Huangfu Wenqing heard her master’s instructions and walked over to Yan Zhen’s side. She extended her small hand toward him.
“Let’s go. I’ll show you around Cloud Heaven Palace.”
Looking at his smiling fiancée, Yan Zhen sighed inwardly. He was just about to take her hand when Long Ying intercepted him midway.
Long Ying hugged Yan Zhen’s entire arm, glaring at the green-haired bad woman with open hostility!
Huangfu Wenqing felt a spark of annoyance. In her heart, she grumbled that this loli dragon girl was ruining her plans again!
But with the elders present, Huangfu Wenqing didn’t dare make a scene. She could only withdraw her hand.
The three of them left the grand hall together and departed from the main peak, heading toward the other peaks.
In the script, Yan Zhen had visited Cloud Heaven Palace three times. The first was to duel Huangfu Wenqing, the second to seek revenge against Yun Ling, and the third to wipe out the sect!
As such, he wasn’t actually familiar with the place at all.
He only remembered how glorious it had once been—and how, in his rage, he had turned it into ruins.
Yan Zhen narrowed his eyes, and corresponding memories seemed to surface in his mind:
He had led people to storm the mountain gate, charging straight through. Anyone who blocked his path died, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
He had summoned his sword and, right in front of Cloud Heaven Palace’s ancestor, sliced through the towering Ninth Peak that rose into the sky.
With the destructive power of his Three Extreme Flames fused into one, he had incinerated the majestic palaces, vast plazas, flowers, trees, and even the demonized disciples of Cloud Heaven Palace—reducing them all to ashes and refining them into nothingness!
He had stood high in the heavens, eyes closed, refusing to look upon the hellish scene. Yet he could clearly hear the howling winds, the roars of battle, the wails of the dying, and… the helpless cries of the master and disciple.
But in the end, he hadn’t softened. He destroyed Cloud Heaven Palace and killed everyone who deserved it.
Three days after the sect’s annihilation, Yun Xiu dismissed the surviving disciples. Then, sword in hand, she came to challenge Yan Zhen to a battle to the death.
Yan Zhen hadn’t fought back. He allowed Yun Xiu’s blade to pierce his shoulder, sending a spray of blood into the air.
Seeing the blood staining his shoulder, Yun Xiu could no longer bring herself to strike. She released her sword and threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Yet even then, Yan Zhen couldn’t keep Yun Xiu by his side. She took Huangfu Wenqing with her, and the master and disciple left Jialan Continent, vowing never to return—or to see Yan Zhen ever again.
But their fates were not yet severed. In the end, they had reunited.
“…”
For a moment, Yan Zhen felt dazed, a wave of vertigo washing over his mind.
“…Yan Zhen?”
His fiancée’s voice brought him back to his senses. He smiled faintly.
“Where are we headed? It looks like every spot around here is a scenic attraction.”
“It might not be great to take someone to the other main peaks without permission. I-I’ll take you to see where Master and I live first, okay?”
“Uh, sure.”
“Alright then.” Huangfu Wenqing skirted around Long Ying and linked her arm with Yan Zhen’s free one. As they walked, she explained, “Cloud Heaven Palace has nine main peaks in total. Eight of them encircle the central Ancestral Hall and forbidden grounds, each topped with a palace. The rest are secondary peaks used for growing herbs and taming beasts.”
“It’s a bit like the Inner Academy.”
“Mm. The peak we’re on now is the First Peak, overseen by the Grand Palace Lord—my master. Down below are the disciples’ residences and training grounds. This is the front hall, located midway up the mountain, generally used for receiving disciples or hosting guests. Higher up are the elders’ residences and cultivation areas. At the summit, shrouded in clouds and mist, lies ‘Exiled Immortal Palace’—that’s where Master and I live.”
Yan Zhen nodded as he listened.
The three of them slowly ascended along the mountain’s spiral staircase. The disciples they passed all showed Huangfu Wenqing great respect, while the attending deacons and elders were especially cordial. It was clear she enjoyed immense popularity and prestige within the sect.
After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they reached the mountaintop. They crossed a bluestone plaza, climbed a long flight of steps, and arrived before the palace doors.
Huangfu Wenqing released Yan Zhen’s hand and pushed the doors open.
“This is the true main hall. Master usually receives the elders or the other seven palace lords here. It’s also where I pay my respects to her. Beyond the main hall is where Master cultivates on a regular basis. Further in is the resting chamber. Next to the resting chamber is a pool of warm water—Master’s bathing area. I occasionally soak there too.”
Yan Zhen sensed something odd in Huangfu Wenqing’s attitude. Why did she keep bringing up Yun Xiu? Shouldn’t she be showing him her own room?
When she and Elder Huangfu had visited the Yan Family before, she’d headed straight for his room. At the time, Yan Zhen had even thought she was looking for some naughty books.
“Ahem, Wenqing, where do you live?”
“I live in the side hall to the left.” Huangfu Wenqing’s expression was perfectly natural. “Master has only me as her disciple, and she dotes on me greatly. Ever since I joined the sect, I’ve always lived with her.”
“Gotcha.”
“The side hall to the right is for guests. Master doesn’t have many friends, though, so it’s basically never used. But she already had some female disciples come clean it thoroughly. You should be staying there tonight.”
She said “you” instead of “you all,” clearly not counting Long Ying as a guest—but rather as Yan Zhen’s accessory.
Long Ying didn’t mind in the slightest. Wherever Yan Zhen Zhen went, she would follow. She wouldn’t give the green-haired bad woman any chance to sneak in!
Yan Zhen’s mind began to race.
Living together with Yun Xiu… The palace was vast, but according to what his fiancée had just said, there weren’t many people around—especially at night. It would just be the two of them, master and disciple.
He’d sleep in the right hall, Huangfu Wenqing in the left, and Yun Xiu right in the middle. If he wanted to slip into Yun Xiu’s resting chamber, he wouldn’t even need to pass through Wenqing’s room. No one the wiser. Heh heh~
—No, no, no.
Yan Zhen hurriedly shook off the improper thoughts crowding his mind.
According to the plan, he was supposed to let Huangfu Wenqing discover his “affair” with Yun Xiu, prompting her to call off the engagement.
Best to do it tonight. That way, she could build up a head of steam. Come tomorrow’s duel, she’d bring her A-game.
Then Yan Zhen would win the duel and, wracked with guilt, dissolve the engagement. With that, this plotline—gone completely off the rails—would snap back onto its proper track.
It was a rotten thing to do to Huangfu Wenqing, but it was the best way he could think of to wrap this up.
Once the storyline concluded, he could beg for her forgiveness and try to go back to being friends.
—That was the ideal scenario. There were still plenty of problems, but no time to dwell on them one by one.
“Yan Zhen, let me take you to the right hall.”
“Sure.”
The three of them arrived at the right hall and stepped inside. Sure enough, the room had been cleaned spotless.
The furnishings were simple yet elegant—nothing essential was missing. Fruits and tea treats had even been laid out on the table.
The three sat down around the table.
As Huangfu Wenqing brewed the tea, she asked, “How does it feel, Yan Zhen?”
Yan Zhen glanced around casually and nodded.
“Not bad. Bigger than my room, even.”
“If you like it, you can stay a few more days. I’m sure Master would be delighted.”
“Uh, oh.”
—Bringing up Yun Xiu again? And that strange tone… Could she already suspect something? This… this was perfect!
If Huangfu Wenqing had already noticed something off, all he had to do was let the cat out of the bag—er, no, show a flaw—and she’d uncover the truth!
