A Calculated Gambit

The inky night was torn apart by a sudden burst of fire!

The fire was so powerful that it seemed to set the entire sky ablaze. In an instant, it illuminated the window frame in front of Qiu Yue’s desk, even overpowering the candlelight at her hand.

Qiu Yue’s hand, poised with the brush, suddenly froze, causing the ink to bloom into a stark, unsightly blotch on the pristine white paper.

Although she had witnessed the brilliant pillar of light piercing straight through the clouds, and despite a flicker of alarm in her heart, she hadn’t paid it much heed. She simply assumed it was an elder of the Xuan Nv Sect undergoing a breakthrough, causing such a grand commotion.

It was nothing out of the ordinary, merely a sudden fright.

Feeling a wave of vexation, she crumpled the soiled paper on her desk into a ball and tossed it aside, then retrieved a fresh sheet from the drawer, smoothed it out, and once more raised her brush to write.

Yet, her brush tip hovered above the paper, burdened as if by a thousand tons.

She intended to pen a letter to the Qiu family, specifically to her formidable mother.

As the eldest daughter of the Qiu family, her life’s trajectory had long been meticulously planned by her kin. Yet, for a man of lowly status—Lin Mo—she had cast aside family interests, defied all arrangements made for her, and entered the increasingly declining Xuan Nv Sect.

Should their affair be exposed, Lin Mo would undoubtedly face death, and she herself would endure an unbearable fate, likely confined within the Qiu family’s strictures for centuries, stripped of all freedom.

This would be an unprecedented disgrace for the Qiu family.

To prevent such a catastrophe, she desperately needed a plausible excuse, one that could silence the wagging tongues and, at the very least, appear respectable on the surface.

‘To pursue studies?’

The thought swirled in her mind, and a self-deprecating curve touched Qiu Yue’s lips. The Xuan Nv Sect… once hailed as the “Foremost Sect Under Heaven,” its prestige derived from absolute power, now saw its halo long faded.

Ever since the demise of its last exceptionally brilliant Sect Master, the title of “Foremost” had gradually diminished to merely “Foremost Among Female Cultivators.” Despite its outward grandeur, the sect’s internal weariness was painfully apparent, making her, the eldest daughter of the Qiu family, appear utterly foolish in the eyes of outsiders.

While perhaps Bright Jade Profound Yin held a certain allure, this very cultivation method, which had once brought the Xuan Nv Sect widespread renown, was now known to possess fatal flaws. Aside from the previous Sect Master, no one could successfully cultivate it, and the current Sect Master herself suffered greatly from its backlash.

She opened the jade slip once more, setting it flat upon the tabletop.

It was the jade slip titled ‘Register of Newly Admitted and Handyman Disciples of the Xuan Nv Sect’.

The pristine white jade slip glowed faintly in her palm, as densely packed names and brief details flowed across its surface.

Her fingertips, imbued with a trace of icy spiritual energy, swiftly glided over each name, scrutinizing and eliminating with precise, efficient movements, much like a merciless arbiter.

Another name was ruthlessly struck from the list.

For the past month, she had meticulously reviewed the records of every new entrant to the sect, from official disciples to the lowest-ranking handymen.

Yet, ‘Lin Mo’ was nowhere to be found, nor any suspicious name or description that could possibly hint at his familiar presence.

Now, even the name ‘Liu Ruyan’ had been crossed out, signifying that the entire register had been thoroughly examined.

Her fingertips remained suspended above the jade slip, yet Qiu Yue’s gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s, devoid of the slightest hint of discouragement.

‘He must be here!’

This conviction stood firm in her heart, unyielding as bedrock.

The Xuan Nv Sect’s rules were notoriously stringent, particularly concerning any male audacious enough to trespass or infiltrate; their cruel punishments were infamous throughout the cultivation world.

Should one be discovered, the sect would unleash thunderous measures, executing them publicly as a stark warning, with no possibility of a quiet disappearance.

And yet, an entire month had passed!

She had meticulously combed through virtually every corner she could access. She discreetly conversed with disciples from various courts, subtly probing for information; she utilized mission opportunities to observe handymen at work; she even paid close attention to any whispers within the sect regarding “intruders” or “executions”…

The result was an unnerving silence.

No news whatsoever of a man being apprehended or executed had emerged. It was as if the entire sect had never experienced such an intrusion.

This unsettling “calm” was, in fact, irrefutable proof that Lin Mo was not only alive but had successfully concealed himself!

“Yang Po Po…” Qiu Yue murmured, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the pen’s shaft. Aside from that old servant who regarded Lin Mo as her own son, she could fathom no one else possessing the ability to produce such a rare and wondrous treasure, capable of evading the surveillance of the Xuan Nv Sect’s formidable protective array!

This gambit, perilous beyond measure, was nonetheless exquisitely brilliant!

Who could have conceived that a mere mortal man, utterly devoid of cultivation, would dare to defy convention and infiltrate this pure yin sect, a veritable den of dragons and tigers?

A complex expression flitted across Qiu Yue’s eyes, a mixture of unwillingness, irritation, and a sliver of—even she was loath to admit it—admiration. This tactic of “hiding in plain sight” was truly masterful!

Qiu Yue, with all her meticulous calculations, having mapped out the Qiu family’s sphere of influence and every conceivable escape route for Lin Mo, had failed to account for one crucial possibility: that he would dare to plunge headfirst into the Xuan Nv Sect, the most perilous yet utterly unexpected “sanctuary” imaginable!

“Hmph…” A light, enigmatic chuckle escaped Qiu Yue’s lips.

