The sounds of discussion reached Liu Changhe's ears, making his mood even more complicated.
On one hand, his son’s realistic acting—driven by his fear of itching—had, to some extent, fooled many people. It achieved the desired effect of appearing forced, thereby preserving the face of the Water Moon Sect.
But on the other hand, seeing his son being pitied by so many and even believed to have suffered a great injustice didn't sit well with him as a father.
He could only maintain a dark expression and force himself to stay calm, responding to Rong Yuying's probing with a cold snort: "My son's incompetence and his falling under the control of others has made me a laughingstock before Sect Leader Rong!"
The frustration in his voice was quite genuine.
Feng Yi took in the reactions of everyone on the high platform, understanding the situation perfectly.
He naturally knew his disciple’s intentions and understood that the effect of this play had been achieved—a mix of truth and falsehood that made it difficult for outsiders to judge.
Those who suspected it was an act would find their resolve shaken by Liu Qingyang’s overly realistic reaction, while those who believed it was genuine coercion would become even more wary of the Five Elements Dao Sect's methods and determination.
This uncertainty was, in itself, a form of protection.
He remained calm, as if everything happening before him was expected, and spoke indifferently, "In the secret realm, everyone uses their own means. While the juniors' actions may be somewhat inappropriate, they are excusable. After all, no fundamental harm was done to anyone's life. Sect Leader Liu needn't worry too much."
His words acknowledged the inappropriate behavior while lightly dismissing it as the actions of juniors and something excusable. Finally, he offered a bit of comfort to Liu Changhe. The balance was struck perfectly, leaving little room for fault-finding while providing plenty of space for imagination.
Liu Changhe’s mouth twitched upon hearing this, and in the end, he could only heave a heavy sigh and say no more.
He knew that in this play, he and the Water Moon Sect had been passively forced to play their roles to the end.
Now, he only hoped that his foolish son wouldn't actually suffer any losses while with the Five Elements Dao Sect's team.
As for losing face...
Sigh, it was already lost anyway; a little more wouldn't make a difference.
He could only force himself to remain steady, though in his heart, he had already cursed his worthless son and those cunning rascals from the Five Elements Dao Sect a thousand times over.
"Just wait until the competition is over. See how I'll settle the score with you!"
When he heard Li Nanzhu present those "two choices" and saw Liu Qingyang finally agree in humiliation, the last trace of hope in Liu Changhe's heart shattered.
"It's over. That brat really took the bait!"
He could even imagine how his son’s heart was cheering with joy right now, even as his face put on an act of enduring humiliation.
This intense contrast made Liu Changhe’s teeth itch with irritation.
"Stinking brat, you just wait!"
Inside the cave, seeing that Liu Qingyang had finally yielded and the performance was sufficient, the members of the Five Elements Dao Sect dropped their acting states, though they maintained a cold attitude toward their hostage on the surface.
Jiang Yifan said in a deep voice, "Since Junior Brother Liu has made his choice, we will leave it at that for now. At the moment, the sixth junior brother's injuries are not yet stable. We need to rest here for a while and wait for him to wake up before making further plans."
His words were both an arrangement and a message for the outsiders, indicating that the team wouldn't move immediately and had a legitimate reason to stay.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Feng Qingping and Ling Suxin checked Feng Weilan's condition again, confirming that the pills were continuing to take effect. His breathing was steady, and his complexion had regained some color; he should wake up before long.
Zhu Yinxi silently moved near the cave entrance, seemingly on guard but actually giving Liu Qingyang some space.
Duan Xianxing wanted to lean in and whisper a few words to Liu Qingyang, but Li Nanzhu glared him back. He could only retreat sheepishly to the side, pulling out a spirit fruit to munch on, though his eyes still flickered toward Liu Qingyang with a mischievous smile from time to time.
Meanwhile, Liu Qingyang’s heart was already blossoming with joy, bubbling over with happiness!
"It worked! It actually worked! Hahahaha!"
He desperately suppressed the urge to throw his head back and laugh. The corners of his mouth twitched upward uncontrollably, but he forced them back down.
He understood Li Nanzhu and the others' intentions all too well!
How was this coercion? This was clearly protection! They were laying out the safest path for him!
Think about his situation just now: alone, with a cultivation only at the Foundation Establishment stage, in this crisis-ridden secret realm where most sect teams had already gathered. He was practically a walking target.
Forget finding Senior Brother Lu and the others; whether he could safely survive until nightfall was a question, especially with those people from the Shenmu Sect still wandering nearby!
But now, he was "forced" to stay with the Five Elements Dao Sect team.
Not only was his safety guaranteed, but being with old acquaintances like Li Nanzhu and Duan Xianxing made him feel secure!
Following them would definitely not result in a loss!
Look at how many flags they had per person; their points must be massive. If they just gave him a tiny portion later, it would be much better than him working hard and being terrified on his own!
More importantly, he didn't have to face his hypocritical fellow disciples from his own sect anymore.
The thought of moving with Senior Brother Lu Tingyun or other Golden Core stage disciples—where they would have to maintain a superficial respect for him because of his status—was so awkward and uncomfortable that it made his skin crawl.
He still preferred being with these people from the Five Elements Dao Sect. They were straightforward, they played around, and even when they tricked each other, it was genuine and comfortable!
"Nanzhu, Xianxing... you guys are too good to me!" He praised his teammates wildly in his heart.
This massive wave of joy and relief almost burst from his chest. He felt that if he didn't vent it soon, he would suffer internal injuries from holding it in!
But they were still acting!
He didn't know how many pairs of eyes were watching from outside!
He absolutely could not break character!
Thus, Liu Qingyang did something that seemed perfectly reasonable to the observers on the high platform—he suddenly turned around, facing the cold rock wall. His shoulders trembled slightly, as if he were weeping silently and suppressing his emotions due to extreme humiliation and indignation.
However, only he knew that as he faced the wall, his features were distorted and his mouth was wide open in a silent, hearty laugh!
He laughed until tears almost came out, his body shaking slightly because of the intense effort to suppress it.
"Hahahahahaha! This is great! Too great! I finally don't have to be scared and alone anymore! It feels so good to have an organization! Hahaha!"
As he laughed silently, he secretly pinched his thigh, afraid he might accidentally let out a sound and ruin everything.
His posture of facing the wall in mock sorrow, in the eyes of the spectators on the high platform, naturally solidified his image as someone controlled by others and suffering unbearable humiliation, drawing much sympathy and many sighs.
"Sigh, Junior Nephew Liu really has it hard..."
"Look at him. He's probably so heartbroken that he doesn't even dare to face anyone."
Liu Changhe watched his son's trembling back as he "faced the wall in grief," and his mouth twitched violently once more as he cursed inwardly.
"Stinking brat! You're getting addicted to the act, aren't you? Why don't I ever see you acting like this in front of me!"
He naturally knew his son was likely gloating in secret, but this appearance was really...
He's just asking for a beating!
Rate on N.U.
