Was it you that night?
Chapter 170 - 168: Qinghe Makes Another Breakthrough

Chapter 170: Chapter 168: Qinghe Makes Another Breakthrough

Xiao Bai looked at Shen Qinghe with a meaningful gaze, and Shen Zhiyao, noticing this small detail, had a sudden flash of inspiration. Could it be related to Qinghe?

After the meal, Shen Zhiyao enthusiastically saw Xiao Bai out of the Simple Residence Courtyard. Only after confirming that Qinghe hadn’t followed did she ask in a low voice, "Were you driven out of Bixiao Tower by Mr. Wuya because you mentioned Qinghe?"

Xiao Bai hadn’t expected Shen Zhiyao to guess correctly with just one try. Unsure of how to respond, he then heard Shen Zhiyao say, "Actually, you don’t need to say it, I can guess what happened. You probably think Qinghe and Mr. Wuya are well matched, but Mr. Wuya doesn’t like you playing matchmaker, right?"

Xiao Bai looked at Shen Zhiyao in surprise, never having imagined Shen Zhiyao could be so astute.

"I had long asked Mr. Wuya what he thought of our Qinghe, and Mr. Wuya said he only regarded Qinghe as a Sect Disciple. Yet the whole Sky Pole Sect knows how well Mr. Wuya treats Qinghe. To say Mr. Wuya harbors no romantic feelings toward Qinghe, I find that hard to believe," Shen Zhiyao expressed her view.

Feeling he had found a kindred spirit, Xiao Bai nodded emphatically in agreement, "Exactly! The master just doesn’t want to admit to these feelings because the master..."

Seeing Xiao Bai stop mid-sentence, Shen Zhiyao grew even more curious, "You might as well speak plainly. After all, two heads are better than one. Perhaps we can work something out, to bring the two of them together?"

She owed her narrow escape from death to Dongfang Wuya’s timely rescue, and she was also fortunate enough to have consumed an Immortal Pill. Such good fortune was all thanks to Dongfang Wuya’s kindness.

Originally, she didn’t want Qinghe to get involved with Mr. Wuya, but the events of the recent years made her very sure that Dongfang Wuya truly doted on Qinghe.

Moreover, Dongfang Wuya is one of the main characters in the original story. She was actually quite conflicted, unsure whether she should play matchmaker between her younger sister and Mr. Wuya. Perhaps Xiao Bai could give her an answer.

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Bai finally revealed the reason, "Because the master will one day leave the Sky Pole Sect. The master once said that he and Fairy Qinghe have different paths, and they will eventually part ways."

Shen Zhiyao had not anticipated this reason, and after reflecting on it, she felt this problem might actually be solvable, though she would be reluctant to see Qinghe go, "Has Mr. Wuya never thought about taking Qinghe with him?"

Xiao Bai shook his head, his mood turning downcast, "The master indeed isn’t from the same world as Fairy Qinghe, there’s no way he can take her with him."

"Is it related to Mr. Wuya’s background?" Shen Zhiyao speculated boldly.

No one in Sky Pole Sect knew the origins of Mr. Wuya. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that no one in The Four Seas and Eight Wilds knew of Mr. Wuya’s origins.

If Xiao Bai mentioned that Mr. Wuya would leave the Sky Pole Sect, then Mr. Wuya was likely to return to his family.

For a male cultivator as mysterious as Mr. Wuya, his family background must be extraordinary.

After giving it careful thought, Xiao Bai suddenly came to a realization, "I think the master is right."

The master has his own path to walk, long and arduous, and Fairy Qinghe, as a female cultivator of the Sky Pole Sect, has her own long cultivation journey.

Rather than coming together only to part ways later, causing both of them pain, it would be better not to start things at all.

No matter how well-matched Fairy Qinghe and the master are, they can only be described as fated but not destined.

Shen Zhiyao never expected that, in the end, she would hear such a sentence from Xiao Bai.

