Yin Within Yang, Yang Within Yin

Song Yuanqiao spoke at just the right moment. "I hope you won't take offense, Abbess. It's just that this disciple of yours performed far too exceptionally. To think she could cultivate the Willow Catkin Sword Technique to such a high level in only two months—it's truly rare."

You didn't strike someone who came bearing a smile.

Everyone enjoyed hearing pleasant words, and Miejue was no exception.

What was more, the person who had elicited such a reaction from Song Yuanqiao, Zhang Songxi, and the others was her own Personal Disciple.

Although Miejue's face was as dark as stagnant water, her heart felt as refreshed as if she had drunk a bowl of ice water on a sweltering summer day.

Seeing Zhang Songxi take the initiative to admit his mistake, Miejue no longer pressed the matter. She merely snorted and withdrew her gaze.

"Since the victor has been decided, I imagine someone like Sect Leader Song won't go back on his word, will he?"

Song Yuanqiao was honest and upright, not dull-witted.

By now, how could he fail to understand that he had fallen into Miejue's trap? He had been misled by Gu Shaoan's time of entry and had underestimated him.

Yet Song Yuanqiao did not blame Miejue in his heart. Instead, he blamed himself for being like a frog in a well and looking down on Gu Shaoan, which had caused him to step into the pit without realizing it.

He immediately put on a solemn expression and said, "Rest assured, Abbess. I, Song Yuanqiao, am not someone who refuses to honor a bet after losing. Since I made an agreement with you beforehand, I will naturally abide by it."

After saying that, Song Yuanqiao looked toward Zhang Songxi.

The latter did not waste words. He leaped into the air, repeatedly stepping down with both feet as though invisible clouds and ladders supported him. In an instant, Zhang Songxi reached the wall beside the statue of the True Martial Emperor.

His right hand covering the sheath of the Heavenly Sword, Zhang Songxi lightly stepped twice against the wall. As he pulled the Heavenly Sword from it, his body spun several times in midair like a top before he landed steadily in his original position.

Moreover, he made not the slightest sound as he descended. This lightness skill truly deserved to be called being as light as a swallow.

Even Miejue could not help but have a solemn glint flash through her eyes when she saw Zhang Songxi reveal his mastery of the Wudang Cloud-Treading Steps.

After taking down the Heavenly Sword, Zhang Songxi's gaze did not linger on it for even a moment. He walked toward Miejue, intending to return the Heavenly Sword to her.

Watching the supreme treasure of her sect about to return to her hands, even Miejue had no attention to spare for anything else. Her eyes held only the Heavenly Sword.

"Wait!"

Just then, a powerful voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned toward the sound and discovered that the one who had spoken was Song Qingshu, standing beside Song Yuanqiao.

"Qingshu, is there a problem?"

"Second Martial Uncle, the Heavenly Sword was personally confiscated by Grandmaster. If we deal with it like this, what if Grandmaster blames us?"

"Besides, even if this disciple of the Abbess is exceptionally gifted and truly has only been in the Emei Sect for two months, the Abbess concealed the truth and made a wager during the contest. Winning the Heavenly Sword through such conduct is, in the end, unbecoming."

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

"Unless Emei and the Wudang Sect have another match. If this new disciple of the Abbess can still win, then we can only blame my Wudang Sect for having no worthy successors."

Song Yuanqiao, Zhang Songxi, and Miejue had all lived for several decades. How could they fail to understand that the lingering gaze Song Qingshu had cast before speaking made it clear that his words were born entirely from jealousy?

Song Yuanqiao shouted, "Nonsense! A bet must be honored. No matter what, the wager has already been made. How could a disciple of my Wudang Sect become someone who breaks his word? Besides, the Heavenly Sword originally belongs to Emei. It was only temporarily kept by our Wudang Sect, so returning it is only right."

Zhang Songxi said nothing, but he did not put away the Heavenly Sword in his hand, which was enough to show that his attitude matched Song Yuanqiao's.

Miejue sneered. "Everyone knows what Sima Zhao is thinking. Another match? Why doesn't Young Hero Song come down personally and instruct this disciple of mine?"

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

He did want to go down and teach this brat, who dared to act so intimate with Zhou Zhiruo, a lesson. But given Song Qingshu's age, if he truly fought Gu Shaoan, winning would make him look like a bully, while losing would leave him humiliated.

Song Yuanqiao hurriedly said, "Please don't take offense, Abbess. Qingshu is young and doesn't think matters through carefully, which is why he overstepped."

"Young?"

Miejue glanced at Gu Shaoan, who stood to one side with his back straight as a pine 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. She gave a cold laugh inwardly.

"My disciple is only eleven years old, yet he already knows how to be courteous and observe propriety. He knows that when elders are present, he should listen without making a fuss, and he understands how to quietly follow my instructions."

"But how old are you this year, Young Hero Song? Could it be that you're even younger than this disciple of mine?"

"It seems the Wudang Sect truly is a top-tier power. Its food must be far better than that of my Emei Sect, for it can actually make someone younger than my disciple grow so tall."

"In the future, if I take on another disciple, I'll have no choice but to shamelessly bring him to eat at the Wudang cafeteria every day, so that he too can grow to look seventeen or eighteen while still young, like Young Hero Song."

Hearing Miejue say this, Gu Shaoan lightly pursed his lips.

There's no doubt about it. His own master must have practiced that mouth of hers too.

When she spoke, there was yin within the yang and yang within the yin. Yin and yang complemented each other, and every word was dripping with mockery.

Song Yuanqiao, Zhang Songxi, Mo Shenggu, and the others standing nearby also flushed by turns as they listened to Miejue's words.

They wanted to suppress their anger and retort, but when they looked at Gu Shaoan, who had obediently listened from beginning to end without becoming anxious or impatient, and then at the discourteous Song Qingshu, they found themselves unable to refute her.

They all felt as though something were stuck in their throats, leaving them stifled and uncomfortable.

After being subjected to Miejue's sarcastic tirade, Song Qingshu's face had also flushed red.

But remembering that Miejue was Zhou Zhiruo's master, Song Qingshu did not dare to defy her too much.

For a moment, speaking was wrong, and remaining silent was wrong too. He was left unable to get a word out.

Taking in Song Qingshu's reaction, the disdain in Miejue's eyes grew even stronger.

Gu Shaoan is still more pleasing to look at.

With that thought, Miejue turned her head toward Gu Shaoan.

But just as her gaze landed on Gu Shaoan, he happened to look toward her as well.

Then, amid Miejue's astonishment, Gu Shaoan gave a slight nod. The sword in his left hand turned slightly, pointing its hilt toward Song Qingshu.

Noticing the small gesture Gu Shaoan made toward her, Miejue felt puzzled.

But in the next moment, Miejue understood what Gu Shaoan meant.

He agreed to fight another match.

And his target was Song Qingshu.

After understanding Gu Shaoan's intention, Miejue's gaze paused, and she instinctively furrowed her brows.

If it had been Zhou Zhiruo, Miejue would never have agreed to such an intention, no matter what.

But thinking of Gu Shaoan's performance over the past two months, then glancing at the Heavenly Sword in Zhang Songxi's hand, Miejue pondered briefly before making her decision.