Chapter 7: Reunion and Confrontation

Duan Qingming—what is he doing at Lingxin Sect?!

Could it be…

A sense of foreboding instantly rose in Gu Pinglin's heart.

Impossible! He was supposed to join the Xuanming Sect!

But would a disciple of the Xuanming Sect casually visit the Lingxin Sect and mingle so harmoniously with everyone here?

Gu Pinglin took a deep breath. Nothing could have shocked him more than the scene before him—so much so that his thoughts became chaotic, nearly causing him to lose his usual composure.

Just like in his past life, that man concealed all his cold-blooded ruthlessness beneath a charming facade. Witty and eloquent, he occasionally cracked a joke that sent everyone into laughter. Men and women alike adored him.

"Senior Chang!"

"Senior Chen! Senior Chang!"

...

The young disciples recognized Chen Qian and Chang Jinxin and happily greeted them with respectful bows.

Duan Qingming turned slightly along with the others—except his gaze didn't linger on Chen or Chang. Instead, his eyes immediately settled on the young man beside them.

By the white stone railing, the young man stood tall on the steps. After years apart, his features had matured, his face now more defined, shedding much of its earlier delicacy. His brows were tightly knit, his lips pressed into a thin line. That familiar, age-defying seriousness added a trace of authority to his refined face.

His long hair was neatly tied into a high ponytail with a silver crown, save for a few loose strands that swept across his forehead. The sharpness in his large eyes remained, though now tinged with a hint of confusion and shock that he couldn't quite conceal.

Duan Qingming raised a brow slightly and smiled at him.

The other disciples also noticed Gu Pinglin and curiously studied this latecomer.

Chen Qian merely nodded at the group without a word and strode straight toward the main hall. Chang Jinxin, smiling, nudged Gu Pinglin forward, gave a brief introduction, and then left him behind as he hurried after Chen Qian.

Though countless eyes were on him, Gu Pinglin's gaze remained fixed on one person alone.

A long silence passed.

Finally, Duan Qingming spoke with an amused tone:

"Little Nine, you're here too. What a coincidence."

That feigned surprise—Gu Pinglin had always despised that tone. Judging by the man's reaction, he had clearly known Gu Pinglin would come. Gu Pinglin snorted coldly and suddenly grabbed Duan Qingming's arm, dragging him away.

"What are you doing? I still have matters to attend to—"

Duan Qingming pretended to hesitate, yet his actions were fully compliant as he let himself be pulled along.

Ignoring the stares, Gu Pinglin swiftly led him to a secluded spot.

"Alright, this is quiet enough."

Duan Qingming stopped, his tall frame forcing Gu Pinglin to halt as well.

Gu Pinglin released his arm, turned, and glared at him coldly.

The man before him was dressed as plainly as ever, his dark purple hair ribbon hanging down—now missing the golden bead that once adorned it. The simpler his attire, the more it accentuated his presence.

At fourteen or fifteen, his face already bore the striking handsomeness of Gu Pinglin's memories. His arched brows nearly touched his temples, and his eyes had lengthened, making the crimson shadow within them even more vivid—his demonic aura stronger than ever.

Seeing this face so reminiscent of the past, Gu Pinglin felt both relief and an inexplicable frustration.

His expression was openly hostile, yet Duan Qingming remained unbothered.

"Ah," he sighed, patting Gu Pinglin's shoulder amiably. "Two years apart, and here we meet again—as fellow disciples, no less. I'm truly happy. So why do you look like you want to devour me, hmm? Gu Little Nine?"

Gu Pinglin ignored his nonsense and cut straight to the point:

"Why are you here?"

His voice, no longer as high-pitched as before, was still sharp—not particularly pleasant to the ear.

Duan Qingming tilted his head. "Why shouldn't I be here?"

"You were supposed to join the Xuanming Sect."

Duan Qingming narrowed his eyes slightly, intrigued. "And why would I do that?"

"Your aunt is a high-ranking elder of the Xuanming Sect. With your talent, they would have nurtured you without reservation. Your future would have been limitless."

Duan Qingming studied him for a long moment before bursting into laughter.

Gu Pinglin frowned. "What's so funny?"

"I didn't realize you knew so much about me."

"It's common knowledge. Nothing unusual."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Gu Pinglin didn't bother continuing that topic. He repeated:

"Answer my question. Why are you here?"

"Well…" Duan Qingming smiled. "Because of you."

"Me?" Gu Pinglin's expression shifted.

Yes, he had miscalculated.

His earlier provocation had been meant to make Duan Qingming see him as a rival and prepare accordingly—since Gu Pinglin held the advantage of rebirth, their competition was already unfair. But who could have predicted that this would backfire?

A man like Duan Qingming would never tolerate a challenge.

The consequence of piquing this monster's interest?

Somehow, he had uncovered Gu Pinglin's plans to join the Lingxin Sect—and followed him here.

With his supreme talent, Yue Songting would have eagerly accepted him. There had been no obstacles to his entry.

Duan Qingming took a step closer, leaning down to whisper near his ear:

"Huh? You don't seem pleased."

The deviation from the past left Gu Pinglin conflicted. After a pause, he said:

"Leave. Go to the Xuanming Sect."

"Reason?"

"Their cultivation methods suit you better."

