The teacher recovered from his shock and his face lit up with joy. The sect had produced such an extraordinary talent. He had to report this to the hall master in the inner sect immediately.
He stepped down from the platform and wanted to take a closer look at Chu Yue, but the elder reached out to stop him. With a forced smile, he said, "Let's keep him in the outer sect for a while longer so I can observe him."
They were both old foxes, and the teacher knew exactly what kind of person the elder was. He solemnly advised, "This matter is of great importance. If he's cultivating at such a rapid pace, he must have an exceptional spiritual root. He's someone who can shoulder the future of the sect."
In other words, don't let your personal grudge ruin the sect's future.
The elder glanced at Chu Yue and scoffed, "You don't need to worry about this."
Higher officials always outrank lower ones. The teacher was helpless and could only advise resentfully, "Elder, you're making a mistake! We've both seen celestial roots before, and none of them compare to him. If he doesn't have a celestial root, then he must have—"
"A natural sword bone."
The elder paused slightly. A natural sword bone was a rare talent in the cultivation world, and those who possessed it were all leading figures of their time.
If Chu Yue truly had a natural sword bone and he concealed it, it would be considered a personal vendetta. With the inner sect currently eager for talent, if they were to investigate, he would be in trouble.
He steadied himself and chose to trust his intuition. With a cold smile, he said, "If the higher-ups blame me, let them come find me. I'll take full responsibility."
With that, the teacher had nothing else to say. He walked over to Chu Yue, sighed regretfully, and left.
The disciples in the plaza were still whispering and gossiping. Everyone looked at Chu Yue as if he were a monster. When they saw him walk down from the platform, they quickly backed away.
Zhou Shao stepped out from the crowd and called out, "Chu-shixiong, please wait."
Chu Yue stopped and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Zhou-shixiong."
Zhou Shao bowed to him, glanced around at everyone, and said with a smile, "Chu-shixiong, I see you have extraordinary talent. How about we have a sparring match so I can witness it for myself?"
Everyone's expressions varied. Zhou Shao had been in the outer sect for many years and had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from forming a golden core. Chu Yue was only at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Zhou Shao was clearly picking on someone weaker, wanting to humiliate Chu Yue in front of everyone.
Chu Yue gave him a brief, indifferent look. "I'm not interested."
Zhou Shao's smile widened. He raised his voice and asked, "What? Are you scared?"
"Why is Zhou Shao making things difficult for a newcomer?" Gu Yunzi stepped forward to persuade him.
Zhou Shao glanced at him and ignored him. He continued to speak to Chu Yue, "Looks like Chu-shixiong is truly scared and is about to run away?"
With a mocking smile in his eyes, Chu Yue walked away decisively. He had a stable mentality and was not a young man who could be easily provoked.
"Chu Yue—" The elder stroked his long white beard and said to everyone, "Sparring is an essential part of cultivation. Why don't you two spar and give everyone a chance to watch?"
Chu Yue looked at him and paused for a few seconds before turning to Zhou Shao and gesturing with his hand. "Please."
His every move was elegant and poised. Zhou Shao gritted his teeth in anger. Drawing his sword, he said, "Swords have no eyes. If I injure you, please don't blame me."
With those words, he lunged towards Chu Yue, his sword aimed straight at his neck.
Chu Yue dodged to the side and took a few steps back. He reached out and grabbed the hilt of Gu Yunzi's sword behind him. "May I borrow your sword?"
Everyone saw a flash of white as he drew the sword and caught it with his other hand. Then, with a fluid motion, he parried Zhou Shao's attack.
Zhou Shao narrowed his eyes. He realized that this kid was more skilled than he had thought. Although he wasn't serious about this, he couldn't lose to Chu Yue in public. Losing to someone at the ninth level of Qi Refinement would be humiliating.
He put on a serious expression and launched another attack, aiming for Chu Yue's vital points.
Within a dozen moves, Chu Yue proved himself to be incredibly agile and swift with his sword, leaving Zhou Shao unable to gain any advantage and even suffering a few minor setbacks.
