The other outer disciples, seeing Li Lanxiu's smile, hid even deeper behind the pillar.
After Li Lanxiu left gracefully, floating away on his Coldiron fan, Gu Yunzi blushed and looked at Chu Yue with envy. "Young Master Li is so kind to you."
Chu Yue leaned against the railing, looking down at the teahouse where Li Lanxiu had just been sitting. "What?"
Several outer disciples around him spoke up eagerly, "Didn't you see? Those brothers from Thousandchance Peak are all young talents, and Young Master Li treated them like dogs, but he smiled softly at you..."
"I heard that Young Master Li's temper is unpredictable, and what we just saw proves it. But he smiled at you so warmly. You're really lucky!"
Gu Yunzi analyzed seriously, "Young Master Li is fickle, and he toys with those shixiongs, but his smile for you was genuine."
Chu Yue raised an eyebrow slightly, the curve of his lips was faint, but his tone remained unchanged. "Is that so?"
Gu Yunzi nodded vigorously. "Absolutely!"
Chu Yue half-crossed his arms and walked down the stairs. After a few steps, he turned and looked at the stock-still group, smiling slightly and lifting his chin. "Let's go."
His demeanor exuded a youthful spirit of casual confidence, a rare sight on his face.
Gu Yunzi scratched his head. Chu Yue seemed to be in a good mood?
The Thousandchance Peak disciples, having slapped themselves until their faces were swollen like pig's heads, were too embarrassed to stay in the cultivation market. They covered their faces and sneaked back to their peak.
In a small pavilion nestled in the green woods, two figures stood. Jiang Jiusi stared at Su Shiyan intently, his eyes filled with a kind of intoxication. "A-Yan, has the matter of breaking off the engagement disturbed your peace?"
Su Shiyan's expression was cold, and she nodded slightly. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for your concern. Peace is within my heart, and no one can disturb it."
Jiang Jiusi nodded and took a delicate little box from his storage ring, handing it to Su Shiyan. "I found this in the Thirteen Islands of the East Sea. When I saw it, I thought of A-Yan."
Inside the box lay a long, slender celestial ribbon, as clear and transparent as frost, emitting a faint glow.
"This silk was woven by a sea demon deep in the East Sea. Wearing it in your hair can enhance your cultivation spirit and make your beauty even more beautiful," Jiang Jiusi said.
Su Shiyan looked up at him. "Thank you, Shixiong."
Jiang Jiusi's gaze fixed on her, direct and undisguised. His look wasn't exactly lascivious, but it held a deeper meaning.
Su Shiyan turned her head and asked politely, "Shixiong, was your recent cultivation journey successful?"
Jiang Jiusi withdrew his gaze and looked towards the boundless mountains. "Everything went smoothly. After seeing countless mountains and rivers, I still find the scenery of Thousandchance Peak the most beautiful. These frost-covered green mountains are truly—"
"Exquisite."
He was referring to both the scenery and her beauty.
Su Shiyan's expression was calm, and she didn't respond.
Suddenly, Jiang Jiusi frowned. A group of people, wearing veils in broad daylight, were sneaking back from the secluded back of the peak.
It was the same group of disciples who had gone to confront Li Lanxiu. Jiang Jiusi stepped out of the pavilion, stood with his hands behind his back and coldly watched them.
The group landed in front of Jiang Jiusi. A-Qi, the leading cultivator, bowed and said, "Jiang-shixiong."
Jiang Jiusi scanned the group of disciples and asked with a stern face, "What happened to all of you?"
The group was silent for a few seconds, too ashamed to speak. A-Qi stepped forward and recounted what had happened in the cultivation market.
The others joined in, complaining and expressing their grievances.
"Li Lanxiu was so cruel. The harder we hit ourselves, the happier he was. How could his heart be so cold?"
"Jiang-shixiong, I was so enchanted by his smile that I couldn't help myself. I don't blame him."
