Lu Zhaozhao gripped the seal tightly in her hand, and she took a deep look at Yun Xian's back.
Despite being master and apprentice for many years, the two had only met a handful of times. Looking back now, it was only after Nian Zhi arrived that she had seen her more often.
How did Lu Zhaozhao fall deeply in love with someone she had only met a few times in the original book?
Only now has she begun to understand a little. Perhaps from the very beginning, all her emotions stemmed from jealousy, rather than from the fact that the original self lacked this emotion. Therefore, when facing Ying Che or even Yun Xian, she lacked that part of her feelings.
After figuring it out, Lu Zhaozhao didn't say much. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty towards Yun Xian in front of her, but it was only for a moment.
She turned and left, clutching the seal.
After she left, the stone gate closed again, separating the two worlds.
Upon seeing her come out, Ying Che immediately stepped forward, grasped her arm, and anxiously asked, "Did Master say anything? Did you explain to him that your words just now were not from your heart?"
Lu Zhaozhao slowly raised her head and quietly looked at Ying Che. Only after she saw Ying Che awkwardly look away did she slowly open her palm.
"This is... the sect leader's seal!"
Ying Che exclaimed in surprise, unconsciously shaking Lu Zhaozhao's arm, his tone full of disbelief.
"How did this end up in your hands? Did Master give it to you? What exactly did you discuss inside?"
Ying Che was in a complete mess and desperately wanted to know what had happened.
Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, organized her thoughts, and said to Ying Che, "Master has decided to abdicate. We will decide matters within the sect, while the elders and I will make decisions regarding matters outside the sect."
Ying Che was struck dumb. He was an extremely polite and law-abiding person. That was why, in the book, both he and Yun Xian fell in love with Nian Zhi, but they still maintained all the proper etiquette.
"Zhaozhao, tell me the truth, what exactly happened? Why did Master suddenly... suddenly..."
He couldn't continue speaking, only staring intently at Lu Zhaozhao.
"Senior brother, the most urgent task is to rectify the sect, not to grieve here."
Lu Zhaozhao brushed Ying Che's hand away and walked forward without looking back.
"I still need to discuss the follow-up matters with Elder Cang Jiong. Senior Brother, please come over as soon as possible."
After leaving those words, Lu Zhaozhao turned a corner and disappeared at the end of the road.
The news of Yunxian's abdication caused a sensation within the sect, but since he hadn't dealt with affairs for a long time, everyone accepted it quite quickly.
Lu Zhaozhao first joined forces with Ying Che to deal with the accumulated affairs within the sect one by one, sweeping away the corrupt practices from top to bottom, and then reorganized the internal system. Fortunately, the foundation of Emperor Huizong of Qing was still intact, and it was only a matter of time before the sect was revitalized.
Now, the more important issue is the external situation.
With the invasion of demons from the western border, the capital, which was originally under the protection of the sect, suffered a great blow when Emperor Huizong was in despair. The most urgent task is to deal with these matters.
She and Elder Cang Jiong initially discussed sending an advance team, led by disciples with high cultivation levels, to eliminate the demons in the surrounding capital cities and restore peace to the people. Afterward, they would establish a defense mechanism to completely cover the affected cities and keep the demons out.
Only after dealing with these matters can we free up our resources to fight off external enemies together with other sects.
Turning the pages of the book in her hands, looking at the densely packed words, Lu Zhaozhao couldn't help but sigh, "Alas, the task ahead is truly arduous and the road is long."
After several days of treatment, Lu Zhaozhao appeared at the departure ceremony with dark circles under her eyes.
A team of disciples had already been dispatched, but news came back that there were many demons in the city, and their cultivation levels were not low. They could only temporarily establish a stronghold. If they wanted to completely drive them out, they would need the support of the sect.
This matter originally fell to Ying Che, who was supposed to lead the team. Unfortunately, some sects sent people to discuss this matter in the past two days. Ying Che had always been the one to handle this kind of thing, and he was indeed more familiar with the process. Therefore, the task of leading the team was given to Lu Zhaozhao.
Fortunately, after staying up late for several nights, she had almost finished handling the internal affairs of the sect.
At this moment, she stood in front of a group of disciples, looking at Elder Cang Jiong who was constantly giving instructions, but she kept yawning and couldn't help but want to lie down and take a nap on the spot.
It is said that worldly things affect cultivation. Lu Zhaozhao had not felt this before, but after experiencing this period of time, she truly understood the meaning of this sentence. These days, she really couldn't find any time to cultivate. Even if she split a quarter of an hour in half, she always felt that there was not enough time.
