My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 53.2

Gu Yuqing, however, misunderstood 03’s sigh as an attempt to put on airs in front of her. But the icy aura behind 03, like a deathly threat, made her dare not speak to her as she had before. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to appear calm and said, “I was rash earlier. I apologize! I know you don’t like me! I’ll leave Lanyang Palace tomorrow and never show my face before you again. From now on, we’ll go our separate ways, never to cross paths again!”

“Your punishment isn’t over yet,” 03 said. “Please complete your punishment before leaving.”

Gu Yuqing stared at the sword in 03’s hand, her pupils trembling, and nodded weakly.

Xue Mengtao smiled and whispered, “I understand.”

“Senior Sister Apprentice is leaving Lanyang Palace and betraying the sect. Is it because you want to participate in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition?”

Gu Yuqing gritted her teeth. “What does it matter to you?! If Renyang Peak shows no kindness, don’t blame me for showing no righteousness!”

From beginning to end, she never felt she was in the wrong. Her earlier apology to Yan Qingluan had been out of fear. Now, having been expelled from Renyang Peak and suffered hardship, she resented Yan Qingluan’s coldness.

In short, it was always someone else’s fault.

Xue Mengtao shook her head. “I really feel for Peak Master Yan.”

“Heh! She’s just a hypocrite—ah!”

Gu Yuqing’s furious shout was cut short by a beam of spiritual light. A surge of spiritual power flew from the distant mountains, striking Gu Yuqing with a thud and sending her flying. Her body crashed into the ice wall behind her. Before she could even react, she coughed up a mouthful of blood.

She collapsed to her knees with a thud, every inch of her body wracked with pain. She couldn’t help but groan.

[ 03: ] “Huh.”

This wasn’t her doing, because Gu Yuqing wasn’t dead.

She turned around and saw several figures slowly approaching. Leading them was a woman in resplendent gold and crimson palace robes, her hair now adorned with two golden hairpins instead of the red flower that had once graced her temple.

“Feng Jue!” 03 waved to the group. “Hello, everyone.”

Feng Jue hummed in acknowledgment, grasping her hand to sheathe the still-snowing sword. She casually straightened the creases in 03’s clothes. Behind her followed two others: Siyi in her pink dress, and Gu Yuqing’s Master, Peak Master Yan Qingluan of Renyang Peak.

Gu Yuqing curled up on the ground from the pain, looking up fearfully at Yan Qingluan’s expressionless face. She recognized the source of the spiritual power causing her agony—it was Yan Qingluan who had hurt her!

“Master?” Gu Yuqing asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.

“I don’t deserve that title,” Yan Qingluan replied calmly. “I am deceitful and self-serving. How could I possibly be your master?”

Before Gu Yuqing could respond, Yan Qingluan continued, “There’s no need for you to say anything. Liu Qingshan has already told me everything. I don’t care what you said or did in my name. In the end, it was my failure to discipline you properly.”

Her words were directed at Gu Yuqing, Feng Jue, and Siyi alike. Yan Qingluan’s heart felt utterly broken; she couldn’t even bear to look at Gu Yuqing. She spoke calmly, “Since Lanyang Palace began accepting disciples, Renyang Peak has grown in strength. But due to my lax discipline, the peak has become a mix of good and bad elements. And because of my own biases, I allowed Gu Yuqing, Cheng Ping, and Liu Qingshan to cause trouble within the palace, letting them act without restraint.”

As she spoke, she suddenly lifted her hem and knelt before Feng Jue.

Feng Jue stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her expression calm.

Yan Qingluan said, “The Old Palace Master entrusted me with assisting you in managing Lanyang Palace, yet I personally created the palace’s troubles. This is my failure as a subordinate. Please, Palace Master, revoke my position as Peak Master of Renyang Peak to atone for my negligence.”

Feng Jue remained silent, glancing at the terrified Gu Yuqing beside her. Siyi smiled. “Is it really necessary to go that far? Peak Master Yan has served Lanyang Palace tirelessly for years, her merits far outweighing her faults. There’s no need to wallow over a single fool.”

“Pfft, cough cough!” Gu Yuqing opened her mouth to protest. Siyi raised her hand, unleashing spiritual power from her palm that struck Gu Yuqing’s face, twisting it and preventing her from uttering a single word.

03 suddenly moved to stand behind Feng Jue. Feng Jue had her hair braided high today, perfectly concealing 03 behind her.

Feng Jue raised an eyebrow, remembering how even when 03 had no physical form, Siyi had still managed to scare her. A faint smile curved her lips. She lowered her head to look at Yan Qingluan, then leaned down to help her up. In a slow, measured tone, she said, “I understand Peak Master Yan’s concerns. If we compare Lanyang Palace to a great tree, the peak masters and elders are its branches and trunk, and the disciples are its leaves. Even the most luxuriant tree will grow a few rotten leaves. Simply remove them.”

“Siyi and I are both participating in the Five Continents Grand Competition, and Lanyang Palace will be left in the care of the other Peak Masters. That’s what truly worries me,” Feng Jue said with a smile. “Besides, Peak Master Yan has always doted on me since I was young. I remember it all clearly. Aunt Siyi is still in seclusion, and Peak Master Yan is the most senior cultivator remaining at Lanyang Palace. I just hope Peak Master Yan can break through soon to protect and guide me.”

“Let’s not dwell on this any further.”

