Chapter Fourteen: The Gathering
As soon as Qu Yiqiu and her group departed, Qu Yuyou’s team arrived at the ancient temple.
“Why isn’t there anyone here?” Zhao Wen asked, puzzled.
Qu Yuyou glanced at the barely discernible footprints on the ground, her face darkening. “They’ve already left. Let’s head to Tianchen Town!”
The five soared through the air once more.
At the Four Directions Inn in Tianchen Town, the main hall was crowded with people, while the innkeeper and his assistant lay unconscious in the upper left corner. Qu Yiqiu observed the group across from her with calm composure. Judging by the identity of the woman in red, He Yuman, it was clear that the others were all disciples of the Profound Intention Sect.
They had evidently been waiting there for quite some time.
“Daoist Chi, won’t you explain what it means for your sect to invite a Golden Core master?” Behind the Profound Intention Sect disciples, a flamboyant man with sword-like brows and phoenix eyes sat on a wooden chair. He wore dark robes embroidered with clouds and leaves, exuding an extraordinary aura.
Xu Chenguang had been reduced to a mere backdrop by this man and didn’t dare utter a word, only standing grim-faced to the side.
Chi Yushu replied coolly, “As you can see, I crushed the task token and summoned Master Xu, but that doesn’t mean our Sky Evolution Sect has lost.”
“Heh, Chi Elder, how amusing. Your sect called upon a Golden Core master, breaking the rule that no one over twenty-two may intervene, and yet you claim you haven’t lost?” He Yuman covered her mouth with slender fingers and laughed softly.
“We didn’t lose at all! Both teams lured the evil spirit at the same time, but it chose Sister Qu, who then slew it single-handedly. That’s certainly a victory for our Sky Evolution Sect!” Luo Yingying interjected defiantly.
“Yes, we won! Sister Qu killed the evil spirit!” Lin Yaoxing, though incredulous, couldn’t suppress his hope for his team’s triumph.
“Ahem, yes, it was Qu who vanquished the evil spirit. I never made a move, so it should be our sect’s victory,” Xu Chenguang declared in solidarity with his sect’s honor.
Wu Qiu, believing this to be the truth, refused to retreat. “Master Xu was with us at the ancient temple the whole time and never had a chance to act. Sister Qu handled it alone, so our Sky Evolution Sect obviously won!”
Faced with their explanations and support, the Profound Intention Sect disciples grew hesitant, all turning their gaze to Qu Yiqiu.
Although Qu Yiqiu had spent years on Xiaoping Peak and had no outstanding achievements, leaving the Profound Intention Sect unfamiliar with her, it didn’t prevent them from recognizing who Sister Qu was.
Simply standing there, she emanated a unique aura of immortality, as if she were a reincarnated great power, her body surrounded by a mysterious silver glow.
Yet, anyone who used Qi Sight to probe her cultivation could instantly see it was a façade.
Her cultivation was merely at the fifth layer of Qi Refining—among so many, her level was pitifully low, a stark contrast to her beauty.
The man in dark robes swept his cold gaze across the group’s dazed faces, tapping his finger on the table in warning.
A bunch of useless fools—just a beautiful woman and they’re all bewitched, unable to look away.
He Yuman and her companions withdrew their gazes in embarrassment, not daring to look again.
“You’re all from Sky Evolution Sect, say whatever you like, but I only believe what I see: Master Xu appeared, and the evil spirit vanished.” The man’s lips curled in a mocking smile.
Wu Qiu and the others’ faces changed instantly.
“Huo Tangsheng, stop spouting nonsense! When Sister Qu was taken outside the ancient demon formation, Master Xu was nowhere to be seen!” Lin Yaoxing could barely restrain his anger.
“Sister Qu was missing for a day and a night. Just because he didn’t appear then doesn’t mean he couldn’t have done something inside the formation this morning,” Huo Tangsheng said leisurely, rising to his feet, his stature imposing, a provocative smile at his lips.
His phoenix eyes gleamed with undisguised challenge.
Qu Yiqiu understood that he knew the truth but was determined never to yield.
Chi Yushu saw through his intentions and, recognizing the difficulty of the situation, decided not to waste any more time here.
“Daoist Huo, since both sides have their own views and cannot reach agreement, there’s no need to continue arguing. Once we return to our sects, the truth will be decided by the two sect masters.”
“Yushu is right. No matter how much we say now, it won’t help. We’ll submit our evidence to the sect leaders, and they’ll uncover the truth,” Xu Chenguang had no desire to be embroiled in this mess.
Though he was a Golden Core master, Huo Tangsheng was the most talented disciple of the Profound Intention Sect, with an exalted status and limitless prospects. Xu Chenguang dared not confront him as Chi Yushu did.
The smile at Huo Tangsheng’s lips gradually faded, his phoenix eyes taking on a cold glint.
Xu Chenguang avoided his gaze, looking elsewhere uneasily.
Chi Yushu watched Huo Tangsheng with calm composure, without a hint of fear.
Luo Yingying’s heart raced at the spectacle.
These were the sect’s most promising disciples—the future candidates for peak masters—and now they were confronting each other before her eyes!
He Yuman glanced sidelong at Qu Yiqiu, amused by her serene demeanor.
In terms of beauty and aura, she had nothing to say in defeat. Yet her strength hardly seemed capable of handling an evil spirit alone. What had truly happened that night?
“Brother Chi! Daoist Huo, what are you doing here?” Qu Yuyou and her companions finally arrived at the inn.
Their speed was nothing compared to a Golden Core master; it took a quarter of an hour flying on swords to reach the place.
Huo Tangsheng glanced at her sideways, speaking carelessly. “Daoist Qu, there’s only one inn in Tianchen Town. You booked the whole place—are you expecting Profound Intention Sect disciples to sleep out in the wilderness?”
His words drew every eye in the hall to Qu Yuyou.
So she reserved the entire inn—how extravagant, leaving not a single room for the Profound Intention Sect.
Qu Yiqiu restrained herself from laughing.
Wu Qiu and the others looked at her in silent exasperation.
Xu Chenguang’s brow twitched; Qu Yuyou was strong, but her mind was narrow.
What good did reserving the inn do? The task was meant to be a fair competition. As the leading sect, Sky Evolution shouldn’t indulge in such petty behavior.
They still needed to maintain appearances.
Under so many stares, Qu Yuyou would never admit to it. She discreetly nudged the woman in yellow beside her.
The woman in yellow immediately understood, stepping forward with an apologetic air. “It’s all my fault. I thought booking the inn would give us some peace, but I didn’t realize it was the only inn in town!”
Huo Tangsheng snorted coldly, clearly unconvinced.
The woman in yellow blushed in shame but could only stand her ground.
At that moment, Qu Yiqiu unexpectedly yawned, drawing everyone’s attention.
She blinked sleepily; the yawn was intentional.
If they kept dragging things out, how could she rest or rise early to meet Yao Zhimei?
She needed to put an end to their pointless chatter.
“So sleepy… The innkeeper’s already asleep. Shouldn’t we rest as well?” she said drowsily to Chi Yushu.