Wu Zhaohua’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on Jiang Huai. Her voice was clear and distinct:
“I will first settle one matter: Jiang Huai is the Successor. After I ascend and leave, he will inherit the position of Sect Master.”
Qi Yuyong’s smile remained unchanged, only her eyes flickering slightly before returning to normal.
Her temperament was harmonious and perceptive, and she understood that Wu Zhaohua’s mind was made up. This was not the time to say more.
She simply bowed slightly and said softly, “Yuyong will strictly obey the Sect Master’s command.”
Bai Lei’s reaction was entirely different.
She abruptly raised her head, her valiant face filled with shock and defiance, her voice tinged with irrepressible agitation:
“Senior Sister, isn’t this decision too hasty?”
“The position of Successor concerns the future inheritance of the Sect. How can it be decided so rashly?”
Her gaze was like lightning, shooting straight toward Jiang Huai, with undisguised scrutiny:
“He’s just entered the Sect, has made no contributions, his cultivation is shallow, and he knows nothing of Sect affairs.”
“To appoint the Successor so early, what will the younger generation of disciples think?”
“As your Third Junior Sister, I dare to say: the Successor’s position must be won by virtue and ability, and should be earned by one’s own merit. Only then can everyone truly be united!”
Bai Lei was fiery and forthright; for the sake of the Sect, she’d risk her life without hesitation.
She absolutely could not watch as the Sect’s future leader was decided so carelessly.
Even if that person was her Senior Sister’s Dao companion! Rules are rules!
Her words were forceful, the sharp edge aimed directly at Jiang Huai’s qualifications.
Jiang Huai sensed the edge and disdain in Bai Lei’s words, yet felt little turmoil inside; instead, an unusual calm arose.
He met Bai Lei’s gaze and said calmly, “Elder Bai speaks truly.”
“I know my cultivation is low and I am new here. I dare not expect the position of Successor. Sect Master’s favor terrifies me.”
“I am willing to start as an ordinary disciple and devote myself to cultivation.”
These words came from his heart. What he truly wanted was to stand firm by his own efforts, not to invite pointless hostility with an empty title.
For some reason, at this moment, he suddenly missed Qin Qingyue even more.
Wu Zhaohua looked at Jiang Huai’s clear and frank, yet distant, expression, a flash of complexity passing through her heart, followed by a surge of resentment and frustration at being defied.
Without me, how would the Wenxuan Sect be what it is today?! I can’t even decide on the Successor?!
“Bai Lei……” Wu Zhaohua’s face instantly turned icy, about to explode in anger.
But Jiang Huai gently patted the hand she’d placed on the table, shaking his head slightly.
It was just an empty title—why force him onto the fire?
Thus, Wu Zhaohua’s breath caught. She forcefully suppressed her swirling anger, finally waving her hand, her tone still somewhat stifled: “Fine, as he wishes.”
Faced with her Third Junior Sister, who had grown up with her, fiercely loyal to the Sect but also extremely stubborn, Wu Zhaohua actually felt helpless.
Because of their childhood bond, she couldn’t lose her temper.
People like Bai Lei were truly good for the Sect, but sometimes, her uprightness made Wu Zhaohua feel at a loss.
She did everything by the book, which easily offended others.
Now that things had reached this point, Bai Lei rose, turned her gaze to Jiang Huai, and though her tone softened, it was still firm:
“I am not targeting you personally. The Sect’s laws cannot be lightly discarded.”
“If you truly wish to start as a disciple, soon the ‘Mist Hidden Forest’ secret realm will open. The difficulty is not high; even Qi Condensation disciples can participate in the trial.”
“Bai Lei!” Wu Zhaohua shot up, her gaze like a sword stabbing toward Bai Lei, her voice chilling.
She had no intention of letting Jiang Huai enter any secret realm, nor let him face any danger.
If there were treasures to be gained, she’d have others go into the secret realm to fetch them for Jiang Huai—she would never let him enter alone.
Bai Lei bowed and said nothing more, turning and striding away, her silhouette resolute.
Qi Yuyong let out a light sigh and flashed Wu Zhaohua a placating, slightly ingratiating smile:
“Senior Sister, calm your anger. You know Bai Lei has always been this way.”
“If there’s anything, just instruct me. Why bother arguing with her?”
“When you’re not around, she’s always picking trouble with me.”
She glanced at Jiang Huai, her eyes warm with a hint of goodwill.
After all, he was her Senior Sister’s man—appearances had to be kept.
“Outrageous.” Wu Zhaohua snorted softly, her anger still not dissipated.
Without her, the Sect would probably still be just a minor clan. How could it have its current glory?
She waved her hand, signaling Qi Yuyong to withdraw as well.
In the small courtyard, only Wu Zhaohua and Jiang Huai remained.
Jiang Huai looked in the direction Bai Lei had left, then at Wu Zhaohua, whose expression was still angry, and that recently calmed feeling of discomfort in his heart surged up once more.
The Ling Sword Mark seemed to sense his turmoil too, faintly sending a trace of burning protest.
“The Wenxuan Sect is your legacy now; you don’t need to let them…” Wu Zhaohua turned, trying to comfort him.
“I don’t care.” Jiang Huai cut her off, standing up and, with a crisp “clang,” drew the pitch-black longsword at his waist.
“I don’t want the Wenxuan Sect, nor do I want any Sect Master’s title.”
“I know what you mean.”
He looked at the dark sword in his hand, tracing the blade’s edge, and murmured:
“When I was trapped in the small town, I dreamed countless times of saving enough silver to make my way in the world, unwilling to remain poor and stuck forever.”
“But no matter how hard I tried, I could never save up enough. There was nothing I could do.”
“Now.” He looked up, his gaze piercing the void, more determined than ever.
“I only wish to improve my strength, step by step, and ultimately ascend.”
“I want to have power, not to always live under someone else’s wing.”
Heaven moves ever forward, the noble strive ceaselessly for self-improvement.
Wu Zhaohua opened her mouth, only to feel as if something was stuck in her chest, stifling and uncomfortable.
She looked at Jiang Huai, feeling as if there was now an invisible wall between them since he returned.
“And also, actually, I…”
Jiang Huai turned to look at her, paused to choose his words, and then said:
“Actually, I want to go back to Qin Qingyue.”
Wu Zhaohua’s breath stopped, her vision went black, the world spinning.
She almost couldn’t believe her ears.
“You… why do you want to go back to her?”
“Is it uncomfortable here with me? Is her Dragon Palace more luxurious and comfortable?”
“I’m not weaker than her. I’m stronger than that wretched Evil Dragon. I have secret treasures, many cultivation methods, I also…” She spoke incoherently, her voice tinged with a panic and almost pleading she’d never shown before.
Who would have thought, the grand peerless immortal, a top cultivator at the peak of Grand Ascension, would lose her composure so before a mere Qi Condensation youth.
“It’s not for any of those reasons.”
“Then why?! You’ve only spent a short time with her! How could that compare to what we have?!” Wu Zhaohua’s voice was hoarse and exhausted.
“Maybe it’s because…”
Jiang Huai couldn’t bear to see her like this. He turned his face slightly, avoiding her burning gaze, and spoke softly, yet clearly:
“According to the customs of my hometown, she married me. According to the customs here, I married her.”