Chapter 20

A gentle breeze circled Luo Han’s finger, lifting her sleeve softly. This subtle motion was clearly unnatural.
The change was extremely slight, unnoticed by anyone except Luo Han.
In that instant, Luo Han understood what had happened back in the Abyss of Absolute Spirit. Those strange currents of wind that attacked people weren't monsters; they were driven by the lingering will of a deity.
Apparently, that lingering will had observed her for quite some time. The Divine Realm had been sealed for millions of years, and suddenly two people fell in, one bearing the aura of divine law. Naturally, it would attract attention.
But Luo Han was young and inexperienced in manipulating such forces, especially compared to the deity’s lingering consciousness. The tiny gust dissipated quickly. She calmed herself again, preparing to summon her divine power once more, when suddenly someone grabbed her arm and pulled her away urgently. “Yayou is heading this way—it’s dangerous!”
Feeling someone suddenly grab her, Luo Han recoiled immediately, goosebumps rising on her skin. She quickly broke free from Ling Zhongyu’s grip and stared at him coldly through her veil. "Young Master Ling, mind your own business!"
Ling Zhongyu had indeed been keeping an eye on Luo Han—beauties always attracted special attention. He had lifted her veil before merely out of curiosity, but the face beneath had stunned him deeply.
Even though her eyes had been covered by white silk back then, just her revealed lower face was unforgettable. Now, seeing Luo Han again up close, Ling Zhongyu wondered if the white silk was still there. What kind of eyes could match that incomparable beauty?
Nearby, Su Yinyue stood watchfully by Ling Zhongyu’s side. Noticing his focused gaze on Luo Han, she instantly grew uneasy. Before she could react, Ling Zhongyu had already moved away, grabbing Luo Han’s arm protectively.
Though Luo Han immediately broke free, Ling Zhongyu’s intentions were unmistakable. Su Yinyue’s heart sank. Ignoring the danger, she quickly ran forward, urgently clutching Ling Zhongyu’s sleeve. "Cousin!" she pleaded softly. "Yayou is coming. It’s too dangerous here."
Su Yinyue repeated her usual trick, pressing a hand to her chest and coughing weakly. This move had always succeeded against Yun Menghan. But strangely, this time Ling Zhongyu didn’t even glance at her.
Instead, Ling Zhongyu kept staring intently at Luo Han, seemingly determined to see the face hidden beneath her veil. His eyes were aggressive as he spoke. "Miss Luo, if I’m not mistaken, your cultivation is quite low. Yayou has been sealed here by Zhongshan under Heaven’s mandate for ages; it’s far more dangerous than you imagine. With your weak cultivation, approaching it is suicide. I'm only trying to help."
"Help me?" Luo Han retorted sarcastically, angered by his presumption. "You'd help me best by staying far away. It’s my choice to go to Ling Qingxiao—whether I live or die, it’s none of your concern."
"You—!" Ling Zhongyu’s expression darkened, clearly angered by her bluntness. "You don’t know what’s good for you! Stop causing trouble and come back with me."
As he moved to grab her again, Luo Han instantly stepped back, loudly shouting, "Ling Qingxiao!"
At almost the exact moment she shouted, a line of ice spikes suddenly descended from the sky, blocking Ling Zhongyu’s hand. Luo Han retreated quickly, barely standing steady before Ling Qingxiao himself landed protectively before her.
In a smooth, natural motion, Ling Qingxiao shielded Luo Han, his sword instantly pointed straight at Ling Zhongyu’s throat. "Do you wish to lose that hand again?"
Gasps rang throughout the crowd at Wentian Gate. Ling Qingxiao openly threatening Ling Zhongyu left everyone speechless. No one dared to interfere, only watching silently from a distance.
Seeing Ling Qingxiao openly defy him in front of so many disciples, Ling Zhongyu was furious. "Unfilial, disrespectful brat! I'm your elder brother—how dare you defy me openly?"
"Elder and younger? Respect?" Ling Qingxiao stared coldly, his voice sharp as a blade. "In the Dragon Clan, only strength matters. You’re talking about filial piety and respect with me?"
Su Yinyue’s heart trembled. It was exactly this cold, ruthless gaze that Ling Qingxiao had when he had mercilessly cut off Ling Zhongyu’s hand. Though it had been reattached, the spray of blood in that instant left her with lingering fear.
This man was a lunatic!
Su Yinyue hurriedly grabbed Ling Zhongyu’s sleeve, anxiously urging, "Cousin, let’s leave quickly."
