She’s Jealous…

“Elder… Elder Su?”

As the highest-ranking cultivator present, Sect Leader Jiang Yi was the first to notice the flush on Su Wanqing’s face.

But the commotion Su Wanqing caused, coupled with Chen Xueli’s deliberate concealment, drew all eyes to her.

Their seats were at the edge.

In the instant it happened, she quickly used her sleeve to cover the only spot where her disciple’s arm might be noticed.

Thus, even though her flushed face drew attention, no one spotted Chen Xueli’s subtle actions.

As a master, Su Wanqing felt utterly humiliated.

To be defied by her disciple and still have to cover for her?

Truly an inversion of the natural order…

“It’s nothing… I’ve had a mishap in my cultivation recently, so I’m feeling a bit unwell…”

Su Wanqing feigned discomfort, her acting surpassing even Chen Xueli’s.

Hearing her explanation, Jiang Yi didn’t suspect anything but offered a word of caution.

In her eyes, Su Wanqing was always holed up, rarely leaving her quarters.

This must have caused mental strain, leading to her cultivation mishap.

“Elder Su, you must be careful. Cultivation is no trifling matter.”
“I’ve said before—don’t chase quick gains. You’re always cooped up in your residence; you should get out and move around.”
“Who knows? A journey might bring new insights.”
“Besides, if you fall to deviation, neither you nor I could bear it.”

“Mm, thank you for your concern, Sect Leader. Please continue—I’m fine.”

Facing the sect leader’s earnest advice, Su Wanqing smiled and brushed it off.

Though her complexion still looked odd, she’d managed to deflect suspicion.

Inwardly, she wanted to retort: with her current strength, had the sect leader considered the risks of her traveling?

If she encountered some unreasonable, powerful figure obsessed with her, it’d be disastrous.

Su Wanqing never doubted her charm—she was supremely confident in it.

After all, out in the world, who knew what might happen?

Sometimes, mismatched “charm” and “strength” was a tragic flaw.

But what she really wanted to complain about was the nonchalant culprit beside her!

Once the crowd’s attention returned to Jiang Yi, Su Wanqing glared at Chen Xueli with fury.

She yanked her disciple’s offending hand away, adjusting her clothes to prevent further ambushes.

Just a bit more, and her reputation—and purity—would’ve been ruined!

Thankfully, her long skirt’s tight waistband held firm, thwarting Chen Xueli.

Otherwise, who knew how bad things could’ve gotten?

To prevent a repeat, Su Wanqing shot her a warning look.

If Chen Xueli dared touch her again, she’d leave, consequences be damned.

Seeing this, Chen Xueli, no fool, shrugged to show she understood.

Of course, she knew she’d face accountability once they were alone.

But this wasn’t recklessness or unchecked desire to “rush her master.”

It was intentional—Chen Xueli meant to provoke her.

The reason? Only she knew.

Her goal achieved, her smile grew, shedding a hint of her icy facade.

Without her disciple’s harassment, Su Wanqing enjoyed half an hour of peace.

The tranquility made the meeting almost pleasant.

As the meeting reached its final stage—deciding the team—Su Wanqing, despite knowing the plot, grew attentive.

Without her volunteering for the task, how would Jiang Yi assign it?

“This time, I’ve decided it’s time for the younger generation to gain experience.”

Hearing this, Su Wanqing, initially tense, relaxed.

She could hardly be considered “younger generation.”

Though her seniority paled compared to some elders, she was among the highest-ranking of her peers.

If she counted as a junior, Heavenly Sword Pavilion wouldn’t be a minor sect.

“The demon-slaying task isn’t difficult—just minor demons feeding on human essence.”
“I ask each elder to select a favored disciple to go and vanquish them.”

“Whew—”

At this, Su Wanqing’s heart settled completely. With only Chen Xueli as her disciple, she’d definitely be on the list.

This perfectly suited her need to distance herself from the rebel for a while and recover.

Still, she worried—sometimes, a single butterfly could spark a world-ending storm in this world.

“And the accompanying elder…”

Thud—

Her heart jolted—she’d already guessed the choice.

“Elder Yang, you’ll go.”

“Hm?”

Su Wanqing let out a puzzled sound, glancing at a middle-aged female cultivator—Elder Yang, as Jiang Yi named.

Why wasn’t it her?

Had the Heavenly Dao changed its tune?

Was “It” so overwhelmed by Chen Xueli’s chaos that it neglected these details?

After all, this mission held no danger, and she’d have little chance to stand out.

It made sense, in a way.

“Does Elder Su have an opinion?”
“Or do you wish to lead this mission?”

“I’ve no objections.”

What objections could she have? She was inwardly thrilled!

This meant a few days of peace!

Moreover, this change suggested the Heavenly Dao was too preoccupied with Chen Xueli to bother with a minor character like her.

This gave her time to plan her next steps—maybe even slip away unnoticed.

“Then it’s settled. This incident is grave, so I trust you’ll handle it cleanly.”
“Lest it escalates and draws the Dao Alliance’s meddling.”

“We won’t fail you, Sect Leader!”

Su Wanqing stood first, assuring Jiang Yi.

With someone taking the lead, even if trouble arose, it wouldn’t outmatch that elder.

“Good, I admire your decisiveness, Elder Su.”

Jiang Yi was pleased with Qiongxiao Peak’s elder. Without her, Heavenly Sword Pavilion would be even less known.

Who could ignore the fame of Linmeng Cloud Continent’s “foremost beauty”?

She even believed that, if Su Wanqing weren’t so aloof, the long-vacant title of the world’s most beautiful would have an owner.

“Rest well and take care of yourself.”

Jiang Yi approached the bowing Su Wanqing, intending to pat her shoulder in approval, but Su Wanqing dodged.

“…”

The moment was awkward, but neither the elders nor the sect leader reprimanded her—they knew her temperament.

Su Wanqing’s aloofness was her only way to curb her charm.

With one Chen Xueli already, she feared—and dreaded—another.

“Ahem!”

Jiang Yi coughed twice to ease the tension, then ended the meeting in a mature tone mismatched with her youthful appearance.

The crowd stood, saluted the pavilion’s leader, and dispersed.

“Meeting adjourned.”

Unnoticed by all, Chen Xueli, trailing Su Wanqing, cast glances at Qiao Jinxuan and Jiang Yi.

Her gaze lingered on Jiang Yi for a mere moment, but on Qiao Jinxuan, it was peculiar.

Throughout the meeting, though Qiao Jinxuan listened attentively, her eyes weren’t entirely honest.

They kept drifting, intentionally or not, toward their direction.

One bold enough to defy, another meddling in her affairs—truly…

“Tch…”

Chen Xueli clicked her tongue, her gaze icy—not emotionless, but seething with the resentment of someone whose treasure was coveted.

She—was jealous…