Chapter 241: Sword‑Manic Feng Yi

"Miss, I just received word that that brat Feng Yi is coming to Xiliang City!"

Leng Yue's face broke into a long‑unseen smile.

Ye Qingran raised an eyebrow, "He doesn't stay with that old Sword Demon to practice swordsmanship properly, so why run to Xiliang City?"

Leng Yue grinned, "It seems he finished his trial and, on his way back to Sword Mountain, passed through Xiliang City and thought he'd drop by to see you. You know as well as I do that Feng Yi only has eyes for you."

"Just a passing visit, no sincerity at all. If he doesn't show up, fine."

Han Xing Leng Yue's mouth twitched.

"Miss, you aren't unaware of Feng Yi; the passing visit is just an excuse!"

Ye Qingran smiled, thinking of that simple‑minded youth.

It seemed they hadn't met for three years.

……

The Xuan Yuan Sword Sect has a custom: whenever its disciples go to a place, they must provide a day's free instruction to the local cultivators. Rather than charity, it's more about boosting the sect's reputation and goodwill among the world.

After all, competition among the seven major sects is fierce, and the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect does not hold an overall advantage, so it resorts to this tactic.

On the Xuanwu Platform, Ling Qingwu led a few Xuan Yuan Sword Sect disciples, offering free cultivation guidance to everyone. Ye Huanhuan was also present. Now she no longer has the Crown Princess aura and must work hard to uphold her status as a Xuan Yuan disciple.

She wore a cloak and veil, concealing her features.

"I heard Ye Huanhuan shaved her head and had a pig painted on her face—so hideously ugly. I wonder if it's true?"

"Need I say more? Look at how tightly she wraps herself, looking like she doesn't want to be seen. It's definitely true!"

"Tsk tsk, no hair and a pig painted on the face—how ugly could that be?"

……

Hearing the whispered gossip from the crowd, Ye Huanhuan clenched her teeth, her eyes reddening with anger.

It's all that wretched Ye Qingran's fault; if it weren't for her, would she really be unable to face anyone?

"Huanhuan, what are you thinking? Hurry and give this friend some instruction!" Ling Qingwu's cool voice snapped Ye Huanhuan back.

In front of the crowd, Ling Qingwu adopted a lofty yet friendly demeanor, causing everyone to feel goodwill toward this Xuan Yuan Sword Sect prodigy—noble in status and stunningly beautiful.

Ye Huanhuan nodded, patiently giving a lecherous‑looking man step‑by‑step instruction. Though he touched her hand and took advantage, she could only endure, because a poor performance would tarnish the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect's reputation and implicate her.

"Next!"

After finally finishing with that lecherous man, Ye Huanhuan exhaled, forcing herself to endure the revulsion as she welcomed the next. When she looked up, she was instantly stunned.

"Ye Huanhuan, we meet again!"

Ye Huanhuan's complexion shifted, "Ye Qingran, you scoundrel, what are you doing here?"

"Xuan Yuan Sword Sect disciples speak profanity all the time; are they really that uncouth?"

The moment she said that, everyone stared at Ye Huanhuan; they had just heard her swearing and began to condemn her.

Even other Xuan Yuan disciples were dragged into it. Ling Qingwu frowned, glared at her in displeasure, making Ye Huanhuan's face turn sour.

Ye Qingran—must be on purpose!

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Of course I'm here for instruction! Didn't the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect say they'd be giving free guidance today? Could it be different for each person?"

Ye Huanhuan gritted her teeth, "No!"

"So that settles it," Ye Qingran smiled, then asked a series of questions, none of which Ye Huanhuan could answer.

The surrounding crowd was packed, everyone watching her expectantly; seeing her stammer and answer off‑topic, they all shook their heads in disappointment.

"Wasn't Ye Huanhuan chosen by the Qingyun Sword Immortal as a direct disciple? How can she be so incompetent?"

"Who knows! The questions Ye Qingran asked shouldn't be that profound, right? How come she can't answer any?"

"Yeah, is Ye Huanhuan even capable?"

……

Everyone began to doubt Ye Huanhuan's abilities.

In their eyes, since Ye Qingran lacks a Spiritual Root and cannot cultivate, she couldn't possibly pose a deep question; Ye Huanhuan's failure to answer must be due to her own lack of skill.

Ye Huanhuan's lungs were about to explode with anger.

Ye Qingran is indeed a good‑for‑nothing, but she must have come prepared; the questions she asked were especially hard, and she even doubted Ling Qingwu could answer them.

Ye Qingran shook her head in disappointment, "I thought Xuan Yuan Sword Sect disciples were formidable, but it turns out they know nothing when asked. After struggling to answer one, it was still off‑topic. I even begin to suspect the sect's original intention—could it be to mislead disciples?!"

Ye Qingran's voice rang clear and strong on the Xuanwu Platform, reaching everyone's ears.

The crowd all voiced their agreement.

Ye Huanhuan's face flushed green then white, anger flaring in her eyes. If she weren't representing the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect right now, she'd be dying to kill Ye Qingran.

Ling Qingwu and several Xuan Yuan disciples, though displeased with Ye Qingran's provocation, also expressed serious doubts about Ye Huanhuan's abilities.

Although Ye Qingran's questions were deliberately challenging, they shouldn't have been all unanswered, right? In the end, Ye Huanhuan's talent is simply lacking; it's puzzling how the master saw potential in her.

"Ye Qingran, if there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me. Though Huanhuan has entered my father's sect, she hasn't formally enrolled yet, so it's understandable if she can't answer your questions."

Ling Qingwu stepped forward, maintaining the senior sister's dignified bearing, and smoothed over the awkwardness in a few words.

Ye Qingran looked at Ling Qingwu, nodded, and said, "Then I owe you, Miss Ling!"

Ye Huanhuan exhaled. Yesterday's memory of Ye Qingran clutching her throat resurfaced, and today she was humiliated publicly again; endless murderous intent flickered in her eyes.

Her eyes darkened sharply as she muttered to herself, "Ye Qingran, I won't let you get away!"

……

"Miss Ling, look, how should I swing this sword to unleash its greatest power?" Ye Qingran, as if casually, produced a sword from thin air.

Sword Qi surged, humming loudly!

Ling Qingwu stared, first startled, then a flash of jealousy crossed her eyes.

That sword was none other than the Imperial-level Sword that the National Master wielded at the palace banquet!

At that time, she tried to pull it out, but unfortunately she failed, and in the end Ye Qingran got the advantage!

At this moment, she drew this sword, absolutely showing off, and even more, it was a kind of mockery!

Ye Huanhuan also saw this sword, her heart filled with jealousy. If she had pulled this sword out at that time, she definitely would not have suffered so much ridicule, nor would she have lost the Crown Princess's status!

Everything, all because of Ye Qingran!

Ling Qingwu endured her inner jealousy and unwillingly taught Ye Qingran how to sword dance.

Ye Qingran let out an "Oh", then a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes, asking: "Is that so?" Before her words even faded, a Sword Qi shot forth from her hand, aiming directly at…

Ye Huanhuan!

Ye Huanhuan was caught off guard; moreover, the Sword Qi that Ye Qingran unleashed was truly powerful, she expended tremendous effort, barely managed to dodge, but…