Taken aback, Lu Yan asked, âMiss Lan Yu, what do you mean?â
âDonât think Iâm not aware of the little schemes youâre plotting. My Master is not someone that you can just easily get involved with. Be it status or appearance, youâre not even worthy of my Masterâs attention, so you better mind your actions. â
Lan Yu replied coldly.
Upon hearing that, Lu Yanâs expression darkened, and she said, âIâm very well aware of Master Chuâs noble status, mind you. However, when is liking someone ever a mistake? Iâm only treating him well because Iâm fond of him.â
âI donât understand, Miss Lan Yu. Why do you have to treat me like someone with a hidden motive? I know you like Master Chu as well, but can you just simply disallow others from doing the same just because you do?â
Lu Yanâs tone was firm as if she was battling in a war of love.
However, Lan Yuâs gaze turned even colder when she heard Lu Yanâs reply. It was almost as if there was a chilling veil of frost layered all over her face. âShut it. Your words make me sick!â
âFirstly, my Master is the Royal Azure Dynasty Kingâs future son-in-law, which is a fact known by everyone here. So youâre telling me whatever youâre doing is simply to treat him well? Donât you have any shame for seducing a soon-to-be-married man? And still, you dare spout such outrageous nonsense at that.â
âSecondly, so you mean to say you like my Master? What about Linghu Teng then?â
Lu Yanâs expression became pale at the mention of Linghu Teng.
âApparently not long after Linghu Teng and his uncle arrived at the Jade Watersword Sect, you and he already became an item. Thatâs some skill you have there. So whatâs your plan now? Since Linghu Teng is gone, I guess you have your eye on my Master instead?â
âWhat do you take my Master as?â
âA mere tool for you to climb up the ranks of status? You vile b*tch!â
It was something that Lan Yu could not stand.
Having respected Chu Kuangren all this time with a god-like reverence, how could she stand idly as someone used him in the name of liking him and defile his image?
âYou⦠How dare you berate me!â Lu Yan was stunned.
âYou think thatâs all? Iâm going to whack you as well.â
Lan Yu took a step forward with her right arm raised and landed it on Lu Yanâs cheek. That slap she gave immediately knocked Lu Yan down to the ground.
âDonât you ever let me catch you wandering in front of my Master again. If not, Iâm afraid this slap will be the least painful thing youâll ever experience,â Lan Yu said coldly.
Lu Yan laid on the ground, her expression full of hate and anger.
Soon, the rage in her eyes instantly vanished when she saw someone. She then put up a pitiful look and looked at the person behind Lan Yu.
Having an idea of who it was, Lan Yu turned around and looked.
It was Chu Kuangren approaching both of them with a cold look on his face.
âMaster, Iâm just here to bring you some cakes and cookies, but I donât know why Miss Lan Yu suddenly hit me out of nowhere.â Lu Yan sobbed.
As soon as she said that, Chu Kuangrenâs complexion became colder.
Lu Yan was secretly delighted at the sight of that. It seemed like her efforts for the past few days had been worth it. âNow that Iâve been hit, Chu Kuangren must be very distressed for me. From his expression, I bet Lan Yu is going to be punished soon.â
As long as she got rid of Lan Yu, would anything stand in her way to seduce Chu Kuangren then?
Lu Yanâs face became even more pitiful as she thought of that. Paired with her red swollen cheek, it would make anyone feel pity for her.
âMasterâ¦â
âLan Yu, howâs your hand? Does it hurt?â
Chu Kuangren took Lan Yuâs hand and said distressingly.
Meanwhile, lying on the ground, Lu Yanâs expression turned stiff.
âAre you kidding me?â
âIâm the one who was hit!â
Fear started to seep out from Lu Yanâs eyes as she realized that the current matter had developed in a completely different way from what she initially expected.
âMaster, Iâ¦â Lan Yu then tried to speak, intending to explain why she would do what she did to Lu Yan just now.
Chu Kuangren replied gently, âI know all about it, donât worry.â
Chu Kuangren glared at Lu Yan on the ground with an extremely cold gaze. It was as if heâs looking at a mere tiny ant. He then said, âIâve already warned you many times to keep your distance away from me. Obviously, it seems that you didnât even listen at all. Since this is the Jade Watersword Sect, I shall let the Jade Waterswordâs Sect Master deal with this.â
After that, Chu Kuangren turned around and left with Lan Yu.
âMaster, Master, I really really like youâ¦â
âIâm even willing to serve you as a lowly servantâ¦â
Lu Yan said loudly behind him. She even wanted to dash towards and catch up to Chu Kuangren, but she was flung away by a surge of invisible sword qi.