The onlookers were astonished. Although Zhou Shao was arrogant and overbearing, he was indeed skilled and considered one of the best among the outer sect disciples. Yet, in a "sparring match" against a new disciple, he was losing ground. Just who was this Chu Yue?
Gu Yunzi worriedly said, "Chu-shixiong usually uses a saber. He's not as familiar with my sword."
Everyone could see that. Despite not being proficient with the sword, Chu Yue was still able to overwhelm Zhou Shao. If he had used a saber instead, Zhou Shao would have been defeated even more decisively.
Zhou Shao, who had initially only intended to teach Chu Yue a lesson, became enraged. He used one hand to wield his sword and the other to bring out a small copper bell. The bell tinkled.
Those standing nearby felt their minds momentarily cloud over.
Chu Yue's eyes narrowed as he paused for a moment. He spun around to dodge the incoming sword, but the sharp blade had already reached his neck, slicing through the bandages and revealing a corner of a bright red mark.
"That's... a slave mark!" Zhou Shao shouted loudly, excitedly declaring to everyone, "He has a slave mark!"
Upon hearing these words, Chu Yue's expression turned dark. He took a step forward, angled his sword upward, and with a powerful strike, disarmed Zhou Shao, sending the sword clattering to the stone floor.
Zhou Shao instinctively raised his hand to block, but a smile still lingered on his face. Then, he felt a sudden coldness on his wrist and warm liquid splashing onto his face.
His hand had been severed at the wrist and fell to the ground, his fingers twitching.
"Ahhh!"
A blood-curdling scream pierced the air.
Chu Yue, expressionless, used his index and middle fingers to wipe the blood from his face. He then slowly ground his boot heel into Zhou Shao's twitching fingers.
The plaza was deathly silent except for Zhou Shao's screams.
Injuries during sparring were common and expected, but it was clear to everyone that Chu Yue had intentionally maimed Zhou Shao in retaliation for revealing his slave mark.
"Whose slave is he? Why is he hiding it?"
"Could he be a spy sent by the Demon Sect? Otherwise, how could his talent be so great?"
"Zhou Shao is a follower of Young Master Li. Now that he’s cut off his hand, he’s in for it!"
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd as everyone began to discuss the incident.
With the outcome decided, Chu Yue held his sword with both hands and nodded slightly, saying indifferently, "You're welcome."
Zhou Shao had never experienced such pain. Clutching his bleeding wrist, he yelled furiously, "My uncle is a steward for Young Master Li. I have Young Master Li backing me up. You dare cut off my hand? Just you wait!"
"Young Master Li won't let you get away with this!"
Chu Yue returned the sword to Gu Yunzi and coldly replied, "Let him."
Gu Yunzi was terrified and grabbed Chu Yue's sleeve, urging him, "You should go apologize to Zhou Shao. He's a follower of Young Master Li. If you offend him, what will you do?"
"Yes, Chu-shixiong, don't be a hero. We can't afford to offend Young Master Li," Yuan-shixiong added, his brow furrowed.
The surrounding disciples also whispered among themselves, their words filled with awe and fear of Li Lanxiu.
"Young Master Li is the only son of Master Li. He has a strange temper and is very ruthless. If you offend him, you're in for a world of trouble."
"Yeah, I heard that once a disciple said that Young Master Li was ugly, and he had the disciple beaten half to death."
"And there was that time when an outer sect disciple unintentionally offended Young Master Li, and he was punished to mine in a desolate place for five years. He never returned."
Everyone was well aware of the various rumors about Li Lanxiu. Each tale made their voices softer, their eyes filled with deep fear.
The elder watched this scene with a subtle expression. A sudden thought struck him, and he walked down the steps, asking loudly, "Chu Yue, who placed that slave mark on you? Did they force you? If so, tell me and I will see to it that justice is done."
Everyone was confused, unsure of the elder's intentions.
Chu Yue understood the underlying meaning of the elder's words. He stared at the elder with a calm expression.
The elder looked very righteous, waving his whisk. "Don't worry, I have always been fair and impartial. I will never tolerate anyone who bullies others and damages the sect's reputation." He was almost directly naming Li Lanxiu.
Chu Yue seemed moved and closed his eyes in thought.
