68 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 68: Anger Yan Jue was silent for only a few seconds before quickly saying, "Elder, there might be a misunderstanding between us." Li Tian, the elder, had long heard of the incident at Wulong Square, where his most precious son, Li Hao, had been publicly beaten by a disciple named Yan Jue. Li Hao was his only child and had never been bullied within the sect. Even when Li Hao was at fault, people would still give him some respect when speaking to him. However, the story about this woman humiliating Li Hao in public at Wulong Square was quite different. This matter could be seen as trivial—something Li Hao could sulk in his room about until he felt better. But blown out of proportion, such public humiliation could damage Li Hao's mental focus for cultivation. Li Hao was still just a child, only in the late stage of the Foundation Establishment, with a lot of potential ahead. Li Tian would not let anyone damage Li Hao’s path! Li Tian would definitely not let Yan Jue off easily. Elder Li said, "Everyone saw you beat up Li Hao. What misunderstanding could there be?" Yan Jue was already at her wits' end with this man and loudly retorted, "Everyone present saw that he was the one who first drew his sword to attack me. I was merely defending myself. Is it forbidden for disciples of the Wulong Sect to defend themselves now?" Since the elder was unreasonable, Yan Jue decided to escalate the issue to the sect level. The elder was indeed caught off guard, "Li Hao is just a child. How powerful could his sword be? Clearly, you refused to spare him." Oh my. Yan Jue glanced at Li Hao, who was sitting calmly below Elder Li, and was somewhat impressed by his composure. With his father defending him like this, did he not feel a tinge of shame? Yan Jue said, "I clearly saw that day; the Lightning Talisman inscribed on Li Hao’s sword was powerful enough that a slight misstep could cause injury. Even I, a mere disciple, understand this. Is the elder truly unaware, or pretending not to know?" Her words brought a brief silence to the hall. The elder suddenly asked sternly, "You, come here." Not knowing what the elder wanted, perhaps since he couldn't win the argument, he intended to hit her? With everyone watching, Yan Jue had no choice but to step forward. The elder joined two fingers and waved them. A small wine cup flew up and landed steadily in front of Yan Jue. The elder smiled, "What I actually wanted to say is, among fellow disciples, harmony should prevail. If Li Hao was being immature, you shouldn’t follow suit." Yan Jue was taken aback by the elder’s sudden change in attitude. She couldn’t quite wrap her head around it. The elder continued, "Drink the wine in this cup, and Li Hao will drink one too. Let's just consider that nothing ever happened between you two." It was a shallow porcelain cup, seemingly untouched. Under the candlelight, the sparkling wine swayed slightly, its enticing aroma faintly lingering in the air. Yan Jue stared at the cup, momentarily lost. Was this Elder Li, who had been so confrontational moments ago, now trying to make peace? Something was not right. Her pupils constricted. There was something wrong with this wine cup! Elder Li smiled again, "This way, both you and my son Li Hao drink a cup of wine—a symbolic gesture to put the matter to rest." Before he finished speaking, Li Hao stood up, looking full of confidence. He smiled at Yan Jue and said loudly, "Junior Sister, we are all fellow disciples; let’s not let trifles harm our harmony. I will drink three cups for penance, and you just drink this one to bury the hatchet." His voice was loud, clearly intended for everyone present to hear. In a conflict between fellow disciples, he was offering reconciliation. Not accepting Yan Jue’s offer would mean she was being unreasonable. Cultivators value etiquette greatly. If Yan Jue’s reputation was tarnished here, not only in Wulong but elsewhere, it would hinder her greatly. Elder Li probably thought since she's a woman, she couldn't handle strong alcohol and thus devised this plan to trouble her. Li Hao lifted his neck and downed a cup of wine. Yan Jue held the wine cup, starting to drink as well. Li Hao watched her for a while, a slight smirk appeared on his lips. Yan Jue sipped continuously, taking seven or eight sips, her cheeks tinged with redness, yet she still couldn’t finish the wine in the cup. By this point, the