Story 6 - Slapping Faces and Entering Sects (2)

Story 6 - Slapping Faces and Entering Sects (2)

At this point, I could come out with the truth. Admit that I lied to protect myself. My old friend, if he were in a good mood, might forgive me.

But we weren’t alone here. There were sect Elders and Peak Masters. Some of them were decent people... for people living in this fucked up world. But a few of them were assholes I didn’t know if I could trust.

This was also, frankly, my chance.

I’d spent so much time in this world wishing Immortal Zhenren Sword Within the Light of Virtue was my master instead of Fairy Verdant Bamboo that it might as well be part of my Dao. Or a demon in my heart.

If I came out with the truth, there would be no way my friend would allow me to worship him as my master... considering the danger.

Also, I knew some secrets of the sect. One of which was about contacting immortals... No Sect Leader would ever initiate contact with an ascended member of the sect.

To do so would result in their death. And — at this point in time — the way to contact an immortal without dying had yet to be rediscovered.

But I knew how.

The process wasn’t entirely without danger. And it had a lot of requirements. But I could — possibly — survive it.

I straightened my spine and told a truth. “Immortal Zhenren is a very busy person.”

The Sect Leader eyed me skeptically. “I would contact him myself, but even I wouldn’t dare reach out to an immortal. So the fact that he spoke to you in your dreams seems rather... Fortunate.”

I smiled. “He hasn’t spoken to me often, either.”

“Then, can you tell us something only he would know to prove yourself?”

It was exactly like my old friend to ask such a trap of a question.

“Rather than something specific, I’d like to lecture everyone here on Immortal Zhenren’s wonderful forays into Logical Alchemy and the study of unusual components that he taught me. For example, his work on systematic pill formulas and the benefits that come with using those as opposed to the traditional method of keeping some ingredients hidden and leaving the recipes out of order.”

I continued my familiar lecture. In the room, every eye glazed over reminding me that there was a reason Immortal Zhenren never took in a disciple. Well, whatever.

Every time I spouted this particular lecture, it reminded my old friend of my fake master... Or he was just reminded of being tortured by the various lectures his martial uncle forced him to listen to.

Eventually, the Sect Leader’s eyebrow twitched. “Fairy Lin, Stop! Stop! That’s fine. It’s obvious that you’re a student of my Martial Uncle.”Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

After I shut my mouth, he sighed deeply.

I stopped myself from smiling.

The room grew quiet for a long moment.

“Now that your status as Immortal Zhenren’s students is confirmed, we should move on to the next issue.” He looked at all the elders in the room, possibly communicating silently with them. “We wanted to inform you that my nephew is going into seclusion at Razor Falls, to reflect and cultivate.”

I stilled. That was the sect’s very nice prison for those who did wrong but had good enough connections that they could live fairly well. It was better treatment than he deserved, but I also knew that my friend wouldn’t have the heart to put his nephew to death since he was his last blood relative. Plus, he was one of the more brilliant diviners in the sect.

“He won’t bother you or my disciple again.” The look he gave me was calm and serious.

This, right here, was why I respected this man.

As Glittering Iron’s powerful uncle, he could have let him off with a warning and treated this as little kids play-fighting. He didn’t. Instead, he gave him a harsh punishment worthy of his crime.

It wasn't as harsh as it could have been, but, not actually succeeding in his attempt likely helped the asshole get a lighter sentence.

Anger flashed in Little Spring’s eyes. It seemed like he wanted to say something. On our way to the sect, he learned about everything that happened while he wasn’t there.

The kid... was not happy that I put myself in danger like that. But I was in a high realm (in my past life), damn it. I could handle situations like that! (Even at my current cultivation.)

“Since my nephew is not in a position to bother you or my disciple again, I believe that it’s unnecessary to mention the circumstances of his long-term closed door cultivation. To anyone.”

Well. Good thing I could read between the lines.

Little Spring’s hands clenched into fists and he opened his mouth. Usually, I would trust this kid when it came to talking to people... but not right now. This was my sect. My territory. I may not deal with strangers as well as him, but these people, I knew.

I moved my hand in front of his face, shocking him into silence, then I bowed. “We understand, Sect Leader.”

Also, the people we were dealing with right now were goddamn cultivators in the Nascent Soul and Immortal Bone Creation realms. They could crush us like bugs and not give a damn... because that was the type of Xianxia we were in.

Fortunately, most of these assholes weren’t that immoral. Probably because the author created them at the beginning of his story — back when it was fairly innocent and almost classic in style.

