... The Myriad Ghosts Grotto, one of the thirteen main branches under the Yin Fiend Sect, governed territory spanning thousands of li, encompassing mountains, valleys, rivers, and streams. Although the prevailing environmental factors meant a preponderance of desolate, malevolent grounds and perilous ravines, there were certainly places of pristine beauty and agreeable scenery as well.

Under the moonlit, starry sky, tendrils of black mist often drifted past, causing the silver moon to flicker in and out of view, veiled and hazy.

Following her advancement to the Foundation Establishment stage, Ding Wanyan’s mastery of the Yin Fiend Evasion technique had reached an entirely new level. Her delicate form, enveloped by swirling Yin Sha energy, resembled a wisp of light smoke or faint vapor, drifting and swirling with the slightest breeze. Yet, paradoxically, she moved with astonishing swiftness; in the blink of an eye, she could cover tens of zhang.

Within the Yin Fiend Sect, Ding Wanyan was not the sole practitioner of the Yin Fiend Evasion. But when others employed it, it manifested as billowing black miasma, fierce and imposing—giving the illusion that a sudden surge of black wind was sweeping across the land, causing someone’s young wife to vanish without a trace. However, when Ding Wanyan executed the technique, it possessed a distinct flavor of ethereal grace and softness, utterly elusive and intangible.

Over four years had passed, and Lei Dong had finally broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage. But Ding Wanyan had not rested on her laurels; she had advanced from the first layer of Foundation Establishment to the second, and now stood at the peak of the second layer. Given her aptitude, she might reach the third layer before long.

Thus, a significant gap persisted between them. Although Lei Dong had become quite proficient with the Ghost Shadow Evasion, flickering and darting about as faint spectral silhouettes, he could only manage a distance of about ten zhang per move. He lacked Ding Wanyan’s ease and nonchalance; she seemed not to be rushing but rather reveling in soaring through the night sky like a fish in water. Occasionally, she would deliberately disappear into a bank of light mist, leaving Lei Dong scrambling to find her.

After barely half an hour, Lei Dong could no longer endure the strain. Sweating profusely, he could not maintain the charade and quickly sent a mental message begging for clemency. Traveling using movement techniques felt like pure torture. While these techniques could certainly unleash impressive bursts of speed over short distances, the problem was the enormous strain on true qi required to sustain full output. The purpose of evasion arts was not long-distance travel, but combat—emphasizing agility, elusiveness, unpredictability, and sudden bursts of power, rather than sustained aerial movement. Nearly all cultivators relied on activating flying artifacts for longer journeys.

“Idiot, we’ve arrived,” Ding Wanyan sent back telepathically. Her form coalesced from mist into her slender, beautiful figure, and she began descending first from the high altitude.

Lei Dong let out a huge sigh of relief. That brief half hour, traveling with the Ghost Shadow Evasion, must have covered several hundred li. This was unprecedented for him. Without pausing to consider their surroundings, he followed Ding Wanyan quickly downward.

Moments later, the two landed softly atop the peak of a solitary cliff, sheer and straight like a celestial pillar, hundreds of zhang high, though the summit itself spanned only a few dozen zhang in circumference. A few gnarled, ancient pine trees grew sparsely near the edge, stunted and strangely contorted. Due to their immense age, most of their roots were exposed, looking as if they might topple in the wind. Yet, these roots intertwined, burrowing deep into the rock, gripping tightly within the stone crevices, having stood there slanted for countless years, one could only guess how many.

Beside the ancient pines sat a slab of dark stone. Ding Wanyan flicked her sleeve in a distant gesture, and as the soft, feminine Yin Sha energy swept over it, the surface revealed itself, smooth as polished mirror. Adjacent to the stone rested a small wooden hut. Though modest in size, it was ancient yet exquisite. Judging by its exterior, it was quite old, but the timber showed no signs of insect damage or rodent gnawing, clearly indicating the materials were far from ordinary. Taking a deep, focused breath, one could still detect the faint scent of wood—calm and spiritually centering.

Arriving here, Ding Wanyan seemed to shed some of the pretense she maintained in public, becoming utterly relaxed and natural. Barefoot, she drifted down to sit on the dark stone, her posture relaxed and casual. Her eyes gazed into the distance, as if savoring the quiet grandeur of the natural nightscape. Her graceful body seemed to merge with the hazy, natural darkness.

Lei Dong, however, was still very much a mortal man. Wiping sweat from his brow, he plopped down onto one edge of the stone slab, smiling wryly as he complained, “Senior Sister, did you drag me flying for half the night just so we could sit here and look at the view?”

