Courting Death

The disciples in the hall were all shocked by her words, silently backing away a few paces.

Even Chen He's pupils shrank, his heart instantly leaping into his throat.

Everyone knew that being beaten was a sore spot that Ye Chang'an absolutely forbade anyone from touching. Had this girl lost her mind?

Ye Chang'an, however, stiffened.

The fact that Wen Tang had beaten him was common knowledge, but...

How did a newly recruited disciple like her know about Song Yao beating him?

Did Song Yao tell her?

But hadn't Song Yao died a long time ago?

The girl in front of him finished her pastry, propped herself up against the edge of the table, and slowly stood. The smile on her lips grew even wider. “What's wrong? Has Young Master Ye forgotten? Didn't you kneel and beg Third Senior Sister to stop beating you back then?”

Ye Chang'an shuddered, an involuntary shiver running down his spine.

Realizing he had actually been intimidated by a little girl, his embarrassment instantly turned into absolute rage.

With a sudden kick, he sent the long table in front of him flying with a loud crash, shattering teacups and scattering pastries all over the floor.

The sword at his waist unsheathed with a sharp shink, its chilling, cold gleam pointing straight at Song Yao's throat. “You're courting death!”

Meanwhile, in the main hall of Beiyao Sect, the leaders of the various sects were watching the situation unfold in the banquet hall.

Ninth Elder's heart tightened, and he stood up abruptly. “No, I must go take a look.”

Feng Qing stopped him with a beaming smile. “It's just children bickering. Why should we elders interfere?”

“Indeed, Brother Yun.”

Taiqing Pavilion's Great Elder, Huai Li, smiled slightly, his tone devoid of much emotion. “It's just a fight between young people. It's quite amusing. Don't spoil the fun.”

Ninth Elder was so angry he nearly spat blood.

This Ye Chang'an had been stuck at the late stage of Golden Core for a long time, just a step away from Nascent Soul. He was far stronger than the disciples from Nine Saints Hall.

If a fight really broke out, the only ones getting hurt would be the people of Nine Saints Hall.

These two old foxes were calculating, each more scheming than the other!

With his path blocked, he obviously couldn't leave.

He sat back down resentfully and glanced at Song Yao.

He didn't actually know what her true strength was, but he hadn't seen her lose yet.

If she faced Ye Chang'an, she might actually be able to trade a couple of blows.

Back in the hall.

Song Yao didn't even blink, her hand reaching back to rest on the Bishui Sword at her waist.

Although she didn't want to expose her strength, she had been their Third Senior Sister for several years, after all. She couldn't keep letting her junior brothers and sisters stand up for her.

Besides, Ye Chang'an's hatred for Nine Saints Hall was directly tied to her.

Beating him up to make him behave and shut everyone else's mouths would be a good thing, all things considered.

However, before the Bishui Sword could even leave its scabbard, a slightly cold female voice suddenly rang out from the side door. Carrying a barely perceptible stutter, it broke the tense standoff: “S-Stop!”

Chen Qingqiu stood under the corridor, her features cold and noble.

She was usually a woman of few words. Intervening in this dispute now, her voice carried a trace of nervousness, with a slight pause at the end that betrayed her awkwardness.

Hearing her voice, Ye Chang'an froze.

The fury in his eyes was quickly suppressed. With a flick of his wrist, his sword slid cleanly back into its scabbard with a flash of cold light.

Then, he glared viciously at Song Yao and lowered his voice, hissing through gritted teeth, “Just wait. I'll teach you all a lesson once we're inside!”

He quickly walked toward Chen Qingqiu, reverting to his usual carefree, playboy demeanor. He lightly supported her arm and guided her to the main seat.

Curling his lips into a playful smile, he spoke with an intentional air of intimacy, “For your sake today, I'll let them off for now. Well, Qingqiu, how do you plan to thank me?”

Chen Qingqiu quietly pulled her arm back. Lowering her gaze, she gave him a slight nod, her voice tense. “T-Thank you.”

