Chapter 17

Bai Lingluan's voice pierced sharply through the silence, immediately drawing everyone's eyes to her. Under everyone's stares, Bai Lingluan shrank slightly but persisted, "The Eldest Young Master has been frail since childhood, and now he's gravely injured. How could we make him cough up the Dragon Core at such a critical moment? Removing a Dragon Core is no different from ripping out one's heart—how painful would that be?"
Ling Xianhong and Su Yifang didn't speak, but their expressions hinted agreement. Luo Han laughed, angered by this blatant hypocrisy. Beneath her veil, she slowly said, "Lady Bai makes it sound as if only your own son feels pain, while others don't. I understand you're thinking of your child and don't wish to return what's taken—in fact, you'd rather bury the truth completely. However, let's not forget that the Dragon Core was stolen in the first place."
No one had expected Luo Han would speak up. From the moment she'd entered, she'd seemed practically invisible. Both Ling Xianhong and Su Yifang had sensed her low cultivation level and dismissed her entirely. They'd never imagined this girl would suddenly confront them so bluntly.
The words "your own son" stabbed painfully at both Bai Lingluan and Su Yifang, even making Ling Xianhong uncomfortable. Swapping two children right under the noses of a sect full of immortals was impossible without the Clan Head's complicity. Even more ironic, Ling Xianhong knew about it, Bai Lingluan knew about it; only Su Yifang had been kept in the dark.
Whenever Su Yifang thought of all she'd endured in the last thousand years, it disgusted her deeply. Yet Ling Zhongyu was still the son she'd loved and nurtured wholeheartedly. He knew nothing; he was innocent. The ones deserving blame were Ling Xianhong and Bai Lingluan—those despicable people!
Luo Han’s words rekindled the smoldering internal conflict in the Ling family. Ling Xianhong coughed coldly, signaling Su Yifang to maintain dignity in front of outsiders.
Reluctantly, Su Yifang restrained herself. Ling Xianhong resumed the posture of Clan Head, staring down at Luo Han condescendingly: "May I ask which family this young lady belongs to? Who might your father be, that you take such interest in our Ling family's private matters?"
Ling Qingxiao immediately frowned at his father's rude inquiry and instinctively moved his hand toward his sword. "My matters are mine alone. Do not drag others into this. You've overstepped."
Alarmed, Luo Han instinctively reached out and pressed down Ling Qingxiao’s hand to stop him. He paused, surprisingly not pulling away. Everyone present stared at their connected hands, astonished.
Ignoring their reactions, Luo Han met Ling Xianhong's gaze fearlessly, smiling beneath her veil. "My family background is too insignificant to mention, and my father even less worthy of attention. It would only dirty Clan Head Ling’s ears."
She was, after all, merely a minor Heavenly Dao—barely considered a deity. Her adoptive parents, merely Heavenly Daos from another realm, weren't worth mentioning at all.
Really, it wasn't worth the trouble.
Yet Luo Han’s vague reply made Ling Xianhong more wary. He noticed the remarkable quality of her attire and the faint aura of the Bodhi Tree—a legendary divine entity—emanating from her pendant. Unsure of her origins, he hesitated to press further.
Seeing Ling Qingxiao’s hand still gripping his sword, Luo Han subtly squeezed it, silently urging him to relax.
After all, why fight when she could solve everything with words?
The steward and others were nearly dumbstruck watching Luo Han boldly controlling Ling Qingxiao. Surprisingly, Ling Qingxiao, known for his aloofness, obediently sheathed his sword.
Satisfied, Luo Han continued confidently, leveraging the full extent of her argumentative abilities as a law student: "Justice relies on impartiality. Without fairness, justice loses its meaning. Clan Head Ling, as the esteemed leader of the Ling family, surely understands this better than anyone. Once your punishment is perceived as unjust and biased, people will inevitably doubt your authority in the future. Clan Head Ling, am I wrong?"
Ling Xianhong remained silent. Luo Han continued calmly, "Of course, perhaps the Dragon Clan's rules differ from those of my hometown. But that’s no problem; we can follow the dragon way. Since the dragons respect strength above all else, let Ling Qingxiao and Ling Zhongyu settle it themselves through a duel. Whether the Dragon Core should be returned, or the matter of the severed hand settled, let the two parties involved decide. How about it?"
Upon hearing these words, the expressions of Ling Xianhong and Bai Lingluan worsened. Even at his peak, Ling Zhongyu had lost a hand to Ling Qingxiao. Now, Ling Zhongyu had just reattached his severed limb and was still recuperating—facing Ling Qingxiao in combat at this stage?
…This was absurd.