onlookers also noticed something was amiss. "How has she not finished the wine after so many sips? Surely she's not pretending to drink, right? Who would be that silly?" “Hahaha, you don't know, do you? Elder Li is the most skilled in spatial manipulation. The wine in that cup is not a mere cupful; it’s as if the entire Guanlan wine pool was compressed into it. How can Yan Jue ever finish it?” “Remember when the Guanlan Celestial and the Rain God had a drinking contest? Even the Rain God—drinking to the point of staggering—could only reduce the wine in the cup by a finger width. The Rain God is a deity! What chance does a small disciple of Wulong have?” “Crossing Elder Li is terrifying…” “Yan Jue normally runs rampant within the sect, and now she's hit a wall, hasn't she? Everyone has their grievances, and Elder Li’s grievance just happens to be his son.” Even as alcohol rose to her face, turning it beet red, and discovering the trick at play, Yan Jue put the wine cup down. Li Tian stood up, suddenly slapped the table, and roared, "Drink!" The hall fell silent once more, everyone’s eyes fixated on them. Now completely embarrassed, it puzzled Yan Jue why no one intervened despite the elder’s blatant unreasonable behavior. Was it because she was considered expendable that she was subjected to such treatment? Yan Jue glared at Elder Li, feeling indignant. Tonight was supposed to be the night her life would end according to the tale. She had intended to lay low, but upon attending this banquet, everything seemed to go amiss. Had she known, she would have avoided it at all costs. Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind, "Is Wulong Sect completely out of order? Even though he drew his sword to provoke first, Li Yao was only defending himself. But because he is an elder's son, the victim must apologize? Isn’t this utterly ridiculous?" What kind of nonsense was this? Yan Jue paused, incredulous, turning to see Xue Shuang Xing standing up, her demeanor stern. She was the one who spoke those words. "Li Yao?" Oh dear… an awkward mistake indeed. A dutiful disciple nearby quietly corrected her, "That's Yan Jue." Xue Shuang Xing was momentarily stunned, "I misspoke, it's Yan Jue." Swiftly adapting she added, "Anyone traveling uses a false name, it’s understandable." Elder Li’s gaze fixed on Yan Jue, his expression darkening. He suddenly slammed the table and demanded in a heavy voice, “Tell me, will you drink or not?” Li Hao laughed, “Yan Jue is, after all, just a… novice disciple. It’s normal if she doesn’t understand decorum.” The onlookers continued to gossip and watch as the scene unfolded. "Who knows how she even dared to sign up? Isn't she afraid of embarrassing herself at the Wulong Summit?" "It doesn't matter; there are always a few disciples wanting to challenge the impossible who sign up.” “These people, they’re just stepping stones for the big shots.” "Don’t be fooled because Yan Jue once swept Li Hao off his feet; she took advantage of him unguarded. But once Li Hao prepares himself, let’s see if she won’t be beaten into oblivion.” Despite the elder’s pressure, Yan Jue didn’t continue drinking. She carefully put down the cup. Under the bright candlelight, her white cheeks were slightly flushed. Her amber phoenix eyes lowered, the night breeze lifting her black hair—a vision of beauty and grace. She wasn’t afraid of the elder. The only person who could kill her was Qi Xianqing. No matter how angry this elder was, could he kill her right then and there? Li Tian Elder looked at Yan Jue, slightly frowning. Strange. Despite being in the sixth realm, the little disciple before him seemed to be only at the Foundation Establishment stage. When he looked at her earlier, he deliberately exerted his pressure. Why didn't she show any fear? The standoff persisted, until unexpectedly, a voice rang out, "What exactly are you doing? There are so many sect friends watching." Yan Jue started, looking towards the voice. An old man with a white beard approached, smiling warmly. The elder wore a dao robe, with white hair and a youthful face, embodying an ethereal charm. A massive sword of pale quartz strapped to his back. His mere presence carried a potent sense of pressure, compelling reverence. Such was the aura of a power-holder in the eighth realm. Everyone present instinctively showed respect. Yan Jue was slightly stunned. It was the head of Wulong Mountain, Mu Zhongzi. The