Hua Min'er's Decision

Hua Min'er felt uneasy under everyone's strange gazes and couldn't help growing a little afraid.

"Sect Master, Hua Min'er is the hope of our Qingyun Sect. I expect she'll become the sect's greatest support in the future, and protect it when the time comes. I think you should pass the Qingyun Sect's guardian technique, the Qing Ling Sword Canon, on to her." Yuan Ming glanced at Green Cloud Master and spoke with deeper meaning.

"Mm. Even if Elder Yuan hadn't mentioned it, I would have done so." Green Cloud Master nodded. He took a jade slip from his Storage Ring and tossed it to Ye Feidie.

"Sect Master, what are you doing?" Ye Feidie caught the jade slip and stared at Green Cloud Master in shock. She hadn't expected him to hand it directly to her.

She had meant to ask Green Cloud Master for this technique today, but she hadn't expected to obtain it so easily.

"You're her master, so giving it to you is only reasonable. Her cultivation is still weak, and I'm afraid someone might plot against her. You can cultivate it too, then guide her." Green Cloud Master swept a warning gaze over everyone. They hurriedly lowered their heads, showing that they had no intention of laying a hand on the technique.

"Yes, Sect Master." Ye Feidie was overjoyed. This was the happiest day of her life. A moment later, she steadied herself and bowed respectfully to Green Cloud Master.

"This is a copy, and I've placed a restriction on it. Only you and your disciple can read it. If anyone else tries, the jade slip will self-destruct. But don't pass it on casually." As if still uneasy, Green Cloud Master cautioned Ye Feidie again.

"Mm, I understand. Now I can rest easy; no one will be able to snatch it by force." Ye Feidie replied respectfully, then glanced toward Qinging Peak. Clearly, she was most wary of Huang Se.

"All right, you may disperse. Keep Hua Min'er safe." With that, Green Cloud Master vanished in a flash.

"Hehe, little girl, come to my Qingming Peak sometime and learn formations. They're really impressive!" Yuan Ming looked at Hua Min'er, quite fond of the girl.

"Mm, I will, Grandpa." Hua Min'er answered sweetly.

Seeing Ling Tian nearly die today while she could do nothing to help had set her heart pounding with the desire to grow stronger. She had also heard her master speak of the power of formations, and couldn't help wanting to learn them.

"Uh, Grandpa? All right, Grandpa it is. I'm off. Remember to come!" Yuan Ming gave a wry smile, then flashed away.

"Min'er, you're welcome to visit my Qingsong Peak, hehe." Wu Yun said, then vanished without waiting for Hua Min'er to answer.

For a while, the peak masters took turns inviting Hua Min'er to their peaks, whether to sightsee, look around, or learn techniques.

Hua Min'er answered each of them respectfully, watching as they departed.

"Min'er, would you still like to look around Qingyun Peak?" After all the peak masters had left, Ye Feidie asked Hua Min'er with a smile. Hua Min'er was her lucky star; otherwise, she might never have had the chance to learn the Qingyun Sect's guardian technique. She couldn't help indulging her all the more.

"No, Master. Let's go back, and you can teach me how to cultivate." With Ling Tian injured, Hua Min'er had no heart for sightseeing. All she wanted was to hurry back and cultivate.

"Mm, all right." Ye Feidie was delighted that Hua Min'er had asked to cultivate. She took the girl's small hand and slowly left Qingyun Peak.

Brother Ling Tian, I'll cultivate hard. Then I'll face danger together with you. Hua Min'er's expression was resolute, her determination unshakable.

With everyone gone, Qingyun Peak returned to its usual quiet.

Qingyou Peak, Lingyun's courtyard.

"Tian'er, what happened? Who hurt you like this? I'll go kill him!" Seeing Ling Tian, whom Lingyun had brought back, with blood at the corners of his mouth and a despondent look on his face, Humei's concern spilled out. In the next instant, killing intent surged through her, and she looked ready to rush out and kill someone.

"Mother, I'm fine. Don't worry." Seeing her anxious, worried, heartbroken face, Ling Tian felt a warmth in his heart and hurried to reassure her.

"You call this fine? You're spitting blood! Tell me who did this!" Humei insisted.

"Hehe, all right, Mei'er. Calm down. Let Tian'er focus on recovering." Seeing Humei so frantic, Lingyun couldn't help laughing.

