Chapter 87

Chapter 87: The Four Senior Brothers Learn Shen Sang Ruo Has Left Thunder-Scale Peak

Inside the Flying Cloud Sect.

Master Ling Xiao watched that flash of green vanish into the distance, his face dark.

With a cold smile, he said through clenched teeth: “No wonder she was so eager to dissolve the master-disciple bond with me, huh.”

For the sake of a mere Early Divine Transformation Cultivator, she had dumped the top Cultivator in the entire Cultivation World.

Short-sighted.

In his mind, the “wild Master” who stole Shen Sang Ruo could only be Immortal Maiden Azure Luan.

Even he could not “polish that stubborn stone,” so he wanted to see who could turn her into uncut jade.

Master Ling Xiao snorted and flicked his sleeve as he left in anger.

Though pleased that she had met a Grand Adept, Shen Dao Chen still disliked how fickle she seemed. Her actions showed poor character to him. She was not the best choice for Young Sect Master.

By contrast, Bai Mu Mu was kind and well liked. She had great popularity in the Flying Cloud Sect. With real blood ties, she resembled him more and had the bearing of a Sect Master.

If Bai Mu Mu became Young Sect Master, it would be what most wanted, and she could unite the sect.

Sadly, her health was poor and her talent not as strong as Shen Sang Ruo’s. That was Shen Sang Ruo’s only advantage.

Fortunately, they now had the Fire-Scale Vine. Bai Mu Mu’s body could be healed.

The seat of Young Sect Master could be left for the two to fight over.

Even so, his heart already leaned to one side.

Shen Dao Chen looked toward the distance, shook his head, then went inside to hand the Fire-Scale Vine to an Elder who refined pills for the sect, so medicine could be made for Bai Mu Mu.

With the medicine’s help, Bai Mu Mu’s cold illness eased, and she finally managed to connect to the System.

After a round through the Disciplinary Hall, Feng He Yun and the other three came together to visit Bai Mu Mu.

At this time, they still did not know that Shen Sang Ruo had severed ties with Master Ling Xiao.

Wen Xuan fed Bai Mu Mu a special warming tonic he had made and said: “Drink up.”

“Thank you, Second Senior Brother. I already feel much better,” Bai Mu Mu answered with a gentle smile.

“From now on you will have a normal body. Your bitter days are over,” Wen Xuan said with a small curve of his lips.

The others also spoke a few caring words.

But they all seemed distracted, minds pulled elsewhere.

Bai Mu Mu had always been the center of their attention. When had she ever been treated like this?

In the past, they would have thrown a big celebration for such a recovery. Now, a faint gloom hung on their faces.

She did not even need to ask why. It was because of Shen Sang Ruo again.

Too bad their Fifth Junior Sister had asked to leave Thunder-Scale Peak herself. No matter how much they wanted to win her back, it was no use. From now on, only the five of them would remain on Thunder-Scale Peak.

Bai Mu Mu pushed down her spite and frustration and kept the perfect smile on her face.

Feng He Yun hesitated, and when the moment felt right, he asked: “Junior Sister, do you know what happened that day between Fifth Junior Sister and Master and Senior Uncle? Where did Fifth Junior Sister go?”

They only knew that the Fire-Scale Vine had been in Shen Sang Ruo’s hand. After she wrote a Confession Scroll, Master Ling Xiao drove her out.

They did not know all the details, but given the tempers of Master Ling Xiao and Shen Dao Chen, they feared they would not let Shen Sang Ruo off for hiding the Fire-Scale Vine.

They could not find Shen Dao Chen, who was busy with sect affairs, and they did not dare approach Master Ling Xiao, so they came to ask Bai Mu Mu instead.

Unable to stop himself from defending Shen Sang Ruo, Feng He Yun said: “I think Fifth Junior Sister must have had her reasons. She did not mean to keep the Fire-Scale Vine to herself. Junior Sister, you think so too, right?”

He looked at Bai Mu Mu with hope. If she forgave Shen Sang Ruo, then Master Ling Xiao and Shen Dao Chen might not pursue the matter.

Bai Mu Mu laughed inside. The same Feng He Yun who never cared about right or wrong before judging Shen Sang Ruo was now defending her. How ironic.

Fine. She would shatter their wish, so they would stop dreaming of winning Shen Sang Ruo back.

Putting on a show of surprise, she said: “Big Senior Brother, why are you still calling Senior Sister Shen ‘Fifth Junior Sister’? Do you not know she already dissolved her bond with Master?”

“What?” the four cried together.

Wen Xuan nearly dropped the bowl of tonic in his hands.

“Junior Sister, you are not joking with us, are you?” Feng He Yun forced a smile.

For them, the words “dissolve the master-disciple bond” felt both strange and far away.

They could only see Bai Mu Mu’s lips form the words. Once the words reached their minds, everything went blank.

They had never imagined Shen Sang Ruo would leave Thunder-Scale Peak. How could that be?

Bai Mu Mu asked softly: “Big Senior Brother, do you think I would lie about this?”

She did not look like she was joking.

The room fell into a strange silence. No one spoke, as if they could not accept it, stunned for a long time.

Feng He Yun wilted like a frostbitten eggplant, eyes wide with shock.

Wen Xuan pressed his lips into a tight line, his face growing a shade paler.

Since the day Shen Sang Ruo pointed at his nose and told him she had never liked him, Lu Shi Qing had grown more withdrawn. Now, hearing this, his pupils shrank sharply.

In the corner, Luo Chu said nothing, but gave Bai Mu Mu a long, odd look, as if thinking hard.

At last, Wen Xuan spoke, his voice trembling: “I will beg Master to take back his order. Thunder-Scale Peak cannot be without Little Ruo.”

He clenched his fists and rose to go find Master Ling Xiao.

“I will go with you,” Feng He Yun said, turning to follow.

Lu Shi Qing and Luo Chu spoke no words, but their steps said enough.

For the sake of the junior they had once treated the worst, the four Senior Brothers stood together for once. Even if they risked angering Master Ling Xiao, they would bring Shen Sang Ruo back to Thunder-Scale Peak.

They argued as they hurried out: “Even if Little Ruo did wrong, it does not deserve expulsion from the sect.”

“Besides, Little Ruo handed over the Fire-Scale Vine in the end. Junior Sister is almost healed. It did not cause a great loss.”

“It does not rise to the level of casting her out. Master is too harsh to Little Ruo.”

When they favored someone, they always found reasons to defend her.

But affection that comes too late is worth less than grass.

In Shen Sang Ruo’s eyes, their sudden change meant nothing.

Even now, they still believed Master Ling Xiao had driven Shen Sang Ruo out of Thunder-Scale Peak.

They never considered that Shen Sang Ruo had left of her own will.