Got it! I'll ensure aut
The ache in my muscles was unbearable.
Every fiber of my being screamed in protest as I forced myself to sit up, my back pressed against the rough bark of a tree.
My body was weak.... there was no denying it... but I believe that i made a little progress.
Just as I was catching my breath, a sharp rustling came from the trees behind me.
I froze.
This part of the outer sect's training grounds was mostly abandoned. The only ones who came here were low-ranked disciples with nowhere else to go.
And I was supposed to be invisible.
Yet, someone was approaching.
I slowly turned my head, and what I saw made my heart drop.
A girl... no, a young woman was standing at the edge of the clearing, her arms crossed as she eyed me with an expression that was a mix of curiosity and mild irritation.
She was tall and slender, dressed in the flowing white and blue robes of Azure Sky Sect's inner disciples.
Her long black hair was tied into an elegant high ponytail, and her dark eyes were sharp, as if she could see right through me.
But what struck me the most was her aura.
Even though she wasn't actively releasing her Qi, I could feel the weight of her presence..... the kind of strength that came from years of dedicated training.
This wasn't just any disciple.
This was Qin Yusheng, daughter of Elder Qin Heng, one of the most powerful figures in the sect.
And, if my memory served me right…
She was one of the sect's most promising martial artists.... a talented prodigy at just 20 years old, someone who had already entered the Foundation Establishment realm while others her age were still struggling with basic Qi refinement.
No, More importantly.....
She had absolutely no reason to be here.... So why is she here now?.... God damn it... What to do!! did she really need to show up all of a sudden.
I quickly ran through my options.
1. Run? No. My body was still too weak. She could catch me in seconds.
2. Act dumb? Pointless. She wouldn't buy it.
3.Speak first? Risky, but better than letting her control the conversation.
Before I could say anything, she tilted her head and spoke.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Her voice was calm, but there was a sharpness to it..... like a blade hidden behind silk.
I blinked. "Excuse me?" wha.... Why!.. what is it that u want to say exactly?
Qin Yusheng sighed, stepping closer. I instinctively tensed.
"You're Lu Tian, aren't you?"
I barely held back a flinch. Lu Tian.... that was my name now, the real name of this body.
But the way she said it carried a weight that I didn't like.
I forced a neutral expression. "I am. And you are?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You don't recognize me?"she asked....
"I do. Qin Yusheng, daughter of Elder Qin Heng."
Her lips curled into a small smirk. "So you do have a brain....
Great. She was the sarcastic type.
She took another step forward, looking me up and down. "You're not supposed to be here."
I frowned. "Last I checked, the outer sect's training grounds aren't forbidden."
"They are for someone like you," she shot back. "A fallen disciple with no cultivation and no backing? The only reason no one has thrown you out yet is because the elders have already forgotten you exist."
I bit back a sharp reply. She wasn't wrong.
I had no place in the sect anymore. The only reason I was still here was because the elders had deemed me too insignificant to even exile properly.
Still, I didn't like the way she said it.
I forced a smirk. "And yet, here you are, talking to someone so insignificant."
That caught her off guard.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something.....amusement?
Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
She let out a slow breath. "I don't care what you do, but I'm warning you..... don't get in anyone's way. If you try to involve yourself in sect matters again, you won't just be forgotten. You'll be erased."
A chill ran down my spine.
She wasn't threatening me. She was stating a fact.
The Azure Sky Sect had no room for dead weight, and if I ever became a nuisance, I would be eliminated without hesitation.
But I wasn't about to let some prodigy scare me into hiding forever.
I met her gaze. "I appreciate the warning. But I have no intention of getting in anyone's way."
She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Good."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the forest as quickly as she had arrived.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
That could've gone worse.
Still... Qin Yusheng's sudden appearance raised a new concern.
Why was she here?
And more importantly..... why did she care enough to warn me?
I had a feeling I hadn't seen the last of her....