“Cough, cough… pfft!”
Suddenly turning around, the figure standing right in front of Elders Su Ming and Wu Daozhi spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
“Master!?”
“Sect Leader!!”
Su Ming and Wu Daozhi immediately rushed forward in alarm, trying to support Pei Qingxuan.
However, Pei Qingxuan raised her hand to wave them off. After catching her breath for a moment, she wiped the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth and stood back up.
“Sect Leader, what’s the matter with you?”
Su Ming was full of worry—not only for Pei Qingxuan, the strongest Sect Leader of the Floating Cloud Sect, but also for the future of the entire sect.
After all, the Floating Cloud Sect had stood at the peak of Great Qi for so many years, inevitably offending quite a few people whether willingly or not. Many considered them a thorn in their side.
If word got out that the Sect Leader was gravely injured, it wouldn’t be long before some ill-intentioned people made their move.
“Has anything major happened in the sect during my absence these past month or so?”
Besides the two elders from Disciplinary Peak before her, the only other person she could trust was probably the deputy elder from Wan Shi Peak.
Her gaze fell on the two Disciplinary Peak elders.
And Elder Kang was the elder from Wan Shi Peak.
“Reporting to Sect Leader, if there were any major incidents, the gravest would be Elder Kang’s severe injury and coma. Besides that, there are a few things I need to report to you.”
“Speak.”
Pei Qingxuan waved her hand, igniting a phoenix fire that burned the bloodstains on the ground completely clean. Then she turned and walked deeper into the inner sect.
Su Ming and Wu Daozhi exchanged glances and quickly followed.
Xiao Yunyuan, who had been unable to speak and was worried about Master, hurried after them as well.
“Sect Leader, on the 22nd day, several groups came to visit the sect gate, including the current Great Qi First Prince, Third Prince, Third Prince Lord, Seventh Prince Lord, and Thirteenth Prince Lord, as well as several other princes with the strength to contend for the throne.”
“Thirteenth Prince Lord… the Zhennan King?”
Pei Qingxuan’s footsteps paused slightly but she continued forward.
“Yes, the Thirteenth Prince Lord Li Huan has always been a strong supporter of the current Emperor of Great Qi, so it’s believed he wasn’t there for the throne but to confirm if you had been harmed.”
“Hm, which peaks did the others visit?”
“Almost every peak. They all went up the mountain, except for Disciplinary Peak and Swordsmith Peak where you were absent. They met with every other peak. As for the details, I don’t have the authority to inquire.”
Hearing this, Pei Qingxuan frowned.
“Great Qi… is it really on the verge of chaos?”
Suddenly recalling the smile on that person’s face when looking at the fireworks of the mundane world, Pei Qingxuan bit her red lips lightly, as if making a firm decision.
“Notify everyone: starting immediately, the Floating Cloud Sect is to close the mountain gate. No one may descend the mountain without orders from the Sect Leader.”
“Yes!”
“Sect Leader, what should be done about the elders of Coldwater Peak, Heavenly Gold Peak, and Spiritwood Peak? I speak frankly—Great Qi is entering a chaotic era. For many years, under your suppression, the forces of righteousness and evil have not clashed for a long time, each side accumulating considerable power. If we deal with seven elders at once now, it won’t be a blessing for our Floating Cloud Sect…”
The meaning was clear.
There was concern that removing so many elders would weaken the sect’s strength and unsettle the hearts of the disciples.
This would be detrimental to the looming chaos.
“No matter. I am still here; the righteous path will not falter, and Great Qi… will not fall into chaos.” That person did not wish to see the image of chaos. If so, this world must not fall into disorder!
Su Ming, hearing this, didn’t continue further.
“Sect Leader, your current condition…”
“I sustained some injuries. Not a big deal.”
Pei Qingxuan replied lightly, though the wounds she bore would have killed an ordinary cultivator many times over.
One had to admit, that person’s technique was truly brilliant.
Now, her recovery was not relying on her old foundation.
After all, that battle had nearly dragged her cultivation down to the abyss—almost completely ruined.
What she now depended on was the Purple Lotus Mark left on her by that person.
Though she didn’t understand how it worked, this mark not only replenished her vitality but also assisted her cultivation techniques and greatly increased her spiritual energy reserves, absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
Her current spiritual energy surpassed one-third more than her previous self.
But despite this, her wounds still lingered. It was only the Purple Lotus Mark replenishing her vitality and spiritual energy that allowed her to return safely to the Floating Cloud Sect.
Saying it wasn’t a big deal was just modesty.
If she really fought, she was certain the old Pei Qingxuan would never have stood against the current her.
It was just that she did not know what would happen if the spiritual energy in the Purple Lotus Mark was completely drained.
So… if possible, it was best not to fight.
Right now, the most important thing was to stabilize the situation and use the mark to gather spiritual energy and vitality to recover.
Once fully restored, she would personally bring order to the chaos.
“Sect Leader… I have something I probably shouldn’t say.”
“If you shouldn’t say it… hmm, then say it.”
Pei Qingxuan almost blurted out.
Remembering Xu Ping’an’s slight smirk when he said those words, a mixture of shame and anger welled up inside her.
All his fault!
If not for him, how could she have said such a strange thing?
But just as her anger was about to surge, it was completely washed away by a gentle warmth, leaving only a hint of shyness.
Her mind involuntarily flashed through every night of this past month.
Instantly, a flush of embarrassment dyed her icy-cold face.
Su Ming was caught off guard by Pei Qingxuan’s words and almost slipped, barely steadying himself.
What had he just seen!?
Pei Qingxuan, the so-called coldest beauty in the world, had actually shown a trace of coyness!?
Su Ming rubbed his eyes, and when he looked up again, Pei Qingxuan’s expression had returned to normal, though the faint redness on her cheeks still seemed to say something.
“Was it just my imagination?”
“What are you standing there for? Say what needs to be said.”
“Ah~ yes.”
Su Ming was still a bit stunned and hadn’t turned around yet.
Meanwhile, Wu Daozhi, who had remained silent until now, was beginning to form a guess in his heart.
The Sect Leader had been absent for more than a month; could it be… that she had become involved with some man?
That would be wonderful news!
Come to think of it, Wu Daozhi was one of the people who had taken good care of Pei Qingxuan back then.
Naturally, he was happy inside.
But this was not something he dared to say aloud.
If others didn’t say it, at least he knew Pei Qingxuan’s temperament.
Better not say anything.
If he did, the Sect Leader’s shame and anger might really make her strike him with a sword.
Who in the world could possibly tame such a wild horse?
There was only one way to put it—utter reverence!