Upon hearing that Xie Yutai had also arrived, Qin Zhizhi took a sharp breath, and a mouthful of hot tea sprayed right out of her mouth.
Why? Why on earth was this happening!
Pei Lanzhou watched Qin Zhizhi quietly without making any other move. Pei Songzhou, however, widened his eyes and covered his mouth to sneak a laugh at her disheveled state.
Qin Zhizhi coughed violently a few times before stammering out, “What, what is going on? Why are these two here?”
Pei Songzhou scratched his head. “Who knows?”
Fu Xingyun sat in the master seat, resting his chin on his hand as his fingers tapped idly against the edge of the table. “Why are they here? We will have to ask your new junior sister. Qin Zhizhi, don’t you agree?”
Qin Zhizhi was speechless.
She suddenly had a very bad feeling.
“We can only blame your new junior sister for being far too popular,” Fu Xingyun said, the corners of his mouth curling into a sarcastic, lukewarm smile.
Pei Songzhou paused, appearing to think about it seriously. In the end, whatever conclusion he reached, he nodded his head without the slightest hesitation.
Qin Zhizhi glared.
Why are you nodding? Is this the kind of comment you should be nodding along to?!
Pei Lanzhou could not help but raise her hand and forcefully rap Pei Songzhou on his poor, useless little head.
Seeing Pei Songzhou’s pained expression, Qin Zhizhi finally withdrew her gaze in satisfaction and looked toward Fu Xingyun. “Then what should I do, Master?”
She emphasized the last word heavily.
She was now Fu Xingyun’s disciple and belonged to the Tiantong Sect, so she had to consult her master on every action. Besides, neither Jun Wuya nor Xie Yutai had explicitly stated they were looking for her. What if they had come to discuss official business with Fu Xingyun? Even if they really were looking for her, shouldn’t Fu Xingyun be the one shielding her in front?
Hearing her tone, Fu Xingyun stopped his hand movements. A superficial smile tugged at his face, one that did not reach his eyes and made one’s scalp tingle. “Since it is such a coincidence, please invite them both up.”
Qin Zhizhi slowly pulled a painful face.
Could seeing her squirm truly bring her senior brother so much joy?
She really did not understand the pleasures of a Soul Transformation cultivator.
Pei Lanzhou and Pei Songzhou complied, turning to invite Jun Wuya and Xie Yutai inside. Before leaving, Pei Songzhou slipped away so quickly that his steps practically radiated an uncontainable excitement of “there is about to be a good show.”
Qin Zhizhi wanted to cry but had no tears. There were so many happy people in this world; why couldn’t she be one of them?
Seeing that both Pei Lanzhou and Pei Songzhou had left, Fu Xingyun casually sipped his tea. As if suddenly remembering something, he looked up at Qin Zhizhi and said, “Come here.”
“Oh,” Qin Zhizhi responded, walking over to stand beside him.
Fu Xingyun said, “Just stand there and don’t move.”
Qin Zhizhi widened her eyes, ready to complain, but she quickly suppressed the thought.
In terms of status, she was currently just Fu Xingyun’s disciple. Naturally, it would not look good if the master sat above sipping tea while the disciple also sat leisurely below. Moreover, once the “outside guests” entered shortly, standing beside her master was the correct way to handle things. Just like when she used to see Pei Lanzhou and Pei Songzhou, they always followed closely behind Fu Xingyun on his left and right.
Senior Brother Fu was indeed detailed-oriented.
Before long, the Pei siblings led Xie Yutai and Jun Wuya into the hall.
Jun Wuya was dressed in green and white robes, carrying a seven-stringed zither on his back. He was as elegant as a jade tree in the wind, his robe corners fluttering sharply as he walked. Xie Yutai still wore his crane-feather cloak over his white clothes. With his pitch-black hair and upright stature, his pace was unhurried.
If one were to judge their appearances alone, Jun Wuya was naturally the more refined of the two. He looked like a young master raised by a prestigious family, youthful, elegant, and exceptionally well-mannered. He possessed a natural grace and distinguished air, but unfortunately, Xie Yutai was standing right beside him.
Whenever Xie Yutai stood anywhere, no one could take their eyes off him.
He was quiet, reserved, and refined, resembling a sharp sword that had not yet been drawn. Although his aura was calm, no one dared to underestimate him.
Now that his eyes were covered by a white silk band, his elegant presence was even more pronounced. He carried an undeniable, ethereal air, looking as though he no longer belonged to the mortal realm.
Jun Wuya cupped his hands to greet Fu Xingyun. When he raised his head and saw Qin Zhizhi standing next to Fu Xingyun, a flash of joy crossed his eyes. However, after sweeping his gaze over her from head to toe, his lips pressed into a thin line, and a faint look of displeasure settled over his features.
This small reaction naturally did not escape Fu Xingyun’s sharp eyes. He sneered internally, though he kept his face neutral, simply asking, “What business brings you two to my Tiantong Sect? Has something happened?”
