Confession?

Morning.

The person beside her was already gone—but not far.

She sat by the table, fully dressed.

“If you’re awake, why aren’t you up?”

“I feel like I was dreaming of the past.

I was still a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy, and I didn’t want to leave the dream.

Lying here, indulging in a moment of laziness.”

“You’re being sentimental again.”

Fair enough.

Gong Ning rose from the bed and slowly got dressed.

She hadn’t felt this kind of fatigue in a long time.

Being truly tired was unpleasant—but the relief after rest was even greater.

Sitting before the mirror, she immediately noticed the mark on her neck.

“Did you do this?”

“The demoness did it. And you weren’t exactly gentle either.”

Gong Ning turned her head and saw that Jiang Yuyao had tied a white silk ribbon around her own neck.

After smoothing her hair, Gong Ning took out a ribbon and tied it loosely around her neck—but wasn’t satisfied with the result.

“Let me.”

Jiang Yuyao stepped behind her, gathered her hair gently, untied the ribbon, and carefully tied it into an elegant knot.

“Your hands are skilled.”

“Did you really think I only know cultivation?”

“I’ve always known you’re capable of many things—and that you’re thoughtful.”

“That’s more like it.”

“Like this Bitter Charm Tea. You never drink it, yet you still carry it with you.”

“Let’s not talk about that.

Want a new hairstyle? Though your face suits anything.”

“Go ahead. Whatever you like.”

When Tao Lingling knocked and opened the door, her Master stood before her.

Her soft, lustrous hair was tied into a neat bun at the nape, different from the loose ponytail she’d worn before.

A pity—the white silk ribbon covered her slender neck, hiding the smooth skin beneath.

“Master, good morning…”

Tao Lingling didn’t know what to say.

She hadn’t slept all night.

The thought of her Master being wronged filled her with rage.

And worse—imagining her Master entwined with someone else made her head throb.

Surely her Master must be suffering too…

“Good morning.”

Apparently not.

Tao Lingling felt a surge of anger.

It was as if she was the only one hurting.

Her Master looked like a cat that had just enjoyed a feast.

If it had been Lu Yunling, fine—she was the eldest, it made sense.

If it had been Tang Qiaohuan, fine too—she was the youngest, could be forgiven.

Even Jiang Yuyao—childhood friends, perhaps it was acceptable.

But why did some unknown nobody get to claim that prize?

That demoness—she would be killed.

Suddenly, Tao Lingling noticed Jiang Yuyao also wore a silk ribbon around her neck.

Her eyes widened.

She didn’t think too deeply, but instinctively recognized this as a matching set—something lovers or cultivation partners would wear.

“Master, what is that on your neck?”

“A magical artifact.”

Really?

“Never mind that. Though some things have happened, we can’t neglect our mission. Where are the other two? Call them here.”

“We’ve been ready this whole time.”

Tang Qiaohuan spoke up, whether by coincidence or because she’d been waiting.

“Last night, I made some inquiries and found a few leads.”

Oh? Actually reliable?

Gong Ning began to take interest.

It seemed she’d been found last night thanks to Tang Qiaohuan’s efforts.

Gong Ning could tell the girl had some strange ideas about her—she just didn’t know if they were as dangerous as Tao Lingling’s.

“Come in and speak.”

After summoning Lu Yunling, Tang Qiaohuan began, “I visited several places last night and gathered some information.

Over the past few months, many unaffiliated cultivators have been heading to Tianyuan City.”

The naming of Tianyuan City was clever.

The Central Land was the heart of Great Yan—simply called Zhongzhou.

And its central city? Named after Tianyuan, the central point on a Go board.

Lu Yunling knew where she was going with this and said calmly, “Tianyuan City is the wealthiest region. It’s not strange that many unaffiliated cultivators go there.”

“That part isn’t odd.

But a family in Tianyuan City suddenly vanished.

And now, unaffiliated cultivators are flocking there…”

Tao Lingling stiffened, alarm bells ringing.

She fixed Tang Qiaohuan with a sharp stare.

Ignoring the anger in her eyes, Tang Qiaohuan continued, “And I found a reliable source who told me something—the family had connections with demonic cultivators…”

Tao Lingling’s anger turned to pleading.

But what terrified her even more was what her Master said next.

“They were surnamed Tao, right?”

“Oh? You already know?”

Gong Ning looked at her disciple.

Tao Lingling had buried her head in her chest, refusing to meet her eyes.

Gong Ning had planned to investigate alone.

But if the Sect Master’s daughter already knew, hiding it would be complicity.

Now, it had to be addressed openly.

Gong Ning sighed and asked, “Lingling, tell me the truth. Are you related to the Tao family?”

“…Yes.”

“Then I ask you—have you had any contact with the demonic sect?”

“Absolutely not!”

Really?

Given her disciple’s temperament, cultivation level, and techniques, claiming no connection to demonic sects was something Gong Ning couldn’t even convince herself of.

But as a Master, her first duty was to protect her disciple from harm.

Only then could she consider whether she herself had been deceived.

“Then we’ll go to Tianyuan City to investigate.”

Jiang Yuyao said, “I have matters here I can’t leave.

The Xuan Yuan Sect is suspected of intercepting new disciples from Yuqing Sect.

Their Sect Master has asked for our help.”

The Yuqing Sect wasn’t just famous—it was legendary.

They specialized in healing arts, dedicated to saving lives.

Their disciples were all practitioners of benevolence.

“Half a month ago, Yuqing Sect sent their new disciples on a mortal-world trial.

On their way down the mountain, they were ambushed by the Xuan Yuan Sect.

They’re not skilled in combat, so they’ve had to seek help from other sects.”

No wonder both the Sect Master and Sword Immortal were involved.

Now, Yuqing Sect’s disciples were everywhere.

Even those not formally enrolled would study under them for a time.

If this crisis went unanswered, the hearts of the entire cultivation world would grow cold.

Tang Qiaohuan suddenly spoke again, “Yongdu. In Yongdu.”

“Hm?”

“The informant I found said unaffiliated cultivators are gathering in Yongdu.

But there’s no public event or organization.

I suspect it’s Xuan Yuan Sect’s coded language.”

This girl was a true clairvoyant.

Jiang Yuyao’s expression turned odd.

Was her informant really just a source—or a local Xuan Yuan member?

Only Tang Qiaohuan could say such things.

Tao Lingling already had a stain on her name.

If she spoke, it would only make her look guiltier.

Lu Yunling couldn’t speak either.

Though her background was clean, she didn’t want to be tied to her past.

Only Tang Qiaohuan could speak.

If she weren’t the daughter of the Xuantian Sword Sect, the Punishment Sword Division might be investigating her ancestors for eighteen generations.

“I can go investigate.

Gong Ning, be careful.”

“You too.”