The moment Ling Qingxiao had sensed Ling Zhongyu approaching Luo Han, he summoned an icy water dragon to temporarily restrain Yayou. Only then did he rush back to Luo Han's side.
He had promised Luo Han he would protect her for a thousand years, and he had no intention of breaking his word, no matter what.
After all, Yayou was an ancient, fearsome beast. The ice dragon could restrain it temporarily, but not permanently. Soon, cracks spread across the ice, and it shattered with a loud crash. Ling Zhongyu, seeing Yayou free again, no longer dared to stay close and quickly retreated with Su Yinyue.
No beauty was worth his life. Ling Zhongyu had warned Luo Han merely out of pity; since she didn't appreciate his kindness, it served her right to face death.
Watching Ling Zhongyu immediately retreat at the first sign of danger, Luo Han couldn't help but mutter, "He's quick to run, afraid of dying, after all."
Ling Qingxiao didn't comment. Time was running short; disregarding his usual aversion to physical contact, he grabbed Luo Han's arm. "Hold tight, I'll send you away first."
"No!" Luo Han firmly grabbed his hand instead. "I can help you."
Ling Qingxiao remained unmoved. "You’ll help me most by staying somewhere safe."
"But isn't the safest place right by your side?"
The words escaped Luo Han before she realized it. Ling Qingxiao was momentarily stunned. But by now, Yayou had completely freed itself from the ice and, enraged, charged at Ling Qingxiao. Realizing there was no time left, Ling Qingxiao could only sigh helplessly, "Be careful. Don't move from here."
He then turned around, a sword strike surging forward with a clear, dragon-like roar. Ling Qingxiao swiftly established a protective barrier around Luo Han, then soared upward, directly confronting Yayou head-on.
From afar, Ling Zhongyu watched in surprise as Ling Qingxiao faced the beast without hesitation. "Ice Dragon Binding severely drains spiritual energy. He has no dragon core—how can he still have power left?"
Ling Zhongyu had originally chosen not to intervene precisely because he knew Ling Qingxiao lacked a dragon core. Without sufficient spiritual energy, Ling Qingxiao would quickly tire himself out. At that point, Ling Zhongyu would step in, effortlessly finishing off the weakened beast and claiming all the glory. If Ling Qingxiao insisted on showing off, Ling Zhongyu didn't mind letting him, as long as everyone saw who the true master of Zhongshan was.
However, Ling Qingxiao's reserves of spiritual energy were unexpectedly deep, and his swordsmanship far exceeded Ling Zhongyu’s expectations.
Yet, regardless, even a fully powered dragon clan member would need rest after casting Ice Dragon Binding. Such a technique instantly consumed more than half of the dragon core's energy, and its consumption doubled exponentially with the spell’s strength. Binding a beast as powerful as Yayou required enormous spiritual energy. Ling Zhongyu, who had two dragon cores, would never risk casting it. Yet Ling Qingxiao not only cast it but was now boldly engaging Yayou in close combat.
If Ling Zhongyu hadn't absorbed Ling Qingxiao’s dragon core himself, he might've suspected that Ling Qingxiao never lost it. Removing a dragon's core was akin to removing a human heart. How could someone who lost their "heart" still fight so fiercely?
This realization was deeply unsettling.
Ling Zhongyu's expression turned dark. Ling Qingxiao was a reckless lunatic, but Luo Han was also standing dangerously close to the battle. Such proximity was risky even for experienced disciples, let alone someone without cultivation. Luo Han simply stood there, not moving an inch. Did she even realize that the slightest mistake could cost her life?
Of course, Luo Han knew her position was dangerous. Ling Qingxiao had placed a protective barrier around her before leaving, and now Yayou's flames battered against it, creating a surreal spectacle. This was the first time Luo Han had stood so close to a battlefield and personally experienced the terrifying power of Yayou.
Yet, knowing Ling Qingxiao stood in front of her, she felt no fear. She could clearly guess Ling Zhongyu’s intentions—letting Ling Qingxiao exhaust himself fighting Yayou, then swooping in afterward to seize the victory and credit.
Calculating, selfish, and shameless.
Luo Han scoffed inwardly. Ling Zhongyu wanted to pretend to be weak only to gain advantage; she'd ensure he truly became powerless. Luo Han steadied her breathing, trying to recall the sensation she'd experienced earlier, hoping to regain control over the wind.
Ling Qingxiao, without his dragon core, couldn't sustain a long battle. He needed to end this quickly. However, fighting alone severely limited him. If Luo Han could control the beast even briefly, Ling Qingxiao could focus on a decisive attack.