The elder walked up to him and smiled slightly, saying, "If you think my position is insufficient to help you, there's also Peak Master Xue of Thousandchance Peak. He's a close friend of mine and is very influential in the sect. He will definitely see that justice is done for you."
Chu Yue looked at him, lifted his hand, and removed the black bandage from his neck, revealing the full slave mark.
The bright red mark clearly read "Li Lanxiu."
The surrounding disciples were shocked, and Gu Yunzi's jaw nearly dropped. Then, everyone started discussing it.
"That's the slave mark placed by Young Master Li. Chu Yue is actually Young Master Li's slave!"
"No wonder Chu-shixiong's cultivation progress is so astonishing. He has Young Master Li as his backer..."
"Young Master Li truly has a discerning eye. To have such a talented person as his slave!"
The crowd's attitude towards Chu Yue instantly changed. They had been both afraid of him and accused him of being a spy, but now they looked at him with envy and admiration.
"Chu Yue being a slave of Young Master Li is truly extraordinary. Anyone favored by Young Master Li must be extraordinary!"
Zhou Shao was green with envy, his eyes fixed on Chu Yue's neck. He felt a mixture of jealousy and fear. He was jealous that Chu Yue could be a slave to Li Lanxiu, such a great opportunity that he didn't have. And he was terrified because he knew Li Lanxiu's methods. Having offended Chu Yue, he knew Li Lanxiu would seek revenge.
A soft voice raised an objection, "Didn't the elder just say that Young Master Li forced Chu Yue to become his slave?"
"What? Who would force someone to become a slave to Young Master Li? People would kill to have that opportunity."
The elder nodded in satisfaction. Chu Yue was surprisingly cooperative. He released a burst of spiritual energy, silencing the entire square. The elder looked around and asked solemnly, "Chu Yue, I ask you—
"Did Li Lanxiu force you to take that slave mark?!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
Whether Li Lanxiu had forced Chu Yue to get the slave mark was not as important as the fact that the elder had publicly asked this question in front of everyone.
One of the sect's rules prohibited bullying and forcing others to have slave marks against their will. Violators would not only suffer physical punishment but would also be sent to mine in a cold, desolate place for ten years.
The elder was publicly accusing Li Lanxiu of breaking the sect's rules.
Everyone turned to look at Chu Yue. He placed his hand on the slave mark on his neck and said lightly, "I did it willingly."
The elder was speechless. Was his hint not clear enough?
Chu Yue tilted his head slightly and looked at him, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What did you mean, Elder?"
The elder realized he had been played by Chu Yue. This young man was incredibly cunning, and his acting skills were on par with theirs, the old foxes.
His attempt to bring down Li Lanxiu had backfired, and he had exposed his own underhanded tactics. Everyone heard clearly how, as an elder of the outer sect and an elder of Li Lanxiu, he had fabricated such a serious accusation out of hatred for Li Lanxiu. It was truly disgusting.
"Wonderful!"
"What a loyal slave you are!" the elder sneered, glaring at Chu Yue. "Go back and tell your master that I'm eager to see how this play of his ends!"
Chu Yue calmly walked through the crowd towards his quarters, his neck adorned with a bright red slave mark that drew envious glances. It seemed as if they weren't looking at a mark of servitude, but a symbol of honor.
Gu Yunzi quickly followed behind, exclaiming excitedly, "You're Young Master Li's slave! We have a powerful backer now! No one will dare bully us anymore!"
Yuan-shixiong, his face beaming, followed closely behind Chu Yue, finally walking with his head held high among the crowd. "Young Master Li truly has a discerning eye. Anyone chosen by him is destined for greatness!"
"It's such a great fortune for Chu Yue to be favored by Young Master Li!"
Chu Yue's wide sleeves concealed his tightly clenched fists. The veins on the back of his hand and wrist bulged, and his knuckles turned white. He was suppressing his rage to the extreme.
No one understood the humiliation he felt.
The humiliation that Li Lanxiu had inflicted upon him.
That humiliation will turn into smth else later on,,,, hehehe
ReplyDeleteThanks 🩷🩷🩷🩷
ReplyDelete