Yin Within Yang, Yang Within Yin

Song Yuanqiao also chimed in at the opportune moment, "We hope Shitai won't take offense. It's just that your disciple has performed exceptionally well. To cultivate the Willow Leaf Swordplay to such a high level in just two months is truly rare."

One doesn't hit a smiling face.

Everyone likes to hear pleasant words, and Miejue was no exception.

Moreover, it was her own direct disciple who had elicited such a reaction from Song Yuanqiao and Zhang Songxi.

Although Miejue's face was ashen as still water, her heart felt as if she had drunk a bowl of ice water on a hot summer day; she felt immensely refreshed.

Seeing Zhang Songxi take the initiative to admit his mistake, Miejue no longer pressed the issue. With a soft snort, she withdrew her gaze.

"Since the victor has been decided, I trust that a Sect Leader like Song won't go back on his word?"

Song Yuanqiao was loyal and honest, not foolish.

By now, he understood that he had fallen into Miejue's trap, being misled by Gu Shao'an's entry time and underestimating him.

However, Song Yuanqiao didn't blame Miejue for this. Instead, he blamed himself for being short-sighted and underestimating Gu Shao'an, which led him to unknowingly fall into the trap.

He then said with a serious expression, "Shitai, please rest assured. I, Song Yuanqiao, am not someone who reneges on a bet. Since there was a prior agreement with Shitai, I will naturally abide by it."

After speaking, Song Yuanqiao looked at Zhang Songxi.

Without any further words, Zhang Songxi leaped forward. His feet landed successively in the air, as if an invisible ladder of clouds was supporting him, instantly bringing him to the wall beside the statue of Great Emperor Zhenwu.

He covered the scabbard of the Heavenly Sword with his right hand. Zhang Songxi lightly stepped twice on the wall. As he drew the Heavenly Sword from the wall, his body spun like a top several times in the air before he landed steadily in his original position.

Furthermore, as he descended, not a single sound was made. This lightness skill could truly be called as agile as a swallow.

Even Miejue, upon seeing the mastery Zhang Songxi displayed in the Wudang Ladder Cloud Steps, couldn't help but show a flicker of solemnity in her eyes.

After retrieving the Heavenly Sword, Zhang Songxi's gaze did not linger on it for a moment. He strode towards Miejue, preparing to return the Heavenly Sword to her.

Seeing the sect's treasure about to return to her hands, even Miejue was momentarily distracted from everything else, her eyes fixed solely on the Heavenly Sword.

"Wait!"

Just then, a powerful voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned to look and saw that the person who had spoken was none other than Song Qingshu, standing beside Song Yuanqiao.

"Qingshu, is there a problem?"

"Second Uncle-Master, the Heavenly Sword was personally retrieved by Grand-Master. If we just handle it like this, what if Grand-Master blames us?"

"Moreover, even if Shitai's disciple is truly exceptionally talented, and has only been with the Emei Sect for two months, Shitai concealed this information. It's likely that a wager was made during the competition. Winning the Heavenly Sword through such means is, after all, unbecoming."

As he spoke, Song Qingshu first glanced at Zhou Zhiruo, then at Gu Shao'an, and his tone suddenly shifted.

"Unless Emei and Wudang agree to another match. If Shitai's new disciple can win again, then I can only blame Wudang for having no successors."

Song Yuanqiao, Zhang Songxi, Miejue, and the others had all lived for decades.

How could they not understand, given Song Qingshu's lingering gaze before speaking, that his remarks were clearly motivated by jealousy?

Song Yuanqiao reprimanded, "Nonsense! A bet is a bet. Regardless of anything else, the wager has been made. How can our Wudang disciples be untrustworthy? Moreover, the Heavenly Sword was originally an Emei artifact. It is only right that it be returned, as it was temporarily kept by our Wudang."

Zhang Songxi remained silent, but he did not put away the Heavenly Sword in his hand, which was enough to indicate that his stance was the same as Song Yuanqiao's.

Miejue sneered, "Your intentions are as clear as day to everyone. If you want another match, why don't you, Young Master Song, personally step forward and give this humble nun's disciple some pointers?"

Although Song Qingshu was impulsive, he was not foolish. He could clearly discern the sarcasm in Miejue's words.

While he was eager to step forward and teach this brat who was so intimate with Zhou Zhiruo a lesson, given Song Qingshu's age, if he were to actually fight Gu Shao'an, winning would be seen as bullying the weak, and losing would be utterly humiliating.

Hearing this, Song Yuanqiao quickly said, "Shitai, please don't be offended. Qingshu is young and hasn't considered many things thoroughly, which is why he's lost his composure."

"Young?"

Miejue glanced at Gu Shao'an, who stood by her side, his back straight as a pine, yet appearing obedient and quiet.

Then she looked at Song Qingshu, who was six or seven years older than Gu Shao'an and a full head taller, and let out a silent scoff.

"My disciple is only eleven years old, yet he knows propriety and etiquette. He knows to listen rather than boast when elders are present, and he knows to quietly obey my commands."

"But what is Young Master Song's age this year? Could it be that he is even younger than my little disciple?"

"It seems that Wudang is indeed a top sect. The food here is much better than at my Emei Sect, allowing someone younger than my little disciple to grow this tall."

"In the future, if I take on any more disciples, I'll have no choice but to shamelessly bring him to the Wudang dining hall every day to freeload, so that he can grow up like Young Master Song, looking like he's seventeen or eighteen when he's still so young."

Hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shao'an pursed his lips.

It wasn't surprising that his master's words were so sharp.

Her speech was laced with both sarcasm and veiled insults, a perfect blend of yin and yang, all delivered with a passive-aggressive tone.

Song Yuanqiao, Zhang Songxi, and Mo Shenggu, among others, listened to Miejue's words, their faces turning red and white.

They wanted to retort calmly, but looking at Gu Shao'an, who had been obedient and patient the entire time, and then at Song Qingshu, who had behaved improperly, they found themselves unable to refute.

They all felt as if something was stuck in their throats, leaving them feeling stifled.

After being subjected to Miejue's sarcastic remarks, Song Qingshu's face also flushed slightly.

However, considering that Miejue was Zhou Zhiruo's master, Song Qingshu dared not defy her too much.

At that moment, he was in a dilemma, unable to speak or remain silent, his mouth sealed.

Miejue's eyes, taking in Song Qingshu's reaction, held an even stronger hint of disdain.

"It's Shao'an I find more pleasing to look at."

With that thought, Miejue turned her head to look at Gu Shao'an.

But just as her gaze fell upon Gu Shao'an, he happened to look towards Miejue as well.

Then, to Miejue's astonishment, Gu Shao'an gave a slight nod, the sword in his left hand tilting its hilt slightly, angling it towards Song Qingshu.

Noticing the subtle gesture Gu Shao'an was making towards her, Miejue felt a flicker of doubt.

But the very next second, Miejue understood Gu Shao'an's meaning.

He was agreeing to another fight.

And his target was Song Qingshu.

Having understood Gu Shao'an's intention, Miejue's gaze paused, and she instinctively frowned.

If it had been Zhou Zhiruo with such an intention, Miejue would never have agreed.

But thinking of Gu Shao'an's performance over the past two months, and then glancing at the Heavenly Sword in Zhang Songxi's hand, Miejue made up her mind after a moment's consideration.