Volume 2, Chapter 115 – “Just You Wait, I’ll Deal With You Later”

Cheng Hongling took a delicate step forward, and a chilling aura surged ahead of her, spreading across the ground like mist. Layer upon layer of frost advanced like rolling waves, freezing everything in its path.

In the next instant, her figure vanished from sight, only to reappear several zhang away as if teleporting. Like a butterfly flitting through a garden, she flickered in and out of view, her movements enigmatic and elusive—this was the “Fluttering Butterfly Movement Technique”.

Wu He’s expression twisted in alarm. Knowing that he couldn’t match her terrifying speed unless he countered her movement technique, he unleashed a surge of fiery Qi from his feet, scorching the air until it distorted. Waves of heat rolled forward along the ground, attempting to melt the encroaching ice.

Cheng Hongling closed the distance in the blink of an eye. Though the frost’s advance was hindered by the heat, her speed only halved—yet she pressed forward relentlessly. The Blue Scale Sword in her hand was now sheathed in a thin layer of ice, its killing intent growing even more bone-chilling.

Wu He’s face was grave, but not a trace of fear showed. Instead of retreating, he charged toward Cheng Hongling with fearless determination, his speed equally blinding.

In an instant, the two were upon each other, moving so fast that the naked eye couldn’t follow—only divine sense could track them clearly.

Naturally, Qi Huang wouldn’t just stand by and watch. The moment before they clashed, she poured all her remaining divine sense into a crushing pressure, bearing down on Elder Wu like a collapsing mountain.

Elder Wu, who had been swift as lightning, suddenly slowed as if trapped in quicksand, his speed dropping by more than half.

Swish!

Their figures flashed past each other, switching positions in a blur.

“Who won?”

The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, their faces blank.

Cheng Hongling turned slowly, her beautiful face devoid of emotion. A few drops of blood slid from the tip of her sword.

“Ah—!”

A scream tore through the air as Elder Wu’s right hand, still gripping his sword, fell from his wrist, blood spurting out in an instant.

“Does it hurt? Let me end your suffering now.”

Cheng Hongling leveled her blade and advanced once more.

But just then, a figure descended from the sky, landing between them.

Qi Huang focused her gaze—it was Qin Quan, the Sect Leader of the Honghua Sect.

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“Killing each other in broad daylight! What kind of disgraceful behavior is this?”

Qin Quan’s face was dark, his jaw clenched tightly. He was a far cry from his usual composed self—after all, the two now at odds were pillars of the sect.

“Sect Leader Qin, are you standing in my way?”

Cheng Hongling showed no fear, her cold eyes gleaming sharply.

“Every family has its rules, every sect its laws. If you want to kill him, you must give a reason. Even as a prodigy disciple, you are no exception.”

Qin Quan turned to face her, standing firm without the slightest intention of backing down.

“He tried to kill my main body in broad daylight. Isn’t that enough?” Cheng Hongling countered.

“No, no, Sect Leader! It was her main body who struck first!” Wu He seized his lifeline and immediately began muddying the waters. “She severed three of my disciple Wei Yi’s fingers without reason and then prevented me from taking him for treatment. If you don’t believe me, ask the bystanders—their eyes are sharp!”

The surrounding crowd exchanged glances, then nodded one after another.

Cheng Hongling turned to her doppelgänger, demanding an explanation.

“Yes. I struck first.”

Qi Huang, thinking of her master’s tragic fate, felt no hesitation. Limping forward to stand beside her main body, she raised her voice.

“And the reason? Because he deserved it!”

She took a deep breath, steadying herself before continuing.

“Does everyone remember Elder Hu, who left the Honghua Sect three years ago for the sake of his disciple? During my recent travels, I passed through Ma’an Village in Changming County, Qingsong Prefecture, and by chance, I found him being hunted. I intervened and saved him. After interrogating the assassins, I discovered they belonged to the ‘Viper’ assassin organization.”

“Following the trail, I infiltrated one of Viper’s hideouts, posing as a member to complete a mission. Soon after, someone arrived to pay the remaining fee—and that person was Wei Yi!”

Qi Huang wove truth with deception, then shot a venomous glare at Wei Yi, who lay motionless like a dead pig nearby.

“Wei Yi? Why would Elder Wei hire assassins to kill Elder Hu?”

“Regardless of the reason, hiring killers violates the laws of the Western Radiance Dynasty!”

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“Not just that—harming a fellow disciple also breaks sect rules!”

The crowd buzzed like a swarm of bees, voices rising in indignation.

“Wei Yi? Why would he hire assassins to kill Elder Hu?” Qin Quan asked, puzzled.

“That’s what I wanted to know. So I captured him in secret and interrogated him. And what I uncovered was an enormous secret—he was merely following orders. The one who truly wanted Elder Hu dead was Wu He!”

