"What are you laughing at, Su Yu'er?"
Guan Ling's face was ashen.
He was at a complete loss about what to do next.
With such a formidable figure at their doorstep, letting them in wasnât an option, and pretending to be dead wasnât feasible either. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, this girl had the audacity to laugh.
"Iâm laughing at how nervous you all look," Su Yu'er replied.
"Youâdo you even realize what kind of power they possess? How could we not be nervous?" Guan Ling scolded. "These people, their origins unknownâif we handle this even slightly wrong, it could spell disaster, even the annihilation of our sect! And here you are, without a shred of fear or urgency. I must have spoiled you too much in the past."
Guan Ling was utterly exasperated.
"Giggle."
Su Yu'er covered her mouth, laughing even more boldly. "I really donât get why youâre all so worked up. Theyâre just the guests I invitedâmy dear older brothers, who dote on me."
Guan Ling was about to reprimand her again when her words suddenly registered. He grabbed Su Yu'erâs arm and demanded, "W-what did you just say?"
"I said theyâre my guests. Why would they ever destroy the Yunjie Sect?" Su Yu'er blinked innocently.
Her words made Guan Lingâs eyes bulge, his lips trembling uncontrollably.
"Yu'er, little Yu'er, are you saying, are you sayingâ"
Before he could finish, Su Yu'er nodded earnestly.
"Then, then what about the hundred buckets you mentioned�"
Guan Ling muttered to himself, recalling the centipedeâs hundred legs. Instantly, everything clicked.
After all, who in their right mind would need a hundred buckets just to wash their feet?
"Ahahaha!"
"Little Yu'er, all these years of my careful guidance havenât gone to waste!" Guan Lingâs face scrunched up with glee. Overcome with excitement, he hugged Su Yu'er and planted a loud kiss on her tender cheek.
"Master, your breath stinks! And youâre being so improper for an elder!" Su Yu'er wiped her cheek in disgust, complaining loudly.
"Hehe, Iâm just overjoyed! Out of everything Iâve done in my life, raising you is my proudest achievement!" Guan Ling rubbed his hands together, grinning from ear to ear.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined Su Yu'er would befriend such a powerhouse. This was truly a moment to hold his head high!
"Hmph, thatâs not what you said earlier," Su Yu'er grumbled.
"Earlier? That was just a joke!" Guan Ling quickly defended himself, still beaming. "If you donât believe me, ask your uncles and elders hereâhavenât I always praised you for your potential?"
Su Yu'er tilted her head skeptically, glancing at the assembled elders.
Seeing her look, the elders immediately plastered on smiles and chorused, "Ah, yes, yes, yes!"
"Go on, ask themâhavenât I always said youâre a good girl?" Guan Ling pressed.
Su Yu'er tilted her head again.
The elders nodded in unison. "Ah, yes, yes, yes!"
"One last thingâask them if weâre all proud of you," Guan Ling added.
Su Yu'er tilted her head once more.
The elders bobbed their heads like synchronized puppets. "Ah, yes, yes, yes!"
"Thatâs more like it."
Su Yu'er nodded in satisfaction, then pointed a finger. "Then why havenât you invited my two brothers in yet?"
"Right away, right away!"
Guan Ling fawned eagerly.
This was no laughing matterâforming ties with such mighty figures was like a lifelong bachelor discovering every other man on earth had vanished, leaving him the last one standing!
Immediately, the Yunjie Sect flung open its gates. Led by Guan Ling, tens of thousands of disciples poured out in a grand procession to welcome Night Wind Centipede and the Spirit King into their halls.
"Little Yu'er, big brother said you sent a message saying you were being bullied. Thatâs why we rushed here. So, where are these bullies? Point them out, and weâll take care of them," Night Wind Centipede said.
"Night Wind Brother, the ones who bullied me were the people you just chased away," Su Yu'er replied.
"Oh, that group just now?"
Night Wind Centipedeâs eyes narrowed.
"Yep, them," Su Yu'er confirmed.
"Damn it, I let them go too easily. That wonât do," Night Wind Centipede muttered, visibly annoyed.
"Ah, Night Wind Brother, donât blame yourself. Driving them off is enough," Su Yu'er reassured him.
"Not acceptable," Night Wind Centipede said sternly. "Before we left, big brother specifically told me to teach your bullies a proper lesson."
"But⊠but theyâve already run off," Su Yu'er pointed out.
"Then weâll drag them back."
Night Wind Centipedeâs expression hardened. One of his hundred legs suddenly pierced through the void.
Far away in the distance, Zhou Song was panting and sweating, his feet kicking up sparks as he fled through the air.
"Hmph, the Dao Realm, huh? Just you wait!"
"Our faction has Daoist backing too! Iâll remember this grudge today and repay it tenfoldâno, a hundredfold!"
Zhou Song was mid-rant when the space before him tore open. A centipede leg shot out, yanking him straight into the void.
Thud.
In the blink of an eye, Zhou Song was dumped at the feet of Su Yu'er, Guan Ling, and the others.
At that moment, everyone except the blissfully oblivious Su Yu'erâGuan Ling includedâstood frozen in shock.
Even Zhou Song, sprawled on the ground, took a second to process what had just happened.
What⊠what kind of power was this?
Zhou Song had been fleeing for ages!
And yet, heâd been retrieved in an instant?