Yin Within Yang, Yang Within Yin

Song Yuanqiao also spoke at the right time: "I hope the Abbess will not be offended. It is indeed that your disciple has performed too outstandingly. In just two months, she has managed to cultivate the Willow Catkin Sword Technique to such a high level. It is truly rare."

One doesn't hit a smiling face.

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

What's more, it was her own Personal Disciple who had elicited such a reaction from Song Yuanqiao and Zhang Songxi.

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

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

"Since a victor has been decided, I trust that someone like Sect Leader Song would not go back on his word, right?"

Song Yuanqiao was loyal, not foolish.

By this point, how could he not understand that he had fallen into Miejue's trap? He had been misled by Gu Shaoan's enrollment time and had underestimated him.

However, Song Yuanqiao did not blame Miejue for this. Instead, he blamed himself for being like a frog in a well, underestimating Gu Shaoan, which led him to unknowingly step into a trap.

He then said with a serious expression, "Abbess, please rest assured. I, Song Yuanqiao, am not someone who loses a bet and refuses to honor it. Since there was an agreement with the Abbess beforehand, I will naturally abide by it."

After speaking, Song Yuanqiao looked at Zhang Songxi.

The latter wasted no words. With a leap, he stepped on the air repeatedly, as if an invisible cloud ladder was supporting him. This allowed Zhang Songxi to reach the wall beside the statue of the True Martial Emperor in an instant.

He covered the scabbard of the Heavenly Sword with his right hand. Zhang Songxi lightly stepped on the wall twice with his feet. 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 previous position.

Moreover, he made no sound as he descended. This lightness skill could truly be described as being as light as a swallow.

Even Miejue, looking at Zhang Songxi's displayed mastery of the Wudang Cloud-Treading Steps, couldn't help but have a flicker of seriousness 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 treasure of their sect about to return to her hands, even Miejue was momentarily distracted from everything else, her eyes only on the Heavenly Sword.

"Wait a moment!"

Just then, a voice filled with energy suddenly rang out.

Everyone looked towards the source of the sound and saw that it was Song Qingshu, who was standing beside Song Yuanqiao.

"Qingshu, is there a problem?"

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

"Moreover, even if the Abbess's disciple is truly exceptionally talented, and has only been with Emei for two months, the Abbess concealed this fact. To then make a bet during the competition and win the Heavenly Sword through such means is, after all, unbecoming of her demeanor."

As he spoke, Song Qingshu first glanced at Zhou Zhiruo, then looked at Gu Shaoan, and his tone suddenly shifted.

"Unless Emei and Wudang have another match, and if this new disciple of yours can win again, then I can only blame Wudang for having no successors."

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

How could they not know that Song Qingshu's words were driven by jealousy, just from the way his gaze lingered before he spoke?

Song Yuanqiao rebuked, "Nonsense. A bet is a bet. Regardless, the wager has been made. How can a Wudang disciple be untrustworthy with his word? Moreover, the Heavenly Sword originally belonged to Emei and was only temporarily kept by Wudang. It is only right to return it."

Zhang Songxi remained silent, but he did not put away the Heavenly Sword in his hand, which clearly indicated his attitude was the same as Song Yuanqiao's.

Miejue sneered, "Sima Zhao's intentions are known to all. If you want another match, why don't you, Young Hero Song, personally step onto the stage to give this disciple of mine some pointers?"

Although Song Qingshu was impulsive, he was not foolish. How could he not hear the sarcasm in Miejue's words?

While he wanted to step forward and teach this brat who was so intimate with Zhou Zhiruo a lesson, given Song Qingshu's age, if he truly fought Gu Shaoan, winning would be seen as bullying the weak, and losing would be utterly humiliating.

Upon hearing this, Song Yuanqiao quickly interjected, "Please do not be offended, Master Miejue. Qingshu is young and often inconsiderate, which is why he has lost his composure."

"Young?"

Miejue glanced at Gu Shaoan, who stood beside her, straight as a pine tree, yet obedient and quiet.

Then she looked at Song Qingshu, who was six or seven years older than Gu Shaoan and nearly two heads taller, and scoffed inwardly.

"My disciple is only eleven years old, yet she knows propriety and etiquette. She knows to listen and not speak out when elders are present, and she knows to quietly obey my commands."

"But how old is Young Hero Song this year? Could he possibly be younger than my disciple?"

"It seems Wudang is indeed a top sect, with much better food than our Emei Sect, to allow someone younger than my disciple to grow so tall."

"In the future, if I take in any more disciples, I will have no choice but to shamelessly bring him to the Wudang mess hall every day to freeload meals, so that he can grow up like Young Hero Song, looking like he's seventeen or eighteen when he's still as young as my little disciple."

Hearing Miejue's words, Gu Shaoan pursed his lips.

He had to admit, his Master's way with words was quite practiced.

Her speech was laced with yin and yang, yang and yin, a perfect blend of both, full of veiled barbs.

Song Yuanqiao, Zhang Songxi, and Mo Shenggu, listening to Miejue's words, had their faces flush and pale.

They wanted to retort, but looking at Gu Shaoan, who had been obedient and well-behaved the entire time, not rushing or getting impatient, and then at Song Qingshu, who had clearly lost his decorum, they found themselves unable to refute.

They all felt a sense of blockage, stifled.

After being sarcastically berated by Miejue, Song Qingshu's face also turned somewhat red.

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

For a moment, he didn't know whether to speak or not, finding himself tongue-tied.

Miejue's eyes took in Song Qingshu's reaction, her disdain deepening slightly.

"Shaoan is more pleasing to the eye."

With that thought, Miejue turned her head to look at Gu Shaoan.

But just as her gaze fell upon Gu Shaoan, Gu Shaoan happened to look toward Miejue as well.

Then, to Miejue's astonishment, Gu Shaoan gently nodded. The sword in his left hand, its hilt, was subtly rotated, angling the hilt toward Song Qingshu.

Noticing Gu Shaoan's small gesture of indication, Miejue felt a flicker of doubt.

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

He was agreeing to fight another round.

And his target was still Song Qingshu.

Understanding Gu Shaoan's intention, Miejue's gaze paused. She subconsciously frowned.

If it were Zhou Zhiruo with such an intention, Miejue would never agree.

But thinking of Gu Shaoan's performance over the past two months, and glancing at the Heavenly Sword in Zhang Songxi's hand, Miejue pondered for a moment before making up her mind.