Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Ling Xiao didn’t know what Song Mingyue had said, but when Ye Zi and Yisha came out, the way they looked at him had changed. There seemed to be a hint of shyness, and also some resentment.

Song Mingyue, however, had a bright smile on her face. In fact, Ye Zi was the first to see through Song Mingyue’s true nature. Ye Zi had originally felt something was off about Song Mingyue, but her Disguise Skill was so incredible, without a single flaw. Ye Zi had even specifically checked for a man’s characteristic Adam’s apple. After all, Ye Zi had knocked around the lower rungs of society for many years, and she often used such tricks herself. When she first met Ling Xiao, hadn’t she pretended to be a little beggar? She had looked no different from a young boy.

That was why Ye Zi had sensed something strange about Song Mingyue. Unfortunately, the environment Ye Zi grew up in meant there were many levels of society she had no access to. If the High Priest of the Penzes Beast Race hadn’t suffered such a tragic fate, it’s believed that Ye Zi’s current achievements would be no less than Song Mingyue’s!

After all, when it came to talent, Ye Zi was second to none!

This time, after returning and discovering that Song Mingyue was a woman, Ye Zi instantly understood the true nature of the Little Demoness Song Mingyue. Thinking back to the graceful and handsome young man, the refined gentleman in a sullied world, and then looking at the gorgeous beauty with a charming smile before her now... no one could have possibly connected the two. Yet, Song Mingyue had played both roles flawlessly, making people feel that no matter which persona she adopted, she was the absolute best!

Moreover, she had a clever and considerate mind... Sensing the displeasure in Yisha’s and Ye Zi’s hearts, she had immediately taken almost all the blame upon herself to make excuses for Ling Xiao. In truth, all three women, including the departed Feng Ling, knew in their hearts that they were all deeply in love with Ling Xiao!

So, even if Ling Xiao really did make a mistake, they would still forgive him in an instant, even proactively finding excuses for him.

With this common understanding, communication among the three women became much simpler. Moreover, Song Mingyue’s candor and magnanimity made the trace of resentment the other two held for her vanish into thin air. After all, they all wanted to live by Ling Xiao’s side. No one had the heart to leave, right?

Song Mingyue’s final words brought sudden clarity to the other two women.

"Though we may have different backgrounds and different cultivation levels, there’s one thing we all have in common: a proud heart and a discerning eye. It’s not easy to find a man who can make you fall so madly in love. So what if we act like a fool just this once?"

To this, Ye Zi and Yisha completely agreed.

Yisha, in particular, gave a knowing smile when she heard this. It was just like when they first met in the library. Yisha had been captivated by Ling Xiao, and in the days that followed, she had acted like a star-struck fangirl, utterly devoted to him. Her relationship with Mary, her friend of many years, had even grown distant because of it.

Mary was still studying at the Imperial Academy, but she and Yisha were hardly in contact anymore. An occasional letter would arrive, and in it, Mary was starting to sound envious of Yisha’s choice back then. In truth, if Mary had stuck to her original opinion, Yisha might have respected her a little more.

Yisha had seen far too many opportunistic people, just like the ones in her own family. Some mistakes could be forgiven, but some could never be.

...

Even in winter, Penzes City maintained a rather warm temperature. This made the Ice Sea Secret Clan People, who for generations had lived in the Land of Extreme Cold, a bit uncomfortable. Fortunately, they arrived in Penzes during the winter. Had it been the sweltering summer, they would have been even more miserable!

Everything requires a period of adaptation, doesn’t it? Even Clan Leader Quefeng of the Ice Sea Secret Race maintained a rather optimistic attitude. Before long, this unique race that could only survive in the Polar Ice Sea, this race that was discriminated against and loathed by two great races, would truly put down roots in the human world!

From this day forward, the Ice Sea Secret Race would slowly escape the shadow of those two races and become a new race... with its own unique characteristics!

Quefeng lay on a wicker chair under the grapevine trellis at the entrance to his courtyard. On the table beside him was a glass of deep purple wine. He took a small sip, closed his eyes in satisfaction, and thought, ’Now *this* is what I call living!’

At the gate, Uncle Fu stood elegantly with a faint smile on his face. "Clan Leader Quefeng," he said, "are you satisfied with my arrangements?"

When Quefeng saw Uncle Fu, a smile appeared on his face as well. Perhaps because of their age, he had a very good impression of the equally old-looking Uncle Fu. Moreover, although there was a huge age gap between them, Uncle Fu’s conversation and knowledge were far superior to his own, a frog in a well from the northern lands.

Therefore, Quefeng held considerable respect for Uncle Fu. He smiled and said, "Satisfied? Of course, I’m extremely satisfied. Besides, as fellow subjects of our lord, our status is the same. Come, there are many things I wish to ask you. As payment, I can help raise your strength. Oh... you see, your strength is too weak. I’ll find a way to help you reach the level of a Sword Sect..."

His voice gradually trailed off as the two old men, both with aged faces, gathered together and began to chat happily.

Most of the other Ice Sea Secret Clan People had remained inside the Viscount’s Mansion. A space had been cleared out in the basement specifically for raising Ice Silkworms. And the Ice Silkworms were the greatest tool the Ice Sea Secret Clan People relied on to increase their strength!