elder’s voice got stuck seeing the headmaster, “Zhangmen Shixiong, I…” The headmaster, casting a stern gaze at Li Tian, became authoritative, "What childish behavior is this? Are you too accustomed to coddling your child?" The elder’s face flushed with embarrassment. The headmaster then transmitted a message to him: "Do not, in your impulsiveness, make other sects look down on us." Elder Li's face turned a sickly green with anger, but under the headmaster's gaze, he could only lower his head, speechless. After a long pause, he forced out a response, "I understand, Headmaster Senior Brother." The headmaster turned to Yan Jue, his eyes crinkled in a friendly smile, "Why don't you return to your seat?" Snapping back to her senses, Yan Jue went back to her seat. The wine from the Guanlan Pool was famously strong, enough to bring down many celestial beings. The aroma was rich, and the aftereffects were indeed formidable. After downing several huge gulps earlier, Yan Jue returned to her seat, raising her hand to her forehead, feeling a bit dizzy. The headmaster announced loudly, "We've let everyone witness some petty disputes within our sect. My apologies for the spectacle." No one in the audience spoke up. Everyone knew that minor disputes were present in every sect. It was nothing out of the ordinary for any of them. The headmaster continued, "To make it up to everyone, how would you all like it if I opened the Taibai Pool of Wulong Mountain for you tonight?" A commotion rippled through the crowd. The Taibai Pool of Wulong Mountain was a small wine pool, modeled after the famous world-renowned Guanlan Pool. The pond was filled with fine wine, and one could drift upon it under the moonlight, much like the poet Li Bai drifting on the Yangtze River. However, only elders and disciples from the Wulong Sect could enjoy the scenery there, while outsiders merely heard tales about it. Yet today, the headmaster was going to open the Taibai Pool?! “Oh yes! I’m going to drink myself silly at the Taibai Pool today!” “No way, the Taibai Pool is something we outer disciples never get to see, and it’s open today? I’m glad I came!” “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Mu Zhongzi gave a slight smile and produced a small wooden token from his sleeve. The token fell to the ground and transformed into a child of five or six years, who beamed at the celestial guests and courteously said, “Immortals, follow me.” Surprise flickered on everyone’s faces. No one expected Mu Zhongzi to have such profound mastery over esoteric skills. Then came the scattering sound of chairs being dragged. The cultivators from Tiangang Temple, always straightforward, stood up immediately at the mention of wine. Several muscular men saluted Mu Zhongzi, who smiled and nodded, and the child led them away gracefully. The hall soon emptied, leaving only a few non-drinking sect disciples sitting at their tables. Yan Jue let out a sigh of relief but caught sight of the headmaster approaching, who greeted her with a warm smile, "Little friend, are you from the Shuiyun Sect?" Yan Jue stood up to salute, "Yes, Headmaster Uncle." The headmaster raised his cup with a smile, "I heard there was a brave young disciple from Shuiyun Sect who dared to duel Li Hao at Wulong Square. I didn’t believe it at first, but seeing your composure today, you do live up to your reputation." "Li Hao has been due a good lesson for a while now. You’re considered an up-and-comer. Make sure to perform well at the Wulong Summit; let's drink to that." With the headmaster so welcoming, Yan Jue found it hard to refuse. She raised her cup and drank with the headmaster, feeling dizzier by the moment. Yan Jue hastily said, "Headmaster Uncle, I would like to take a short rest." Mu Zhongzi pondered, "The aftereffects of the Guanlan Pool’s wine are really strong. Many couldn't handle it and retired to their rooms early." "It seems at the banquet following the summit, I should swap the wine for that from the Taibai Pool." Yan Jue watched Mu Zhongzi anxiously, fearing he might not allow her to leave. Unexpectedly, the headmaster waved his hand and smiled to several female disciples, "Would you assist her back to her room?" "What an intriguing little lass." The three girls, favorites of Headmaster Mu Zhongzi, quickly came forward and supported Yan Jue. Yan Jue stumbled forward, her gaze darting to the female disciples repeatedly. Indeed, tonight everyone seemed