The moment that figure in plain white appeared, the mountain breeze stilled.
The newcomer was none other than Lin Su, sect master of the Lin Prefecture Upper Sect.
"Are you confident about this battle?"
Lin Su gazed at her disciple, seemingly seeing through the unease in her heart.
Hu Lingyu paused, then thrust out her full chest and declared confidently, "Of course!"
"Really?"
Lin Su smiled faintly.
Hu Lingyu, so confident a moment earlier, immediately pulled a long face, a trace of bitterness creeping into her smile:
"All right, I was pretending."
"Master, can't I go into seclusion like those other two?"
Lin Su rolled her eyes at her. "What do you think?"
Hu Lingyu clung to Lin Su's arm like a wheedling child and rested her head on her shoulder, her voice muffled:
"Ah, Master, I wasn't afraid at first."
"I'm a prodigy too, aren't I?"
"But this whole thing keeps getting bigger."
"Now I'm just worried I'll disgrace you and the Upper Sect."
Lin Su stroked her hair. "Don't worry. The Upper Sect won't be disgraced."
"Huh?! Master, you have that much confidence in me...?"
Hu Lingyu smiled in delighted surprise.
After all, the Sakura Princess's battle record in Jiang Prefecture was already terrifying.
She had wondered several times whether she could have soundly defeated so many Innate Realm experts herself...
That was why she was feeling a little panicked now.
But she trusted her master's judgment.
Since her master had said so, she must have her reasons.
Lin Su smiled without answering, but her gaze passed over Hu Lingyu's shoulder toward Heavenly Cloud Peak.
Then she turned back:
"It's been a while since I taught you swordsmanship."
"Today..."
"I'll teach you another secret technique."
Heavenly Cloud Peak.
Jiang Ye sat cross-legged beside the Green Flame Grass