Chapter 102

Chapter 102: Questioning Master Ling Xiao

No wonder Bai Mu Mu was so confident that the Young Sect Master seat would be hers.

[Shen Sang Ruo had some guesses.]

“Next, we begin the first trial for Young Sect Master: the sect vote,” Shen Dao Chen announced in a deep voice, sounding very much like a true Sect Master.

“You each have a voting jade in your hand. Write the name you choose on it with your Spiritual Power, and it will be counted. The voting window lasts one hour.”

As his words ended, the voting jades in the hands of the Flying Cloud Sect members lit up and activated.

Most people did not rush to vote. They were waiting for the campaign speeches.

Usually, each Young Sect Master Candidate would give a “campaign statement” during the one hour of sect voting to win more support.

Voters could cast their ballots after the speeches, and the totals would appear on the huge stone in front of the platform to show support.

Bai Mu Mu seized the first move and began to campaign for herself.

She bowed toward the elders’ seats and spoke with a bright smile: “Honored Elders and Peak Masters, dear Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, greetings. I am Bai Mu Mu, and I am running for Young Sect Master.”

She held herself with poise and continued in a steady rhythm: “It is an honor to stand on this stage. I believe I have several strengths for Young Sect Master. First… Second… Third…”

Her voice was clear as she laid out goals: “If I become Young Sect Master, I will…”

She ended with confidence: “In short, I will do my best to lead the Flying Cloud Sect to grow stronger and reach new glory. I hope you will support me.”

Then she gave a neat bow and said: “That is my statement. Thank you for listening.”

Bai Mu Mu had asked the System to pull a campaign template from some unknown world.

It worked well. Whether Disciples or Peak Masters and Elders, none of them had ever heard a campaign speech like this.

They thought her words were dazzling.

“So tidy,” many Disciples sighed.

“Short and clear, strong logic and tight structure, excellent,” the Peak Masters and Elders praised.

The smile on Shen Dao Chen’s face deepened, and even Master Ling Xiao’s lips curved slightly.

They were clearly satisfied with Bai Mu Mu’s speech.

For a time, her votes shot up. One third of the people cast their ballots for her, then the numbers slowed.

Those who had not voted yet seemed to be waiting for Shen Sang Ruo’s speech.

Given Shen Sang Ruo’s recent reputation in the Flying Cloud Sect, they were not waiting to support her.

Some were still watching to see what would happen, but more wanted to let her speak and then vote for Bai Mu Mu on purpose, so Shen Sang Ruo would lose face.

Even now, many praised Bai Mu Mu while belittling Shen Sang Ruo.

Some said she was jealous. Some said she behaved badly.

One person scoffed as he whispered to others: “They are both daughters of Sect Master Shen, so why are they so different?”

Another curled his lip and added in a low voice: “Of course it is because one is Sect Master Shen’s real daughter, and the other is a wild stray from who knows where, ahem.”

Even more people talked about her being expelled by Master Ling Xiao.

A Disciple murmured to his neighbor: “I remember Shen Sang Ruo cared so deeply for her four Senior Brothers and for Master Ling Xiao. When she got kicked off Thunder-Scale Peak, she must have been heartbroken.”

Another nodded hard and said: “Of course. I heard that the day she left Thunder-Scale Peak, she cried so hard she could barely breathe.”

A third waved his hand and claimed: “I can testify. I was there. It is true.”

Some clicked their tongues and judged her: “Serves her right. She did so many wicked things. This is called getting what she deserves.”

Others snorted and said: “Why is she even competing for Young Sect Master? I want to see how many people will vote for her later.”

[Master Ling Xiao listened and felt pleased.]

He glanced coldly toward Shen Sang Ruo. This was the price for leaving Thunder-Scale Peak.

The Disciples of Flying Cloud Sect all fixed their eyes on Shen Sang Ruo. They wanted to see how, when everyone disliked her, she would still have the nerve to ask for votes, only to have no one stand with her.

That, in their minds, was what she deserved. Only then could they vent their Baleful Miasma.

Bai Mu Mu took in the scene and sent a mocking look toward Shen Sang Ruo.

This round, she would surely win.

But Shen Sang Ruo did not respond to her.

In truth, Shen Sang Ruo did not care about the voting results, and she did not plan to campaign.

She was here to do something else.

She lifted her head and let her gaze pass, as if by chance, over the high seat where Master Ling Xiao sat.

Then she glanced at the front row where Feng He Yun and the others were seated.

Back then, the price she set to exchange for the Fire-Scale Vine with them was that they had to publicly declare she had left Thunder-Scale Peak of her own will. Yet now, everyone in the Flying Cloud Sect said she was cast out.

Master Ling Xiao had only said she was no longer a Disciple of Thunder-Scale Peak. He let the rest become rumors. [She knew he did that on purpose.]

[Good thing she never fully trusted Master Ling Xiao to speak the truth.]

A thin smile touched Shen Sang Ruo’s lips, but it was cold.

Feng He Yun and the others had been watching her and did not miss a single move.

Feng He Yun’s eyes widened as he tugged his friend’s sleeve and said in surprise: “Shen Sang Ruo just looked our way! She, she… she seems to have smiled.”

He brightened at once and said with joy: “She still cannot let us go!”

Then he grew nervous for her and muttered: “Junior Sister’s campaign speech was so good. I hope Shen Sang Ruo can do well too.”

Even he felt a bit guilty about how the talk inside the Flying Cloud Sect had turned.

But he told himself not to worry; the always-considerate Shen Sang Ruo would soon smooth it over for him.

Standing at the center of the platform, Shen Sang Ruo took one step toward Master Ling Xiao’s direction and called out in a steady, ringing voice: “Everyone in the Flying Cloud Sect says I am Master Ling Xiao’s abandoned Disciple. Master Ling Xiao, I ask you: is that truly the fact?”

The Disciples who had been waiting for her to beg them for votes were stunned.

What was she doing? How could she talk to Master Ling Xiao like that?

Sharp minds reacted fast and whispered to their neighbors: “What does she mean by this? Is there more to her leaving Thunder-Scale Peak?”

Even Bai Mu Mu looked puzzled, but she quickly fixed the same contempt on her face as before.

She believed this would only make Master Ling Xiao dislike Shen Sang Ruo even more.

Master Ling Xiao’s brow twitched as he half lowered his eyes and stared at her.

He had not expected her to give up campaigning during the vote and instead question him.

But how could he allow such offense?

His voice was calm but carried power as he said: “Presumptuous. What right do you have to question me?”

He moved a finger, and heavy Spiritual Pressure bore down on Shen Sang Ruo, meant to force her to her knees.

She clenched her teeth and fought back with all her strength.

Shen Dao Chen’s face darkened, and he called out a warning: “Ling Xiao!”

If he did not stop it, there might be blood. He did not want an ugly scene.

Still, he felt even more displeased with Shen Sang Ruo. How could she be so careless at such an important time?

[She really does not know her place.]