She closed the jade slip, her gaze sweeping towards the layered, cloud-wreathed halls and pavilions of the Xuan Nv Sect visible outside her window, her eyes now burning with an even fiercer resolve.

‘Lin Mo, no matter which corner you hide in, no matter what form you have taken…’

‘I, Qiu Yue, will dig three feet deep if I must, but I will find you!’

‘You will never escape the palm of my hand again!’

“Knock, knock, knock.”

Three soft, distinct knocks broke the profound silence of the late night and Qiu Yue’s deep contemplation.

From beyond the door came Qing You’s distinctive voice, imbued with a hint of coolness and an undeniable authority:

“Qiu Yue, if you have not yet retired for the night, your master has a matter to discuss with you.”

Inside the room, a sharp glint flashed in Qiu Yue’s eyes, and she instantly reined in all her emotions. She swiftly pressed down the open jade slip and her unfinished thoughts, then rose and replied:

“Master, your disciple is not yet asleep.”

As her words faded, she had already reached the door, raising her hand to open it.

Outside, beneath the cool moonlight, stood Qing You alone. Her purple Daoist robes seemed to shimmer with lunar essence in the night, her countenance serene, and her profound eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the darkness as she quietly observed Qiu Yue opening the door.

“Let us speak inside.”

Qing You stepped silently into the room, her wide, plain white sleeve seeming to wave casually.

Buzz— A faint blue, almost transparent spiritual energy barrier instantly unfurled, like an inverted glass bowl, completely sealing the room and isolating it from any sound beyond the door.

Simultaneously, the heavy wooden door seemed to be drawn by an unseen hand, closing silently and seamlessly behind her.

A strange, isolated stillness immediately enveloped the room, broken only by the occasional faint crackle of the candlelight.

Qing You turned, her profound eyes, seemingly capable of piercing through souls, settled calmly upon Qiu Yue. Without preamble or polite greetings, her words struck like thunder:

“Qiu Yue, your entry into my Xuan Nv Sect was not driven by a genuine pursuit of the Dao, was it?”

Qiu Yue’s heart instantly chilled, her back stiffening in an abrupt tension. She forcibly suppressed her churning emotions, maintaining a respectful facade, yet remained silent.

Qing You seemed to see through her guardedness, a faint, almost temperatureless curve gracing her lips. Her voice remained steady and unruffled: “There is no need for alarm, nor should you fear that your master has come to mete out punishment. The bond between master and disciple is predicated on fate. If such fate is absent, a benevolent connection can still be forged. My actions, Qing You’s actions, have never been constrained by rigid, antiquated rules.” She paused, her gaze, sharp as a blade, piercing straight to Qiu Yue’s core. “You willingly braved extreme peril, abandoned your family, and infiltrated this place… was it to search for someone?”

Upon these words, it became clear that Qing You had already conducted her investigation.

‘Or perhaps her family had already come knocking…?’

A myriad of conjectures surfaced in Qiu Yue’s mind.

The air seemed to solidify.

Qing You had laid her cards bare, rendering further pretense utterly meaningless.

Meeting Qing You’s unwavering gaze, Qiu Yue’s respectful facade receded like a tide, leaving behind only calm resolve. She offered a slight nod, uttering a single word, clear and firm: “Yes.”

“Good!” A knowing glint flashed in Qing You’s eyes, and her tone abruptly grew more imposing. “The Hall of Clarity training is imminent. If you are willing to assist me with a ‘small matter’ during it…” She deliberately emphasized the words “small matter.” “Once it is accomplished, your master will wield her authority to wholeheartedly help you find that person! And not only that—”

Qing You advanced a step, lowering her voice further, imbuing it with a seductive power: “Once you find that person, whoever they may be, whatever their status within the sect… I can guarantee both of you will depart unharmed, without any obstruction! I will personally open the gates of the Xuan Nv Sect for you both! How does that sound?”

Qiu Yue suppressed the myriad thoughts in her heart, allowing a perfectly measured, slightly flattered smile to grace her lips, and bowed slightly, saying: “Grand Elder Qing You has spoken so candidly; were Qiu Yue to refuse now, would she not appear ungrateful? I am merely curious, however… what precisely is this ‘small matter’ that Elder needs her disciple’s assistance with?” She deliberately paused on the words “small matter,” her gaze appearing respectful as it met Qing You’s, yet brimming with unspoken inquiry.

Qing You seemed quite pleased with her astuteness, and the faint, elusive curve of her lips deepened slightly.

She delicately raised her bare hand, and an antique-looking jade bracelet, entirely black and inscribed with dark, flowing runes, materialized in her palm.

The moment the jade bracelet appeared, the surrounding spiritual energy subtly stagnated, as if suppressed by an unseen force.

“It’s quite simple.” Qing You’s voice carried an air of effortless control. “During the Hall of Clarity Disciple Grand Competition, you must wear this bracelet. It will suppress your cultivation to the peak of the Qi Condensation stage, leaving no trace of deceit.”

She reached out and took the jade bracelet, which felt cold to the touch and emanated a peculiar, restrictive power, then asked: “Your disciple understands.”

Upon hearing this, Qing You revealed a relieved smile.

Qiu Yue, the eldest daughter of the Qiu family, had taught herself and achieved Foundation Establishment at an early age; such talent surely meant dealing with a Qi Condensation cultivator like Lin Wan’er, who hadn’t yet been tutored by Mu Qingli, would be no problem.

Hmph, Mu Qingli!

Lin Wan’er will be mine eventually!

I will absolutely not let her be ruined in your hands!