Chapter Thirty-One Rouge

After returning to the Celestial Vein Hall from the Sky-Cleaving Cliff with Senior Brother Yun Fa, Yun Ling found that Elder Yun Fa had already reported the recent events to Deputy Sect Leader Yun Kong. The most crucial clue was, of course, the words spoken by Dong Zixuan before his death: “Seems like the Cold Monk.”

Within the Celestial Vein Hall, Elder Yun Kong pondered with a grave expression. The dim light of age in his eyes suddenly sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, “Junior Sister, find a time today to investigate.” Though brief, his words left no doubt as to his intentions.

Yun Ling nodded firmly. “Rest assured, leave it to me.” With that, she turned and left the hall, leaving only Yun Kong and Yun Fa to exchange silent glances.

Freed from all constraints atop Yun Jun Peak, Yun Ling’s eyes flashed with a hint of killing intent. In that instant, her entire body surged with spiritual energy, the force tightening her black robe and accentuating her graceful figure.

Mo Bai, though on guard, found himself strangely appreciative; he smiled gently, as though gazing at a beloved, his bearing seeming to transcend the mundane world.

Yun Ling gathered her Celestial Dao energy to its peak, unwilling to yield further. With a clear cry, she shot toward Mo Bai like a sword unleashed. Her Ling Leap technique reached its zenith; with a rush, her spirit-infused hand struck straight at Mo Bai’s throat. Mo Bai’s left hand swept out, sending a ribbon of pale blue energy colliding with hers. With a thunderous boom, both retreated several steps.

Yet Yun Ling clearly had no intention to stop. Multicolored Celestial Dao energy burst forth again as the two clashed—one attacking, one defending—in midair above Yun Jun Peak, sparks flying with every exchange.

Suddenly, Yun Ling leapt back and pressed her palms together. In her hands, a magnificent and immense sword of light formed, which she brought down upon Mo Bai with overwhelming force. The spiritual energy whipped the forests on either side of the peak into a frenzy, exuding a tyrannical might. No one would have expected such ferocity from a woman—Yun Ling was truly worthy of her place among the Six of Cloudsky Sect.

Mo Bai’s expression shifted. His right hand formed a seal, and a spinning orb of wind gathered in his palm. As the wind sphere reached unparalleled intensity, Yun Ling’s great sword arrived. With a sudden swing, Mo Bai launched the wind sphere, accompanied by a dragon’s roar, to meet the descending blade. The resulting explosion shook the entire peak.

Yun Ling turned pale. “The Grand Jade Conch Technique! I never thought you’d know one of our Cloudsky Sect’s secret arts!”

Hovering in the air, Mo Bai smiled. “You flatter me, Sister Yun Ling. Your Celestial Dao Sword is truly formidable.”

Yun Ling’s expression hardened. “Though the Grand Jade Conch Technique is indeed powerful, if you know our sect’s arts, you must also know which can restrain it.”

Mo Bai appeared unconcerned. “But with your forceful style, Sister Yun Ling, it must be difficult to employ a soft-overcoming-hard technique, no? The Grand Jade Conch and your Celestial Dao energy both belong to the path of force—destroying foes with sheer power.”

Yun Ling laughed wildly. “That only shows, Mo Bai, that you don’t know why someone my age can stand among the Six of Cloudsky. Prepare yourself!” With one hand she continued to wield the Celestial Dao Sword against Mo Bai’s Grand Jade Conch Technique, while her other hand moved gently, releasing a subtle, ethereal energy. Though not as pure as Elder Yun Tong's, it made Mo Bai’s eyes widen in surprise; he had not expected that someone in the sect had already mastered running two entirely different supreme energies simultaneously!

For a spiritual cultivator to become a true master, one must possess a unique spiritual energy—using it to cultivate mind and body, increase power, and drive various techniques. To master a single type of energy to perfection is already rare; yet Yun Ling could blend two major branches of the sect’s spiritual energy at once—truly extraordinary.

