A full moon hung on the horizon, lighting up the rear cliff of Heavenly Peak. Ai Yueli stood at the cliff's edge, gazing into the distance. No one knew what she was thinking, yet beneath her solemn, delicate features, there was an unexpected softness.
A light breeze swept past, lifting the hem of her skirt. Her long black hair flowed with the wind, rippling behind her and lending her an ethereal, almost immortal air.
"Fourth Martial Aunt, I'm here."
Ye Ling walked over at an unhurried pace. The sight before him was indeed captivating, but it hadn't left him rooted to the spot.
"Mhm."
Ai Yueli turned around. Her golden eyes fixed on Ye Ling, as though she were trying to see straight through him.
Under her gaze, Ye Ling remained calm from beginning to end.
After a moment, Ai Yueli's tone softened. "Martial Nephew, are you full?"
"Fourth Martial Aunt is too kind. Today's meal at the Heavenly Gate Sect was the most filling I've ever had."
Whether it was the Spirit Food itself or Leng Qingqiu's extremely appetite-boosting performance, everything combined to leave him stuffed.
"That's good."
Ai Yueli nodded and walked toward Ye Ling at an easy, unhurried pace.
"Fourth Martial Aunt, you're not about to say something like—"
Ye Ling joked, "Eat your fill before setting off, are you?"
"Of course."
Ai Yueli's expression turned solemn, and a chilling aura that seemed to snuff out all life surged toward Ye Ling.
Ye Ling froze.
Something about this feels wrong, doesn't it?
I was just joking, Fourth Martial Aunt, you…
Seeing that Ye Ling didn't respond, Ai Yueli tilted her head slightly, still wearing a stern expression. "Was it not funny?"
"Huh?"
"Weren't you joking with me just now?"
"Uh… yes."
"Then wasn't I joking with you as well?"
Ai Yueli crossed her arms, one hand supporting her chin as if she were seriously thinking about where she'd gone wrong.
You were joking just now?
I thought I was about to die the next second!
Ye Ling forcibly swallowed back his complaints and said, "It's this Martial Nephew's lack of humor that caused Fourth Martial Aunt concern."
He understood now. The woman in front of him was absolutely not someone to joke around with.
Earlier, when they were still testing each other, he had regarded Ai Yueli with a mix of respect and caution.
But at the dinner table, he'd caught a glimpse of her more ordinary side and let his guard down.
That led straight to this awkward situation. Fortunately, he'd kept himself steady. Otherwise, he might have ruined at least one pair of pants.
"However, I truly did feel killing intent toward you just now."
As if worried Ye Ling might misunderstand, Ai Yueli added, "When the Sect Master pushed that Jade Pendant toward you."
"…"
Ye Ling fell silent. At this point, he genuinely couldn't get a read on Ai Yueli anymore. One moment here, the next there. She had him completely confused.
Ai Yueli didn't seem to care. She continued calmly, "Before our Master ascended, she left behind seven Jade Pendants for us. They serve as keepsakes when we miss her, and also as a measure to ensure our safety."
"The Heavenly Gate Sect's protective grand formation was personally set up by our Master. In this world, no one should be able to break it. However, anyone who possesses a Jade Pendant can rely on it to enter the Heavenly Gate Sect. Do you understand what these Pendants represent, Martial Nephew?"
Ai Yueli stopped in front of Ye Ling. Though she was a full head shorter than him, the pressure she gave off felt almost tangible, as if it were pressing down on him and threatening to crush him.
Before Ye Ling could speak, she continued, "So, if you had accepted the Jade Pendant just now, I would have thoroughly examined your physical body and your soul. I hope you can understand, Martial Nephew."
Understand. I understand very well now.
This Jade Pendant really is a magnet for endless calamity. Thank goodness I didn't take it.
Ye Ling now just wanted to raise both hands and surrender.
The first time he met Ai Yueli, he at least had Bai Yiyi outside the door as some form of support. But now, Bai Yiyi seemed to have completely washed her hands of the matter, leaving him to face all of Ai Yueli's pressure on his own.
What was most terrifying was that Ai Yueli's tone was purely factual, with no hint of threat at all. Yet paired with her solemn, striking face, it made Ye Ling feel as though a mountain were bearing down on him.
I really underestimated this.
Only now did Ye Ling finally understand why Bai Yiyi had looked so reluctant when he came over. It turned out that girl knew exactly what kind of temperament her junior sister had.
"It seems you understand."
Seeing the complicated look on Ye Ling's face, Ai Yueli took a step back. Almost instantly, Ye Ling felt his breathing become much easier.
"Fourth Martial Aunt, I understand your concerns."
Ye Ling finally managed to steady his breathing and forced himself to speak. "If I were in your place, I'd be worried too. Especially with Master's temperament. She's far too easy to deceive. I think your caution, Fourth Martial Aunt, is completely reasonable."
"It's good that you can understand, Martial Nephew."
Ai Yueli turned toward the edge of the cliff. The breeze lifted her hair, creating the illusion that she might ascend and depart this world at any moment.
"The Sect Master is kind by nature. Though she possesses great wisdom, she lacks shrewdness, which truly makes one worry."
Her?
Great wisdom?
Before Ye Ling could voice his thoughts, Ai Yueli continued, "The reason I'm telling you all this is because, when I teach you the Talisman Dao, I hope we can set aside any past misgivings."
"Fourth Martial Aunt, you're joking. Being taught the Talisman Dao by you would be my honor. How could I possibly harbor any resentment toward you?"
"No."
Ai Yueli turned back, lifting the strands of hair scattered by the wind. A beauty entirely different from Bai Yiyi's was laid bare before Ye Ling's eyes, unreserved and unmistakable.
"I heard from the Sect Master that your cultivation talent is exceptional. If you also show talent in the Talisman Dao, then I will take you as my disciple."
"If we become master and disciple, I do not wish for there to be any distance between us."
"That is why I chose to explain everything in advance, so that you will not develop resentment in the future when you come to understand these matters."
She spoke openly and without concealment. A dignified, upright aura rose from her, pulling Ye Ling out of his momentary infatuation.
"Fourth Martial Aunt, you're too kind…"
Ye Ling had indeed been briefly shaken by that moment, but he quickly composed himself.
In the span of a single thought, a plan formed in his mind.
"Fourth Martial Aunt, have you ever heard the story of the Seven Immortals of Nanjiang while you were down the mountain?"
"The Seven Immortals of Nanjiang?"
Ai Yueli seemed not to notice Ye Ling's brief lapse. She fell into thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No. I know that within the Vermilion Bird Imperial Dynasty of the Southern Frontier Great Marsh, there is a place called Nanjiang, but I've never been there and don't know of any unusual tales from that region."
The cultivation world was vast beyond measure. Not knowing certain stories was perfectly normal. Ai Yueli was only reasonably familiar with matters related to Ying Prefecture.
"This Martial Nephew also heard it from a storyteller who came from the Southern Frontier."
Ye Ling first distanced himself cleanly from the source before continuing, "In Nanjiang, there were seven immortals. After enduring countless hardships, they finally joined forces to raise a Guo Heavenly Venerable."
He trusted that with Ai Yueli's level of understanding, even without saying it outright, she would grasp his meaning.
However—
"And then?"
Ai Yueli blinked her beautiful golden eyes and looked at Ye Ling with clear interest.