Chapter 38: The Price of Salvation

“Why did you save Zhou Lingling?”

Ye Cha walked cautiously through a special area of Lingtian Sect, when Shen Ruotong’s voice suddenly rang out from ahead.

He instinctively looked up at Shen Ruotong’s back. Her shoulders appeared slightly delicate, and her slender form, adorned with a cascade of ink-black hair, swayed gently with each step.

From her back alone, she was perfect—a woman seemingly flawless in every aspect.

No wonder so many men were infatuated with her. Beyond her formidable strength, her personal qualities were exceptional.

However, her question made Ye Cha’s eyes glint. He knew the fish had begun to bite the hook.

“Feiyun Sect are guests here to observe the battle. If something were to happen to them in Lingtian Sect, it would greatly affect our sect.”

As Ye Cha spoke, Shen Ruotong’s pace faltered for a moment.

Though she quickly resumed her normal speed, Ye Cha, who had been watching her closely, noticed it. A smile almost tugged at the corners of his lips.

Despite Shen Ruotong being a powerful Void Refinement cultivator, she was clearly a novice when it came to matters of the heart.

Considering her virtually non-existent romantic history, it was likely that all her time was devoted to cultivation, leaving no room for romantic entanglements.

It was precisely this emotional immaturity that now benefited Ye Cha, allowing him to use these tactics to quickly win her over.

“I see. Ye Cha, you did well.”

When Shen Ruotong spoke again, even she didn’t realize how much more relaxed her tone had become, shedding its initial seriousness.

However, Ye Cha mused to himself, knowing it was time to retreat in order to advance.

“Sect Master, this is what Ye Cha should do. However, Ye Cha’s wound has not yet been treated. Please allow Ye Cha to take his leave first.”

With these words, Ye Cha stopped in his tracks. He glanced down at his left hand, and seeing that the bleeding had ceased, he was filled with profound relief, marveling at the remarkable recovery abilities of cultivators.

Without even applying a hemostatic agent, and simply leaving it alone for a short while, it was already close to healing.

Of course, this was also because it was an injury inflicted by a mere sharp sword. If it had been caused by a special magical artifact or a potent poison, recovery would not have been so simple, often requiring medicinal pills to accelerate healing.

Indeed, some poisons were utterly incurable.

“Today, I brought you to West Cloud Peak. You are no longer an outer disciple. If you do not wish to be my registered disciple, you may choose any of the other twelve peaks.”

As she spoke, Shen Ruotong continued walking at her steady, unhurried pace.

With rationality gradually returning, Shen Ruotong understood that Ye Cha’s act of saving Zhou Lingling had prevented many unnecessary troubles. He deserved a reward.

Within Lingtian Sect, rather than merely awarding Ye Cha spirit stones or resources, granting him a stable identity and status would be more beneficial. This would allow him to establish himself firmly within the sect, ensuring no one would dare bully him again.

If Ye Cha chose not to remain on West Cloud Peak, Shen Ruotong would not force him, instead allowing him to make his own decision.

Naturally, if it were possible, Shen Ruotong hoped Ye Cha would stay by her side.

Beyond her curiosity and interest in Ye Cha, Shen Ruotong had also witnessed his unwavering dedication to the Heavenly Dao. If he remained with her, she could offer him more guidance.

“This disciple… is willing to stay!”

Upon hearing Shen Ruotong’s words, Ye Cha’s eyes widened in surprise. A smile immediately spread across his face, and without a moment’s hesitation, he loudly declared his willingness to Shen Ruotong’s retreating back.

It was truly unexpected how smoothly his path was progressing.

He had anticipated needing to expend much more effort to fully secure a place by Shen Ruotong’s side. As it turned out, Zi Linglong’s sudden appearance had inadvertently created a perfect opportunity for him.

Hearing Ye Cha’s willingness to become her registered disciple, Shen Ruotong felt an inexplicable joy, a feeling even more pleasant than when her cultivation realm advanced.

****

“My heavens, I’m not mistaken, am I? Master actually brought a man back! Is our千年老铁树 (thousand-year-old iron tree) finally blossoming?”

“No way, no way, no way!”

“Wow, I know him! That’s Ye Cha! The one who was rumored with Master just two days ago! Master is so fast! It’s only been a few days, and she’s already brought him home!”

“Silence, all of you! Do you think Master can’t hear your chatter?!”

On West Cloud Peak, as Senior Sister Lu Xi’s cold voice echoed, the three chattering girls immediately fell silent.

Aside from their Master, Senior Sister Lu Xi was the person they feared most.

However, though their mouths were shut, Li Tian’ai and the other two girls’ excited eyes remained wide open, blinking incessantly. They stared intently at Shen Ruotong and Ye Cha in the distance, eagerly anticipating their arrival.

Perhaps it was due to their intense anticipation, but time seemed to slow down. By the time Shen Ruotong finally led Ye Cha over, the three girls felt as if a century had passed!

“Ye Cha, these are my four direct disciples: Lu Xi, Li Tian’ai, Xiong Ni, and Wang Zhi.”

“Greetings, Senior Sister.”

Just as Lu Xi had said, even from a distance, Shen Ruotong had heard them clearly.

Shen Ruotong felt her mischievous disciples were too idle. It seemed she needed to assign them some tasks to keep them busy, so they wouldn’t have so much time for gossip.

However, with Ye Cha present, Shen Ruotong found it inconvenient to scold them directly. She merely cast a cold glance at them, causing the three girls to break out in cold sweat, a sudden ominous premonition of misfortune rising in their hearts.

Lu Xi, on the other hand, showed no change in expression, standing coldly in place. She merely scrutinized Ye Cha, who maintained a gentle smile, with a discerning gaze.

While Lu Xi and Shen Ruotong were both individuals deeply immersed in cultivation, unlike the emotionally naive Shen Ruotong, the dual-spiritual-rooted Lu Xi had experienced numerous relationships and was not a dullard who only understood cultivation.

It was precisely because of this that, even before Bai Ge was refined into a corpse puppet, he had expressed his affection to Lu Xi with a seemingly deep devotion, only to be met with a cold, expressionless refusal from her.

When this incident spread, many female cultivators criticized her, calling her ungrateful.

After all, for Lu Xi to reject such an outstanding man as Bai Ge, they wondered where her eyes were placed.

To this, Lu Xi offered no explanation.

She disdained to explain.

However, when Lu Xi personally witnessed Bai Ge entangled with other female cultivators, she knew her instincts had not been mistaken.

Such was her acute perception, like an array capable of uncovering ugliness, leaving nothing hidden.

Now, looking at Ye Cha standing before her, Lu Xi’s brow couldn’t help but furrow.

This man was not simple.