Chapter 85: Xiaoping Peak Under Attack
Wanqing Peak.
Chen Chuangfu and Wu Zhongdao hurried to Hong Bingyin’s cave residence early in the morning.
Loftily sipping spiritual tea, Hong Bingyin asked in a commanding tone, “What brings you here to report?”
Chen Chuangfu and Wu Zhongdao quickly bowed and answered in unison, “Reporting to Peak Master, it’s about the White Zhui Brocade Crane!”
Hong Bingyin’s thick brows arched upwards. He set down his teacup. “What has happened to my cherished pet?”
Though he owned many spirit beasts, the White Zhui Brocade Crane was of pure bloodline and outstanding talent. Since acquiring it, he had been especially fond of it.
Chen Chuangfu’s face fell. Dropping to his knees, he wailed, “Peak Master Hong, I meant well. I took the White Zhui Brocade Crane to Xiaoping Peak for a stroll to lift its spirits. Who could have guessed that Senior Sister Qu from Xiaoping Peak would emerge from seclusion, detain the White Zhui Brocade Crane on the spot, and refuse to let us bring it back!”
Wu Zhongdao knelt beside him, echoing his words, “Yes, the people of Xiaoping Peak are unreasonable. They accused us of trespassing, detained the spirit beasts, and kept them all there!”
A glint flashed in Hong Bingyin’s eyes, and a sharp smile tugged at his lips. His voice boomed, “Mo Qingli is audacious indeed! To incite her disciples to such behavior—what regard does she have for Wanqing Peak? What of the camaraderie within the Tianyan Sect?”
Chen Chuangfu and Wu Zhongdao were both taken aback, for they had not mentioned Mo Qingli by name.
Hong Bingyin’s gaze shifted, his stern expression softening just a touch. “I shall speak to Mo Qingli myself. If what you say is true, Xiaoping Peak owes Wanqing Peak an explanation!”
Exchanging glances, Chen Chuangfu and Wu Zhongdao kowtowed repeatedly. “Every word we say is true. It must have been Peak Master Mo who ordered her disciples to do this, otherwise they would never have dared detain your spirit beast!”
Hong Bingyin smiled faintly, nodding with satisfaction. Just as he lifted his teacup to drink, a beam of multicolored light struck the entrance. He set down his cup, made a gesture, and the light fell into his hand.
“This is... a storage pouch from Xiaoping Peak?” Setting down his teacup, Hong Bingyin suddenly looked southward.
Chen Chuangfu and Wu Zhongdao looked up in surprise.
“Peak Master Mo acts quickly indeed—this must be his apology, hoping Wanqing Peak will forgive them!” Chen Chuangfu said smugly.
Wu Zhongdao hurried to flatter him, “They must be frightened. Now that you, Peak Master Hong, are at the Nascent Soul stage, how would Peak Master Mo dare offend you? He’s just a mere False Core cultivator, barely clinging to life, ha ha ha!”
Hong Bingyin cast him a sidelong glance.
Wu Zhongdao immediately fell silent, fearfully preparing to kneel and beg forgiveness again.
A gentle breeze lifted him up.
He looked up in confusion, noticing the smile on Hong Bingyin’s lips slowly broaden before suddenly erupting into laughter.
“Ha ha ha! Mo Qingli, Mo Qingli, so you’ve finally come to this day!”
Wu Zhongdao, his shoulders trembling, exchanged a look with Chen Chuangfu and joined in the laughter.
Sensing his flattery had struck home, Wu Zhongdao pressed on, “Peak Master Hong, we cannot just let them off! The White Zhui Brocade Crane is such a noble spirit pet, and it suffered a night in that barren place—my heart aches as a disciple of Wanqing Peak!”
Chen Chuangfu echoed, his face pained, “Exactly! What is Xiaoping Peak but the poorest, most barren mountain in Tianyan Sect? The White Zhui Brocade Crane is your favorite, Peak Master, and should never have suffered with those wretches!”
Even if they knew nothing of the grudge between Hong Bingyin and Mo Qingli, his demeanor alone made his feelings about Xiaoping Peak clear.
Their words seemed to strike a chord.
A trace of melancholy furrowed Hong Bingyin’s brow. “You are right. The White Zhui Brocade Crane has never eaten such rubbish in my care. After last night, it must be miserable!”
“The people of Xiaoping Peak are truly heartless!” Wu Zhongdao cried out in anguish.
Chen Chuangfu was startled by his theatrics.
This guy’s performance was over the top—he acted as if the White Zhui Brocade Crane had died!
But his dramatics seemed to please Hong Bingyin.
Hong Bingyin laughed aloud, then disdainfully opened the storage pouch in his palm.
“Let’s see what gift he has prepared for Wanqing Peak.”
“Perhaps he cleaned out all of Xiaoping Peak’s meager stores for us,” Wu Zhongdao sneered.
The poverty of Xiaoping Peak was well known.
Hong Bingyin scoffed and shook out the pouch’s contents.
“Ha ha...” Chen Chuangfu began to laugh, but the moment he saw what fell from the pouch, the laughter froze on his face.
“Ha ha ha, ha ha ha...” Wu Zhongdao’s laughter echoed, but by the time he noticed the heavy silence, it was too late.
Hong Bingyin was staring at him with bloodshot, murderous eyes, veins bulging at his temples, terrifying to behold.
“Peak Master...” Wu Zhongdao didn’t even have time to react before he was kicked a hundred yards away, flying out of the cave and crashing into a hillock, shattered rocks burying him, blood pouring from his orifices as he lost consciousness.
Chen Chuangfu’s legs trembled, cold sweat streaming down his face as he tried to flee, but his body would not respond.
Hong Bingyin’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the four skeletons before him, his teeth grinding, veins on his forehead pulsing as if about to burst.
“Well, well! Mo Qingli, after all these years, is this your challenge to me?”
Chen Chuangfu swallowed in terror. A gust of wind struck him, and he was blasted through the wall, limbs broken, blood seeping from his eyes.
A beam of light shot from the cave, revealing Hong Bingyin’s face contorted in rage.
...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Zhou Chen, cultivating in his wooden hut, was jolted awake by the explosive noise.
“Junior Brother Zhou, what’s happened? Has Xiaoping Peak gotten into trouble?” Zhao Wen and Huang Lan rushed over, fearful of being caught up in the commotion.
Zhou Chen’s face turned pale as he pushed them aside and ran out. “Mind your own business—don’t ask about anything else!”
Zhao Wen stood in place, watching Zhou Chen hurry away, and suddenly laughed, “Xiaoping Peak is doomed! Zhou Chen is clearly hiding something!”
Huang Lan, as if facing a great enemy, activated her defensive barrier in panic. “We’re still here—are we going to get dragged into this?”
...
“Senior Sister Qu! Senior Brother Mu!” Zhou Chen ran with all his strength and finally found them halfway up the mountain.
Qu Yiqiu steadied him. “No need to panic. A sixth-grade defensive array cannot be breached so quickly.”
Out of breath, Zhou Chen looked at Qu Yiqiu, unable to understand her calm and composure.
As for the equally calm Mu Yunjin beside her, Zhou Chen knew he was simply clueless.
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