Volume 10, Chapter 706 – He’s Clearly Just a Cultivation Squatter (Part 5)

“Senior Sister, you’re actually being so sensible now. What happened to that fearless attitude of yours?”

Qi Huang couldn’t resist teasing.

“No choice, they say a wise man submits to circumstances.”

Shen Yuan gave an awkward smile, then tried to negotiate: “Junior Sister, how about you vent some anger on my behalf?”

“Huh?”

Qi Huang’s smile instantly froze. She thought to herself, how could she possibly deal with herself?

“There’s no need. They’ve come from afar, we should treat them with courtesy.”

Beside them, Ruan Lingyu interjected to stop it.

“Senior Sister is wise!”

Qi Huang quickly flattered.

“Well? Was he faking that fall?”

On the other side, Huang Tian withdrew his Divine Sense, then walked over and looked down on the few kneeling “traitors”.

“Impossible… absolutely impossible… why are you so strong?”

The traitors muttered in despair, their spirits broken.

“Weren’t you curious earlier about what gift I was giving to Master?”

Huang Tian arched a mocking brow, then turned around and bowed respectfully to Hu Bing. “Master, though I have already left the Honghua Sect, I have never dared forget your teachings. I’ve devoted myself wholeheartedly to cultivation. Today, I’ve achieved some small results. I don’t know if this gift will satisfy you?”

“I am satisfied! Overjoyed! This is the finest birthday gift I have received today!”

Hu Bing trembled with excitement, tears flooding down. As a responsible master, the gift he longed for was never wealth or treasures, but to see his disciples surpass him. Among all disciples, only Huang Tian understood this desire, and only Huang Tian had fulfilled it.

“Well? Do you still worry that no one will inherit Master’s mantle?”

Huang Tian turned back to the traitors.

Shame overwhelmed them; they mumbled, unable to speak.

“You tried to use me as your stepping stone, and insulted me again and again. I wanted to give you a lesson you’d never forget. But since today is Master’s sixtieth birthday, I’ll let it slide for now. If you dare show me disrespect again, it won’t just be kneeling, I’ll have you lying down. Forever. Do you understand?”

Huang Tian’s warning was icy.

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“We understand… we understand… we wouldn’t dare again…”

The traitors stammered submissively.

And so the farce ended. In the courtyard, everyone’s eyes toward Qi Huang had changed. Where once there had been pity laced with scorn, now there was pure reverence.

Qi Huang instantly felt her whole body relax. She knew that through this incident, the shame she had suffered in Honghua Sect was completely washed away.

“It seems we all underestimated this Huang Qi.”

Yun Fei’s gaze at Qi Huang turned serious.

“Yes, who could have thought that in just seven or eight years, he could leap from a failed Spirit Gathering cripple to a strong cultivator of the Incarnation Realm? And we… we’re still little novices at the Body Refinement stage.”

Shen Yuan said with envy.

“I don’t just mean his cultivation, but also his mind.”

Yun Fei shook her head, then explained: “With his current strength, he could have taken out heavenly treasures and crushed those arrogant sectmates. But instead, he chose to present his cultivation achievements as a gift. To a responsible master, that’s worth more than gold. It shows how mature his thoughts are.”

“Indeed, cunning. Lucky I don’t have such a senior brother, otherwise I’d have been reduced to a mere backdrop for him.”

Shen Yuan shuddered at the thought.

“You may not have such a senior brother, but you do have senior sisters like that. I think Second Senior Sister is no less than Huang Qi.”

Su Qingying said with mocking sarcasm.

“Yes, yes, Second Senior Sister isn’t exactly easy to deal with either.”

Shen Yuan quickly joined in.

“Don’t slander good people!”

Yun Fei grew anxious. Though clever, she never thought she schemed against her juniors, at least she believed so.

“If only one person says it, maybe it’s slander. But if everyone says it, then it’s the truth. After all, the eyes of the people are clear.”

Su Qingying’s retort was perfectly reasoned.

“Seems you’re itching for a beating, aren’t you?”

Yun Fei flew into a rage, lunging at her.

“What’s this? Angry because it’s true?”

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Su Qingying provoked fearlessly.

“Don’t worry, Junior Sister, Senior Sister will help you!”

Shen Yuan immediately hugged Yun Fei, and the three of them tangled together like a blurred mosaic.

Qi Huang smiled helplessly. These senior sisters might be childish, but being with them truly felt good. It at least allowed her to forget her troubles.

Because of “Huang Qi’s” arrival, Hu Bing seemed like a changed man, grinning so wide his mouth nearly split apart, introducing his Incarnation Realm disciple to everyone he met, even when he knew they had already witnessed it firsthand.

The surrounding guests dared not say a word. To have trained a disciple into the Incarnation Realm, such an achievement was outstanding not just for Honghua Sect, but across the entire cultivation world of the Western Radiance Dynasty.

At this moment, Hu Bing’s heart was filled with immense gratitude for Qi Huang. If not for this girl insisting on arranging his sixtieth birthday celebration, he never would have felt such joy today.

