Looking at the stubborn gaze of the young girl, even Zhang Yan, the acting Elder of Blazing Fire Peak, was at a loss.
It had already been a whole month.
During this month, the young girl from the Liu Family before him had been put into the Confinement Chamber four times.
In fact, she had only spent two or three days outside; the rest of the time was all locked away.
It wasn’t that Zhang Yan, acting Elder of Blazing Fire Peak, had some perverse tendency to mistreat people.
But this girl was simply too stubborn.
“Liu Family girl, I know what you’re thinking. But your plan is too idealistic. That Mysterious Peak is tens of thousands of miles away from Southern Prefecture. Even if I release you now, you’re just a girl with no self-defense skills—how do you expect to make it back to Southern Prefecture?”
Looking at the slight wavering in her eyes, which quickly hardened again, Zhang Yan couldn’t help but smile bitterly to himself.
Old man Liu, you really have sent me a tricky problem.
This kid! Such a stubborn personality—why didn’t you say something earlier?
If I had known this girl’s stubbornness, I wouldn’t have forcibly taken her away at the time!
“Listen to this old man’s advice. What was the name of that boy you fancy? Xu Ping’an, right? Here’s the deal: study here on Blazing Fire Peak for ten years. Not more, just ten years of cultivation. If by then you still refuse to give up, I, this old man, will personally make sure you get sent to that boy.”
Facing the little girl, Zhang Yan truly did not want to give up.
He had known the Liu Family had a little girl with a Fire Spiritual Root from the start—a rare, exceptional prodigy.
A prodigy like this, any fire cultivator would fight tooth and nail for her.
He had barely humbled himself to request this girl from the Liu Family, wanting to nurture her properly.
After all, the Blazing Fire Peak’s strength was waning, and the Sect Master was no longer young.
Who knew when he might reach the peak of his cultivation and ascend?
Zhang Yan had no other ambitions except to cultivate a genius capable of supporting Blazing Fire Peak, and the Flowing Cloud Sect, for the next thousand years.
And this girl in front of him was clearly such a prodigy.
He really did not want to give up.
“No! I want to go back and find Ping’an!”
Liu Yingying stubbornly raised her head. If she hadn’t been forcibly taken away before, maybe she would have talked it through calmly with her father.
But she was like a stubborn mule, refusing to budge, stubbornly retreating as they pulled her.
The more her father forbade her from being with Ping’an, the more determined she was to be with Xu Ping’an!
“You little girl, why won’t you listen to reason? I’ve told you, even if our Flowing Cloud Sect won’t accept you back, other sects will be fighting to have you!”
Zhang Yan pleaded earnestly, but the girl just had that unyielding look on her face.
Four times in the Confinement Chamber!
If it were any other child with a weaker will, she would have surrendered long ago.
The Confinement Chamber on Blazing Fire Peak was specially made for cultivators—sealed with formation barriers outside, pitch black inside, almost no sound could be heard.
Zhang Yan had experienced its power himself once, which had made him completely obedient.
But this little girl had endured four times over a month.
He dared not lock her away again; further confinement would break her spirit.
“By the way, those sects won’t be as gentle as I am. They’ll do whatever it takes for the sect’s development. They might even… cleanse your soul. Then, no matter how stubborn you are, you’ll forget that person completely. What would you do then?”
This method was used by many sects.
For some young talents—especially those who slipped through the cracks of other sects—they often used Soul Cleansing to recruit them anew.
Simply put, it meant wiping the past from their memories.
But for this girl, Zhang Yan was a little reluctant.
Because her stubbornness came from the boy she cherished.
Such a stubborn temperament and firm will were among the most precious talents on the path of cultivation.
This was even rarer than her Fire Spiritual Root.
How many young cultivators had ultimately failed the path because their will was not strong enough?
Yet this little girl’s personality was truly exceptional.
Perhaps it was the mention of “Soul Cleansing” that made Liu Yingying start to waver. She looked up at Zhang Yan.
“Soul… Cleansing, will I really forget?”
“Yes! Not only will you forget, but it will affect some of your potential as well. I pity you, so I’ve never dared to use this method… Yingying girl, think it over carefully. In a few days, give me your answer. Whether you want to leave or stay, I’ll respect it.”
There was no other way—he was truly out of options with such a stubborn child.
Liu Yingying slowly lowered her head, silent.
Seeing this, Zhang Yan could only shake his head helplessly and turn to go drink some herbal tea to soothe his irritation.
Such a good prodigy, yet refusing to learn cultivation arts—it was a real pity.
If she truly went back, she might really be sent for Soul Cleansing.
Once that stubborn will was weakened, even if she learned cultivation techniques again, it would be hard to reach the heavens.
“Five years…”
Suddenly, Liu Yingying’s voice came from behind, making Zhang Yan turn around in surprise and delight.
“Kid, what did you say?”
Liu Yingying stretched out a hand.
“Five years. Five years from now, no matter what kind of cultivation I’ve achieved, you must let me see Ping’an!”
“All right, all right! That’s great! I, this old man, promise you. Even if your Liu Family disagrees, I will represent Blazing Fire Peak and stand on your side! By then, even if that brat you fancy doesn’t agree, I’ll help you snatch him away!”
Zhang Yan trembled with excitement. Were it not for needing to keep his dignity in front of juniors, he might have rubbed his hands together eagerly.
“Snatch…”
Liu Yingying shook her head.
“No, Ping’an wouldn’t agree. Even if you snatch him, it won’t help. But I won’t give up!”
“Hmm! Fine, whatever you decide then, I’ll stand with you!”
Zhang Yan nodded carefully, nodding again and again.
“Well then… girl, can you become my disciple now?”
Hearing this, Liu Yingying didn’t hesitate at all and immediately knelt down on both knees.
“Disciple Liu Yingying pays respects to Master!”
“All right, all right! That’s great! No need to be so formal! Come, come, here’s a magical treasure I used before. Carry it, and it will protect your soul from being disturbed by inner demons. And here…this is the basic cultivation technique for disciples of Blazing Fire Peak. I’ll explain it to you right now!”
After speaking, Zhang Yan suddenly noticed the lingering fatigue in Liu Yingying’s eyes.
“Oh dear! Look at my memory! You just came out of the Confinement Chamber—you can’t be exhausted. Come, follow me back to the Mountain Gate. From now on, you’re my closing disciple. No one on Blazing Fire Peak will dare to bully you!”
Looking at the white-haired yet youthful elder before her, Liu Yingying couldn’t help but think of another person.
Ping’an… what are you doing? Are you hurting because of me?