A graceful yet imposing figure approached Wu Ming's residence. Her every step was steady, her curvaceous body wrapped in a form-fitting black robe that accentuated her slender waist and ample bosom.
Her name was Su Lingxue.
Fair skin like jade, almond-shaped eyes and lips naturally tinted with a soft cherry hue. She was the kind of woman who could make men lose their minds with just a glance. But the cold edge in her gaze made it clear she was not one to be easily swayed.
Her goal was simple.
To challenge Wu Ming for his ranking.
Rankings in the Black River Sect dictated status, resources, and privileges. A lower-ranked disciple could challenge a higher-ranked one, and refusal was not an option. To decline meant automatic forfeiture of rank, a disgrace that one couldn't recover from easily.
By the time she reached his door, her delicate fingers rested lightly on the hilt of her saber, her sharp gaze steady.
Then, the wooden door creaked open.
Wu Ming stepped out, his expression warm, his long hair swaying slightly in the morning breeze. Clasping his hands behind his back, he appeared relaxed, as though he were welcoming a guest rather than facing a challenger.
"What fortune is this?" His voice was rich with amusement, his gaze sweeping over Su Lingxue with blatant appreciation. "A beauty graces my humble doorstep at the break of dawn. Have I perhaps been blessed by heavens?"
Su Lingxue's brows twitched. She had expected wariness, caution, even outright assault. But this? This felt like an entirely different battlefield.
Still, she remained cold. "I am here to challenge you, Senior brother Wu Ming."
Wu Ming's brows arched in mild surprise, as if just now noticing the saber at her waist. "Challenge me?" He chuckled, shaking his head with an indulgent sigh. "And may I ask the name of the esteemed lady before me?"
"Su Lingxue," she replied curtly.
"Such a delicate name, like snowflakes dancing in the wind. Truly fitting." Wu Ming mused, stroking his chin as if admiring a fine work of art.
Su Lingxue narrowed her eyes. This man… was he playing some game?
"You hold a ranking above mine," she said flatly, betraying none of the impatience or annoyance that had begun to rise within her. "I have the right to challenge you. I assume you won't refuse?"
Wu Ming let out a soft laugh. "How could I? The sect's rules are absolute. However…" He tilted his head slightly, his gaze unreadable. "Every duel must have stakes. What are you willing to wager?"
Su Lingxue's answer was immediate. "My cultivation resources of this month."
Wu Ming's eyes flashed, though his expression remained gentle.
'Heh, the bare minimum. Playing it safe, are we?'
Outwardly, he sighed, shaking his head with mock disappointment. "Junior Sister, how pragmatic. But resources? That hardly excites me…"
Su Lingxue frowned, confused by his words. "What do you mean? My wager is in accordance with the sect standards."
Wu Ming's smile deepened, his eyes glinting with something dangerously persuasive. "Let me propose something different. If I win, I do not wish for mere resources. Instead, I ask for your companionship!"
Su Lingxue stiffened slightly.
"Companionship!?"
Before she could react further, Wu Ming gave a sheepish chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck as if embarrassed. "Ah, don't misunderstand me. I simply require assistance on a small mission outside the sect. Nothing improper, of course. Just the company of a talented and capable fellow disciple."
Su Lingxue studied him with narrowed eyes, her sharp mind working behind her cool exterior.
She had heard of Wu Ming before.
Though he was not famous for his martial prowess, he had a reputation as a scholar with a sharp tongue. Among the outer sect disciples, he was known to be intelligent, well-spoken.
He was not the type to pursue women blindly, and yet, his request now seemed… different.
She scanned him with the precision of a hawk. Broad shoulders, a lean but well-defined build, refined features, and an almost lazy confidence in his stance. Unlike the rough and crude disciples who flaunted their strength, he stood with the grace of a noble, his bearing as unshakable as a mountain.
Su Lingxue was not the type to be swayed by looks, but she could admit, if only to herself, that this man was not unpleasing to the eyes...
That, however, made him all the more dangerous!
"Why me?" she asked.
'You stupid woman. Do you really think I'd give you the real answer?' Wu Ming thought, though his smile remained charming. "Because you are talented, and I believe you would be of great help to me. That is all."
A simple answer, yet somehow, it only made her more suspicious of him.
"And if I refuse your terms?"
"Then we follow the standard rules, and you may wager your resources. However, if you are confident in your victory, what is there to fear? A single mission outside the sect with a weak scholar like me should mean nothing to someone as capable as you, no?"
Su Lingxue felt a slight irritation rising within her. He had turned the argument against her, as if doubting his terms would be an admission of weakness.
This person was clearly messing with her, no, toying with her, and not in the way a decent man should!
Still, she was no fool.
"I have no reason to take a risk without knowing the nature of the mission."
Wu Ming nodded approvingly, as if he had expected this. "Fair. The task is to simply hunt Dark Thunder Wolf cubs. While I could force my way through the pack, it would be far easier if you distracted the wolves while I retrieved the cubs. A minor risk, nothing too dangerous. Having a capable companion would make things smoother… and more enjoyable. After all, how could I not appreciate the company of such a clever and diligent Junior Sister?"
Su Lingxue remained silent for a moment. If that was all, then it did not seem like a trap. And given Wu Ming's reputation, he had no known history of deceit.
After careful consideration, she finally gave a short nod. "Very well. If you win, I will accompany you on this mission."
Wu Ming's smile remained warm, but deep inside, he sneered.
'Good girl. Dance in my palm a little longer.'
With a graceful gesture, he stepped forward. "Then let us not delay. Shall we proceed to spar?"
Su Lingxue nodded, stepping back to make space.
Wu Ming clasped his hands behind his back, his posture relaxed, his expression exuding confidence.
'Once we're outside, the restrictions will loosen. I'll take everything you own, and then I'll feed you to the wolves, Junior Sister.'