"Young Master Yang, what is your impression of our Xin'Er? Would you be interested in becoming Dao companions with her?"
'This woman⊠right off the bat, she's talking about becoming Dao companions.' Yang Xiao was really getting fed up.
He and Bing Xin had only met once, and they'd started off as enemies.
'Selling your daughterâno, your discipleâyou don't have to be in such a rush, do you?'
"Have you asked Bing Xin about this?"
Yang Xiao's tone was icy.
He voiced the question directly.
What he hated most were people who were so self-righteous, making decisions and planning out others' lives without even asking what they wanted.
Bing Wuying, however, seemed oblivious. She smiled faintly. "Xin'Er holds Young Master Yang in high admiration. Ever since she got back last time, she's had nothing but good things to say about you. I'm sure she would be willing..."
Her words trailed off.
She stopped abruptly.
Bing Wuying saw the shocked faces of her junior sisters and disciples staring at her, and it was then she realized she hadn't been using a mental transmission.
She had spoken out loud.
Everyone had heard her.
Then she recalled that Yang Xiao's voice hadn't seemed to be a mental transmission either.
She understood.
She had fallen for his trick.
But Bing Wuying was Bing Wuying, after all. As the Sect Leader of the Ice Profound Sect, a woman who could manage so many others of her gender, she was certainly capable.
Her expression quickly returned to normal. With a smile, she said, "For a young prodigy like Young Master Yang, which disciple of our Ice Profound Sect wouldn't be smitten? Never mind these young girlsâeven I would be willing, if Young Master Yang were to take a fancy to me."
As she finished, she even gave Yang Xiao a coy wink.
Fortunately for her, though the woman was no longer in her youth, she was still exceptionally beautifulânot much less so than Bing Xinâand exuded an air of mature allure.
If Yang Xiao were truly a lecher, he might have actually been tempted.
Too bad.
He wasn't that kind of man.
Otherwise,
Yun'Er would have likely fallen prey to him long ago.
And Yue Lingxi.
And, just a little while ago, the defenseless Yang Ziling.
So, Yang Xiao was firm in his rejection of Bing Wuying's proposition.
But he had to admit, Bing Wuying's words were very effective.
Even Bing Xin, who just a moment ago felt like she was being sold off, was now looking at Yang Xiao with a bashful expression.
It was as if,
with a single nod from Yang Xiao, she would actually agree.
It startled Yang Xiao so much he didn't dare meet her eyes.
'They've only met twice!'
'These women⊠truly incomprehensible creaturesâŠ'
He composed himself.
Yang Xiao cleared his throat.
Putting on a stern face, he said, "You're really pulling out all the stops to survive. However, you were the ones who showed me killing intent first. If I were to let you go now, wouldn't that be like letting a tiger back into the mountains?"
"Master, Senior Sister Bing Xin is the number one genius of our Ice Profound Sect! How can she become Dao companions with this butcher? And besides, look at him! He's not the least bit grateful!"
Bing Wuying hadn't even spoken yet
when Bing Ling, by her side, cut in.
As for Yang Xiao,
her resentment ran deep.
Ignorant and fearless, she showed not a hint of fear even after witnessing Yang Xiao's strength.
She still dared to say such things.
Honestly, she was an even bigger liability than that old fool Huaa Tianlong.
A walking catastrophe.
Sure enough, the moment she spoke, Bing Wuying's face fell.
Her hand shot up.
With a loud SLAP,
the arrogant young woman was dealt a resounding slap by the very master who had always doted on her.
At that,
Bing Ling was completely stunned.
"M-Master⊠You⊠you hit me? For that horrible man?"
Her face was a mask of disbelief.
Bing Wuying's heart softened at the sight, but then the thought that failing to handle this could get everyone in the Ice Profound Sect killed made her face harden again.
Bing Wuying snapped, "Apologize to Young Master Yang at once!"
"No, I won't! You hit me for some worthless man, and now you want to send Senior Sister Bing Xin into the tiger's den! I⊠I'd be better off siding with the Profound Celestial Sect!"
Bing Ling shrieked.
At her words, Xuan Shangqing suddenly spoke up. "Bing Wuying, your Ice Profound Sect accepted our Northern Wilderness Sword Order, and now you're planning to turn against us? Do you take the Profound Celestial Sect for fools?"
"This..."
Bing Wuying's expression stiffened.
She hadn't dared to speak openly before, choosing instead to use a mental transmission to curry favor with Yang Xiao, precisely for fear that the Profound Celestial Sect would find out and move against them.
