"Such clamor and frivolity, such unseemly behavior—what kind of decorum is this?"
A stern rebuke descended from the sky, roaring like thunder.
Thousands of disciples trembled in their hearts and fell silent simultaneously.
Looking up, they saw over ten streaks of white light arc across the sky, drawing nearer like falling meteors before landing on the high platform in the square.
The crowd bowed in respect while gazing with envy.
Those figures wore black robes and tall white hats, their color scheme strictly black and white. One of them announced loudly, "Welcome the Elder of the Discipline Hall—"
Elder Liu, who had just reprimanded the crowd, took his seat first. Behind him, over ten disciples stood attentively, their movements so uniform they resembled marionettes on strings.
"Welcome the Elder of the Enforcement Hall—"
Another stir rippled through the crowd as the outer sect disciples bowed again, parting like tides to clear a path.
A group of cultivators in dark blue martial attire with crimson armbands emerged from the crowd.
Elder Li led the way, hands clasped behind his back as he ascended the platform. Seven or eight disciples followed, wearing long swords at their waists, their expressions as cold and severe as their elder's.
After both factions were seated, the deacons hurried over in disarray, clustering around Zhao Yuping as he took his seat. Their brown robes appeared slightly messy, their faces pale with exhaustion.
Having missed the central seat, Zhao Yuping inwardly cursed Song Qianji and Meng Heze ten thousand times over.
"Deacon Zhao must be overwhelmed with important matters," Elder Li of the Enforcement Hall remarked with veiled sarcasm.
Zhao Yuping studied the other's expression before replying mildly, "You may not be aware, Elders, but two outer sect disciples failed to return last night. We were just searching for them, which caused some delay."
Elder Li frowned at this. With thousands of outer sect disciples, it was common for a few to go missing, die accidentally, or desert the mountain each year. Since when did Zhao Yuping genuinely care?
Elder Liu of the Discipline Hall said coldly, "The examination proceeds as scheduled. Absence is considered forfeiture. We won't wait for latecomers."
Zhao Yuping smiled. "But these two are among the finest talents in the outer sect, with great potential to enter the Inner Sect today."
Deacon Li behind him quickly chimed in: "Deacon Zhao, as head of the Deacon Hall, has always been impartial and talent-loving. He truly can't bear to see them miss this opportunity..."
Elder Li had heard enough and nearly retorted, but changed his words at the last moment: "Which two disciples are they?Where there's abnormality, there must be trickery—let's see what scheme that scoundrel Zhao is brewing.
Zhao Yuping: "Song Qianji and Meng Heze. Do you recognize them?"
Never heard of them!
The outer sect disciples are your responsibility—how should I know them?!
Both elders inwardly cursed, but outwardly nodded repeatedly with feigned realization:
"Ah, so it's those two!"
"They are indeed promising sprouts!"
Zhao Yuping's mind was unsettled, suspecting everyone of plotting against him.
He suddenly stood and declared loudly: "Everyone, the deacon on night patrol at the outer sect dormitories just reported to me that Song Qianji and Meng Heze left late last night and haven't returned. Although the sect is protected by the Grand Formation, it only guards against external enemies, not deep mountain monsters. I believe only grave danger could have made them late for the examination."
He paused, pressing his hand downward to quiet the erupting murmurs below, then raised his voice again:
"Don't worry, everyone! Lives are at stake—the Deacon Hall won't stand by idly. We'll reorganize the examination only after confirming their safety. What does everyone think?"
His words poured like cold water into hot oil, causing the platform below to boil over with renewed uproar.The elder on the stage was dumbfounded. What madness had seized this Zhao fellow? Wasn't it too late to start building a persona of caring for disciples now?
Could it be that Zhao Jiheng wasn’t actually a descendant of his clan, but merely a decoy, while these two were the real relatives? Had he gone mad with worry the moment they went missing?
Zhao Yuping was quite pleased with himself. Bet you didn’t see this coming—strike first to gain the upper hand, strike second and be controlled by others:
"The Deacon Hall and Discipline Hall have always been righteous and principled. I trust the two of you will have no objections."
The two elders exchanged silent glances. Regardless of Zhao Yuping’s motives, his move had already positioned him as the epitome of benevolence and righteousness.
Even if the Outer Sect’s fairness, justice, and transparency were merely superficial, they had to be executed flawlessly to convince the majority and ensure compliance with the rules.
The disciples below the stage were in an uproar, some already shouting:
"Senior Brother Meng never associated with Song Luo! How could they have gone missing together? It must be that Song Luo who harmed him! Afraid of losing to Senior Brother Meng today, he resorted to such despicable means!"
"Don’t panic! Let’s help search for them. Senior Brother Meng is blessed—he’ll surely overcome any danger!"
