Chapter Eighty-Six: Entanglements
Without waiting for his question, Qu Yiqiu smiled and offered an answer.
“Do you still remember the promise from Master Luo during the turmoil in Qunan City last time? The one where he offered an extra reward in the form of a sect master’s pledge?”
Zhou Chen’s expression froze, but then he understood. “Senior Sister, are you planning to use that promise to protect Little Ping Peak?”
“Protect?” Qu Yiqiu arched her brow with a mysterious smile. “You could say that. Now, our Little Ping Peak is going to lose a little of its strength.”
A little? Zhou Chen sniffed lightly. This was far more than just a little...
As they spoke, they instinctively ignored Mu Yunjin standing nearby.
Mu Yunjin lifted his head slightly, his jawline exquisitely defined, star-like eyes swiftly flashing with a trace of crimson fierceness.
He fluttered his thick lashes, feigning innocence as he asked, “Senior Sister Qu, what are you and Senior Brother Zhou talking about? Who is destroying our formation?”
Qu Yiqiu raised her slender, jade-like fingers and tucked a stray lock of his hair behind his ear with gentle solemnity. “What we’re discussing isn’t important. What matters is what I told you yesterday—be sure not to let them notice anything.”
Zhou Chen stood beside them, bewildered, clearly feeling this was not something he should ask about.
The warmth of her fingertip brushed Mu Yunjin’s ear, making his heart tremble and his entire being taut as a drawn bowstring. If that jade hand lingered a moment longer, he felt he might lose control and leap up with joy.
Mu Yunjin’s cheeks flushed scarlet, an inexplicable light flickering in his eyes.
Qu Yiqiu paused, then patted his shoulder. “No need to be nervous, junior brother. With me here, this will all pass quickly.”
She understood that for Mu Yunjin, this was his first time lying, and facing the old foxes like Luo Tangyu was no easy task.
But his cultivation at the early Foundation Establishment stage was simply too outstanding. If they didn’t cover it up, Mu Yunjin’s identity as a dragon would soon be exposed.
This was the disciple Mo Qingli had saved, the junior brother she cared for. She would never let others from Tianyan Sect lay a hand on him.
Before Mu Yunjin could reply, Zhou Chen diverted their attention.
“Senior Sister Qu, Senior Brother Mu, look! Sect Master Luo is coming!” Zhou Chen, in his excitement, nearly tripped over himself.
Qu Yiqiu looked up to see Luo Tangyu standing face-to-face with Hong Bingyin, seemingly engaged in conversation.
Seeing this, Qu Yiqiu flicked her sleeve, opened the formation passage, and rode the icy rainbow ribbon to their side.
In the span of a few breaths, Zhou Chen saw Qu Yiqiu already beside them, so startled his jaw nearly dropped.
“H-how did Senior Sister Qu get over there?” Zhou Chen stammered, pointing at her.
But no one answered him.
Hong Bingyin, seeing Qu Yiqiu standing tall and graceful after years apart, barked, “Get down! This is no place for you!”
Luo Tangyu’s face darkened. He said sternly, “I asked her to come. This is Little Ping Peak—why shouldn’t she stand here?”
Normally, Luo Tangyu would not have dared be so curt with Hong Bingyin, but today’s matter was out of hand, and Mo Qingli’s absence from Little Ping Peak could not be revealed.
Hong Bingyin narrowed his eyes, staring meaningfully at Luo Tangyu. “Even now, Sect Master Luo, do you still not see the true situation within the Tianyan Sect?”
His words, as always, carried a veiled threat.
A look of embarrassment flashed across Luo Tangyu’s face, but he forced himself to appear calm. “Peak Master Hong, precisely because I see the contributions Little Ping Peak has made in recent years, I came here to stop you from acting rashly!”
Hong Bingyin hadn’t grasped his meaning when Qu Yiqiu interrupted bluntly, “Sect Master Luo, I request this be handled according to the rules. Any damage caused by Peak Master Hong to Little Ping Peak should be investigated in the sect’s main hall.”
“This is none of your concern—bring out that useless Mo Qingli!” With a sweep of his wide sleeve, Hong Bingyin tried to knock Qu Yiqiu down.
Luo Tangyu’s face darkened; he coldly cast a spell to shield her.
“Peak Master Hong, is it not shameful enough to make such a scene in front of so many disciples? Or do you intend to kill Peak Master Mo’s first disciple before me as well?”
Hong Bingyin stopped abruptly, giving Luo Tangyu a mocking sidelong glance. “Impressive, Sect Master Luo. You actually dare shield the people of Little Ping Peak. Since you want me to take this to the main hall, let’s go together!”
He turned into a streak of light and vanished.
Luo Tangyu’s expression was grim as he summoned a spectral hand, grabbing Mu Yunjin, Zhou Chen, Zhao Wen, and Huang Lan, pulling Qu Yiqiu along as well.
Inside the main hall, Hong Bingyin sprawled carelessly on the seat to the right, showing no regard for Luo Tangyu.
Luo Tangyu’s face looked strained; hands clasped behind his back, he ignored Hong Bingyin and ascended the central dais, trying to maintain his dignity.
“Speak. What exactly happened to make you come to blows like this?”
Hong Bingyin chuckled coldly, his eyes frosty as ice. “Where is Mo Qingli? Does he think he can fob me off with these useless juniors?”
Zhao Wen and Huang Lan flushed in embarrassment.
They were elite disciples from Nine Swords Peak—when had anyone ever called them useless?
Both were seething, but facing Hong Bingyin, they were too intimidated to respond. They could only kneel before Luo Tangyu and plead, “Sect Master, please see clearly! We’ve done nothing—we aren’t disciples of Little Ping Peak!”
What rotten luck—they’d been dragged into this by Little Ping Peak!
Huang Lan secretly grumbled. She’d warned that they’d be dragged down by Little Ping Peak, but Zhao Wen hadn’t listened. If only they’d left sooner, they wouldn’t be kneeling here now, being insulted as useless!
“Hmph, and you still call yourselves disciples of Nine Swords Peak? When did Su Xichen ever raise such useless disciples to be servants for Little Ping Peak?”
Hong Bingyin glanced at them with scorn, the derision at his lips cutting deep.
Zhao Wen and Huang Lan’s faces turned sallow, their chests heaving with humiliation.
Unable to bear it, Huang Lan reflexively protested, “We are not Little Ping Peak’s servants, just assigned as labor disciples for a few months!”
Hong Bingyin burst out laughing. “Su Xichen’s disciples serving as menials for Little Ping Peak? Have this pair of brothers already let go of their grudges and reconciled?”
At the mention of Su Xichen and Mo Qingli’s relationship, everyone’s expression in the hall shifted, and the atmosphere froze instantly.
Luo Tangyu quickly changed the subject. “What this sect master is asking about is the matter between Little Ping Peak and Vast Acres Peak. Zhao Wen, Huang Lan, both of you keep quiet! Qu Yiqiu, explain what your Little Ping Peak did to provoke Peak Master Hong’s wrath.”
Zhao Wen and Huang Lan, unjustly scolded, could only slink aside with crestfallen faces.
“Reporting to Sect Master, the anger of Peak Master Hong was not caused by Little Ping Peak,” Qu Yiqiu replied with dignified composure.
Her manner seemed to restore a bit of face for Luo Tangyu. He looked pleased, though his tone remained stern: “If not by Little Ping Peak, then by whom?”
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