Her deft hand flicked, sending a formless breeze toward Mo Bai’s Grand Jade Conch. Mo Bai’s eyes narrowed—he recognized it as the Willow Smoke Technique, driven by Cloudlight energy. When Master Yun had taught him the Grand Jade Conch, he’d warned that the Willow Smoke’s softness was its perfect counter. It was a technique the founders had developed to prevent betrayal within Cloudsky Sect.

That subtle breeze drifted ghostlike beside the Grand Jade Conch, even making the Celestial Dao Sword tremble. A faint smile touched Yun Ling’s lips—victory seemed assured. But in the next instant, Mo Bai released the Grand Jade Conch, which retreated as if commanded, leaving the Celestial Dao Sword unrestrained and whistling toward Mo Bai in a storm.

The Grand Jade Conch spun quickly back to Mo Bai’s side. His hands moved, and a golden bell emerged from thin air—humming with power. Yun Ling’s heart skipped; she knew this move well—it was the Four-Phase Golden Bell, the Cold Monk’s signature technique. So, he truly did possess the Cold Monk’s skills. Yun Ling found what she was searching for, yet an inexplicable sense of loss welled up within her, though it had no time to take root before her body was suddenly jarred.

Yun Ling’s heart pounded with alarm. The Four-Phase Golden Bell was formidable, but her Celestial Dao Sword was no less so. Why then did she feel such dread? Mo Bai’s right hand moved, and the Grand Jade Conch spun once more, shooting from the bell’s mouth. The transformation left Yun Ling astonished.

Borrowing the power of the Four-Phase Golden Bell, the Grand Jade Conch shattered the Celestial Dao Sword’s brilliance, and the bell’s spin dispersed the Willow Smoke Technique entirely.

Mo Bai had defeated her with a single move.

In the next moment, as the Grand Jade Conch closed in on Yun Ling, Mo Bai’s form shifted—he was suddenly before her. With a casual wave, the Grand Jade Conch vanished like a well-behaved child. Now, face-to-face, Yun Ling felt uneasy and moved slightly, but this only deepened the blush on her cheeks. Her full breasts, already accentuated by the tight black robe, pressed directly into Mo Bai’s arms with her movement.

Mo Bai slipped an arm around her slender waist and smiled. “Sister Yun Ling, your skills are remarkable.”

Enveloped in Mo Bai’s masculine presence, Yun Ling was momentarily dazed, her body growing soft and a warm current flowing through her. “What… what are you going to do?” She seemed to forget that she’d been the one to provoke Mo Bai.

“What am I going to do? Don’t you know, Sister Yun Ling?” Mo Bai teased.

“Scoundrel!” Yun Ling spat, but even she could hear the coquettish undertone in her voice.

Mo Bai leaned closer, the scar at his brow twitching. The next instant, his lips pressed firmly to hers. Yun Ling felt as if struck by lightning, the world spinning around her. After thirty years of spiritual cultivation, she finally broke free from the prison of perfection, becoming a true woman. Unconsciously, her arms wrapped around Mo Bai’s strong shoulders. Just moments ago, they had fought desperately; now, they embraced with unexpected tenderness.

The black robe was no longer a cloak of the night, but a veil of mystery. As it slipped away, it revealed fragrant, trembling shoulders—exquisite and captivating. Her delicate jade curves, shy yet eager, quivered with anticipation.

On Yun Jun Peak, in the gentle breeze, a flush of rouge bloomed. Yun Ling’s face was awash with crimson as she gazed at the man before her, her eyes brimming with love. Mo Bai gently tidied her tousled hair.

Suddenly, Yun Ling grasped his hand and asked mournfully, “Will you hate me?”

Mo Bai was taken aback—this was perhaps what he should have asked her. An unexpected sense of crisis welled within him, yet he had no wish to evade it. Mo Bai was human, and all humans have their weaknesses.

Just as Yun Ling finished speaking, her face shifted abruptly, and two streams of unbelievable spiritual energy burst forth, flowing into Mo Bai’s body like a current. In the next instant, Mo Bai found himself utterly unable to move.