Chapter Seventeen: Destruction

Zhao Wen and Huang Lan, along with two others, hurriedly caught up and rushed into the sect ahead of her.

A few soft, mocking chuckles escaped He Yuman and her companions.

Chi Yushu remained composed, as if completely oblivious to Qu Yuyou’s display.

Wu Qiu and his two friends exchanged helpless glances. Qu Yuyou’s capriciousness was nothing new.

By now, all the disciples from the flying boat had disembarked. With a grand sweep of his arm, Xu Chenguang shrank the several-zhang-long vessel into a single point of light, which slipped into his sleeve.

“Those who should be returning may do so. Disciples of the Profound Intent Sect, please follow us inside now!” Xu Chenguang spoke with marked courtesy. When he looked at Huo Tangsheng, his gaze even flickered with unease.

Qu Yiqiu secretly scorned such behavior. It was one thing to curry favor with the powerful in order to survive, but that did not excuse bullying the weak at will.

Besides, Qu Yiqiu did not consider herself an easy target.

Huo Tangsheng’s phoenix eyes narrowed, and a captivating smile curved his lips. “Let’s go. It’s time we paid a visit to Master Luo of the Heaven Derivation Sect.”

The five of them strode by with arrogance, as though the Heaven Derivation Sect was their own domain.

Qu Yiqiu’s eyes widened in disbelief at their audacity.

Wu Qiu clenched his fists, barely restraining the urge to give each of them a punch.

“How rude!” Luo Yingying muttered under her breath, lips pursed.

Lin Yaoxing cast them a look of silent disdain.

Xu Chenguang, timid as ever, kept his head bowed, stealing glances at Chi Yushu.

Though Huo Tangsheng and his group were haughty, they had not yet broken any rules, so Xu Chenguang could not rebuke them.

Chi Yushu calmly followed, showing no sign of being perturbed.

Seeing this, Xu Chenguang became even more reticent, keeping his head down and leading the way. He dared not cross this plague-bringer, Huo Tangsheng!

Qu Yiqiu kept quiet as she followed, for a new crowd was gathering at the mountain gate.

She had no desire to remain and listen to others gossip about her poor talents, or how her beauty was inversely proportional to her aptitude.

It wasn’t as if she wanted to be mediocre!

So the group walked on in tacit silence, making their way to the grand hall of the Heaven Derivation Sect.

On the throne at the head of the hall sat Luo Tangyu, his hair bound high, a crown of violet gold atop his head, and his robe resplendent with gold embroidery. He awaited them with a stern expression.

At the sight of him, Xu Chenguang visibly relaxed and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Sect Master.”

“Greetings, Master Luo,” the others echoed, including Qu Yiqiu and the disciples of the Profound Intent Sect.

A refreshing coolness swept over them, gently raising them to their feet.

Luo Tangyu’s gaze swept over the assembly, settling on Chi Yushu. “Yushu, what happened during the mission? I heard you crushed the mission token?”

Chi Yushu stepped forward and bowed. “It is true that I crushed the mission token. However, the Profound Intent Sect claims that we, the Heaven Derivation Sect, lost the competition. I cannot accept that.”

“Oh? And why do you refuse to accept it?” Luo Tangyu asked, feigning confusion.

In truth, Xu Chenguang had already explained everything in detail via message talisman. Luo Tangyu was perfectly clear on the matter.

His questioning now was mere theater for the benefit of the Profound Intent Sect.

To Qu Yiqiu, the supposed protagonist, the entire charade was of little interest. She only cared whether the promised mission rewards would still be granted.

Huo Tangsheng and his group lounged lazily in the hall, listening half-heartedly to the exchange between Chi Yushu and Luo Tangyu.

Wu Qiu and his companions, on the other hand, straightened up and listened attentively.

Within the Heaven Derivation Sect, Luo Tangyu commanded considerable authority—except, perhaps, when facing Little Peace Peak and Nine Sword Peak.

As Qu Yiqiu listened to their earnest discussion, she felt as if she were back in class on Blue Star. Sleepiness crept over her, and her thoughts drifted to Little Peace Peak.

She wondered whether her junior disciple and Zhou Chen had obediently completed the tasks she’d set for them in recent days.

And as for her master, there were still a few days before he was expected to emerge from seclusion.

...

At that moment, Zhou Chen, whom Qu Yiqiu was thinking of, lay unconscious atop verdant spiritual seedlings.

“In broad daylight—won’t we be discovered?” a woman whispered from the ground, her voice muffled with anxiety.

“Don’t worry. Didn’t you see how furious Senior Sister Qu was when she left? No one will suspect us. Right now, we’re all supposed to be fast asleep on Nine Sword Peak!” A man’s shrill voice, tinged with smugness, replied.

It was none other than Zhao Wen and Huang Lan.

“Good. Let’s hurry and destroy these few plots of spirit farmland, so Qu Yiqiu will understand not to cross us!” Huang Lan stifled a laugh, emitting a strange sound.

Zhao Wen raised his delicate hand, lips curling with a sneer. “All that fuss, and there are only five fields—two of them tucked away in obscure corners. How truly pathetic!”

Huang Lan swept her spiritual energy, toppling the fences that enclosed the fields. “Little Peace Peak can’t compare to us. The leftover spirit grain husks we discard each month are enough to feed them for a year!”

“Hahaha... I’m really looking forward to seeing Qu Yiqiu’s face when she returns to find that the odd-job disciples she hired have let the only farmland on Little Peace Peak fall to ruin!” Zhao Wen clapped his hands together, sending beams of yellow light east and south, crushing the seedlings and pitting the fields with shallow holes.

“You’re truly wicked—I want in as well!” Huang Lan, grinning wildly, unleashed blasts of light across the farmland.

The once-lush fields were soon riddled with pits, the seedlings toppled and buried in mud, the cozy earthen walls knocked askew and left gaping with holes.

Zhou Chen, lying at the edge of the field, was spattered with mud and half-buried beneath a tangle of soil and seedlings.

The scene was utter devastation.

“Let’s go before this country bumpkin wakes up,” Zhao Wen said, relishing his handiwork.

Huang Lan, laughing uncontrollably, replied, “If this happens again, I want in!”

“Of course! You won’t be left out.” Zhao Wen flicked his hand with a flourish, a triumphant smile on his face.

“Let’s go!” Huang Lan leapt over the collapsed fence, and the two left the scene together, still grinning.

After they had gone, Zhou Chen slowly regained consciousness.

He sat up with a jolt, shaking off half the mud that clung to him.

“Thank goodness—I activated the Shadow Stone before I blacked out!” Gritting his teeth, he glared at the ruined fields.

In his left palm, a dim stone glowed faintly.

Back in the Heaven Derivation Sect’s grand hall, Qu Yiqiu emerged with a dark expression.

Chi Yushu hurried after her, lips parting as if to speak, but unsure what to say.

“I look forward to seeing your strength,” Huo Tangsheng drawled as he exited the hall, a roguish smile dancing on his devilishly handsome face.

“I, too, look forward to meeting you again, Senior Sister Qu,” He Yuman’s voice rang out, sweet and coy as a yellow oriole.

“We, like Senior Brother Huo and Junior Sister He, eagerly anticipate our next encounter with you!” the other three male disciples from the Profound Intent Sect chimed in, their eyes glinting with mockery.