"Personal to Ye Chen!"

"This letter is sealed with a blood curse. If an outsider dares to open it, the curse will bind them, and upon my return, I'll send your entire clan to my soul banner…"

"Senior Brother, there's a recording stone inside. You'll definitely be delighted when you see it."

Below was a vivid lip print, followed by the character "Su."

The entire letter was sealed with a secret technique, unbreakable by anyone below Golden Core. Gu Yunyun could easily slice through it with a single thread of sword intent, but she didn't. She merely gazed at the envelope in silence.

This letter was likely from Su Yuxuan of the former Misty Sect. The tone alone suggested her relationship with Ye Chen was far from ordinary.

Gu Yunyun's lips pressed together lightly, her eyelashes fluttering. It was hard to accept. But then she sighed. Back then, to quell Ye Chen's inappropriate feelings, she had been the one to send him to guard Middle Mountain. She'd sensed something between him and Su Yuxuan even then and had quietly approved. Having pushed them together, how could she now feel resentful?

So be it.

She had no intention of reading the letter's contents. She'd simply pass it to Ye Chen when he emerged from seclusion. And she'd make things clear: what happened before, she could pretend not to know. Just keep it out of her sight. But going forward, there could be no more.

For Gu Yunyun, raised by her master with deeply traditional values, setting aside the master-disciple taboo and accepting a Dao companion with other women was already a significant compromise.

...

Two months later, Gu Yunyun had fully mastered her surging power, her cultivation now perfectly refined. Her gaze no longer cut like a blade, nor did it threaten to injure others with a mere glance.

As she contemplated, the sect's bell tolled seven times, signaling the arrival of an honored guest. Gu Yunyun, naturally aloof and disinclined toward socializing, made no move to respond. But soon, the Old Sect Master arrived at her temporary residence, accompanied by a female cultivator.

Gu Yunyun frowned slightly but stepped forward. Her eyes flickered with a trace of admiration upon seeing the woman. She was mature, with a tall, graceful figure and subtle curves, a red mole on her brow enhancing her ethereal, dreamlike beauty. Her cultivation was profound, almost unfathomable.

"This is our Green Cloud Sect's newly ascended Golden Core cultivator, Gu Yunyun, and the next Sect Master," the Old Sect Master introduced with a beaming smile. "And this is Divine Will Sect's Grand Elder, An Miaoli."

Green Cloud Sect was truly on the rise. Even a grand elder from Divine Will Sect was an acquaintance of Ye Chen. She'd come to see him, but with him in seclusion, she decided to visit Gu Yunyun, his master, since she was already here—a chance to build familiarity.

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"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Gu," An Miaoli said politely, offering a smile. "A small gift to congratulate you on your Golden Core breakthrough." She was quietly astonished by Gu Yunyun's flawless presence and striking figure—a sword cultivator of such caliber was truly unexpected.

Gu Yunyun thanked her softly and accepted the gift. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist An. May I ask the purpose of your visit?"

An Miaoli's misty eyes hesitated, her response delayed. With Yuyi in seclusion for her own Golden Core breakthrough, An Miaoli had been cultivating alone, delving into the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment with great benefit. Yet her heart remained unsettled. After much hesitation, she'd come to thank Ye Chen—and perhaps for other reasons she hadn't fully clarified to herself. Her arrival was somewhat impulsive.

Now, standing in Green Cloud Sect, faced with Ye Chen's master and her direct question, An Miaoli felt an unexpected flush of shyness. "Ye Chen has greatly aided my niece's cultivation," she explained. "I came to express my gratitude to Fellow Daoist Ye. Since he's not here, I'll leave it at that. Please, Fellow Daoist Gu, pass this to him."

She produced another item—a set of insights from a third-grade perfected artifact refiner of Divine Will Sect. Knowing she couldn't match the value of Ye Chen's Eternal Cosmos Sutra gift, she recalled his interest in the six cultivation arts. Using sect contributions and a personal favor, she'd acquired these insights from the Artifact Peak's master for him.

Gu Yunyun's gaze was deep and steady as she looked at An Miaoli. "What is the relationship between you and my disciple, Fellow Daoist An?"

An Miaoli froze, caught off guard.

What relationship? Your disciple's in love with me.

But she couldn't say that. She quickly explained, "My niece has feelings for Fellow Daoist Ye, and he's saved her life before. If they were to end up together, I suppose I'd be his elder as well…" Her voice faltered, tinged with an unexpected guilt.

Gu Yunyun didn't press further. She accepted the gift An Miaoli brought for Ye Chen and thanked her on his behalf.

An Miaoli had intended to linger, perhaps chat about Ye Chen to learn more about him. But Gu Yunyun's question left her uneasy, sapping her desire to stay. She bid farewell to both. The Old Sect Master tried to persuade her to stay, but seeing her resolve, he escorted her out of the sect.

Gu Yunyun stood in place, mountain winds stirring her dark hair and red dress, her eyes complex as she watched An Miaoli's retreating figure. Her sword cultivator's intuition told her this Divine Will Sect Grand Elder's relationship with Ye Chen was far from ordinary. Yet, An Miaoli likely hadn't lied—her niece probably shared a close bond with Ye Chen too. And this might only be the tip of the iceberg.

Gu Yunyun could ignore the other women. But this… it was too much. It wasn't what she wanted. She asked herself: even if she set aside the master-disciple taboo and chose to be with Ye Chen, could she accept a growing number of women? No. As a sword cultivator, her sword heart was resolute. She knew herself too well.

Gazing at Ye Chen's seclusion chamber, Gu Yunyun's figure soon vanished, leaving only a soft sigh filled with regret.

...

The next morning, the Old Sect Master sat gleefully by the pool, fishing rod in hand, hoping for another big catch. At his age, cultivation was a waste of time. Better to enjoy his final days watching over the Green Cloud Sect he'd protected all his life.

As he mused, a fish tugged at his line. His eyes lit up, and he yanked the rod, feeling resistance. Peering into the water, he spotted a massive silver shadow. "A Silver Dragon Fish, at least two hundred pounds!" he exclaimed, brimming with excitement.

Refusing to use spells—fishing was about the thrill, not efficiency—he relied on skill, battling the fish with growing success. But just then, a voice came from behind. "Sect Leader, I'm leaving the sect to travel for a while…"

Startled, the Old Sect Master's grip slipped, and his fishing rod flew out of his hands.

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