Then, she glanced at the Beiyao Sect disciples waiting behind her.

Understanding her silent cue immediately, several disciples quickly withdrew. They deftly brought out a brand-new, jade-topped table, replaced the ruined pastries and fresh fruits with exquisite new ones, and respectfully set them before the Nine Saints Hall group.

Only then did the atmosphere completely return to normal.

The members of Nine Saints Hall let out a visible sigh of relief.

Chen He was about to warn them never to provoke Ye Chang'an again.

But Ming Ran had already thrown herself excitedly onto Song Yao. “Little Master, you're so badass! Look how angry you made Ye Chang'an!”

Song Yao held her back. “Low profile, low profile.”

Chen He: “...You can't say that. If the Saintess hadn't been here and Ye Chang'an had actually fought, we probably wouldn't have been able to stop him.”

He looked at Song Yao, his tone turning earnest. “You're a pill cultivator. You especially shouldn't provoke him. One strike of his sword would probably take half your life.”

Jiang Jin nodded in agreement. “Though you have some skills, you shouldn't have provoked him like that. If a fight really breaks out, we might not be able to protect you.”

“Idiots.”

Cheng Yue sat back down next to Song Yao and rolled her eyes at Jiang Jin. “As if he wouldn't have made a move if we hadn't fired back.”

Ming Ran: “Exactly! Worst-case scenario, we just fight. Even losing is better than being humiliated like this. If this keeps up, who would still respect Nine Saints Hall as the number one sect?”

Jiang Jin was left speechless by their back-and-forth retorts. Glaring at Chen He, he grumbled, “You're the team leader. You talk to them.”

Chen He pondered for a moment and came to a realization. “I think Junior Sister Ming makes a lot of sense. We are indeed the number one sect, and we shouldn't just let ourselves be slaughtered! Otherwise, everyone will think they can walk all over us! Besides, you're all newly recruited disciples, so there's no shame in losing a fight.”

He paused, then added, “Except for Seventh Senior Sister. She's a pill cultivator, so it's too dangerous for her.”

Jiang Jin: “...”

Fine then.

Cheng Yue suddenly thought of something and changed the subject, asking Song Yao, “By the way, how did you know Ye Chang'an was beaten by Third Senior Sister?”

“How could Ye Chang'an have been beaten by Third Senior Sister?”

Ming Ran chimed in quickly. “Didn't Third Senior Sister go through so much trouble to snatch Ye Chang'an away from Fifth Senior Sister? Why would she beat him for no reason? She probably treasured him too much for that.”

Song Yao propped up one leg and popped a grape into her mouth, replying lazily, “I made it up.”

Cheng Yue: “You made it up, and he still got that angry? Is he really that petty?”

Ming Ran: “He's always been petty. With his father being the Sect Master, he acts like a spoiled tyrant.”

Song Yao: “A spoiled tyrant? That's giving him too much credit.”

Ye Chang'an had originally thought that after threatening these wet-behind-the-ears brats, they would be shaking in their boots and too terrified to move.

Who would have thought that when he glanced back, they were still laughing and chatting away?

They even kept glancing at him from time to time, clearly whispering about him behind his back.

He had to show Chen Qingqiu some respect, so it wasn't convenient for him to make a move now. He was so furious his teeth were nearly grinding to dust.

Even the disciples of other sects were secretly marveling at this.

As expected of the three major sects. Aside from those from Nine Saints Hall and Beiyao Sect, no one else could remain so calm after opposing Ye Chang'an.

It seemed there would be a good show to watch in the Myriad Bones Forest secret realm this time.

After all the commotion, Jiang Jin remembered their actual purpose. Nudging Song Yao, he asked Chen He, “Are there any members of the Wen family among the disciples from Taiqing Pavilion?”

Chen He startled. “The Wen family? As in Fifth Senior Sister's Wen family?”

He squinted and looked toward the seats opposite them. “That one is Wen Wushuang, and that one is Wen Wumian. They should be cousin siblings.”