What a Foolish Beauty

No one knew what Yun Yun and Yun Shan had gained from that battle.

But Wu Changqing had reaped a bumper harvest!

Not only had he successfully comprehended three low-tier Earth-rank combat techniques, but he had also broken through to a one-star Dou King!

This was a qualitative leap.

Breaking through to the Dou King realm meant he could finally move freely!

He opened a new system panel to inspect his changes.

[Name: Wu Changqing]

[Race: Sword]

[Cultivation: One-Star Dou King]

[Innate Talent ①: Sword Furnace]

[Innate Talent ②: Sword Heart Clarity]

[Combat Techniques: Low-tier Earth-rank Combat Technique · Wind's Extreme: Annihilation, Low-tier Earth-rank Combat Technique · Wind's Extremity: Blossoming Glory Annihilation... (expandable)]

Having become a Dou King, Wu Changqing had essentially evolved into a new stage!

"The future looks promising."

However, he would need to reach the Dou Sect realm before the next stage, where he could manifest a sword spirit body. That was rather frustrating.

The road ahead was long and arduous!

The day after Yun Shan's spar with Yun Yun, he officially entered seclusion.

He did not publicize the matter, and only a small number of people knew about it.

Yun Yun also became the true Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect and began handling its affairs, large and small.

She had not dealt with many sect matters before, so she made a complete mess of many things.

Fortunately, Yun Leng and the Council of Elders were there. They could handle most matters, and Yun Yun only needed to give her final approval.

By that measure, Yun Yun was more like a "mascot."

But naturally, she refused to accept that!

How could the dignified Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect be unable to handle anything and leave it all to the Council of Elders?

Wouldn't that make her look utterly incompetent as Sect Leader?

So every night, Yun Yun brought many record books back to her room and studied by lamplight late into the night...

"So this is how you study by lamplight, determined to become a good Sect Leader?"

Wu Changqing was utterly speechless as he looked at Yun Yun lying spread-eagled on the bed, her face covered by a blanket as though that could help her escape reality.

At first, Yun Yun had indeed worked very hard.

Every day after returning, she would seriously analyze the matters she had encountered during the day but did not know how to handle.

Wu Changqing had even thought that Yun Yun had truly resolved to improve herself.

Yet less than three days later, she had reverted to her old ways.

"Ah—! I was never good at dealing with this sort of thing. It's all Teacher's fault for making me Sect Leader and forcing worries that don't belong to me onto my shoulders." Yun Yun was indignant.

"Your teacher has only been in seclusion for five days, and you're already badmouthing him behind his back?"

"I'd say the same thing to his face."

"That wasn't what you said to him on the day he entered seclusion."

"Sword Spirit Senior, could you stop making fun of me?"

Yun Yun's voice was muffled.

She was already annoyed enough, and Wu Changqing's teasing only made her more annoyed.

Wait...

Yun Yun suddenly sat upright and stared at the Evergreen Sword floating in midair.

"Sword Spirit Senior, when did you learn to fly?"

"And I can hear you speaking even without touching you now."

Wu Changqing: "..."

"I could do that a few days ago. You're only noticing now?"

After becoming a Dou King, he had immediately demonstrated before Yun Yun that he could move freely and speak to her without physical contact.

But Yun Yun had been driven nearly mad by all the matters that came with becoming Sect Leader, so she had not noticed at all.

Only now had she realized it. She was far too slow...

"I really didn't notice... Sword Spirit Senior, why have you suddenly changed so much?"

"Because I've grown stronger."

"Amazing!"

As though she had discovered a new continent, Yun Yun said,

"Then from now on, can I talk to you even if I don't keep you with me all the time?"

"Mm."

"That's wonderful!"

Right then, she was completely like a young girl whose childish innocence had yet to fade.

There was no trace of the bearing of a sect leader.

"Stop changing the subject. Didn't you say you wanted to work hard and learn how to be a good Sect Leader?"

"If you can't persist when you've only just started, I'll look down on you," Wu Changqing said, using a provocation.

"I was only complaining. I never said I wouldn't keep at it."

Yun Yun muttered softly, then began reviewing and reflecting. She considered the matters that had happened in the sect these past days, how the Council of Elders had handled them, why they had handled them that way, and examined everything from various angles.

Wu Changqing had even taught her this method.

"Sword Spirit Senior, today the Mo Clan said they wanted to leave our Misty Cloud Sect. Why did Elder Yun Leng insist on keeping them, even making them outer sect stewards of our Misty Cloud Sect?"

"The Mo Clan holds considerable influence in Salt City. If they serve as outer sect stewards under the name of the Misty Cloud Sect, they can expand the sect's reputation while also paying the sect a large annual tribute."

"Oh, so that's how it is." Yun Yun silently committed it to memory.

"Then, Teacher once said we should strengthen our ties with other clans and factions whenever possible. Among the three great clans and the Alchemist Guild, we have options. Why choose the Nalan family?" Yun Yun asked again.

"Among the three great clans, the Mu Clan has already made it clear that it has close ties with the Jia Ma Imperial Family. The Mittel Clan is not on particularly good terms with us because of Hai Bodong's battle with your teacher not long ago, and the Mittel Clan itself focuses on auctions and has no interest in cooperation."

"As for the Alchemist Guild, it has always been a neutral organization. Those alchemists are all proud and arrogant, and they will not side with any faction."

"Doesn't that leave only the Nalan family for us to win over?" Wu Changqing explained.

Yun Yun felt as though she had been enlightened, suddenly seeing the light.

"Sword Spirit Senior, I think you're better suited than I am to be the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect."

Wu Changqing: "..."

Sometimes, he seriously suspected that the Yun Yun before him had been switched with someone else.

The Yun Yun from the original story had clearly been so mature and composed.

Yet the Yun Yun before him was like a foolish beauty.

Sigh... I'm exhausted.

"If I were the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, the first thing I'd do would be disband the sect and then roam freely by myself," Wu Changqing said.

"I wouldn't dare. Teacher would kill me for that," Yun Yun said quietly.

"Good that you know!"

"Then, Sword Spirit Senior, how do you think we should best strengthen our relationship with the Nalan family?" Yun Yun asked.

This was the matter the Misty Cloud Sect currently needed to address.

"Simple. Does the Nalan family have any young people of suitable age? Just personally take one as your disciple," Wu Changqing said.

"Take a disciple?" Yun Yun froze for a moment.

That was a direction she had never considered.

"That's right. If the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect personally takes a disciple, the Nalan family definitely won't refuse. They'll even be delighted."

"But I don't think I can teach a disciple..." Yun Yun said weakly.

She still needed others to teach her.

How could she possibly have the ability to teach someone else?

"Fool! With so many people in the Misty Cloud Sect, do you need to teach them personally? Take the disciple in first, then find anyone to teach them."

"The important part is taking a disciple in your own name and status. That alone is enough," Wu Changqing said.

"I see... Sword Spirit Senior, you really are smart!"

Wu Changqing was exhausted and did not want to say anything more.