She Knows Everything, Ah Yin

"You all head back first."

Zhao Linchuan's right hand flashed with golden light, and the Supreme Ease Golden Edge appeared in his palm.

The long sword grew in the wind, transforming into the size of a door, and hovered before him.

"I have some business to attend to. Wait for me outside Spirit City."

With that, he stepped onto the blade. Golden light erupted, carrying him as he soared into the sky.

The golden sword light tore through the twilight like a shooting star, racing toward the distance and vanishing into the clouds on the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Bibi Dong stood where she was, watching the golden light disappear, her brows knitting together slightly.

"What is he going to do?" She turned her head to look at Yan Lingji, her tone laced with confusion.

Yan Lingji lazily stretched, raising her hands above her head and twisting her waist into a breathtaking curve.

"Who knows?"

Yan Lingji's gaze followed the direction in which Zhao Linchuan had vanished, a playful smile on her lips. "Maybe he's off to have a secret tryst with some little lover."

"Ah...?!"

The following noon.

The sun was bright, and the sky was cloudless.

Outside a remote village hidden deep in the mountains, peaks rose one after another, lush and green.

The mountain path wound and twisted, lined with wild flowers of every color. Butterflies danced among the blossoms, and bees buzzed busily.

A young girl in a silver-blue dress was returning along the mountain path, carrying a medicine basket on her back.

Her steps were incredibly light; every movement felt like a dance. As she stepped, her toes barely touched the ground and her skirt fluttered, making her look like an elf leaping through the mountains.

The Blue Silver Grass along the path swayed gently with her movements, as if cheering or paying homage.

She hummed a nameless tune, her voice as clear as a mountain spring, echoing through the hills.

Zhao Linchuan had arrived silently behind her at some point. He raised his hand and tapped her shoulder lightly.

"Young lady."

"Who's there!"

The girl's body stiffened violently, like a cat that had its tail stepped on, and she spun around instantly.

Her hands rose instinctively into a defensive posture, blue light flickering in her palms as she prepared to strike at any moment.

But when her gaze landed on Zhao Linchuan's face and she sensed his aura, her tense body began to relax.

The light in her palms dissipated, and she lowered her guard, a flash of surprise crossing her eyes.

"It's you?"

She looked Zhao Linchuan up and down, her tone filled with astonishment.

"The Soul Master who saved our village that day?"

"Oh?" Zhao Linchuan said in a gentle tone. "I wonder how you recognized me, young lady?"

"My name is Ah Yin," the girl introduced herself with a slight smile. "My martial soul is quite unique; I can sense auras that others cannot."

She looked at Zhao Linchuan, a glimmer of cunning in her eyes.

"Besides, if I'm not mistaken, the Evil-Purging Soul Master who has been the talk of the town lately... that's you, right?"

"Clever." Zhao Linchuan smiled calmly, not denying it. "I truly didn't expect that, as a transformed soul beast, your intelligence would be no less than that of a human Soul Master."

"What do you mean by that?!"

The smile on Ah Yin's face froze instantly. Her body instinctively took a step back, her hands rose again, and the blue light in her palms flared once more.

She stared fixedly at Zhao Linchuan, as if ready to flee or fight at any second.

"Exactly what I said."

Zhao Linchuan stepped forward and reached out to grab Ah Yin's arm.

The grip was not forceful, yet it was as unbreakable as an iron shackle.

"Come with me." His voice was calm and firm, leaving no room for negotiation. "This is not a place where you should stay."

"No! Let me go..."

Ah Yin struggled desperately, using her other hand to pry at Zhao Linchuan's fingers, only to find that they were as immovable as if they had been welded to her arm.

Her soul power surged within her, attempting to break free, but it was suppressed firmly by an invisible force.

The mountain breeze suddenly died down. The Blue Silver Grass along the path stopped swaying and bowed its heads in silence, as if sensing its master's fear and helplessness.

Zhao Linchuan ignored her struggles. His right hand flashed with golden light, and the Supreme Ease Golden Edge appeared in his palm.

The long sword grew in the wind, carrying the two of them as they shot into the sky. The golden sword light tore through the firmament and raced toward the distance.

Ah Yin's cries gradually dissipated into the mountain wind, until they vanished completely.

One day later, at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

The scenery here remained as it had been, save for a simple pavilion that had been erected on the clearing beside the spring.

Nong Yu and Zi Nü had spent a great deal of effort to build this structure; while it could not compare to the brick-and-tile houses in the city, it possessed a natural beauty that returned to the essence of simplicity.

Zhao Linchuan stood before the pavilion with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed upon the pool of spring water.

Ah Yin stood behind him, her arms crossed over her chest. The expression on her face was a mix of anger and annoyance, her lips pressed tightly together.

"This place is the most suitable for your cultivation."

Zhao Linchuan spoke, his voice as calm as water, without turning around.

"You will stay here from now on."

"When you have cultivated to the level of a Titled Douluo, that is when I will let you leave."

"By what right are you being so overbearing!"

There was suppressed fury in Ah Yin's voice. She took a step forward, pointing a finger at Zhao Linchuan's back, her chest heaving violently.

"If you want my spirit ring and spirit bone, just say so! Why put on this hypocritical act?"

"Think whatever you like."

Zhao Linchuan said this with complete indifference. He turned around, his gaze sweeping over Ah Yin's face before landing on Zi Nü and Nong Yu, who were standing to the side.

"The two of you, come with me."

With that, he strode toward the pavilion.

Zi Nü and Nong Yu exchanged a glance, nodded slightly, and hurried to follow.

They entered the pavilion, and the door closed softly behind them.

Ah Yin stood outside, staring at the tightly shut door. Her teeth clicked together as she ground them, her small fists clenched tight, and she said hatefully:

"Fine, I'll stay here! Once I reach the level of a Spirit Saint, you'll be the one to regret this!"

She turned around, her gaze falling upon the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, the anger in her eyes gradually replaced by a sense of calm.

She had to admit, this was indeed the most suitable place for her to cultivate.

Staying here was more than ten times faster than cultivating in the outside world!

Moreover, her true form was the Blue Silver Emperor; as long as she did not wish to die, no one could kill her.

Her vitality was outrageously tenacious; even if she were severely wounded, she could recover to her original state in a very short time.

She had already made up her mind to stay here and cultivate. Once she became a Titled Douluo, she would suppress that Zhao Linchuan and make him regret his actions!

"Hmph!"

She let out a delicate shout, turned, and walked toward the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

She found a flat piece of bluestone by the spring, sat down cross-legged, closed her eyes, and began to cultivate.

Blue light shone from her body like falling moonlight, weaving together with the misty vapor of the spring to form a dreamlike, ethereal scene.