Chapter 31: Slander

Mo Qianqian thought for a moment before replying, "Asura!"

He thought, "Yes, this name—a blood-bathed Asura who slaughters anyone in his path. How imposing!"

The Yuling Sect Master could tell that Mo Qianqian didn’t want to reveal his true name, but he didn’t press the matter.

"To avoid unnecessary trouble, I will keep Elder Asura’s identity as a Spirit Master a secret. I will only mention your status as an Honored Guest Elder, without revealing that you are a Spirit Master," the Yuling Sect Master said.

A Spirit Master joining a sect was a monumental event for any organization. It could easily provoke fear and suppression from rival sects. Announcing him only as an Honored Guest Elder without revealing his specific profession was also a tremendous advantage for the sect.

"That couldn’t be better!" Mo Qianqian nodded in agreement.

Soon, Mo Qianqian was led to the top of a mountain peak. The peak housed a complex of buildings, though it appeared entirely deserted.

"I will arrange for some chore disciples to attend to your daily needs," the Yuling Sect Master said, taking out a Token. It was engraved with the words "Honored Guest Elder" and bore the special insignia of the Yuling Sect beneath it. He handed it to Mo Qianqian. "With this Token, you can access most areas within the Yuling Sect. If you ever need anything, Elder Asura, you can find me at Jade Spirit Peak."

Mo Qianqian nodded. After a brief exchange, the Yuling Sect Master departed from the peak, clearly having no intention of interfering with Mo Qianqian’s affairs. It was a testament to the lofty status of a Spirit Master.

He wondered, "Should I go see Yaoyao first?"

Holding his Honored Guest Elder Token, Mo Qianqian immediately headed down the mountain. It shouldn’t be hard to find out Shi Muyao’s location by asking anyone around. At the same time, he wanted to see what the Yuling Sect was like and how Shi Muyao was faring there. This would dictate his future attitude toward the sect.

On his way, after he presented his identity Token, a female disciple promptly guided him toward Shi Muyao’s residence: Little Jade Peak!

At Little Jade Peak, inside a courtyard.

An eighteen-year-old female disciple sat slumped against the wall in a corner. Beneath her shoulder was a gash several inches long, and her blood had soaked through nearly half of her clothes. The girl was sobbing uncontrollably.

Nearby, three other female disciples were surrounding and attacking a young woman in a light cyan dress. The woman in the cyan dress was none other than Shi Muyao. Her skirt was equally stained with blood and dirt. Her long hair was a mess, and she had been beaten to the point where she could no longer fight back.

BAM!

A woman wearing a long black coat landed a vicious kick on Shi Muyao, sending her crashing heavily to the ground.

"Shi Muyao! Ziying just wanted to befriend you and kindly brought you a gift, yet you drew your sword and injured her! How vicious can you be? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you’re the Sect Leader’s nominal disciple?" the woman in the long black coat cursed at her.

"I didn’t! I never touched her! She’s framing me!" Shi Muyao cried out in grievance.

She tried to get up, but the woman in black stomped her foot firmly onto her back.

THUD!

Shi Muyao was forced flat against the ground. Her entire face smashed into the dirt, kicking up a small cloud of dust.

"Hmph, framing you? You shameless slut. You hit her that ruthlessly, and you still have the nerve to say she’s framing you?" The woman in black grabbed Shi Muyao by her messy long hair and yanked upward violently.

An expression of sheer agony immediately appeared on Shi Muyao’s face.

"It wasn’t me! It really wasn’t! I don’t even know what happened..." Shi Muyao explained through her pain.

"You don’t know?"

Another woman, dressed in brown, stepped forward and delivered a heavy slap across Shi Muyao’s face.

SLAP!

The immense force of the strike wrenched Shi Muyao’s head to the side, even as her hair remained firmly in the black-clad woman’s iron grip.

"You still dare to say you don’t know?" The woman in brown slapped Shi Muyao twice more in quick succession. "Ziying was perfectly fine when she came to Little Jade Peak, and now look at her! You still claim ignorance? If you didn’t do it, what, did she take a sword and hack at herself?"

"I... I really don’t know what happened..." Shi Muyao cried, her face a portrait of wrongful accusation.

The third disciple, wearing a white dress, kicked Shi Muyao squarely in the chest, causing her to cough up a mouthful of blood. "Shi Muyao, if you don’t confess and kneel to beg for forgiveness from Junior Sister Ziying right now, believe it or not, we will cripple you!"

"It wasn’t me, it really wasn’t! I’m begging you, please just let me go..." Shi Muyao pleaded through her tears.

"It’s too late to beg us now!" Keeping one foot planted on Shi Muyao’s back and one hand tangled in her hair, the woman in the long black coat used her free hand to pull out a dagger. She began waving the gleaming blade over Shi Muyao’s dirt-streaked face.

"W-what are you trying to do..." Panic seized Shi Muyao at the sight of the dagger.

Off to the side, the injured female disciple in the corner watched Shi Muyao. Her eyes betrayed a mix of panic and sympathy, but she was too terrified to speak up.

"What are we trying to do?" The woman in the long black coat sneered. "You gave Ziying a sword wound several inches long. We’re simply going to return the favor on behalf of Junior Sister Ziying."

"No! I’m begging you, no! I’ll apologize to her, I will..." Shi Muyao babbled, her face stricken with sheer terror.

A wound on her face would permanently disfigure her. How could she ever face anyone again? How could she ever face Mo Qianqian?

"Hmph, too late!" The woman in the long black coat struck without hesitation, slashing the dagger across Shi Muyao’s cheek.

"AHH!" Shi Muyao screamed in agony as a long, bloody gash opened up on her face.

The cut ran from just beneath her inner eye all the way to the side of her jaw. Blood welled up from the deep fissure and streamed down her skin. Half of Shi Muyao’s exceptionally beautiful face was instantly dyed red.

"Hmph! Let’s see who you can seduce now that your pretty face is gone!" The woman in the long black coat didn’t stop there. With another cruel swipe, she carved a second long gash onto the other side of Shi Muyao’s face.

"No, AHH!!!" Shi Muyao shrieked, her voice echoing across the entire mountain peak.

There were many other courtyards on the peak housing numerous other female disciples. They all heard the miserable screams, but out of fear, none of them dared to investigate. They simply pretended they hadn’t heard a thing.

Meanwhile, at the foot of the mountain.

Mo Qianqian had just arrived when he, too, heard that agonizing scream.

"Yaoyao!" His expression shifted drastically, his eyes flaring with murderous intent. "You have a death wish!"

Without a second thought, he bolted up the mountain at top speed.

"Elder..." The female disciple guiding him was startled and hurriedly chased after him up the mountain.

At the summit.

Inside the courtyard.

Two horrific wounds now marred Shi Muyao’s face.

Shi Muyao broke down in tears of absolute despair. Her face was ruined! From now on, she would be nothing but a hideous monster. She could never show her face to anyone ever again!

"Qianqian, I’m so sorry... I’m so sorry..." Shi Muyao wept uncontrollably.

"Hmph, do you think this is over, Shi Muyao? We’re not just going to destroy your looks; we’re going to completely cripple you!" the woman in the long black coat snarled, raising her dagger to plunge it straight into Shi Muyao’s body.