"Alright, I won't say anything more. Zhaozhao, now that this important task is in your hands, you must be cautious and avoid being impulsive."
Cang Jiong was familiar with Lu Zhaozhao's way of doing things. She was a gambler and liked to try her luck with small bets, using the lowest price to get the most valuable things. This approach was not necessarily wrong, and sometimes it could even achieve unexpected results, but it was not something a leader should do in a team.
Therefore, before leaving, he gave several instructions out of concern, although it seemed that he might not have listened.
After he finished speaking, Lu Zhaozhao drew her sword and pointed it straight at the Heavenly Gate. She said to the disciples behind her, "This journey is fraught with danger. If you have any concerns, you may withdraw on your own. I will not hold it against you."
The disciples behind her shouted in unison, "We are willing to follow our senior sister to slay the demons and monsters. We will not return home until we achieve victory!"
Lu Zhaozhao flashed a triumphant smile and exclaimed cheerfully, "Alright! Let's set off!"
Everyone was in high spirits, and Lu Zhaozhao looked at the atmosphere with satisfaction; this was exactly the effect she wanted.
While it's certainly right to give careful instructions, in this kind of world, young people should be even more determined to fight back, unleash their fury, and vanquish all evil.
The group quickly arrived in Pingyang and made contact with the advance team stationed in the city.
A slightly older disciple, whose cultivation was at the Nascent Soul stage, rushed over. He was covered in blood, indicating that he had just been through a fierce battle.
"Disciple Qi Lin greets Senior Sister Lu!"
His voice was firm and strong. Lu Zhaozhao quickly helped him up and asked what was wrong.
"I led my disciples to garrison Pingyang. The remaining five cities are teeming with demons. They are too numerous and their cultivation is not shallow. We simply cannot conquer them."
As he said this, Qi Lin's eyes were filled with deep resentment.
Lu Zhaozhao first comforted him, and then asked, "Who is the leader of the demons here?"
"I heard it was originally a swan maiden, a demon skilled in seductive arts, bewitching people, and its cultivation was a bit higher than mine, probably at the Nascent Soul stage."
Qi Lin revealed everything he knew, and Lu Zhaozhao lowered her eyes in deep thought.
The swan, also known as the crane, is said to be a woman who likes to dress up as a woman. Men who encounter her will be captivated by her and become obsessed with her until their life force is drained.
This seductive art reminded Lu Zhaozhao of another person.
Nan Rongrui of the Guhuoniao tribe is also skilled in calligraphy that controls the mind.
Both are from the Winged Clan, is there any connection between these two?
Thinking about it here alone won't yield any results, so Lu Zhaozhao decided to test the waters first.
As luck would have it, a disciple rushed over, saying he had an urgent report to make.
"The swan maiden has issued a challenge to you, senior sister, to a duel in front of Pingyang City in three days. If you win, she will lead her troops out of Qinghui territory; if you lose..."
The disciple was stuck, and Qi Lin couldn't help but urge him on. He then said haltingly, "If you lose, she said she would behead everyone here and hang their heads on the city gate, then eat their bodies and send them back to Qinghui."
"How outrageous!"
Before Lu Zhaozhao could express her opinion, everyone around her was filled with righteous indignation and started cursing.
Qi Lin was also filled with anger. He said to Lu Zhaozhao, "Senior sister, this must be a trap set by that witch. You can't agree to it."
"Yes, yes," the people around echoed.
Lu Zhaozhao was well aware that this trip was fraught with danger, but it was the fastest and most effective method. Hu Nu had figured out that Qinghui wanted to win a quick victory and regroup, otherwise they would only be gradually devoured.
Moreover, a victory would undoubtedly boost morale and change the perceptions of other sects towards Emperor Huizong of Qing.
Lu Zhaozhao could not refuse such a challenge.
She looked around at the disciples and a question arose in her mind.
Ying Che had been the designated leader all along, but she was changed at the last minute. Besides, her whereabouts are always kept secret, and very few people in the sect know when the team will depart or arrive.
Why is it that as soon as she arrived, the swan maiden specifically challenged her to a fight?
Could it be... that there was a traitor within Emperor Huizong's ranks?
She pondered for a moment.
So he took the urgent report and, amidst the anxious attempts of the crowd to dissuade him, spoke to the disciple who brought the report.
"Tell the messenger that I have accepted this offer."
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