Luo Han's gaze swept across Bai Lingluan, Ling Xianhong, and Su Yifang, leaving them speechless. Experiencing an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, Luo Han leisurely added, "Since none of you seem willing, let’s take a step back. We’ll postpone the Dragon Core matter until the eldest young master fully recovers, and in the meantime, cancel Ling Qingxiao's punishment of one hundred lashes."
She deliberately scanned the hall, noticing everyone’s unhappy yet helpless expressions, and smiled with immense satisfaction, "Since none of you object, I'll assume you agree."
Luo Han turned around gracefully and said to Ling Qingxiao with casual ease, "Let’s go. I'm tired and want to go rest."
Ling Qingxiao hesitated briefly, finally understanding her intentions, and quietly followed her out. The entire hall fell into absolute silence, everyone stunned and speechless, as they watched Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao boldly leave together.
After walking far enough that they were surely out of earshot, Luo Han finally pulled Ling Qingxiao aside and whispered anxiously, "Are you crazy? A hundred lashes! Were you really planning on enduring that?"
Ling Qingxiao glanced at Luo Han. Her veil still concealed her face entirely, and though he couldn’t see her expression clearly, he somehow knew that the eyes beneath must be sparkling vividly at this moment.
"Why?" he asked softly.
"What do you mean, why?" Luo Han sighed, her voice tinged with exasperation. "You expect me to just stand by and watch you get bullied? Relax. I might be terrible at fighting, but when it comes to talking nonsense, I'm unmatched."
Luo Han raised her chin slightly, pretending to brush away a nonexistent strand of hair from her temple with exaggerated elegance. "Unfortunately, they’re just too weak—not a single one of them could stand up to me in an argument."
She thought she was being quite modest and restrained in her bragging. Ling Qingxiao, however, saw her subtle yet undeniable pride, and couldn’t help but chuckle quietly.
Luo Han paused, startled, staring at him intently. "Did you just smile?"
Instantly, Ling Qingxiao returned to his usual impassive demeanor. "No."
"Liar!" Luo Han insisted excitedly. "I clearly saw it!"
She couldn't help but marvel—this was the first time she'd seen him smile after nearly half a year spent closely by his side. Ling Qingxiao had always been cold and distant, never showing even a hint of emotion. Such a faint, fleeting smile from someone usually as cold as a statue was devastatingly attractive.
Just one glance was enough to stun her completely.
Ling Qingxiao kept his expression carefully neutral, turning away slightly as he repeated stubbornly, "You saw wrongly. I didn't smile."
Luo Han wasn't convinced at all. She quickly caught up to him, wisely choosing not to push the subject further. But deep down, she bitterly regretted not purchasing a recording crystal. If only she’d captured that rare moment of his smile, she could replay it whenever she felt down—surely it would extend her lifespan by decades.
She hurried to catch up to Ling Qingxiao, complaining softly about his suddenly rapid pace. Ling Qingxiao was still somewhat embarrassed, feeling guilty for his earlier cold reaction, and finally slowed down slightly to apologize gently to Luo Han.
The two were quietly conversing and didn't notice the approaching group ahead—familiar faces, at that.
Yun Menghan was happily hanging on Ling Zhongyu's arm, playfully chatting, when suddenly her steps faltered. Not far ahead, she spotted a pair dressed in pristine white robes, walking side by side in close conversation. The young man's profile was like carved jade, and the way he slightly leaned towards the young woman beside him was undeniably gentle. The young woman's face was hidden by a veil, but Yun Menghan knew very well the stunning beauty that lay beneath it—a beauty beyond imagination, truly unparalleled in the entire cultivation realm.
In that instant, Yun Menghan's heart sank slightly.
At the same time, Luo Han raised her head and saw the approaching duo, arching an eyebrow in genuine surprise. "Again? How is it always you two?"
She had just been preparing to discuss retrieving Ling Qingxiao's Dragon Core, but now, seeing Ling Zhongyu, naturally, the topic had to be put aside.
Ling Qingxiao and Ling Zhongyu were currently the two most talked-about figures in Zhongshan. The moment they appeared simultaneously at the square, the atmosphere instantly became electrified, rapidly attracting a growing crowd of curious onlookers.
Both brothers were famously handsome yet strikingly different in their appeal, each with dedicated admirers. Ling Qingxiao was the ice-cold, aloof prince, whereas Ling Zhongyu exuded a confident, fiery charisma. Fans of each faction had long engaged in passionate arguments about who was superior. It used to be friendly rivalry, but since the dramatic reveal of their switched identities, debates had escalated into outright hostilities.