She looked unwillingly at Chu Kuangrenâs retreating silhouette. âWhy! Why canât you even give me a chance!â
âAm I that worthless in your eyes?â
âI canât believe it! Damn you!â
The Jade Waterswordâs Sect Master arrived not long after.
Looking at Lu Yan whose cheeks were reddened and swollen, she simply uttered, âIâve told you a long time ago that Chu Kuangren is not a man that you can simply covet for yourself.â
âYou and him are like clouds and mud! (TN: Having a great difference in social standing)â
âYour techniques mightâve worked on Linghu Teng, but Chu Kuangren is rumored to have a stable Daoist core that is unlike any other in this world. How can he possibly fall for your advances?â
Lu Yan was still very dissatisfied even after she had heard those words. âItâs a miscalculation on my part. I didnât expect Lan Yu to suddenly take action on me.â
âThings wouldâve still turned out the same even without Lan Yu, so just let it pass. From this day onwards, you will leave the Jade Watersword Sect,â said the Jade Waterswordâs Sect Master.
At that, Lu Yanâs expression instantly changed. âWhy.â
âAs of now, the Jade Watersword Sect is already a vassal of the Black Heaven Sect. And besides, now that youâve offended Chu Kuangren, I cannot let you stay here any longer. Go pack your things and leave tomorrow morning,â the Jade Waterswordâs Sect Master said mercilessly.
After she left, only Lu Yan remained at the scene, still yet recovered to her senses but resentment gradually appeared in her eyes. âChu Kuangren, Lan Yuâ¦â
â¦
Not long after, the affairs at Jade Watersword Sect were more or less handled.
Chu Kuangren then brought everyone back to the Black Heaven Sect.
When he returned, Chu Kuangren went to Honorable Xuan Qi and gave him a brief report about the Jade Watersword Sectâs rectification.
âI see, youâve handled this well. I also have something to inform you about, itâs regarding the Sword Gauntlet.â Honorable Xuan Qi chuckled.
âThe Sword Gauntlet?â
Chu Kuangren felt a jolt in his heart.
He recalled that the Black Heavenâs Third Forefather had demanded a position in the Sword Gauntletâs quota from the Linghu family, and it had caused them great distress.
He could see that the Sword Gauntlet was no simple matter.
âThe Sword Gauntlet can be found in an area called the Hidden Sword Canyon, located on the border between the Scarlet Phoenix Domain and Azure Dragon Domain. According to legends, it was once a venue for an ancient orthodoxy to pass on their Daoist teachings. There are records of countless swordsmanship techniques and many opportunities of fortune in there.â
âThat place opens up every ten years, and only a fixed quota of thirty positions are allowed into it. Among that thirty positions, each of the renowned One Sword, One Mountain, and Two Families have five positions within the quota, while the remaining ten are left for the remaining swordsmanship groups to split among themselves.â
âNow that the Sword Gauntlet will be opened soon, I want you to bring along Murong Xuan, Nangong Huang, and a few others to the Hidden Sword Canyon to enter the sword gauntlet.â
After hearing that, Chu Kuangren nodded. âAlright.â
He was very interested in the Sword Gauntlet as well.
Besides, since many talented swordsmen would enter the Sword Gauntlet as well, then he might as well go have a taste of everyoneâs skills.
âAnother thing. After you return from this excursion, youâll have to make some preparations to take my place as the Sect Leader of Black Heaven Sect,â Honorable Xuan Qi said.
Chu Kuangren froze for a moment. It was just as the Seventh Forefather had said â Honorable Xuan Qi really wanted him to be the next Sect Leader!
âUm, regarding that, Honorable Teacher, can we still talk about thisâ¦â
âNo can do.â Honorable Xuan Qi interrupted him firmly. âThereâs no one more suitable than you to take on this position.â
âItâs just that I havenât even been an Elder Senior Brother for that long and now you want me to take over as the next Sect Leader so suddenly, Iâm going to be under a lot of pressure.â
âJust tell me, what kind of pressure are you facing? Iâll settle them for you.â
âItâs mainly my lack of experience and fame. Iâm afraid I wonât be able to win everyoneâs support,â Chu Kuangren hurriedly said.
âItâs fine if youâre still lacking in experience since there are the other elders to assist you with that. As for your prestige⦠Do you believe that if I were to spread the news of you becoming the next Sect Leader, every person in the Black Heaven Sect would fully agree? Your fame has long exceeded mine, and you think itâs still not enough?â Honorable Xuan Qi retorted frustratingly.
Chu Kuangren was speechless.
âAnything else you want to say?â
âYouâve already said it all. What else can I say thenâ¦â
Chu Kuangren said helplessly.