Flames kept falling around her, each one blocked by the invisible barrier. Only when fire collided with it did the barrier reveal itself momentarily—a beautiful ice-blue snowflake pattern appearing against the fiery rain.
There were too many distractions around her, so Luo Han closed her eyes entirely, cutting off her senses, concentrating solely on the energy flow around her.
Eyes could see colors, ears could hear sounds, noses could smell scents, but these were merely external appearances. Only by discarding them could one observe the fundamental rules beneath.
The core of this world was energy.
Luo Han slowly sensed the energy in each gust of wind, each leaf, each blooming flower, gradually entering a mysterious state of understanding.
In this state, she "saw" countless bright, colorful points of light scattered through the world, roughly categorized into five colors representing metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Amidst this radiant energy, majestic palaces turned into semi-transparent grey outlines, through which everything inside became clearly visible. Countless disciples stood forming a large semicircle, each one glowing with unique brightness and colors, signifying their cultivation levels and elemental affinities. At the center, Yayou rampaged, shrouded in violent black-red energy.
Among them all, Ling Qingxiao shone the brightest, surrounded by a brilliant icy-blue light so dazzling it appeared white. Around him floated countless blue energy particles. With each sword swing, large amounts of blue spiritual energy condensed, compressed, and launched outward—beautiful and lethal.
Despite Yayou's imposing size, its internal energy movements were plainly visible to Luo Han. Observing these flows closely allowed her to predict the beast's next moves clearly.
Luo Han sensed something, moving her fingers slightly. The surrounding spiritual energy condensed into a thin, delicate thread. As she attempted to control it, Yayou suddenly attacked Ling Qingxiao with its massive claw, unintentionally exposing its vital point.
Instead of dodging, Ling Qingxiao charged forward, clearly intending to endure Yayou's strike for a chance to land a decisive blow.
Luo Han's heart tightened. She reacted instinctively, not even pausing to think. With a sudden surge of determination, she commanded the spiritual energy around Yayou's claw, forming a rope that intercepted its attack.
Yayou was confused by the unexpected obstruction. It missed its strike, and Ling Qingxiao seized the opportunity to land a severe blow. The beast roared furiously, its voice unleashing waves of destructive energy, shaking the ground and causing many disciples to stumble.
Ling Qingxiao immediately sensed something unusual. He knew he hadn't interfered—this sudden energy fluctuation had clearly come from Luo Han. Slightly surprised, he hesitated briefly, but before he could speak, Yayou's roar turned into blazing fire aimed directly at Ling Qingxiao and Luo Han. Worried that the protective barrier might fail, Ling Qingxiao swiftly retreated, standing guard in front of Luo Han.
Yayou, a savage and bloodthirsty creature without true intelligence, relied purely on instinct. To it, humans were mere insects. But now, having been injured by one of these insects, it burned with rage. It had marked Ling Qingxiao as its enemy, along with Luo Han.
The pressure on their barrier suddenly intensified. Flames battered relentlessly against it, almost without pause. Luo Han anxiously wondered if the barrier would hold, when a sudden chill spread through the air beside her. Ling Qingxiao had returned, reinforcing the barrier with a powerful hand gesture, instantly stabilizing the shield with a surge of brilliant light.
All Luo Han’s anxiety vanished in that instant. She hurriedly moved closer, asking with concern, “Are you alright?”
She had no idea that Ling Qingxiao’s inner pearl had been restored, and thus still regarded him as severely injured—someone essentially fighting without a heart. Luo Han watched him anxiously, knowing he was performing dual roles: attacker and decoy. Seeing him in such danger filled her with fear.
Ling Qingxiao shook his head lightly, not discussing his condition further. Instead, he asked, "Was that you just now?"
Despite the vagueness of his words, Luo Han instantly understood. “Yes, but I’m not sure how I did it. It worked one moment and failed the next.”
Ling Qingxiao glanced at her briefly, finally sighing in resignation. "I told you to memorize those cultivation formulas carefully, yet you always slack off. I've taught you this Wind-Control Technique before."
Luo Han raised an eyebrow doubtfully. "Did you?"
"Yes." Ling Qingxiao sighed again helplessly. "Forget it. Explaining is useless now—I'll demonstrate again."
Ling Qingxiao swiftly formed a mystical seal with his hands, softly chanting, "Heaven and earth align, sweet rain descends. Heaven’s path completes; three and five unite, sun and moon appear—let the wind rise."
