My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 668 - 440: I Don’t Believe it Either (Combined 2 in 1)_2

In the past, even a little drink would turn my face red, but now I can drink a thousand cups and never get drunk. Every time I have wine, I drink with abandon—leaving behind the image of a figure with a wine gourd after fulfilling acts of chivalry. It's indescribably carefree.

Yet at this moment, the wine tastes slightly bitter.

Min Ning gazed at the firelight for a long while before shaking the gourd gently. Disbelieving, he muttered:

"Am I... an eagle?"

Come to think of it, that person never hid his feelings toward someone surnamed Zhou. Every time, he was straightforward about them and often joked that he was a traitorous disciple who betrayed his master and ancestors. To invent a story of "one lifelong love, one soulmate" was not surprising.

Even though Min Ning had long understood this, hearing the story now still brought indescribable and unsettling emotions—a mixed bag of feelings.

"Zhu Yu, am I really an eagle?" Min Ning couldn't help but question aloud.

Zhu Yu pondered for a moment before replying, "An eagle that still kills."

Min Ning thought for a moment, puzzled. "A killing eagle?"

A killing eagle—a predator among eagles—the term sounded rather dashing at first glance. It might even serve well as a nickname in the Jianghu. As he mused over this, Min Ning suddenly shook his head.

If he accepted it as a nickname, wouldn't that be admitting he's an eagle?

Min Ning couldn't help but ask, "Zhu Yu, you and I know each other inside out. Tell me... Given my talent, how long will it take for me to go to Yin Sword Mountain and disrupt their harmony... to challenge the sword?"

"They are divine lovers, and you seek to ruin their bond," Zhu Yu sneered. "Min Yuechi, is this your sense of chivalry, your Sword Dao?"

Min Ning remained unruffled and replied instead, "Seeking the Dao outweighs personal matters; this I know well. But my heart feels unsettled now, so I ask. If you don't wish to answer, then don't."

Zhou Yitang certainly wouldn't answer.

For days now, Zhou Yitang had observed Min Ning's Martial Arts progress with astonishment.

With a natural gift for cultivation and unparalleled insight, Min Ning's growth was meteoric—even Chen Yi barely led by using the Heavenly Vision skill. The stagnation at the seven-to-eight rank from before was not only due to the burdens of Min He and others—more pressingly, it was the constraining environment of the Capital City, filled with petty intrigue and politics, trapping her mindset like a cage.

So many things in life come down to the simple phrase "awakening." Upon sudden enlightenment, dogs and chickens may ascend; letting go of the blade paves the path to Buddhahood. Both Taoist schools and Buddhist sects embrace the philosophy of awakening—that moment of realization when reason defies logic. Leaving the Capital freed Min Ning's spirit, like a tiger escaping its cage or a dust-covered pearl suddenly gleaming brilliantly, illuminating endless landscapes.

As her teacher, Zhou Yitang could have set covert traps, letting her stray into forbidden paths and stumble into failure.

But Zhou Yitang disdained such methods.

She was curious—what heights could Min Ning achieve with her guidance? Could she surpass the seventh rank national peak of her past life and soar even higher? For a teacher, few joys rival witnessing a disciple's success.

Thus… Zhou Yitang considered that exposing Taichua Goddess's schemes first would be wise, so she could quell her own discontent.

Min Ning drank her wine with visible frustration. It was then that a voice unexpectedly murmured near her ear: "Do you believe that what cultivators say is always true?"

She froze for a moment before absentmindedly beginning calculations.

"No need to calculate. Monastics do not lie; they cannot fake their words," Zhu Yu paused briefly before scoffing. "However, it's not lies that mislead people—but truth."

Min Ning followed up, "Are you saying..."

"It's possible she's deliberately misleading you," Zhu Yu remarked. "Min Yuechi, outsiders observe clearly, while those within the game are blinded."

The spiritual insight of the Princess of Jing might occasionally deceive someone like Chen Yi, but failing to fool Zhou Yitang, her efforts seemed laughable at best. The one-armed woman reminisced about the days in the Capital City, understanding how cunning Yin Weiyin's ploys were. Yet, how many actually succeeded?

Moreover, this time, Yin Weiyin intended to manipulate the dynamic between her two disciples.

......

The sky faintly revealed the pale light of dawn.

Yin Weiyin groggily opened her eyes.

Pushing herself upright on the bed, she seldom yawned.

The reason was simple: she had slept exceptionally well last night.

