The short disciple’s face was equally puzzled.
But as he felt the killing intent and pressure radiating from Bu Lingxuan, he realized that the person before him possessed extraordinary strength.
The tall disciple, though also confused, seemed to grasp the situation and quickly bowed in apology to the person before him.
“Se–senior, may I ask who you are… I–I meant no offense. I was merely expressing my difficulties just now.”
“Difficulties?”
Bu Lingxuan raised her eyebrow slightly.
Though she was angry, she could also tell that this tall disciple didn’t seem to be lying.
Could it be, there’s really something else going on?
While she pondered, Chen Yuyang chimed in from the side.
“Master, these two are disciples of the Pill Sect. Just now, when I was downstairs, I heard them saying they were here to find you.”
Chen Yuyang glanced at the pair with a hint of amusement.
Earlier, it was naturally he who made a move, laying a simple illusion array at the stairway.
However, his purpose was only to give them a minor punishment, since after all, they had come seeking his master for something.
Having achieved his aim, Chen Yuyang withdrew the array.
“Hmph, Pill Sect disciples? How truly rude! Though my Hehuan Sect may be a small and humble sect, it is not to be insulted by the likes of you. Speak your purpose at once, or you’ll suffer the consequences!”
Bu Lingxuan berated them, unleashing the pressure of her Unity Realm cultivation, so overwhelming that the two dared not even breathe.
“Y-yes… Senior, it was our master who sent us to invite you to the Pill Sect to discuss important matters.”
The tall disciple kept his head bowed, not daring to look up, and the short disciple was the same, all traces of their earlier arrogance gone.
“So that’s how it is…” Bu Lingxuan nodded slightly, understanding something upon hearing this.
Beside her, Chen Yuyang rose and flicked his sleeve at the two, declaring haughtily, “Very well, the message has been delivered. Now get lost.”
Only then did the tall disciple dare to lift his head and glance at the young man.
In that instant, he seemed to realize something—suspecting that this youth had played a trick on them—but dared not speak out, merely replying: “But, our master instructed us to personally invite Sect Master Bu…”
“My master has already understood. But if she is unwilling to attend, do you really mean to drag her there by force?!”
Chen Yuyang immediately snapped.
Behind him, Bu Lingxuan watched the youth, puzzled as to why he was so antagonistic towards the pair today.
But since it was Yuyang’s wish…
Bu Lingxuan cooperated, unleashing even more pressure, making it almost impossible for the two to even raise their heads.
“This… of course, we wouldn’t dare.”
The tall disciple shuddered under the pressure and quickly agreed.
“S–since the message is delivered, w–we’ll no longer trouble Senior…”
As he spoke, the tall disciple hastily began to back away.
Bu Lingxuan likewise waved her hand impatiently at the short disciple.
“Get lost! Go settle the cost of this broken door with the innkeeper yourself.”
“Y-yes!”
Both answered, hurriedly retreating.
Once they had left, Bu Lingxuan finally withdrew her pressure and turned to Chen Yuyang with a questioning look.
“Yuyang, did these two offend you somehow?”
“I suppose so. Just now downstairs, they spoke to me with great disrespect, mocking my Hehuan Sect as well. I was displeased, so I played a small trick on them.”
Bu Lingxuan came to a realization, a hint of discontent appearing on her face.
“Hmph, well done! If I’d known sooner, I’d have taught them a lesson myself.”
Though she said so, what really piqued Bu Lingxuan’s curiosity was just how Chen Yuyang had managed to make them kick down her door.
After all, Chen Yuyang had been at her side the entire time.
That kind of offending act, if not provoked, would never have occurred under normal circumstances.
Still, though she was full of curiosity, Bu Lingxuan did not press further.
Having lived with him for so long, how could she not know that Yuyang had his own little secrets?
Like the cultivation technique he practiced… it was clearly not the one she had originally given him.
His strength, too, was far beyond what it appeared to be.
And Yuyang’s alchemy skills…
Could he really have achieved third-grade standards through self-study alone?
Bu Lingxuan believed in Chen Yuyang’s talent, but certain things—such as those subtle alchemy methods and techniques—simply couldn’t be mastered without a teacher.
She’d long suspected that perhaps someone stood behind Chen Yuyang.
Now, it seemed, this possibility was not only real, but highly likely.
Yuyang might even already be in contact with this person, receiving their teachings and inheritance.
Bu Lingxuan pondered quietly, her gaze toward Chen Yuyang becoming more and more complex.
She could only hope that she herself would not be disliked by that senior behind him.
“Master, it’s almost time.”
After a while, Chen Yuyang stood up, his gaze through the window catching sight of the two Pill Sect disciples, still lingering awkwardly outside the inn, unwilling to leave.
“Since the Pill Sect seeks you, Master, perhaps you should go see them.”
Bu Lingxuan lounged in her chair and, hearing this, gently shook her head, her voice cold: “Their people look down on me, sending two such ignorant youngsters. Why should I give them any face?”
“I have come to understand, as cultivators, all we seek is to follow our own hearts.”
“If it comes to blows, I am confident I can make them pay the price—and let them know that my Hehuan Sect is not to be trifled with.”
