The sixth layer of the Qi Refining Stage was opened. Those standing at the door saw Bai Qiuran walking out from the courtyard, his expression vacant and lost. Indeed, upon hearing Bai Qiuran's question, Tang Ruowei displayed a bright smile. However, Tang Ruowei looked at him with a puzzled expression. Qingyun Elder cautiously glanced at Bai Qiuran, who was in a daze, and spoke in a low voice, "That day, Ancestral Martial Uncle was filled with fervor; they became punching bags and died quite tragically."
Bai Qiuran paid no attention to the group of people and mechanically approached a crumbled wall near the cliff. He picked up a sharp stone from the ground and casually drew a line on the mottled wall, his expression devoid of emotion, his eyes as vacant as the dead.
"Why not... my father was happy to hear I came to the Qinming Sword Sect," he muttered.
"And what about your own will? You gave up the life of a princess to come find me on this mountain; what was your intention?" The memories of their last separation resurfaced, reminding him how he had offended her with inappropriate remarks about her maturity... With that thought, he tossed aside the stone, swaying as he found a large rock at the cliff's edge to sit on, staring blankly at the clouds above.
Noticing Tang Ruowei's gaze, Elder Qingyun explained, "There used to be a Demon Town Suppressing Tower there. In earlier years, demons were rampant. The disciples of Qinming would descend the mountain to slay demons. When some demons had powerful souls that were hard to eliminate, the disciples would capture their souls and cast them into the Suppressing Tower, under the supervision of a Qinming elder for refinement. Later, when Ancestral Martial Uncle moved here, he would draw a line on that tower each time he broke through to a new layer."
Tang Ruowei responded, "After all, he already has a legitimate son. When I grow up, I will merely be a tool for a political marriage. Rather than marrying me off to form alliances with other kingdoms or win over domestic ministers and families, it might be better for me to come to the Qinming Sword Sect and seek a slice of transcendent immortal fortune for the royal family."
"It seems Ancestral Martial Uncle has failed again."
"I've come to greet Ancestral Martial Uncle’s emergence." Jue Yunzi was nervously tense now, though he had spoken joyfully in his courtyard earlier.
"Looking for me?" Bai Qiuran rolled up his sleeves.
"Since the tower has fallen, won't the demon souls inside escape?"
"But if you wish to continue attacking, then I must apologize: Bai Qiuran is not someone to be slaughtered at will. Do not force me!"
As the door opened, the crowd saw Bai Qiuran looking dazed as he emerged from the courtyard.
“What am I even saying?” Jue Yunzi thought, noticing Tang Ruowei’s gaze. Elder Qingyun explained, “There originally was a town suppressing tower there. In earlier times, demons thrived, and Qinming disciples would go down the mountain to eliminate them. If some demons had powerful souls that were hard to destroy, the disciples would capture these souls and throw them into the Suppressing Tower, where they would be refined under the supervision of an elder. Later, when Ancestral Martial Uncle moved here, every time he broke through a layer, he would draw a line on the tower.”
Tang Ruowei responded, "After all, he already has a legitimate son. When I grow up, I will be no more than a political marriage tool. Better for me to come to the Qinming Sword Sect; perhaps it could provide a slice of transcendence for the royal family."
"And has your father agreed?"
"I know you've come looking for me. You are still angry about my comments regarding your physique the other day, and I apologize for that. I was merely curious; it was not intended to harm." Bai Qiuran asked, "Isn’t it enough that Jue Yunzi is useless? You, the elder, are not handling sect matters and come here to attend to this empty-nesting elder?"
"Sigh, the judgment of Third Senior Brother is indeed correct," he thought, tossing aside the stone once more, wandering aimlessly before sitting on a rock by the cliff, staring blankly at the clouds above.
"Then what happened later?” "I’m not taking the blame for this."
The smallest, Seventh Elder Liuyun, reminded, "Ancestral Martial Uncle has arrived."
"But if you wish to continue attacking," Bai Qiuran said, "I must warn you that Bai Qiuran is not an easy target. Do not push me!"
“Ancestral Martial Uncle, forgive me!”
"I've come to greet Ancestral Martial Uncle's emergence!" Tang Ruowei asked. Looking into Bai Qiuran’s eyes, memories of his younger years, when he had been silenced for his sharp tongue, resurfaced in Jue Yunzi’s mind like a rolling mist. This psychological shadow even made a cultivator like him feel uneasy, and he experienced a crack in his mental state in that instant.
Bai Qiuran could barely muster the energy to lift his eyelids.
"Then let’s be honest. You better not get rough."
"This burden is not mine to bear."
Everyone looked up to see Bai Qiuran striding peacefully toward them, his previously frustrated expression lifting as he approached, seemingly in a better mood after releasing his frustrations on the hapless Jue Yunzi.
"The tower has fallen." "I’ve come to greet Ancestral Martial Uncle’s emergence.”
Bai Qiuran internally braced himself. “Though I do not fear Tang Ruowei, it is unsettling to know someone has been keeping such close watch on me.”
“I know you are still mad about my mention of your physique,” Bai Qiuran clarified, “and I apologize for it. I was merely curious.”
Indeed, when he heard this, Tang Ruowei's expression brightened. Elder Qingyun smiled wryly. "You know how it goes, we’re not handling matters in the sect, yet you come here— are you truly concerned for a lone elder with an empty nest?"
"Then let's talk reasonably. How could your father be willing to let you go from the life of a pampered princess to seek me out on this mountain?"
Tang Ruowei's face turned slightly red, and she didn’t know how to reply to Bai Qiuran; her gaze wandered as she awkwardly raised her hand for a greeting.
Bai Qiuran pressed further, "You’re the princess of Shangxuan Kingdom. You must know that entering the Qinming Sword Sect means leaving behind the mundane world for good. Can your father let you go?"
The seventh elder reminded the group, "Ancestral Martial Uncle is here.” Bai Qiuran's expression was serious as he pondered the implications.
"Your will matters— abandoning the luxurious life of a princess to come seek me. For what reason?"
"Why not...? My father was delighted to hear of my arrival at the Qinming Sword Sect."
“What am I saying?” Bai Qiuran thought as he became engulfed in confusion.