Cultivation through Skin Making

Not long after, Little Miss Yuzhuang returned with drinks, three portions of a hundred-fruit drink. Because it included some rare fruits and used some secret recipe from a famous Jianghu doctor, the soup base required days and nights of simmering, so it was quite expensive.

She had already noticed Su Yao and thought she was a friend of the master, so she took the liberty of bringing a portion for her as well.

But Su Yao shook her head, as she had not had anything sweet for a long time.

The bitterness in her heart couldn't be swallowed with sweetness, could it?

"I will notify the Elders of our sect first." Su Yao stood up.

Song Yan said, "Don't forget the matter you promised me."

Su Yao coldly replied, "I guarantee it with my life."

Song Yan said, speechless, "Don't make it about life or death... just take it seriously."

Su Yao turned and left.

Song Yan took out a jade pendant he had previously and handed it to Cao Yuzhuang, leaned over, and whispered, "Her name is Su Yao, the seventh Miss of the Southern Wu Sword Sect's Su Family. If you enter the Wu Kingdom with this jade pendant, someone will take you to see her, and she will take care of you."

Little Miss Yuzhuang, who was focused on enjoying her fruit mix, was suddenly presented with "an extremely unexpected piece of information," leaving her wide-eyed and confused.

Song Yan said, "Remember what I said."

Little Miss Yuzhuang nodded blankly.

Song Yan said, "Repeat it."

Little Miss Yuzhuang was only mentally frozen, not foolish, so she lightly repeated what Song Yan had just said.

Song Yan was finally satisfied, saying, "Hide the jade pendant well."

Little Miss Yuzhuang nodded and carefully hid the jade pendant, then furrowed her brows tightly and began to ponder deeply. She really didn't know under what circumstances she would need to use this jade pendant or what the master meant by giving it to her.

Eight years of hellish life had long made her give up any thoughts of escape; anything that could help her escape seemed like a test.

In the early years, she had tried to escape. Once, there was no one on the road down the mountain, her sister leading her step by step. They were about to reach the mountain gate when a commotion arose behind them.

Her sister knew some martial arts, so she desperately protected her, waving a weapon while shouting, "Run, run fast."

She ran desperately, escaping in panic, but in the end... she was still caught and brought back. The wicked Demon Sect female disciple pricked her skin bit by bit with a needle. The needle was laced with a poison that was excruciatingly painful, and she screamed in agony while the Demon Sect disciple mockingly smiled and told her, "It's all a test for you, if you didn't run, nothing would happen."

Gradually, she adapted. She had long thought of herself as a humble, lowly ant that was afraid of death, living day by day. As for how long she could live, it entirely depended on the master's will, so she must earnestly please the master and listen to his words.

She believed she had tried very hard to please Song Yan, and Song Yan's attitude towards her showed that "she had scored very high in this exam of pleasing," and she was sure she could live a long time.

But what did this jade pendant mean?

Was it the master trying to test if she would run away?

Cao Yuzhuang's little mind began complex deliberations.

Song Yan glanced into the distance, suddenly thinking of something. He looked around, stopping at a single-plank bridge in Cold Pool Valley not far away.

Due to the layout of the market, many stone benches were set up around the bridge, surrounded by colorful lights crafted by ingenious Jianghu artisans. The five-color lights illuminating the surrounding Profound Grass Spirit Flowers added a touch of elegance.

"Yuzhuang, there will be guests later, sit over there and eat." Song Yan said as he took out some gold beans and a Profound Jade Bean, "Once you're done eating, wander around the area. Come back when I call you."

Cao Yuzhuang felt it was likely because the master found her a nuisance, so she hurriedly took her fruit mix and the "spending money given by the master" and walked away.

She had not walked far when several people rushed to the end of the street.

Leading them was a middle-aged man, dressed in fine robes with a jade belt, kindly and smiling, while Su Yao hung at the end among the few behind him.

The middle-aged man approached Song Yan, examined him briefly, then collected his smile and earnestly said, "Brother Song, you've had it hard."

Song Yan got up and said, "Greetings to Elder Sun."

The two immediately sat down.

Elder Sun said nothing more, only lamenting the difficulties Song Yan had endured, then expanded to the hardships of undercover operatives, occasionally self-reproachfully expressing that "the sect owes these old brothers and will certainly make amends in the future."

Song Yan was a bit speechless...

The person in front of him lacked sincerity.

He still preferred the way Su Yao spoke.

Cold as she was, when such a person spoke insincere and hypocritical words, first and foremost, they would reflect self-disdain in their own eyes.

Previously, his impression of the Nanwu Sword Sect remained with people like "Su Yao" and "Mr. Su San," and these people matched his understanding of the Righteous Dao, thinking, "It truly is a sect with integrity that is admirable."

Because of this, even after he entered the Imperial Capital and fell into the hands of Grandma Fox, he still helped the "Fox Stabbing Alliance" dig a pit for Grandma Fox as best as he could. In fact, afterward, the "Fox Stabbing Alliance" indeed gained the upper hand, but due to inferior skills, they failed.

Now, Elder Sun's behavior made him realize: there are never only one voice in any force.

On the other side, after saying a lot of what he thought could express sincerity, Elder Sun waved his hand, signaling the surrounding people to step back, then leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Little Song, it's time."