Chapter 317: Chapter 316: Reunion
The Thunder Strike stunned everyone present!
Su Chang and the others were even more stunned, their faces frozen in disbelief.
’Heavens! It was shocking enough that Qin Ya had reached the Extraordinary Realm, but who could have thought that three Extraordinary Martial Artists working together couldn’t even withstand a single one of his blows? What terrifying power!’
Everyone stared at the pool of bloody pulp on the ground and gulped. An Extraordinary Martial Artist had been blasted into a fine mist of blood right before their very eyes!
Qin Ya paid them no mind, sweeping Hua Wuchang along as he shot toward Mingxin Academy. The two Elders from the Lu and Su Families dared not stand in his way. As they watched him leave, their hearts hammered with lingering fear. They exchanged a look, seeing the same profound shock reflected in each other’s eyes.
"What exactly is your cultivation level now?"
High in the air, Hua Wuchang curiously asked Qin Ya, who was carrying her.
"In terms of cultivation level, Sky-Controlling Middle Rank," Qin Ya stated nonchalantly.
"Sky-Controlling... Middle Rank!" Hua Wuchang exclaimed in astonishment.
Soon, the two arrived at Mingxin Academy.
Compared to its former prosperity, Mingxin Academy now looked rather dilapidated; there were hardly any students to be seen. Qin Ya’s brow furrowed as he made his way toward Ningxiang Pavilion.
Inside Ningxiang Pavilion...
By the lakeshore, a silver-haired woman sat on the ground, an endless chill emanating from her body. Her eyes were shut tight, her brows quivering slightly. Her exquisite features looked as if they had been crafted by the world’s finest sculptor, each part possessing a breathtaking, divine charm...
Suddenly, the chill radiating from her body erupted outward!
Within a hundred-zhang radius, it was as if the depths of winter had arrived. Frost filled the air, and the surface of the lake before her instantly froze solid. The woman slowly opened her eyes. In that instant, it seemed as if heaven and earth had been drained of all color, leaving only her star-bright eyes as the sole point of light.
A figure in white descended from the sky. As he gazed at the woman before him, the perpetually calm and impassive expression on his face finally broke, showing a flicker of deep emotion...
"Ningshuang..." Qin Ya called out softly.
The silver-haired woman looked toward Qin Ya, and her delicate frame trembled. A mist began to form in her eyes. In the next moment, her figure flashed. Like a swallow, she skimmed across the hundred-zhang expanse of the frozen lake and threw herself into Qin Ya’s embrace, her voice choked with emotion.
"Brother Qin, you’re finally back!"
Reunited at last. As Qin Ya held the beautiful woman in his arms, faint ripples stirred the placid lake of his heart. He wanted to say something, anything, to express his feelings, but in the end, all that came out was a single phrase... "I’m back."
"Mhm." Leng Ningshuang nodded. Without another word, she leaned into the young man’s embrace, silently savoring the warmth she had awaited for so long.
’How she wished this moment could last forever...’
Unfortunately, fate rarely grants such wishes. There’s always someone to spoil the moment.
"Ahem, ahem."
The sound of coughing cut through the air. It was Hua Wuchang, clearing her throat pointedly from the side.
Only then did Leng Ningshuang realize someone else was present. A blush rose on her pretty cheeks as she stepped out of Qin Ya’s arms. "Sister Hua, you’re here too."
The beautiful woman was gone from his arms, leaving only a faint, lingering scent. Qin Ya’s brow twitched. He looked over at Hua Wuchang, his eyes narrowing. ’I should have tossed her a bit farther away.’
Sensing Qin Ya’s gaze, Hua Wuchang couldn’t help but shiver. She instinctively shrank back. ’Good heavens,’ she thought, ’a great Extraordinary Martial Artist wouldn’t be *that* petty, would he?’
"Sister Hua? Ningshuang, are you close with her?" Qin Ya asked in a gentle tone.
"Hmph. I’m older than Ningshuang. Is there anything wrong with her calling me ’sister’?"
Hua Wuchang cut in before Leng Ningshuang could reply.
