Vengeance shall be served!*

"Is that so? Well then, how about we retrieve your belongings together?"

"Huh?"

Jianyu wore a playful smile as he contemplated exploring the various sectors of the sect, while Mo Suyin appeared utterly bewildered.

"B-but the distance between my abode and the peak is a bit too large, there's no need for youn- Brother Jianyu to trouble yourself."

"There is no need for Miss Suyin to worry about that; we can just ride my flying sword."

"Huh? Wait for a second! H-have you perhaps reached the f-f-foundation establishment realm?!"

"Hm? Well, of course, how else would I fly this?"

Jianyu answered Mo Suyin's doubts while pointing at the flying sword with a black blade and indigo hilt that he took out of his spatial storage ring. The flying sword gleamed with an otherworldly aura, its blade carved with intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer with energy, causing Mo Suyin's eyes to widen in shock.

'A foundation establishment realm expert at the age of 12?! What kind of talent is this?!'

Mo Suyin found herself astonished once more. Today, it seemed, was filled with surprises.

"Get on, Miss Soyin."

Jianyu gestured for Mo Suyin to get on his treasure sword as he stood upon it.

"Umm... Are you going to go like this?"

Mo Suyin pointed to Jianyu as she asked him hesitantly.

"Like this? What do you mean by this?"

Jianyu looked at his clothes, a rich and intricate robe that seemed to shift colors with the light, embroidered with symbols emanating an enigmatic aura.

"Do you not have to change into your disciple robes?"

"Not really, there is no need for that. I am accorded the same privileges as a direct disciple of a grand elder, allowing me to wear attire of my choice."

In the hierarchical structure of the Profound Heavens sect, disciples of different levels had to wear distinct uniforms mandated by the sect. Core disciples were granted a limited degree of customization, while direct disciples of high-ranking elders enjoyed even more leeway.

"A direct disciple..." Mo Suyin couldn't help but feel a pang of envy, as she was but an outer sect disciple with no hopes of entering the inner sect.

"Shall we proceed, then?"

Jianyu once again invited Mo Suyin to ride upon the flying sword.

"...yes."

'I haven't practiced riding a flying sword in this life... But, what could go wrong, It's just a mere flying sword after all.'

Jianyu, burdened with preparations for the disciple acceptance ceremony in the past year, had little leeway to practice flying on his flying sword. However, as a reincarnated Dao realm ancestor, his pride refused to believe that he could be incapable of such a trifling matter, and even in the worst-case scenario what could even go wrong?

A lot. A lot could go wrong.

...

...

...

"Kyaaaaaaaaaa!!"

A piercing scream echoed through the serene atmosphere of Lunar Frost Yin Peak. It cut through the tranquil ambiance like a sharp blade. The source of this commotion was a swift-moving silhouette, darting down the mountainside at a breathtaking pace.

As the turbulent descent reached its conclusion, Jianyu brought his flying sword to a halt. He extended a hand to help Mo Suyin, who clung to his robes as though her life depended on it. Her eyes, glistening with a mixture of fear and indignation, locked onto Jianyu's.

'I-I can't be at fault here. I had no way of knowing this would happen, especially given that I no longer needed a treasure sword once I reached the Immortal Realm. There must be some issue with this sword, undoubtedly!'

Clearing his throat to break the silence, Jianyu proposed, "Shall we continue our journey on foot from here, Miss Suyin?"

Mo Suyin nodded in agreement, her voice momentarily stolen by the recent tumultuous ride. The unspoken tension hung in the air, as neither spoke after what had just happened

...

...

...

With Jianyu leading the way, a few paces ahead of Mo Suyin, they embarked on foot toward their destination. Suddenly, Jianyu came to a halt, turning his attention toward Mo Suyin.

"Miss Suyin," he spoke, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

"Yes?" Mo Suyin asked, tilting her head curiously.

Jianyu cleared his throat awkwardly, his cheeks flushing with a hint of crimson. "Could you, perhaps, lead the way? I'm not quite familiar with the route to the outer court of the sect..."

"Pfft...!" Suppressing a laugh, Mo Suyin responded, "Of course, Brother Jianyu~" Her amusement was evident as she watched Jianyu struggle with his delicate pride.

Jianyu's embarrassment intensified, his cheeks aflame, as he stood there biting his lips, utterly mortified by the situation he had inadvertently created. His discomfort seemed to feed Mo Suyin's amusement as she finally succumbed to laughter.

