Chapter 51: Feeling Offended

“Master!” Lu Feiyu gazed anxiously at the pale, sickly figure lying on the bed. “Is it another bout of your heart illness?”

Shan Hongxing said nothing, accepting the medicinal broth and drinking it in one gulp. He asked casually, “What has your Uncle Wen been up to these days?”

“She already requested permission from the Eldest Senior. She said that in a few days, she’ll be taking the disciples down the mountain for training. For now, she’s been up on the mountain planting flowers.”

“Planting flowers?” That hardly seemed like something Wen Jingge would do. Just a few days ago in Maple Red Valley, she’d told him that as soon as she caught a demon, she’d send it off to Wanzhang Peak. These flowers—were they not watered with demon blood?

“Senior Sister, Eldest Senior Sister, something terrible has happened!”

“Mas—Master…” Lan Yezhou, seeing his teacher awake, immediately composed himself. “You… you’re awake?”

“What is it?” Though his face was still pale, Shan Hongxing’s tone was stern. “Haven’t I said that no one is to make a ruckus on Thunder Peak? What kind of conduct is this?”

“Yes, you are right, Master.” Lan Yezhou darted glances at Lu Feiyu, but seeing that his senior paid him no mind, he pouted, “Those people from Wanzhang Peak are simply outrageous! They came right up to our gate to challenge us!”

“Wanzhang Peak…” Shan Hongxing straightened his robes. “How did you manage to provoke them?”

“We didn’t!” Lan Yezhou stamped his foot, looking thoroughly wronged. “Really, we were just practicing, but some of their new disciples insisted on having a match. And then…”

Seeing his pitiful look, Shan Hongxing didn’t need to ask further; it was obvious. The boys on his mountain must have been outmatched and come running to Lu Feiyu to complain.

“You lost?”

“Yes.” Lan Yezhou sniffled, making Shan Hongxing frown deeply.

Was the mountain’s fortune in decline lately? Why did every new disciple grow more and more… delicate?

“Jiao Yu?”

“Huh?” Lan Yezhou was puzzled. “Jiao Yu? Who’s that?”

“Who was it that did the beating?” Lu Feiyu shot him a glare. “With Master in such a frail state, you come here to bother him, yet you don’t even know who your opponent was?”

“The third in their ranks, surnamed Yang. He brought along some female disciples from other peaks as cheerleaders.”

“What rank?” Shan Hongxing asked calmly.

He typically didn’t interfere in the affairs of children. If they were beaten, then so be it; if they were less skilled, they should simply start over.

Yet, the one who came up the mountain to stir trouble was that woman’s disciple. Even if Wen Jingge had changed her ways, after what happened in Maple Red Valley, he had no desire to see her bask in any more triumphs.

If the adults couldn’t win, surely the children could at least claim a victory.

“Greetings, Master Shan.” Yang Wennan was a boy who knew his manners. The moment Shan Hongxing appeared, he led his juniors in respectful greeting.

Shan Hongxing touched his nose. “Hello to you all.”

These three children all behaved admirably, which left him feeling heavy-hearted. Look at their disciples—bold enough to come alone and challenge others. His own disciples, after being defeated, did nothing but whine and seek backup.

Yang Wennan, for his part, noticed immediately that Shan Hongxing was unwell and felt apologetic.

He turned to Wang Xi. “What if we just don’t fight? Honestly, I only came up here for their sake.”

“Brother, since we’re here…” Wang Xi, standing behind him, tapped his back. “Look, I brought so many sisters to cheer for you. Would you really let them down? I had to bribe them with spirit stones to get them here.”

“Fine.” He was poor, his peak was poor, and his master racked his brains for spirit stones. “Tell you what, why not call Uncle Fan over and have us place some bets?”

“Oh?” Wang Xi’s eyes brightened. “Great idea! Brother, wait for me!”

“No, no, have Junior Yuan go instead. He’s not as good a fighter as you. If I can’t keep going, you’re up.”

Yuan Qingling, caught up for no reason, felt a pang in his knee. He shouldn’t have been present at all. Before Wang Xi could remember him, he quietly slipped away.

“Wow!” Wang Xi was stunned; she hadn’t even thought of playing it that way. Unaware that Yuan Qingling had gone for reinforcements, she cheered, “Great, just great. Master will be so pleased—we can win on Thunder Peak.”

“Indeed, camaraderie among men is forged in battle.” Yang Wennan nodded sagely. “See that little guy from before? He was so polite even after I beat him.”

Little guy: … I have dignity too, you know! If I wasn’t polite, would I just wait for another beating?

“I recall he wasn’t usually so talkative.”

In the end, Shan Hongxing held back from intervening. Wen Jingge might be shameless, but he would not stoop to her level. There was no need to lose his composure; just send someone the other side couldn’t possibly beat, and teach them a lesson.

Young calves do not fear tigers, but after a beating, they’ll think twice before seeking trouble.

On the stage stood his proud disciple, Lu Feiyu, the eldest of Thunder Peak, facing Yang Wennan.

This boy, Shan Hongxing remembered him. During the selection trials in the outer mountains, the light in his eyes was unmistakable—he’d sworn to become Shan’s disciple. But after Wen Jingge returned from an illusion realm, all the disciples fought to enter Wanzhang Peak.

Back then, he’d been silent and reliable, but after barely half a month on Wanzhang Peak, he’d come out changed—restless and impulsive.

“Senior Sister, you should aim for my left side.”

Lu Feiyu ignored him and thrust to the right. Sure enough, he dodged left, and her strike missed.

“Senior Sister, I told you—left. Watch, I’ll go left again.”

Lu Feiyu continued to ignore his advice. Fortunately for Yang Wennan, she hadn’t actually attacked during the match, only dodged. If this had been a real duel, she’d have been ambushed and killed by now.

“Senior Sister, look, I’m going left again!”

“Enough chatter. If I hurt you, don’t blame me!” Lu Feiyu’s gaze was icy as she stared at him. Seeing the smugness on Yang Wennan’s face, she longed to wipe it away herself. “Fight properly. Don’t use any underhanded tricks.”

“No, you don’t understand.” Yang Wennan shook his head and pointed at himself. “Senior Sister, look at me—”

Lu Feiyu’s sword shot out, her energy condensed into a dragon that roared toward Yang Wennan. But this time—

Her blade’s intent was to the left, while Yang Wennan’s hand was to the right. “Aha! Success!”

“You! You’re despicable!” Lu Feiyu found herself unable to move, her face flushed red with anger. “Despicable! Shameless! You’re a sword cultivator! Why are you using talismans?”

Attached to her body was a Binding Talisman, already taking effect. Ordinary talismans would burn away instantly, especially for someone at her level who had just crossed the threshold to the sixth rank. She could have dispelled them in a heartbeat.

But this talisman had merged with her body; it would take at least an hour to break it naturally.

In full view of the crowd, as the chief disciple of Thunder Peak, she had been utterly humiliated.

“Um…” Yang Wennan hesitated, glancing at Wang Xi for reassurance. Only after receiving it did he say, “Senior Sister, it’s true I’m a sword cultivator, but I’ve been studying talismans lately too!”

Lu Feiyu: …

“We only agreed to a match; there were no rules about what we could use!” He fished around on his person. “Master knows so many techniques. As his disciple, I have to work hard to keep up! I drew all these myself. The talisman cultivators here can see me draw them live.”

Shan Hongxing pressed a hand to his forehead, thoroughly exasperated.