71 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 71: Quarrels Among Elders "Clang—" The sword that was once wielded with such ferocity was instantly sliced in two, clattering to the ground. A heavy silence enveloped the audience below. Known as the Earl Blade, Li Hao had invested a significant fortune inscribing fifty-six thunder talismans onto it, greatly enhancing its potency. Moreover, Li Hao was the son of an Elder, having been nurtured with celestial teachings from a young age, making such a quick defeat unimaginable. But there was no helping it. He was up against Qi Xianqing. Li Hao stood there, stunned, his expression blank: "How could this be? My Storm Earl, how could it be like this..." Qi Xianqing withdrew her sword, saying nothing. Yet her indifferent gaze was laden with contempt in Li Hao's eyes. This pierced Li Hao to the core. His eyes rapidly turned bloodshot, and with a cry towards the sky, he charged at Qi Xianqing, throwing a heavy punch her way. Qi Xianqing didn't retaliate; she merely retreated leisurely. In the sunlight, her movements were graceful, as if engaged not in a fight but in a casual stroll. With each punch Li Hao threw, Qi Xianqing stepped back. Yan Jue watched Qi Xianqing on the dais with an uplifted head, frozen in awe. Every blow Li Hao delivered was effortlessly parried by Qi Xianqing’s delicate fingers. Observing Qi Xianqing's actions intently, Yan Jue suddenly recalled a book from the Scripture Vault mentioning the Buddha's Lotus-Flower Fist, which was employed with such elegance to subdue opponents. Under Qi Xianqing's hand, Li Hao seemed no better than a pitiful wild dog. Li Hao screamed: "Ah!!!" Raising his hand madly towards Qi Xianqing, she sidestepped to avoid it. It was akin to a ridiculous spectacle. The celestial sword, “Earl,” lay on the ground, while Li Hao’s heart seemed to bleed. Disregarding his form and dignity, he lifted a leg to kick at Qi Xianqing in a way that was utterly unrefined. Qi Xianqing suddenly made a move, grabbing Li Hao’s lower leg and using the force to fling him away. - And just like that, the tense first day of the Five Dragon Summit had come to its end. The remnants of the sunset cloaked the green mountains, the sky darkening, as stars began to shimmer against a deep purple hue. That night, Qi Xianqing stood in the grand hall. Before her stood a man clad in a purple robe. "I thought you might go easy on Li Hao at the Five Dragon Summit for my sake," Elder Li Tian struggled to contain his rage. "I’ve shown you much consideration over the years, and this is how you treat my son?" Qi Xianqing gazed downward, saying nothing. Li Tian pressed, "I’ve safeguarded my son's spiritual path with great care. How can you just destroy it so easily?" In the corner, a young man in purple-red robes crouched on the floor, clutching his head with a terrified expression, "Father!" Li Tian turned to his frightened son, Li Hao, his expression softening, "Don’t be afraid, Hao'er. I’ll teach her a lesson for you!" Li Hao had never faced hardship since childhood. But Qi Xianqing publicly humiliated him today, likely causing him to associate his sword with this disgrace in the future. Qi Xianqing replied, "Has Elder Li ever considered that perhaps Li Hao's spiritual core is so fragile because you have sheltered him too much?" Li Tian hadn’t expected Qi Xianqing to retort, his face paled as he sternly ordered, "You! Kneel." Qi Xianqing, having grown up in the sect and largely raised under the eyes of these elders, had received much nurturing, and naturally wouldn’t rashly defy their opinions. Qi Xianqing knelt without hesitation. "Do you admit your fault?" Li Tian pressed. Qi Xianqing responded, "I am faultless, and thus don’t know what to admit." "You!" Li Tian was furious. Qi Xianqing continued, "While Junior Brother Li Hao's celestial sword is indeed precious, it has been merely enshrined and lacks proper training, which is why it fell to a mere shadow. As for the sword breaking, he could have exited the stage, yet he chose not to. I naturally assumed he wished to continue the challenge." Despite kneeling, Qi Xianqing remained unyielding, her calm demeanor stifling Li Tian’s frustration. Qi Xianqing had always been beloved within the sect, her celestial body drawing the elders into teaching her from a young age. Though Li Tian had never punished her before, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t dare. Li Hao cringed in the corner, terrified, "My sword! Where is my sword?" Li Tian assured him, "Don’t fear, Hao'er. I’ll craft another fine sword for you soon!" Sweeping over to Qi Xianqing like a gust of wind, Li Tian raised a hand, ready to strike her. Suddenly, a voice behind him challenged, "Who dares to strike my disciple?" Li Tian froze, his raised hand halted, as a chill ran down his spine. He suddenly sensed an immensely intimidating aura emanating from behind. A gust of wind blew through, opening the doors. Yun Zhen, dressed in a rouge embroidered dress that touched the ground, strode in with formidable momentum, "Today my disciple was overly lenient with your son in the match, refraining from even a counterattack, disgracing my Zhenhuo Sect. I had yet to confront you, yet you’ve come to trouble my disciple instead?" Before Li Tian could react, Yun Zhen’s form blurred into a shadow, landing directly in front of him. "Slap—" Yun Zhen delivered a slap across his face. Five fierce scratch marks immediately appeared on Li Tian’s face. Though