Shu Yue stared at Lu Baiyu, her face expressionless. Despite the anger running hot in her belly, she managed to remain calm. If she let her emotions get the best of her, she would lose her rationality in the face of her anger and only come to regret her actions. If that happens, she would be exposing her weakness to these people and would be at a disadvantage.

Furthermore, the disciples around her were of higher rank than she was and were practicing the Claw of the Eternal Beast. Going against them all would only lead to her demise. So she shouldn't be so careless. Only a fool would underestimate their enemies.

"I see," Shu Yue said, keeping her tone neutral. "So this secret manual came from the Scorpio Clan."

Lu Baiyu frowned as he regarded her with a bewildered look. He was probably confused by the behavior Shu Yue displayed. How could she maintain her composure after discovering she had been tricked?

But one of the reasons Shu Yue was able to keep her emotions under control was that she had sort of anticipated this. She had already weighed out the possibility of Lu Baiyu cooperating with another clan after hearing about the Claw of the Eternal Beast. Because where else would he be able to obtain a copy of the Ophiuchus Clan's long-lost martial art? Shu Yue could only think of those who stole their manuals--the Zodiac Clans.

"That's right," Lu Baiyu said without a trace of shame or guilt. "Aren't they kind enough to give us a copy of such a powerful martial art?" His mouth stretched into a wide grin, his eyes shining with gratitude.

Kind? Foolish human! That martial art belonged to the Ophiuchus Clan in the first place!

Shu Yue stared at him unblinkingly, her expression as blank as a discarded puppet's. Then her mouth slowly turned up into a soft smile.

"Yeah, how very kind of them," Shu Yue said, her gaze unwavering and steady. "And how...very foolish of you." Her gentle smile transformed into something resembling the devil, contrasting with her honey-sweet voice and angelic face. "You disappointed me, master."

Lu Baiyu's eyes widened. "You... What are you talking about?"

Still smiling, Shu Yue said, "I respect you as my master and as an elder, but I never expected you to betray the Ophiuchus Clan in exchange for a sword art manual, and you are even willing to lead the young and naive disciples down the wrong path." Her eyes glittered ominously. "I'm very disappointed, master."

Lu Baiyus's face hardened. "This martial art will always be better than this worthless clan! There is no future for you here, which is why I'd rather be a part of another clan than stay here and be a weakling forever!"

Shu Yue's mouth twitched but she kept her cool.

"You understand it, right?" Lu Baiyu continued. "If we want to become someone worthy of the title of warrior or magus, the first step is to leave this weak and hopeless clan!"

"You wanted to get stronger, so you chose to betray your clan and join another?" Shu Yue sneered.

Lu Baiyu snorted. "You're aware of this clan's current state, right? We don't have any useful techniques to even advance to a higher level! As an elder, I despise seeing the talent and future of the younger generation ruined simply because of this clan's lack of resources!" His gaze shifted to his disciples. "Am I right, my dear disciples?"

"Master's right!" the disciples exclaimed in unison.

Shu Yue's lips twitched again as she looked at their determined expressions.

"This clan was already dead to me the moment the Celestial Spirit Ophiuchus died," Lu Baiyu said. "But you know what? If only the stupid clan leader had agreed to form an alliance with any of the Zodiac Clans before, then I wouldn't have resorted to betraying this clan. Why did he waste such a big opportunity? Even the Scorpio Clan had approached us! Our clan leader just needed to marry someone from the other clan. But what did he do? He chose his pride over this clan's future!"

Shu Yue's features darkened. Lu Baiyu made it sound as if it was her father's fault that the Ophiuchus Clan remained powerless. The other clans did request an alliance and promised to help them regain power, but what Lu Baiyu didn't realize was that they had ulterior motives beyond simply backing them. Their true objective was to take control of the Ophiuchus Clan. Making an alliance with them meant submitting to them.

If her father married someone from another clan, he would be offering not only himself but the entire Ophiuchus Clan!

The Zodiac Clans didn't want an alliance; they wanted control and power.

Unfortunately for them, Shu Yue's father was not gullible enough to fall for their schemes.

Shu Yue tilted her head to the side and smiled. "What if I told you I refuse to join the Scorpio Clan?"

"Do you dare to defy your master?"

I had no intention of obeying you in the first place. I never acknowledged myself as a disciple of yours.

"I suppose I am."

Lu Baiyu's face contorted with rage. "Y-you..."

"So, what will you do? How will you force me to join or prevent me from reporting this to the clan leader?"

Lu Baiyu gritted his teeth. "Restrain her!"

Footsteps sounded behind Shu Yue as two disciples rushed to obey their master's command. Shu Yue didn't even bother to stop them. She remained motionless as they grabbed her hands and tied them behind her back. She felt a sharp pain around her wrists but didn't change her expression. Her eyes were unblinking as she stared at Lu Baiyu, a smile still on her face.

Lu Baiyu let out a sigh. "Look, it's also for your own good. You're skilled, and I see your potential to be a great warrior, but you won't thrive in this clan. That's why your only option is to join the Scorpio Clan, which will help you grow stronger. I'm sure you know who the Scorpio Clan is?"

Shu Yue clenched her jaw. Of course, she knew them. The Scorpio Clan, also known as the Emperor's Right Hand, was the most powerful of the twelve Zodiac Clans. They were the Emperor's military might, and their current leader was the Sword Saint.

They were once the Ophiuchus Clan's rival.

Prior to their demise, the Ophiuchus Clan was the most powerful. They once had the largest and most powerful army in the Luo Empire, earning them the title of Emperor's Right Hand. Besides that, the first-generation leader was the first Sword Saint, a title bestowed by the Emperor on the empire's greatest swordsman. However, they have now been replaced by their greatest rival, the Scorpio Clan.

The Scorpio Clan had taken everything from them, and now they were attempting to recruit their talented disciples?

Such audacity!

Shu Yue scoffed. "You said there was no future for us in this clan? You're wrong."

Lu Baiyu frowned.

"You said the Scorpio Clan wants to help us? You're wrong again." Shu Yue let out a bitter laugh which only made Lu Baiyu's frown deepen. "Are you sure you're not being fooled by those guys? You're a smart man, Elder Lu. You were able to set up such a beautiful trap to recruit young disciples, so why can't you realize that you're being used?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, Elder Lu, the Scorpio Clan for which you are so grateful does not want to help you." Shu Yue paused, her eyes boring into his. "They want to control you."

But Lu Baiyu disregarded her warning. "Nonsense. Why are you being so stubborn, child? You must be thankful instead. Look at how willing they are to help and accept us despite what our former clan leader did."

Shu Yue clenched her fists. She understood what Lu Baiyu was trying to say. Thirty-eight years ago, the Ophiuchus Clan's seventh-generation leader committed a heinous sin that led to the clan's downfall. That person was Shu Yue's grandfather. He assassinated the Scorpio Clan's sixth-generation leader. He was the reason the Ophiuchus Clan was expelled from the Zodiac.

However, the current clan leader believed that there was more to that tragedy. He believed that his father would not do something so careless as to ruin the clan's reputation.

Shu Yue smiled. "You're wrong again. I don't dislike them. I despise them."

I despise those who take what's mine.

Lu Baiyu shrugged. "I guess you have no choice but to like them. You'll be under the Scorpio Clan from now on. And like I said, if you refuse, I'll have to do it by force." With that, he turned on his heels and walked toward his disciples.

Shu Yue's smile faltered, but she did not offer any further rebuttal.

I suppose I have no choice but to be a good girl.