My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 89 - 74: Rather Be a Concubine

Min Ning suddenly erupted, drawing his blade and stepping forward to slash at Yin Weiyin.

The female crown stood motionless.

Xue Chengdong, who had once ambushed and killed Chen Yi, took a step forward. His longsword was drawn—a three-foot blade, cold and sharp enough to sever hair. It was the renowned Pingtan Ming Sword, with the inscription of Zhuangzi’s words: "Follow the heavens above to align with the three lights."

Min Ning unleashed a Crashing Wind and Cutting Rain slash. The winds around seemed to slow, its might immeasurable, and the gleam of cold light in the air was bone-chilling.

Xue Chengdong, however, merely smiled faintly. Immersed in the Sword Dao for half his life, he had reached the Sixth Rank at age twenty-five, the Fifth Rank at twenty-nine, and at thirty-six, achieved the Fourth Rank. Since reaching the Fourth Rank, he had drawn his sword sparingly, yet none in the capital dared to underestimate him. At the Sixth Rank, he had defeated three martial arts schools in succession, forcing countless prodigious swordsmen to snap their swords and abandon martial arts. Because of this, Prince Jing personally inscribed for him the phrase: "White-robed, Three-Foot Sword!"

As the Crashing Wind and Cutting Rain descended, Xue Chengdong flicked his wrist, drawing a gentle arc that flowed naturally along Min Ning’s fierce strike. With a slight exertion, he dissolved the overwhelming force into nothingness.

This seamless and endless maneuver revealed the vast difference in their realms.

"I’ve seen this move on the river. That Centurion, he used it to kill Huang Liuqing."

With effortless ease, Xue Chengdong deflected the blow and commented with interest:

"That man’s slash was like the rushing rivers overturning seas, converging all his might into one strike. But your slash... immature. You lack strength in its execution, and there’s excessive after-strain in its release."

Min Ning did not respond, glaring fiercely at Xue Chengdong.

Yin Weiyin raised her hand and said:

"Xue Imperial Tribute, don’t hurt him."

"Your Highness, naturally, I understand."

Xue Chengdong responded casually. Although martial contests often led to bloodshed, Xue Chengdong was fully confident he could defeat Min Ning without harming him. The reason was simple—Min Ning’s skill did not warrant a killing strike.

"What... are you planning to do?"

Watching as his grandfather was soul-bound by the female crown, Min Ning rasped out.

The female crown looked at Min Ning and softly replied:

"What I plan to do, Yue Chi, you’ve long known. You are the fated Dao companion mentioned in my prophecy. You should come up the mountain with me and inherit the legacy of the golden boy and jade girl."

Min Ning, hearing this, sneered:

"What is this? Weren’t you planning to make Chen Qianhu your Dao companion?"

Yin Weiyin’s expression shifted subtly, then quickly returned to calm as she replied indifferently:

"Once, I was merely toyed with by that Chen Yi. Now, I no longer care. The Great Dao of immortality—what are mere mortals like him but mayflies or ephemera? In a hundred years, he’ll be nothing but a handful of yellow earth. But you and I are destined for eternity. My master, on the verge of ascension, was already greeted by thirty-six celestial cranes. Imagine how many celestial cranes will greet us when we ascend?"

Min Ning, however, responded coldly:

"I won’t go with you."

Yin Weiyin appeared unconcerned, speaking softly:

"It’s not up to you... you’re nothing but another mortal."

As her words fell, Xue Chengdong thrust forth the Pingtan Ming Sword in his hand. A breeze arose, and with his sword aimed for Min Ning’s shoulder, the blade slightly tilted, slamming downward just before contact.

The entire movement was fluid as flowing water, seamless in its entirety. Within this single sword strike were countless profound truths.

Min Ning twisted her body abruptly, leaning her shoulder straight into the sword tip, seemingly seeking death voluntarily.

Experienced and shrewd, Xue Chengdong pulled back his sword momentum and retreated half a step. Min Ning seized the fleeting opportunity and charged forward recklessly, slashing horizontally.

Xue Chengdong was momentarily surprised by her single-minded killing intent but then sneered coldly. With a flick of his sword, he traced an arc, unleashing spiraling Sword Qi that enveloped Min Ning. If you’re intent on battle, then I’ll suppress you with Sword Qi—not harm you! Let you see just how far apart we stand in skill!

The spiraling Sword Qi flew forth, severing stray locks of Min Ning’s hair and sending them falling to the ground. In an instant, time seemed to slow. Each strand of Sword Qi approached, and every one seemed poised to take her life.

Slow, so slow—unimaginably slow. Min Ning gazed at the incoming Sword Qi, and in that daze, she entered a peculiar state of flow. It was as if she could discern the trajectory of every strand of Sword Qi and understand the nuances behind each strike.

Intent—an inexplicable Sword Intent surged upward. Min Ning sensed its presence as if guiding her to perceive strike after strike. Following this Sword Intent, her blade moved, carving a seemingly slow curvature. Yet, the surrounding Sword Qi twisted along with it!

The Sword Qi followed the arc of her blade as she swept it horizontally!

Although her blade’s edge was still nearly a foot away from Xue Chengdong, the Sword Qi meant to kill Min Ning had already turned back, roaring toward him with overwhelming force!