But as it turned out,
Yang Xiao had set a trap for her.
Now, questioned like this by Xuan Shangqing, she was in a very difficult position.
After all, she couldn't afford to offend Yang Xiao, but she also couldn't afford to offend the Profound Celestial Sect.
After a moment's hesitation, she glanced at Yang Xiao, a flicker of resolve in her eyes. 'Since this kid won't play ball, and we have to pick a side anyway, we might as well go with the Profound Celestial Sect!'
Having come to this conclusion, Bing Wuying's expression became composed once more. Only this time, her attention was no longer on Yang Xiao, but on Xuan Shangqing.
"Sect Leader Xuan jests. A moment ago, I was merely toying with this foolish brat. Just as Ling'Er said, he is but a butcher. How could he possibly be worthy of marrying into my Ice Profound Sect?"
The woman was unbelievably fickle.
Even Xuan Shangqing was taken aback for a moment.
However, when it came to the women of the Ice Profound Sect,
there wasn't a man in the entire Celestial Cloud Region who didn't covet them.
He, Xuan Shangqing, was no exception.
Now that he had an opportunity,
Xuan Shangqing naturally wouldn't let it pass.
He thought for a moment before saying, "Since Sect Leader Bing has put it that way, I shall take you at your word for now. However⊠my son, Xuan Tianzhan, is also quite taken with the maiden Bing Xin. I wonder, might she be willing to become Dao companions with him?"
"Of course,"
Bing Wuying replied without the slightest hesitation.
Having sold her once, she didn't mind selling her a second time.
"Master!"
Bing Xin cried out.
If she could have accepted Yang Xiao before,
then Xuan TianzhanâŠ
Bing Xin could not accept him.
But alas,
Bing Wuying paid her opinion no mind whatsoever.
Without so much as a glance in her direction,
she said to Xuan Shangqing, "Then it is settled. However, Sect Leader Xuan, since Xin'Er will be joined with your Young Sect Leader, will the Profound Celestial Sect offer my Ice Profound Sect your protection in our time of need?"
"Protection? Of course. After today, only our two sects will remain in the entire Celestial Cloud Region. When that time comes, my Profound Celestial Sect can manage external affairs while your Ice Profound Sect manages the internal. A union of man and woman, a harmony of Yin and Yangâis it not a match made in heaven?"
Hearing this, Bing Wuying's face stiffened.
She knew this was the Profound Celestial Sect's way of absorbing her Ice Profound Sect.
But now,
circumstances were against them.
If they refused, the only path left was death.
In that case...
"Of course. If I could become Dao companions with Sect Leader Xuan, I, Wuying, would be more than happy."
And just like that, the woman sold herself off as well.
Xuan Shangqing instantly burst out laughing.
Bing Xin, meanwhile, felt her heart turn to ash.
The rest of the Ice Profound Sect's disciples and elders looked on, completely blindsided.
But none of them objected.
Their expressions, however, were grim.
Only Bing Ling.
This woman felt no shame, only excitement.
The look she shot Yang Xiao was full of smug satisfaction, as if she had won.
It just left Yang Xiao speechless.
'This woman is a fool.'
However, Yang Xiao was also thoroughly displeased by Bing Wuying's duplicity.
Though he hadn't liked her offer and had intended to refuse,
for Bing Xin's sake, he would have shown them some mercy, seeing them go to such lengths just to survive.
But now,
that was no longer necessary.
Suddenly,
Yang Xiao's figure blurred.
He appeared at Bing Xin's side and took her by the hand.
Before she could struggle or even react, he had returned to Pure Yang Ancestor's side.
The sword in his hand
rose.
"Sect Leader Bing, it seems you've forgotten about me, Yang Xiao."
He let out a cold laugh.
Yang Xiao strode forward.
Killing intent billowed from him.
This time, there was no one before him he wouldn't kill.
But at that very moment,
just as Yang Xiao resolved to begin the slaughter,
a tremor ran through heaven and earth.
The entire Northern Wilderness Forest seemed to tremble.
Then,
a terrifying aura surged out from the depths of the Northern Wilderness Forest.
Yang Xiao suddenly felt something within his several Storage Rings trying to fly out.
'Huh? It's the Northern Wilderness Sword Orders? What's going on?'
With a flicker of his consciousness,
he saw all the Northern Wilderness Sword Orders on his person fly out.
Then,
beneath the pitch-black night sky,
nine rays of brilliant light etched themselves into the void.
The phantom image of a palace gradually materialized.
The Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion.
At that moment,
had appeared!