Before long, the higher-ups of Shuiyu Valley also arrived, including Mu Ruoyi and her daughter.

The moment Mu Ruoyi saw Qi Huang, she rushed over, as if spotting her own husband.

The women of Honghua Sect grew instantly vigilant. Everyone knew this woman was here to snatch away their junior sister, and her threat was enormous.

“Qi Huang, little sister, I have to tell you something. Next month, we’re preparing to rebuild Shuiyu Valley.”

Mu Ruoyi leaned close, speaking excitedly.

“What? So soon? Have you made all the preparations?”

Qi Huang had been mentally prepared, but still felt reluctant. After all, Shuiyu Valley was a women-only sect, she couldn’t force them to break their rules and merge with Honghua Sect.

“Really? That’s wonderful news!”

The Honghua Sect sisters, however, were delighted. This meant that the alluring fox spirit before them would soon leave.

“What’s this? Will you miss elder sister?”

Mu Ruoyi teased, then added: “Don’t worry. Our new Shuiyu Valley site is less than ten li south of Honghua Sect.”

“What? Really? That’s… terrible yet wonderful!”

Qi Huang’s face instantly lit up with joy.

Her senior sisters’ smiles, however, vanished, their expressions turning gloomy.

“Ten li? Why don’t you just build right at Honghua Sect’s gates?”

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Shen Yuan muttered.

“Yes, at the rate Honghua Sect is growing, in a few years we’ll be practically sleeping back-to-back with only a wall between us.”

Even Ruan Lingyu was displeased.

“But isn’t that good? We can watch over each other!”

Mu Ruoyi said warmly.

“Yes, yes! We’ve lived side by side for two or three years already, we’re family now. Of course we should look out for each other.”

Qi Huang chimed in quickly.

Though unhappy, the sisters couldn’t refute her and only pouted.

“Yes, yes, we’re family.”

Mu Ruoyi’s face flushed with excitement.

“But wait, weren’t you a state-level sect of Nansheng Prefecture? If you don’t return, who will fulfill your responsibilities as a state-level sect?”

Yun Fei suddenly realized and “reminded” her kindly.

“Yes, yes, you were Nan Sheng State’s sect. If you don’t return, who will take on the Immortal Alliance’s missions? There are tens of thousands of cultivators in Nansheng depending on you.”

Ruan Lingyu quickly supported.

“My junior sisters don’t know. Not long after Shuiyu Valley was destroyed, the Immortal Alliance stripped us of our state-level title. So now, there’s no point in going back.”

Mu Ruoyi explained calmly, then added: “That’s just one reason. Second, our old site was utterly destroyed, the surrounding land turned to desert for dozens of li, impossible to rebuild. Third, our disciples have already lived here for two or three years. Moving again would mean re-adapting, plus tremendous effort to relocate. It would be far more loss than gain. That’s why we chose to rebuild here.”

The Honghua Sect women were left deflated. They had no more excuses.

“Qi Huang, little sister, our Shuiyu Valley leaders have discussed it. Once we’re rebuilt, we hope you and Hongling Junior Sister can come serve as guest elders.”

Mu Ruoyi suddenly offered.

“What?”

Qi Huang froze, but quickly realized. Clearly, they wanted her protection. Building so close was undoubtedly for this reason too.

“Heh, you’re just looking for a free bodyguard, aren’t you? Quite the clever plan.”

Yun Fei sneered.

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“Building your sect so close, it’s obviously to seek our junior sister’s protection. You won’t merge with Honghua Sect, but you still want a powerful protector for free. What a schemer!”

Ruan Lingyu also saw through it.

“I won’t hide it. We do want Qi Huang’s protection, but never for free. When the time comes, we’ll pay in full.”

Mu Ruoyi explained shamelessly.

“Ridiculous. Do you even know our junior sister’s cultivation? Could Shuiyu Valley possibly afford her price?”

Shen Yuan mocked coldly.

“We’ll do our utmost.”

Mu Ruoyi lowered herself humbly.

“Oh, come now, we’re all family. No need to stand on ceremony. It’s just a small favor, what talk of payment?”

Seeing tensions rising again, Qi Huang hurried to smooth things over.

“Then… you agree?”

Mu Ruoyi’s eyes lit with excitement.

“Of course. I, Qi Huang, have always loved helping others.”

Qi Huang agreed without hesitation. After all, Shuiyu Valley was full of beautiful women.

“That’s wonderful! I must tell my mother this good news.”

Mu Ruoyi dashed away happily.

“You spoil her too much.”

Ruan Lingyu rolled her eyes at Qi Huang.

Night fell, and guests gradually left. Hu Bing still clutched Huang Tian’s hand, reluctant to let go, as if afraid it would all vanish like a dream.

Not wishing to intrude on their reunion, Qi Huang sensibly left with her senior sisters.

“My disciple, can you tell me what happened after you left Honghua Sect? How is it that in just seven or eight years, your cultivation has grown so extraordinary?”

Slightly tipsy, Hu Bing shut the door, then pulled his disciple into the main hall to ask.