As the Fang Clan disciples made their way back toward their mountain, a graceful figure descended from the sky and landed directly in their path.
She wore pale blue robes embroidered with snowflakes, a slender sword resting at her waist.
"I am Leng Yue."
Her gaze swept across the group before settling on Fang Lian.
"I heard you defeated Zhu Xian."
No one replied and Leng Yue smiled faintly.
"I also heard you’re disciples of Fang Yuan."
At the mention of their Patriarch, they instinctively straightened their backs.
Leng Yue folded her arms.
"Your master once fought me and if his master hadn’t interfered..."
She paused deliberately.
"...that victory would’ve been mine."
In an instant, all three of them immediately were engaged.
"What did you just say?"
Fang Lian glared at her.
"How dare you insult our Master!"
"You’ve got some nerve!"
Leng Yue inwardly smiled.
Good.
She had achieved exactly what she wanted.
Before anyone else could speak, Fang Mei clicked her tongue.
"Tsk, tsk."
She looked Leng Yue up and down.
"My brother simply went easy on you."
She shrugged.
"If you really believe what you just said..."
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
"...try saying it in front of Sister-in-law."
The moment those words left her mouth...
The furious My Wing and Fang Lian suddenly became strangely calm.
Fang Lian even smiled politely.
"Would you like to repeat that in front of her Sister-in-law?"
"..."
Leng Yue frowned.
What?
She looked from Fang Lian to Fang Mei.
Who exactly is this sister-in-law...?
Whatever confidence she had built up moments earlier suddenly faltered.
There had to be a reason everyone reacted like that.
Deciding not to press the matter further, she smoothly changed the subject.
"I apologize if my words offended anyone."
She cupped her fists.
"Instead... would one of you honor me with a spar?"
Her eyes settled on Fang Lian.
"I wish to see just how capable Fang Yuan’s disciples truly are."
Fang Lian smiled.
Rather than stepping forward herself, she turned to Fang Mei.
"Junior Sister."
Fang Mei blinked.
"Huh?"
She pointed at herself.
"I don’t even have my daggers with me."
She spread her hands helplessly.
"What do you expect me to do? Fight with my bare hands?"
Fang Lian simply looked at her without saying a word.
"..."
Fang Mei slowly blinked.
"...You’re serious?"
No one objected, in fact, everyone looked as though that had been the plan from the very beginning.
Fang Mei couldn’t help staring at Leng Yue in surprise.
"What? She’s only at the Hollow Spirit Realm..."
Leng Yue immediately coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem... I actually broke through recently. I’m currently in the Spirit Severing Realm and have already mastered how to hide my aura well. But don’t worry, I’ll suppress my cultivation and fight fairly."
The instant those words were spoken, Fang Lian’s eyes lit up once again.
A bright smile blossomed across her face.
"Let’s do it."
She stepped forward before Fang Mei could even respond.
"Please don’t hold back. Go all out and if you already possess a Domain, please use it."
Leng Yue blinked.
She had not expected revealing her cultivation could get her the result she wanted.
On the other hand, Fang Lian’s anticipation was impossible to hide.
After all...
Zhu Xian had only been at the middle stage of the Hollow Spirit Realm, yet she had managed to force Fang Lian to draw her sword within her own Sword Domain.
Now, standing before her was a genuine Spirit Severing Realm cultivator.
Surely...
This disciple of the Flying Crane Sect would prove to be an even greater challenge.
Before the two could discuss the details of the spar...
Space rippled and Zhao Lusi calmly stepped out of the void and landed between them.
She glanced at the eager Fang Lian and the puzzled Leng Yue before letting out a helpless sigh.
"Both of you, calm down. There is no need to waste your energy fighting each other. I have a task for you instead."
Fang Lian immediately raised her hand.
"I’m not a disciple of your sect."
"No."
Zhao Lusi nodded.
"But your master is."
She looked directly at Fang Lian.
"And this is a task entrusted by your mother."
"..."
Fang Lian instantly fell silent.
Without waiting for another objection, Zhao Lusi continued.
"The two of you will travel to the Mortal Realm. There, you will find a city called Hallowfall City."
Fang Lian blinked.
"...Isn’t this a little too advantageous for her?"
She pointed toward Leng Yue.
"She’s already lived in this realm while I’m only a newcomer."
Zhao Lusi looked at her as though she had asked the strangest question in the world.
"...Since when did I say this was a competition?"
"...Ah..."
Fang Lian scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"Well..."
Seeing her embarrassed expression, Zhao Lusi couldn’t help shaking her head.
"Anyway," she continued, "your master has already established a small branch of the Fang Family there and is currently in need of help."
Her gaze softened slightly.
"There’s also a young boy there who is likely going to be your junior brother."
The moment those words fell...
Mu Qing, who had been quietly following behind everyone, suddenly shot into the air.
"What?! So I’m finally getting a junior brother?"
He laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.
"Excellent!"
He rubbed his hands together with an excited grin.
"I’ve waited years for this."
Fang Mei could only shake their heads.
"You sound way too happy."
"Of course I am," Mu Qing replied matter-of-factly. "Do you know how exhausting it is always being the youngest?"
Zhao Lusi ignored the commotion and looked back at Fang Lian and Leng Yue.
"Now then. Off you two go."
Her tone left no room for negotiation.
"And remember..."
She looked squarely at Leng Yue.
"If the two of you end up fighting, I’m cutting this month’s funding for that strange project you’ve been working on."
Leng Yue’s confident expression instantly crumbled.
"...Elder, that’s low."
Zhao Lusi remained unmoved as she then turned to Fang Lian.
"And you, If I hear you’ve started a fight... I’ll tell your mother."
Fang Lian’s cheerful smile froze.
"...That’s even lower."
"I know."
Without giving either of them another chance to protest, Zhao Lusi casually waved her sleeve.
Space folded and the next moment, both Fang Lian and Leng Yue disappeared without a trace.
Zhao Lusi dusted off her sleeves.
Truthfully, sending two Spirit Severing Realm cultivators to the Mortal Realm was complete overkill.
But then again...
It wasn’t as though either of them would listen if she told them not to fight.
If they insisted on crossing swords, they could do it somewhere far away.
At least the Flying Crane Sect would remain standing.
With those two troublemakers gone, Zhao Lusi turned her attention to the remaining pair.
Mu Qing and Fang Mei.
The two instinctively straightened their backs as they noticed the creepy smile that appeared on Zhao Lusi’s face.
"As for you two... I believe you’re both going to enjoy the task I’m about to give you."