The sect leader cleared his throat. “We’re also here because we need to address you and your brother’s wish to join the sect.”

I nodded while trying to keep the excitement that I felt deep inside out of my expression.

“By rights, for your protection, I should deny your request...”

Those who were once part of the Zhang Clan glared at me.

Just then Fairy Verdant Bamboo stepped forward, dressed in her classic green robes. This one had bamboo patterns lining her sleeves. The hem floated as she walked as if she were some ethereal being. Her green-black hair framed a cold yet beautiful face, one that hadn’t changed since I last saw her 1000 years in the future. She looked down at me with unfeeling eyes. Her lips curled into a malicious smirk.

This was my past life’s master. One of Bloodsword’s wives. Peak Master of one of the largest peaks in the Indomitable Will Sect.

“Do you really believe you can defeat a member of one of the Great Clans in the trials?”

“Of course.”

She gently snorted. “Who knew that even the student of an immortal could have eyes but not see Mount Tai.”

I chuckled.

Before I could respond, Little Spring stepped forward. “If my sister says she can do it, then she can do it.”

Fairy Verdant Bamboo glanced at the kid and her expression gentled.

I stepped in front of him... Of course, then he stepped back in front of me.

Seriously, kid?

Fairy Bamboo’s lips twitched, “Oh? Then are you willing to make a wager?”

Everyone in the room quieted down.

Curious, I threw out, “What are the terms?”

“Either you or your sister gain first place in the trial, or you’ll both leave the sect and never return.”

I crossed my arms and grinned up at her. “You’re essentially asking us to give up on ever officially recognizing Immortal Zhenren as our master. Isn’t that a bit petty? Frankly, I would only accept a wager like this if you swore to give me every single thing your master left you, aside from the position of Peak Master and your immortal cave.”

Her eyes wavered. “Nonsense!”

“Exactly. What loving disciple would ever agree to a nonsense wager like that?”

Her eyes darted to someone in the crowd I didn’t recognize, then hardened. “Fine. I accept those terms.”

I blinked. Did she really, actually accept this dumb wager? Seriously?

I glanced at Little Spring who stared at Verdant Bamboo with clear determined eyes. Well, she had several items I needed. One she didn’t even know the worth of right now.

This was also a chance to slap some faces and prove to everyone here how fuckin’ badass I was.

“Fine. But you and your friends are not allowed to interfere in the trials.”

She snorted. “Of course. Just who do you think I am?”

A bitch with morals so low that she actually married her own goddamn disciple. That was supposed to be like a mother/son relationship! If she could do that, then she could do anything! Especially to someone, she assumed was a dumb little girl only at the peak of Qi Condensation.

I mean, of course, Bloodsword married his beautiful, fairy-like master. He was the gross main character of a dumbass harem story. But the fact that I couldn't easily go near him because she flirted with him from day one made me think her morals were real fuckin’ low in the first place.

“And if they interfere, you’ll agree to automatically forfeit the bet?”

She scoffed but nodded.

“Then it’s agreed, with everyone here as witnesses,” I said, grinning up at her like a dumb kid.

She sneered. “Of course. I’m the master of Mystical Bamboo Peak. If I agree to a wager like this and don’t fulfill my end of the terms, then I’d be willing to step down.”

I smiled. “Of course, if I lose due to outside interference and don’t get proper compensation, I’ll take my master’s advice, travel to the next continent, and join a certain sect over there.”

The sect leader coughed. Some of the older Sect Elders who knew about our sect’s long-standing rivalry with that fellow righteous sect had their eyes bulge. Several of them realized that if I lost, it would help their adversaries. This would ensure someone took notice and helped make things fair.

It might also tempt someone to assassinate us, but I’d deal with that if it happened.

“Unyielding. Make sure Little Fairy Lin and Little Spring here make it to the Indomitable City safely.”

He bowed. “Yes, master!”

He glanced at us. From my years of working with him, I noticed a glimmer of respect flash in his eyes before he continued wearing his facial paralysis mask. “The sect trials will take place in two months. Make sure you’re outside the gates! The last thing I want is those Golden Dragon Sect bastards to get their hands on Immortal Zhenren’s student.”

I smiled and bowed. Then it hit me... Did he say, two months? Two? Two?!

Were my calculations wrong? Did I get here a year later than I thought? No. Definitely not. Then, in my last life, they must have postponed it by a year because everyone was mourning the loss of the Junior Sect Leader.

Wait. This also meant that I had less time to train Little Spring than I thought!