Chapter 356: The thousand dao city 26.

The purpose was simple.

Ye Qinglan wanted to talk about the history of the Southern Continent branch.

They sat in a small tea room overlooking the training courtyard.

The disciples below were still practicing despite the late hour.

Mo Yuxin watched them for a while.

"Your disciples train very hard."

Ye Qinglan smiled.

"They have to."

"Because of the pressure?"

"Because of themselves."

Ye Qinglan looked down into her tea.

"The Battle Maiden Sect was never founded to be comfortable. Our founders believed women should be able to cultivate without depending on anyone else. The sect was built around that idea. Every disciple is taught to fight, but also to protect the person beside her."

Su Yubing nodded.

"That is a good tradition."

Mu Qingru spoke.

"It is why some sects dislike us."

Mo Yuxin looked at her.

Mu Qingru continued.

"There are men in the Southern Continent who believe a woman-only sect is an insult to the natural order of cultivation. They do not always say it publicly. They prefer words like balance, tradition, and cooperation. But some of them mean something much simpler. They do not like that we can succeed without them."

Ji Ruyan looked down.

"Sometimes it feels like no matter how strong we become, they will always find a reason to question us."

Su Lian squeezed her hand.

"Then we become stronger anyway."

Ruyan smiled faintly.

Ye Qinglan watched them with warmth.

"That is exactly what I tell her."

Mo Yuxin looked toward the training courtyard again.

"How much stronger could the Southern branch become if it had proper resources?"

Ye Qinglan paused.

"A lot."

She hesitated before continuing.

"Our foundation is good. Our combat techniques are still intact. Our young disciples are talented. What we lack is material support. The Central Continent branch is still one of the strongest organizations in the world, but communication across continents is difficult. We cannot simply ask for help every time a neighboring sect squeezes us."

Mo Yuxin understood.

The Southern branch was not weak because it lacked talent.

It was weak because it had been gradually isolated.

Su Yubing asked, "Do you still receive messages from the Central Continent?"

Ye Qinglan nodded.

"Occasionally."

"And the message taken from the convoy?"

Ye Qinglan’s eyes darkened.

"We do not know whether it was discovered before the attack."

Mo Yuxin said quietly, "If the conspirators are trying to destroy your political position, they may also be trying to prevent the Central branch from learning how bad the situation has become."

Ye Qinglan looked at her.

"That is what worries me."

Mo Yuxin did not say anything else.

The room became quiet.

Then Su Lian suddenly spoke.

"Senior Mo."

Mo Yuxin looked at her.

"Yes?"

"When you repaired the formation, did you leave any trace?"

"No."

Su Lian looked pleased.

"Good."

Mo Yuxin asked, "Why?"

Su Lian smiled.

"Because then whoever planted it still believes we have not noticed."

Mo Yuxin smiled back.

"You learn quickly."

Ruyan looked proud.

"She is the best formation cultivator I know."

Su Lian immediately became happy.

"You heard that?"

"I say it often."

"Not often enough."

Ruyan sighed.

"You are impossible."

Su Lian leaned against her.

"You like me anyway."

Ruyan’s expression softened.

"Yes."

Mo Yuxin glanced at Su Yubing.

"They are very direct."

Su Yubing smiled.

"You could learn from them."

"Learn what?"

"How to stop asking whether I love you."

Mo Yuxin looked offended.

"I do not ask that often."

Everyone in the room laughed.

Even Mu Qingru smiled.

The atmosphere became much lighter.

They stayed for another hour talking about ordinary things.

Training.

Food.

Travel.

The city.

The strange habits of sect disciples.

Mo Yuxin learned that Ji Ruyan liked sweet fruit but pretended she did not.

Su Lian exposed her immediately.

Ruyan looked embarrassed.

Mo Yuxin promised not to tell anyone.

Then Su Yubing quietly bought Ruyan a bag before leaving.

Ruyan stared at it.

"You did not have to."

Su Yubing smiled.

"I know."

Ruyan looked at Su Lian.

Su Lian whispered, "Keep it."

Ruyan nodded.

On the walk home, Mo Yuxin held Su Yubing’s hand.

"You like them."

"I do."

"Even Ruyan."

"Especially Ruyan."

"Why?"

Su Yubing smiled.

"Because she reminds me of you."

Mo Yuxin raised an eyebrow.

"Serious?"

"Very."

"Talented?"

"Yes."

"Handsome?"

Su Yubing laughed.

"That part is only you."

Mo Yuxin looked pleased.

"Good."

They walked through the lantern-lit streets together.

Neither knew that by tomorrow, the carefully hidden cracks in the Southern Continent’s sect alliances would begin to widen.

Before sleeping, Mo Yuxin checked the street outside their window one final time. Thousand Dao City was still bright, but one of the smaller roads near the Battle Maiden branch had suddenly gone dark.

Su Yubing came up beside her.

"You are checking again."

"Yes."

"You are becoming suspicious of everything."

"Only the things that deserve it."

Su Yubing rested her head against her shoulder.

"Then let the suspicious people wait until morning."

Mo Yuxin looked down at her.

"You are more important."

"I know."

She pulled Mo Yuxin away from the window.

"Come to bed."

Mo Yuxin allowed herself to be dragged away.

"You are bossy."

"And you still listen."

"Only to you."

Su Yubing smiled.

The city bells rang once in the distance.

Neither woman knew what the new day would bring, but they went to sleep side by side without fear.

Sleep did not come immediately.

Mo Yuxin lay on her side facing Su Yubing, who was already under the blankets with her eyes closed. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the city formation outside.

After a while, Su Yubing opened one eye.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Because you are pretty."

"That is not a reason to keep staring at me at midnight."

"It is a very good reason."

Su Yubing sighed, but the corners of her mouth lifted.

"Come here."

Mo Yuxin moved closer immediately.

Su Yubing reached up and pulled her down until their foreheads touched.

"Tomorrow will probably be annoying."

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TO BE CONTINUED.