Chapter 31: The Unlucky Group of Seven
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Slap!
The crisp sound of a slap echoed across the grassland.
The entire scene fell silent.
Zhang Jun shook his slightly numb hand, clicking his tongue in disgust. “Such thick skin.”
It wasn’t until the stinging pain registered that the man realized his attempt to slap someone had backfired, and he had been slapped instead. His face alternated between anger, shame, and resentment before finally settling on a deep fear.
In the world of cultivation, the thoughtless didn’t survive long.
Zhang Jun’s slap was faster and more precise, starkly illustrating the gap between their levels of cultivation. If Zhang Jun had been more ruthless, the man’s head would already be rolling on the ground.
At times like this, it was customary for someone to step in and resolve the matter.
“Kui Zi, apologize to these seniors immediately!” A slender, slightly effeminate man stepped out from the group, his tone sharp.
The man, called Kui Zi, instantly clutched his swelling cheek and groveled, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have judged you by appearances or disturbed you, seniors. It’s my fault.”
Zhang Jun was speechless.
Though the other party’s attitude was good, being lenient now felt distasteful, like swallowing a fly. Yet, pursuing the matter further would make him seem petty. Annoyed, he waved his hand. “Get lost, and don’t let me see you again.”
“Yes, yes.” Kui Zi bent low, cautiously retreating to his group. They all bowed respectfully before scrambling away as fast as they could.
Throughout the encounter, Zhou Jin Yue and Yu Zhao watched without interfering. Once the group left, Zhou Jin Yue clapped Zhang Jun on the shoulder. “Well done.”
Disciples of the Five Elements Dao Sect didn’t bully others, nor did they shy away from trouble. Since the other party had conceded, the matter ended there. If Zhang Jun had pressed further, Zhou Jin Yue wouldn’t have shown mercy either.
Zhang Jun grinned sheepishly.
Zhou Jin Yue turned to Yu Zhao. “Junior Sister Yu, if you ever face such a situation, you mustn’t back down. People like them bully the weak. Unless you overpower them decisively, they’ll cling to you like leeches, making your life miserable.”
Having faced similar situations before, Zhou Jin Yue knew well the consequences of being too kind. Yu Zhao, on her first journey outside, lacked such experience, so Zhou Jin Yue couldn’t help but offer advice.
“I understand, Senior Sister Zhou,” Yu Zhao replied, appreciating Zhou Jin Yue’s good intentions.
In truth, Yu Zhao thought Zhou Jin Yue and Zhang Jun were too merciful. The group’s heavy aura of bloodshed clearly indicated they were no strangers to murder. Such scum, guilty of countless lives, deserved nothing less than a trip to the underworld.
Zhou Jin Yue wasn’t aware that her seemingly sweet and docile junior sister was already imagining ways to bury those men as fertilizer beneath the grass.
Standing still, Zhou Jin Yue used the unique communication method of the Five Elements Dao Sect to contact scattered sect disciples and confirm their safety. Then she led Yu Zhao and Zhang Jun onward to search for the Seven-Colored Deer.
…
Meanwhile, the seven men who had clashed with Zhou Jin Yue’s group were discussing them.
Kui Zi spat out blood-streaked saliva and cursed bitterly, “Those three must be disciples from a major sect. They look young but are shockingly skilled. Today’s just not my day.”
The others grumbled in agreement, their words tinged with envy and resentment.
Without backing from a sect or family, they were the lowest in the cultivation world, forced to band together just to survive.
The effeminate man scoffed, “The news of the Seven-Colored Deer has spread like wildfire. Even the big sects couldn’t resist butting in, leaving no room for us to breathe.”
His words stirred anger in the group.
The effeminate man’s gaze swept across his companions. “There are bound to be other sect disciples coming to Dragon Roar Valley. If we come across anyone alone, we’ll just…”
He drew his finger across his neck in a slitting motion.
The others nodded without hesitation, eyes gleaming with a feverish light.
A sinister smile spread across the effeminate man’s face as the group, now invigorated, chose a new direction to avoid crossing paths with those three again.
But before long, they ran into three more young cultivators.
The familiar configuration rendered them speechless.
“Second Senior Brother,” Ye Cong Xin whispered, fearfully hiding behind Lan Zi Yu and clutching his robe tightly.
“Don’t be afraid, Junior Sister.” Lan Zi Yu’s soothing voice calmed her. Without restraint, he unleashed the full pressure of a Golden Core cultivator.
The seven men felt as though their hearts were being crushed and almost collapsed to their knees.
A Golden Core cultivator? This young?
Another major sect disciple, no doubt. Why did they keep running into them?
“Esteemed seniors, we mean no harm! We’ll leave right away!” Bowing and scraping, the seven hurriedly retreated, wishing they could bury their heads in the dirt.
They backed away even faster when they saw no intention to stop them. One of them tripped in his panic, but quickly scrambled up and continued fleeing.
In just moments, they were gone from Ye Cong Xin’s sight.
Her heart raced, and her eyes sparkled. Watching their disarray filled her with a smug satisfaction.
She began to imagine what it would be like if Lan Zi Yu’s talent and spiritual roots belonged to her. How glorious would her life be then?
Pretending to be a fox borrowing a tiger’s might could never compare to becoming the tiger herself.
But she needed Lan Zi Yu’s goodwill to siphon his fortune!
“Second Senior Brother, you’re amazing,” she said, looking up at Lan Zi Yu with stars in her eyes.
Lan Zi Yu, a little embarrassed but also pleased, replied modestly, “They’re just low-level rogue cultivators—not worth mentioning.”
Ye Cong Xin lavished him with praises, her words growing more extravagant. Lan Zi Yu’s eyes narrowed in enjoyment.
Watching them, Fang Cheng Lang, their Deputy Leader, felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue and helplessness.
Despite Lan Zi Yu’s experience, when he was with Ye Cong Xin, his vigilance seemed to vanish completely.
Their mission was to find the Seven-Colored Deer, but if they continued like this, their chatter would scare it away long before they even saw it. Moreover, the valley housed not only the deer but also numerous other beasts and ill-intentioned cultivators. A single careless mistake could lead to disaster.
As their senior, Fang Cheng Lang would bear the brunt of the consequences.
He warned, “This area is crowded. Lower your voices.”
Ye Cong Xin quickly clamped her mouth shut. “Yes, Senior Brother.”
Lan Zi Yu, however, was dismissive. “Senior Brother, with our skills, we can handle anything in Dragon Roar Valley. You’re being overly cautious.”
Fang Cheng Lang stared at him incredulously, hardly believing what he had just heard.
Lan Zi Yu frowned. “Senior Brother, have you forgotten what Master said before we left? Our mission isn’t to find the Seven-Colored Deer but to protect Junior Sister. As long as she returns safely, our task is complete. The deer can wait; Zhou Jin Yue’s group can handle it.”