Wenxuan Sect, Yanshi Hall.
The curling sandalwood incense could not dispel the oppressive atmosphere within the hall.
At the head seat, Wu Zhaohua sat in a plain white dress, immaculate as if carved from ice and snow, a figure of flawless jade.
She propped her chin with one hand, elbow resting on the cold Xuan Jade Armrest, while the other hand lay casually on her knee, fingertips tapping unconsciously.
Her face was calm, betraying no emotion whatsoever.
Only her eyes, clear and cold as a wintry pond, regarded the Grand Elder of the Red Dragon Clan, Elder Chi Qin, who had come seeking aid.
That gaze was neither inquisitive nor judgmental; it carried the aloofness unique to sword cultivators, cold and proud.
Chi Qin’s heart trembled secretly—had Wu Zhaohua’s cultivation reached such heights? Just being looked at made her feel a piercing Sword Intent.
Behind Wu Zhaohua, Xiao Yue stood with her head lowered, attending her Honored Master, scarcely daring to breathe, for fear of disturbing her thoughts.
To either side, Qi Yuyong’s brow was tightly furrowed, while Bai Lei maintained that ever-unchanging frosty expression.
When Chi Qin, in earnest words, described how Jiang Huai had inexplicably lost contact after entering the Red Dragon Secret Land and how the secret realm had fallen out of control, Wu Zhaohua’s finger—supporting her chin—paused imperceptibly for an instant.
In the next moment, a thought flickered across her mind, and she reconnected the Spirit Sword Pattern—usually sealed away, only quietly linked during certain deep nights.
A familiar warmth, vibrant with life, flowed through.
He was unharmed. Lively as ever, even swinging his limbs about.
Wu Zhaohua silently relaxed; the taut string that had tightened at the news of “loss of contact” eased instantly.
This felt just like the time he went missing in the Small World: it seemed dangerous, but in truth, there was little real harm.
…Then that Qin Qingyue simply gave up and sat back down.
Chi Qin was still recounting the happenings inside the Dragon Palace.
“Gave up?” Wu Zhaohua caught that key word, her indifferent brows drawing even tighter as she interrupted, her voice cool and clear as jade chimes.
“You mean, after Chi Hong promised certain benefits, Qin Qingyue immediately backed off?”
“Exactly so,” Chi Qin nodded quickly in confirmation.
A barely visible arc appeared at Wu Zhaohua’s lips, gone in an instant as she lightly shook her head.
The last trace of doubt in her heart faded away.
These people still don’t understand that wretched dragon’s nature. A few paltry benefits could never fill the greedy Black Dragon’s belly.
For Qin Qingyue, Jiang Huai’s being trapped was no different from having her Reverse Scale touched.
The only reason she hadn’t razed the South Sea Dragon Palace then and there was sheer restraint. How could she possibly give up over a few empty promises?
The only reason that stubborn, troublesome dragon could have so abruptly “backed off” was if she had already confirmed Jiang Huai’s safety.
Perhaps, this was all just a wife and husband colluding—a Double-Act Deception, extorting the Red Dragon Clan together.
At that thought, Wu Zhaohua felt a subtle sense of discomfort.
She really did work seamlessly with her “good wife.”
Her thoughts shifted, and suddenly she asked:
“So, your Red Dragon Clan plans to accept this marriage proposal, sending your Saintess over?”
Chi Qin, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, shot up half an inch from her seat. She cried out angrily:
“Da Zongzhu, what do you mean by that?! Absolutely impossible! Our Saintess is the future matriarch of the clan, of the highest status—how could she ever become someone’s concubine? That would be a grave humiliation!”
The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, her chest heaving:
“Our Red Dragon Clan has prospered for ten thousand years! How could we allow this? If the Saintess truly married off as a concubine, how would we ever face our Ancestral Forebears in the Immortal Realm?”
All the great clans had foundations in the Immortal Realm, sometimes even keeping in contact through Secret Techniques, maintaining their honor.
