Yun Xi's Decision

On the 25th, morning, deep within Yan Mountain, at the Yun Family's Carp Dragon Pond.

By the white marble platform at the edge of the pond, Yun Xi extended her fair hand, plucked a few "fish food" pellets with a metallic sheen from a jade urn beside her, and casually tossed them into the Sword Pond.

Splash~

The water rippled slightly, and three slender Sword Carp, their scales shimmering with iridescent colors, suddenly swarmed around. They jostled and pushed each other, tearing into the food ferociously.

Yun Xi looked down at the water, her expression focused. A rare hint of anticipation flickered across her clear and beautiful face.

The Sword Carp in this Carp Dragon Pond were nurtured by her grandfather, Yun Sheng, using his Sword Intent. Each one was extraordinary.

If she could gain the recognition of one of them, she would have a better chance in the upcoming National Martial Arts University Exchange Competition (not the Freshman Competition). As the new captain of the "Qingyun" school team, this was crucial.

For this reason, she had spent nearly a month of her vacation here, even missing the school team's training camp.

Seeing the fierce competition in the water intensify, she lightly sliced her fingernail across her index finger.

A drop of bright red blood fell, landing precisely in the center of the three struggling Sword Carp.

However, as soon as the blood spread, the three Sword Carp seemed to encounter their nemesis. Their struggle stopped abruptly, their tail fins flicked, and they transformed into three streaks of light, vanishing into the deep water without a trace.

Yun Xi's brow furrowed slightly. She let out a soft sigh, her voice tinged with unconcealed disappointment, "Still no..."

A gentle, middle-aged female voice reached her ears at the opportune moment, "Little Xi, don't be discouraged."

"Your grandfather only subdued 'Yun Yuan' when he reached the Third Order."

"You're only at the First Order now, no need to rush, take your time."

"Grandmother, you don't need to comfort me..." Yun Xi realized her Grandmother was using telepathic messages, and a bitter smile spread across her face.

"Grandfather subdued the 'Dragon Sword' back then, but I can't even communicate with an ordinary 'Fish Sword'..."

"..."

There was a moment of silence from the telepathic transmission, as if the comfort felt a bit hollow.

Her granddaughter was good in every way, except her competitive spirit was too strong. And she insisted on competing with her monstrously talented grandfather.

Sword Immortal Yun Sheng, the only "Proximity to the Dao Body" since the Abyss descended, China's youngest Martial Immortal, a peak existence who firmly held the second spot domestically and was among the top three globally.

In the fifty years since Yun Sheng became famous, despite the emergence of many prodigies, none had truly surpassed him in talent and achievement.

Why compare herself to her own grandfather?

Moreover... Yun Xi's talent wasn't even among the top tier for her generation in the Yun Family, or even for the younger generation in the entire Imperial Capital.

Let alone her grandfather's incredibly talented closed-door disciple, Shen Yaochi, even that little wolf cub from the Zhang Family, Zhang Pengcheng, had superior martial arts aptitude.

With such ambition, it was hard on the child...

About a mile away from the Carp Dragon Pond, above the Sword Pavilion on the mountain peak.

Old Madam Yun leaned on the railing, gazing at the swirling clouds and mist in the mountains, her eyes filled with doting affection, mixed with a hint of helplessness.

"Alright, alright, don't overthink it. That little girl has been kneeling for over an hour. Let's deal with it first," she telepathically transmitted again.

At the edge of the Carp Dragon Pond, Yun Xi nodded gently, withdrawing her gaze from the pond.

She turned around, her obsidian-like eyes falling calmly upon Jiang Yao, who was kneeling before her.

Jiang Yao seemed to sense the gaze, her slightly frail body trembling almost imperceptibly, her head bowing even lower.

"Jiang Yao," Yun Xi's voice was calm and even, betraying no emotion, "Do you know your mistake?"

Jiang Yao's body trembled violently. A venomous look flashed beneath her bangs, quickly replaced by deeper fear.

Her voice was choked with tears as she pleaded softly, "I... I know..."

Yun Xi feigned ignorance, "Oh? What is your mistake?"

Jiang Yao bit her lower lip fiercely, her fingernails almost digging into her palms. She had already cursed Yun Xi and Jiang Xue a thousand times in her heart.

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

Bitch! Bitch! Both of them are bitches!

Jiang Xue is a bitch! Yun Xi is also a bitch!

A crisp slap suddenly rang out, exceptionally jarring in the empty pond area.

Yun Xi struck quickly and hard, without any warning, with full force.

