Chapter 154: Wang Bing
Su Tianhao calmly followed Elder Xuan into the carriage, unfazed by the astonished glances from the surrounding guards. It was a rare sight—their First Elder personally inviting a complete stranger into his private carriage. What made it even more startling was the presence of their young mistress inside.
Su Tianhao remained indifferent. His gaze followed Elder Xuan's retreating figure as the carriage door opened before him. The faint scent of sandalwood drifted out, and a glimpse of soft silk lining caught his eye.
"Come in, Tianhao," Elder Xuan said gently, lifting the curtain and stepping inside.
Su Tianhao followed without hesitation.
Inside, the carriage was surprisingly modest—not lavish as one might expect from a figure of Elder Xuan's standing. Dark wood paneling, a low table set with tea, cushioned seats in simple blue fabric. Everything orderly, elegant, and purposeful—much like the man himself.
But what truly caught Su Tianhao's attention wasn't the carriage.
It was the girl seated within.
A beautiful young woman in flowing silk robes that shimmered like moonlight on still water. Her skin was smooth and delicate as polished jade, and her long snow-white hair cascaded down like a silken veil. But it was her eyes—those stunning autumn eyes, flickering with luminous depth—that stood out the most. Even with a translucent veil concealing part of her face, Su Tianhao could tell she was a beauty capable of toppling nations. In terms of appearance, she was not inferior to Lu Ruyi in the slightest.
'So this is the Wang Mansion's young miss,' he noted inwardly.
Though her beauty was remarkable, Su Tianhao remained composed. After witnessing his mother's celestial grace, no mortal beauty could truly move him.
His gaze lingered for only a heartbeat before he calmly averted it, letting his eyes sweep over the interior instead. One of the Rogue Laws he had created back in his Willow Creek days: know your surroundings. A simple rule—but one he had never broken.
Wang Bing's eyes sparkled with quiet curiosity. Few men could look upon her without faltering, yet this one had done so effortlessly.
Elder Xuan caught the subtle exchange and smiled faintly. 'Not many young men could look at Bing'er without being dazed. It must have been a new experience for her.'
He gestured between the two. "Tian Hao, meet our young miss—Wang Bing. Bing'er, this is Tian Hao."
"Nice to meet you, Tian Hao," Wang Bing said softly, her voice gentle and melodious—like wind chimes touched by a spring breeze.
"Likewise, Young Miss," Su Tianhao replied with a subtle nod.
"Just call me Bing'er," Wang Bing said with a playful wink.
Su Tianhao raised an eyebrow—visibly surprised. He wasn't the only one. Elder Xuan's expression flickered with subtle astonishment. While it wasn't rare for Wang Bing to be lighthearted, it was certainly unusual for her to speak so casually to a stranger, let alone permit one to use her name so intimately—a privilege reserved only for her closest companions.
'Could it be... Bing'er has taken a liking to this young man?' Elder Xuan mused, a faint crease forming on his brow.
"Here, take a seat," Wang Bing said, patting the cushion beside her.
Su Tianhao hesitated for a brief moment, then sat down without a word.
Elder Xuan's frown deepened.
From the corner of her eye, Wang Bing noticed—and chose to ignore it. Instead, she leaned forward and poured tea with practiced elegance, then offered the cup to Su Tianhao.
"You must be weary from your travels. Please, have some tea."
Su Tianhao's golden eyes turned cold and probing. "Are you trying to uncover my identity? Is that what this is?"
"N-No!" Wang Bing stammered, flustered. "I'm sorry—I didn't mean it like that."
She quickly retracted the cup and placed it back on the table, shifting awkwardly in her seat.
Su Tianhao studied her reaction in silence. Seeing no trace of deceit—only embarrassment and sincerity—he gradually relaxed.
"...I'll take it," he said finally, voice even.
"Huh?" Wang Bing blinked, startled. "Really?"
He nodded once and reached up to untie the cloth mask covering the lower half of his face.
Elder Xuan, who had been silently observing, leaned forward slightly—anticipation flickering in his eyes despite himself.
With a swift motion, Su Tianhao pulled the mask away—revealing a striking face beneath. Sword-like brows, piercing golden eyes, flawless skin. Features elegant yet powerful, a blend of refinement and danger.
Wang Bing's breath caught. Her eyes widened. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips before she could stop it.
"...So pretty."
"Pretty?" Su Tianhao's lips twitched. He couldn't help but curse inwardly at the lingering effects of the Untainted Body. Though he had spent time tempering himself under the harsh sun, it hadn't been enough to completely erase its influence. He still looked... delicate in some ways.
"Hehe," Wang Bing giggled, covering her mouth. "I never thought the one who cut down a Peak-stage Martial Adept Phantom in a single slash would turn out to be a pretty boy."
Elder Xuan chuckled softly, clearly amused. "So young." His brow rose. "Sixteen? Seventeen?"
Not just handsome—but startlingly youthful. Far younger than the strength and presence he carried suggested.
'So young, yet already a Peak-stage Martial Adept...' Elder Xuan's thought turned serious, his impression of Su Tianhao rising quietly. 'If Bing'er truly fancies him, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing.'
Su Tianhao shook his head, unbothered. He reached for the teacup and took a calm sip. He wasn't worried about poison. With Elder Xuan's strength, they could have killed him outright if they wanted to—no need for such measures. As for being drugged, his physique would instantly sense and neutralize anything suspicious before it could take effect.
Then he looked at Wang Bing directly. "So—what are your intentions?" he asked bluntly. "Why all this kindness? I doubt you treat every stranger this way."
"You're right," Wang Bing admitted, her expression turning sincere. "At first, I was simply intrigued—your swordsmanship, your calm, your strength. Even without seeing your face, I could tell you were young... I just wanted to speak with you."