She had still been considering the possibility of trying to bring together Mr. Wuya and Qinghe. She felt that if Qinghe missed out on Mr. Wuya, she might never meet another man who could captivate her for half her life.

After seeing off Xiao Bai, Shen Zhiyao returned to the Simple Residence Courtyard to find Qinghe practicing her swordsmanship with single-minded focus.

In just over a month, Qinghe’s Sword Intent had already reached the level of Man-Sword Unity.

Qinghe was still unaware of Dongfang Wuya’s feelings for her, allowing the girl to cultivate with full concentration.

If Qinghe’s Dao Heart were to be affected by emotions, it might very well slow down her cultivation progress.

What’s wrong with the current balance? Why does it have to be disrupted?

After finishing her sword practice, Shen Qinghe approached Shen Zhiyao, "Elder sister, what are you thinking about that you’re so engrossed?"

"Your swordsmanship has improved incredibly fast. I need to catch up with you. Come on, practice with me!" Shen Zhiyao was suddenly filled with heroic enthusiasm.

She also needed to become strong, so as not to become a burden to Qinghe.

Shen Qinghe smiled radiantly, "Elder sister should be careful!"

No sooner had she spoken than her sword was drawn.

Shen Zhiyao didn’t even see how Qinghe had attacked; Qinghe’s sword was already at her vital spot.

Not admitting defeat, she requested another round.

Using the devilish training methods Dongfang Wuya had taught her, Shen Qinghe taught Shen Zhiyao, who after one shichen gave up, complaining of being tired.

"Get up and practice again; elder sister can’t be lazy. This Yuheng Mountain competition will be packed with masters— let’s take these two days to intensify our training!" Shen Qinghe forcibly pulled Shen Zhiyao up.

This time Shen Zhiyao’s complaints of tiredness were in vain. Under Shen Qinghe’s devilish coaching, she made astonishing progress in just two short days.

The most unexpected occurrence was that Shen Qinghe made a breakthrough while practicing swordsmanship with Shen Zhiyao!

It was just the night before departing for Yuheng Mountain when the news that Shen Qinghe had suddenly advanced to the Golden Core Mid-stage cultivator spread throughout the entire Sky Pole Sect— it was not an exaggeration to say it was like dropping a heavy bomb.

After all, just a few months prior, Shen Qinghe had transformed from a Foundation Building Cultivator to a Golden Core cultivator.

In just a few months, Shen Qinghe had made such a swift breakthrough. Not to mention the Sky Pole Sect had never seen such a talented cultivator— even the entire cultivation world had never seen anyone advance so quickly.

Zuo An was so excited that he ran to Simple Residence Courtyard in the middle of the night, and looking at Shen Qinghe over and over again, he endlessly praised, "Good! Good! Good!!"

Several elders had wrinkles from smiling, they could not stop praising Shen Qinghe.

During the lively moment, a soft male cultivator’s voice suddenly rang out, "Isn’t Qinghe a mortal? How can she cultivate?"

Upon hearing this voice, the smile vanished from Shen Qinghe’s face.

The male cultivator emerged from the crowd, revealing a slightly effeminate face. Even though his face was quite handsome, it appeared insidiously evil under the cover of night.

It was none other than Elder Wu Ke, who had just returned from a mission.

Although Wu Ke was an elder of the sect, at first glance he looked even younger than Zuo An, and with his bad-boy face, he had quite a few admirers in the Sky Pole Sect.

However, in the book, Wu Ke was not a good character; he was an ardent admirer of Nan Sheng, utterly devoted to her, and he was capable of anything for her sake.

What she found most incomprehensible was that Wu Ke could actually call Dongfang Wuya a friend.

Wu Ke, too, had now taken a clear look at Shen Qinghe’s face, his eyes revealing astonishment as he stared intently at her face without moving away.

Knowing that Wu Ke had set his sights on quite a few female disciples of Sky Pole Sect, and seeing the obvious shock on his face from Qinghe’s beauty, Shen Zhiyao immediately stepped forward to shield Qinghe behind herself.