Fenxiang Valley Prepares to Scheme Against Lu Xueqi

The little girl sat on the ground, dazed and trembling, staring at the woman in white who looked like an immortal, her tears flowing uncontrollably.

Lu Xueqi sheathed her sword and crouched down.

Her movements were gentle, and her voice was soft.

"Don't be afraid."

The little girl looked at her face, at those cold yet gentle eyes, and finally could not hold back anymore. She let out a wail and threw herself into her arms.

Lu Xueqi stiffened slightly.

She was not accustomed to such intimacy.

But looking at the small, shivering figure in her arms, she ultimately did not push her away, merely patting her back lightly.

"It's alright now."

The disciples of the Qingyun Sect landed one after another and gathered around.

The other disciples were also silent, their faces filled with anger and heartache.

Lu Jiuyuan stood to the side, watching Lu Xueqi holding the little girl, his gaze softening a fraction.

Jin Ping'er tilted her head to look at him, then at the little girl in Lu Xueqi's arms, and suddenly smiled without saying a word.

Lu Jiuyuan stepped forward, crouched down beside Lu Xueqi, and looked at the little girl.

"What is your name?"

The little girl raised her head from Lu Xueqi's arms and looked at him timidly.

"Xia... Xiaodie."

"Xiaodie, where is your home? Do you have any other family?"

The little girl's tears welled up again.

"Gone... they are all gone... the savage beasts destroyed the village... Father and Mother are..."

She did not continue, only crying even harder.

Lu Xueqi held her a little tighter.

A moment later, Lu Jiuyuan arranged for a junior brother to take the little girl back to the Qingyun Sect.

Lu Jiuyuan looked back at the thin, small figure being taken north by his junior brother, and felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.

The child's natural aptitude was indeed good; if she could be nurtured well, she might one day become a pillar of the Qingyun Sect.

After the little girl Xiaodie was settled, the group continued their journey.

Jin Ping'er followed behind the three of them, watching this scene, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly, though she remained silent.

She had been very quiet these past few days, neither deliberately approaching Lu Jiuyuan nor causing any conflict with Lu Xueqi.

She simply followed along quietly, occasionally looking at the scenery, occasionally closing her eyes to rest, like a lazy cat.

But Lu Jiuyuan knew she was definitely not the type to behave herself.

She was observing.

She was waiting.

As for what she was waiting for, Lu Jiuyuan couldn't be bothered to think about it, nor could he figure it out.

A woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea.

Especially a woman like Jin Ping'er, who had grown up struggling in the Demon Sect; her thoughts were deeper than a needle at the bottom of the sea.

He could only take it one step at a time!

Besides, he had a little vinegar pot in Lu Xueqi, who was watching him every moment; it was inconvenient to do anything!

Deep within Fenxiang Valley, in a magnificent great hall, the atmosphere was completely different.

On a red jade chair in the center of the hall, an old man sat upright.

He appeared to be in his thirties, with a handsome face and eyes that flashed with sharp light.

He wore a crimson robe with golden flame patterns embroidered on the hem, and his aura was as scorching as a furnace.

The master of Fenxiang Valley—Yun Yilan.

"Reporting to the Valley Master." A disciple knelt on one knee below the hall, head bowed, "The Qingyun Sect's party has already entered the territory of the Southern Border!"

"Has that Lu Jiuyuan come as well?" Yun Yilan's voice was as cold as ice, a flash of chill passing through his eyes.

"Reporting to the Valley Master, that person has also come!"

Yun Yilan did not speak; he slowly stood up, walked to the entrance of the hall with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the distant horizon.

There, a mass of black clouds was slowly churning.

Lu Jiuyuan, the humiliation from the Qingyun Sect that day—now that you are on my turf, I want to see what you are capable of!!!

"Lu Jiuyuan, even if you are strong, you are only one man." Yun Yilan whispered to himself, "When the beast tide arrives, how will you deal with the siege of these savage beasts?"

He turned around and looked at Li Xun, who was standing at the side of the hall.

"Xun'er."

"Disciple is here."

Yun Yilan walked back to the jade chair and sat down, his fingers tapping against the armrest once more.

"Lure a beast tide to attack the Qingyun Sect team. Remember, don't be too aggressive all at once; take it slow. Send some low-level spirit beasts first to test them and make them lower their guard."

Yun Yilan paused, a sharp glint flashing in his triangular eyes.

"Once they have been sufficiently worn down by the beasts, that is when you strike."

Li Xun looked up: "My mission is..."

"To save them." Yun Yilan said indifferently, "If the people from the Qingyun Sect encounter danger in the Southern Border and Li Xun of Fenxiang Valley steps forward to rescue them, the reputation gained will only benefit Fenxiang Valley."

"As for that Lu Xueqi..." He smiled, his expression carrying a hint of profound meaning, "If she is severely injured in the battle, once you save her, you will naturally bring her back to Fenxiang Valley to recover."

"Once she is on our turf, you don't need me to teach you what to do, right?"

Li Xun's eyes lit up.

"Master means..."

"First take the person, then take the heart." Yun Yilan leaned back against the chair, his tone as flat as if he were discussing something mundane, "Even if you cannot win her heart, taking the person is not a loss."

"A woman like Lu Xueqi becoming a member of Fenxiang Valley is more important than anything else."

Li Xun took a deep breath and bowed in salute: "This disciple understands."

"Good that you understand." Yun Yilan waved his hand, "Go."

Li Xun turned and strode out of the hall, his steps much lighter than when he had arrived.

The hall doors slowly closed behind him, and the hall returned to silence.

Yun Yilan sat alone on the jade chair, his fingers no longer tapping the armrest. He stared at the flame-patterned relief on the ceiling, his gaze deep and unfathomable, lost in thought.

"Lu Jiuyuan..." He whispered the name, then suddenly let out a soft laugh, "So what if you are at the mid-stage of the Taiqing Realm? In this world, it has never been just cultivation that kills."

He closed his eyes, and the smile at the corners of his mouth slowly faded away.

In the hall, only a profound silence remained.

The team flew for another distance, and the sky gradually darkened.

Lu Jiuyuan found a flat area against a mountain and had everyone stop to rest. The Qingyun Sect disciples landed one after another; some sat in meditation to regulate their breath, some took out dry rations to share, and others sat in small groups whispering to one another.

Wen Min leaned against a withered tree, rubbing her sore legs, and muttered: "I'm exhausted, I never want to fly again!"

Lu Xueqi sat not far away, eyes closed in meditation, the Tianya Sword resting across her knees. Spiritual energy circulated around her body, faintly glowing with a soft blue light.

Jin Ping'er had managed to find a wild rabbit from somewhere and was roasting it in a leisurely manner.

The firelight reflected on her face, creating a play of light and shadow, and that stunningly beautiful face appeared indescribably bewitching in the night.

"Lu Jiuyuan." She suddenly spoke without looking up, "Do you think those people from Fenxiang Valley will try to trip us up from behind?"

Lu Jiuyuan was sitting on a blue stone; hearing this, he glanced at her: "What do you think?"

"I think!" Jin Ping'er flipped the rabbit meat, and the fat dripped onto the fire, making a sizzling sound, "They definitely will."