The sword tip sank three inches into the wood, its hilt still humming in the air.

Su Yingxue raised her sword with graceful hands, her long hair cascading quietly, not a strand out of place—like a banished immortal. “Lin laoshi, shall we continue?”

Lin Yu furrowed her brows, her eyes cold. Her sword fingers moved again.

“You still haven’t earned my approval! Again!”

The clear sword flew up like a bird, transforming midair into three gleams of cold light, carrying illusory sword shadows as it surged toward Su Yingxue!

Su Yingxue bit her lip.

A trace of determination flashed across her soft cheeks.

Su Yingxue gripped her sword—

Charged forward!

Her long, slender legs moved with elegance, her steps producing a rhythmically beautiful sound.

Her bright eyes mirrored countless sword shadows, drifting like willow fluff in the wind. Her pale, delicate wrist lifted high and spun in a graceful arc.

As her skirt fluttered, she charged toward Lin Yu, unleashing cold, chilling sword light.

Tiny, dazzling sparks scattered through the air. Each of her slashes cut through the sword shadows with swift, practiced ease, like a sword dance rehearsed hundreds of times.

The crisp clash of blades rang out continuously, like dozens of copper bells being struck.

Layers of sword shadows couldn’t stall Su Yingxue for even a moment.

Her dainty yet sharp elegance etched itself into the eyes of every spectator, instinctively sending shivers down their spines.

It was admiration. Awe. A soul-deep yearning for beauty.

Lin Yu’s expression changed drastically. She reflexively stepped back several paces, formed a hand seal, and called out in a panicked tone:

“Block!”

The sword split into thousands, forming a curtain-like veil before Su Yingxue.

At that moment—

Su Yingxue gripped her sword with both hands. Her slender white fingers looked like they were carved from divine jade.

From the dark-green blade of Dulu, a gentle radiance flowed like moonlight.

The girl moved with the wind, her sword light shining like the moon, as she suddenly burst through the curtain of sword shadows.

By the time everyone snapped out of it, Su Yingxue was already standing in front of Lin Yu.

Dulu lay horizontally across Lin Yu’s shoulder.

Lu Chuning suddenly tugged on Luo Qingchuan’s sleeve with a playful smile.

“Her heart really is like snow.”

Luo Qingchuan glanced at the girl with eyeliner. “You mean she’s cold?”

Lu Chuning’s emotions seemed hidden beneath the soft pink at the corners of her eyes. She softly murmured:

“Once snow is melted by warm sunlight, it loses its color. Whatever you want it to become—it becomes.”

Luo Qingchuan frowned slightly but then smiled, speaking sincerely:

“To me, it’s best if she just stays true to herself.”

“Ugh!”

“What’s wrong?”

Lu Chuning fanned her blushing cheeks with one hand. “Why is it suddenly so warm sitting next to you? Are you part sun or something?”

Luo Qingchuan laughed without replying.

Then Lu Chuning suddenly asked, “If an evil demon appeared here and tried to kill everyone—and you just happened to be there—Luo Qingchuan, would you stop him?”

Luo Qingchuan froze for a moment, then murmured:

“If I could win, I would.”

“What if you couldn’t?”

“I’m afraid of dying, so I’d probably be the first to run.”

Lu Chuning crossed her small hands on her slender, cute legs, smiling faintly from being teased.

At that moment, on the field—

Su Yingxue quickly sheathed her sword, pointing it diagonally toward the ground, no longer holding a stance disrespectful to her laoshi.

She lowered her head and apologized, “Thank you for letting me win, Lin laoshi.”

Su Yingxue’s delicate face was heartbreakingly lovely. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, yet her breathing remained soft and steady—elegant and composed.

Lin Yu gazed deeply at the stunning girl before her. Her lips twitched, her face pale:

“I lost.”

“You held back. Otherwise, I would’ve been hurt.”

Lin Yu sealed her fingers and retrieved her sword core, muttering, “At the very least, I’m the laoshi, and you’re the student—we’re not enemies fighting to the death.”

The students stared blankly. Once Lu Wu started clapping, they all began applauding enthusiastically.

Watching a duel between powerful fighters up close was incredibly lucky. Since filming wasn’t allowed, their hearts were both excited and full of regret.

...It happened too fast—many hadn’t even seen clearly.

Then, Su Yingxue turned and smiled at Luo Qingchuan. “I won.”

Luo Qingchuan nodded firmly, then quickly shook his head.

Who knows what Lu Chuning wants to drag me into?

Su Yingxue approached the two of them, sword in hand, her steps refined like a noble guniang from ancient times.

But she held a sword.

The girl stood before Lu Chuning, her pale porcelain face framed in black hair as she looked down at Lu Chuning, who gazed up at her.

“Excuse me, may I become your student together with him?”

Lu Chuning squinted with a light grin, revealing a cute little tiger tooth: “Little meimei, you’re more than qualified.”

Lu Chuning stood up lightly like a deer, then suddenly grabbed Su Yingxue’s wrist. With her other hand—white as a scallion stalk—she snatched Dulu.

She was so fast that even Lu Wu barely reacted before Dulu was in her hand and she had slashed Su Yingxue’s fingertip.

Drip.

A drop of blood stained the inky blade.

Su Yingxue looked at Dulu in surprise.

Dulu shrank rapidly, becoming a phantom that darted into Su Yingxue’s bleeding fingertip.

“Helped you attune with it. Think of it as a gift from your laoshi.”

Su Yingxue glanced at her finger, then gently pressed it to her rosy lips. She lightly licked the wound like a kitten and softly smiled:

“Thank you, Lu laoshi.”

Much of the hostility in Su Yingxue’s heart faded.

Maybe…

She really is here to take on disciples?

“You two, come with me. Luo Qingchuan, be good now.”

Lu Chuning clasped her hands behind her back and strolled out of the gymnasium.

Luo Qingchuan held Su Yingxue’s hand. He couldn’t stop her, so he could only anxiously follow, gripping her wrist tightly.

Based on what he knew, Lu Chuning had already discovered he’d shown up with Chen Yanyu at the Qinggang Bar last night…

But maybe that’s all she knows?

Luo Qingchuan’s mind raced, reviewing what he knew about Lu Chuning.

Lu Chuning—real age: 24. As a child, she accidentally swallowed a strange spiritual fruit and immediately achieved Foundation Establishment during an era when spiritual energy was fading.

Her body and appearance froze in that petite form. Only after converting all the fruit’s spiritual energy into cultivation could she return to normal.

She was a high-ranking member of Quexie, and one day, in a great battle, she would lose all her cultivation and fall unconscious in the wilderness.

If Luo Qingchuan was at the right place and time to bring her home and lock her up, he could do whatever he wanted to her…

That time would come in six months.

Which meant he had to hide his demonic cultivation for six months.

Luo Qingchuan’s gaze deepened as he looked at the girl’s snow-white shoulder.

Watching the two of them holding hands, the students couldn’t help but feel both envy and longing.

“Su tongxue is beautiful like a flower and way too strong—I’m so jealous.”

“I think they’re truly in love.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Su tongxue is a rare genius, so it’s not like she’d go after Luo gongzi for money. Luo gongzi’s spiritual roots are weak, but his mindset was praised by the Truth-Breaker Mirror . So clearly, they really love each other.” One tongxue spoke confidently.

Another added, “Maybe Luo tongxue has great talent too. I mean, that incredibly strong little meimei—or was it big jiejie—specifically picked him as a disciple!”