"Once I reach the Golden Core stage, I'll go to Violetstage Peak to seek revenge. Let's see if he can still smile then!"
Jiang Jiusi's expression grew colder. As disciples of Thousandchance Peak, they had been so humiliated in broad daylight and in front of so many people!
To be so humiliated by a waste like Li Lanxiu was not only a disgrace to them but also to Thousandchance Peak.
He moved his right shoulder, and with a sharp sound, his sword was drawn. With a swift swing, a crescent of cold light flashed before everyone's eyes, sending their veils flying off to reveal swollen and bruised faces.
Sheathing his sword, Jiang Jiusi smiled coldly. "So, Li Lanxiu, you've reduced them to this state."
"Jiang-shixiong, please don't tell the Peak Maste." A-Qi knelt down with a thud.
The other disciples followed suit, begging Jiang Jiusi not to tell Master Xue, fearing that he would beat them to death.
Su Shiyan, hearing that this was done for her sake, frowned. Seeing their pitiful state, she shook her head and sighed, then flew away on her sword.
Jiang Jiusi narrowed his eyes and slowly scanned the group.
"You have brought great shame to Thousandchance Peak." He stood with his hands behind his back and said softly, "Disciples of my master, sunk to be toyed with by Li Lanxiu like this."
"Jiang-shixiong, we had no choice," A-Qi said tremblingly. "Li Lanxiu is cunning, and we couldn't outsmart him."
Jiang Jiusi glanced at him and laughed bitterly. "You went to provoke Li Lanxiu without even a plan? You deserve to die for your stupidity."
A-Qi begged, "Jiang-shixiong, we know we were wrong. Please don't tell the Peak Master."
Jiang Jiusi was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "I'll clean up your mess, but if you dare to bring more shame to our sect, I won't let you off lightly."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and stood up to thank him.
A-Qi stood up, but a disciple tugged on his sleeve, saying nervously, "Shixiong, I think that skylark looks familiar."
There were a few skylarks perched on a branch, all looking identical.
The disciple glanced at the skylark and continued in a hushed voice, "I think it's the same one that was on the roof of the stall in the cultivation market. It followed Li Lanxiu and has been following us ever since."
The others looked at each other speechlessly.
Jiang Jiusi tapped his forehead with his index finger. "All of you, go back and rest. Heal your injuries before coming out again."
After the disciples left, the bell on Jiang Jiusi's waist jingled. Master Xue wanted to see him, so he flew towards Master Xue's cave.
Master Xue, whose birth name was Xue Wujiu, was once a servant who led Li Yanbi's horse.
Hundreds of years ago, Xue Wujiu had a fortuitous encounter and ascended to the Dao.
The grievances between master and servant were complicated. The biggest grudge was that Xue Wujiu had once refused to save the disciples of Violetstage Peak, watching as the sect's talented disciples were killed by the Red Cult of the Demon Sect.
This had created a deep rift between them.
Xue Wujiu sat on a meditation cushion, and a young disciple entered the hall to announce, "Master, Jiang-shixiong is here."
"Bring him in."
On Thousandchance Peak, Xue Wujiu only truly valued one disciple: Jiang Jiusi, his most favored student.
Jiang Jiusi entered the hall and bowed, then stood up, saying, "Master."
Xue Wujiu took out a sect trial letter. "I have three things for you. First, you will participate in the sect trial."
Jiang Jiusi, who had been planning to do so anyway, replied, "Thank you, Master, for your trust."
Xue Wujiu nodded in satisfaction. "Good. I admire your decisiveness."
Jiang Jiusi asked, "What is the second thing?"
Xue Wujiu stepped down from the platform. "I recently consulted the oracle for the sect's future and received an unfavorable omen."
He took out a yellowed book of prophecies from his sleeve and pointed to a passage. "Take a look and see what this means."
This book of prophecies was Xue Wujiu's treasure. It had foretold events five hundred years into the past and could foretell five hundred years into the future. The words of any ancient text appearing in the book would come true.