As his words fell, wind abruptly surged around them, forming a long whip of condensed spiritual energy that bound Yayou’s limbs. Ling Qingxiao leaped into the air along with this gust, asking, "Did you memorize it?"
"No, I didn't!" Luo Han scrambled to replicate Ling Qingxiao’s hand gestures, awkwardly controlling the whip. "Wait, what's the next hand gesture?"
Nearby, Ling Zhongyu watched the battle unfold with a dark expression. Su Yinyue, standing beside him, asked in confusion, "What are they doing?"
Ling Zhongyu wondered the same thing. Observing carefully, they noticed Luo Han forming hand seals—clearly, the Wind-Control Technique.
Su Yinyue’s confusion deepened. "Wind-Control Technique? Does she really think she can use spiritual energy to restrain a beast?"
Su Yinyue found it increasingly absurd. Luo Han’s gestures were clumsy, clearly amateurish—she wasn’t even doing the basics correctly. How could she hope to control spiritual energy against a powerful creature?
Each technique required chants and specific hand seals for precise energy control. Mastering these basics alone required months, even years, of practice. Su Yinyue herself had cultivated diligently for centuries, yet still couldn't guarantee perfect execution during battle. Now, Luo Han—who couldn’t even form the hand seals properly—was attempting to use it on the spot?
Watching Luo Han pause uncertainly, needing Ling Qingxiao’s distant guidance, the crowd fell into silent disbelief. Su Yinyue muttered incredulously, "Is she seriously learning this on the spot?"
Apparently so. Ling Zhongyu laughed scornfully. "Overestimating herself—utterly ridiculous."
Not far away, Yun Menghan also sighed softly. Although grateful to Ling Qingxiao for saving her life earlier, even she thought he was being reckless now.
Binding with spiritual energy was an advanced application of the Wind-Control Technique, challenging even experienced disciples. Luo Han's impulsive attempt seemed as absurd as a child wanting to slay a dragon after barely learning to walk.
One dared to teach, the other dared to attempt—what a reckless pair.
A nearby senior sister beside Yun Menghan sighed. "Who exactly is this girl? I’ve never seen her before."
Yun Menghan shook her head. "She's not a disciple from Zhongshan. Second Master brought her from outside. Her origins are mysterious; even I don't know."
"You don't know?" The senior sister’s voice turned teasing, her gaze playful. "You're the girl closest to Second Master. Could there really be something about him that you don’t know?"
Yun Menghan's face paled slightly, visibly distressed. Lowering her eyes, she said softly, "Senior Sister, Second Master and I have always been clear. We’re merely fellow disciples. Please don't tease me like this."
The senior sister glanced knowingly at Yun Menghan, then at Ling Zhongyu, who stood proudly in the center of attention. She smiled meaningfully, saying, "Ah, I understand now. You’re precious to both Masters. With Eldest Master around, of course you and Second Master can only be ordinary fellow disciples."
Yun Menghan’s lips were pale, and sorrow filled her eyes. "Senior Sister, it’s not like that. Please, say no more."
Ling Zhongyu had already noticed their conversation, casting his gaze toward them. After escaping Yayou’s claws, Yun Menghan had deliberately distanced herself from Ling Zhongyu, refusing to stand by his side as before. Instead, she forced her way into the crowd of ordinary disciples. Everyone knew Yun Menghan had special relationships with both young masters; who would dare refuse her? Thus, despite Ling Zhongyu’s murderous gaze, the disciples had reluctantly accepted Yun Menghan into their ranks.
Sensing Ling Zhongyu’s eyes, the senior sister dared not tease Yun Menghan any further. She didn’t care about offending Yun Menghan herself, but she wouldn't risk offending Ling Zhongyu—especially with Ling Qingxiao also backing Yun Menghan.
An inexplicable frustration rose within her. Heaven truly was unfair. Some people had no outstanding qualities, yet inexplicably attracted men's affections.
The senior sister paused briefly, noticing the increasingly intense battle up ahead. She couldn't help but ask, "When will Eldest Young Master finally intervene? If this continues, Second Young Master might get seriously hurt."
Yun Menghan frowned slightly. "I don't know."
The senior sister urged her, "Junior Sister Yun, perhaps you could plead with Eldest Young Master. I'm sure if you ask, he'll agree."
