Chapter 114

Chapter 114: Crushing Lu Shi Qing’s Dignity

Lu Shi Qing stayed silent for a long time as drops of fresh blood slipped through his fingers and burst like little red flowers on the ground, and something dark seemed to gather in his eyes.

A moment later, the feelings he had been holding back finally exploded. He roared hysterically: “It’s fake! All of it is fake! How could there be no feeling at all?”

Even toward a stranger, there would be some reaction. Shen Sang Ruo had lived among them for so many years, and their bond had been so deep. How could it all vanish?

He refused to accept it. He shouted again: “I don’t believe it!”

Veins bulged on his forehead and his eyes turned bloodshot as he crushed the Seven-colored Butterfly in his hand and pulled out several Seven Emotions Gu instead.

A trace of madness flashed across his face. Even though he knew he was weaker than Shen Sang Ruo, he still stubbornly tried to set the Seven Emotions Gu on her again.

Before he could attack, Shen Sang Ruo had already drawn the Luan Feather Fan, and with one light sweep she knocked him to the ground.

[Believe it or not.] She had no duty to explain anything to him or make him accept it.

Her patience was gone after being pestered by Lu Shi Qing for so long, and her eyes swept coldly over his humiliated figure on the floor as she said, voice without warmth: “Whether you believe me or not has nothing to do with me. Move aside, and do not block my path.”

He acted as if he hadn’t heard her. Obsession filled his heart, and he could see only his own thoughts. He staggered up and reached to grab Shen Sang Ruo as she stepped past.

She flipped her hand and slapped him hard across the face. She had trained in the Fanning Wind and Stirring Fire Art; no one knew better than she did how to use a fan or a slap. The blow sent Lu Shi Qing reeling.

His head snapped to the side and a burning pain spread across his cheek, leaving him stunned where he stood. Proud as he was, even in the Flying Cloud Sect where he was treated like a star, this slap crushed his dignity underfoot.

In that instant, their places fully reversed. Shen Sang Ruo looked at him with the same contempt and disgust he had once shown as he watched her struggle under the pain of the Seven Emotions Gu.

Lu Shi Qing’s eyes reddened and went blank, and he finally stopped moving.

Shen Sang Ruo showed no extra reaction and had no wish to argue further. She walked straight past him and left.

After making sure he wasn’t following, she returned to the Ninghua Sect.

Everyone there had been waiting for her with their necks stretched.

In the Sect Master’s Hall, Su Xi Yu kept glancing at the doorway as she muttered, worried; Song Wei Yan spoke calmly to her Fourth Junior Sister, saying with a steady tone that this trip was heavy with tasks, that Shen Sang Ruo had to compete and also leave her old sect, so of course it would take time.

Shen Sang Ruo had only told them she would find a way to leave the Flying Cloud Sect, but not how. Su Xi Yu finally nodded, then soon gasped as a new worry jumped out: maybe her old sect wouldn’t let her go? Shen Sang Ruo was too outstanding for them to be blind to it.

Daoist Wu Wei got carried along by her mood, puffing his beard and glaring as he declared: “Sang girl must be one of our Ninghua Sect. If that Flying Cloud Sect won’t release her, then even if we have to snatch her, we will take her back!”

Immortal Lord Chang Li added with a snort: “She is my soon-to-be disciple. Who dares hold her?” The group worked themselves up so far that they were already plotting to blow up the Flying Cloud Sect when Shen Sang Ruo walked into view and said with a smile in her voice: “I’m back.”

They surrounded her at once, first asking about the duel and whether she was hurt. She smiled and shook her head as she said that Bai Mu Mu didn’t even touch the corner of her robe.

She glanced around and asked: “Where is Immortal Maiden Azure Luan?” Immortal Lord Chang Li replied with a calm face: “She returned to the Wind-Moon Spirit Ruins.”

Shen Sang Ruo nodded, looking a bit disappointed that she hadn’t had time to say goodbye, but she quickly smoothed her mood and decided she could go to the Wind-Moon Spirit Ruins later to “bother” Immortal Maiden Azure Luan.

After a round of praise, they finally reached the point and asked if she had left the Flying Cloud Sect. From her look they already knew she had, but they still wanted to hear her say it.

Instead of answering right away, Shen Sang Ruo turned to Immortal Lord Chang Li, cupped her hands, and bowed as she said with respect: “Disciple greets Master.” She then turned to Daoist Wu Wei and said, equally respectful: “Disciple greets Sect Master.” After that, she addressed Su Xi Yu and the others properly as Senior Brother and Senior Sister in order.

That alone made it clear she had joined the Ninghua Sect. Daoist Wu Wei burst into hearty laughter, and Su Xi Yu and the rest were overjoyed to hear their Junior Sister call them senior.

Immortal Lord Chang Li, however, didn’t look as happy as the others. He frowned and asked with a click of his tongue: “How is it only ‘Master’ already?”

Shen Sang Ruo blinked, confused, and everyone else paused to stare at him. Wasn’t he the one who always shouted the loudest about taking her as a disciple?

He clicked his tongue again and finally explained, annoyed at their blank faces: “Too hasty. Far too hasty. How could I accept a disciple so casually? We must hold a formal, grand ceremony.”

Back when he took on his other four disciples, the display was magnificent. He only regretted that the Ninghua Sect was in decline now and could not give Shen Sang Ruo the most splendid rite to announce it to the whole Cultivation World. Still, once the Ninghua Sect returned to its peak, he could hold another ceremony to make it up. Thinking of her previous master, Master Ling Xiao, his eyes glinted and a wicked smile curled his lips as he thought that maybe he could invite Master Ling Xiao to witness it in person.

Even with limited resources, he still did all he could to arrange the ceremony well. Shen Sang Ruo smiled and said simply: “I will follow Master’s plan.” The others agreed he was right and started to hustle her off to prepare.

She lifted a hand to stop them and said calmly: “Set the ceremony aside for now. There is something more important.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li curled his lip and asked: “What could be more important than the ceremony?”