Jiang Jiusi stepped forward to read it and recited the ancient text: "If this person remains, willows will be broken and peaks will crumble."
"This..." he frowned, looking at Xue Wujiu. "The prophecy says that if a certain person lives, the sect will be weakened and eventually collapse."
Xue Wujiu nodded and closed the book. "That's the second thing." He wasn't exactly lying, but he wasn't referring to the sect's future; he was referring to his own.
Jiang Jiusi's expression turned serious. "Is this person a disciple of our sect?"
Xue Wujiu looked out the hall and sighed deeply. "Li Lanxiu of Violetstage Peak."
Jiang Jiusi was startled and immediately understood the second matter.
Xue Wujiu took a deep breath and made a decision. "Li Lanxiu will be participating in this trial. I want you to kill him in the Azurerain realm."
Killing a fellow disciple was a grave crime, and Jiang Jiusi frowned.
Xue Wujiu knew what he was thinking and said slowly, "Li Lanxiu is arrogant and has done many evil deeds, tarnishing our sect's reputation. He hasn't yet become powerful, so eliminating him now would be removing a future threat to the sect."
Jiang Jiusi pondered for a long time before saying lightly, "Li Lanxiu is a wicked and corrupt person. If he accidentally dies in the Azurerain realm, it would be a just punishment."
Xue Wujiu nodded. "Well said. Make sure it's clean."
"Rest assured, Master." With Li Lanxiu's cultivation level, it would be easy for Jiang Jiusi to kill him.
Xue Wujiu smiled benignly. "Lastly, I have my eye on a disciple from Violetstage Peak who is still in the outer sect. He should be entering the Azurerain realm as well."
Jiang Jiusi looked up, his eyes filled with confusion.
Xue Wujiu's expression revealed his displeasure. "A few days ago, I consulted the oracle about my own future. The divination said that auspicious energy is coming from the east. If I can seize this opportunity, I will ascend to great heights and all my wishes will be fulfilled."
He paused, his face darkening. "I sent Shiyan to investigate. There's only one person from the Eastern Yue Kingdom in Wei City, and that's this disciple. He was originally my opportunity, but I don't know why he got involved with Li Lanxiu and is now an outer disciple of Violetstage Peak."
"Master, you want him to switch to your sect?" Jiang Jiusi understood.
Within the sect, the tradition of respecting one's master was deeply ingrained. Once a disciple, always a disciple. Though there were sect rules stating that if a disciple betrayed their master, their life and death would be in the master's hands, such occurrences were rare.
Xue Wujiu was certain that Li Yanbi wouldn't kill anyone. He patted Jiang Jiusi on the shoulder and said earnestly, "If you help me fulfill my wish and Li Lanxiu dies, I'll help you arrange a marriage with Shiyan and let you marry the beauty."
Jiang Jiusi was startled and raised an eyebrow. "Master, there's no need. I don't like Su-shimei."
Xue Wujiu was stunned. Everyone in Thousandchance Peak knew about Jiang Jiusi's admiration for Su-shimei. He had been counting on this as a reward. "Oh? You want to pursue her yourself?"
"I treat Su-shimei like a younger sister. I have no romantic feelings for her." Jiang Jiusi said firmly.
Xue Wujiu looked at him for a moment. "There are so many female cultivators in Thousandchance Peak. Why do you only treat Shiyan like a younger sister?"
Jiang Jiusi paused slightly and replied calmly, "Because I appreciate beauty. Some people love books, others love jade. I love beauty, but I'm not promiscuous. I treat beautiful women like I would treat a beautiful jade artifact. I don't want to possess them; I just want to admire them."
Jiang Jiusi spoke calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Xue Wujiu smiled and dismissed it. "Very well, since you don't want to marry Shiyan, as a reward for your service, I'll give you cultivation techniques and pills."
"Thank you, Master," Jiang Jiusi nodded.
Hmph, Jiang jiusi sounds like a hypocrite ಠ_à²
ReplyDelete