Yun Menghan hesitated. She'd just had a falling out with Ling Zhongyu; approaching him now would seem like she was yielding. Yet she couldn’t bear the thought of Ling Qingxiao getting hurt…
After persistent persuasion, Yun Menghan finally gave in. She convinced herself that she was doing this only for Ling Qingxiao’s sake, then reluctantly approached Ling Zhongyu. In a soft voice, she said, "Eldest Young Master, the beast is too dangerous. Please help Second Young Master."
Ling Zhongyu saw that Yun Menghan finally approached him—but it was for another man. Fury surged within him. Suppressing his anger, he asked coldly, "Did you come just to ask me to help him?"
Yun Menghan lowered her head, hiding her expression, and whispered, "Yes."
Ling Zhongyu’s anger intensified. Suddenly, he laughed coldly. "Very well. I can help him—but you have to beg me."
Humiliation surged through Yun Menghan. He was forcing her to plead in front of everyone—yet earlier, he’d abandoned her for another woman without hesitation.
She bit her lip hard, but ultimately, her worry for Ling Qingxiao overcame her dignity. Ling Qingxiao had saved her life; she couldn't repay kindness with ingratitude. Taking a deep breath, she said softly, "I'm begging you…"
Ling Zhongyu saw her submissive demeanor, and a wave of resentment flooded him. Again, it was always Ling Qingxiao. Was he truly so important to her?
A twisted jealousy and anger flared in Ling Zhongyu's heart. He deliberately made things difficult for her. "If you hadn't asked, perhaps I'd have saved him. But now that you've begged me, I won’t go. Let’s see how far you’re willing to go for him."
Yun Menghan’s face turned deathly pale, staring at him in disbelief. "You…!"
They were locked in their confrontation when startled exclamations erupted behind them. Yun Menghan looked back in surprise and saw everyone staring toward the battlefield, as if something impossible had occurred.
Following their gaze, Yun Menghan was shocked. At the center of the battlefield, Luo Han stood inside the barrier, making a clumsy hand-seal. Despite her awkwardness, Luo Han changed hand positions suddenly, and spiritual energy instantly tightened, actually binding the beast’s legs.
The onlookers burst into cries of astonishment. Yayou’s movements were hampered, exposing numerous weaknesses. Ling Qingxiao immediately seized this opportunity. His sword flashed swiftly, striking repeatedly at the same spot with pinpoint precision, slicing open a bloody wound across the beast’s chest.
Yayou had tough and thick muscles, nearly impenetrable. Yet, all demonic beasts had fragile inner organs. Once wounded and bleeding, it became vulnerable. Drawing blood meant victory was half-achieved.
Yun Menghan felt dazed. Moments ago, she'd lowered herself, pleading with Ling Zhongyu for help—but now, it appeared completely unnecessary.
She had thought Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao were overly arrogant, but now, who was truly being arrogant?
Ling Zhongyu's expression darkened; he'd completely forgotten about Yun Menghan. He had deliberately refrained from interfering, hoping Ling Qingxiao would exhaust himself. But why were events developing entirely differently from his expectations?
Was Ling Qingxiao truly someone who had lost his Dragon Core? Was Luo Han truly just a novice?
Ling Zhongyu started questioning his own understanding. He watched as Luo Han repeatedly restrained Yayou’s movements, providing Ling Qingxiao countless openings to attack. Luo Han controlled, Ling Qingxiao struck; their cooperation was surprisingly seamless.
Ling Zhongyu was stunned, but so was everyone else watching. Was this reality? She was learning and mastering spells right in the middle of battle!
Meanwhile, at the heart of the fight, Luo Han—unaware she had caused psychological trauma to numerous disciples—struggled under immense pressure. Ling Qingxiao's spiritual energy was far stronger than hers, making it extremely challenging to control. Luo Han strained, barely keeping the beast’s limbs tied. Yayou grew increasingly furious, ramping up its struggle.
Feeling her grip slipping, Luo Han called urgently for help, "It's fighting back harder! The energy’s dissipating. What should I do?"
With the beast restrained, Ling Qingxiao no longer needed to watch his back, increasing his attack frequency. Hearing Luo Han’s call, he calmly instructed her mid-battle, "Wind is formless, invisible, everywhere. Don’t resist head-on. If the energy scatters, let it. Follow the flow and redirect it. Overcome strength with softness."
When Luo Han heard this, she obediently dispersed the spiritual whip that had been binding the beast's claws. Yayou suddenly lost its restraints and stumbled forward uncontrollably, losing its momentum. Just as it prepared to launch another attack at Ling Qingxiao, a thin thread of wind swiftly wrapped around its joints, abruptly hindering its movements.
