Just as Qiu Ning took a deep breath, preparing to forcibly intervene and steer the conversation away, Su Yi beat her to the punch.
“Thank you all for your kind hospitality.” Cupping his hands toward Ling Qingyu and the other two first, he then turned his gaze toward Murong Yue. “For this Four Sects Exchange, I personally would like to make Ancient Sword Mountain my first choice.”
The moment those words were spoken, a rare, unmistakable flicker of surprise crossed Murong Yue’s face, which was usually as placid as an ancient well.
She had not expected Su Yi to be so decisive, without even weighing the conditions offered by the other two sects.
Ling Qingyu’s crystal-clear, ice-like eyes also widened slightly.
Back in the secret realm, compared to Shang Shuyi and Shi Yan, she had barely interacted with Su Yi at all.
Moreover, she had vaguely heard rumors that years ago, Su Yi had disparaged Ancient Sword Mountain’s sword arts as completely worthless, had he not?
Sensing the astonished looks cast his way, Su Yi’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly added, “This is merely my own humble thought. The other disciples may have their own preferences, but I simply wish to go and see Ancient Sword Mountain.”
Little did they know, Su Yi had not made this choice on a whim. What came to mind was the “quest list” that still lingered in his consciousness.
As well as Tantai Yunzhi’s trajectory in the original storyline—her clan happened to be located on the fringes of Ancient Sword Mountain’s sphere of influence.
Choosing Ancient Sword Mountain not only aligned with part of the “plot inertia,” facilitating potential follow-up events, but also provided an opportunity for Tantai Yunzhi’s potential “family visit” or clan-related plotline.
What was more, in his long-term plans, he would eventually make a personal trip to Ancient Sword Mountain, Return to Origin Sect, Perching Phoenix Pavilion, and even the demonic sects to thoroughly explore all the opportunities, mysteries, and “bugs” from the original plot.
Following a major plot progression for now by going to Ancient Sword Mountain first would not affect him much at all.
His gaze casually drifted to Tantai Yunzhi, who stood quietly beside him. He saw that her eyes were still downcast and silent, yet her slender fingers seemed to curl slightly.
‘Perhaps this might even give the female lead a reason to grow stronger?’
Besides, the hurdle of the Tantai clan was something she had to overcome sooner or later!
Just as Su Yi finished speaking, Ming Xi’s radiant smile did not dim in the slightest upon hearing his choice, yet a faint wisp of chill seemed to flash in the depths of her eyes.
Beside her, Shang Shuqing seemed at a loss for words, remaining silent.
Murong Yue, on the other hand, quickly reined in her surprise and gave Su Yi a slight nod. “Ancient Sword Mountain welcomes you with open arms.”
Although Su Yi emphasized that this was merely his personal inclination, everyone knew that his preference, as the key figure, would undoubtedly carry immense weight in Divine Might Manor’s final decision.
This abrupt three-sect tug-of-war seemed to have temporarily drawn the curtain on its first act, all because of Su Yi’s single statement.
Su Yi’s stance was like casting a stone into a delicate lake, dictating its flow; the originally tense and deadlocked atmosphere shifted instantly.
Seeing that her objective was mostly achieved, Murong Yue lingered no further in pointless pleasantries.
She gave a slight nod to Ouyang Qing and Qiu Ning. “Since Young Manor Lord Su already has an inclination, would you care to step aside with me to discuss the details?” Having said that, her gaze turned to Su Yi.
Taking the hint, Su Yi followed her out, bringing along Gongsun Lin, whose pinch on his waist had still not let go, and the silent Tantai Yunzhi.
Their departure seemed to have flipped a switch.
Ouyang Qing, who had still been asking after spiritual herb details with shining eyes, suddenly discovered that the Ming Xi before him seemed to have instantly lost all interest in talking.
Her face still wore an impeccably elegant smile, yet her tone had taken on a touch of aloofness and well-measured weariness. “Elder Ouyang, regarding the spiritual herbs, this junior feels somewhat fatigued today, and my thoughts are rather muddled. I fear I would be unable to provide thorough answers. Why don’t we find another opportunity next time for me to explain it to you in detail, Elder?”
Though polite, her words firmly shut down any possibility of Ouyang Qing pressing further.
Ouyang Qing’s mouth opened and closed. Seeing Ming Xi’s smiling yet distinctly unwilling demeanor, he could only click his tongue in regret, muttering, “A pity, what a pity...”
Only then did Ouyang Qing belatedly realize that with Su Yi’s departure, the entire atmosphere in the Guest-Welcoming Palace had relaxed.
The disciples of the three major sects who had previously crowded around now seemed to have received a silent command, beginning to disperse one by one.
Ling Qingyu cupped her hands slightly toward Shang Shuyi and Shi Yan, then turned to follow the direction of Murong Yue and Su Yi, seemingly quite invested in the Ancient Sword Mountain matter as well.
Shang Shuyi bowed once more to Ouyang Qing and Qiu Ning, saying gently, “Since Senior Brother Su has made his decision, we juniors shall not impose any longer. Return to Origin Sect welcomes all fellow Daoists of Divine Might Manor at any time.” Having spoken, she also departed with the disciples of Return to Origin Sect.
Shi Yan was even more direct. Glancing at Ming Xi and receiving an imperceptible nod in return, he strode away as if granted a massive pardon, looking for all the world like he was fleeing a scene that made his scalp tingle.
In the blink of an eye, the Guest-Welcoming Palace, which had just been packed to the brim with undercurrents surging, was left with only Divine Might Manor’s own people and a few Perching Phoenix Pavilion disciples accompanying Ming Xi.
“All right, let’s head back. Unless something unexpected happens, our exchange will likely be with Ancient Sword Mountain,” Qiu Ning said, walking over to her father’s side seeing that he was still dazed.
“Sigh, it’s just such a pity.” Ouyang Qing shook his head in disappointment.
Seeing her father’s crestfallen state, she sighed softly, retrieved a warm jade box from her storage ring, and presented it before Ouyang Qing.
“Stop brooding over the pity of it all. Take a look at this.”
Perplexed, Ouyang Qing took it and opened the lid.
Instantly, a crisp, refreshing medicinal fragrance permeated the air. Resting quietly inside the jade box was a jade ginseng, pure white all over and lifelike in form, its fibrous rootlets intact, with faint spiritual light rippling across it.
“This is... Congealed Jade Snow Ginseng! Looking at its quality, it must be at least five hundred years old!” Ouyang Qing’s eyes instantly blazed with startling brilliance, and the hands holding the jade box trembled slightly. “Th-This isn’t a spiritual item that can be produced within our Divine Might Manor’s borders! Qiu’er, where on earth did you get this?”
“I obtained it by chance while leading a team out for trial training,” Qiu Ning replied nonchalantly, as if she had merely plucked a wild weed off the ground.
Ouyang Qing was so agitated that his beard quivered. Looking at his daughter, his eyes were brimming with the gratification of having found a kindred spirit: “Good! Wonderful! As expected, Qiu’er, you really take after me! You have a natural affinity for heaven and earth’s treasures, spirit herbs, and immortal flora! Unlike your mother—she never...”
Before he could finish, Qiu Ning had already turned her face away in resignation, murmuring secretly to herself, ‘Yes, I take after you. But if you had cared half as much about Mother as you do about these medicinal herbs, back then... she probably wouldn't have insisted on a divorce.’
However, those words were never spoken aloud.
Watching her father once again immerse himself in the wild joy of obtaining a rare spiritual herb, the complex emotions stirred by her parents’ separation dissolved into an imperceptible sigh escaping her lips.
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