Luan Jian expresses his deepest apologies to Young Master Lu. If there is anything needed in the future, disciples of the Jiushen Sect will never refuse."
"Heh..." Lu Qixian smiled faintly and said, "A favor from the Jiushen Sect? Could it be that Daoist Luan thinks your favor holds any value at all, besides yourself?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly grew tense!
Luan Jian's brows twitched slightly, his expression returning to his usual icy detachment.
Since they were not friends, they were enemies.
"How about this, then?" Lu Qixian clapped his hands together, his expression sincere as he spoke. "I have long heard that Daoist Luan's swordsmanship is sublime, possessing the cultivation of the False Nascent Soul Realm at such a young age. If you are willing to come to Qingyin Pavilion and serve as a sword attendant, I can make the decision to let you stay by my side. Perhaps in time, you and I can recreate the legend of the zither's heart and the sword's gall from thousands of years ago."
"Young Master Lu is joking." Luan Jian's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't been angered at all. Since things were already growing hostile, how could he let his state of mind be easily disturbed by an opponent?
"Pardon me, please forgive my presumption." Lu Qixian said with a serious expression, "In truth, both you and I know that the Jiushen Sect has been in decline for a long time. Within a few years, it may not even be able to preserve this blessed land of the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Why must Daoist Luan persist in this obsession? Although Qingyin Pavilion primarily focuses on the Great Dao of rhythm and melody, we also have several powerful sword cultivators in the Deity Transformation Realm or even the Void Escape Stage. We would certainly not mistreat or delay Daoist."
"Yet what does this Jiushen Sect have?"
"I heard previously that your esteemed sect's little Sect Master acts in a licentious and vile manner, actually attempting to force himself upon Qin Guniang. Otherwise, she wouldn't have contacted Qingyin Pavilion, wishing to abandon the dark and turn to the light."
"Daoist Luan, what is left in such a Sect Master and such a sect that is truly worth your lingering attachment?"
*What?!*
*I've done that kind of thing before too?*
*Transmigrating without memories is truly killing me...*
Han Feng could not help feeling slightly awkward. Gazing at Qin Lingyun's back not far in front of him, he racked his brains but could not think of anything he had done.
"Bah, you heard wrong!"
Qin Lingyun suddenly leaped to Han Feng's side, hooking her arm directly around his neck in an extremely intimate posture, and laughed heartily, "I was the one who wanted to force myself on the Sect Master, but unfortunately he didn't agree!"
*What?!*
Before Han Feng could react, the intoxicating virgin fragrance slammed fiercely into his nose. Although Qin Lingyun was not as gentle and soft as ordinary women, she possessed top-tier looks. To suddenly be this intimate with her made his face burn.
He heard Qin Lingyun whisper close to his ear while hugging his neck, "Don't make a sound, don't make it difficult for Eldest Senior Sister!"
*Ah!*
Han Feng understood. This sudden tenderness had nothing to do with him; it was solely for Luan Jian's sake.
This Qin Guniang was also someone who was meticulous beneath a rough exterior.
*This...*
Luan Jian was also startled, but quickly recovered.
This Seventh Junior Sister was the most generous and heroic, lacking nothing compared to men, yet even though she had clearly been flirted with by the Sect Master, she was now willing to soil her own reputation just to protect the dignity of the sect.
That being the case, today no matter who it was, they could not take her away!
At this thought, the Sword-Asking Peak Master's sword heart grew crystal clear, his gaze sweeping toward Lu Qixian as he said coldly, "Daoist Lu, your words are reckless and disrespectful to the Sect Master of the Jiushen Sect. I ask you to apologize to the Sect Master immediately!"
*Huh?*
Lu Qixian was astonished, never expecting that the young man who had come down the mountain with them was actually the legendary Jiushen Sect Sect Master!
But... he was completely different from the legends!
Could it really be a rumor?
Because his demeanor didn't match beforehand, although Lu Qixian had noticed Han Feng, he had simply assumed he was just another young disciple of the Jiushen Sect and hadn't paid him any mind.
Never had he imagined...
At this moment, Qin Lingyun had suddenly changed her tune, affectionately hooking her arm around the young Sect Master's neck, while the latter's face was flushed red, revealing a hint of embarrassment.
Although Lu Qixian didn't know what had specifically happened, the accusations just now against the Jiushen Sect Sect Master instantly transformed into scandalous slander, and he would immediately have to face the wrath of that terrifying sword cultivator.
As one of the Four Young Masters of Qingyin Pavilion, Lu Qixian was unwilling to stain his own reputation. He took a deep breath, frowned, and asked, "What if I refuse?"
*Swish!*
A sword light as pure and white as snow flashed. A three-foot sword blade materialized in front of Luan Jian, weaving gracefully around his body with overflowing spiritual energy, as though every trajectory intertwined with profound and marvelous principles of swordsmanship, causing one's heart to tremble with awe and dare not take it lightly.
Luan Jian pointed a finger, and sword Qi crisscrossed, thousands of dragon-like roars and sword hums echoing in the air. Filled with a chilling killing intent, he uttered word by word, "To insult the Sect Master of my Jiushen Sect is to insult my sect! Lu Qixian, if you refuse to apologize, I will execute you right here!"