Chapter 36: Unexpected Journey to Yunfeng Ridge

While surprise flickered in her eyes, Lin Xue’s nature was such that she harbored no envy or jealousy towards others.

“Then congratulations,” Lin Xue replied. “It seems Junior Sister’s talent is in no way inferior to us sisters. Oh, and regarding the sect’s notice, I saw it. Our Heavenly Sword Peak must also send a team, and Master wants me to go along to broaden my horizons.”

Upon hearing this, Su Yun’s heart tightened with a touch of urgency.

Just as she was about to speak, the door to Lin Shuang’s residence burst open. Lin Shuang emerged, her sword in hand, radiating an indignant aura.

“Damn it! Why won’t they let me go?” Lin Shuang fumed, clearly displeased. “My injuries have healed. I’m going to find Master!”

After resting for over half a month, Lin Shuang had mostly recovered. She appeared vibrant and full of life, showing no outward signs of injury.

Yet, her slightly pale complexion betrayed the truth: her wounds had not fully mended.

“You want to go?” Lin Xue immediately admonished her. “I know better than anyone whether your injuries are truly healed. You might seem fine, but if you exert yourself too much, problems will arise. Stop making a fuss.”

Lin Shuang faltered, a blush creeping onto her face.

“But, we don’t know the situation at Yunfeng Ridge,” Lin Shuang said, approaching Lin Xue with a hint of worry. “And this is your first time venturing out. I… I’m not at ease.”

After all, Lin Xue was her only kin in this world. Despite their occasional disagreements, Lin Shuang would never be indifferent to her sister’s well-being.

“But in your current state, what could you possibly do if you went?” Lin Xue countered. “You’d only be a burden. Master would never allow you to go. Stop being difficult; focus on your recovery within the sect. I’m going to see Master now. Junior Sister Su, please keep an eye on my troublesome sister and make sure she doesn’t overthink things.”

With that, Lin Xue spoke to Su Yun, then departed on her sword.

Lin Shuang was about to follow, but Su Yun called out to her.

“Senior Sister Lin Shuang, don’t act on impulse. Have you forgotten the lesson from last time so quickly?”

At Su Yun’s words, Lin Shuang quickly calmed down.

“But I…” Lin Shuang tried to protest.

“How about this?” Su Yun suggested after a moment of thought. “I also want to broaden my horizons. Why don’t I go with Senior Sister Lin Xue in your stead? How does that sound?”

Lin Shuang froze, then scrutinized Su Yun from head to toe.

“You?” Lin Shuang exclaimed, her expression abruptly shifting to astonishment. “Huh? When did you reach Qi Refinement Fourth Layer?”

After all, less than a month had passed since Su Yun first entered the sect.

“Indeed, I reached Qi Refinement Fourth Layer right after emerging from the Sword Comprehension Pagoda,” Su Yun replied with a smile.

Lin Shuang was amazed by Su Yun’s cultivation speed, yet she still felt Su Yun’s realm was too low.

“Even so, what could you possibly accomplish at that realm?” Lin Shuang questioned.

Su Yun chuckled.

“Don’t forget, I am a direct disciple of Blazing Flame Peak. You shouldn’t judge me solely by my cultivation realm. It’s decided then. I promise to bring your sister back safely. I’m going to find my Master now. You should rest well.”

Leaving that message, Su Yun also departed on her sword.

Lin Shuang watched Su Yun leave, her expression a mix of confusion and bewilderment.

‘Strange,’ she thought. ‘Why does she seem so concerned about Lin Xue and me? We’re not exactly close, are we?’

****

A short while later, at Blazing Flame Peak.

Su Yun was seen clinging to Lei Yan’s thick arm, playfully dangling from it.

“Oh, Master, please let me go!” Su Yun pleaded, her voice laced with coaxing. “This is such a wonderful opportunity. If I miss this, who knows how many years I’ll have to wait for the next one. Besides, you know that the hidden weapons I forged are enough for me to protect myself. Didn’t you say that even Foundation Establishment cultivators might not be able to withstand my hidden weapons without injury?”

This kind of coquettish behavior would have been unthinkable for Su Yun in her previous life. However, since arriving in this world, this wasn’t her first time acting like this. Even as a youth, Su Yun had used similar tactics on Su Muxue.

It might have been a little embarrassing, but as long as it achieved her goals, a thick skin proved quite useful.

“No, no, absolutely not,” Lei Yan said, a look of exasperation and helplessness on his face. “What would you even go there for? Our Blazing Flame Peak only focuses on artifact forging. Why must you venture out and seek danger? Besides, while your hidden weapons are formidable, cultivators are people, not targets. Do you think everyone will stand still in front of you like I do, letting you strike them?”

“I don’t care, I want to go!” Su Yun insisted, pushing her playful antics to the extreme. “At worst, you can send a Senior Brother to accompany me! Hurry, the sect members are almost leaving!”