The underlying meaning was clear: it had better be something major. Otherwise, everyone knew that the Tiantong Sect Master was famous for having a terrible temper.
Jun Wuya was temporarily speechless, but Xie Yutai was not intimidated by Fu Xingyun in the slightest.
He spoke, his tone as cold and clear as always: “It is for a personal matter.”
Fu Xingyun picked up his teacup and said flatly, “Oh?”
Seeing that the topic was about to be deflected, Jun Wuya also cupped his hands. “This junior is also here for a personal matter.”
“How strange,” Fu Xingyun set down his teacup, finding it quite amusing. “One of you is from the Heguang Sect, and the other is from the Guiyuan Sect. Logically speaking, neither of your sects has any relation to us. Since it is a personal matter, how could it concern me?”
Hearing this, Jun Wuya suddenly took two steps forward, his eyes locking directly onto Qin Zhizhi. “That is because this junior’s fiancée is here at the Tiantong Sect.”
His gaze was focused and burning, making Qin Zhizhi’s heart skip a beat.
Pei Songzhou poked his head out and asked in confusion, “Your fiancée? Who is she?”
Although Fu Xingyun had accepted Qin Zhizhi as his disciple, he only mentioned that she came from Wudu City and did not say much else. As for any other Tiantong Sect disciples having a marriage contract with a Heguang Sect disciple, they had never heard of such a thing.
Qin Zhizhi cleared her throat and said with a stiff upper lip, “It’s me.”
Xie Yutai stood beside the group with his hands behind his back. Because his eyes were covered, no one could read his expression, only seeing his tightly pressed lips.
Hearing Qin Zhizhi speak, Jun Wuya could no longer restrain himself. “Zhizhi… are you alright?”
That day, Qin Zhizhi had suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed in front of everyone, causing a massive uproar. At that time, Jun Wuya had just learned of the grievances between Qin Zhizhi and Qin Zhijie. He had guarded Qin Zhizhi’s door, hoping she would wake up soon, while his mind remained in complete disarray.
He did not know what kind of feelings he truly had for Qin Zhizhi, but every time he thought of what she had been through, a faint ache would rise in his heart. She was entirely different from the people around him. Clearly so weak and physically defenseless, she was yet so strong and intelligent.
Jun Wuya had never expected his fiancée to be this kind of girl.
If… if this was his fiancée, his destined wife, Jun Wuya did not feel any aversion to the idea.
Upon realizing his growing fondness for her, Jun Wuya was startled himself, but he accepted this unfamiliar feeling quite naturally.
Yet, when Su Qingyi and Elder Nanfeng rushed over, they discovered that Qin Zhizhi, who was supposed to be lying on the bed, had vanished without a trace.
Only then did Jun Wuya learn another shocking piece of news: the Corpse-Pinning Talisman on the back of Qin Zhizhi’s neck. The other end of this talisman was tied to Xie Yutai, meaning he could take her life at any moment.
He suddenly recalled Qin Zhizhi’s blunt tone when speaking to him before.
That girl had endured so much all on her own.
Her strength was so heartbreaking.
Upon hearing the news that Qin Zhizhi was at the Tiantong Sect, he did not hesitate for a second, immediately reporting to his master before rushing over day and night.
“You’ve lost weight.” Jun Wuya said softly.
In just a dozen days, she must have suffered a great deal again.
She really was a handful. He wanted nothing more than to quickly take her back to the Heguang Sect and take proper care of her.
If Qin Zhizhi knew what was going on in Jun Wuya’s head, she would definitely yell, “Are you out of your mind?”
Fortunately, she was only feeling a bit awkward being stared at by those eyes. Ever since Jun Wuya realized he had wronged her last time, his attitude had become quite strange, and now his focus was incredibly bizarre.
She actually hadn’t lost much weight. It was just that because she had been practicing with her weapon, her muscles had toned up, making her look physically slimmer, though she was actually full of energy.
“I haven’t lost weight,” Qin Zhizhi waved her hands quickly. “I’m doing great here.”
Why did everyone assume Fu Xingyun was mistreating her?
Before Jun Wuya could reply, Fu Xingyun’s expression shifted slightly. He said with a half-smile, “So, young friend Jun has come to our Tiantong Sect to demand answers.”
Here it is, here it is. Master Fu, the grandmaster of sarcasm, is starting again.
“It seems our tiny Tiantong Sect cannot accommodate the daughter of Wudu City’s Lord, nor can we accommodate the fiancée of a Heguang Sect disciple.”
Though he addressed these words to Jun Wuya, Fu Xingyun’s gaze drifted toward Xie Yutai deliberately.
Qin Zhizhi sucked in a breath of cold air.
Senior Brother, you are too good at this. That was a direct hit. It felt completely impossible to reply to that.
Sure enough, Jun Wuya’s face flushed with irritation and embarrassment. “What does Sect Master Fu mean by that? I certainly did not mean any disrespect. I am merely showing concern for my fiancée. Since you also know that Zhizhi is from Wudu City and is my future wife, why are you keeping her here at the Tiantong Sect?”