After all, Duan Qingming's legendary divine-grade "Heaven-Mending Art" had been created based on the Xuanming Sect's techniques. Without the Lingxin Sect's guidance, without the "Heaven-Mending Art," would Duan Qingming still become the peerless powerhouse he once was?

"Oh? The Xuanming Sect's methods suit me better?" Duan Qingming repeated, amused. "And how would you know that? Have you studied their techniques?"

Gu Pinglin steadied himself.

"Cultivation methods and techniques have always complemented each other. While I don't know the Xuanming Sect's methods, I've witnessed their swordplay—it pursues extreme explosive power. I assume their cultivation follows a similar principle. If you joined them, your path would be twice as smooth."

"A barely passable reason," Duan Qingming conceded, though it was unclear whether he believed it. "Then what if I stay at Lingxin Sect?"

Without hesitation, Gu Pinglin replied:

"You'll lose to me. I'm better suited to their techniques."

"Oh?" Duan Qingming grinned. "In that case, shouldn't I stay and defeat you at what you're best at? Wouldn't that be more satisfying?"

Gu Pinglin turned away with a cold laugh.

"That possibility doesn't exist."

"Such confidence. I like it." Duan Qingming spoke leisurely. "I've answered your question. Now it's your turn."

Gu Pinglin raised a brow. "Hmm?"

Duan Qingming slowly circled behind him, leaning close to his ear as he gestured toward the winding corridor they had come from.

"I've been here a day and still don't know my way around."

Gu Pinglin's heart skipped a beat, but he remained composed. "And?"

"Yet you're very familiar with this place." Duan Qingming's voice was light. "As far as I know, you've never left the Gu family. So how do you know the layout of the Lingxin Sect so well?"

Gu Pinglin's lips pressed tighter.

Duan Qingming chuckled softly by his ear.

"I suppose that's just another coincidence. Wouldn't you agree?"

Gu Pinglin's mind raced. Instead of evading, he turned and met Duan Qingming's gaze head-on.

"You claim to have investigated everything about me, yet you still need to test me? As you said, that's only based on what you know. But in this world, who can truly know everything?"

"A fair point."

Duan Qingming, as expected, didn't press further.

"We'll be meeting the sect leader soon. Let's head over."

With that, he walked away, leaving Gu Pinglin alone on the corridor.

Only then did Gu Pinglin understand what Chen Qian had meant by "beyond these mountains, there are higher peaks."

With Duan Qingming here, who else could claim to have superior talent?

What infuriated him was how sudden this change had been. Seeing Duan Qingming mistakenly join the Lingxin Sect had unsettled him—so much so that he had carelessly revealed such a glaring flaw.

Just like in his past life, he kept losing his composure around this man.

Was this life going to be the same?

Gu Pinglin clenched his fist and lightly struck the stone railing before sighing and heading toward the main hall.

These young men and women had all been selected by the Lingxin Sect, though it wasn't yet decided who would become whose disciple. Most of the newcomers were nervous, assuming they would receive assignments immediately upon meeting the sect leader.

But Gu Pinglin knew better.

In six months, there would be an entrance competition—and Yue Songting would select his final personal disciple from among them.

Steeling himself, Gu Pinglin stepped into the hall.

Several senior disciples stood on the raised platform, while the newcomers mingled below.

Duan Qingming was, as always, the center of attention—effortlessly charming everyone who approached. In their eyes, he was a noble-born young master who remained humble and approachable—a rarity that only made him more likable.

What an act.

Gu Pinglin watched coldly from the sidelines.

If these people knew his true nature, they'd flee in terror.

"Little Nine, come here."

Duan Qingming beckoned him over while introducing him to the others.

"This is a dear friend of mine—Gu Little Nine. Quite the character."

Gu Pinglin didn't refuse. Though serious by nature, he had once been the Lingxin Sect's leader in his past life—hardly inept at socializing. His concise, straightforward remarks actually made him more trustworthy.

Moreover, most of these faces were familiar to him. He knew their temperaments well and quickly blended in.

Duan Qingming didn't mind being overshadowed. He simply stood by, watching Gu Pinglin converse.

Then, abruptly, Gu Pinglin shifted the topic.

"It's been two years. I never imagined the Sixth Young Master of the Duan family would forsake his clan to pursue the Dao. Even I was surprised."

His words instantly reminded the other disciples—many of whom came from cultivation backgrounds—of the rumors surrounding Duan Qingming's departure from the Duan family.

Their gazes toward him changed.

Why would a legitimate heir be stripped of his inheritance for no reason?

The Duan family's techniques were renowned—why would he be sent to this obscure sect instead?

Unless…

Had he truly committed some unforgivable transgression?

Facing their suspicion, Duan Qingming remained unruffled.

"After my mother passed, I had no more ties to the mortal world. Devoting myself to the Dao felt natural."

A single sentence dispelled their doubts.

The young men immediately felt ashamed, while the girls' eyes filled with sympathy and indignation.

Everyone knew how brutal noble family politics could be.

To lose a mother's protection and be reduced to this state—the origins of Lady Qi, the current matriarch of the Duan family, were no secret in the cultivation world.

Gu Pinglin hadn't expected to turn them against Duan Qingming so easily.

With a quiet scoff, he let the matter drop.

A man like Duan Qingming didn't grieve for his mother—he probably didn't even care about his own life.

As the murmurs continued, Sect Leader Yue Songting arrived with his senior disciples.

The hall fell silent at once.