She paused, then continued more softly. "But now..."
"Now what?" Su Tianhao pressed.
"...I'd like to ask you for a favor."
"Oh?" He raised a brow, faint amusement flickering in his eyes. "You just met me and you're already asking for favors?"
"Hmph!"
Elder Xuan snorted sharply, his frown returning.
"Don't forget," the elder said, voice low and stern, "we're offering you protection by letting you travel with us. Bing'er owes you nothing—if anything you owe her, it was even her idea to bring you into this carriage. So if she's asking a favor, you already owe her one."
"I see," Su Tianhao said quietly, turning back to Wang Bing, expression now serious. "I hate owing debts."
He placed the cup back on the table and met her eyes directly. "Tell me—what is it you want?"
Wang Bing's lashes trembled slightly, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks before quickly masking it with a composed smile. "No need to be so serious. It's just a question—your answer will determine whether I can even ask."
Su Tianhao gave a small nod and took another sip of tea, waiting.
Wang Bing drew a quiet breath. "Are you, by any chance, heading to Cloudrise City to prepare for the Qingyun Sect Examination?"
Su Tianhao's golden eyes gleamed. "You're planning to participate as well?"
Wang Bing nodded. "Judging from your reaction—I'm guessing you are too?"
He nodded, then his eyes narrowed slightly, probing. "But why Qingyun Sect?"
"Why not?"
"With your talent and your cultivation at the 5th level Martial Adept Realm, you could qualify for any of the three Great Sects. Wouldn't Lianhua Sect be a more fitting choice?"
Wang Bing blinked. Her expression froze. "What did you say?"
"About Lianhua Sect?" Su Tianhao asked, puzzled.
"No." She shook her head slowly, eyes locked onto his. "You said my cultivation base. How did you know I'm at the 5th level?"
Before Su Tianhao could respond, Elder Xuan's calm voice came from across the carriage. "That shouldn't surprise you, Bing'er. He saw through the Phantoms' cultivation at a glance—yours is no more concealed than theirs was. Your concealment technique is good, but certainly not better than theirs."
Wang Bing fell silent.
The man sitting beside her had seen through a concealment art that the Phantoms were so proud of. Reading through hers was only natural, effortless even.
Su Tianhao offered a faint, unreadable smile.
In truth, the moment he laid eyes on her, her cultivation had been clear—5th level Martial Adept Realm. Though he couldn't pinpoint her exact age, instinct told him she wasn't much older than him. Even so, her cultivation had already reached such a level, which genuinely surprised him.
His own combat strength could overwhelm hers, yes—but that was a product of his unique inheritance. His actual cultivation base remained only at the 1st level Martial Adept Realm.
He took another quiet sip of tea.
'I still have a long way to go.'
He turned back to her. "So... why Qingyun Sect?"
Wang Bing didn't answer immediately. She responded with a question instead. "Why do you think I'd be interested in Lianhua Sect?"
Su Tianhao's expression shifted into mild confusion, as though she'd asked the most obvious question in the world. "For starters, Qingyun Sect ranks below Lianhua in terms of overall prestige. And second—Lianhua is an all-female sect, famous for being where beauties gather. Isn't it reasonable to assume you'd want to be among them?"
"Beauties?" Wang Bing's face flushed deep red.
She was no stranger to being praised for her looks—but hearing it from Su Tianhao felt strangely different. Intimate, almost. And seeing the puzzled look on his face only made the blush worse.
She composed herself quickly and replied with practiced calm. "I don't want to go to Lianhua Sect. My reasons are simple—I have too many cousins there. They'd constantly watch over me, babysit me..."
She paused, then added with a faint smirk. "And don't suggest Xuanhu Sect either. It's filled with boys, and I have relatives there too. So..."
Su Tianhao blinked, completely speechless. Most people clung to family ties for protection or advantage. She was actively trying to escape hers.
After a moment of stunned silence, he muttered. "So you're running from your family."
"You could say that," Wang Bing said with a small shrug. "I wouldn't truly be free with them around."
Elder Xuan's expression shifted—guilt, understanding, and a quiet thread of pride crossing his face in quick succession. All her life, Wang Bing had been sheltered and pampered. What she was seeking wasn't privilege. It was the chance to stand on her own.
"So what do you want from me?" Su Tianhao asked plainly.
"An alliance," Wang Bing said, voice soft but sincere. "Once we enter the Qingyun Sect—I don't know anyone there. It would be nice to have someone I could trust. Someone to talk to."
Su Tianhao's gaze sharpened. "So you want a friend."
"Yeah," she admitted, her autumn eyes shimmering faintly with hope.
"If you want a friend," Su Tianhao said, setting his teacup down, "shouldn't you start by showing your face? I've shown you mine. It's only fair."
"Outrageous!" Elder Xuan barked, expression darkening.
"It's okay, Uncle Xuan," Wang Bing said gently. "He's right."
Without hesitation, she reached up and lifted the veil.
In an instant, the air inside the carriage seemed to shift.
Her beauty was breathtaking—refined yet ethereal. Delicate features sculpted with natural grace, soft pink lips, and flawless jade-like skin that seemed to glow beneath the light. Her snow-white hair framed her face like a silk halo, accentuating the striking contrast of her warm amber-gold eyes—eyes that shimmered with depth, curiosity, and a faint trace of mischief.
A face that could unsettle kings—now revealed with quiet confidence.
Su Tianhao's eyes flickered with a trace of surprise—there and gone in an instant. But Wang Bing's luminous eyes didn't miss it.
"Deal?" she said, extending her hand.
Su Tianhao glanced at her slender hand. A moment of silence.
Then he reached out—his firm, warm grip meeting her soft, cool palm.
"Deal."