Bing Wushuang watched the scene unfold, his suspicion deepening with every passing moment, for Xin Yi'an was nowhere to be seen. By all logic, Xin Yi'an was the one among all the Northern Island Cangwu Sect's high-ranking members closest to Wei Zhao, and he had crossed paths with Bing Wushuang before as well. Now that Bing Wushuang had come calling for Wei Zhao by name, Xin Yi'an should by every reasonable measure have been the most fitting host to receive him—so how was it that the man had not shown even his face?

"Young friend Bing Wushuang, you have come from afar, and we have failed to welcome you properly. Pray forgive us, forgive us." Lu Ping'an cupped his hands in greeting with a chuckle, his manner exceedingly courteous—at least by his own reckoning, exceedingly courteous it was. Never mind that Bing Wushuang was a consummate expert of the Golden Core stage; relative to Lu Ping'an he was still a junior, so to call him "young friend" was already something of a compliment.

Little did he know that Bing Wushuang was no longer of the Golden Core stage at all. This was no favor he was doing the man—it was gilding his own face.

"No matter." Bing Wushuang was indifferent to all this; face was mere passing cloud to him, a thing his mind had never once entertained. He said bluntly, "May I go pay my respects to your Martial-Uncle Wei Zhao now?"

"Might I ask, young friend Bing Wushuang, whether there is some particular matter at hand? Is this your personal wish, or does it come from your sect?" Lu Ping'an probed.

"Personal," Bing Wushuang said directly.

Lu Ping'an arched an eyebrow and exchanged glances with the several Golden Core higher-ups beside him, and inwardly he breathed a small sigh of relief. If Bing Wushuang had come to see Wei Zhao on behalf of the Snow Sword Sect, it would have been no small trouble for them—after all, it would likely mean that Wei Zhao and the Snow Sword Sect stood on close terms, and in any move they made against Wei Zhao hereafter, they would have to weigh the Snow Sword Sect's sentiments.

Fortunately, this was Bing Wushuang's own private affair. Then there was nothing to worry about.

"My apologies. Martial-Uncle Wei Zhao is presently in secluded cultivation. I fear young friend has made this trip in vain. Please, go back the way you came." Lu Ping'an at once issued the dismissal without the slightest hesitation.

"Secluded cultivation?" Bing Wushuang's frown deepened at the words. Had he not sensed something amiss a moment ago, he might have believed it—but now his intuition told him plainly that something was absolutely wrong here.

As an expert, and above all a top-tier prodigy like Bing Wushuang, his intuition had always been exceedingly keen.

"Just so. Since arriving here, Martial-Uncle Wei Zhao has been in secluded cultivation upon the Ascension Cliff. Outsiders dare not disturb him, so if young friend Bing Wushuang wishes to pay his respects to the elder, I fear it will have to wait for the next opportunity." As he spoke, Lu Ping'an wore a trace of apology upon his face, looking rather sincere.

Unfortunately, Bing Wushuang was clearly not one to give up so easily. He glanced at Lu Ping'an and said flatly, "Take me to the Ascension Cliff."

"Ha?" Lu Ping'an froze for a moment, the other's tone genuinely baffling him. Rather than a request, it sounded more like a command delivered from on high. Was there something wrong with this creature's head?

For a prodigy of such transcendent talent as Bing Wushuang to carry a certain arrogance was understandable—but the problem was that this was not the Snow Sword Sect; this was the Northern Island Cangwu Sect. To come all this way to the Northern Island Cangwu Sect and throw his weight around—had he never considered the consequences of such a thing?

Moreover, even had Bing Wushuang adopted a somewhat gentler manner and made his request in proper form, Lu Ping'an would never have agreed, for the request itself was already beyond all bounds.

Although the Ascension Cliff was chiefly used to imprison special figures, to the Northern Island Cangwu Sect it was a place of extraordinary significance. Apart from the Golden Core higher-ups, even the sect's own disciples could not lightly approach it, let alone open it to an outsider like Bing Wushuang.

And what was more, Wei Zhao was now imprisoned upon the Ascension Cliff, and this was the very juncture at which the two sides stood locked in confrontation. How could Lu Ping'an possibly allow an outsider of unclear purpose like Bing Wushuang to go and see him?

"My apologies. The Ascension Cliff is forbidden ground of our Northern Island Cangwu Sect. Even our own disciples may not approach it at will. Your request is really rather excessive." Had he not been mindful of the other's identity, Lu Ping'an would without question have already begun driving him out. But the man was, after all, a former prodigy of the Central Island Snow Sword Sect who had once been the height of fashion; to embarrass him too gravely would in some measure be to humiliate the entire Snow Sword Sect, and unless absolutely compelled, Lu Ping'an did not wish to invite such needless trouble.

"The Ascension Cliff is forbidden ground?" Bing Wushuang arched an eyebrow. The more the other evaded, the more suspicious he grew—yet before he had clarified the actual situation, it was impossible for him to tear the mask off outright. He glanced sidelong at Lu Ping'an and said, "Does that mean you lack the authority to decide?"

Lu Ping'an's eye twitched, and a surge of nameless fury rose in his heart. What sort of contemptuous look was that? Utterly insufferable!

"Just so." Lu Ping'an still did not turn hostile. Suppressing his anger, he said, "To permit anyone to enter or leave the forbidden ground of the Ascension Cliff, at the very least the authority of a vice sect master or above is required. It happens that both our sect master and vice sect master are away on business, so for the time being it cannot be done."

To have spoken thus far, Lu Ping'an had already shown considerable forbearance. Anyone else, even if he did not turn hostile to one's face, would certainly have flung his sleeves and stalked off. You, Bing Wushuang, are nothing but a newly risen junior—what are you playing the big bad wolf here for?

"Then what of the Grand Supreme Elder? Your Grand Supreme Elder should surely have that authority. Take me to see him." Bing Wushuang pressed his advantage.

"What?" Lu Ping'an and the others were collectively dumbstruck at these words. They looked at one another for a moment before saying, "You wish to see our Grand Supreme Elder?"

"Yes. You are not about to tell me your Grand Supreme Elder is also absent, are you?" Bing Wushuang countered casually.

"The Grand Supreme Elder is indeed present, and he does indeed possess that authority—but he is the anchor stone of our Northern Island Cangwu Sect. How could an outsider like you see him merely because you say so? Would it be that if some random person came along and demanded by name to see the Grand Supreme Elder of your Snow Sword Sect, your Grand Supreme Elder would agree to grant him an audience?" Lu Ping'an wore a trace of mockery on his face, and the other Golden Core higher-ups all wore looks of contempt as well.

Had this creature's head never been caught in a door? To open his mouth and demand to see the Grand Supreme Elder—did he truly think the Northern Island Cangwu Sect was his family's own business?

"That depends on who's asking." Bing Wushuang was not angered in the least. A man of his extreme rationality and pragmatism rarely lost his temper with anyone—what use was there in getting angry?

Besides, his station was different now, and he was all the less likely to fly into a rage over trifles.