After Leng Qingzhu finished speaking, silence fell between them.
In the end, Song Wanníng was the one who cut off the transmission. Her mood darkened, and her frustration showed plainly on her face.
Liu Xingzhi watched her, unsure how to comfort her. All he could do was hope that the matter had finally come to an end.
Then, the two of them went back to hunting monsters. Whenever they found any trace of one, they killed it on the spot, leaving no survivors.
Meanwhile, thanks to Luo Hantian's persuasion, many other factions began joining the effort.
For a time, the monster-cleansing campaign spread across the region like wildfire. The number of monsters dropped sharply. Everything seemed to be returning to normal—except that the Martial Uncle and Gong Ye hadn't appeared once.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. Song Wanníng and Liu Xingzhi had spent nearly all that time hunting down monsters. Now that six months had gone by and most of the monsters were gone, they were finally ready to head back home.
Over this time, the two had grown close, becoming the kind of friends who didn't need words to understand each other. One glance was all it took for them to act in perfect sync.
They were an excellent match in battle.
Once they got familiar, Song Wanníng's curiosity naturally began to show. On the way back, she asked with a teasing tone, "Miss your disciple yet?"
After all, Jiang Cen once said that Liu Xingzhi and his disciple were fated for some kind of romantic entanglement.
Normally, she'd never pry into someone else's affairs. But now that they were close friends, she didn't want to see him walking down a path that could ruin him. In the Spirit Realm, that kind of relationship simply wasn't acceptable.
"Huh?"
Liu Xingzhi blinked at her, looking confused. Ever since they'd gotten to know each other better, he'd stopped pretending to be distant or cold around her. And right now, he really didn't understand what she was talking about.
Song Wanníng saw his blank expression and chuckled, her face full of gossiping mischief. "I heard you treat that little disciple of yours differently, so I wanted to ask."
She was blunt and didn't like beating around the bush.
Liu Xingzhi froze again, still processing her words. When the meaning finally sank in, his face darkened instantly. What kind of nonsense was that?
His expression tightened as he said firmly, "She's just my disciple, someone I raised like a daughter. No matter what happens, she'll always be my daughter!"
His voice was full of conviction, even a little angry that people were spreading such ridiculous rumors.
"Who the hell started this? What kind of sick mind came up with it?!"
Seeing how serious he looked, Song Wanníng couldn't help but laugh. She knew him well enough to recognize when he was being genuine.
His eyes were clear and steady, without a hint of guilt. That was enough to convince her.
Then, fragments of Jiang Cen's inner thoughts resurfaced in her memory.
Maybe those "visions" the invaders had seen were just illusions created by the Mùsù star system itself, meant to trick them into acting a certain way. If that was true, then the Heavenly Dao of the Mùsù star system was truly cruel.
Those invaders probably thought they were chosen by fate, when in reality, they were just disposable pawns. In the end, they'd only be abandoned. No, to be precise, they'd already become sacrifices the moment they were "chosen."
"What're you thinking about now?"
Liu Xingzhi's voice broke through her thoughts, his face still sour. After all, having rumors like that floating around about him was humiliating.
Song Wanníng smiled lightly. "The innocent don't need to explain themselves. I believe you."
She patted his shoulder. "You know what's best for you."
Romance between master and disciple was a taboo that could destroy not only oneself but also the other person involved.
Liu Xingzhi gave a low grunt of acknowledgment, his face slowly relaxing. Maybe he should keep some distance from his disciple from now on. Or better yet, take another one to balance things out.
Still, he couldn't help but laugh bitterly. These days, he barely had time to breathe, and with a monster like Song Wanníng beside him, it always felt like he wasn't working hard enough. Comparing himself to her was just asking for trouble.
He looked up at the sky, ambition blazing in his eyes. The only person he ever needed to surpass was his past self.
"Let me go!!!"
Li Qingya struggled against the ropes binding her hands and feet, shouting toward the shadowy figure in the corner of the stone chamber.
The figure slowly stepped into the light—it was Gong Ye. He no longer carried the proud arrogance he once had.
Now, he moved carefully wherever he went, constantly on edge. After all, those Mahayana cultivators were still hunting him down. He was just one step away from ascension, yet he couldn't cross it.
The Soul-Restoring Pearl had fallen into that woman's hands, and he hadn't found a replacement since. His mood was foul as he looked at Li Qingya, a cold sneer tugging at his lips.
"What, still not planning to tell me where the remaining monsters are hiding?"
Gong Ye walked toward her, his hand reaching out to stroke her cheek. His eyes gleamed with something that almost looked like affection as he stared into hers.
The warmth of his breath brushed against her skin, and her face turned red. That damn man had been doing this every day for the past two months. At first, she'd felt nothing but disgust.
But as his gaze grew softer, a strange change began to stir inside her. Maybe her charm really had bewitched him. But when she heard him mention the monsters, her expression stiffened for an instant before she quickly covered it up.
"I've told you a hundred times already, I don't know what you're talking about! You kidnapped me, but for what? Let me go right now! If Guhan Sect finds out, they won't let you live!"
She dropped the sect's name deliberately, hoping it would make him hesitate. After all, she was a true disciple of Guhan Sect—they'd never just abandon her.
But Gong Ye only chuckled, stepping closer until his breath brushed against her face again.
She blushed even deeper.
Her reaction clearly pleased him.
"Guhan Sect killed Song Jue just to protect their reputation," he said softly, amusement dancing in his voice. "Do you really think they'd care about you?"
He leaned even closer, his tone dripping with temptation. "If I were you, I'd think for myself. Song Jue's dead now, and you can't shoulder this burden alone. Why not work with me instead? Who knows, you might gain more than you lose."
Ambition burned in his eyes. Whatever Song Jue had failed to accomplish, he'd finish it himself. And this woman, who could actually tame monsters, would be his greatest weapon.
He'd stumbled upon her by accident while searching for more monsters, and it had shocked him beyond belief. That was when he realized his opportunity had come.
"My master may be dead," Li Qingya said coldly, her lips curling into a sneer, "but the sect doesn't know I was involved. Do you really think they'd believe a word you say?"
Her voice dripped with mockery, but deep down, she was already wavering. There was no guarantee Guhan Sect wouldn't turn on her. If they suspected her when she returned, she'd be done for.
And Gong Ye—well, he wasn't just powerful. He was dangerously charming.