"Hahaha," Mo Suyin's laughter rang out, unable to be contained any longer. 

"So, can you do it or not?!" Jianyu, feeling even more embarrassed, averted his gaze to emphasize his displeasure.

Her laughter only served to deepen Jianyu's embarrassment, and he retorted, "Just get going already!"

'I take it back, this woman isn't a gold mine, she's just annoying.'

Mo Suyin, finding Jianyu's reactions thoroughly amusing, maintained an amused expression as she continued to tease him. "There's no need to be sulking about this, Brother Jianyu."

"I am not sulking!!" Jianyu protested, his frustration apparent in his voice.

"Is that so? Hehe," Mo Suyin mirthfully responded, stifling a giggle behind her sleeves.

"You...!"

Jianyu was so exasperated at how quickly this woman did a 180 on her personality, that he decided to ignore it completely...

'Sigh, this trip to the outer court's will most certainly cause me a headache...'

...

...

...

'Well, this isn't quite as bad as I imagined it to be.' 

"Why is that person not wearing sect's robes?"

"Shh! That person is a direct disciple, be respectful to him!"

As Jianyu continued his leisurely stroll, he couldn't help but enjoy the attention he received. Every few steps, someone would offer a respectful salute, reaffirming his status as a direct disciple. This glorification provided a boost to his ego, making the walk rather enjoyable.

Mo Suyin, on the other hand, felt increasingly out of place as she walked beside Jianyu. 

She couldn't help but overhear the hushed conversations around her, 'Why is that girl walking with him?' or 'Why is that waste wood with young lord Jianyu?'

People wondered why she, a seemingly insignificant outer sect disciple, was accompanying the esteemed young lord Jianyu. The murmurs grew louder, and she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to lower her head and endure the whispers.

Now, if this was a novel the protagonist would've called out to Mo Suyin, held her hand, and helped her relax. However, Jianyu had always been quite a petty person, especially whenever it involved his petty pride and thus he relished her anguish.

"Heh~"

...

...

...

'Why is that person not wearing sect's robes?'

'Shh! That person is a direct disciple, be respectful to him!'

'Why is that girl walking with him?' 

'Why is that waste wood with young lord Jianyu?'

As they continued their journey, Mo Suyin couldn't help but overhear the comments and whispers from the people around her. It was a familiar feeling, one she had experienced many times in her life. She instinctively lowered her head, attempting to shield herself from the harsh judgments and cruel remarks. This was the way she had lived, remaining quiet and unassuming, for as long as she could remember.

However, on this particular day, she had harbored a glimmer of hope. She believed that her encounter with Jianyu would mark the beginning of a new chapter in her life, one where she could escape the shadows of her past and prove her worth. But the reality was harsh, and disappointment washed over her.

Negative thoughts surged through her mind like a relentless tide threatening to drown her in despair. 

'What if... I can still not cultivate... would I be abandoned?'

What if her condition prevented her from ever cultivating? Would she be abandoned once more, cast aside like she had been by her family and the sect?

"Heh~"

Amid this internal turmoil, she heard a soft chuckle, and her attention turned to Jianyu. His teasing expression, rather than adding to her discomfort, seemed to carry a genuine effort to cheer her up. 

'Is he... trying to cheer me up?'

A warmth began to bloom within her chest, and Mo Suyin couldn't help but respond with a warm smile of her own.

...

Jianyu's plan for a bit of payback seemed to be unfolding perfectly. However, his triumph was short-lived as Mo Suyin responded with a warm smile. Her smile was genuine, a reflection of her appreciation for his attempts to lift her spirits.

However, Jianyu's face froze, caught off guard by her smile. He had expected an ashamed, hesitant reaction, not this warm and genuine response. His internal monologue was filled with frustration. 'Urkk! This lying chameleon!' 

As they continued their journey, Jianyu decided to take matters into his own hands. Instead of asking Lei Qiang to give them a ride back on the flying sword, he chose to operate it himself. Revenge was on his mind, and he was determined to put Mo Suyin through the same harrowing experience as the one earlier.

"Kyaaaaa!" Another scream echoed through Lunar Frost Yin Peak as the flying sword sped through the skies, with Mo Suyin once again clutching onto Jianyu's clothes for dear life. 

Jianyu was relentless in his mission to exact revenge, and he was determined to enjoy every moment of it.