suspect to her, as if anyone could be the Demon Lord in disguise. They slowly exited the Sword Dance Pavilion. - Mu Zhongzi watched Yan Jue's departing figure, his expression gradually turning cold. He took out a talisman and channeled a sliver of divine sense into it. The talisman glowed faintly. “Martial Uncle?” Qi Xianqing’s voice echoed from it. Qi Xianqing had been busy early in the day, organizing arrangements for the summit three days from now. All the registration and venue preparation had her scrambling, and she hadn't yet finished when she unexpectedly received the headmaster's message. Mu Zhongzi said icily, “There's demonic presence in the Sword Dance Pavilion. A malignant demon must be lurking there; you should come and handle it.” Qi Xianqing paused in disbelief—on the eve of the Wulong Summit, with the place crawling with righteous sect disciples, how could a demon possibly be present? Though curious, she did not protest, “Understood.” - At some point, raindrops began to fall from the sky. The rain dripped down into the lush grass as a small wild boar with watermelon-like stripes struggled through the underbrush. It exuded a strong demonic aura. So frightened... The small boar looked up at the sky, stumbling through the forest. It was about to transform and still remembered the advice from a senior about the importance of finding a safe place to undergo transformation. A secure hiding spot needed to be found… - Yan Jue and the female disciples of the Wulong Sect walked some distance before Yan Jue realized something. She halted, “Senior Sister, this doesn’t seem to be the path back to the Shuiyun Sect.” The mountain path was quiet, with just enough starlight to illuminate several branching paths nearby. This certainly wasn’t the way to Shuiyun Sect. One disciple, her hair styled in an elegant celestial bun, chuckled, "Shuiyun Sect is so far away. You're this inebriated, can you really walk back? Better to rest in a room at the Sword Dance Pavilion and head back when you can walk again." Mu Zhongzi’s disciples, having received the best education and holding higher status in the sect, lived up to their names. Their every move exuded an ethereal charm. Yan Jue stood still, feeling wave after wave of alcohol intensifying in her head, her eyes blurring. This was bad. Yan Jue nodded. Tonight’s plan would have to continue elsewhere. The Sword Dance Pavilion had arranged rooms for the visiting sects’ disciples, capable of housing over a thousand people. The female disciples helped Yan Jue into one of these guest rooms, closed the door, and left. The guest room at the Sword Dance Pavilion. The room was arranged similarly to Yan Jue’s dormitory: clean and spacious, with pleasant incense burning in the corner. Yan Jue lay on the bed, rubbing her temples, intending to rest. Just as she tried to get up, a spasm of pain wracked her chest, causing her vision to darken. Heaven's Path. The door suddenly opened. A young man with features as flawless as jade stepped inside. He wore a daoist robe, his hair tied up with a bamboo hairpin. In the dim light, his features appeared even more striking and handsome. Yan Jue squinted, focusing on him. Chu Fu. It was him. Yan Jue anticipated Chu Fu would seek her out tonight, as it was foretold by the Heaven's Path. She wasn’t surprised. But what puzzled her was how Chu Fu seemed to know she was in this room. Yan Jue gulped, deciding to play weak, pressing her hand to her right chest and collapsing onto the bed. Chu Fu stood at the doorway for a long while before slowly approaching. He fixed his gaze intently on Yan Jue, whose beauty at this moment seemed unrivaled. Her pale cheeks flushed, her long, slitted phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, hinting at those amber pupils. His eyes lingered over her face as he spoke slowly, "Finally, I’ve caught you today..." Yan Jue glared at him, silent. Amusement flickered in Chu Fu's eyes. He suddenly pulled out two iron balls from his storage pouch. Muttering an incantation, the iron balls whizzed through the air—one attached to Yan Jue’s neck, the other to her waist. In an instant, a burning sensation surged through her body. Yan Jue swallowed, tightening her brows. This Chu Fu even possessed such a magical artifact? The balls adhered tightly, striking waves of heat and... endless longing through her. The chest pain intensified, prompting Yan Jue to take a deep breath. The next