For the Saintess to become a concubine would indeed shame the entire clan.
Wu Zhaohua seemed to ponder this, gently rubbing the cold sword hilt with her fingertip. She shook her head, as if musing to herself or perhaps simply stating a fact:
“Perhaps marrying over isn’t so unthinkable.” She thought, with Qin Qingyue’s pride, would she have arranged for him to take a concubine if not for Jiang Huai’s special constitution and cultivation?
At this thought, for the first time in her life, Wu Zhaohua felt a twinge of admiration—even for that troublesome dragon she’d always disdained.
This was something Wu Zhaohua herself could never have done.
If Jiang Huai had been with her, she would probably have soured just from seeing him look at “other women” a few more times.
“Da Zongzhu! What are you saying?!” Chi Qin’s eyes widened, thinking her ears deceived her.
Even if she’d vaguely heard there had been some past entanglement between Wu Zhaohua and Jiang Huai, surely it would not come to this.
“It’s nothing. Grand Elder, don’t take it to heart.” Wu Zhaohua suppressed the complicated ripple in her eyes, regaining her calm and fathomless bearing as Sect Master.
“I understand what you mean.”
“You may go back for now. I will make some arrangements and set out for the South Sea soon.”
Chi Qin was overjoyed at her words, immediately bowing deeply:
“In that case, I must trouble Da Zongzhu!”
With that, she dared not linger a moment longer.
Her figure flickered into a stream of red light, shooting out of the Yanshi Hall, directly back to the South Sea to report.
As that Red Dragon aura faded completely, Ji Yuyong, who had been suppressing herself, could finally hold back no longer.
She protested to Wu Zhaohua:
“Senior Sister! Why are you still meddling in his affairs?!”
Her tone was urgent and full of resentment:
“He’s a member of the Nine Heavens Palace now, Qin Qingyue’s Mistress! What’s it got to do with us at Wenxuan Sect?”
“All those past grievances—saving him once was kindness enough! Last time you went out of your way to help, and what did you get? Cold indifference!”
“Now the married couple gets into trouble, and they come running to Wenxuan Sect again? What kind of logic is that?!”
She truly felt her Senior Sister’s efforts were wasted.
Time and again, her Senior Sister had made exceptions for that man, even putting herself in danger—what had she gotten in return?
Wu Zhaohua picked up her slightly cooled teacup, sipped lightly with her usual grace, her voice tranquil:
“He didn’t ask for me; the Red Dragon Clan did. Their intent is to balance Qin Qingyue.”
She set the cup down, her gaze drifting over Qi Yuyong:
“This is sect diplomacy. It concerns our friendship with the Red Dragon Clan.”
It was an excuse.
All three in the hall knew it well.
Even if Chi Hong had not come, Wu Zhaohua would have gone once she heard about it.
Qi Yuyong, exasperated, let out a laugh, flicked her sleeve, and turned away in silence.
She even began to consider whether she ought to pay a visit to the Southern Ridge and ask some Gu Dao Masters if her Senior Sister had been hit with a Mihun Gu.
Bai Lei, who had been silent all this while, finally looked up, her voice crisp:
“Senior Sister, all grievances are settled.”
Wu Zhaohua slowly rose, her pure white skirt cascading like liquid silver.
She walked to the doorway of the Yanshi Hall, turning her back to her two junior sisters as she gazed outside.
Fiery sunlight streamed through the doors, tracing a blurred halo around her.
Amidst the play of light and shadow, she seemed once more to see those years in the mundane courtyard, saw that man awkwardly boiling medicine, felt the warmth of leaning together in a snowy night.
She turned her head slightly, revealing the graceful line of her jaw, her voice very soft:
“In truth, the grievances aren’t settled.” “Far from it.”
Bai Lei frowned, her cool voice tinged with confusion:
“How are they not settled?”
Wu Zhaohua turned around, sunlight backlighting her so her expression was hidden:
“Because I like him.” “Is that not allowed?”
This time, Wu Zhaohua was determined to take a different path.