Chapter 296 - Changing Faces

“Don’t mention the Wu family’s business again,” Chu Xingxian said firmly. He even shot a glance at Ning Gang.

Ning Gang hunched his shoulders, an inexplicable pressure weighing down on him. Cold sweat rolled from his forehead.

Chu Xingxian slowly withdrew his gaze, rose to his feet, and looked down at Cang Lu, a subtle flicker in his eyes.

Li Guanqi’s heart sank. He turned quickly to Cang Lu. “Cang Lu, do you have a sect? If not, on behalf of the Daxia Sword Sect of the Northern Territory, I welcome you to join us.”

The sudden invitation caught Cang Lu off guard. He scratched his head awkwardly. “The Daxia Sword Sect of the Northern Territory? Would I even qualify to join a sect like that? Besides, I’m not even a sword cultivator. I...”

Li Guanqi cut him off with a faint smile and a soft voice. “You can. A seventeen-year-old at the mid Golden Core Realm? Even across the entire Daxia Territory, you’re a genius. Why wouldn’t you qualify?”

He continued, “Don’t worry about not being a sword cultivator. The sect will help you find your path. You’re a zither cultivator, aren’t you? I can tell by how carefully you protect your fingers.”

Cang Lu’s eyes lit up in surprise. He hadn’t expected Li Guanqi to see through his cultivation method so easily. He grinned and nodded. “Alright! I’ll join!”

Nearby, Yun Mengxi stood frozen, still reeling from everything she’d heard. Her eyes went wide as she cried out in disbelief, “The Daxia Sword Sect! That’s one of the three great sects of the Northern Territory, standing at the peak!

“Mid Golden Core Realm? Impossible! How could he possibly be at the mid Golden Core Realm?!

“Didn’t the Daxia Sword Sect go into seclusion?”

Jealousy burned in her chest. She jabbed a finger at Li Guanqi and shouted angrily, “Liar! The Daxia Sword Sect has already gone into seclusion, and their requirements for recruitment are stricter than ever. How could they accept Cang Lu just because you said so? And he can’t possibly be at the mid Golden Core Realm! You’re lying!”

Cang Lu lowered his gaze and, without a word, released his aura. In an instant, an overwhelming aura burst forth, bearing down on everyone nearby.

Just as Yun Mengxi opened her mouth to protest again, Chu Xingxian cut her off. The old man strode up to Li Guanqi, who quickly bowed in greeting.

Chu Xingxian’s expression showed faint displeasure. “Brat, I was just about to show some appreciation for his talent, and you snatched him away before I could.

“Even when you’re out training, you’re scheming to bring benefits to your sect. If only my Phoenix Lightning Sect had more disciples like you.”

Chu Xingxian smiled, then turned to pat Cang Lu on the shoulder. “Young man, you’re impressive.”

Yun Mengxi’s face went pale. She had never imagined that the boy she always looked down on had such frightening talent, enough to catch even Chu Xingxian’s eye.

“Perhaps no one else could convince the Daxia Sword Sect to bend its rules and take on a disciple,” Chu Xingxian mused. Then he glanced at Li Guanqi. “But he can.”

Refusing to accept it, Yun Mengxi cried out, “Why?!”

Based on Sect Master Chu Xingxian’s attitude toward her master, she could already tell something serious was about to unfold. After this ordeal, the Phoenix Lightning Sect would almost certainly cast her out.

Chu Xingxian’s voice was cold. “Because... he is Li Guanqi of the Daxia Sword Sect.”

Yun Mengxi’s eyes flew wide. “What?!”

Li Guanqi was well-known among the younger generation. Many had heard the tales of his legendary battle. The meteoric rise of the Daxia Sword Sect was directly tied to his existence.

Cang Lu’s eyes gleamed brightly as he looked at Li Guanqi.

Hm? So it’s actually him!

It seemed everything had been decided. Yet Yun Mengxi, now desperate, lunged toward Cang Lu as if grasping for her last lifeline. If Li Guanqi truly came from the Daxia Sword Sect, then Cang Lu would definitely be accepted—and if she could follow along, her disaster could turn to fortune.

With that thought, she suddenly threw her arms around Cang Lu, pressing herself against his waist and clinging tight no matter how he struggled. Tears streamed down her face.

“Cang Lu, let’s start over, alright? That bastard tricked me. I still like you. I was wrong—it was all my fault. Please forgive me. I’m begging you. From now on, I’ll treat you well. I promise.”

Her tear-streaked face was pitiful enough to stir anyone’s sympathy. Even Li Guanqi was at a loss for words. However, it was something only Cang Lu could answer.

But Cang Lu felt neither flustered nor swayed. With a surge of vital force, he blasted her away.

Thud!

She hit the ground hard, staring at him in shock. Her eyes went blank with fear and confusion about what would happen next.

Scrambling on her hands and knees, she crawled back and clutched his legs. “Cang Lu, please! I really know I was wrong. Forgive me. I’ll devote myself entirely to you. My parents died young. After joining a sect, I only wanted someone to rely on.

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

“My talent is mediocre. I don’t even know if I’ll ever reach the Nascent Soul Realm. I just wanted a better life. I was blinded by greed, that’s all.”

Cang Lu looked down coldly at the woman clinging to him, his gaze indifferent, as though watching an actress change masks again and again. He couldn’t even tell which face was real.

He answered calmly, “No need. The moment you tore up our marriage contract, we became strangers. Your future has nothing to do with me. My father’s debt has already been settled. There’s nothing left between us.”

Without another glance, he turned and left, bowing politely to Chu Xingxian on his way out.

Yun Mengxi sat on the ground, spirit crushed, eyes vacant.

Li Guanqi laughed heartily. “Well said! You’ve got backbone! Take this jade slip to the Daxia Sword Sect.”

He handed Cang Lu a jade slip containing a personal message.

After Cang Lu departed, Chu Xingxian cast a cold glance at Yun Mengxi. “You may leave as well.”

Then he turned to Ning Gang and said sternly, “You took bribes. Effective immediately, you are stripped of your elder status and sentenced to one year of confinement at the Cliff of Repentance.”

Ning Gang bowed deeply and hurriedly replied, “Yes, sir.”

Finally, Chu Xingxian turned back to Li Guanqi with a smile. “Come. Let’s sit and talk.”