Though both had disappeared simultaneously, their reputations were polar opposites. In no time, Song Qianji was already presumed to be the perpetrator, with a trial in the Trial Hall seeming imminent.
Zhao Yuping let out a long sigh of relief.
With this groundwork laid, anyone who tried to accuse him would be easily dismissed as making false charges and presenting fabricated evidence. Moreover, when it came to searching for the missing, if his people found them first, he could eliminate them without delay.
He took a deep breath. "Then, as I’ve arranged, for today, we shall temporarily—"
"I found them!" A loud shout erupted from the edge of the square.
The voice was extremely familiar, brimming with fervor and resonating powerfully through the mountains:
"Song Qianji and Meng Heze are here—"
Zhao Yuping’s vision darkened, his breath caught in his chest, and he nearly fainted.
The one shouting, adorned in brocade robes and a jade crown, exuding an air of wealth and nobility, was none other than Zhao Jiheng.
※※※
Zhao Jiheng had not been drunk the previous night.
He had reserved the entire Spring Breeze Bliss Pavilion at the foot of Hua Wei Mountain, treating his fellow Outer Sect disciples to drinks and music.
A wealthy young man like him never lacked companions to flatter him.
Fresh flowers, strong liquor, beauties as soft as pillows, golden cups, jade cups, and crystal goblets.
Compared to Zhao Jiheng’s extravagance and generosity, his arrogant temper was hardly worth mentioning.
While everyone else drank themselves into a stupor, he, unusually restrained, only sipped lightly, his gaze clear and sharp.
Before dawn, beautiful maidservants entered to attend to him.
He bathed, was perfumed with incense, dressed, donned his sword, and had his hair combed and tied up with a crown.
Zhao Jiheng caressed the smooth cheek of a beauty and sighed, "It’s so comfortable living here. It feels just like home."
"Immortal Zhao, you mustn’t forget about me," the beauty teased, reaching out to cling to him playfully, but he gently brushed her away.
"No more games. I have serious matters to attend to today.The Outer Sect dormitories were crude and simple, and he regarded them as pigsties and dog kennels, rarely spending the night there. After completing his daily training, he would gather his friends and rush down the mountain, spending every night in the pleasure quarters.
But it didn’t matter. This lifestyle was soon coming to an end. His uncle had already made the arrangements. After today, he would enter the Inner Sect.
He would ascend to the celestial palace in the sky, study the supreme Esoteric Arts, and become someone above all others.
Today was his grand day.
Zhao Jiheng put on his most magnificent Magic Robe and carried his most valuable Magical Artifacts.
He looked at himself in the mirror, tilting his chin up slightly, feeling proud and full of ambition.
"Let’s go!" he called out.
Doors upstairs swung open one after another as the Outer Sect disciples who had stayed overnight rushed out, adjusting their robes and headpieces as they hurried downstairs to follow Zhao Jiheng.For a moment, the stairs creaked and the floorboards trembled.
The sycophants' boastful flattery, the courtesans' earnest pleas to stay, and the farewell songs accompanied by pipa music—the entire Spring Breeze Pavilion instantly awoke, boiling into a cacophony just before dawn.
Zhao Jiheng, surrounded by his entourage, stepped through the doorway amidst the clamor.
No sooner had his foot touched the ground than a cloud of dust rushed toward him, accompanied by a frantic shout: "Wait!"
The man wore the uniform of a Huawel Sect deacon, his expression anxious. Zhao Jiheng frowned, a bad feeling settling in his gut.
With the city's buildings packed tightly together, using Sword Kinesis Flight to search for someone was impractical. The deacon sent down the mountain had to rely on his Light Body Technique, rushing breathlessly through every brothel and tavern in town before finally finding this place. Before he could even catch his breath, he pulled Zhao Jiheng aside and whispered urgently:
"Young Master Zhao, you can't go! Things have changed! Deacon Zhao instructed you to find a quiet place and lay low for now!"
※※※
An overnight rain had washed the spring mountains even greener this morning.
The dawn breeze carried a slight chill, and white mist surged like ocean tides. The mountain path was slippery and rugged.
Meng Heze moved as if his feet never touched the ground, carrying Song Qianji on his back as he leaped over every patch of moss. Like a nimble bird, he soared straight toward the depths of the valley.
They had already left Broken Mountain Cliff and taken a secluded, rarely traveled path.
Song Qianji said, "My injury is on my arm, not my legs."
Meng Heze smiled sheepishly. "Senior Brother Song, I'm still not very familiar with the Light Body Technique you taught me. I thought I'd use this chance to practice with some added weight."
Song Qianji, now a human sandbag, had nothing to say.
As they leaped and landed rapidly, the morning light pierced through the dripping pine branches, shining directly into their faces and making Song Qianji squint slightly.
