Chapter 474 The Maiden, Bing Ya
"There is no need. You may go back."
Bing Yan's clear, cold voice drifted out from the guest courtyard with a gust of wind.
The mountain wind, which had previously felt like nothing against their skin, now made Bing Xiaofeng and Mu Rou feel utterly cold and desolate.
"Then we shall take our leave first."
Mu Rou also knew that staying here any longer would only make them a greater laughingstock.
The two of them quickly departed under the strange gazes of the many onlooking disciples of the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa.
Seeing their retreating figures, the smile on Chen Qianqian's face grew even more triumphant.
Bai Qian at her side raised her small hand and high-fived Chen Qianqian, shouting in unison.
"Yay!"
This small incident quickly spread throughout the entire Extreme Cold Mountain Villa.
Upon hearing this news, the elders were at first gleeful, but soon, no one could laugh anymore.
It had been a hundred years since a disciple from their Extreme Cold Mountain Villa had gained a foothold in the Academy of Dao Inquiry.
Although there had been true disciples, they were eventually all assigned to the Outer Affairs Court as deacons.
Now, with Elder Bing Yan stationed at the Academy of Dao Inquiry, if their Extreme Cold Mountain Villa could not produce a prodigy, once Bing Yan's favor was exhausted, their status within the academy would plummet.
After all, they were just one of the many Half-Saint forces under the Academy of Dao Inquiry.
There were countless such Half-Saint forces under the academy's banner.
When Bing Aogu heard this news, he directly dragged his precious son to the backyard and gave him a severe beating.
He had told the two of them to find a solution, not to seek their own doom. Trying to play the family card with Bing Yan at a time like this, wasn't that just asking for trouble?
Everything that happened in the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa had nothing to do with Chu Feng, Bing Yan, and the others.
The next day, early morning.
Chu Feng was awakened early from his bed by Bing Yan, the reason being that she wanted to show him the place where she cultivated as a child.
And so, a bleary-eyed Chu Feng followed Bing Yan to the foot of a lone peak within the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa.
Chu Feng looked out at a vast expanse of white snow. To say nothing of human figures, he couldn't even see a ghostly shadow.
The two did not fly through the air but walked step by step towards the summit.
As the sun gradually rose, the two drew closer and closer to the peak.
Just then, they suddenly heard the sound of sword dancing coming from the mountain.
Hearing the sound, Chu Feng said with a smile, "I didn't expect that even after so many years away from the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa, there are still people following in your footsteps, cultivating here."
Bing Yan paused for a moment. "I wonder which family's child is secretly cultivating here."
After speaking, the two exchanged a glance and walked in the direction of the sound.
Before long, Chu Feng saw a thinly clad, slender young woman cultivating in the snow.
Her swordsmanship was fierce, and every move carried a hint of sword intent.
What was most commendable was that she had only just stepped into the Dao Foundation Realm.
The young woman seemed completely immersed in her cultivation, not noticing the arrival of Chu Feng and Bing Yan.
After observing her carefully for a moment, Chu Feng was surprised to find that this young woman actually bore a slight resemblance to Bing Yan. She must be one of Bing Yan's direct descendants.
After the young woman finished her set of sword forms, she finally noticed Chu Feng and Bing Yan and quickly paid her respects.
"Bing Ya pays her respects to the two seniors."
"You may rise."
Bing Yan asked indifferently, "Whose family are you from?"
"In... in reply, Senior, I am..."
Bing Ya looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, finally lowering her head, appearing very reluctant to speak of her origins.
Chu Feng said with a smile, "Could it be that your identity cannot be revealed?"
Bing Ya said with a troubled expression, "The Young Master told me not to say. I hope the seniors will forgive me."
"Oh?"
"There is no need. You may go back."
Bing Yan's clear, cold voice drifted out from the guest courtyard with a gust of wind.
The mountain wind, which had previously felt like nothing against their skin, now made Bing Xiaofeng and Mu Rou feel utterly cold and desolate.
"Then we shall take our leave first."
Mu Rou also knew that staying here any longer would only make them a greater laughingstock.
The two of them quickly departed under the strange gazes of the many onlooking disciples of the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa.
Seeing their retreating figures, the smile on Chen Qianqian's face grew even more triumphant.
Bai Qian at her side raised her small hand and high-fived Chen Qianqian, shouting in unison.
"Yay!"
This small incident quickly spread throughout the entire Extreme Cold Mountain Villa.
Upon hearing this news, the elders were at first gleeful, but soon, no one could laugh anymore.
It had been a hundred years since a disciple from their Extreme Cold Mountain Villa had gained a foothold in the Wendao Academy.
Although there had been true disciples, they were eventually all assigned to the Outer Affairs Court as deacons.
Now, with Elder Bing Yan stationed at the Wendao Academy, if their Extreme Cold Mountain Villa could not produce a prodigy, once Bing Yan's favor was exhausted, their status within the academy would plummet.
After all, they were just one of the many Half-Saint forces under the Wendao Academy.
There were countless such Half-Saint forces under the academy's banner.
When Bing Aogu heard this news, he directly dragged his precious son to the backyard and gave him a severe beating.
He had told the two of them to find a solution, not to seek their own doom. Trying to play the family card with Bing Yan at a time like this, wasn't that just asking for trouble?
Everything that happened in the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa had nothing to do with Chu Feng, Bing Yan, and the others.
The next day, early morning.
Chu Feng was awakened early from his bed by Bing Yan, the reason being that she wanted to show him the place where she cultivated as a child.
