Over seven years, Su Qingqing had grown into a pretty young girl. Several boys practiced swordsmanship alongside her in the courtyard.
Su Qingqing's expression was solemn. At some point, she had shed her former weakness, and her eyes had grown more resolute.
A boy beside Su Qingqing whispered, "Doesn't the family head usually come watch us practice around this time? Why hasn't he come today?"
Another boy said, "No idea, but I just saw several elders heading to the front courtyard with their swords. Could there be a fight?"
The children chatted as they practiced. Only Su Qingqing remained silent, shutting her ears to everything beyond her own little world.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out nearby.
"Heavens, is that someone from the Azure Tide Sect?"
At the words "Azure Tide Sect," Su Qingqing's sword movements faltered, and she turned to look.
A delicate-featured young woman was watching her gently, a faint smile on her lips.
She had never seen this face before, but the young woman's aura was very familiar.
"Qingqing, don't you recognize me anymore?"
Su Qingqing's eyes slowly widened. Her sword slipped unnoticed from her hand and fell to the ground, and her eyes reddened slightly. "Sister A Jiu?"
Su Jiu stepped forward and stroked her long hair.
She smiled. "You're much stronger than before, but you still love to cry."
The young disciples beside them secretly clicked their tongues. Sister Qingqing loved to cry? Was she joking? They were always the ones she beat into near tears!
The council hall.
The Su Family Head and the Su Family's Eight Elders all looked at Su Jiu and Bai Lineage Zi before them.
She spoke slowly. "What exactly happened when you went to Great March Mountain seven years ago?"
They exchanged glances, but their mouths stayed clamped like shut