Chapter 377
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This chapter is edited by Bakhtawar Kakar. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 377: Five Elders!
Xu Jiahui immediately recognized the old man before her—Mei Huaye.
She had once caught a glimpse of this elder from afar during a grand ceremony at the Divine Sword School. Mei Huaye was a revered elder of the school, known as a formidable and fearsome warrior. Wherever he went, even the most prominent figures treated him with the utmost respect and awe.
“Elder Mei, Su Yi is not here,” Xu Jiahui said, her voice trembling slightly. She dared not hide anything from this esteemed elder. However, she couldn’t help but wonder why Elder Mei had come to the Thirty-Sixth Sword Peak. Had Su Yi caused trouble so severe that it had alarmed even the elders?
“Where did Su Yi go?” Mei Huaye’s hazel eyes gleamed sharply as his brows furrowed at her response.
“In the dead of night, running up to the Thirty-Sixth Sword Peak… Elder Mei, you certainly seem full of enthusiasm.”
As these words fell, a figure silently appeared. His thin, wrinkled cheeks and flowing white beard gave him the air of an immortal with a Daoist temperament. It was none other than Elder Yu Changqing.
“Elder Mei looks in high spirits!”
Almost immediately, another voice chimed in. Several figures appeared in the courtyard. Among them was an old man with a coiled bun atop his head and striking silver eyebrows, followed by a handsome middle-aged man whose sharp, obsidian-like eyes exuded a commanding aura.
Lastly, an elderly woman appeared with a kind yet weathered visage. Her silver hair partially draped over her face, lending her an air of mystery and grace. Despite her age, her radiant complexion reflected vitality and wisdom.
The group consisted of Yu Changqing, Lv Baimai, Shangguan Hu, and Elder Duan Yuerong.
“Did you all come for the same reason?”
Upon the arrival of the four elders, Mei Huaye remained unsurprised. A faint furrow appeared on his brow, though he quickly masked it. Still, their swift arrival seemed to irritate him slightly.
Xu Jiahui and the other disciples knelt trembling, too terrified to lift their heads.
The oppressive aura of the five elders filled the space, enveloping it in a suffocating void. It felt as if ten thousand mountains had collapsed upon their hearts, making it difficult to breathe or circulate their inner energies.
For the outer disciples of the Thirty-Sixth Sword Peak, such an encounter was unimaginable. Normally, their status was so low that even stewards rarely paid them any attention. Seeing a protector was a rarity, and meeting an elder was entirely out of reach. Yet tonight, five elders had all gathered in one place.
“If we hadn’t come, would we have let all the benefits fall into your hands?”
Elder Lv Baimai cast a dissatisfied glance at Mei Huaye before turning his sharp gaze to the kneeling outer disciples, including Xu Jiahui.
“It seems we all share the same purpose,” Mei Huaye remarked calmly, though his piercing gaze carried a subtle undercurrent of anger.
“I don’t know why you all have come. Whether it’s to see Elder Su or search for a few named disciples…”
Lv Baimai’s expression darkened as he sternly declared, “I came because of an outer disciple named Su Yi. It’s said that this disciple is audacious and reckless. Just yesterday, he seriously injured an inner disciple from my Sword Peak at the Sword Hall. Such insolence cannot go unpunished. I must discipline him personally!”
“Hehe, how fortunate for that inner disciple to warrant Elder Lv’s personal intervention,” Shangguan Hu said with a faint smile. His tone made it clear he believed Lv Baimai was exaggerating the situation.
“Enough with the pretenses,” Duan Yuerong interjected, her voice firm. “I’m sure we’re all here for the same reason. But let’s not forget—this is the Thirty-Sixth Sword Peak!”
At these words, the gazes of the elders subtly shifted, their expressions varying slightly.
“Take it easy. It’s just an outer disciple. You know Elder Su never accepts disciples,” Lv Baimai muttered under his breath.
“If the rumors are true, allowing him to remain at the Thirty-Sixth Sword Peak would indeed be a loss for the Divine Sword School,” Yu Changqing remarked thoughtfully.
“Whether the rumors hold any truth will naturally be revealed after verification,” Shangguan Hu said calmly.
“Hmph!” Elder Mei Huaye snorted disdainfully, his eyes flashing with scorn as he listened to Elder Duan Yuerong.
Elder Duan Yuerong, unfazed by Mei Huaye’s reaction, turned to Elder Yu Changqing with a serene smile on her face. “It seems we all share the same goal after all.”
When her words faded, she addressed the trembling disciples, including Xu Jiahui and the others kneeling below. “You may all rise and respond. There is no need for excessive politeness.”
“Thank you, Elder!”
Xu Jiahui trembled as she struggled to her feet. It felt as though a hundred thousand mountains were pressing down on her, making it nearly impossible to stand upright. Even when she finally managed to rise, she bent forward and lowered her gaze, unable to look directly at the elders.
“Is Su Yi here?” Elder Duan Yuerong asked, her voice calm but commanding.
“Elder, Su Yi has recently gone into seclusion at Divine Sword Cliff,” Xu Jiahui replied. She dared not hide anything but felt a deep unease gnawing at her heart. What trouble had Su Yi caused to summon the attention of five elders? This could spell disaster.
“Divine Sword Cliff!”
The elders’ expressions briefly shifted, their surprise evident upon hearing Xu Jiahui’s answer.
“Ah, since Elder Su is not here, I suppose I will return another time to visit him,” Yu Changqing said. His gaze darkened, and with a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left without hesitation.
“This Su Yi isn’t here? Then I’ll deal with him when I return next time,” Elder Lv Baimai grumbled before hastily departing, clearly unwilling to linger behind Elder Yu Changqing.
Elder Mei Huaye and Elder Shangguan Hu exchanged a glance but left in silence, their figures disappearing into the night.
Only Elder Duan Yuerong remained, her expression dark as she lingered. Turning to Xu Jiahui, she asked, “What is your name?”
“Elder, my name is Xu Jiahui,” Xu Jiahui replied nervously, too afraid to meet the elder’s gaze.
“Xu Jiahui,” Elder Duan Yuerong murmured, her discerning eyes fixed on the young disciple. After a moment, she asked, “How old are you, and how long have you been at the Divine Sword School?”
“I’m almost sixteen years old, and I’ve been studying at the Divine Sword School for over four years,” Xu Jiahui answered truthfully.
“There aren’t many disciples at the Divine Sword School who enter at such a young age,” Elder Duan Yuerong observed, still scrutinizing Xu Jiahui closely. Considering her age and years of training, Xu Jiahui must have joined the school before the age of twelve.
The Divine Sword School typically recruited disciples around the age of fourteen or fifteen. It was rare for someone as young as eleven or twelve to gain admission unless they had unique circumstances.
“I was able to enter the Divine Sword School because my family elders were formerly outer disciples,” Xu Jiahui explained.
As soon as she finished speaking, a sudden burst of light illuminated the area. A hand, glowing with an unstoppable force, appeared out of nowhere and pressed firmly against her forehead.