As she spoke, a subtle yet forceful aura spread from Bu Lingxuan.
It was not violent, but carried an easy, domineering presence.
Chen Yuyang could feel his master’s change most clearly—that was the aura of someone who looked down upon the world, who would let none challenge her.
“Good!”
Upon hearing this, Chen Yuyang nodded heavily, approval clear on his face.
“Master, you are absolutely right! They were disrespectful first; why should we endure it? Your disciple supports you! If they refuse to behave, I too will help you face them!”
As time passed, outside the inn, the two Pill Sect disciples paced anxiously.
After waiting a long while with no sign of Bu Lingxuan, they could only lower their heads and leave to report back.
Within the Pill Sect’s grand hall, solemn and imposing, over a hundred powerful figures had gathered.
All were either from various sects, clans, or were the leaders of the younger generation participating in the Pill Dao Gathering.
Most eye-catching among them were Old Ancestor Yan Dangmo of the Yan family, Vice Sect Master Nie Qi of Sword Gate Mountain, and the Grand Elder Long Zhizheng of Qian Kun Sect.
Several elders of the Pill Sect stood solemnly to the side, their expressions grave.
From time to time, disciples led other sects’ representatives into the hall, and the low hum of discussion gradually grew more clamorous.
At that moment, two Pill Sect disciples hurried through the crowd to stand before the Third Elder, Tian Luoxing.
“Master! Your disciples… have shamed the sect! Please punish us!”
The short disciple immediately knelt upon seeing him, face full of grievance as he knocked his head heavily against the floor.
The tall disciple also bowed low, head hanging.
Tian Luoxing’s brow furrowed, a trace of displeasure in his eyes.
“Xuan Ze, what happened? I sent you to invite the Hehuan Sect Master, so why has she not arrived?”
“Master, your disciple… your disciple has been humiliated! Unable to defend the sect’s honor, I am deeply ashamed!”
Xuan Ze’s voice trembled, pressing his head even lower.
Tian Luoxing’s brows knit tighter, his aura darkening.
“Speak clearly! What happened?”
The tall disciple beside him opened his mouth, as if wanting to explain, but ultimately chose silence, head still bowed, his expression conflicted.
Seeing this, Xuan Ze’s sadness only deepened.
With snot and tears streaming, he began to accuse, “Master! That Hehuan Sect Master is far too arrogant!”
“Your disciples went to the inn as ordered, but that Hehuan Sect Master utterly disregarded our Pill Sect!”
“She mocked us with her words—we might have endured it, but then she insisted we kneel in greeting before she would come!”
“Your disciple kneels to the heavens and earth, to his parents, and to his master and elders, but will never kneel to the Hehuan Sect Master!”
“So she simply struck us with her palm and cast us both out of the inn!”
“Master! She wasn’t just insulting us, she was insulting our entire Pill Sect!”
Xuan Ze sobbed, banging his forehead against the ground with a dull thud.
Even as he wept, Xuan Ze secretly glanced at Tian Luoxing’s expression, seeing his master’s face turning dark with fury.
Rejoicing inwardly, he cried even louder.
The tall disciple by his side moved his lips several times as if to speak, but in the end swallowed his words.
He knew he had no background, no status.
If he spoke out of turn and something went wrong, he’d end up taking the blame.
Better to let Xuan Ze say his piece and watch the outcome.
At that moment, every gaze in the hall was drawn to the commotion.
Some looked on in amusement, others with thoughtful expressions.
Was the matter truly as Xuan Ze described?
Even if the others believed it, Tian Luoxing himself did not.
He knew his disciple’s character all too well.
Yet with these words spoken so publicly, as master, he had no choice but to back his disciple.
He had to stand up for him and clean up the mess.
Such was karma.
Moreover, if he failed to support his disciple and instead rebuked him, who would ever wish to follow him in the future?
“Intolerable!”
Tian Luoxing roared at once.
“Such arrogance from a mere Hehuan Sect! Does she think our Pill Sect has no one?”
Old Ancestor Yan Dangmo grinned, his eyes full of interest—though it was the sort of interest one has in a good show.
Yan Luo, who had accompanied her grandfather, furrowed her brows upon hearing this.
Was the Hehuan Sect truly so arrogant?
From her own experience, the Hehuan Sect did not act that way.
The reason she was previously humiliated was because she herself had provoked them.
Which meant… these Pill Sect disciples seldom spoke a word of truth.
Nie Qi remained expressionless, his sharp eyes sweeping over the kneeling Xuan Ze, thoughtful.
He knew Bu Lingxuan’s character best, and naturally recognized the boy’s lies.
But to expose him now would only embarrass the Pill Sect.
Better to intervene later, if conflict arose.
Tian Luoxing took a deep breath, then cupped his hands to the assembly with a solemn voice.
“Forgive us for making a scene. I will handle this matter myself.”
With that, Tian Luoxing turned to Xuan Ze.
“Come, lead me. I will confront the Hehuan Sect Master myself!”
Though he spoke thus, Tian Luoxing’s mind was already made up—no matter if this was true or not, he would make a show of taking it seriously, then quietly let the matter drop.
When the confrontation came, if it turned out his disciple was lying, he would find an opportunity to admonish him well.
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