Furious, Yayou turned back to spit fire, but the wind dispersed immediately. While Yayou was distracted, Ling Qingxiao landed another strike directly onto its existing wound, causing even more blood to flow.
Yayou roared angrily, consumed with frustration.
Luo Han had discovered an unconventional combat method on the fly—quick harassment followed by an immediate retreat. As the embodiment of heavenly laws, she had a natural affinity with spiritual energy. She could command the energy around her, effortlessly creating blades and whips of wind that were both invisible and unpredictable.
She never attacked directly. Instead, she remained at a safe distance, occasionally interfering. Each time Yayou was distracted, Ling Qingxiao seized the opportunity to attack. Surprisingly, their teamwork was seamless.
For the first time, Luo Han felt that fighting could actually be enjoyable.
However, for Yayou, the experience was utterly infuriating. It couldn't fight freely—someone was constantly sabotaging its movements. Every time it tried to retaliate, the interference vanished, leaving it frustrated and unable to pinpoint the attacker.
Repeated interference wore Yayou down. Its wounds multiplied, and its roars grew increasingly desperate. Ling Qingxiao, able to focus entirely on his attacks, dealt severe damage with each precise strike. Eventually, Yayou let out a final unwilling roar and collapsed heavily onto the ground.
Luo Han felt completely drained, her hands trembling from exhaustion. At this moment, several elders finally arrived. The Punishment Hall Elder waved his hand, and his disciples quickly threw out Demon-Binding Ropes, forming a tight eight-trigram net around Yayou, gradually restraining the beast.
Yayou lay defeated on the ground, roaring helplessly. It attempted to break free several times, but the powerful formation sealed within the ropes repelled every effort.
Finally restrained, the once formidable beast was reduced to nothing more than trapped prey. Its red eyes burned with rage and resentment, glaring furiously at Ling Qingxiao and Luo Han.
Even without full intelligence, it instinctively knew Luo Han was behind the interference.
Luo Han felt uneasy under Yayou’s hateful stare. Seeing this, Ling Qingxiao calmly swung his sword once more, instantly encasing Yayou’s eyes in ice, rendering it blind. Luo Han sighed in relief, quickly thanking him: "Thank you."
"It was nothing," Ling Qingxiao responded, looking serious. "I should be thanking you instead."
Luo Han couldn't help but laugh, "All right, enough thanking each other. You've protected me many times, and now I just wanted to help you in return."
Afraid Ling Qingxiao might remind her that their cooperation was just a transaction, she quickly interrupted: "Stop. Can’t we just keep this conversation at a pleasant surface level?"
Ling Qingxiao was helpless, softly replying, "Fine."
As they spoke, Elder Xing approached them. Seeing that Yayou was securely restrained, he came over, clearly curious about the two who had defeated the beast.
Luo Han noticed someone approaching and naturally stopped speaking. Elder Xing greeted Ling Qingxiao first: "Second Young Master."
Ling Qingxiao politely returned the greeting: "Elder Xing."
After exchanging courtesies, Luo Han thought she could remain silent, but Elder Xing suddenly turned toward her, curious: "This young lady is…?"
Caught off guard, Luo Han quickly greeted him respectfully: "Greetings, Elder Xing. My name is Luo Han."
Elder Xing responded with a long, thoughtful "Oh," clearly trying to recall a disciple named Luo. Seeing the misunderstanding, Ling Qingxiao clarified, "Elder Xing, she is a friend of mine, not a disciple of Zhongshan. She’s simply staying here temporarily."
Elder Xing again uttered an "Oh," this time sounding disappointed. Still curious, he asked, "Then whose disciple are you? How long have you practiced? To be honest, I’ve been here a while. I intended to help earlier, but seeing the two young masters already here, I didn't interfere. The Second Young Master's swordsmanship was impressive as expected, but I didn't anticipate your wind technique would be equally remarkable. Who is your master?"
Luo Han looked a little embarrassed, "Calling myself a disciple might not be appropriate."
Ling Qingxiao, initially serious, became somewhat uncomfortable after hearing Luo Han's words. He glanced helplessly at Luo Han. Elder Xing, not understanding, asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
Luo Han pointed shyly at Ling Qingxiao, saying quietly, "He taught me. I just learned it today."

Author’s Note:
Luo Han: "I’m just an ordinary, insignificant person."
"Heaven and Earth unite, and sweet dew descends." - Dao De Jing
"When the Heavenly Dao is fulfilled, three and five take form, and sun and moon shine together." - Discourse on Doubts