moment, Chu Fu roughly yanked her up, closing in on her. Things scattered off the bed onto the floor. There was a slight sound of something breaking. The enticement techniques Bai Ying had taught her rushed into her mind, and Yan Jue slowly opened her eyes. She focused on Chu Fu, executing the plan rehearsed countless times in her mind. In an instant, her eyes glowed with a faint golden light, rich as oil paint, reminiscent of the clouds at dawn. Chu Fu’s movement stuttered to a halt, a dazed expression overtaking him. Yan Jue pushed past the fever in her body and slowly rose, "Stand up." Chu Fu, seemingly in a trance, obediently mirrored her action and stood up. Simultaneously, sharp pain stabbed her chest, as though to tear her apart. Yan Jue gritted her teeth, bracing against the bed. This moment must happen. Whether the Heaven's Path recognized her determined whether she'd survive the night. Yan Jue placed a pouch of pills on the table, continuing her allure, "Consume the pills." Her voice was soft, yet somehow enchanting, and Chu Fu, in a daze, walked to the pills and consumed them all as if they were simply beans. Yan Jue had meticulously calculated that once Chu Fu processed these pills, his cultivation would experience a significant breakthrough. Yan Jue felt a surge of satisfaction as perspiration trickled down her cheeks. Those two small orbs adhered to her skin like parasitic creatures; the more she tried to pry them off, the deeper they sank. She realized they were likely the source of her feverish discomfort. Adding to her distress was the fact that the wine she had drunk earlier was gradually numbing her mind. Her demonic aura spilled uncontrollably, and the Northern Sea Black Iron on her neck vibrated violently. Chu Fu looked like he was about to burst from the spiritual energy; he murmured something to himself, his youthful face surprisingly handsome in the dim light. He raised his eyes to Yan Jue, with a flicker of confusion, infatuation, and intensity in them. Then he advanced toward Yan Jue. "Huff... huff... huff..." Breathing heavily, Yan Jue leaned against the bed. Astonishingly, the pain in her chest began to subside and then vanished, to her relief. It seemed this method was accepted by the heavens. But her relief was short-lived. Her body's heat intensified, leaving her drenched in sweat, as if pulled from water, feeling utterly weak. Suddenly, Yan Jue felt a weight on her shoulder, as Chu Fu collapsed on top of her. The two of them rolled awkwardly on the bed. Yan Jue planted her hands on Chu Fu's shoulders and realized something hairy was protruding behind her. Her tail had come out. This was bad! The alcohol had blurred her consciousness, causing her tail to slip out. She was frantic as icy dread flooded her, yet her body remained unbearably warm. As she struggled to retract her tail, a sudden thought crossed her mind—Bai Ying, stationed outside the door, screamed a warning: "Help, someone terrifying is approaching!" Yan Jue's pupils constricted as she desperately tried to conceal her tail, suddenly seeing the door burst open under a surge of spiritual power! A white figure stepped through. Qi Xianqing entered, clad in a sea-blue pleated skirt with a snow-white cross-collar, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, her expression severe and murderous. Her dark sword gleamed faintly in the lamplight, with traces of electricity flickering in the air. Yan Jue felt a chill creeping over her at the electric currents surrounding them, only adding to her growing fear. Qi Xianqing despised demons, and now Yan Jue was overwhelmed with demonic aura, her tail conspicuously exposed. Terrified, Yan Jue's legs felt weak as she lay beneath Chu Fu, her body throbbing with heat. It was over; she had been so focused on the male protagonist, she forgot the most critical factor. The one destined to kill her tonight was Qi Xianqing. In her panic, Yan Jue met Qi Xianqing's eyes. For a brief moment, she saw confusion and bewilderment in Qi Xianqing's gaze, along with a sense of betrayal-fueled rage. Perhaps it was being deceived that made Qi Xianqing so furious. It seemed her life might end here. Qi Xianqing's eyes burned with anger, intent on eradicating all evil. Yan Jue shut her eyes, instinctively clutching the sheets beneath her. The sword in Qi Xianqing’s hand, akin to a dragon soaring from its sheath, crackled with electric energy. She swung it towards Chu Fu!