Chapter 181: A Mere Trick, Unworthy of the Elegant Stage
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Li Jing Rang felt oddly satisfied watching Quan Ye suffer a setback. It turned out that Mu Ye wasn’t singling him out; she was targeting everyone present.
At that moment, Elder Sun from the Five Elements Dao Sect approached, having been drawn by the commotion. Quan Ye had no choice but to suppress his anger, shooting a venomous glare at Mu Ye. She, however, paid him no attention. After exchanging a brief word with Zhou Jin Yue, she returned to the Green Wood Sect’s group.
Before long, the three sects entered the Aspiration Pavilion in the order of their arrival.
Yu Zhao, unusually, was not engaged in her usual closed-door cultivation. She had opened the windows, paying attention to the activity outside. Hearing murmurs of discussion, she immediately stepped outside to wait.
“Disciple Yu Zhao greets the Sect Master, the Peak Masters, and the Elders,” she said, bowing.
Sect Master Ji Yuan beamed with delight at the sight of Yu Zhao. Just as he was about to excuse her from the formalities, the Aspiration Pavilion’s leader, Master Bai Lian, interjected with praise: “Sect Master Ji Yuan, Yu Zhao performed exceptionally well in both rounds of the individual competition. In my opinion, the champions of both the sect competition and the individual category will undoubtedly belong to the Five Elements Dao Sect.”
“Not at all! Your disciples from the Aspiration Pavilion are equally outstanding. You’re flattering us too much—flattering us! Hahaha!” Sect Master Ji Yuan waved his hand in humility, but his broad smile betrayed his pleasure, much to Master Bai Lian’s annoyance.
Everyone enjoys compliments, and the elders of the Five Elements Dao Sect were no exception. Yet, under the cold gaze of Master Qing Yan, they restrained themselves, offering only modest smiles.
Suddenly, Master Qing Yan spoke. “A mere trick, unworthy of the elegant stage.”
Master Bai Lian and the elders of the Aspiration Pavilion were momentarily stunned. Only then did they recall Yu Zhao’s complicated background, unsure of how to respond.
Yu Zhao lowered her gaze, her mind calm as still water. Words were unnecessary—once the competitions concluded, the truth of her and Master Qing Yan’s merit would speak for itself.
“Sect Master Ji Yuan, Master Qing Yan is naturally reserved and dislikes excessive praise. Please forgive him,” Sect Master Ji Yuan said, though irritation tinged his tone as he sought to smooth things over.
Once the Aspiration Pavilion’s members were finally seen off, Sect Master Ji Yuan stormed into Master Qing Yan’s quarters, his voice cold with fury.
“Qing Yan, this is the Aspiration Pavilion, not the Five Elements Dao Sect. Have you forgotten your position as a Peak Master? Do not let your personal grievances tarnish the sect’s reputation!”
Master Qing Yan’s expression remained indifferent, his silence only fanning Sect Master Ji Yuan’s anger.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking,” Sect Master Ji Yuan continued, “but Yu Zhao is a good child. I won’t allow you to ruin her! If you persist in this stubbornness, I will drag you before the Grand Elder, even if it costs me my position as Sect Master!”
With that, he stormed out, his robes flaring with his temper. Back in his room, Sect Master Ji Yuan dropped into a chair, grabbed a teapot, and took a deep gulp.
“Phew… thank goodness that old fool didn’t lose his head,” he muttered. He had feared Master Qing Yan might start a fight right on the Aspiration Pavilion’s territory. That would have been a true disaster. Though Master Qing Yan hadn’t completely lost his sense, why did he remain so blind when it came to Yu Zhao?
“Ah, what a tangled mess,” Sect Master Ji Yuan sighed heavily in his room. Meanwhile, Yu Zhao’s quarters were filled with laughter.
Grand Senior Sister Zhou Jin Yue and Mu Ye had joined her, and their conversation had drifted to Li Jing Rang.
“That Li Jing Rang dared to speak recklessly without even meeting you,” Mu Ye said, frowning. “But don’t worry, I gave him a piece of my mind on your behalf.”
