Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Song Mingyue asked softly, "So, you liked Ling Xiao even before he became so powerful?"

Shangguan Yutong smiled radiantly. "How should I put it? The way I liked him back then was more like an older sister’s affection for her younger brother. I saw him as my own little brother! If anyone bullied him, I would secretly get revenge for him! Then, when I saw him looking all dejected, I would get so angry and give him a fierce scolding. Hehe, maybe even today, in his mind, I’m still that formidable teacher! Mingyue, you’re a good person. Don’t worry, I won’t fight you for him, and I certainly won’t fight Ye Zi or the others. I just want to stay near him, to watch him grow step by step, and to cheer for him from the background... That’s enough for me. I’ve never really hoped for anything more."

"Yeah... what woman wouldn’t like a man like him?" Song Mingyue muttered to herself, her face then breaking into a brilliant smile. She held out a hand and said with a laugh, "Although I am quite bothered by it, the choice is ultimately his. I don’t want him to think I’m petty, even though... I am."

Shangguan Yutong smiled and took Song Mingyue’s hand, which felt warm and soft. "For now," she said, "let’s just pray together for his safe return."

At that moment, a sound suddenly came from overhead! Song Mingyue, being a bit stronger, heard it first, and her expression changed slightly. The highly perceptive Shangguan Yutong also lifted her head, staring into the dark void above, beyond the reach of the light.

"Someone’s found this place!"

Song Mingyue said in a low voice, "We need to act like we don’t know anything."

As she spoke, fifty or sixty people rapidly descended from above one after another. The man in the lead was none other than the Qin Family’s Patriarch, Qin Zhaoran. When he saw Song Mingyue and Shangguan Yutong, he was momentarily stunned. ’Didn’t three people fall down here? How come there are only two left?’

It turned out that they had walked for a long time down that path but could never reach the end, as if they were lost. The path seemed capable of confusing one’s mind, and the group eventually realized they had just been walking in circles!

The men began to realize what was happening, and the disciple from the Gu Family belatedly declared that it must be a Confusion Skill, a type of Mechanical Skill! It was hardly his fault for not recognizing it sooner; even in families of Mechanical Masters, this kind of Confusion Skill was treated as a legend. Who had ever seen a real one?

The group retreated back to the broken path. Just as they were about to fly back and look for another entrance, someone with powerful cultivation suddenly noticed a faint glimmer of light tens of thousands of meters below.

Then they remembered that three people had seemed to fall from this very spot. And so, Qin Zhaoran decided to come down and investigate.

Only after descending did they discover that the three who fell had been right all along—the Ancient Ruins were truly here! Noticing one person was missing, Qin Zhaoran’s expression darkened slightly. He looked at Song Mingyue and her companion and demanded, "Where is the other one?"

Song Mingyue saw that Qin Zhaoran had also brought the Gu Family disciple down. The disciple’s face was pale and he looked completely drained, likely terrified by the long fall. ’With him here, there’s no point in trying to hide it,’ she thought. So, she pointed to the spot where Ling Xiao had vanished and said, "Over there! He... he touched something, and then he just disappeared! You... you have to help find him!"

Shangguan Yutong, for her part, acted terrified, keeping her head lowered and not daring to speak. Everyone here was incredibly powerful, and it was clear that neither Song Mingyue nor Shangguan Yutong were strong. Thus, the men paid them little mind. In a place like this, there was no escape, so they didn’t even bother to keep an eye on them.

Patriarch Qin gestured to the Gu Family disciple. The disciple took a shallow breath, then walked over. After examining the area for a few moments, he frowned and asked Song Mingyue, "He disappeared from right here?"

Song Mingyue nodded vigorously. ’So the Gu Family of Mechanical Masters is all talk,’ she thought. ’Ling Xiao got in with just a couple of pokes, but this Gu disciple looks completely lost. It’s obvious at a glance who’s more skilled.’

The Gu Family disciple fumbled around the area for a long while. Many of the men began to look at Song Mingyue with suspicion. ’Could this kid be lying to us?’ they wondered. But then again, it would take tremendous courage to lie to such powerful people in a place like this, and looking at this kid... he didn’t seem to have the nerve.

If Song Mingyue knew what they were thinking, she probably would have sworn off dressing up as a dashing young gentleman for the rest of her life.

After a very long time, the Gu Family disciple finally said, "I’ve found it!"

Everyone crowded around. At this, Song Mingyue suddenly started to worry. ’With so many people, if they go in and find Ling Xiao just as he’s found some treasure, won’t he be in danger?’ she thought. ’But then again, with his intelligence, he’ll definitely have a way to handle them. He might even set up an Array to wait for these guys!’

The Gu Family disciple waited until everyone had gathered around before saying with a grimace, "This is a one-way mechanism. We can’t get in."

Qin Zhaoran frowned. "What’s a one-way mechanism?"

The Gu Family disciple explained, "In Ancient Ruins, many mechanisms are single-use. Once you enter, you get sealed inside. There’s a way in, but no way out. That’s why they’re called one-way mechanisms!"

Song Mingyue and Shangguan Yutong exchanged a look, their faces falling in unison. As if trying to reassure herself, Shangguan Yutong whispered, "Don’t be scared. He’ll definitely find a way to get out!"