Qiaoqiao narrowed her eyes. "What are you apologizing for?"
She leaned closer to study him. "You don't think Yue Liuqin is targeting me because of you, do you?"
She was so close that he could make out every one of her thick eyelashes. Her eyes were dark and dewy. Tingxi couldn't help averting his gaze. "Isn't she?"
She kicked a pebble off the roadside. "Didn't you hear everything? She and I have had a grudge for ages."
"Then... what do we do next?"
Qiaoqiao gazed at the mountain forest blurred together beneath the night sky, putting on an air of gravity. "She's the one forcing my hand..."
Yue Tingxi: ...What was with that mastermind villain tone?
"Let's go!"
"To the center of the secret realm, to find fourth-rank Demon Beasts!"
[I remember the place where Yue Liuqin was attacked by the Startled Owl Birds was near a cliff.]
[How could I miss the sight of Yue Liuqin getting beaten so badly by fourth-rank Demon Beasts that she pisses and shits herself?]
[Hehe.]
She was going to take Yue Tingxi to find a fortuitous opportunity and enjoy the show along the way!
She glanced back at Yue Tingxi, patted his shoulder, and reminded him, "Should you attain wealth and honor, forget me not."
Yue Tingxi: ?
Outside the water mirror, Immortal Venerable Wanghan's fathomless gaze darkened as he watched Qiaoqiao's actions.
The elders were all baffled as they watched Qiaoqiao lead Yue Tingxi deeper into the secret realm.
The deeper one went into the secret realm, the higher the Demon Beasts' ranks became. Disciples only dared hunt high-ranking Demon Beasts in groups of three or five, yet these two dared barge into the territory of fourth-rank Demon Beasts with their level of ability?!
Weren't they just serving themselves up on a platter?!
Seeing everyone from Ethereal Peak looking perfectly composed, each calmer than the last, only baffled them further: with their youngest disciple being so reckless, why did they not only seem unworried, but actually look expectant?
At noon, the two arrived near a cliff. Before they even approached, they heard the Startled Owl Birds' long, piercing cries ringing out again and again. Those cries shook the mountain forest, brimming with might and startling flocks of birds into chaotic flight.
[We made it!]
[Wow, perfect timing!]
What a coincidence-the Startled Owl Birds had been roused!
Looking excited, Qiaoqiao took Yue Tingxi to hide behind a large tree by the cliff and observe the situation there.
Yue Tingxi: Why are you so practiced at this, as though you've been here before?
Naturally, that was because-she had been here in a dream.
By the cliff, two Startled Owl Birds circled Yue Liuqin and Xuan Sheng. Many Moonlight Peak disciples around them were injured, lying on the ground and groaning. The ring-shaped moon Law Treasure in Yue Liuqin's hand had shattered, and her hair was disheveled. She looked quite bedraggled.
After snatching the Howling Wind Beast's points from Qiaoqiao, Yue Liuqin had set her sights on the Startled Owl Birds at this cliff. Each Startled Owl Bird was worth five hundred points, making them the highest-scoring Demon Beasts in the trial. With all the Law Treasures she carried and these disciples, she had enough to deal with two Startled Owl Birds.
She had even left two disciples behind to watch Qiaoqiao and secretly sabotage her, preventing her from earning points.
She had calculated everything perfectly, but the one thing she hadn't accounted for was that these two Startled Owl Birds were in their breeding season, making them far more vigilant and aggressive than usual. The moment they stepped into the Startled Owl Birds' territory, the demonic birds launched a ferocious attack. Caught off guard, the disciples fell in droves. After exhausting all the Law Treasures she carried, she had been forced to the edge of this cliff and trapped in a desperate situation.
Yue Liuqin was now filled with regret. Why had she gotten greedy for points and come to provoke these two Startled Owl Birds?
But it was too late for regrets now. The Startled Owl Birds spread their wings, blotting out the sky and sun. She and Xuan Sheng had nowhere left to run!
If they wanted to escape, their only option was-
"Miss, let's give up..."
"No!"
Every disciple participating in the trial carried a lifesaving wooden token. When faced with danger they couldn't handle, they could crush it to be transported out of the secret realm. But if she gave up just like this, where would she put her face?
She was the most gifted disciple in Moonlight Peak's history. How could she be defeated by a mere sect trial?
Not to mention her bet with Qiaoqiao. She would rather die than kneel before Qiaoqiao and beg for mercy!
"There's one other way..." Yue Liuqin tightened her grip on the Seven Stars Compass. This compass was a disguised Earth Grade Law Treasure. The force of its self-destruction would be enough to deal with two Startled Owl Birds, but once she did that, she would no longer be able to hide the fact that she had broken the rules by bringing an Earth Grade Law Treasure into the secret realm!
Before she could make up her mind, a Startled Owl Bird beat its wings, took flight, and lunged at her!
"Young Miss!"
At that critical moment, Yue Liuqin could spare no thought for anything else. She hurled the compass in her hand, triggering a thunderous explosion in midair!
Boom!
The earth trembled and the mountains shook. The demonic birds cried in anguish.
The Earth Grade Law Treasure's self-destruction was even more violent than she had imagined. Caught off guard, Yue Liuqin was flung several feet away and rolled to the edge of the cliff, narrowly avoiding a fall.
Yue Liuqin was utterly bedraggled. Her long hair was disheveled, blood dripped from her forehead, and dust and dirt covered her body. The blast had injured her so badly that she lacked even the strength to get up.
Xuan Sheng lay unconscious on the ground not far away, oblivious to everything.
Just then, two figures appeared in her field of vision.
Yue Liuqin's pupils abruptly contracted. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
Qiaoqiao crouched in front of the Startled Owl Bird that had also been injured in the blast and smiled at her.
Her eyes curved, innocent and friendly.
Yet that smile sent cold sweat breaking out along Yue Liuqin's back. She said hoarsely, "Y-you, what are you trying to do..."
A faint strand of Sword Qi gathered at Qiaoqiao's fingertip as she said matter-of-factly, "Collect points, of course. A Startled Owl Bird is worth five hundred points."
"That's mine!" Yue Liuqin couldn't help shrieking.
"I wounded that Startled Owl Bird! What right do you have to steal it? Have you no shame?!"
Qiaoqiao tilted her head. "This forest is so big. How can you prove the Startled Owl Bird is your prey?"
"You-"
Yue Liuqin nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Her chest heaved violently, yet she couldn't move at all. Qiaoqiao was about to anger her to death!
She had destroyed an Earth Grade Law Treasure just to wound this Startled Owl Bird. What right did Qiaoqiao have to pick up the spoils here? What right?!
"Stop! Stop right now!!"
Qiaoqiao paid her no heed and happily pocketed five hundred points. "Young Miss Yue, don't be angry. If you don't have the ability to protect your own prey, you can't blame anyone else when it gets snatched away, can you?"