Chapter 212: Quite the Opposite

"Wang sister."

Zhong Ling stood before Wang Yuyan and called out timidly.

Since Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanjing had cultivated the Mingyu Art and, with Gu Qing's help, reached the eighth level, both had developed an icy aura; Zhong Ling was already familiar with Mu Wanjing's temperament and thus unafraid, but facing Wang Yuyan, she felt an innate trepidation.

Wang Yuyan's beautiful face bore a faint smile, dispelling the coldness of her cultivation, and she reached out to take Zhong Ling's hand, asking: "Why have you come here?"

During their time at Wuliang Mountain, Wang Yuyan had met Zhong Ling and heard she was a little sister, so she paid her extra attention.

"Dear sister."

As Wang Yuyan took her hand, Zhong Ling sensed her sincerity, and her fear melted away; she smiled sweetly: "I've also taken Master Gu as my teacher, hoping to learn some skills from him—please look after me, Wang sister."

Wang Yuyan looked at Zhong Ling, then lifted her gaze sharply, her eyes radiating a pure, resolute aversion to evil.

"Ling'er must train steadily and firmly."

Gu Qing said: "Yuyan, you understand martial arts well and are her elder sister—you must guide her often."

Hearing Gu Qing showed no ill intent toward Zhong Ling, Wang Yuyan's gaze softened; she looked at Zhong Ling and spoke gently, exchanging quiet words with her. Zhong Ling, unrestrained and innocent, and Wang Yuyan, on her first journey away from home during this trip to Dali, were naturally like sisters, and their conversation flowed easily.

Just then, Lady Wang arrived, saw Gan Baobao's daughter there, and sneered: "Is Gan Baobao trying to recognize me as her elder sister and leave her daughter in my care?"

Hearing the topic turn to Gan Baobao, Zhong Ling's face twisted in distress.

"Mother!"

Wang Yuyan immediately interrupted: "Ling'er is my sister."

Lady Wang opened her mouth to speak, but when her eyes met Wang Yuyan's, she saw the latter's firm, unyielding resolve—clearly prepared to argue—and let out a huff, turned away, and left with a trembling upper body.

"Don't be afraid."

Wang Yuyan soothed Zhong Ling, noticing her weary spirit, and arranged a room for her to rest.

Once Zhong Ling had fallen asleep in her room, Gu Qing wrapped his arm around Wang Yuyan and kissed her lips; their bodies turned, and before they realized it, they had slipped inside, closed the door, and tumbled onto Wang Yuyan's embroidered bed. As passion flared, Wang Yuyan suddenly reached out and pressed her hand over Gu Qing's.

"We must settle this properly."

Wang Yuyan breathed lightly, yet her voice remained calm.

Gu Qing slightly lifted his body, admiring her disheveled hairpin, half-unfastened silk robe, flushed cheeks, and soft breaths; he blew gently, causing the fabric at her shoulder to slip open, revealing a faint rosy hue on her fair skin.

"This ambiguity won't do."

Wang Yuyan, her face flushed crimson, spoke out.

Before coming to Dali, Wang Yuyan had admired her cousin, but along the journey to Dali, while Gu Qing taught her martial arts, he also spoke casually with her; gradually, her horizons broadened, and she saw many ways Gu Qing surpassed Murong Fu—yet her heart still clung to Murong Fu.

Until the Wuliang Jade Cave…

Wang Yuyan scarcely wished to recall it: inside the Wuliang Jade Cave, she learned of her father and saw her grandmother's secret manuals; what pained her most were the illustrations within—each one looked exactly like her.

Then came Gu Qing's help in guiding her into the Yin-Yang Harmony Realm.

Her clothes were torn off.

Gu Qing's hands were never clean when with her; they were entangled in this ambiguous state—neither master nor disciple.

And Gu Qing was equally ambiguous with Mu Wanjing.

Originally, Wang Yuyan had avoided this topic, but today, speaking with Zhong Ling and hearing her speak painfully of her parents, leaving her with no place to stand, Wang Yuyan was jolted awake—she must clarify this matter.

"What's there to say?" Gu Qing touched Wang Yuyan's nose and said: "Though we have the title of master and disciple, I will still marry you and Wanjing."

"Impossible!"

Wang Yuyan declared firmly: In the Wuliang Jade Cave, Gu Qing had told her, "I'm not like your father"—was he now trying to claim them all?

"Yuyan."

Gu Qing met her gaze and said: "Before, you were timid before Lady Wang, never daring to speak up—why now, over Zhong Ling, do you dare speak directly to her?"

Gu Qing's words left Wang Yuyan momentarily stunned; recalling recent changes, she realized that lately, when speaking with her mother, her confidence had grown, her words more composed.

"I was not strong—but now I am."

As he spoke, Gu Qing moved her hand aside: "If you have objections, voice them when your strength surpasses mine."

Her robes slipped away without notice.

Her body, cultivated by the Mingyu Art, was like cold spring water on jade—slender and perfectly proportioned; yet her demeanor, shaped by years of classical study, carried a quiet, graceful serenity.

"No."

Wang Yuyan suddenly snapped out of her daze, seized Gu Qing's hand, and said: "Dao Baifeng's martial skill is inferior to my father's, yet she forbade him from taking other women—my mother, Aunt Qin, Aunt Gan—they truly could not enter the door."

!

"You've never met a woman like Dao Baifeng!"

Wang Yuyan was not such a woman herself, but she could cite this example to argue.

"Quite the opposite!"

…

Tianlong Temple.

Duan Zhengming bowed to Gu Qing and invited him into Tianlong Temple; another monk stood there as well, and upon meeting, Gu Qing realized this was Xuanbei.

Xuanbei was a renowned monk in the Jianghu, once sent by Xuan Ci to investigate the Murong family; he found traces suggesting the Murongs might be plotting rebellion, but since Murong Bo had faked his death and Shaolin had been merciful, the matter was never exposed.

Later, Murong Bo secretly trained at Shaolin, believing himself accomplished, followed Xuanbei, and attempted to ambush him—only to be exposed by Xuanbei's true skill and killed by the "Turning Stars and Shifting Moons."

Now, Gu Qing had dug up Murong Bo's coffin, forcing him to emerge, suffered grave injuries himself, and thus spared Xuanbei from his fate.

Gu Qing felt Xuanbei should reward him with good karma.

A letter of challenge from the Great Wheel King, Kumārajīva.

After reading its contents, Xuanbei clasped his hands and said: "This old monk came to Dali at my elder brother's command, to serve at the sovereign's disposal. If His Majesty requires my aid, please do not hesitate to command."

"Master Xuanbei."

Duan Zhengming quickly returned the bow: "We invited you here solely as a witness—please do not misunderstand."

The Tibetan National Dharma King, Kumārajīva, is deeply versed in Buddhist doctrine; every five years, he holds scriptural debates at the Great Wheel Temple on the Great Snow Mountain, and all who hear his teachings rejoice and praise him. Such a man of great wisdom and insight—if he were to cultivate martial arts—would indeed be formidable.

Master Xuanbei sighed: "But the Kuru Chan Master will intervene."

Duan Zhengming shook his head.

"Who is that?"

Xuanbei was deeply puzzled.

Gu Qing smiled slightly—it was, of course, Duan Yu!

(End of Chapter)