Chapter 51 How could it be you?

"Revered Master? Su Ningxue?"

Ye Fan was taken aback, recalling that Murong Wan had mentioned not long ago that her Revered Master would be returning soon.

"I wonder if this Revered Master will be easy to get along with."

Ye Fan muttered to himself as he followed behind Murong Wan towards the Peak Lord's Hall.

This was the highest point of Profound Spirit Peak, where the concentration of spiritual energy far exceeded any other location, even surpassing Murong Wan's own cave abode by a wide margin.

It was Ye Fan's first time setting foot here, and for some reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of nervousness, as if something was about to happen.

"That's strange, what's going on?!"

Murong Wan glanced at Ye Fan, her willow-like eyebrows unconsciously furrowing slightly.

"What's wrong with you today? You seem a bit unsettled," Murong Wan asked instinctively.

"I don't know either, I just feel something's off. Your Master won't dislike me, will she?" Ye Fan said with a bitter smile.

"Dislike you? That's a given."

Murong Wan let out a light snort, then said, "Actually, Master is someone who's cold on the outside but warm on the inside. She appears dignified and solemn as a Master, but she's actually quite easy to get along with."

"Sounds a lot like you, Wan'er," Ye Fan teased.

"You... you talk less later, follow my cues."

Having said that, Murong Wan ignored Ye Fan. Under her lead, they soon arrived at the Peak Lord's Hall.

"Disciple Murong Wan, accompanied by my Dao Companion Ye Fan, has come to pay respects to Revered Master."

"Enter."

A melodious and lingering voice came from within the hall, sounding as if it were a celestial melody from the Nine Heavens, refreshing to the heart and mind.

Yet, upon hearing it, the unease in Ye Fan's heart began to rapidly expand, and he felt inexplicably parched.

"This voice... where have I heard it before?!"

Before Ye Fan could ponder what was happening, Murong Wan had already risen and proceeded towards the main hall. He could only follow behind.

The moment the two stepped into the great hall, Ye Fan saw the Peak Lord, Su Ningxue, seated in the center. She also saw him at the same time.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, it felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in their minds.

"How could it be you?!" They both thought almost simultaneously.

Looking at this Revered Master, who sat at the head of the hall and possessed the beauty of a Heavenly Immortal, Ye Fan felt as if his breath was about to stop.

Because he had already met her two or three months ago—she was precisely that Fairy Xuanji with whom Ye Fan had shared a spring breeze encounter.

"Fairy Xuanji is Su Ningxue... Su Ningxue is Fairy Xuanji... She is Wan'er's Master... the Peak Lord of Profound Spirit Peak?!"

Ye Fan was plunged into a mental storm from which he couldn't extricate himself, and Su Ningxue was no different.

She never expected to see Ye Fan again under such circumstances. Her mind seemed to go completely blank.

"Wait... he is Wan'er's Dao Companion... which means he and my Disciple... how could..."

As their eyes met, the atmosphere in the great hall instantly fell into a deathly silence. Only Murong Wan, unaware of what had transpired, stood there waiting for her Revered Master to begin speaking.

But after waiting for a good while with no movement, she couldn't help but feel suspicious.

"Revered Master, what's wrong?"

Murong Wan instinctively spoke, breaking the deathly silence. Only then did Su Ningxue snap back to reality, her face, beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal's, flushing with a barely perceptible blush.

"It's nothing... I was just reminded of some past events for a moment."

Su Ningxue forced herself to appear calm, acting as if nothing was wrong, though inwardly she was actually hesitating whether to take action.

If Ye Fan really started spouting nonsense, she might very well strike and kill him on the spot.

At this moment, Ye Fan was unaware he had just circled the gates of the underworld. Coming back to his senses, his clothes were soaked with cold sweat. He hurriedly pretended nothing was amiss and bowed in greeting.

"Disciple Ye Fan pays his respects to Revered Master!"

Seeing that Ye Fan did not expose the truth, Su Ningxue finally relaxed slightly. She forcibly suppressed her wildly beating heart, acting as if the two were truly meeting for the first time.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Revered Master."

Although Murong Wan felt something was off, she couldn't quite put her finger on it and didn't make an issue of it.

The three people in the hall had a hundred thoughts each, but only Murong Wan was unaware of what had happened. She was still trying to secure an opportunity for Ye Fan to be accepted as a Personal Disciple.

"Him... a Personal Disciple?!"

Thinking of everything that had happened between them in the cave, Su Ningxue felt an impulse to lose control. It took great effort for her to barely calm down.

"Wan'er, you go out first. I have words to say to Ye Fan alone."

"This..."

Murong Wan hesitated for a moment but obediently withdrew.

After all, accepting someone as a Personal Disciple was a major matter. It was only right for the Revered Master to conduct a thorough examination.

Thinking this, Murong Wan exited the great hall, completely missing the twitching at the corner of Ye Fan's mouth.

"Hey... don't go... Wan'er, don't leave me alone... save me!"

Ye Fan was still roaring internally, but on the surface, he maintained a forced calm, as if nothing had really happened.

But the next second, Su Ningxue waved her hand, and an invisible barrier enveloped the entire hall.

Even if Murong Wan was right outside the door, she wouldn't hear a sound. She wouldn't even know if Ye Fan died.

Ye Fan had initially planned to stubbornly deny everything, but who knew a single sentence from Su Ningxue would break his defenses.

"We meet again."

Su Ningxue's voice betrayed no emotion, yet even so, Ye Fan felt a chilling sensation.

Although he had successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage, the gap between him and a Core Formation Realm Cultivator was still immense—one could even call it a difference in dimensions. If Su Ningxue wanted to kill him, it would be a matter of a single thought.

"Weren't you a Loose Cultivator? How did you become a Disciple of the Joyous Union Sect, and even... hmph, just how many things have you hidden from me?"

Su Ningxue's tone carried a hint of iciness, making Ye Fan's scalp tingle. Yet, he also felt a strange surge of anger.

"If we're counting, it seems it's not just me who has secrets. Should I address you as Fairy Xuanji or Su Ningxue?"

Ye Fan decided to throw caution to the wind. Since death might come regardless, he might as well gamble that Su Ningxue wouldn't kill him.

Seeing Ye Fan suddenly stand up, Su Ningxue seemed somewhat surprised. A barely noticeable blush rose on her captivating face.

"Hmph, my real name is Su Ningxue. 'Fairy Xuanji' is merely an honorary title used by outsiders. When did I ever say that was my name?"

"As for you, spouting nonsense with not a single truthful word. Could it be that even the name 'Ye Fan' is fake?"

Even Su Ningxue herself didn't notice that her tone carried a hint of resentment.

It sounded nothing like words from a Core Formation Realm Cultivator; instead, it was more like a forsaken woman complaining about a man.

"You're wrong about that. Because, strictly speaking, only the name is real."

"You..."

Su Ningxue hadn't expected Ye Fan to be so bold. Just as she was about to erupt, an unexpected situation occurred.

"Should I call you Xuanji, or Ningxue, or perhaps... Revered Master?"

As he spoke, Ye Fan actually began walking towards her. That earnest look in his eyes sent Su Ningxue's heart into a flutter, forcibly pulling her thoughts back to their days in the cave. Her breath even stopped for a moment.

"You... how dare you... stop right there!"

Su Ningxue ordered Ye Fan to halt, but he paid no heed and walked straight up to her.

Before Su Ningxue could say anything more, Ye Fan actually pulled her directly into his embrace.

"Life or death hinges on this moment," Ye Fan thought with a surge of determination.