Chapter 22: What do you mean?

You once desperately wanted to enter the Jade Clarity Palace, yet you, Yu Qingting, refused to accept me no matter what—and even tried to kill me to protect the reputation you supposedly enjoy in the eyes of the world!

And now, after I beat your two favorite disciples until they were left crawling across the floor looking for their teeth, you come chasing after me with eager eyes, wanting me to join your Jade Clarity Palace!

So the Jade Clarity Palace is a place that breeds shameless people, is it?

Why would Luo Qingyao ever go somewhere like that?

With that thought, Luo Qingyao glanced at the commoners below the platform. Countless envious and resentful gazes were fixed upon her, as though they wished to drown her beneath them.

She then looked at Feng Qingjue, cold as frost, and at the ruthless glint flashing through Yu Qingting’s eyes. Standing there with poised elegance, she spoke in a clear, ringing voice:

“I refuse!”

“I refuse!”

Those three words rang distinctly in the ears of everyone present.

The next moment, every person there froze.

Yu Qingting naturally knew that Luo Qingyao was unwilling, but this was not something Luo Qingyao could decide for herself.

She put on what she believed to be her gentlest and most benevolent expression, then asked in feigned surprise, “What did you say? Yaoyao, you don’t wish to join the Jade Clarity Palace? This is the late Palace Master’s final decree—and a promise made to your mother!”

At that, Luo Qingyao sneered.

Now she wanted to use some so-called final decree to control her? It seemed the master of the Jade Clarity Palace was not merely shameless, but stupid as well!

She wanted to toy with Luo Qingyao? Fine. Then Luo Qingyao would play along properly. Who did not know how to pretend to be a good person?

“A final decree is dead, but the living must adapt. Besides, Palace Master Yu has already accepted Princess Lan as her disciple. Although I defeated her, she entered your tutelage first, and that bond has already been established. It cannot be changed! Furthermore, in every respect, Princess Lan is far superior to me and far more suitable to become the Palace Master’s disciple. So, Palace Master, you may as well let that final decree be carried away by the wind!”

The moment Luo Qingyao finished speaking, the people below the platform cast admiring glances in her direction.

Just look at her—what a magnanimous and kind-hearted girl!

“You…” Yu Qingting was instantly rendered speechless, unable to find a reply.

Yet how could she so easily abandon such a splendid opportunity to torment Luo Qingyao?

Thus, Yu Qingting deliberately assumed the stern bearing of an elder and said severely, “Yaoyao, considering your youth and ignorance, I will not hold this against you. But you must never again say that a final decree may simply be carried away by the wind. Otherwise, where would the dignity and credibility of my Jade Clarity Palace be? If you dare to speak such nonsense again, I will punish you according to palace law!”

So that was it. If Luo Qingyao refused to become her disciple, she would be accused of deliberately damaging the dignity and credibility of the Jade Clarity Palace.

Luo Qingyao rolled her eyes. How could such a vicious woman be known throughout the world as a fairy?

At that moment, Yun Yi could no longer hold his tongue. “You really do have the nerve to lecture others from a position of comfort. That girl isn’t even a member of your Jade Clarity Palace, so why should she obey your ridiculous final decree?”

“Mind your words, Young Master Yun. When my Jade Clarity Palace accepts a disciple, it is not your place to interfere!” Yu Qingting had long since come to hate him for repeatedly obstructing her.

Unexpectedly, Yun Yi did not grow angry. Instead, he walked over to Luo Qingyao and directly slipped an arm around her waist.

“As for the affairs of your Jade Clarity Palace, you could crawl here on your knees and beg me, and I still wouldn’t bother to interfere! But if you want to steal my disciple, that is another matter entirely!”

“What do you mean?” Yu Qingting demanded furiously upon hearing that Yun Yi intended to compete with her for the disciple.

Yun Yi smiled carelessly, but his tone was firm and left no room for refusal.

“Exactly what you think I mean.”