As night fell, Su Xiling returned to Zhu Yan's courtyard. She saw Zhu Yan sitting at the stone table, an oil lamp set upon it, illuminating her veil and brows.
Zhu Yan looked up. Seeing Su Xiling approach, she asked, "Have you dealt with Qingxiao Sect's troubles?"
Su Xiling sat across from her, looking somewhat dazed. She picked up the teapot and poured herself a bowl of tea.
Seeing her so dispirited, Zhu Yan furrowed her brows and asked, "Did something happen?"
Su Xiling took a deep breath and looked at Zhu Yan. "Miss, are there really cultivators in this world? Officials at court pursue sorcerers, and there are many tales of immortal arts..."
The candlelight revealed the bewilderment on her face. She couldn't forget the sight of Li Qingqiu slaying the Mo Sect Seven Sha, then riding an eagle into the sky.
She couldn't comprehend Li Qingqiu's martial arts. They were completely beyond the realm of martial cultivation, and the only explanation she could think of was the immortals in the myths.
Zhu Yan replied softly, "The world is vast, and there's no shortage of strange things in it. I don't know whether cultivators truly exist, but the sorcerers at court are all charlatans, pretending to have supernatural powers. It's those parasites who caused Great Li to suffer years of turmoil, nearly bringing the land to ruin."
Su Xiling hesitated for a moment, then told her everything she had seen and heard that day.
After hearing it all, Zhu Yan fell silent. Mistress and servant looked at each other without a word.
The courtyard outside grew noisy. Qingxiao Sect's disciples returned from the foot of the mountain, all of them excitedly discussing the day's thrilling battle. The name they mentioned most was Xu Ning's. They didn't mention Li Qingqiu.