Yan Qingluan’s heart ached as memories of the past surfaced one by one, finally dissolving into a sigh. She nodded. “The Palace Master shows me compassion by sparing me some dignity. I am unworthy of such kindness. Upon returning, I will intensify my cultivation to prevent such disgrace from happening again.”

She was referring to the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect’s provocation.

Feng Jue nodded, watching Yan Qingluan depart.

Gu Yuqing also watched Yan Qingluan, her heart tightening as Yan Qingluan walked away without looking back. It felt as if something intangible had slipped away from her. An unfamiliar pain gripped her, rendering her speechless. Gu Yuqing suddenly realized that since she had embarked on the path of cultivation, she had never suffered such a profound wound…

“Feng Jue, what should she do?” 03 pointed at Gu Yuqing and asked, “How did she bully you? Please tell me.”

Feng Jue retorted in 03’s tone, “Do you think I could be bullied by a little insect?”

03 said earnestly, “Many ants can kill a mole, and an elephant can be felled by a swarm. No greater disaster than underestimating one’s enemy. We must be humble and never look down on any opponent.”

Feng Jue: “……”

“Please write these two sentences down and pin them to yourself,” Feng Jue said, raising an eyebrow. Who’s the one who goes around saying “a hundred years to ascend” and “I am a powerhouse” all day?

03 said, “I’m just telling the truth. I’m not being arrogant.”

It’s just a carefully calculated expression of confidence.

“…Fine.” Feng Jue crossed her arms, planning to go back and personally write those two sentences, have them carved onto a jade token, and hang it around 03’s neck.

Siyi watched them with a smile and said, “Leave this place to me. Palace Master and Lingren, you may return and rest.”

“Mm.” Feng Jue glanced at Siyi and Xue Mengtao. “Tomorrow the selection begins. Go back and prepare properly. Leave these messy affairs to others.”

Siyi and Xue Mengtao lowered their heads in unison. “Yes.”

“Let’s go,” Feng Jue said to 03. The latter hesitated, her gaze lingering on Gu Yuqing—the only one who still harbored thoughts of the fallen disciple.

“The Jade Token,” 03 murmured, her eyes fixed on the jade token clutched tightly in Gu Yuqing’s hand.

Gu Yuqing noticed 03’s gaze. Panic eclipsed the physical pain in her eyes as she gripped the token even tighter, terrified someone might snatch it away. This was her last lifeline, left to her by Wen Chunsheng. It must not fall into anyone else’s hands!

“Siyi said, “Gu Yuqing was adopted by Peak Master Yan at a young age. He taught her cultivation, bestowed treasures upon her, and everything she possesses originates from Lanyang Palace. She may denounce her master and betray the sect, but she is forbidden from taking even a single item from Lanyang Palace, including this cultivation.”

“Xiaotao, take her to the Enforcement Hall.”

“Yes.”

“You… you’re ruthless…” Gu Yuqing gasped, watching Xue Mengtao approach and seize her Jade Token and Storage Ring. As Mengtao bound her with ropes, Gu Yuqing struggled violently, ignoring the pain. The ropes tightened mercilessly, and she watched helplessly as the Jade Token fell into the silver-haired woman’s grasp.

Xue Mengtao sealed Gu Yuqing’s mouth, calmly speaking as the latter glared furiously. “Senior Sister Gu, it seems the opportunity for the Five Continents Grand Competition still has nothing to do with you.”

“If only you’d known this from the start, why bother?”

Her Master had given Gu Yuqing chances.

A person can be foolish for a moment, but not for a lifetime. This principle Siyi understood, but unfortunately, Gu Yuqing did not.

Siyi tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. Now that only the three of them remained on the mountain path, she noticed 03 studying the jade pendant in their hand curiously. “Is something wrong?” she asked.

“This jade pendant was given to Gu Yuqing by Wen Chunsheng,” 03 replied. “They set up a Barrier behind a tree to communicate and exchange things secretly, yet they deny any improper contact. Wen Chunsheng claims Gu Yuqing is merely his younger sister.”

“What kind of mess is this?” Feng Jue exclaimed, her mind reeling. “Don’t touch dirty things—wait, Wen Chunsheng?”

She turned to gaze into the distance. Just a few hundred meters ahead lay Deyang Peak, where Wen Chunsheng was a disciple.

Feng Jue’s eyes widened, and she gasped. “Did you have Xue Mengtao bring you here while you were carrying me, just to see Wen Chunsheng?”

03 hastily stuffed the jade pendant into his backpack and stammered, “I was just trying to figure out the way!”

And secretly investigating Wen Chunsheng!

03: “Hahaha!”

“Feng Jue, look at this Ice Wall—it’s so tall and thick! I’ll carve a Lingshi for you, or maybe a Qilin!” 03 marched forward with exaggerated steps, raising the Nine Heavens to jab holes in the Ice Wall with a rhythmic kupchi-kupchi.

Feng Jue was so furious, smoke practically rose from her head. She hadn’t expected 03 to learn how to feign obedience! Seething with anger, she stomped over to punch the System.

Siyi stood behind them, her head full of question marks, watching the two circle the Ice Wall accompanied by Xi Lingren’s flat, robotic laughter.

So, why was everyone so focused on Wen Chunsheng?

Hmm??

On a mountain path miles away, Wen Chunsheng suddenly stopped, turning to gaze into the distant depths of the mountain, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

“He’s vanished?”

Support