Volume 10, Chapter 704 – He’s Clearly Just a Cultivation Squatter (Part 3)

A group of former fellow disciples looked slightly unnatural, after all, having their little schemes exposed was hardly comfortable.

“You’re spouting nonsense!”

Liu Shou said angrily, humiliated and furious.

“Nonsense? You’re all deliberately acting so filial, isn’t it just because you want to return to the Honghua Sect? Even a fool could see it.”

Huang Tian said with disdain.

“No, that’s not…”

For a moment Liu Shou was caught in a bind. Although his talent was the most outstanding among the disciples, that didn’t mean he was quick-witted.

“So what you mean is, you don’t want to return to Master’s tutelage anymore?”

Huang Tian teased.

“No, no, no…”

Pressed hard, Liu Shou grew more anxious.

“So that’s how it is!”

Vague sounds of realization came from around them.

“As the saying goes, ‘once a teacher, always a father.’ Whether or not we can return to the sect, we will always be Master’s disciples. What’s wrong with speaking out on his behalf?”

Nearby, Min Jun quickly interjected, sensing the situation was turning against them.

Hu Bing’s lips twitched with anger at this hypocritical talk.

“Speaking out for him? Hahaha!”

Huang Tian immediately laughed aloud, then pressed with an aggressive tone: “If I’m not mistaken, among our former brothers, I’m the only one who never severed ties with Master, right? With me here, when was it ever your turn to speak on his behalf?”

The disciples fell silent again. Indeed, that was the truth. All of them had dissolved their relationships with Hu Bing, though for different reasons. The first type was pure ingratitude: they thought staying in the Honghua Sect had no future, so they forced Hu Bing to cut ties, like Liu Shou and Min Jun. The second type was forced, when Hu Bing had left the sect to investigate the Qi-Leaking Powder; they had no choice but to dissolve the relationship. Such cases were more forgivable.

Of course, among Hu Bing’s disciples, there were still a rare few who had remained in the Honghua Sect faithfully, which was truly admirable.

Min Jun was once again at a loss. He racked his brains, then suddenly blurted out: “You’re twisting words, you just don’t want to take responsibility!”

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“How do you know I don’t want to take responsibility?”

Huang Tian calmly countered.

“Heh, responsibility? How can you take responsibility? You’re just a waste who failed at advancing your cultivation!”

Beside him, Liu Shou shouted arrogantly.

“That’s right, forget responsibility, can you even bring out a decent gift? Look at you, empty-handed, what are you planning to give Master?”

Min Jun pressed his mockery further.

“That’s easy. Though I wouldn’t call myself wealthy, as Master’s only disciple, I must surely have more filial heart than you traitors. Otherwise, how could I live up to my identity?”

Huang Tian said humbly.

“More filial than us? Do you even know what we’ve given?”

Min Jun sneered.

“What did you give? Why not tell me?”

Huang Tian asked curiously.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang used his Divine Sense to glance at the gift registry. He discovered that these traitors had indeed spent heavily in hopes of rejoining the sect, their gifts were indeed worth boasting about, though only to ordinary eyes.

“Guess for yourself!”

Min Jun arched his brows.

“Huang Qi, since you’ve said it, if today’s gift isn’t better than ours, let’s see how you end this.”

Liu Shou smirked smugly, certain of victory.

“Why would Huang Qi boast at a time like this? How can a commoner compare with cultivators?”

“Even if he had the money, he couldn’t win. He doesn’t even know what they gave. He can’t possibly empty his entire household fortune, right?”

“If I were him, I’d shamelessly sneak a look at the gift registry. Better that than going bankrupt.”

“Are you dreaming? How could the gift registry be open for anyone to see? And he’s someone already expelled from the Honghua Sect.”

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“When I delivered my gift earlier, I caught a glimpse. Those disciples’ gifts were indeed valuable. They must be trying to use them to rejoin Steward Hu’s tutelage. Even if Qi Huang emptied his fortune, it wouldn’t be enough.”

“What fortune? He’s empty-handed, not even a cultivator. What, will he pull something out of a Spatial Ring?”

The surrounding guests all watched Huang Tian with sympathetic eyes.

“You know, the way Huang Qi brags really reminds me of Junior Sister!”

Shen Yuan remarked with some surprise.

Qi Huang shivered all over, thinking, This woman’s intuition is terrifying, even this she can link back to me.

“Which Junior Sister are you talking about? Hongling, or Qi Huang?”

Yun Fei, as always, added mischief.

“Of course Qi Huang! When has Hongling ever bragged?”

