Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Scapegoat Yu Ruan Ruan

A few days later.

The parties from Heaven’s Evolution Sect and Sky Piercing Sect finally arrived in Cloud Link City. The leading sect elders of the two sects went to the Giant Spirit Sect’s reception office and quickly arranged lodging for all sect elders and disciples.

Like the other disciples, Rong Shu waited in the line while the Giant Spirit Sect assigned quarters. Every disciple would have a small room of their own, while the sect elders were housed in more lavish palaces.

Someone called from across a narrow street: “Rong Shu!”

Rong Shu, just assigned a house and about to go in, turned her head. Oh. It was Cheng Bu Fan.

With only a small street between them, Rong Shu’s side was for female disciples and Cheng Bu Fan’s side for male disciples. By coincidence, both of their houses were on the street’s edge, making them look like next-door neighbors.

Cheng Bu Fan came over at a quick pace and said: “Fu Yong Kang has gone who knows where, but our quarters are pretty close.”

This way, he could come find Rong Shu for cards at any time. Do not think he did not know: when he was away with the team to eliminate demonic cultivators, Fu Yong Kang and Rong Shu had secretly played two-player cards.

Rong Shu nodded and said: “Mm. Once I tidy up the room, let’s go look for Fu Yong Kang.”

“Alright.”

While they were speaking, Cheng Bu Fan caught sight out of the corner of his eye of Yu Ruan Ruan not far away, flanked by Feng Lin and two others. Yu Ruan Ruan said to them in a honeyed voice: “First Senior Brother, my room is here; you can rest easy now, no need to keep following me. Third Senior Brother…”

“…”

Hearing that syrupy tone, Cheng Bu Fan shivered twice and said: “How about we head back to our rooms.”

Rong Shu nodded: “Mm-hm.”

The two immediately went back inside, making sure Yu Ruan Ruan’s group did not spot them.

Cheng Bu Fan ran back as if floods and wild beasts were on his heels, then shut the door with a snap. He muttered: “Let me see what this place is like,” and began looking around. The Giant Spirit Sect had cleaned the rooms in advance; inside was neat and tidy, and there was even a formation to prevent prying eyes.

Judging by the time, Yu Ruan Ruan’s crowd should have moved on. Cheng Bu Fan was about to go find Rong Shu when someone knocked on his door.

He opened it to find dozens of disciples from other sects standing outside. The moment they saw Cheng Bu Fan, everyone grew excited.

One declared: “You are Cheng Bu Fan of Heaven’s Evolution Sect! I am here to challenge you!”

Another said: “I came first. I want to spar with you!”

“And me…”

Seeing this scene, Cheng Bu Fan immediately understood. Good grief. So many people. A bright idea flashed through his mind and he suddenly smiled: “You all want to challenge me?”

“That’s right. Do you dare accept?”

“I am first!”

Cheng Bu Fan curled his lip with disdain and said: “Hmph. With just you lot, you are not qualified.”

“What do you mean?”

“We are all cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Who is strong and who is weak is only known after fighting!”

Cheng Bu Fan asked back: “In your respective sects, are you personal disciples?”

This left the assembled disciples looking at one another, not understanding what Cheng Bu Fan meant. In fact, they were all merely Inner Sect disciples. Those with the status of personal disciples, even if interested in Cheng Bu Fan, would not deign to run over directly before the tournament began. If they wanted to spar, they would wait to challenge openly on the arena during the sect-wide grand tournament.

These Inner Sect disciples, however, had no such scruples. After all, when Cheng Bu Fan broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, his status had likewise risen to Inner Sect disciple of Heaven’s Evolution Sect. With equal rank, casual sparring was perfectly normal.

“So what if we are not? You are only an Inner Sect disciple yourself,” someone said.

Cheng Bu Fan shook his head: “I am not the same. I have defeated a personal disciple. When I was still an Outer Sect disciple, I beat a personal disciple.”

“As for you, you only look equal to me on paper.”

“If you want to challenge me, fine. First go defeat the personal disciple next door.”

As he spoke, Cheng Bu Fan pointed toward the across-the-street “neighbor.”

“What do you mean?”

Several people were confused.

Cheng Bu Fan said meaningfully: “If you cannot even defeat someone who has already lost to me, what qualifications do you have to challenge me?”

“This lord’s time is very precious. I am not afraid of your challenges, but have you looked at how many of you there are?”

Leaning on the doorframe, he wore an impatient expression: “Have you no shame? Dozens of you coming to challenge me. When am I supposed to cultivate, eat, sleep, play cards, or stroll the streets?”

The disciples: …

They could accept the first part, but what were those last two about playing cards and going for a stroll? Still, when you first heard Cheng Bu Fan’s words, they did not sound wrong. They were only here to spar, not to force him to fight. Otherwise they would seem overbearing.

A disciple asked: “So by your logic, as long as we defeat the personal disciple next door, we can come challenge you, right?”

“Exactly,” Cheng Bu Fan said, kindly pointing the way a second time: “Out the door, turn left, across the street. You are welcome.”

“Fine, just you wait!”

“I will go defeat that personal disciple right now, then come back and challenge you!”

“Me too!”

A personal disciple who could be beaten by an Outer Sect disciple could not be that strong, or so they figured. The disciples able to come to Cloud Link City were either elite or well-connected; they were not like ordinary disciples who would shrink three steps at the title of “personal disciple.” On the contrary, challenging a personal disciple was a coveted opportunity. If they lost, it would not be embarrassing; as Inner Sect disciples, losing would be unsurprising. If they won, they would strike it lucky and might build a fine reputation like Cheng Bu Fan.

With that in mind, the crowd originally gathered outside Cheng Bu Fan’s door surged away in a clatter to the other side of the street.