Yi Lan looked over at where Ling Wuxia was looking, and she saw a skinny young lady not too far away.

It was currently summer, and she was wearing summer clothes, all in light green. However, this light color still made her look cold.

She’s tactful at least, not wearing white anymore. Yi Lan rolled her eyes.

If Lu Mingshu could read Yi Lan’s mind, she would probably scoff at her. Lu Mingshu herself never wore white; it was only because it was the color of Nine Jade Palace’s uniform that she wore white. Hui Niang had even said that a girl should wear brighter colors. White was too cold and made one seem unlucky.

Yi Lan was cursing at Lu Mingshu in her heart silently, but her senior sister seemed to be walking toward the person she was cursing at.

“Senior Sister!” Yi Lan shouted. Hey, even if you don’t like her, you can’t be so direct as to find trouble with her. You still have serious matters here!

Yi Lan was like a cat on hot bricks watching Ling Wuxia standing in front of Lu Mingshu and flashing her a wide smile. “Lu Mingshu?”

This made Lu Mingshu’s jaw drop. She had always thought that such a famous person, who was said to be noble and virtuous, would be rather proud. Who would have thought that she was such a friendly and polite person?

“Yes. Miss Ling Wuxia?”

Ling Wuxia nodded. “Yes. I’m Ling Wuxia. I didn’t have the opportunity to meet you in person during the Qilin Festival, but I’m glad that Miss Lu is here in Beiming, and I’m honored to meet you.”

“I dare not accept your graciousness.”

Ling Wuxia took a good look at her and giggled. “I’m quite busy right now, so I can’t have a longer chat with you. If Miss would do me the honor, please come to Ancient Jade Summit to visit.”

Lu Mingshu gave no reply. She bid her goodbye and watched Ling Wuxia stroll off.

As soon as Ling Wuxia came back, Yi Lan pounced onto her almost immediately. “Senior Sister! What did you say to her?”

“I invited her to Ancient Jade Summit to visit.” Ling Wuxia gave a vague reply and nodded to Ye Zhenyan as a greeting.

“What on earth?” Yi Lan whispered. “You invited her over?!”

“She may not even want to come.” Ling Wuxia raised eyebrows and smiled.

“Best she doesn’t, or she’ll find out what the best disciple of a top sect is like!” Yi Lan huffed.

Ling Wuxia burst into laughter. “No need to wait until then, she’ll find out soon.”

“Senior Sister, why are you helping her!?” Yi Lan whined.

“I’m not, I’m helping you!” Ling Wuxia jabbed Yi Lan’s head. “Stop thinking about all this. Are you here to learn or to pick a fight?”

Yi Lan pouted and said nothing more.

“Miss Lu, what’s your opinion?” Elsewhere, Yu Ruohan asked Lu Mingshu softly.

Lu Mingshu grabbed her sword and nodded. “She lives up to her name indeed.”

This sword was worthy of being refined by a master. She had only nourished it with her mystic force for a few days, and it already had spirituality. As soon as Ling Wuxia got close to her, the sword couldn’t stop vibrating, as if reminding her that this was a very strong opponent.

“You’re not bad either.” Afraid that she would lose her confidence, Yu Ruohan comforted her. “The Grandmaster does not look for the strongest. Zhao Yin was just an average disciple. Besides, you’re plenty strong as well.”

Lu Mingshu gave a smile in response. Why would I be afraid of her if I wasn’t afraid of Kou Wei or Wei Chunqiu? In fact, the more powerful the opponent, the more competitive she felt. If everyone was like Ye Zhenyan, then this would be boring.

As soon as Ancient Jade Summit arrived, the whole atmosphere was hyped up. All sects and aristocratic families went up to greet them.

Sect or aristocratic family, they all needed resources to develop, and Beiming was quite isolated. It was a place with more water than land, and there were many roaming beasts. It was already at its limit to provide for such a huge sect like Ancient Jade Summit. Other than Ancient Jade Summit, there were only two or three sects on the level of Nine Jade Palace that were worth mentioning. As for aristocratic families, they were limited in scale by their bloodlines since they didn’t accept outsiders. The top three aristocratic families were way more famous than Nine Jade Palace, but in fact, they were similar to or weaker than it.

Ancient Jade Summit was not a sect that was easy to please, so all the aristocratic families and sects would bootlick them as much as they could.

Ye Zhenyan came along with his elders. When both parties were making their conventional greetings, he went up to Ling Wuxia. “Miss Ling, could we have a chat?”

Ling Wuxia raised her eyebrows in curiosity and went along to the side with him.

“That Lu Mingshu isn’t easy.” Knowing Ling Wuxia well, he cut to the chase.

“Oh?” That was Ling Wuxia’s only reply.

“I had a fight with her. Miss should have heard about it, right?”

Ling Wuxia nodded. She heard about it before she came, and to her, it was nothing shocking. Even Yi Lan didn't care about the matter. To Ancient Jade Summit’s disciples, Ye Zhenyan was only powerful in the water because he had his family’s skills. He was basically nothing if he fought on land. On the other hand, Lu Mingshu had first place in the New Generation Ranking, so it would be weird if she lost to him.

Thus, Ling Wuxia was uninterested in Ye Zhenyan’s topic. What’s there to discuss when it’s so obvious?

But Ye Zhenyan couldn’t read the mood. He continued on, “She had something that caught even Kou Wei off guard.”

“That spiritual tool, right?” Ling Wuxia pre-empted him.

“Yeah…”

“Okay,” Ling Wuxia interrupted. “Thank you for the information, Mister Third Ye.” She bowed and went off.

Ye Zhenyan wanted to discuss it with Ling Wuxia, but he never expected to be cut off by her. His unfinished words were still in his throat as he watched her quickly leave.

Ye Zhenyan then registered what happened after a while, and he snorted in disgust.

Initially, I wanted to give Lu Mingshu a surprise by using Ling Wuxia, but whatever. That arrogant bitch! I hope that she loses to Lu Mingshu and gets embarrassed! He couldn’t really figure out how Lu Mingshu defeated him even after hearing it. He went back to think about it for quite a while, yet he still didn’t get it. He only found out the reason when he asked his martial grandfather.

During the past three months, he stayed at home all day to understand how she beat him. Ling Wuxia was very powerful, and Lu Mingshu was indeed lacking compared to her, but Ye Zhenyan would rather fight Ling Wuxia than Lu Mingshu.

That girl is too crafty! Even Grandfather said that it was all because of her unimaginably good control over her force. I thought my move no longer had any loopholes, but she still found one.

There were two possibilities if one lost and couldn’t understand how it happened. Either Lady Luck was on the opponent’s side, or they were just stronger.

Ye Zhenyan didn’t want to admit it, but it was indeed the second reason. She was stronger than him. Not basics-wise, and obviously not martial-arts-wise. It was something that Ye Zhenyan couldn’t put his finger on, but if he had to describe it, perhaps… talent?

At this moment, a teenager from the Huo Family walked over sneakily. “Third Uncle!”

Ye Zhenyan looked over to see a Huo Family younger generation disciple. “What?” he answered lazily. Being the top three aristocratic families in Beiming, the Ye Family, the Huo Family, and the Zhang Family had various arranged marriages. By right, a younger generation disciple should address him as cousin uncle, or for short, uncle.

The teenager tiptoed and whispered. “Nephew has an idea…”