Chapter 187
Chapter 187: Finally Restoring the Position of Personal Disciple
At the main peak of Rising Succession Peak, before the Mountain Hall, Xing Lan and Shi Zi Chu arrived one after the other, finding the open space crowded with people, lively and bustling.
These individuals were either here for the divine sword or the demi-god rank magic artifact.
Shi Zi Chu, trailing just a step behind Xing Lan, lifted her gaze to survey the crowd. Her eyes finally settled on Chu Zhi Rou.
Chu Zhi Rou stood out conspicuously amidst the crowd, her surroundings forming a clear empty zone around her, as if a force field had repelled anyone from coming near.
At the sight of Shi Zi Chu’s gentle and friendly smile, Chu Zhi Rou’s hands, hidden beneath her sleeves, clenched into tight fists.
She was in this perilous situation because of Shi Zi Chu!
That palace hall had never contained any demi-god rank magic artifact! She was not part of some hidden third faction!
What trick had Shi Zi Chu played?!
Shi Zi Chu did not miss the fleeting look of resentment that flashed in Chu Zhi Rou’s eyes, and her smile only deepened, curving more charmingly.
“Though I do not know why Junior Sister Zhi Rou pushed me, I still wish to congratulate you on obtaining the demi-god rank magic artifact,” she said, her voice melodious and graceful, carrying both magnanimity and a hint of congratulation.
At that moment, all eyes turned to Chu Zhi Rou.
The cold and sharp gazes made her spine chill. She quickly bowed and began to defend herself, “Peak Master, please see clearly! Disciple did not push Second Senior Sister!”
Jiang Wan Sheng sneered, “Are you saying that Meng Xi Yu and I had nothing better to do than jump down for fun?”
Chu Zhi Rou froze, unable to respond.
Meng Xi Yu’s voice was icy, “So many people witnessed it—do you think you can repeat the same trick again?”
A jolt of panic shot through Chu Zhi Rou’s heart. She urgently called out, “Sect Master!”
Had Meng Xi Yu somehow figured it out?
Impossible! She had covered her tracks meticulously, destroying all the evidence—there was no way Meng Xi Yu could know!
Meng Xi Yu, however, was not one to engage in a back-and-forth. Without hesitation, he bowed to Xing Lan and spoke clearly, “Chu Zhi Rou of Rising Succession Peak once risked her life to save Shi Zi Chu at the Blue Rain Marsh, but she also pushed Shi Zi Chu off at Ascending Towers Island.”
What dangers awaited below the highest levels, no one knew for sure, but when the ruins collapsed, they were saved by Venerable Xing Lan. The fact that Chu Zhi Rou had pushed someone was undeniable.
Chu Zhi Sheng wanted to intervene to protect his beloved, but could find no fault to stand on. Watching Chu Zhi Rou standing there alone, he felt uneasy.
Shi Zi Chu sighed, then raised her hand in a respectful gesture to Xing Lan, “Junior Sister Zhi Rou is usually kind-hearted. Furthermore, she once risked her life to save this disciple. Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding.”
“Wrong is wrong,” Xing Lan’s cold voice cut through the air, “If there are mistakes, there must be atonement. Let’s balance the good and bad.”
Chu Zhi Sheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief at this outcome.
Chu Zhi Rou, suppressing the anger in her heart, raised her hand and bowed, “Thank you, Peak Master, for your mercy! Thank you, Second Senior Sister!”
Her voice, tight with frustration, seemed to grit through her teeth. Shi Zi Chu smiled warmly and graciously.
Sect Master Meng glanced at Xing Lan, seeing that he had no intention of discussing the demi-god rank magic artifact. With a knowing smile, he spoke up, “What of the demi-god rank magic artifact?”
As expected, it had arrived at last.
Chu Zhi Rou’s palms were slick with sweat, and her mind raced.
“Sect Master, please see. The ruins collapsed so suddenly that I had no chance to examine the demi-god rank magic artifact,” she replied respectfully, but her answer only provoked a round of sarcastic laughter.
“Ha, Eldest Miss Ye really knows how to hide things! She probably grabbed the demi-god rank magic artifact as soon as she entered the ruins!”
“Now we’re at Jade Void Sect—are you hiding it because you don’t trust the sect or Venerable Xing Lan?”
“The disappearance of the ruins clearly shows the demi-god rank magic artifact has been taken. Eldest Miss Ye, what are you trying to say?”
Their voices buzzed around her, and Chu Zhi Rou found herself at the center of a storm.