Shen Yuan reflexively looked toward Qi Huang.

“Huh? Me? When have I ever bragged? Senior Sister, don’t wrong me! Has there ever been a time when I didn’t fulfill what I said? So how could that be bragging?”

Qi Huang quickly defended herself.

Shen Yuan froze, then, embarrassed and angry, pinched Yun Fei’s thigh fiercely: “You’re doing this to me again, aren’t you?”

“Ah… but weren’t you the one who said it? Surely you weren’t referring to Hongling, right? Want me to tell her?”

Yun Fei squealed and protested excitedly.

“Seems like you’re itching for a beating.”

Shen Yuan grew angrier and pinched harder.

“Too bad, he only brags like Junior Sister, but doesn’t have her strength. Now he’ll have trouble ending this.”

Ruan Lingyu said evenly. After all, the entire Honghua Sect knew of Huang Qi’s past. It truly was pitiable.

“Well? Have you decided what gift to give? Why not bring out your entire fortune and see? Maybe you’ll have the slightest chance.”

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Min Jun urged.

“No need, no need! The thought matters more than the weight of the gift. Just by coming, I’m already very glad.”

Hu Bing hurried to smooth things over, seeing Qi Huang fall into an awkward spot.

“Don’t worry, Master. Killing a chicken doesn’t require a butcher’s knife.”

Huang Tian shook his head calmly. His entire fortune was Qi Huang’s entire fortune, and taking it out could probably buy the whole Western Radiance Dynasty.

“What? Still clinging to luck? If you can’t bear it, why not peek at the gift registry?”

Min Jun kindly suggested.

Elder Ruan, who was in charge of the records, quickly explained: “I’m not singling anyone out, but the gift registry can only be viewed by the host. That’s a custom across the cultivation world. So please don’t put me in a difficult spot.”

“No worries, Elder Ruan. To deal with them, I don’t even need to look at the registry.”

Huang Tian said indifferently, striding toward his Master. The other disciples all stepped aside, eager to watch him embarrass himself.

Qi Huang used a mental transmission: “First, kowtow three times to Master. That’s what I owe him.”

Without hesitation, Huang Tian knelt before Hu Bing and gave three resounding kowtows. “Master, your disciple wishes you endless laughter and flourishing fortune in the Dao!”

“Good, good, good! Quickly, get up! Quickly!”

Hu Bing reached with his single arm to help Huang Tian up, his eyes red as he said: “Disciple, seeing you safe and sound, this Master is finally at ease!”

There was reason behind his words. For ordinary people, survival was hard in this world. Given Huang Qi’s past, living until now was indeed a miracle.

“I’m sorry, Master, for coming to see you only now!”

Huang Tian apologized repeatedly.

“What need is there for you to see me? From your home to the Honghua Sect is far, and evil spirits roam the land. So long as you are safe, that is enough!”

Hu Bing spoke from the heart.

“You lost an arm because of me. Today is your sixtieth birthday, how could I not come?”

Huang Tian’s eyes trembled as he looked at his Master’s severed arm.

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“Don’t say that. It was my dereliction that allowed you to be harmed by villains. Finding the culprit, that is this Master’s duty.”

Hu Bing quickly comforted him.

Master and disciple, full of affection and filiality, left the other traitors stiff and awkward, standing like wooden posts at the side.

Qi Huang’s eyes stung, and then something wet trickled down her cheek, tickling.

“Junior Sister, why are you crying?”

At that moment, Ruan Lingyu asked with concern. The other senior sisters also turned curiously.

“I’m crying?”

Qi Huang instinctively touched her cheek, finding it wet indeed. She sniffled. “It’s nothing, I just felt moved.”

“Didn’t think Junior Sister would be so sentimental. But their bond truly is touching.”

Ruan Lingyu took a deep breath.

“Yes, Master lost an arm for his disciple, while the disciple risked life and traveled a thousand miles to celebrate Master’s birthday.”

Yun Fei’s eyes were also red.

“Wuwu…”

Miao Xiang was already sobbing.

“Master, you’re being far too biased! We’re all your disciples, why show such concern only for this waste?”

Liu Shou could endure no more. His tone was like a resentful woman spurned.

“Junior Brother Liu is right. He’s just an ordinary man who failed at advancing to Spirit Gathering Realm. How could he inherit your legacy?”

Min Jun chimed in.

“To tell you the truth, we came to celebrate today because we want to rejoin the Honghua Sect. We hope you will grant us that favor, Master!”

Liu Shou seized the chance to state his purpose.