NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14
Chapter 014: This Too…:
Kneeling before Lu Ye’s door, Chu Ling patiently awaited his forgiveness.
She knew her master hated being disturbed, so she wouldn’t. She believed in his soft heart and was confident that, one day, he would forgive her. All she needed to do was wait.
While he was in seclusion, she would guard his door. When he emerged, she would follow him. Wherever he went, she would go.
On the back mountain of Bailan Peak, Linghu Wushuang wandered over to Yue Hongling, looking utterly dejected.
Yue Hongling glanced at him, unsurprised. This naive boy thought he could challenge her senior brother? It was like an ant trying to topple a tree.
Linghu Wushuang didn’t yet know who Lu Ye truly was. To him, Lu Ye was merely a small frog in a well gazing at the moon. If he learned Lu Ye’s real identity, it would be as laughable as an insect looking up at the vast sky.
“I lost.”
Breaking the silence, Linghu Wushuang admitted his defeat.
Yue Hongling smirked: “It’s rare for anyone to even get the chance to spar with my senior brother. That alone will be something you can brag about for years.”
Linghu Wushuang sighed heavily.
“He’s incredibly powerful—far beyond me. But once I grow stronger, I’ll challenge him again. Honestly, he’s not as cruel and cold as you described. In fact, he was quite kind to me.”
Yue Hongling rolled her eyes.
“Do you know him better, or do I? He’s only kind to men. To women, he’s indifferent, even ruthless.”
“That much is true,” Linghu Wushuang admitted. “After our spar, as I was leaving, I saw a beautiful young woman kneeling at his door. Lu Ye didn’t even step out to help her. He’s indeed very harsh toward women. I don’t know why she was kneeling there, though.”
Yue Hongling’s expression shifted.
“What did she look like?”
Linghu Wushuang thought for a moment before replying, “She was stunning.”
“Obviously! Do you think my senior brother would have anyone ugly at his door?” Yue Hongling snapped.
“She wore a green dress, carried a sword, and had large, bright eyes. She looked very gentle and obedient…”
Hearing this, Yue Hongling relaxed.
Chu Ling.
She had thought it might be another seductive vixen trying to get close to her senior brother.
Wait.
Her thoughts froze.
Why was she so concerned about another woman visiting her senior brother? Did it matter to her?
Could it be… jealousy?
Shaking her head furiously, Yue Hongling muttered to herself, “I’m not jealous. I can’t be jealous. No way I’m jealous…”
Linghu Wushuang blinked in confusion.
Wait… Is Yue Hongling also one of Lu Ye’s women?
His worldview took another massive hit.
Could it be that the colder and more indifferent you are to women, the more they fall for you?
Is pursuing a partner not about kindness but… brute force?
Yue Hongling interrupted his spiraling thoughts.
“Alright, I’m done talking. Go away. I need to train. Don’t bother me unless it’s important.”
Still preoccupied with his revelations, Linghu Wushuang hesitated before suggesting, “Spar with me! Training through combat is more effective. I should be slightly stronger than you—let’s practice together.”
Yue Hongling shot him a look.
“Are you questioning my strength?”
Minutes later, Linghu Wushuang lay sprawled on the ground, his face bruised, his body trembling, and his confidence shattered.
What kind of monsters live on Bailan Peak?!
After driving Linghu Wushuang away, Yue Hongling resumed her training and soon broke through to the 2nd stage Core Formation Realm.
She couldn’t help but think about Chu Ling’s presence.
“Wait, wasn’t Chu Ling supposed to have gone home? Why is she back—and kneeling at that jerk senior brother’s door?”
Unable to suppress her curiosity, Yue Hongling decided to investigate.
“Forget about the house arrest. It’s not like my master really means it. We’re practically sisters.”
Moments later, Yue Hongling arrived at Lu Ye’s courtyard and, as expected, found Chu Ling kneeling quietly on the stone steps, cultivating.
“Chu Ling, why are you back?” Yue Hongling asked.
Chu Ling looked up and greeted her softly, “Sister Hongling.”
“Get up! We’re female cultivators—we have dignity. Why are you kneeling to him?” Yue Hongling approached, intending to pull her up, conveniently ignoring the fact that she had done her fair share of kneeling in the past.
“I made mistakes, Sister Hongling. This is the punishment I deserve. Please, don’t stop me,” Chu Ling said, resisting her attempts.
“What did you do wrong? Let me tell you, that stingy Lu Ye isn’t worth it. He didn’t even give me the Perfect Returning Origin Pill this time. You could kneel here forever, and he still wouldn’t care!” Yue Hongling said loudly, hoping Lu Ye could hear.
At that moment, Bai Qiulan appeared, her gaze sharp as she stared at Yue Hongling.
Before Yue Hongling could retort, Chu Ling spoke up.
“I was wrong. The master treated me so well, but I didn’t appreciate it. I even resented and harmed him. I placed the Yin-Yang Devouring Gu in his body, and I also poisoned him with the Heaven Stiffness Toxin. My sins are unforgivable. Whatever punishment I receive, I deserve.”
Bai Qiulan froze.
“Heaven Stiffness Toxin…” she murmured, her expression stiffening.
This was no ordinary poison—it operated outside the bounds of conventional rules, capable of affecting even those at the Heavenly Sovereign Realm.
The eight of them had each sought out unique poisons and had thoroughly studied their effects.
“Heaven Stiffness Toxin doesn’t activate unless triggered. If it didn’t harm him, there’s no need to blame yourself,” Yue Hongling said dismissively.
Tears streaming, Chu Ling shook her head.
“That’s not how it works. Heaven Stiffness Toxin is a rule-defying poison. Even if it didn’t activate at the time, it permanently lingers in the body, incurable.”
Yue Hongling and Bai Qiulan exchanged a stunned, panicked look.
“If time rewound for us… does that mean the poison came back with it?” Yue Hongling muttered, her voice trembling.
The thought sent a chill down her spine.
Many poisons might weaken Lu Ye, but the Heaven Stiffness Toxin’s effects…
Bai Qiulan’s voice was solemn.
“The Perfect Returning Origin Pill…”
“Heaven Stiffness Toxin might have traveled back in time with him…”