The gymnasium hung in heavy silence. Every pair of eyes flickered between Lu Chuning, Su Yingsnow, and Luo Qingchuan—curious, uneasy.
Lu Wu stood awkwardly to the side, hands tucked deep in his sleeves, unsure what to say.
*Hmm… This is complicated.*
But why had Lu Chuning suddenly decided to take a disciple?
Su Yingsnow’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Her voice fell like frost beneath a winter moon: “What are you laughing at?”
Something was off. She sensed unmistakable malice in the girl before her.
Luo Qingchuan’s talent was mediocre—there was no way Lu Chuning admired him for brilliance.
Another motive, then.
Rumors whispered of wicked seductresses practicing dual cultivation… using teenage boys as cultivation vessels to absorb—no, *drain*—their yang energy!
To the sheltered Su Yingsnow, Lu Chuning—respected by Lu Wu, face youthful yet lined with crimson eyeliner, beauty delicate yet shrouded in mystery—fit the seductress perfectly.
*Probably an ancient hag who’s lived centuries!*
Little did she know, rebellious middle school girls pulled far wilder stunts.
Lu Chuning covered her mouth with a tinkling laugh. “Big sis, I’m not taking him to do anything bad. Besides… he might be a little rascal himself.”
*Like taking the Chen family’s young miss to a bar last night.*
Luo Qingchuan offered a guilty smile. “You’re joking, ma’am.”
After a pause, Su Yingsnow asked coolly, “You claim the ‘Truthseer’ is a spiritual artifact you crafted?”
“Mhm.” Lu Chuning’s voice was soft, playful. “I love tinkering with little trinkets alone. Isn’t it fun?”
“But your ‘Truthseer’ called him a good person.”
A trace of displeasure glimmered in Su Yingsnow’s gentle eyes.
Lu Chuning tilted her head with a smile. “How about you become my student too?”
“Huh?”
Su Yingsnow froze.
*I can’t let my demonic cultivation identity drag her down!* Luo Qingchuan stepped forward to speak—then choked. No sound came out.
Lu Chuning shot him an amused glance.
A voice echoed silently in his mind:
*“Don’t worry. I’ll keep your ‘date’ with the Chen girl a secret.”*
*Telepathic transmission.*
*Date?!* Luo Qingchuan’s eyes flashed. *We just spent the night! Where’s the date?! Don’t slander my innocence!*
“Su Yingsnow, stop being unreasonable,” Lin Yu said coldly, the white-collar woman’s tone sharp. “Come. It’s Luo Qingchuan’s fortune to be noticed by Lady Lu… And I am your teacher.”
*Su Yingsnow’s talent is valuable. Taking her as my student brings future gains. Helping Lu Chuning win her favor? Even better. She’s a major figure.*
Su Yingsnow turned gracefully, expression serene. “Perhaps… you are not suited to be my sword arts mentor.”
Lin Yu’s eyes widened. She glared at the stunning girl—beauty that stirred faint jealousy. “What did you say?!”
A sword intent surged.
The air trembled with a silent, piercing shriek.
Students shrank back nervously.
Su Yingsnow’s dark eyes remained clear as water. “Perhaps I am… slightly stronger than you.”
“I’ve reached Foundation Establishment!”
Su Yingsnow lowered her lashes. “I… would not shy from a fight.”
Dead silence. The phantom sword cries vanished.
She met Lin Yu’s gaze—unwavering, composed. Standing tall like a solitary cold moon, her fair face serene yet radiant.
Lin Yu’s sword intent collapsed beneath a faint, chilling aura seeping through the gym.
The air turned cold.
*I won’t let that wicked woman take Luo Qingchuan. If he goes… I go with him.*
That was her resolve.
Lu Wu’s eyes lit up. “A born sword cultivator!”
Lu Chuning giggled, clapping lightly. The chill faded.
“How about a match?” She skipped to the spectator seats, tiny feet pattering. “Su Yingsnow, right? Win, and I’ll take you as my disciple too.”
Su Yingsnow stood stunned.
Lin Yu’s face paled with anger. “You won’t beat me. Don’t invite suffering.”
“Teacher Lin… please allow me to try. My apologies for the impertinence,” the girl murmured, head bowed.
Luo Qingchuan sat dazed at the arena’s edge. *How did we get here?!*
Students scattered. Ten meters apart stood the poised Teacher Lin Yu and the breathtaking Su Yingsnow.
Lin Yu raised her left hand. A sword pellet unfurled in her palm, swiftly becoming a gleaming longsword shimmering with lake-water softness.
Luo Qingchuan pointed to his mouth at Lu Chuning, who’d deliberately sat beside him.
She blinked, giggling like a warbling oriole. “What? Want me to kiss you?”
*Damn it!*
Luo Qingchuan’s eyes flashed fury.
“Meh. Fine. Speak.”
Lu Chuning’s words lifted the seal. He rubbed his throat, coughed—humiliated, but able to talk.
His cough drew a worried glance from Su Yingsnow.
*The gift!* He’d nearly forgotten in the chaos.
“Yingsnow—catch!”
He tossed a slender, dark-blue ancient sword toward her.
She blinked, then smiled softly. Spiritual energy guided the hilt into her delicate fingers.
“I will win,” she told him.
Their tender exchange drew envious stares.
Carved characters adorned the blade.
Lu Chuning’s eyes widened. “A fine sword.” Her twin tails swayed playfully. “What’s its name?”
“Solitary Stag.”
“The wind of Solitary Stag soaring upward?”
Luo Qingchuan smiled mysteriously. *He had no idea what she meant.*
Lu Wu stepped back, face pained. “Controlled spar only. I’ll intervene. Begin.”
No sooner spoken—
Lin Yu, fury long suppressed, formed a sword finger. “Go!”
The flying sword shot toward Su Yingsnow, trailing a translucent, water-bright afterimage.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Lu Chuning rested her chin on her hands. “Not enough. The sword’s good, but she hasn’t blood-bonded it. Won’t unleash its full…”
Su Yingsnow’s slender hand swept gracefully.
A flash. Space before her warped for a heartbeat.
Sword light bloomed—a perfect silvery crescent.
Sparks drifted.
*Clang!* Lin Yu’s sword embedded itself in the wooden floor.
Luo Qingchuan clapped eagerly, grinning at Lu Chuning. “How was *that*?”
Lu Chuning’s mouth fell open. She laughed in genuine surprise. “Truly impressive. I really want her as my student now.”
“So strong…” a student breathed.
“She deflected Teacher’s sword?!”
“Impossible! She held back!”
“Su Yingsnow’s amazing,” Yang Jin murmured to his friend—
only to find Zuo Tian’s eyes tightly shut, silent as stone.
