Amidst the Flames of Defeat, Ambition Sharpens
Fayuan was fuming with rage. He bellowed, "You brats! Quit hiding and face your grandpa in a real fight!"
As soon as his voice faded, a child's giggle echoed from the woods. "Sis, look! The bald donkey's throwing a tantrum! I'm starving—let's just get rid of him!"
A cold female voice replied, "Clean up your own mess."
The child said playfully: "Dear sister, aren't you worried about your lovely brother?
With a sudden swish, a young man and a young woman materialized before Fayuan.
The man wore pristine white robes, while the woman, clad in violet with a sword at her waist, was breathtakingly beautiful.
The violet-clad woman sneered, "What's a sneaky monk like you peeking around for?"
Fayuan feigned innocence. "This humble monk merely sought to cleanse the mountain of evil spirits. Since it's a misunderstanding, I bid you farewell!"
He turned to flee, but a golden pearl streaked through the air like thunder, smashing into his left shoulder.
Fayuan howled in pain and spun around to see a boy, no older than twelve, standing atop a cliff. The child's jade-like fingers clutched a handful of golden pearls.
"You little rat!" Fa Yuan roared, controlling the flying sword and slashing at the little boy.
The violet-clad woman flicked her wrist, and her sword erupted into a golden dragon of light, clashing with Fayuan's crimson blade midair.
The white-robed youth moved to assist, but the woman stopped him. "Stay back, Junior Brother Sun. I'll handle this thief myself."
The two fought fiercely in the air, their swords intertwined with deadly phantoms, unmatched.
Fa Yuan was secretly surprised: This young woman is so good at swordsmanship at such a young age?
Fa Yuan was afraid that there were masters nearby, so he didn't dare to use all his strength.
As he was thinking, several golden rays of light suddenly burst into the air with the sound of wind and thunder.
This time, Fa Yuan had already taken precautions, and while dodging one by one, he suddenly broke away from the battle with the violet-clad woman, pointed his sword light, divided a red line, and flew straight towards the child.
The violet-clad woman exclaimed: "Brother, hide quickly!"
The boy was so frightened that he threw twelve gold beads to resist, but the light of the red line sword was like a bamboo, and the twelve gold beads were instantly split in half, and he was about to hit the boy.
At the last moment, white-robed youth rushed to the boy in time.
But Fa Yuan's attack was too strong, forcing the white-robed youth to retreat again and again.
The white-robed youth gritted his teeth and used all his strength to barely resist. Then, before Fa Yuan chased over, he hurriedly pulled the boy and hid in the cave.
At this time, The violet-clad woman also chased after her and fought with Fayuan again.
As dusk fell, their battle raged on, sword-light illuminating the forest.
Just as Fayuan contemplated underhanded tactics, a sharp whoosh pierced the sky—two new figures had arrived.
The two sides hurriedly stopped fighting, and when they were in doubt, a Daoist nun and a girl had already flown down in front of the cliff.
Fayuan's eyes widened in disbelief—it was Wanmiao Xiangu, a fellow disciple from their own Mount Wutai sect!
Overjoyed, he wanted to open his mouth to urge her to join him in eliminating their foes. But to his astonishment, she barked, "What rogue monk dares stir trouble on Jiuhua Mountain?"
Fayuan nearly choked:She's pretending not to know me?
Remembering her secret allegiance to their sect, he bit back his fury.
"This isn't over!" he spat, vanishing in a streak of red light.
The violet-clad woman moved to chase him, but Wanmiao Xiangu intervened."Spare him this once, for my sake."
Reluctantly, the woman sheathed her sword. Meanwhile, the boy emerged from the cave, pouting at his shattered pearls. "Sister, why'd you let him go?"
The violet-clad woman robes jabbed his forehead: "Little troublemaker! Brother Sun's sword nearly shattered because of you—how dare you still throw a fit?"
She berated the boy relentlessly.
The boy, cheeks flushed, stomped back into the cave without greeting the guests.
Wanmiao Xiangu chuckled. "Your sect is extraordinary, raising such prodigies at such a young age."
Lingyun smiled politely. "You flatter us, Immortal. Please, come inside."
It turned out this was the residence of
As Wanmiao Xiangu resided on Mount Emei, she naturally knew them all.
Upon entering
To their astonishment, the interior—though compact and devoid of candles—glowed with radiant light as bright as day. The space was elegantly furnished, exuding a warmth akin to spring.
What puzzled Wanmiao Xiangu most was that the young boy and the white-robed youth, who had clearly stepped into the cave moments earlier, had vanished without a trace within its confined walls.
Wanmiao Xiangu sighed. "My new disciple, Hongyao. Bandits slaughtered her family... I found her half-dead on the roadside."
Hongyao's eyes welled with tears. "If not for Master... I'd be gone too."
Lingyun grasped Hongyao's hands, her voice trembling with sorrow. "Those vile bandits... Don't let grief consume you, Hongyao. Come to me whenever you need help—I'll always be here for you."
She then pulled Hongyao into a comforting embrace, her arms wrapping tightly around the younger girl's shaking shoulders.
A long silence followed as Hongyao's tears gradually subsided. When her breathing steadied, the two began to talk—first tentatively, then with growing ease.
When the hour came to part, neither could hide their reluctance. Lingyun lingered at the cave's entrance, her fingers brushing Hongyao's sleeve.
"Promise you'll visit soon," she whispered.
Hongyao nodded, her eyes glistening. "I will... Sister."
Wanmiao Xiangu added, " Lingyun, you can also come to my residence and guide Hong Yao.It would be a great blessing."
With that, she and Hongyao vanished into the sky.
None noticed the sinister smirk flickering across Wanmiao Xiangu's face as she left.