Ding Wanyan seemed to have consumed a considerable amount of wine tonight. But unlike Lei Dong, who had forced the alcohol out of his system, she allowed the mild intoxication to settle upon her. In the soft, silver moonlight, her cheeks retained a slight flush, and her beautiful eyes flickered with life. Her voice held a gentle, teasing softness: “And what else did you expect?”

The look in her eyes sent a tremor through Lei Dong’s heart, and he forced a wry smile to his lips. Though his Senior Sister maintained a proper, almost aloof demeanor in front of others, she harbored an indescribable, inherent allure deep within. Looking at her now, however, Lei Dong unconsciously began comparing her to that mysterious woman in black robes.

Compared to the other woman, his Senior Sister was like a clear, meandering stream—tender and comforting, yet constantly shifting as it flowed softly across his soul, bringing a cooling tranquility to his agitated heart, as if washing away every worry and unease.

The woman in black, conversely, was mysterious, sensual, and exuded an oppressive aura. She was like the waterfall thundering down from the mountaintop—fiercely imposing and aggressive, capable of smashing a man’s head until it bled. Or perhaps like a colossal iceberg, chilling him to the bone, leaving him utterly helpless before her might.

Yet, both women shared a common thread of deceit and unpredictability, as if another hidden aspect lay beneath the surface of their presentation. Just like his Senior Sister—beyond her usual coldness and propriety—she could, unexpectedly, reveal a seductive, soul-capturing side.

And that woman in black, especially during that singular moment, transformed completely from an ancient glacier into a fiercely erupting volcano. Her sensuality, her wildness, a fiery passion so intense it threatened to consume him whole. The mere thought of her long, snow-white figure, her cries that sounded like weeping sorrow, and her almost manic, insatiable demands made Lei Dong’s heart suddenly burn hot, his breath growing heavy and rapid.

“Idiot, no frivolous thoughts allowed,” seeing Lei Dong’s eyes glazed over yet edged with sudden heat and haste, Ding Wanyan was no fool. She certainly realized he was dwelling on indecent notions. She raised a slender, pale finger and gently tapped his forehead, chiding softly, “Settle your mind and look at the night view properly.”

The tap snapped Lei Dong back to reality, leaving him feeling awkward. He hadn't expected to be thinking about the woman in black so intently right in front of his Senior Sister. He let out two embarrassed, dry laughs, annoyed at how deeply the black-robed woman was imprinted on his mind.

Seeing his distress, Ding Wanyan’s expression dimmed slightly, as if she had steeled herself to make a decision. She murmured softly, “Junior Brother, if you truly wish it, tonight I could…”

A spark ignited in Lei Dong’s chest, and the heat that had just subsided surged back up fiercely. He knew that the atmosphere in the Myriad Ghosts Grotto was somewhat more lenient; some other sub-factions openly indulged in licentious behavior. Seeing the slight tremor on Ding Wanyan’s face, Lei Dong’s mouth went dry. Suddenly, however, he noticed a trace of bitterness and sorrow clouding her features.

He quickly bit the inside of his tongue to snap himself back to sobriety, asking in a low voice, “Senior Sister, has someone been bullying you?”

“You blockhead, who would dare bully me?” Ding Wanyan ultimately struggled to lie; she tried to smile, but it looked strained, and her eyes darted away evasively.

Lei Dong grew instantly anxious, abandoning all reserve, and grasped her wrist: “Senior Sister, could it be that you… have someone you like?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Ding Wanyan was genuinely angered by his assumption, her face turning pale with shame and indignation: “Do you take me for a fickle woman like that?”

Lei Dong felt a pang of guilt upon being scolded, knowing he had wronged her, and immediately began offering soothing reassurances. Only then did Ding Wanyan’s cold expression begin to fade. Lei Dong seized the moment, pressing his advantage with persistent nagging until Ding Wanyan, unable to bear his relentless badgering, reluctantly disclosed the issue with a tone tinged with embarrassment: “A while ago, while you were in seclusion, someone came to Master to propose marriage.”

Lei Dong relaxed slightly, letting out a breath: “I thought it was some catastrophe. A marriage proposal is just a proposal. With your status in the sect, Senior Sister, and a Nascent Soul Ancestor backing you, surely no one would dare force you into a marriage you don't want?”

“It’s Huangfu Ce,” Ding Wanyan sighed mournfully, a shade of worry coloring her voice.

“What? Huangfu Ce from the Heavenly Demon Palace, the previous Grand Competition champion?” Lei Dong’s face changed drastically.

... (The monthly ticket war between two books has gone berserk and has almost dragged this humble channel into the fray. Heh. A few more recommendation tickets would be helpful; even an extra hour on the rankings would be nice.)

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