Qi Huang then revealed how Elder Wu had secretly purchased Qi-Leaking Powder to cripple disciples and sought to silence Elder Hu to cover his tracks.

“A Honghua Sect elder would stoop to such deeds? Poisoning his own disciples for personal gain—how does such a man deserve to be an elder?”

“Did you hear? Fairy Hongling said Huang Qi wasn’t the only victim. Who knows how many others had their futures ruined by him over the years?”

“His talent was mediocre—he only reached the Unity Realm in his seventies or eighties. He must have used resources meant for others. Imagine how many disciples suffered!”

“This is outrageous! I suspect my son’s failed breakthrough was also due to his Qi-Leaking Powder!”

“Sect Leader Qin, you must investigate thoroughly! Identify all the victims and give them justice!”

The crowd’s fury burned, many wishing they could tear Wu He apart on the spot.

Wu He, already pale from blood loss, turned ashen as his crimes were laid bare.

“Elder Wu, is what she said true?” Qin Quan demanded.

“She’s spouting nonsense with no proof! How can you believe her?” Wu He clutched his wrist, trembling as he tried to wriggle free.

“No proof? Your own disciple confessed!”

Qi Huang sneered, then turned to Qin Quan. “Sect Leader Qin, Elder Hu is currently recuperating at a clinic in Changming County. Send someone to bring him back. As for the Liufang Inn in Qingsong Prefecture—that’s one of Viper’s hideouts. Investigating this matter will be simple.”

Qin Quan fell silent for a moment, then turned to Elder Xu Mei. “Elder Xu, please dispatch someone to retrieve Elder Hu.”

Then he addressed Elder Ruan Lingyu. “Elder Ruan, I leave the investigation of Liufang Inn to you.”

The two elders acknowledged the orders and swiftly made arrangements.

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“Since the truth has yet to be fully uncovered, I ask everyone to remain calm. Let us wait for the results before passing judgment. Wu He and his disciple will be detained for now. I swear on my honor—no one who harms their fellow disciples will leave the Honghua Sect unscathed.”

Qin Quan’s declaration carried weight.

Though unwilling, Qi Huang knew that haste would spoil things. Acting recklessly might implicate Cheng Hongling, so she silently acquiesced.

“Fine. But I will personally guard Wu He and his disciple.”

Cheng Hongling made her demand.

Qin Quan had no reason to refuse, and thus it was settled.

Not one to let things go easily, Cheng Hongling strode over to Wu He and extended her fair, delicate hand.

“If you don’t want to die right now, hand over the Registry of Slaughter.”

Wu He struggled internally but ultimately surrendered the artifact with bitter reluctance.

Cheng Hongling unceremoniously took it. The Registry of Slaughter radiated a terrifying killing intent and could suppress divine sense—she couldn’t allow such a thing to remain in his possession.

Soon after, Qin Quan ordered Wu He and Wei Yi taken away.

Qi Huang exhaled deeply. After all this turmoil, the matter was—for now—resolved.

“Come with me.”

Cheng Hongling’s icy voice cut through the air.

Qi Huang flinched, then limped after her. Having exhausted her divine sense in the earlier attack, she could no longer fly. Summoning the Tongming Comb to replenish it now would only raise suspicions.

Noticing her doppelgänger lagging behind, Cheng Hongling turned and asked coldly,

“Can’t you fly?”

“Out of divine sense. Can’t fly,” Qi Huang mumbled weakly.

“Oh? The mighty one who dares defy me can’t fly now?”

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Cheng Hongling’s lips curled in mockery.

Qi Huang hung her head, mortified.

With a sigh, Cheng Hongling suddenly crouched, lifting Qi Huang’s legs with one arm and wrapping the other around her slender waist—carrying her princess-style.

The surrounding disciples watched with poorly concealed amusement. Though they knew this was merely an Incarnation Realm expert’s “self-performance”, the sight of two identical beauties in such an intimate embrace was enough to fuel wild imaginations.

Qi Huang stiffened in shock, instinctively struggling.

“What are you doing?! There are people everywhere—put me down!”

“What’s the problem? I am you, and you are me. What’s there to be embarrassed about when I carry myself?”

Cheng Hongling scoffed, her red lips parting slightly.

‘Who’s the same as you?!’

Qi Huang’s face burned—not because becoming a girl had thinned her skin, but out of sheer humiliation. Mentally, she was still a man! How could she let a woman carry her like this?!

“Just recall me into your Sea of Consciousness. Why go this far?”

Not daring to meet the crowd’s eyes, she buried her face against Cheng Hongling’s ear and pleaded in a whisper.

“No. Who knows if you’ll open the Heart’s Door and release those things?”

Cheng Hongling refused flatly.

“But—”

Qi Huang wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words.

“But what? You still dare bargain with me? Did you think running away from home would go unpunished? Just you wait, I’ll deal with you later.”

Cheng Hongling’s threat was frosty as she quickened her pace.