And so, a bleary-eyed Chu Feng followed Bing Yan to the foot of a lone peak within the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa.
Chu Feng looked out at a vast expanse of white snow. To say nothing of human figures, he couldn't even see a ghostly shadow.
The two did not fly through the air but walked step by step towards the summit.
As the sun gradually rose, the two drew closer and closer to the peak.
Just then, they suddenly heard the sound of sword dancing coming from the mountain.
Hearing the sound, Chu Feng said with a smile, "I didn't expect that even after so many years away from the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa, there are still people following in your footsteps, cultivating here."
Bing Yan paused for a moment. "I wonder which family's child is secretly cultivating here."
After speaking, the two exchanged a glance and walked in the direction of the sound.
Before long, Chu Feng saw a thinly clad, slender young woman cultivating in the snow.
Her swordsmanship was fierce, and every move carried a hint of sword intent.
What was most commendable was that she had only just stepped into the Dao Foundation Realm.
The young woman seemed completely immersed in her cultivation, not noticing the arrival of Chu Feng and Bing Yan.
After observing her carefully for a moment, Chu Feng was surprised to find that this young woman actually bore a slight resemblance to Bing Yan. She must be one of Bing Yan's direct descendants.
After the young woman finished her set of sword forms, she finally noticed Chu Feng and Bing Yan and quickly paid her respects.
"Bing Ya pays her respects to the two seniors."
"You may rise."
Bing Yan asked indifferently, "Whose family are you from?"
"In... in reply, Senior, I am..."
Bing Ya looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, finally lowering her head, appearing very reluctant to speak of her origins.
Chu Feng said with a smile, "Could it be that your identity cannot be revealed?"
Bing Ya said with a troubled expression, "The Young Master told me not to say. I hope the seniors will forgive me."
"Oh?"
Chu Feng's interest was immediately piqued. He then used his World-Destroying Eyes to look at the young woman's fortune. The light purple color indicated she could be considered a minor prodigy within the Wendao Academy, and it was not impossible for her to become a king or marquis in the future.
"Could it be that he is your father?"
"Ah?"
Bing Ya looked at Chu Feng and his wife, stunned. She never thought her identity would be guessed so easily.
Chu Feng and Bing Yan naturally got their answer from her expression.
"Then why are you cultivating the Ao Xue Sword Art here?"
Bing Yan asked in a cold voice. She had no good feelings for her younger brother, and naturally, she had no good face for his daughter either.
Thump!
Hearing this, Bing Ya knelt directly on the ground. "In reply, Senior, Xiao Qin did not intentionally steal the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa's Ao Xue Sword Art. I just want to leave this place. I hope you can forgive me."
Although she had never seen the person before her, the other party could recognize the Ao Xue Sword Art at a glance and was dressed in extraordinary clothes. She must be a prominent figure from the family.
"Stealing the art, that's interesting."
The frost on Bing Yan's face vanished, and she asked with interest, "I recall that the Ao Xue Sword Art can be cultivated by anyone from the main line of the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa. Since you are Bing Xiaofeng's daughter, why can't you cultivate it?"
Bing Ya stammered, "I... I am the daughter of a maidservant. I am not considered a direct descendant of the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa. I learned this sword art by following my young mistress and observing in secret."
"I finally understand why the once-glorious Extreme Cold Mountain Villa has fallen to such a state today. It turns out that now, when passing down techniques, you don't look at aptitude or comprehension, only at one's birth."
Bing Yan changed the subject: "Do you truly wish to leave the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa?"
"Yes."
Bing Ya nodded. "My mother's dying wish was for me to leave the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa and be a free person, not to be a slave or a maidservant to others."
"Very well, then I shall give you this opportunity. Are you willing to become my disciple?"
Bing Yan asked with an air of authority.
Bing Ya was completely stunned, unable to process what was happening.
"Are you unwilling?"
Bing Yan asked again.
"N... no, it's not that. I... I am willing, but... but can I really leave? Without the Young Mistress's consent, I cannot leave, unless I become a True Fate cultivator."
Bing Ya was so excited she could barely speak clearly.
A hint of disdain appeared on the corner of Bing Yan's lips. "As long as I speak, no one would dare to keep you."
Hearing this, Bing Ya's gaze towards Bing Yan was filled with admiration. In her impression, the Young Mistress was like the sky; anyone who defied her would meet a miserable end.
Now, there was actually someone who could suppress the Young Mistress, and this person wanted to take her as a disciple. This was something she had never dared to dream of. She immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to the other party: "Disciple Bing Ya pays respects to Master."
Bing Yan casually helped her up. "The name Bing Ya is too common. As your master, I have nothing to give you for now, so I will first give you a new name. From now on, you will be called Bing Qin."
"Thank you, Master. Ya Ya finally has a proper name."
Bing Qin replied excitedly.
Bing Yan said, "For now, continue to live according to your original routine. When I leave, I will definitely take you with me."
"Mmm, mmm."
Bing Qin nodded. She had lived in the Extreme Cold Mountain Villa for nearly twenty years; a few more days didn't matter.
"By the way, Master, how should I find you when the time comes?"
Bing Yan said lightly, "When the time comes, you will know."
"Okay, I trust you, Master."
After Bing Qin spoke, she seemed to remember something and quickly said, "Master, I have to go back. If I'm late and the Young Mistress finds out, I will be punished again."
"Go on."
Bing Yan did not try to make her stay.
"Mmm."
After speaking, Bing Qin flew down from the lone peak on her sword...
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