Elder, You Don’t Want to…

Cultivation was Gong Ning’s top priority.

With a century of experience, possessing a perfect body, an unparalleled cultivation technique, and infinite room for trial and error—her progress should have been rapid.

Yet now, she was still one realm below her disciple.

At first, Gong Ning hadn’t cared.

But being reduced to a helpless victim—meat on the chopping block—had stirred her pride and awakened her fighting spirit.

Even if she couldn’t rise as fast as Jiang Yuyao or Desire, she should at least reach Golden Core within a hundred years.

Perhaps… she could even allow herself a small ambition.

Legend said Su’e had ascended before the age of forty.

If the Su’e Nine Luminaries True Scripture was truly this powerful, even a superficial understanding shouldn’t yield poor results.

The Xuan Yuan Sect was indeed active in Tianyuan City.

This intelligence alone was enough to complete the mission.

And Lingling’s lineage had been uncovered.

It was time to return, to settle down and cultivate in peace.

But the moment she stepped back into the inn, Gong Ning saw an envelope on the floor behind the door.

“Handwritten by Jiang Yuyao. Come to Yongdu immediately.”

What was going on?

They had only parted half a day ago.

Had something serious already occurred?

Why summon even a Qi Refining cultivator like her?

She immediately called the three juniors.

“I must go to Yongdu.

You may wander the Central Land, but I advise you to return directly.”

Tao Lingling said, “Master, I’m going too.”

“No. You’re not.”

She didn’t need to explain why.

The Xuan Yuan Sect knew her.

If her identity was exposed, the Governance Institute might trace it back.

Tao Lingling pouted.

Lu Yunling clasped her hands. “Elder, eliminating evil is our duty as cultivators.

But the Sword-Steering Hut only gave me one week.”

“This journey is dangerous.

We’ll handle the demonic sect.

You two can travel together.”

Finally, Tang Qiaohuan spoke.

“I’m going to find my father.

You can’t stop me.”

And indeed, she couldn’t.

But the girl’s tone was far too disrespectful.

So they parted briefly.

Tao Lingling and Lu Yunling would return to the sect.

Gong Ning didn’t want to bring Tang Qiaohuan.

But the girl stubbornly refused to leave.

With the Xuan Yuan Sect crisis, most young cultivators from sects who hadn’t yet reached major breakthroughs had already fled the Central Land.

Leaving her alone here—if something happened, Gong Ning wouldn’t be able to answer for it.

So she reluctantly brought the troublesome girl along.

“Elder Gong Ning,” Tang Qiaohuan asked, likely bored on the road, “why do both the Xuan Yuan Sect and Xuantian Sword Sect have ‘Xuan’ in their name?”

“The Xuantian Sword Sect was founded during the Great Yuan era.

Great Yuan revered the color black—xuan.

They took the character to reflect both cultivation and the spirit of the times.

Now, the Xuan Yuan Sect seeks to restore the old dynasty.

Taking ‘Xuan’ is only natural.”

“Boring answer.

What if… the Xuan Yuan Sect and Xuantian Sword Sect actually share the same origin?”

Gong Ning glanced at Tang Qiaohuan.

The girl was propped on the table, chin in hand, grinning.

“Stop inventing baseless conspiracy theories.

If that were true, the Great Yan government would have to purify the sect first—cleanse the Xuantian Sword Sect.”

“Ugh, such a boring idea.”

She seemed disappointed—then suddenly remembered something and leaned forward.

“Elder, what exactly did that demoness do to you that night?”

This struck right at Gong Ning’s sorest spot.

She closed her eyes, pretending to meditate, refusing to answer.

But Tang Qiaohuan loved this reaction—her Master’s flustered silence.

She leaned closer, nudging Gong Ning’s waist with her elbow.

“Come on, tell me!

Give this innocent girl some knowledge.

I’m so curious.”

“You should be cultivating, not dwelling on such indecent matters.”

“Ah, look at me now—just at the age of first love, heart fluttering with springtime feelings.

All these thoughts keep me restless.

Yet as the daughter of a sect leader, I’m tightly restrained.

No way to relieve it…

It’s driving me away from cultivation!”

If Tao Lingling said this, Gong Ning might believe it halfway.

But she knew Tang Qiaohuan’s nature.

She was clearly teasing her.

And if she ignored it, the harassment would only continue.

“For someone who’s lived a hundred years, most things don’t bring any special feeling.”

“Oh? Really?

Does that mean Elder once had experience?

Had a partner?

I thought you’d been single your whole life!”

The conversation had taken a sudden, unexpected turn.

Gong Ning had been single her entire life.

When she was still a man, the first girl she’d ever connected with was Jiang Yuyao.

As a youth, he’d had no interest in love—except for her, a faint affection.

But they’d drifted apart.

And he’d never been drawn to anyone else.

There were many reasons—objective ones.

But truthfully…

“Cultivators… focus solely on the Dao, on ascension.

How can you call that ‘being single’?”

“So… last night was your first time?

And with the Sword Immortal…?”

Gong Ning’s alarm bells rang.

“What are you talking about?”

“Ah, don’t panic.

There’s nothing shameful.

You and the Sword Immortal were both willing.

And nowadays, same-s*x relationships aren’t unheard of…”

Tang Qiaohuan had been waiting for this.

She was gambling.

She was betting that her Master wouldn’t want to make her relationship with Jiang Yuyao public.

Because Jiang Yuyao, though at Nascent Soul stage, still had a bright future.

If she had a partner, she’d have attachments.

And attachments—family, friends, lovers—while good in moderation, become burdens at higher realms.

The higher the cultivation, the more these bonds slow you down.

They turn into shackles.

It was an ugly, cold truth.

But it had always been this way.

Jiang Yuyao, as Hall Master of the Heart-Sword Hall, stayed detached for this reason.

The position was real authority—given to her because she was strong.

She could wield it freely.

But she didn’t dive deep—because she didn’t want her Dao tainted.

Tang Qiaohuan had guessed right.

Gong Ning didn’t want this to affect Jiang Yuyao’s Dao heart.

She knew her place.

If she went public, Jiang Yuyao wouldn’t object.

But how rare was it to possess such talent, opportunity, and courage to reach Nascent Soul?

A brief taste was enough when they needed each other.

Entering each other’s world? Not wise.

For cultivators, it wasn’t beneficial.

“What do you want?”

Where there was a threat, there was a demand.

She clearly wanted something.

“Ah, looks like Elder understands perfectly.”

The girl wrapped her arms around Gong Ning’s, then casually sat on her lap, resting her head against her chest.

“Don’t worry, Elder.

I probably won’t do anything you’d hate.

In fact, I like it when everyone’s happy.”

Gong Ning’s face instinctively warmed.

She didn’t know if the demoness had flipped some switch inside her—her perception of women had subtly changed.

Before, she’d lived too long.

She saw people—noses, eyes—without feeling.

But now, with this girl in her arms, her heart fluttered.

She noticed the girl’s scent.

She felt the subtle allure of her breath, her lips.

And for the first time… she didn’t pull away.