“Li Jing Rang?” A flash of cold light passed through Yu Zhao’s eyes.
After being reborn, she had nearly forgotten about him.
“Li Jing Rang is very close to Ye Cong Xin,” Zhou Jin Yue added another comment from the side.
Mu Ye couldn’t discern its deeper meaning, but Yu Zhao understood perfectly.
In her past life, Li Jing Rang had instantly bonded with Ye Cong Xin, considering her a kindred spirit. He praised her as a peerless talent in poetry and painting, calling her a gift from the heavens. Meanwhile, Yu Zhao, in his eyes, was nothing more than a crude and ignorant stone, foolishly aspiring to match the brilliance of a jade. He even penned several mocking poems to ridicule her.
At that time, Yu Zhao’s cultivation was still weak, and she carried a bad reputation, leaving her with no one to defend her. She had no choice but to endure silently.
Perhaps it was karma, but Li Jing Rang didn’t remain proud for long. He had been betrothed since childhood to Liu Zheng, the eldest disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s leader. According to their original plans, they were to exchange tokens after the Cultivation World Tournament and prepare for a dual cultivation ceremony.
However, his arrogant behavior and blatant public displays of affection for Ye Cong Xin caused dissatisfaction within the Heavenly Sword Sect. Liu Zheng privately sought to dissolve their engagement. Unexpectedly, Li Jing Rang not only refused but also accused Liu Zheng of having impure intentions and tarnishing the pure friendship between him and Ye Cong Xin.
Initially, Liu Zheng had wanted to preserve his dignity. But faced with such slander, she decided to act decisively. During the sect’s competition, she slashed off half of his hair with a single sword stroke. At the awards ceremony that followed, she publicly declared the dissolution of their engagement and shattered the token meant for their exchange.
From that moment, Li Jing Rang became the laughingstock of the entire cultivation world.
Later, it was said that a heart demon plagued him. He failed his attempt to form a Nascent Soul, leading to his death by inner demons.
Recalling Li Jing Rang’s fate, Yu Zhao’s lips curved into a smile. “I’ve heard Senior Sister Liu Zheng of the Heavenly Sword Sect truly lives up to her name…”
The three exchanged smiles, understanding each other without further words.
After sending off Zhou Jin Yue and Mu Ye, Yu Zhao was about to head to her room when Su Ming suddenly leaped out from a corner, his cheerful voice calling, “Yu Xiao Zhao!”
Yu Zhao pretended not to hear and continued walking to her room, turning to close the door behind her.
Su Ming hurriedly rushed forward, using both hands to hold the door firmly. “Don’t close it! Don’t close it! I’m here to apologize!”
“Apologize?”
Yu Zhao found it amusing. She never expected to hear such words from Su Ming.
Had the sun risen from the west, or had some polite elder taken possession of Su Ming?
“Really, really!” Su Ming nodded hastily, afraid she might throw him out with an illusion technique. His dimples deepened with what seemed like sincerity.
Yu Zhao’s curiosity was piqued. She wanted to see if Su Ming could indeed produce anything of value from his mouth.
“Go ahead,” she said.
Clearing his throat, Su Ming spoke seriously, “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have borrowed your spirit stones without repaying. From now on, I promise never to borrow spirit stones recklessly. Even if I do, I’ll return them promptly, and I’ll buy you small gifts to make up for it. I’ll also stand up for you when others badmouth you.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it,” Su Ming replied.
Yu Zhao chuckled softly. She knew better than to have any expectations of Su Ming.
“Well, now that you’ve finished, you can leave.” She pried his hands away from the door and shut it forcefully.
“Yu Xiao Zhao! Yu Zhao! Did you forgive me or not? Why did you shut the door? I apologized, didn’t I? Say something!” Su Ming shouted as he clung to the door, his face full of grievance and frustration.
Hadn’t he apologized sincerely? Why was Yu Zhao still upset with him? Wasn’t this enough?
Yu Zhao’s personality was becoming stranger and stranger. She wasn’t as likable as the junior sister. No wonder the fifth senior brother said she was a fake—it was all her own doing.