"Wait." Song Qianji suddenly patted Meng Heze's shoulder.
Meng Heze had been completely focused on his Light Body Technique and hadn't noticed their surroundings. Though he tried to stop, momentum carried him forward another dozen zhang. He only managed to steady himself after rounding a bend in the mountain path.
"What is it, Senior Brother Song?"
Too late. Song Qianji sighed inwardly.
Zhao Jiheng trudged up the mountain, his wide sleeves flapping noisily.
Zhao Yuping had told him to find a quiet place, so of course he couldn't stay in the city. After all, he was quite famous in the pleasure districts, and wherever he went, he'd receive enthusiastic hospitality.
His only option was to go up the mountain, and he could only take secluded paths.
The wind rustled through the forest sea, birds chirped cheerfully, and behind him, seven or eight Outer Sect disciples—his trusted lackeys—took turns creatively cursing on his behalf:
"That Song Qianji and Meng Heze obviously know they're no match for Senior Brother Zhao. They're too ashamed to show their faces and have gone into hiding."
"Why should the assessment be postponed just because they're hiding? There's no comparison—the Inner Sect spot should rightfully be Senior Brother Zhao's!"
"Shut up!" Zhao Jiheng knew why his uncle had told him to lay low, but he couldn't explain. His face pale with anger, he gritted his teeth:
"If I run into those two bastards..."
Before he could finish, the mountain path curved, and Zhao Jiheng instinctively looked up.
Both parties froze at the sight of each other.
The main road was wide and open, yet they hadn't taken it.
Here in the deep mountains, on this narrow path, enemies crossed paths.
"Ah!" Zhao Jiheng jumped up, pointing at Meng Heze's nose. "Well, well! You—you two really aren't dead!"
Meng Heze said coldly, "Thanks to you, I'm hard to kill."
Zhao Jiheng thought, Didn't you two jump off the cliff together? What are you doing here?
Meng Heze thought, Weren't you the chosen one? Shouldn't you be at the square showcasing your skills? What are you doing here?
Zhao Jiheng tentatively asked, "Song Qianji, aren't you going to the assessment?""
Song Qianji: "No, I'm injured. Would you mind asking for leave on our behalf?"
His expression was calm, his tone matter-of-fact, as if he were simply asking a classmate to bring him back some food.Zhao Jiheng instinctively nodded in agreement, then suddenly snapped back to reality: "Nonsense! When did you get injured? Since when are you two so close?"
The outer sect disciples behind him refused to be outdone, clamoring in a cacophony:
"Because of you two, the assessment was postponed, delaying Senior Brother Zhao's path to immortality! Can you bear that responsibility?"
Meng Heze shouted sharply, "What do you think you're doing?!"
Ever since learning the techniques taught by Song Qianji and obtaining the high-grade magical artifact, the Spirit Jade prayer beads, he had gained immense confidence.
His furious outburst carried extraordinary momentum, actually forcing the crowd to step back.
But Song Qianji had no interest in children squabbling like pulling hair ornaments—he was only interested in going down the mountain to farm.
He patted Meng Heze's shoulder, signaling the youth to calm down, and said gently:
"Junior Brother Zhao, as you can see, I can't even walk now and have to rely on Junior Brother Meng to carry me. This clearly shows I have no fate with the Inner Sect. Let's just forget about it this time."
Zhao Jiheng stared at him as if he'd seen a ghost.
Who was Song Qianji? The Huawel Sect's number one striving maniac in the Outer Sect, famous throughout!
Zhao Jiheng knew even better just how far Song Qianji would go to get ahead this time.
The more he refused to go now, the more it seemed like he was preparing some sinister scheme.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Zhao Jiheng sneered. "Severely injured, you say? Can't move, you say? Even if I have to carry you up in a sedan chair today, I'll get you up there!"
He suddenly waved his hand, "Someone!"
Seven or eight outer sect disciples swarmed forward.
※※※
"I've brought him!"
The bustling square fell into brief silence at Zhao Jiheng's loud shout.
All outer sect disciples turned to look.
Bathed in the morning sun, breeze, and countless stares, Zhao Jiheng felt he had accomplished a earth-shaking deed:
"Behold—"
Four outer sect disciples carried a vermilion lounge chair in unison.
They marched forward confidently, chests out and heads high, steps steady.
Meng Heze followed closely beside them, expression guarded, poised in a protective stance.
Sprawled across the cushioned lounge chair was none other than Song Qianji.
Paraded all the way through the crowd with extravagant display, he might as well have been in a public shaming procession.
The square fell dead silent. With mouths agape, nearly a thousand shocked gazes pierced through him like sieves.
Song Qianji's face remained expressionless, his heart utterly desolate.
To suffer like this even after rebirth—did this world have any sense of reason?
OpenNovel