Jiang Yao spun around like a top from the impact, falling to the ground with a thump. The left side of her cheek rapidly swelled and reddened, her lip splitting and oozing a startling trickle of blood.

She clutched her burning cheek, looking at Yun Xi with disbelief, her eyes filled with terror and confusion.

"I don't like the look in your eyes just now," Yun Xi flicked her hand as if dusting off something dirty, her voice icy, "Know your place, Jiang Yao."

Jiang Yao was stunned by the slap, but it also brought her back to reality.

Terrified, she immediately knelt properly again. Enduring the burning pain on her face, she supported herself with her hands, head bowed, no longer daring to show even a trace of resentment.

"Answer me," Yun Xi said indifferently, "What was your mistake?"

"I..." Jiang Yao's clenched fists trembled slightly. She tried to make her voice sound soft and pitiful while fiercely suppressing the surging hatred in her heart, "I shouldn't... I shouldn't have used Brother Zheng..."

"Heh..." Yun Xi let out a disdainful scoff, "Since you know, don't do it again."

"Go on, you can leave now. Take good care of Xiao Zheng."

Jiang Yao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if she'd been granted a great pardon. Her thoughts, however, began to stir again.

She looked up, her eyes still wet, and asked timidly, "My sister didn't mean to..."

Yun Xi seemed to hear a joke, a slight smile playing on her lips. But her voice suddenly turned cold, cutting off Jiang Yao's words without mercy. "What, have you finished using Yun Zheng, and now you want to use me?"

"N-no, I wouldn't dare..." Jiang Yao trembled in fear, instantly prostrating herself on the ground, her forehead pressed against the cool white marble floor.

Yun Xi looked down indifferently at the subservient figure on the ground, her emotions showing no sign of change.

"Go."

"Y-yes..."

Jiang Yao forced herself to get up from the ground, responding meekly. Lowering her head, she backed away from Yun Xi for more than ten steps before daring to turn around. She almost stumbled as she "fled" the Carp Dragon Pond.

As Jiang Yao's figure completely disappeared around the bend of the mountain path, a middle-aged beauty in an elegant, simple dress, exuding an air of graceful nobility, appeared silently beside Yun Xi.

"Grandmother~" Yun Xi was startled, then playfully hooked her arm around the newcomer's. "You always do this, startling me."

Old Mrs. Yun affectionately stroked her granddaughter's soft, long hair. However, her eyes remained sharp as she looked in the direction Jiang Yao had disappeared. "That young girl just now, she harbored quite a bit of malice towards you. Why do you still keep her by your side?"

A hint of helplessness appeared on Yun Xi's face. "It's because Xiao Zheng likes her. That child is completely smitten with her. If I were to deal with her now, wouldn't that just alienate Xiao Zheng from me for no reason? It won't be too late to handle her when he eventually gets tired of her."

Old Mrs. Yun chuckled, a hint of teasing in her voice. "Is that all? Or is it that you haven't given up on that young man from the Gu family? Keeping his wife's sister by your side, what are you planning?"

Yun Xi's cheeks instantly flushed red, but she quickly regained her composure. "It's just a chess piece, a contingency. Perhaps it will be useful someday."

"You..." Old Mrs. Yun tapped her granddaughter's delicate nose, her tone a mixture of helplessness and indulgence.

The grandmother and granddaughter leaned against each other quietly for a moment. Yun Xi suddenly spoke, "Grandmother, I know Liang Qiushi's personality, and I also know how madly Jiang Xue loves Gu Jinzhi! I thought Liang Qiushi would use Jiang Xue, making her die for Gu Jinzhi!"

Her delicate brows furrowed in confusion. "But... Mr. Fei (Yun Zheng's protector) said that Jiang Xue has reached Great Perfection in Blood Nourishing..."

Yun Xi looked at Old Mrs. Yun. "Grandmother, do you think Grandmaster Jiang would agree to let a prodigy at Great Perfection become a scapegoat for Gu Jinzhi? Or is Jiang Xue's relationship with him truly just a normal arranged marriage?"

"What if it's a normal arranged marriage? What if it's not?" Old Mrs. Yun didn't directly answer her granddaughter's question, instead asking a meaningful rhetorical question.

A cold glint flashed in Yun Xi's eyes. "If Jiang Xue is a scapegoat found by Liang Qiushi, then I won't do anything and will happily watch the show... But... if she's not..."

She paused, a cold, cruel curve forming on her lips.

"Then I'll make her become 'yes'!"

Old Mrs. Yun encouraged her. "Do whatever you want to do. If the sky falls, your grandfather and I will hold it up."