Chapter 122 - Postponing Punishment

This time, the vomit flew past Rin's arms, causing the Tributaries standing nearby to retreat.

Hikaru coughed several times before wiping her mouth with her hand. "Excuse me! That was unintentional."

Everyone stared at Hikaru dumbfounded.

The first time could have been unintentional, but now…this was obviously deliberate!

Yet, when the Tributaries heard her speak, their minds believed her. When they saw her state, their hearts forgave her.

Snail's compounded enchantments worked together flawlessly to produce a vision of perfection that made them favor Hikaru subconsciously.

Only the Nascent Soul cultivators were somewhat resistant .

Electricity danced across the First Elder's pores, his stare piercing through Hikaru's gaze. The table's edge was crushed under his clenched fingers.

He was at a boil, but Vice Elder Shirou's cough kept him steady.

If the other elders and disciples were not present, he would have already made another move against this disrespectful little twerp.

Kenja felt a hand of icy smoothness cover his eyes and forehead while an arm wrapped around his body to place a palm on his ċhėst. His back was pulled into a pleasant softness with a steady pulse.

A chilling coldness invaded his mind and body.

His rage towards the First Elder dissipated while his mind relaxed and his body stopped trembling. The feelings of nausea and anxiety vanished without a trace. Cooling down, he was at peace.

A breath of frost visibly seeped from his lips.

His heartbeat slowed to a crawl, but his thinking was crystal clear as he took everything in at a degree of lucidity he thought impossible.

Comfortable enough to fall asleep, yet awake enough to accomplish anything.

This feeling…was addictive.

Rin's voice sounded from beside his head, "Younger sister is unwell and uneducated. Request elders to forgive."

Kenja wanted to say something, but his body would not listen to him.

"No speaking," her command was delivered directly to Kenja's mind.

She had interfered with his ability to speak.

Seeing Hikaru silenced and restrained by Aoi Rin, it became more difficult for the First Elder to move against them.

While the First Elder continued to scowl at them without pardoning them, the Sixth Elder spoke up, "Perhaps that's enough of a test, First Brother. We have more important matters at hand, che che."

"This has gone beyond a simple test. Or do you think I'm overstepping my bounds, Sixth Brother?"

Gao Diao did not say anything after that but Ariyoshi Miji continued in his place, "She's already apologized twice, First Brother. What more do you want from her?"

"If you find such an apology satisfactory, then come here, Fourth Brother. I'll deliver a couple of apologies onto you. How about that year I docked your allowance for blowing up Sixth Brother's apothecary?"

The dreadful insinuation caused the Fourth Elder to retreat with a shudder.

His first set of clothes had already been ruined. Although he was currently using his Sixth Brother's burnt pants as a substitute, he would not let someone puke all over him just to prove a point.

Third Elder Kondo weighed in with his opinion, "It's best not to go overboard, First Brother. It won't be good for us when Fifth Sister finds out."

Kaitou Daiki shot him a glare and a quip, "Who's going to tell her? You?"

The big gorilla seemed to shrink in his chair at the mere thought of speaking with Kazane Kazue.

Three elders had shot up to defend Hikaru, and three elders had been shot down.

Second Elder Inazuma placed an empty teacup down.

"Little Hikaru is an amazing junior, First Brother. She patched up the broken tribulatory demarcator that I spent forever trying to fix. She has the makings of a great architect within her!"

Kaitou Daiki's eyes bulged out violently at Inazuma with electricity screaming about his body in dangerous twists and turns.

This Second Brother of his had always been incapable of reading the room to the extent that handling him was an enormous chore. If that were not the case, he would not bother caring for that trash tea girl for the sole purpose of having someone who could manage him long-term.

Leaning closer to Kaitou Daiki, Vice Elder Shirou spoke with him telepathically, "The greatest recompense for one's misdeed can be exacted through one's master. With everyone testifying, would Fifth Elder dare hold back?"

It took only a moment for the First Elder's intimidating aura to recede and the electricity to vanish.

He was right!

The little upstart behaved in this manner with all the elders present. He could claim that she was disrespectful, not only to him, but to all the elders present.

Fifth Sister would be compelled to punish the little upstart to a degree that would satisfy all of them.

"Vice elder is wise and worldly. This sect would be helpless without you."

"First Elder's words are generous. I am only performing my duties." Shirou bowed while retreating to the side, his slick-back, jet-black hair and furrowed brows displaying his usual aura of strict sternness.

Relaxing his shoulders, Kaitou Daiki replied to Inazuma, "I see. In that case, we must take proper care of Disciple Hirai."

Facing Rin who was still restraining Hikaru with a hug, he warned them, "We'll wait for Fifth Sister before bringing up today's matters. Little Rin, you best watch over them until then."

Aoi Rin's fingertips took a turn for the frostier against Kenja's face. Kenja could tell his words had affected her mood once again, but she did not outwardly display anything other than that.

"Understood."

She raised her hand to use her powers to clean the mess on the floor.

"Stop."

Rin held her hand in the air, waiting to see what the First Elder would say.

"Akiyoshi."

The young man in glasses sighed before stepping forward, sweeping his arm twice in the air.

A mass of water flew from the pool in the back and covered the entire area beneath the three girls' feet. Gathering all the blood, spit and vomit into a floating ball, the First Elder incinerated it into a few specks of ash.

They floated gently into the bottle holding up an incense stick.

Kenja felt Rin's body shudder for a moment behind him while everyone facing them wore grim expressions.

"This man is quite mean-natured. You really shouldn't have picked a fight with him, disciple. Even your own mess, he wouldn't let you or your fire and frost princesses clean it up."