Xue Chengdong retreated while raising his sword to block. Even so, he still suffered a gash on his wrist.

"That sword... the one that slayed the wicked flood dragon?!"

Xue Chengdong had seen this sword strike before, back when the flood dragon caused chaos on the river. He had lain low, waiting for an opportunity to strike Chen Yi’s throat, only for a thunderous Sword Gang to erupt from behind Chen Yi, cleaving the river and flood dragon in two!

"Was it you who killed the dragon?!"

Xue Chengdong exclaimed in shock, almost involuntarily.

Min Ning was momentarily startled, confusion flashing in her eyes.

Realizing it wasn’t her, Xue Chengdong composed himself. Despite this, he was no longer as relaxed and carefree as before; his expression now turned grave.

"Your Highness, I fear I can no longer guarantee not hurting her."

Yin Weiyin narrowed her eyes before replying:

"It doesn’t matter, as long as she doesn’t die."

Upon hearing this, Xue Chengdong advanced once more with sword in hand. His movements merged seamlessly with the sword, the air rippling faintly as if stirred by threads of Sword Qi. He swung his sword horizontally, unleashing pure white Sword Qi that tore toward Min Ning.

The approaching Sword Qi once more pushed Min Ning into that peculiar flow state. Guided by Sword Intent, she could foresee thirty-one possible variations of the sword as it neared. As the sword’s edge crept closer, the possibilities diminished. She suddenly drew her blade, colliding with the Sword Qi, which dissipated like mist meeting water.

The Sword Qi dispersed upon collision, and Min Ning’s heart surged with joy. Just as she was about to unleash a second slash, Xue Chengdong, ever the veteran, twisted his wrist. The Sword Qi near his blade suddenly erupted, disrupting Min Ning’s blade momentum in an instant!

Xue Chengdong reversed his grip, pressing down on her blade as he thrust his sword straight for her!

The outcome was decided in a heartbeat!

As Min Ning was about to be struck, Yin Tingxue gasped in alarm.

Her delicate face turned pale, and her fingers trembled involuntarily. A strange sensation washed over her, and she instinctively made an upward stroke.

In an instant, winds rose, and the Sword Intent surged—a Sky-reaching Sword Gang appeared out of nowhere!

Swish!

In a flash of cold light, a spray of blood erupted from the White-clothed Swordsman. His sword arm was severed in an instant, his wide eyes filled with shock.

Min Ning, still slightly stunned, seized the chance and swiftly unleashed a slash. As the blade fell, so did a head.

Xue Chengdong’s severed head rolled to the ground, his wide eyes frozen in terror, as if asking—"How... was there another strike?"

Yin Tingxue stared at the fallen body in shock, her face ashen, muttering in a tone laced with grievance:

"I-I don’t know either!"

She had merely made a casual stroke—how had his arm been severed...?

With Xue Chengdong dead, Min Ning sheathed her blade, wiped the blood from her face, and strode toward the stiff-faced Princess Jing.

"You... you actually... how could this be?"

Yin Weiyin was utterly stunned. Yet even as Min Ning approached her step by step with blade in hand, the Supreme Forget Love Technique, which eradicated ignorance, left her without fear.

Min Ning halted in front of her, almost roaring:

"Release my grandfather!"

Yin Weiyin released her grip, and Min He’s wandering soul broke free, only to dash away in its crazed state, vanishing into the alley in a blink.

Min Ning fought back the urge to give chase, instead turning to glare at Yin Weiyin.

"You want to kill me? Too bad... I’ve tampered with his soul. If you kill me, he’s finished."

Yin Weiyin’s tone was incredibly calm as she spoke.

She knew Min Ning couldn’t kill her; perhaps, Min Ning might even have to plead with her instead.

But unexpectedly, Min Ning laughed, her valiant brows contorted into a sinister expression.

"What are you laughing at?"

Yin Weiyin asked, frowning.

"I’m laughing... laughing that you wanted me as your Dao companion, didn’t you?"

Min Ning asked, grinning fiercely.

Yin Weiyin retorted:

"Who wouldn’t desire immortality, to watch clouds rise and fall? What’s so funny about that?"

Snap!

Yin Weiyin’s delicate form trembled violently as a slap landed hard on her face, leaving a vivid red imprint along with the numbing sting of pain.

Min Ning clasped her throat with one hand and shouted:

"Yin Weiyin, I’ve endured this long enough—heed my warning! You think everyone aspires to your ridiculous path to immortality? Do you think everyone wants to become a soulless stone that lives forever? Even the Monkey King sprang forth from a stone, yet you long to crawl back into one. Yes, you’re born of imperial bloodline, the Taichua Goddess, so others must tolerate you, honor you—even I’ve had to endure your condescension time and time again! But immortality? Have you achieved ascension to the heavens? Have you joined the celestial ranks? No—you’re neither immortal nor divine. You’re just a human! From now on, I’ll revere Taihua Mountain, I’ll respect the Heavenly Family—but not you! I, Min Yuechi, would rather serve him as a lowly concubine than wed a heartless and unfeeling woman like you!"

For Yin Weiyin, who had extinguished all ignorance and sought only immortality, her face turned deathly pale in an instant.

The golden boy and jade girl’s path to eternal life seemed to begin shattering, piece by piece, within that thundering voice.