"I've not only heard of her, I practically worship the ground she walks on!"
Fang Zhiwei was utterly dumbfounded.
Who was Xing Wu? She was once the Sword Empress of the Heavenly Realm, second only to the Heavenly Dao Palace Lord! Although she cultivated astrology, it didn't stop her from admiring sword cultivators, and Xing Wu had been her absolute idol. To have someone standing right in front of her claiming to be Xing Wu, the feeling was incredibly surreal. She even doubted if the person before her was truly Xing Wu.
"Master, is she really...?"
Hearing this, Ye Yun beside her nodded subtly, confirming her words.
Following this, Fang Zhiwei's eyes lit up, and she lunged towards Xing Wu.
"Wow! My idol! I finally get to meet you!!!"
Xing Wu didn't stop her, allowing Fang Zhiwei to embrace her. In truth, she disliked being touched by others. But ultimately, these were her future disciples, so she indulged them with affection.
Ye Yun watched this scene with delight. "Good, good, just like that... build a good relationship quickly!" From his perspective, if Xing Wu and his disciples got along, he wouldn't have to be awkwardly stuck in the middle.
Fang Zhiwei's reaction puzzled Lin Xueyan and the others. Chen Lingyi scratched her head and asked, "Junior Sister, is this senior that formidable in the Heavenly Realm?" At this moment, Lin Xueyan and the other two women also turned their gaze towards Fang Zhiwei.
Fang Zhiwei seemed to realize her actions were a bit abrupt. "I'm sorry, senior, I..."
"It's alright, if you like, you can keep hugging me." Xing Wu patted her head, a gentle smile gracing her usually cold face.
Fang Zhiwei was overjoyed. "Wow, that's great, thank you, senior!"
With that, she continued to hold onto her idol while excitedly explaining to Lin Xueyan and the others. "Senior Xing Wu isn't just famous in the Heavenly Realm, she's known by everyone!" "Back then, she was..."
Afterward, she detailed Xing Wu's past glorious achievements to Lin Xueyan and the other senior sisters. Upon hearing this, they were all a little stunned.
"Senior Xing Wu was that strong?" While she had been formidable on the Profound Sky Continent, their focus had mostly been on their Master. They never imagined that someone from the same continent would hold such a terrifying position in the Upper Realm's Heavenly Realm! It was no wonder she could rival their Master back then...
Fang Zhiwei smiled and said, "Of course, among the sword cultivators in the Heavenly Realm, Senior Xing Wu is the most formidable!" At this moment, she had clearly become a devoted fan of Xing Wu.
She then looked at Xing Wu beside her with a touch of emotion. "I truly never expected you to still be alive, and to have even recovered your Emperor-level strength. That's wonderful!"
Looking at Fang Zhiwei, Xing Wu couldn't help but smile. "I can't believe that after disappearing for ten thousand years, I still have someone like you who likes me."
"Of course!" Fang Zhiwei proudly lifted her head, her gaze firm. "Even after another ten thousand years, no matter what happens, I will always consider you my lifelong idol!"
While she was expressing her heartfelt admiration, Bai Xiaoxiao, who was sharp and intelligent, quietly interjected. "Then, what do you think her relationship is with Master?"
...
At these words, the previously harmonious atmosphere in the room suddenly turned frigid. A gust of cold wind blew in from outside, sending a shiver down everyone's spines. Fang Zhiwei, who moments ago had declared her eternal admiration for Xing Wu, released her embrace and quietly stepped back, her eyes filled with wariness...
"That's right, what is your relationship?" The repeated question once again made the atmosphere in the room incredibly awkward.
"..."
Half a second later, Lin Xueyan, Bai Xiaoxiao, Chen Lingyi, Chen Lingxin, and Fang Zhiwei – all five disciples – their gazes fell squarely on Ye Yun. Sensing their confused yet inquiring, heated yet worried stares, even the usually decisive Ye Yun found himself in a quandary.
"Her... she is..."
Ye Yun was racking his brain. Lin Xueyan and the others had such strong feelings for him. Now, if he suddenly announced he had a celestial partner, wouldn't that cause an uproar? However, his hesitation only made Lin Xueyan and the others more convinced of their own suspicions.
"Could it be..."
"Could it be that Master..."
"Master, you..."
The women looked at their Master, all hesitant to speak. It seemed none of them wanted to hear the answer.
Finally, Xing Wu slowly stood up. Her calm gaze swept over them, and then she curved her lips upwards, saying, "Then, let me reintroduce myself."
"My name is Xing Wu, my title is Empress of the Night Sword, and I am your Master's celestial partner." At this point, her voice gained a hint of dominance. "Likewise, I am also your current Master's wife!" As women, and having lived for tens of thousands of years, if she couldn't see the twisted affection these young female disciples had for their Master, she would have lived in vain. For this very reason, she needed to assert her position and her temporary status as the primary consort.
"..."
Upon hearing her words, Lin Xueyan and the others were stunned into silence, their expressions frozen. Then, they exchanged glances, as if conveying some unspoken message...
Finally, Lin Xueyan pursed her lips and looked at Ye Yun, her expression seemingly conflicted. "Master... is what she's saying true? Did you really become celestial partners?"
Ye Yun remained silent for a moment before sighing. "Yes, that's exactly right... So Xueyan, you all..." He actually wanted to comfort them, especially since he had previously mentioned he would consider accepting them one day. But now, it was as if he was causing them immediate heartbreak.
"No need to say more, Master!" He was interrupted before he could finish. Lin Xueyan tightly pressed her lips together, her expression extremely complex. Yet, in the end, she couldn't hold back and actually burst into laughter.
"So that's how it is!"
"Huh???" Ye Yun was taken aback, failing to comprehend. "What do you mean by that?" He had expected them to be heartbroken, perhaps to scold him, or act stubbornly. Why did they look so happy? Then, he saw Lin Xueyan smiling playfully at him, and Fang Zhiwei nodding with satisfaction beside her.
"So that's how it is..." The others wore similar expressions, leaving Ye Yun completely bewildered. "What 'so that's how it is'? What are you talking about?"
Then, Lin Xueyan said with a smile, "So Master really does have a celestial partner."
"We've actually been suspecting you all along, Master, that you don't like women!"