Chapter 158

Chapter 158: From now on, no one may mention her on Thunder-Scale Peak

Within the Flying Cloud Sect, disciples are strictly forbidden to fight, much less fight with killing intent; such actions trample Master Ling Xiao’s authority. This matter needed a reasonable explanation.

Lu Shi Qing wiped the blood from his lip, his dim eyes unreadable, and said flatly: “I fought because I wanted to.”

Feng He Yun and Luo Chu were stunned; such words were open perfunctory defiance. The man on the seat was their Master, the one person in the Cultivation World they could least afford to offend. [Has Lu Shi Qing lost his mind?]

They glanced at Master Ling Xiao. As expected, clouds gathered on his face, a storm about to break. Master Ling Xiao knit his brows, and his mighty Spiritual Pressure poured out as he snapped: “Insolence! Is this the tone you use with me?”

Lu Shi Qing was crushed to the ground at once. His blood and qi roiled, and he spat another mouthful of blood. Pain twisted his face to the limit, yet he still clenched his teeth and refused to speak.

Master Ling Xiao meant to teach him a harsher lesson, but in the end he drew a deep breath and pressed down his anger. He said in a low voice: “Lu Shi Qing, I will consider that your Gu Poison has not yet healed and your mind is unclear, and that this is your first offense. I will only punish you lightly this time.”

He added, voice flat: “If you dare again to offend your superior or speak out of turn, I will punish you severely without mercy.”

Turning his gaze to Wen Xuan, he ordered: “You speak.”

Master Ling Xiao had thought that with Lu Shi Qing as the cautionary example, Wen Xuan would know what to do. Instead, Wen Xuan only dropped to his knees and said, calm and respectful on the surface yet firm in stance: “Disciple knows his fault. Please punish me, Master.”

He looked obedient, but he had still dodged Master Ling Xiao’s question. Even his fully bowed posture held stubbornness.

Compared to Lu Shi Qing’s open defiance, this made Master Ling Xiao burn even hotter. He laughed from anger and said: “Good, very good! What a proud and unyielding Second Senior Brother of Thunder-Scale Peak.”

The next instant his face fell to ice: “Wen Xuan, this is the second time.”

He could still see the scene of Wen Xuan contradicting him for Shen Sang Ruo.

Wen Xuan’s tone did not change as he said: “Disciple is willing to accept any punishment.”

Master Ling Xiao’s eyes slowly moved between Lu Shi Qing and Wen Xuan. With a cold snort, he decided he would get to the bottom of this today. He wanted to see what could drive his disciples to brawl on Thunder-Scale Peak, risk offending him, and yet refuse to reveal the reason. He looked to the side at Feng He Yun and Luo Chu and asked: “Do you also want to hide the reason?”

The chill of his gaze pressed down, and both men tensed. Feng He Yun began carefully: “Reporting to Master, Disciple does not know the reason…”

Before he could finish, Master Ling Xiao’s Spiritual Pressure rippled again, the meaning clear. Yet from their view, Lu Shi Qing and Wen Xuan had started fighting out of nowhere. They had not exchanged even a single word while fighting. It was impossible to guess why.

Seeing Master Ling Xiao about to explode, Luo Chu hurried to recount what had happened: “We were in Second Senior Brother’s cave residence. Third Senior Brother suddenly broke in, and without saying a word, he started fighting with Second Senior Brother. We truly do not know the reason.”

Master Ling Xiao half narrowed his eyes. Luo Chu did not look like he was lying. As their Master, he knew these disciples’ tempers well. Aside from their past behavior toward Shen Sang Ruo that had surprised him, Wen Xuan and Lu Shi Qing had been senior and junior brothers for years. They had no feud and were not impulsive men. They would not start a fight for no reason.

He asked, sharp and direct: “Before he came, what were you three doing together?”

Master Ling Xiao had already noticed something odd. Feng He Yun and Lu Shi Qing had just returned from buying supplies with Bai Mu Mu, and before he even received word of their return, they had gone straight to Wen Xuan’s cave.

Feng He Yun explained in detail: “During our trip outside to buy supplies, Third Junior Brother and I ran into Shen Sang Ruo. She has joined a new sect and has new senior brothers. We were discussing this, nothing else.”

Lu Shi Qing hated Shen Sang Ruo, but could he really have fought Wen Xuan over this? And if so, why Wen Xuan and not him or Luo Chu? He had even taken the time to return to his own cave and bring those Gu Poisons, clearly coming prepared for Wen Xuan in particular. From Feng He Yun’s view, he could find no reason for Lu Shi Qing to attack.

Hearing Shen Sang Ruo’s name, Master Ling Xiao’s brows furrowed deeper. Joined a new sect? New senior brothers? [Did she find a rogue Master?] The thought rose at once. But then he scoffed to himself. She was his former disciple, a disciple expelled by the Flying Cloud Sect. Those two facts alone would make others back away. Besides, he did not believe Shen Sang Ruo would be willing to bow to some ordinary mortal teacher. Her previous Master had begun at the peak of the Cultivation World. Though she had been expelled, the chance of her coming back to the Flying Cloud Sect was high. She would not easily give up the sect’s resources. He gave a cold laugh. She was skilled at schemes; [I won’t be fooled.]

Years of looking down on the world had made Master Ling Xiao too confident, even to the point of arrogance.

“Master, let us set aside the matter between Second Junior Brother and Third Junior Brother for the moment.” Having mentioned Shen Sang Ruo, Feng He Yun finally decided to speak up and discuss the matter seriously with Master Ling Xiao.

Wen Xuan and Lu Shi Qing both showed a flicker of reaction.

Feng He Yun said, carefully weighing his words: “Disciple knows you are still angry at Shen Sang Ruo. But after all, she was your disciple for many years. We cannot truly watch her join another sect…”

Master Ling Xiao cut him off with a cold voice: “Enough.”

“Master…” Luo Chu tried to speak, but one look from Master Ling Xiao silenced him as well.

Master Ling Xiao tossed down a light sentence that brooked no refusal: “From now on, no one on Thunder-Scale Peak may mention that rebellious person. Anyone who disobeys will be punished by me personally.”

Even if Shen Sang Ruo really bowed to someone else, so what? [She will regret it one day.] Master Ling Xiao was certain.

With the result the same as ever, Feng He Yun opened his mouth but closed it again, biting down his frustration.

Master Ling Xiao looked over his four disciples one by one: two battered and disheveled, two dispirited and lost, none of them showing the bearing of Master Ling Xiao’s Personal Disciples. He was proud; how could he accept seeing his disciples like this? Interrupted by talk of that annoying person, he no longer cared to press further. He said only: “The Sect Grand Tournament is at hand. I’ll spare you this once. I do not want to see a second time.”

He gave his order, firm and clear: “Put all your focus on preparing for the Sect Grand Tournament. Win first place in every disciple event and uphold the sect’s honor. Do this, and your merits will cancel out your faults.”