Qin Zhizhi quickly waved her hands in denial. “You’ve misunderstood. Sect Master Fu saw that I have decent aptitude, so he accepted me as his disciple. He is not keeping me here against my will.”
Jun Wuya looked at her blankly. “Accepted you as his disciple?”
Qin Zhizhi was speechless.
What was with the hesitation, confusion, shock, and disbelief in his tone? Did she not deserve some basic respect?
Actually, Jun Wuya could not be blamed. He had previously heard that when Su Qingyi took Qin Zhizhi to test her spiritual roots, she didn’t even qualify to be a sweeping disciple, let alone a disciple of the Heguang Sect. Hearing that she had become Fu Xingyun’s disciple now naturally shocked him. Since when were the requirements for the Tiantong Sect Master’s disciple so low?
However, when Jun Wuya looked at Qin Zhizhi again, his gaze lingered on her exquisite and bright face.
It was only during their last encounter at the Heguang Sect that he had truly looked at Qin Zhizhi so seriously for the first time.
He knew she was gentle, quiet, and reserved, but he had not expected that she would have such a bright side after everything she had experienced. She always smiled warmly like the sun—resembling a moss flower blooming against the wind, tiny yet impossible to beat down.
He looked at Fu Xingyun’s nonchalant demeanor, and then at Qin Zhizhi standing obediently and innocently beside him. At that moment, his expression turned incredibly dark.
In that instant, Jun Wuya came to a sudden realization.
He understood… he finally understood.
Qin Zhizhi of Wudu City looked extremely similar to Fu Xingyun’s late junior sister, the female cultivator of the Tiantong Sect, Qin Zhizhi.
This was a rumor that had been circulating intermittently in the cultivation world over the past few days.
Everyone was saying that as soon as the Tiantong Sect’s female cultivator Qin Zhizhi died, Xie Yutai had found a woman who looked fifty to sixty percent like her to keep by his side.
Some troublemakers even spread the rumor that because Qin Zhizhi of Wudu City looked so much like the deceased Qin Zhizhi, Fu Xingyun and Xie Yutai had even fought violently at the Guiyuan Sect over this substitute.
Jun Wuya had once sneered at these rumors, thinking they were utter nonsense.
Xie Yutai was cold-hearted and detached. Even when he initially wanted to marry Qin Zhizhi, it was only because she had saved his life, and he wanted to repay the favor to settle the karma. How could he have developed genuine feelings? He didn’t even care much about the original, so why would he have the heart to look at a substitute? Furthermore, Jun Wuya knew that Xie Yutai kept Qin Zhizhi around because they were bound together by the Corpse-Pinning Talisman.
As for the Tiantong Sect Master, Fu Xingyun, it was even more impossible. He had always been a man who could not tolerate any flaws, and he doted on the original so much. How could he bear to have a substitute hovering around in front of him?
However, after seeing Fu Xingyun’s attitude today, Jun Wuya’s belief wavered.
Fu Xingyun had actually accepted Qin Zhizhi as his disciple. He actually did.
Otherwise, given her aptitude, how could she possibly become the disciple of the Tiantong Sect Master? Moreover, Fu Xingyun’s two precious disciples were only standing below, while only Qin Zhizhi… only she stood obediently right next to Fu Xingyun, the closest to him, which was clearly permitted by Fu Xingyun.
In Jun Wuya’s eyes, it appeared as though Fu Xingyun was treating Qin Zhizhi like some sort of ornament to be kept on display in front of him.
Yet, Qin Zhizhi had taken it seriously.
She truly believed that the man in front of her was doing this for her own good and sincerely wanted to accept her as his disciple.
At this thought, Jun Wuya’s heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife.
“Sect Master Fu.” Jun Wuya said through gritted teeth, “do not push people too far.”
Qin Zhizhi was utterly baffled.
What on earth was Jun Wuya thinking? Why had his face turned so incredibly pale?
Fu Xingyun poured himself a cup of tea and said lightly, “Oh?”
Jun Wuya felt his entire body trembling, a surge of rage threatening to roar out from within him. “Qin Zhizhi is my fiancée. It is my responsibility to take her away.”
Fu Xingyun replied, “A teacher for a day is a father for life. I do not agree.”
Jun Wuya almost laughed aloud. A teacher for a day is a father for life? What kind of father was he?! What kind of father would harbor such filthy thoughts in his heart?
“Even if Sect Master Fu does not agree, our marriage was set by our elders since childhood, and we only await our wedding.”
Jun Wuya took a few steps forward, closing in on Fu Xingyun as he said word for word, “I will definitely marry Qin Zhizhi.”
He made the promise with such solemnity, every word sounding as though it were ripped straight from his heart.
Yet, the moment he finished speaking, the entire hall fell into a dead, absolute silence.
Xie Yutai, who had been standing quietly in place without moving, suddenly went completely still. His entire aura turned cold, resembling an upright, silent abyss. A single glance at him would strike terror into anyone’s heart, making them feel as though they had fallen into an ice cave.