a Sixth Realm elder, Li Tian stood no chance against the overwhelming pressure of an Eighth Realm master. Li Tian cursed, "You shrew!" Yun Zhen dragged Qi Xianqing away, "I warn you both, father and son, trouble my disciple again, and you'll face severe consequences!" The hall doors blew open once more, revealing a starry sky and drifting white clouds outside. Yun Zhen waved her right hand, summoning a white jade long shuttle, reflecting the ethereal moonlight as she and Qi Xianqing soared into the sky. As they flew, the long shuttle appeared transparent, visible only under the moonlight as ethereal mist swirled within. This artifact was Yun Zhen's treasure. Known as the Ling Yue Shuttle, it had slain countless demon beasts during the Celestial-Demon War. Following Yun Zhen’s lead, Qi Xianqing left. Steering the shuttle, Yun Zhen muttered, "That old fox dares to trouble me, thinking my meditative seclusion meant I wouldn’t retaliate?" Qi Xianqing remained silent. "You’re too mild-tempered, leading to being bullied often within the sect. His unstable spiritual core falls apart easily, yet he blames you for it? Why did you hold back in the fight with that Li kid? Why give him time to take a swing? Just kick him right at his vital point." In the gentle evening breeze atop the mountain, Qi Xianqing’s gaze fell on the distant, bright moon, saying nothing as she lowered her eyes. Though she found the elders' quarrels quite distasteful, Qi Xianqing couldn't help but curve her lips slightly into a smile. - Exhausted after the day’s competition, Yan Jue returned to her dormitory at the Shuiyun Sect. Before she reached the door, she spotted a newspaper on the ground. "Journal of Five Dragon Creatures." Glancing at the paper, Yan Jue couldn’t help but chuckle. During the Five Dragon Summit, the Journal of Five Dragon Creatures boasted frequent updates, drawing much from the fierce competitions. Yan Jue leisurely returned to her room, settling on her bed to peruse the first page. “Shock! Li Hao's little couple ruthlessly beaten?!” “Did Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing plan this?!” Staring at the headline, Yan Jue couldn’t help recalling the scene at the summit where Qi Xianqing toyed with Li Hao like a monkey. Yan Jue chuckled softly. Others might not see it, but she did. Qi Xianqing had done it on purpose. Reading the text, a thought warmed Yan Jue’s heart. As the beloved senior sister within the sect, Qi Xianqing wouldn’t engage a junior frivolously. It must’ve been because a few days ago, at the Five Dragon Plaza, Li Hao had taunted her. And during the Five Dragon Banquet, Li Hao’s father had further embarrassed her with the Heavenly Bowl. Maybe she was imagining things... but as Yan Jue lay on her bed, she couldn’t stop her mind from wandering. As the sun set, bathing the world in twilight, Yan Jue lay down, her body gradually shrinking, transforming into a red fox. She leapt out the window, moving slowly into the forest. The forest was serene, filled with delightful fragrances. She trod lightly with her four black paws, taking a path she hadn’t visited for a long time. Floral Valley. The flowers in Floral Valley were perpetually in bloom; the vivid hues dazzling under the sunset, swaying gently in the breeze, while the vast, round sun hung at the sky’s edge, coating everything in a splendid hue. Yan Jue nestled among the flowers, her large black ears twitching. To be precise, she was no longer a small fox. She was a big fox now, her four tails billowing in the wind, resembling flames, full and beautiful. Her amber eyes were clear and tender, yet her sharp canines peeking through could be somewhat intimidating. "What is the master thinking about?" A gentle voice suddenly broke the quiet from behind. The white fox, with its slender waist and graceful form, slowly emerged from the flowers, leaning in to nuzzle affectionately against the red fox's neck. Yan Jue took a step back, looking at the white fox without expression. Bai Ying immediately withdrew, "I realize my mistake." Yan Jue glanced at the vanishing sunset, sighing softly. Her thoughts drifted to the corpse of a demon lord in the cave beneath the cliff and to the enemies lurking in the shadows, their whereabouts unknown. This world held many hidden dangers. Though she was safe now, Qi Xianqing, with her celestial physique and position as the protagonist, was destined to face immense trials in the future. And... the inexplicable feelings she harbored for Qi Xianqing. The little fox baby was troubled, filled with worry. Bai Ying watched Yan Jue for a moment before cautiously speaking, "Are you troubled because of Meng Cheng Jun?" Yan Jue instinctively moved to deny it but thought better of it, "Yes." Bai Ying said, "Have you ever heard about the innate instinct of foxes called repaying kindness?" Yan Jue paused slightly. "Your worry might stem from this. Foxes are the best at repaying kindness in this world. If someone saves a fox's life, it's not unheard of for them to repay with their life in another." Bai Ying continued, "Meng Cheng Jun saved your life. It's only natural you think of her often. Perhaps if you repay this kindness, you won't feel this way anymore." The moon appeared. The night was peaceful, the moonlight like water. Yan Jue found Bai Ying's words to be true. Qi Xianqing had saved her life. Henceforth, she must protect Qi Xianqing. She would not let anyone harm her! No pop-up ads here, permanent domain (xbanxia.com).