"Xu Taiping, you really were in the courtyard all along!"
The woman named Zhu Xuejian now spotted Xu Taiping still standing on the main hall's steps, and excitement immediately lit up her beautiful eyes.
Xu Taiping did not reply. He merely exchanged an expressionless look with Zhu Xuejian before lowering his head to look with concern at Ping'an Dao, who was being threatened by a flying sword.
"Ping'an, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, big brother!"
Ping'an turned toward Xu Taiping with a broad grin.
Xu Taiping breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled at Ping'an.
"Then help me see our guest out, Ping'an."
At those words, delight first appeared on Ping'an's face, followed by some hesitation.
"Big brother, what if I hurt her?"
Zhu Xuejian, who had been listening in confusion at the entrance, finally understood. She immediately sneered.
"Xu Taiping, I came to challenge you to a Sword Inquiry. If you don't dare accept, just admit defeat openly. What do you mean by fobbing me off with this spirit pet of yours?"
As though Zhu Xuejian did not exist, Xu Taiping did not even glance at her. Instead, he answered Ping'an Dao in all seriousness.
"She smashed our gate and hurt you. Even if you kill her, I won't blame you."
As he spoke, a faint trace of killing intent appeared in Xu Taiping's expression.
Perhaps because of his travels and trials over the years, though this killing intent was not strong, its intimidating force was enough to make an ordinary cultivator's heart quail.
Just like Zhu Xuejian at that moment.
Upon hearing Xu Taiping's words, she involuntarily stepped back. The flying sword under her control hummed, then shot back to her with a whoosh.
Even so, she still looked at Ping'an Dao with disdain.
"Since you've said