Ling Zhongyu's supporters had previously dominated discussions by highlighting his noble birth and dual dragon lineage, dismissing Ling Qingxiao as merely an illegitimate child. However, after Ling Zhongyu's heavenly tribulation, the shocking truth behind their identities was exposed, causing chaos among their followers.
Ling Qingxiao’s return today had already ignited heated discussions. Adding to the excitement, he was accompanied by a mysterious, veiled beauty. And now, fatefully, the two brothers and their respective companions had encountered each other face to face once again.
To be precise, two pairs were confronting each other once more.
Quite obviously, there were suddenly a lot more disciples wandering around Qingning Hall, walking especially slowly. Several had even circled back multiple times. Luo Han felt helpless beneath all those eager gazes, clearly hungry for gossip.
She was merely an innocent bystander who'd accidentally become involved in this drama.
Watching this scene, Yun Menghan felt a strange sense of unease. She forced a smile and took the initiative to greet them, “Second Young Master, Miss Luo, why are you here? Are you going down the mountain too?”
Ling Qingxiao and Ling Zhongyu stared coldly at each other. Neither wished to speak; both looked like they were moments away from drawing their swords. Thus, Luo Han was forced to speak up, “No, we’re just heading to make my guest token.”
Originally, she had intended to return to her quarters, but since they were passing the Administrative Hall, Ling Qingxiao decided to help her obtain a guest pass.
At Zhongshan, disciple tokens functioned like student IDs—without one, moving around freely was impossible. Moreover, within the mountain, spirit stones weren't accepted everywhere; most places required contribution points instead.
The mountain regularly issued tasks of varying difficulties, rewarding disciples with corresponding contribution points upon completion—this was Zhongshan's official currency. Each disciple, upon admission, received a unique token containing their identity, age, cultivation level, and accumulated contribution points. Luo Han, however, wasn't a disciple, so she could only apply for a temporary visitor's token.
Since she would likely be staying at Zhongshan for some time, having a convenient method of payment was essential.
Upon hearing this, Yun Menghan looked at Ling Qingxiao in surprise. “Just such a minor thing? Isn’t this something any outer disciple can handle? Why would...” Why would the cold and distant second young master personally accompany someone to do such a trivial errand?
Could it be that even Ling Qingxiao was drawn to beauty like those ordinary, superficial male disciples?
Yun Menghan was stunned. The surrounding crowd was equally shocked upon hearing that the Second Young Master personally accompanied a girl just to get a token. Luo Han had traveled alongside Ling Qingxiao for the past half year and felt it was completely normal. Confused, she replied, “Is there something unusual about it? Aren’t the two of you also together?”
“How can that be the same?” Yun Menghan blurted out, startling even herself. Indeed, why wasn't it the same? She didn't want to go down the mountain alone, so she'd asked Ling Zhongyu to accompany her, seeing nothing inappropriate about it. So why did she find it strange when it involved Ling Qingxiao?
Realizing her slip, Yun Menghan hurriedly explained, “I'm going down the mountain to select a magical artifact. Since I don’t have much experience and there are many hidden pitfalls, I troubled the Eldest Young Master.”
“Oh,” Luo Han replied casually. “I'm new here, so I don't have experience either.”
Yun Menghan fell silent, unsure why she was insisting on this matter—it made her seem petty, as if deliberately targeting Luo Han. Seeing Yun Menghan’s mood turn sour, Ling Zhongyu's temper flared, prompting him to speak up, “Second brother is indeed calm. You're about to face punishment, yet you still have time to leisurely accompany a woman to handle trivial matters. Your elder brother is truly impressed.”
Ling Qingxiao replied indifferently, “You flatter me, brother. However, there is no punishment.”
Ling Zhongyu’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “What?”
Realizing his reaction had revealed too much, he quickly masked his expression, trying to recover. “If Second Brother faces no punishment, that’s naturally for the best. Yet, Father values hierarchy and discipline so highly—how could he possibly spare you after you've injured someone?”
“No punishment.” Ling Qingxiao’s gaze coldly flickered toward Ling Zhongyu's newly reattached right hand. Immediately, Ling Zhongyu felt an uncomfortable ache, as if the wound had reopened.
With a perfectly calm tone, Ling Qingxiao said, “It seems Eldest Young Master’s recovery is progressing well. Congratulations. May you heal soon.”
Then, he would reclaim what was rightfully his.
Ling Qingxiao always kept his word. Even though he hadn’t explicitly stated it today, he would patiently wait for Ling Zhongyu’s full recovery. He would not take advantage of someone’s injury, but he also wouldn’t yield something that belonged to him.
He would wait patiently for the day Ling Zhongyu fully recovered.