Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Chapter 323: Chapter 259: Let’s Dual Cultivate

The face hidden beneath Night Owl’s large conical hat was etched with shock. He never imagined Ling Xiao could be so arrogant. Although he’d heard rumors that Ling Xiao had a Sword Emperor powerhouse by his side, Night Owl simply didn’t believe it. How could a family that was nothing more than minor nobility a year ago possibly have the resources to oppose a hidden family?

In fact, most people, including the hidden family he now served, believed the legends surrounding Ling Xiao were largely fabricated. They were convinced that his achievements were orchestrated by someone else and didn’t reflect his true strength at all.

Furthermore, although Ling Xiao had traveled to the Sea Domain Song Family, no news had emerged about them being on friendly terms. The two Sword Emperors he brought back, Thirteenth Master and Fourteenth Master, never appeared before the public. Even if other hidden families and sects knew that Penzes City had a few new Sword Emperors, they would instinctively assume it was just a ploy by the Sea Domain Song Family. They would think the Song Family was exploiting Ling Xiao’s trust by sending two Sword Emperors to monitor his every move. In other words, they were effectively placing Ling Xiao under house arrest in his own territory, making him feel constrained in everything he did.

This was because no one knew that the Sword Emperor Level powerhouse of the Sea Domain Song Family could only be healed by Ling Xiao. And no one knew that the eldest daughter of the Sea Domain Song Family, Song Mingyue, was now his woman.

Therefore, those targeting Ling Xiao had never truly backed down. Moreover, they were all well aware that in order to protect his father from assassination, Ling Xiao had even left the bald Sword Emperor powerhouse who was usually by his side at his father Ling Tianxiao’s military camp near West Lake.

In other words, Ling Xiao was currently vulnerable! Night Owl had been briefed on all this inside information before he came. Therefore, he believed that when faced with an overture of friendship from a hidden family, Ling Xiao... had absolutely no reason to refuse!

But he had miscalculated. Ling Xiao’s refusal was swift and decisive.

"You... what is the meaning of this?" Night Owl asked, stunned. "Don’t you want to attend the gathering of the hidden families? You have to understand, not only can you meet powerful friends there, but you can also find Elixirs to increase your strength, as well as peerless weapons! There are all sorts of treasures, even items from Ancient Ruins!"

Night Owl looked at Ling Xiao and said, "You have no reason to refuse!"

"You’re awfully talkative, Night Owl. I don’t recall you being this long-winded in the past." Ling Xiao shook his head, paid Night Owl no further mind, and walked into the courtyard.

Night Owl stood there, stunned for a moment. He took one last, deep look at Ling Xiao’s retreating back before turning to leave, just as the soldiers were coming out to chase him away.

Ling Xiao sneered inwardly. ’Trying to get me to cooperate with a hidden family that won’t even give its name? They must be dreaming. Hmph. A grand gathering for the hidden families and sects, is it? I’ll ask Ming Yue about it.’

In the winter, the temperature in Penzes City was much lower than in the summer. It was the most pleasant time of year, especially for the city’s beautiful young women. They loved this season because they could freely wear their prettiest dresses without having to worry about the sweltering heat.

Song Mingyue was wearing a sapphire-blue, knee-length skirt that revealed her fair, slender calves. She wore a pair of exquisitely crafted crystal sandals, and on her delicate feet, her toenails were painted a fiery red that was incredibly striking.

She sat on a stone bench in the pavilion, her fair hands cupping her chin. A fine jade bracelet adorned each of her wrists. A faint smile graced her lovely, rosy face, and her thick lashes fluttered gently over her long, charming eyes. She looked just like a beautiful young noblewoman pining for love. No one would ever imagine that such a delicate-looking woman was actually a Martial Artist at the peak of the Demon Swordsmen stage, just one step away from entering the ranks of the Sword Sect.

Ling Xiao sat across from her. Song Mingyue gazed at him, her eyes full of tenderness. After hearing him out, she said, "A grand gathering like that really only happens once every few decades. I remember the last one was several decades ago. I wasn’t even born yet."

Song Mingyue’s voice was clear yet gentle. She laughed and said, "That Night Owl must be completely baffled right now. To think you’d reject an offer from a hidden family without even giving him a chance to state his case. You were a little harsh, you know. Hee hee."

"Are you making fun of me?" Ling Xiao feigned anger and pouted. "He’s a thorough scoundrel who burns his bridges as soon as he crosses them. He agreed to follow me back then purely because he was attracted to my Sword Intent. When he realized he couldn’t get much out of me, he just up and left. Now that he’s joined a hidden family, he thinks he’s a cut above the rest and comes back acting all mysterious... It’s utterly ridiculous."

"Well, you can’t be too hard on him," she replied. "No one could have predicted you would change so much in just one year. He probably thought that with his current status and the offer he was making, he was finally qualified to speak with you as an equal. He never expected you to reject him so bluntly. I bet he’s in a foul mood right now."

Ling Xiao gave a faint smile. "Forget about him. There’s never a shortage of people who are full of themselves. That said, this grand gathering of the hidden families... it does sound a little interesting. It would certainly be a good opportunity to learn more about them!"

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