Lei Yan gazed at his precious disciple, who clung to his arm without letting go, utterly helpless. After a moment of contemplation, he took a deep breath.

“Alright, you can go,” Lei Yan conceded. “But you cannot go with them. I’ll have your Senior Brother take you.”

Su Yun’s eyes twinkled. Naturally, she had no objections.

“Great! As long as I get to go!” Su Yun’s face instantly lit up with a wide smile.

Lei Yan watched Su Yun’s rapidly changing expression, completely baffled by what his disciple was thinking. His primary reason for agreeing was his belief that Su Yun’s cultivation talent was too exceptional to be wasted, and seeing the world would be beneficial. However, he suspected Su Yun had other motives, otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so insistent.

Soon, Fan Yang was summoned by Lei Yan.

“Ah, you want me to take Junior Sister to Yunfeng Ridge to assist in the sect’s rescue mission? Is this… appropriate?” Fan Yang asked, bewildered. They had never participated in a sect mission before.

“Just go when I tell you to. What’s with all the unnecessary questions?” Lei Yan instructed. “But do not go with them. You two should just follow behind them. Unless absolutely necessary, do not get involved in their mission. Just observe.”

Fan Yang had no choice but to quickly return, take a bath, change his clothes, and then depart from Blazing Flame Peak with Su Yun.

Meanwhile, Lin Xue and her group had already set off. Seven teams soared from the direction of the main sect hall. These seven teams were composed of disciples from each of the seven peaks, with each led by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

From organization to departure, it took them less than fifteen minutes, an impressively swift response.

This mission was not considered exceptionally dangerous. Dispatching seven Foundation Establishment cultivators to lead the teams was already an over-the-top response.

After all, if six Qi Refinement disciples encountered danger and still had a chance to call for help, it implied that their attackers likely did not include Golden Core cultivators, and perhaps not even Foundation Establishment cultivators.

If the attackers had been cultivators above Foundation Establishment, the disciples would not have had any opportunity to send a distress signal.

The danger level of the incident could be analyzed, and the facts indeed supported this assessment.

On the way to Yunfeng Ridge, Lin Xue closely followed an inner sect female disciple. She was a white-robed woman with a sharp, sword-like demeanor and a cultivation of Foundation Establishment Mid-stage.

The other six factions had each dispatched cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Early-stage to lead their teams.

“Junior Sister, when we reach our destination, you must stick close to me and not leave my sight,” the white-robed woman instructed Lin Xue.

“Understood,” Lin Xue nodded.

Just then, Lin Xue inexplicably felt a surge of killing intent. She sharply looked in a certain direction, only to see Deng Wenqing subtly observing her.

When Deng Wenqing noticed Lin Xue looking at him, he quickly averted his gaze as if nothing had happened.

‘This guy?’ Lin Xue felt something was off about Deng Wenqing, and a sense of unease settled in her heart.

Approximately three thousand meters behind the main group, Fan Yang piloted a massive sword, carrying Su Yun, maintaining a consistent distance behind them.

“I say, Junior Sister,” Fan Yang asked, puzzled. “Why did you insist on following them to Yunfeng Ridge?”

Su Yun’s eyes darted about. “This is a rare opportunity for a sect mission. I can learn many things. Besides, Master said my cultivation talent is excellent and shouldn’t be wasted. Plus, I also want to see the world. It’s as simple as that.”

Fan Yang scratched his head, still somewhat bewildered by Su Yun’s reasoning.

Su Yun, meanwhile, observed the mountains and rivers below. This was, in essence, her first proper look at the Southern Wilderness. As far as the eye could see, there was barely any trace of human activity, only endless towering mountains, dense forests, lakes, and rivers. The environment was beautiful but not particularly suitable for human habitation.

Su Yun wondered what lay beyond the Southern Wilderness.

She then turned her thoughts to the cultivators who had attacked the Spirit Sword Mountain disciples.

At this moment, in a valley within Yunfeng Ridge, the twelve individuals who had recently besieged the Spirit Sword Mountain disciples entered with the six weak and captured disciples. It seemed all of them had been apprehended.

After they entered, several other individuals, diverse in appearance, emerged from deeper within the valley.

“Mission accomplished?” a Foundation Establishment male cultivator greeted them with a smile.

“Yes, Senior Brother Ran,” the delicate and charming female cultivator replied, casually tossing the Spirit Sword Mountain disciple, who was at Qi Refinement Ninth Layer, onto the ground.

All six captives were merely unconscious. It appeared their captors had no intention of killing them.

“Heh, the employer has already sent word,” the man surnamed Ran chuckled. “Spirit Sword Mountain’s seven peaks have dispatched seven teams, led by seven Foundation Establishment cultivators. Our target is among them. Once the target is eliminated, we can withdraw.”