Reflecting on the evening, it had felt like fate itself handing a pillow to a tired soul. Somehow, she inexplicably dreamed of returning to the underworld, reentering the Nascent Soul realm.

She even revealed her divine prowess before Lu Ying, who, filled with passion, worshipped her almost devoutly.

But alas... it was little more than a dream. Reality remained a game of manipulation and endless calculation.

Yin Weiyin's gaze dimmed slightly.

She gently touched the smoky cloud-patterned hairpin nestled in her locks. Recalling now, her time in the underworld had actually been pleasant—free from disputes over him, and he wholeheartedly striving to make things work between them.

Not even Tingxue could rival her during that time.

Yin Weiyin exhaled gently, rose, pulled open the curtains, and prepared to face Min Ning once more.

Shortly after the female crown got up, Lu Ying also slowly awakened.

She glanced at the empty mattress nearby, and her eyes gradually widened.

That… truly was just a dream?

......

Min Ning stood atop an earthy slope, surveying the surroundings. Noting she had kept watch all night without showing a trace of fatigue, looking instead radiant and lively, Yin Weiyin marveled inwardly.

If she grew stronger than Chen Yi, could she be the first to subdue the Scarlet Dragon…?

Yin Weiyin had spent so long trying to slay the Scarlet Dragon without succeeding—how could she possibly let such an opportunity fall to someone else?

Early morning thoughts wandered off into nonsense, leaving the female crown inexplicably flushed. She exhaled sharply, shaking her mind clear of distractions.

Yin Weiyin rubbed her weary eyes, moving toward a nearby stream to fix her tousled hair. Removing her hairpin, she carefully combed her lengths and tidied up.

Hearing footsteps approaching faintly, she knew it was Min Ning drawing closer and feigned casual indifference. "How do you find this pin?"

At her words, Min Ning only then noticed the smoky cloud-patterned hairpin and replied, "It's decent."

She had never been particular about grooming or adornments. If she cared, she wouldn't be wandering the Jianghu disguised as a man. Her approach now wasn't meant for hairpins, but because the previous night's words troubled her. Zhu Yu's statements, while thoughtful, were not absolute wisdom. She had mulled things over extensively yet failed to understand why the Princess of Jing would mislead her. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Just as Min Ning opened her mouth.

"Of course it's good," Yin Weiyin shifted her gaze, her eyes sparkling. "He gifted it to me."

Min Ning instantly clamped her mouth shut, lifting her eyebrows slightly.

Yin Weiyin understood she couldn't let her intent to provoke Min Ning and Lu Ying's discord be too obvious. Mindful of her façade, she deliberately flaunted it to obscure her true intentions. Yet, she genuinely wished to show Min Ning what it meant to be his "chosen one."

"What a pity… He gifted it to me but not to you."

"I couldn't care less." Min Ning replied coldly.

Yin Weiyin seemed oblivious to Min Ning's aloofness as she continued sorting her hair, casually commenting:

"After we got engaged, he insisted on giving me this pin. I couldn't refuse; you know how forceful he can be. Honestly, it's not something I want to wear day in and day out."

Min Ning glanced at the hairpin: "If you've got something to say, then say it directly."

Yin Weiyin slowly re-affixed the pin in her hair.

"Fate does like to toy with people. You were once inseparable, but now there's a gulf between you. Time has changed everything—I've shared life-and-death struggles with him and forged a deep bond as a result."

Her words were capped with a refined smile delivered at just the right moment:

"But true heroism dictates no desire for trivial trinkets like this hairpin, right?"

Min Ning took a deep breath, turned away, as if no longer willing to engage with the female crown.

Yin Weiyin observed her frustration and felt a smug satisfaction. She followed Min Ning back to the encampment, step by step.

Halfway along, Min Ning suddenly halted, turned, and said:

"Yin Weiyin, we've known each other for years. Do you believe me when I say I truly don't care about your hairpin?"

Yin Weiyin hesitated briefly before shaking her head: "I don't believe it."

As the words left her lips, Min Ning's hand moved like lightning toward her hair. Her flowing tresses fell in an instant, and the smoky cloud-patterned hairpin was snatched away.

Yin Weiyin's eyes widened in shock as she reached out to retrieve it. But a sword was already raised to her throat, draining the color from her previously smug expression.

Min Ning slipped the hairpin into her own hair with a provocative smirk. "Funny—I didn't believe you either."