Chapter 0022

Chapter 22: You Pull Out the Firewood, I Steal a Lamb

The grand ceremony to take a master was reaching its end. It was not the kind of excitement people had imagined, yet it had a different kind of thrill. Everyone seemed satisfied except the Jade Purity Sect. This had been their chance to show power, but Zhou Tong, their cast-off disciple, humiliated them again and again, and they lost both dignity and face.

Tang Qi stared at Zhou Tong, who was surrounded by beauties, and nearly exploded with rage. His own failure already stung, and Zhou Tong’s perfect success made it even harder to swallow. Tang Qi clenched his fists as his eyes burned: [A waste is always a waste. Even if you shine for a moment, you will end up as my stepping stone, because I am the master of this world.]

Mu Rong Ya smiled so widely her eyes bent into crescents as she guarded her three beloved disciples in her flowing wide-sleeved dress, then she spoke lightly: “It’s late; we should go back.”

They had just turned to leave when Mo Liu Su cut in and made everyone stop: “You cannot leave yet.”

Mo Liu Su narrowed her eyes as she raised her chin: “Return the Seven-Star Bixue Lotus.”

Mu Rong Ya answered with cold disdain as she spat in Mo Liu Su’s face and walked away without looking back: “Pah.”

The air between heaven and earth seemed to freeze.

Long Ling Yun was swept along as they traveled through the sky, stars in her eyes as she gazed at Mu Rong Ya: “Master, you are so cool; I like you so much.”

Mu Rong Ya laughed, tipping her head in pride: “You silly girl who has never seen the world, we are only getting started; the part where I look even cooler comes later.”

Zhou Tong could not hold back a laugh as he met Mu Rong Ya’s eyes; the two of them were like a pair of foxes that had just stolen a chicken.

The little demoness curled her lip and spoke in an extra sour tone as she glanced between them: “Oh look at you two, such perfect teamwork. I didn’t expect someone to be so fickle. Got new disciples and already forgot the old one.”

Mu Rong Ya waved a hand at her like she was soothing a cat: “Behave, Yue’er, don’t make trouble; there is a big surprise. You will know when we get back to the sect.”

The four shot across space and soon returned to Red Dust Mountain.

Seeing the barren peak that used to be famous, even Long Ling Yun could not help sighing: “I never thought the Joyous Union Sect that once shook the world would fall this far.”

They reached the front of the sect. Only a broken plaque swung in the wind. Long Ling Yun stopped and stared at the three characters. She found them strangely beautiful and could not help praising them: “What a fine saying: Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence.”

The little demoness stared, then blurted out in shock: “That says Joyous Union Sect. Are you really illiterate? Even if you can’t read, you should at least know numbers.”

Even though Zhou Tong had already told her about Long Ling Yun’s Wordless Root of Wisdom, seeing it up close still amazed the little demoness. She leaned toward Zhou Tong and whispered: “She isn’t pretending, right?” Zhou Tong answered calmly: “No. I have seen even worse cases.”

They had just stepped into the sect when both the little demoness and Long Ling Yun stiffened. The little demoness’s face changed as she hissed a warning: “Be careful. There is a strange aura. Someone has been here.”

The little demoness rushed out first and headed straight for the sect’s storehouse. Zhou Tong and Mu Rong Ya exchanged a look and followed.

With a bang, the door flew open. The storehouse was empty. Nothing was left.

The little demoness went pale as all her joy vanished: “Those hateful thieves.”

This was the Joyous Union Sect’s last bit of savings. Worse, the herbs for refining the Bodhi Pill had been taken too. Without them, they could not cure their master’s heart demon.

Zhou Tong spoke in a steady voice as he lifted his hand: “Don’t worry. I know who did it.”

At his casual wave, countless tiny strands of Array Arts flew in from every direction and formed a moving image in the air.

The little demoness brightened in relief as her tense shoulders lowered: “I almost forgot you are a master of Array Arts.”

Since Zhou Tong had made preparations ahead of time, there would be a way through. Without realizing it, she had already started to rely on him.

Shadows appeared on the screen. Several middle-aged men moved with shocking speed, clearing out the storehouse in the blink of an eye. The whole thing took no more than ten breaths.

Long Ling Yun’s face flushed with anger as she recognized them: “How shameless. Old acquaintances. Those are elders from the Jade Purity Sect. They waited until Master left and then cleaned us out in one sweep.”

The little demoness stamped her foot and shot toward the door before Zhou Tong caught her wrist: “How outrageous. I am going to settle this.”

Zhou Tong’s grip was firm as his voice stayed calm: “Relax. If they want it, we will just give it to them.”

The little demoness stared at him: “Since when were you so generous?”

Zhou Tong turned to Mu Rong Ya with a half-smile: “Because someone is even more generous. Master, please give them the whole thing.”

Mu Rong Ya flicked her long sleeve as if scattering stars. Countless treasures flew out from her sleeve and piled up into small hills.

The other two were stunned, eyes wide, mouths open. These treasures included pills, rare herbs, and spirit stones of every kind. Their value was tens of times greater than what had been stolen.

The little demoness blurted out without thinking: “You wicked woman, who did you rob?”

Mu Rong Ya raised her delicate chin and corrected her with pride: “Don’t make it sound so ugly. This is called proper manners. If they pull out the firewood from under our pot, they should be ready for our answer. While you were facing off with the Jade Purity Sect, I got there one step earlier and stole a lamb in passing.”

All three disciples spoke in one voice and bowed until their foreheads nearly touched the floor: “Master is mighty.”

They had truly struck it rich.

At Primal Heaven Earth Mountain, in the Jade Purity Sect, everyone else had already gone. Only a mess remained.

Immortal Maiden White Crane started the attack by pointing straight at Mo Liu Su: “This is all your doing. I will impeach you for abusing the sect master’s authority. If you had not driven out Zhou Tong, we would never have suffered this shame.”

The other elders kept silent, but their faces were dark, and blame filled their eyes.

Mo Liu Su held up a hand and kept her voice cool: “Calm yourselves. Everything is under my control. The Joyous Union Sect will disappear very soon.”

At her words, several elders stepped forward and presented the treasures they had taken.

Someone asked in surprise as whispers ran through the crowd: “You took these while raiding the Joyous Union Sect?”

Many faces showed joy. The treasures were valuable. In a world where the strong prey on the weak, if a sect could not even protect its own vault, then being destroyed was only fair.

A few elders nodded in satisfaction: “This will be enough to make up our losses.”

Just then, a disciple stumbled in, panic written all over his face. Mo Liu Su frowned and spoke with displeasure: “Slow down and speak clearly. This is the Jade Purity Sect. Even if the sky falls, someone will hold it up.”

The disciple stammered with a wobbling voice: “Immortal Mo, the sky really fell. Our sect’s treasure vault was looted.”

The room went silent, as if struck by a bolt.

Mo Liu Su snapped with icy eyes: “You lie.”

The disciple trembled as he held out a slip of paper: “I do not dare lie. Please see for yourself.”

Mo Liu Su took it. One glance made the blood drain from her face. The slip held five bold characters: Mu Rong Ya was here.

Her teeth clicked together as rage shook her; a mouthful of blood sprayed out: “Wretch. I will never share this sky with you.”

Then she spun on her heel and hissed: “I am going to the Enforcer to report that the Joyous Union Sect has not earned enough merit. I will ask them to strip the Joyous Union Sect of its name.”