"Yes. After you left, Sister Hua, Sister Muu Xue, and Sister Peiyi would often come to the Academy to visit me," Leng Ningshuang said with a nod and a small smile.
"But half a year ago, Sister Peiyi said she was heading out to gain experience, and she hasn’t been back since. I wonder how she’s doing now," Leng Ningshuang added.
Hearing this, an image surfaced in Qin Ya’s mind: a woman in white robes with a longsword at her hip, exuding an aura of pure sharpness. He chuckled softly. "With your Sister Peiyi’s talent, she’s likely become incredibly strong by now."
Leng Ningshuang said excitedly, "Brother Qin, you have no idea! After she returned from Hidden Dragon Valley, Sister Peiyi publicly challenged the seven great prodigies of the Imperial Capital—and won! Even Grandfather praised her as the most talented student in the Academy’s history."
"Oh?" Now Qin Ya was genuinely surprised.
This made him look forward to their next meeting. Then he shook his head. ’When that time comes, she’ll probably just draw her sword and challenge me.’
CRASH...
Suddenly, the sound of something shattering echoed. Qin Ya looked over to see a woman standing just outside Ningxiang Pavilion. Her hand was pressed to her lips, and her eyes, tinged with red, were fixed on him.
Qin Ya took a deep breath, stepped onto the frozen surface of the lake, and slowly walked toward her.
When he reached the woman, Qin Ya said softly, "Aunt, I’m back."
"As long as you’re back... As long as you’re back."
Qin Yuxiang’s voice was choked with emotion. She stood on her tiptoes to pat Qin Ya’s head. "I haven’t seen you in over half a year, and you’ve grown taller than your aunt. That’s wonderful."
Qin Ya lowered his head, letting Qin Yuxiang get a better look at him. It was only before this woman that he would ever lower his guard and bow his proud head, for he knew just how much she had sacrificed for him.
"Come, let your aunt cook for you."
"Okay. It’s been so long since I’ve had your cooking, Aunt."
"Go on inside and have a seat. I’ll get started right away."
............
On the table were a few simple dishes and a bowl of white rice.
A few people gathered around it, enjoying the warm and happy atmosphere.
"Here, Xiaoya. This is your favorite."
"Delicious! Your cooking is as amazing as ever, Aunt."
"Hehe, of course," Leng Ningshuang said. "These are all Brother Qin’s favorite dishes. Your aunt has been making them every single day, afraid she’d get out of practice."
A warmth flooded Qin Ya’s heart. He picked up a slice of meat and chewed it slowly, savoring the flavor. It was as if he could see Qin Yuxiang thinking of him each day as she cooked.
Hua Wuchang watched the three of them, feeling a bit awkward.
’Am I intruding on their reunion?’
So, to avoid the awkwardness, she decided to just bury her head in her bowl and eat.
After dinner...
"Where’s Elder Huaa?" Qin Ya asked.
At the mention of Huaa Que, Leng Ningshuang sighed. "Grandfather fought a battle with that wicked man some days ago. He was injured and is now recuperating."
Qin Ya’s brow furrowed slightly. He knew the "wicked man" Leng Ningshuang spoke of must be the so-called Venerable Lord. He hadn’t expected that even Huaa Que was no match for him.
’Just where did this so-called Venerable Lord come from?’
"Where is he recuperating?" Qin Ya asked.
"In the Academy’s Water Moon Secret Realm," Leng Ningshuang said, her voice dejected. "All the Special-Level Teachers are standing guard. It’s just a shame my own power is too low to be of any help."
Qin Ya patted her head. "Ningshuang, don’t blame yourself. Your talent is immense; you just haven’t had enough time. As long as you work hard on your cultivation, you’ll be stronger than your grandfather one day. And for now, Brother Qin is here."
"Mhm."
’He could tell that Leng Ningshuang hadn’t neglected her Martial Arts in the past half-year. Her cultivation had already reached the Celestial Essence Realm, and she was just one step away from Celestial Essence Realm Perfection. He remembered that when he’d left, she was only in the Spiritual Element Realm. Even accounting for her Profound Yin Bloodline, her progress was still astonishing.’
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