"Oh, right, Tian'er's recovery is what matters." Humei's expression changed as she turned a worried gaze on Ling Tian. But in the next moment, she sensed something amiss. She glared at Lingyun in annoyance. "Tian'er's hurt this badly, and you're still laughing?"

"All right, all right. Tian'er should be fine. His spiritual sense is just a little damaged." Lingyun told her honestly, but from Humei's expression, she clearly didn't believe a word.

"If you don't believe me, ask Tian'er." Lingyun had no choice but to point at him.

"Tian'er, is your father right? Don't you dare lie to me." Humei turned to ask Ling Tian.

Ling Tian carefully sensed his own body. After a moment, he was surprised. "I'm even better than Father said. My spiritual sense is fine too. How strange. At first, I clearly felt badly injured, and it even seemed like my spiritual sense was about to collapse."

"Oh? Hehe, that's good." Lingyun was surprised to hear this, but quickly recovered.

"Phew, that's a relief. You nearly scared Mother to death." Hearing Ling Tian was fine, Humei let out a long breath.

"Mother, I was useless and made you worry." Ling Tian looked at Humei apologetically.

"It's all right, it's all right. As long as you're okay, Tian'er. Tell me, what happened?" Humei gave Ling Tian a loving glance, feeling relieved, but then remembered that he still hadn't answered her earlier question.

Ling Tian looked at his father. Lingyun nodded helplessly, giving his permission, so Ling Tian began recounting his experience on Qingyun Mountain from the beginning.

A short while later...

"Tian'er, you stayed calm in the face of danger. Very good. Damn it, that old bastard Huang Se bullied someone younger than him and even used his Natal Dan Artifact. Why didn't you kill him?" Humei first praised Ling Tian, then cursed Huang Se for his shamelessness, and finally glared angrily at Lingyun.

"Well, I wanted to leave him for Tian'er—as a trial for him." Lingyun felt a headache coming on as he explained why he had spared Huang Se.

"Hmph. I suppose you have a point. I'll let you off this time." Though Humei said that, she still looked rather indignant.

"Hehe, oh, you." Lingyun smiled helplessly. But Humei shot him a fierce glare, and he hastily shut his mouth, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed up at the sky as if he hadn't said a thing.

"Tian'er, be careful from now on. Don't leave Qingyou Peak." When Lingyun fell silent, Humei turned and warned Ling Tian.

"Uh, Mother, isn't that a bit much?" Ling Tian scratched his head helplessly. He still wanted to visit Hua Min'er, and wondered if she was worrying about him.

"Hmph. You'll do as I say. Do you think your mother would harm you?" Humei's expression darkened. She spoke with quiet authority.

"Mother, I..." Ling Tian began, then trailed off. He shot several looks at his father beside them, who had stopped gazing at the sky, clearly asking him for help.

Lingyun was just about to say something, but Humei glared at him again. He could only look helplessly at Ling Tian to show he couldn't do anything, then turned back to the sky. A glint flashed in his eyes, as if he'd thought of something.

Ling Tian silently lamented his father's disloyalty, but still argued his case. "Mother, it's fine. Huang Se was badly injured. He won't be able to leave Qinghuang Peak for months."

Humei considered it. That was true, but she still shook her head firmly. "That still won't do."

"Please, Mother, I'm begging you." Ling Tian had no choice but to cover his eyes with both hands and pretend to cry, acting spoiled. He knew his mother couldn't resist him when he did this.

"All right, all right, Tian'er. Don't, don't cry." Humei looked at Ling Tian in a panic, at a loss for what to do.

"Well, Huang Se was badly frightened by me. He probably won't dare do anything to Tian'er again." Seeing Humei's last trace of hesitation, Lingyun finally spoke up. Then he pointed at the sky, signaling for Humei to put her mind at ease.

"Mm, all right. Tian'er, you may go out." Humei knew Elder Ling was secretly protecting Ling Tian, which eased her worries a little.

"Mm, hehe, thanks, Mother. You're the best!" Ling Tian immediately beamed and threw his arms around Humei. There wasn't a trace of crying on his face.

"All right, all right, go rest. When you get back, you still need to check your body to make sure you haven't suffered any hidden injuries." Unable to withstand Ling Tian's enthusiasm, Humei wriggled free of his embrace and reminded him.

"Mm, I'm off." Ling Tian heard her and ran out cheerfully.

"But you can't leave Qingyou Peak for the next few days." Humei's voice sounded in Ling Tian's mind.

Just outside the door, Ling Tian stumbled. But he could only nod and agree to his mother before returning to his bedroom.