Chapter 25
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Chapter 25: Title
"Young Master!"
Guilty disciples dropped to their knees instantly.
Others, believing they weren’t the ringleaders, mustered false righteousness. A disciple in the front row eyed Ye Qingshang, crafting an accusation.
"Young Master, this Frostbite Sect member organized the betting! We only gambled because she incited us! It wasn’t intentional! Don’t be deceived by appearances!"
"Yes, Young Master! We meant no harm!"
"Young Master! This Frostbite Sect woman led it! She won the most! Look closely!"
*Hopeless.* These fools wouldn’t admit defeat until facing utter defeat, daring to defy the Young Master. Qiao Ren offered silent pity.
Mu Huaiyun tilted his chin slightly, his expression as solemn as a judge presiding over a high court. Moon’s Shadow materialized in his grasp. A mere flick of his wrist summoned an unfelt wind, etching a deep scar into the platform floor.
"A gamble is a gamble. The instigator changes nothing. You dare act, yet lack the spine to own it? Shifting blame onto others? Since when do Yunshan Sect disciples resort to such pathetic sophistry?"
Moon’s Shadow’s spiritual power flowed, making his gaze appear colder. Many front-row disciples couldn’t withstand the pressure, stumbling backward in disarray.
He announced his final decision: "All Yunshan Sect disciples present today who participated in betting or provoked trouble shall report to Elder Feng for punishment. And you, Qiao Ren, carefully tally the punished. If one is missing, you’ll take their place."
"Yes… Young Master," Qiao Ren forced out. He felt thoroughly wronged and regretful. Why did he set up that sparring platform? Why target Ye Qingshang and provoke everyone? Now he’d offended the Young Master, and counting the punished would make enemies of all.
He sighed deeply—today’s visit to the training ground was a mistake.
Walking gloomily, he saw Senior Brother Yin push past from the back rows, deliberately bumping into him with pretended carelessness.
Dizzy, Qiao Ren wanted to complain when he spotted his Young Master nearby. Mu Huaiyun’s voice was calm now, his expression unexpectedly softened.
"I heard you won the most?"
Ye Qingshang tilted her chin toward the betting table. "See for yourself. All winnings."
"Acceptable," Mu Huaiyun acknowledged. "Yunshan Sect has rules. As our guest, you must follow them. No more gambling."
"Relax. Yunshan Sect bans gambling—you think Frostbite Sect permits it? Just a momentary whim. Won’t happen again."
Leaning closer conspiratorially, she added, "But earlier… were you praising me?"
"You misheard."
"The mighty Yunshan Sect Young Master won’t own his words?" She threw his own phrasing back at him. He averted his eyes. "It’s just praise, not marching to execution. Why hesitate?"
Receiving only silence, she shook her head. Pride would be his downfall. "Fine. I’ll pretend I misheard. Leaving now."
As Ye Qingshang walked halfway across, pulling Mu Huaiyun along by the hand, Qiao Ren witnessed it all. He wished he could gouge his eyes out.
Who could explain why their always-composed, unapproachable Young Master let an outsider from Frostbite Sect lead him by the hand without resistance?
*
The month flew by. On Ye Qingshang’s departure day, luggage packed, she spotted Mu Huaiyun waiting outside her door.
Their daily joint cultivation for spiritual weapon integration had made separation jarring. Ye Qingshang dreaded her spiritual power failing without him, fueling her irritation.
She lashed out: "Why stand there? I’m leaving. Nothing to say?"
Mu Huaiyun blinked, baffled. "Shall I… see you off?"
Ye Qingshang shook her head. Is this guy an idiot?
Before she could retort, a disciple rushed over, frantic.
"Young Master! Disaster!" The messenger gasped. "Yin Huai… appeared below the mountain! Chaos in Xingzhou!"
"What?!"
Mu Huaiyun knew of Yin Huai’s appearance—why Mu Shezhi had summoned him days prior. The sect leader planned to personally lead demon-slaying, entrusting sect affairs to Mu Huaiyun and the elders.
This ancient beast should’ve been extinct since the ancestral wars millennia ago. Its resurgence defied reason.
Initial signs were faint; scarce clues prevented confirmation. To avoid panic, Mu Shezhi covertly descended with several elders under false pretenses.
Yet with their combined strength, chaos should never have reached Xingzhou City. That it did meant this Yin Huai was exceedingly troublesome.
"Immediately assemble one hundred elite disciples," Mu Huaiyun ordered. "We descend to secure the city’s safety."
"Wait!" Ye Qingshang grabbed his arm. "Let me request reinforcements first."
Seeing his confusion, she formed a spiritual array without explanation, urgently transmitting the plea to her sect.
Perhaps she had been too comfortable lately, causing her to forget past experiences and even overlook Xingzhou’s chaos.
In her previous life, she’d also heard of Xingzhou’s turmoil upon returning to her sect. Filled with fervor, she descended the mountain with Mu Huaiyun, serving as free labor for Yunshan Sect.
She knew of Yin Huai, but initially assumed it matched ancient records. Only after descending did they discover the Yin Huai in Xingzhou possessed terrifying power—having survived millennia, it far surpassed any existing demon.
Their group underestimated the threat and got played by Yin Huai, stumbling into traps with casualties. The survivors became trapped for days, missing the chance to save civilians. This led to Quan Village at Xingzhou’s border being nearly wiped out.
Nearly three thousand lives…
"I pray our call for aid arrives in time."
Ye Qingshang watched Yunshan Sect’s barrier slowly open, her expression growing graver.