Xing Lan lowered his gaze, his cold eyes flicking briefly to the quietly standing Shi Zi Chu. Something seemed to stir in his thoughts.
The demi-god rank magic artifact must be with Jiu Jiu.
“Everyone,” Xing Lan’s cold, noble voice rang out, the silence that followed carrying a powerful suppressive aura that forced everyone into submission.
Seeing all eyes on him, Xing Lan spoke coldly, “Are you all daring to act so aggressively in front of me, at Rising Succession Peak?”
One by one, they quickly bowed in apology.
Chu Zhi Rou, drenched in cold sweat from the pressure, let out a deep sigh of relief.
Xing Lan raised his hand with a chilling grace, “I reward and punish with fairness. From now on, Chu Zhi Rou will be my personal disciple.”
In that instant, joy rushed through Chu Zhi Rou, but it quickly sank into unease. She looked at Xing Lan, realizing that her happiness was not as great as she had expected.
This action of the master seemed to be a subtle admission that the demi-god rank magic artifact indeed belonged to her!
But the demi-god rank magic artifact wasn’t with her… it must be Shi Zi Chu!
It was definitely Shi Zi Chu who had told the master something!
Seeing Chu Zhi Rou stunned, Shi Zi Chu gently smiled and reminded her, “Junior Sister, why are you in a daze? Quickly thank the master.”
Coming to her senses, Chu Zhi Rou hurriedly bowed, “Disciple thanks Master! From now on, I will follow Master’s teachings and work hard to cultivate, so I won’t disappoint Master.”
Xing Lan remained silent, simply glancing at Sect Master Meng.
Sect Master Meng understood immediately and chuckled, “I’m sure everyone didn’t come here just for the demi-god rank magic artifact. Please, come inside!”
Truth be told, even if Chu Zhi Rou hadn’t obtained the demi-god rank magic artifact, he wouldn’t have been disappointed, for Xing Lan possessed the divine sword!
Compared to an immature disciple, he was far more inclined toward the tribulation-crossing Xing Lan!
This was a sect’s treasure!
Aside from Shi Zi Chu and Chu Zhi Rou, everyone else entered the hall.
When their eyes met, and Chu Zhi Rou’s gaze glinted with concealed hatred, Shi Zi Chu lifted a hand to cover her face and smiled softly, “Congratulations, Junior Sister. You’ve finally restored your position as a personal disciple.”
Chu Zhi Rou forced a smile, “Second Senior Sister, congratulations to you as well!”
Shi Zi Chu’s smile was faint, and with little enthusiasm, she turned and headed toward the rear mountains.
…
When Xing Lan returned, he found Shi Zi Chu sitting in meditation on a cushion.
Not wishing to disturb her, he prepared to leave and make tea.
“Master.”
Hearing the voice, Xing Lan paused and turned around, seeing Shi Zi Chu finishing her meditation and standing.
The master and disciple sat on a Luo Han bed, and the items on the table and the ground were gathered by Xing Lan into a storage pouch.
Xing Lan pulled out a storage ring and placed it on the table, “Clan Chief Ye asked me to give this to you.”
Shi Zi Chu acknowledged with a hum, then took several fragments from the ring.
“…?” Xing Lan’s eyes shifted from the fragments to Shi Zi Chu’s face.
He had suspected that the demi-god rank magic artifact was with Jiu Jiu, but he hadn’t expected it to be shattered into pieces.
If Sect Master Meng saw this, he might need to prepare some heart medicine.
Shi Zi Chu smiled faintly, not explaining further, simply asking, “Are these fragments of any use?”
Xing Lan nodded.
He reached out to take a few fragments and placed them on the table, trying to piece them together.
The fragments were incomplete, and it was likely the remaining pieces were in Ye He Qi’s hands.
The connection between Jiu Jiu and Ye He Qi was too close.
Shi Zi Chu keenly noticed that Xing Lan’s mood had darkened.
What was the cause?
Xing Lan retracted his hand, resting it on his leg, his tone colder than before, “If there are remaining fragments, I can repair it to its original form.”
Shi Zi Chu shook her head.
Xing Lan’s eyes turned colder still.
Jiu Jiu, ever so profit-driven, was unexpectedly being so generous?
This was not like her at all.
Shi Zi Chu looked at Xing Lan, her expression calm, but her heart was growing more uneasy.
What was really going on?
Shi Zi Chu’s gaze fell to the fragments again, and her thoughts froze for a moment. Then, as realization dawned, she understood.
Some people might appear calm on the outside, but inside they were already drowning in jealousy!