Chapter 185: Returning to Challenge (2/2)

In the hours it took to return, she spent all of it imagining what it would be. Powerful? Fast? Impactful? Difficult? Deadly? She didn't know what this perfect technique could be.

Even after arriving, she couldn't think of something and was interrupted by the Elder's calls.

”We're here! Hop off and go relax for a bit. We'll be leaving the next day.”

Ming Yue did as he said and left the ship with Xiao Yin on her shoulder and Hei Yue walking next to her. Finding herself at the gates of the Ninth Flower Garden, she looked around, gazing at the tents and the people. Of the several hundred that came, there was only less than a hundred that were here.

She walked around until finding a tent, lit from the inside and revealing two familiar silhouettes.

”I hope she's okay...”

Anqing's generally cheerful and caring voice was instead somber and worrisome.

”I mean, the elder has returned. We should go to him and see if he found her.”

Xukun's silhouette sat close to Anqing and his arm wrapped around her. His hopeful voice seemed to ease her a little but in both their minds, they knew that the chances were slim.

Then the flap opened and Ming Yue appeared. She dropped her sword to the side and both pets curled around her as she sat down. She looked at the two, giving them a small smile. If she had waited any longer, the atmosphere between the two would've become even sadder and she did not want to hear anymore of it.

As for her two friends, they were shocked, even speechless. They couldn't utter anything more than the first syllable of their words.

”Uh-ah-you-”

”How-ah-”

She didn't bother to wait for them to collect their thoughts and spoke first.

”Yes, I managed to survive and I did not get killed by the crow.”

She couldn't help but chuckle at their stupor and after several minutes, Anqing was the first to return to her senses.

”You didn't die!” she jumped forward and embraced her.

Xukun was still shocked but nevertheless, the night was spent with Ming Yue detailing about her escape from the crow and how she had been surviving until the elder saved her. Of course, she had omitted her time at the fourth pavilion, sticking to the lie with the cave.

Friend or foe, what she had experienced was a secret that should not be spoken.

Still, both Anqing and Xukun were surprised and enthralled by her story.

The following day, they returned to the ship along with everyone else and prepared to leave.

”I can't wait to return, I'm going to hunt that Li Baojun down”, Anqing rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

”Sure we can challenge him, but he's probably holed himself up in closed-door cultivation. We should focus on improving ourselves and wait for him to get out. Still, he's an Elite Disciple now, with much more resources too.”

Xukun looked over her worriedly.

He was somewhat confident after obtaining a Metal Dao Root and the white sword from the garden. With both of these, he could focus on the later levels of his swordplay. It had stringent requirement for what swords could be used and as well as the level of attainments he had in the Dao of Metal. He thought himself incredibly lucky to have found these items. Still, he was unsure as to whether to could go against someone like Li Baojun.

Speaking their piece, Ming Yue looked at the two and shook her head.

”No, I'll take him down.”

She spoke with detest and gripped her sword tightly. His methods were distasteful and his actions were shameless.

Once she returned, the first thing she would do was to go off into the world for experiential training. She had to solidify her new cultivation and the best way to do so was through battle! Once the tournament came, she would be ready.