Wu Qingfeng felt a chill run down his spine under that gaze. He truly dared not provoke this man. The reason was simple—this man really would kill.
And as for the Guhan Sect's so-called motto, "We will never shelter anyone. If there is hatred, seek revenge; if there is resentment, settle it as you will," in truth it was the greatest shelter of all.
After all, who could actually win against him?
Besides, the Guhan Sect was based in the Southern Region and certainly had no reason to give face to the Medicine King Sect.
"Liu Daoyou, this person bears a grudge against my Medicine King Sect. I ask that you not interfere."
Wu Qingfeng tried to keep his tone calm. He didn't want to lose face in public, so he forced himself to continue.
"Song Wanníng is a true disciple of my Guhan Sect. Since when has she offended your Medicine King Sect?"
Liu Xingzhi's words dropped like a stone into a still pond, startling everyone present.
"Didn't she just ascend not long ago? How did she become a true inherited disciple of the Guhan Sect already?"
"Could it be that her talent is so extraordinary that Liu Zūnzhě took a liking to her and plans to take her as a disciple?"
"Hiss… if that's true, then she really hit the jackpot!"
A wave of envious gazes fell upon Song Wanníng. Many had assumed she was doomed, yet the situation had suddenly reversed.
Wu Qingfeng choked on his words.
A torrent of curses surged up in his mind, but he couldn't say them aloud.
Could he just announce that Song Wanníng had not only shattered their Ancestor's remnant soul but also destroyed the ancestral tablets?
Of course not.
The Medicine King Sect still had its pride.
Holding back his fury, Wu Qingfeng's face turned red and purple, a picture of suppressed rage.
Song Wanníng, for her part, seemed determined to provoke. She blinked her bright eyes innocently and asked, "This disciple is also quite curious—why does the Medicine King Sect say I have a grudge with me? This disciple has only just ascended. I don't even know them."
Her expression, both wronged and bewildered, only made her already breathtaking features more vivid.
Around them, onlookers nodded. It seemed the Medicine King Sect really had no solid reason to accuse her.
"I must trouble Senior to enlighten this disciple," she added politely, standing just behind Liu Xingzhi.
She gave Wu Qingfeng a faint smile. Since they were already mortal enemies, she might as well add a little more fuel.
"You—!"
Wu Qingfeng was stunned by her shamelessness, his face flushing scarlet with rage.
But the moment Liu Xingzhi's long saber stirred soundlessly, his anger cooled instantly, replaced by icy wariness.
"Liu Daoyou, this matter can't be explained so quickly. Why don't we speak in private?"
He forced a smile, the change in demeanor abrupt and jarring.
Watching him, Song Wanníng clenched her fists slightly. The desire to improve her strength grew stronger than ever.
Only strength could shatter every scheme.
"No need."
Liu Xingzhi's cold gaze swept over Wu Qingfeng, filled with open dislike.
"Song Wanníng is a true disciple of my Guhan Sect. I came here on the sect master's orders to bring her back safely, and I will not allow her to come to the slightest harm. If the Medicine King Sect insists on targeting her, then you are targeting the Guhan Sect itself. Do not blame me for being discourteous."
As he spoke, the saber in his hand once again pointed straight at Wu Qingfeng.
Wu Qingfeng's back went cold, a creeping chill wrapping around his heart. It felt as though something icy was pressing against his throat. His body gave an involuntary shiver, but it was Liu Xingzhi's words that truly shocked him.
Liu Xingzhi had personally come to escort Song Wanníng to the Guhan Sect?
What had she done to deserve such honor?
The surrounding cultivators widened their eyes in disbelief. They had thought Liu Xingzhi merely took an interest in her while passing by, thus stepping in to protect her. Yet it turned out he had traveled all the way from the Southern Region just to escort her personally?
The honor was simply staggering.
Everyone was shocked, including Xiao Heyun.
In that instant, he understood—this woman's value was immense. If he could make her his, ruling the cultivation world in the future would be far easier.
His eyes gleamed with dangerous intent as he began plotting how to win her heart.
"Does the Medicine King Sect still insist on making things difficult for her?"
Liu Xingzhi's tone remained flat, but the saber in his hand was already brimming with killing intent. If Wu Qingfeng so much as uttered the words "make things difficult," that blade would be at his throat in an instant.
"…" Wu Qingfeng's lips trembled, but he didn't dare speak.
After a moment's hesitation, he swallowed his rage and shook his head.
"This may be some sort of misunderstanding. I'll go back and investigate. I won't trouble Liu Daoyou further."
He gave Song Wanníng a deep look. Since he couldn't take her today, so be it. He would first seek the Ancestor's opinion. Whether it was that divine lightning or Liu Xingzhi, both were major obstacles. He signaled his disciples, and the group departed.
When they had arrived, the Medicine King Sect's disciples were full of bluster. Now, they slunk away in defeat, to the quiet amusement of many onlookers.
The Medicine King Sect's people had long acted arrogantly, relying on their pill-making skills to look down on others. Seeing them humbled was a delight to many.
Once the Medicine King Sect was gone, Liu Xingzhi finally turned around. His cool, clear eyes fell upon Song Wanníng.
"Shall we?"
His words were few, his tone concise.
Song Wanníng smiled. "Please wait a moment, Senior."
She walked toward Xie Qinglan in the distance. Seeing the change in the younger girl's expression, her own smile deepened.
"Qinglan, I'm leaving for now. Send me a message talisman when you have time."
She would need to find a way to separate those two completely.
"Alright!"
Xie Qinglan nodded enthusiastically, her eyes bright with joy.
Wanníng was safe—that was all that mattered.
Liu Xingzhi was amazing, driving Wu Qingfeng away so effortlessly.
"Senior, let's go!"
Song Wanníng turned back. As soon as she spoke, a spirit boat appeared beneath her feet. She stepped aboard without once sparing Xiao Heyun a glance.
The spirit boat shot into the clouds and vanished from sight.
The crowd lingered, still abuzz with speculation over what Song Wanníng had done to earn Liu Xingzhi's personal escort.
"Junior Sister, let's go," Xiao Heyun said.
Seeing the admiration and reluctance in Xie Qinglan's eyes as she watched Liu Xingzhi leave, he felt a sharp sense of crisis. This trip had been a loss. Her favor toward him had plummeted, and he had no idea when it would recover.
"Alright."
Xie Qinglan followed him, though a trace of disappointment lingered. She still liked her Senior Brother, but some of his actions today had left her disheartened. Fortunately, the outcome had been good. She quickly put the matter behind her.
On the spirit boat, Liu Xingzhi pointed toward a room. "You can rest inside. I'll take you to meet the sect master."
He showed no curiosity toward Song Wanníng. Only after she entered the room did he look away and steer the spirit boat swiftly toward the Guhan Sect.
Inside, Song Wanníng rested her chin in her hand, sipping tea absent-mindedly.
On the table lay the miscellany she had bought earlier. She read through it again and again, mulling over the Medicine King Sect's possible plans and how she might strike back in the future.
And then there was Xiao Heyun. As an intruder, he would have to be dealt with slowly, his Luck whittled away piece by piece.
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If you're curious and want to dive deeper into True Disciple, feel free to check out my glossary on Webnovel. Just head over to my profile and look for the book titled The Xianxia Handbook: A Guide to Cultivation and Beyond. You'll find it covered in Chapter 50: Special Disciple Titles and Mentorship.
I recommend adding it to your library—it'll save you the trouble of searching for it later, and you'll always have it on hand whenever you need a quick reference.