Chapter 1044: Gotten too Far
Proofreader: Papatonks
“Sister Xue’er, you can relax knowing my dad, brother Murong and everyone else are men with experience in the cultivation world. They’ve seen it all and aren’t about to let some fresh punk delude them.”
Before the Main Hall, Murong Xue was still looking distressed and in anger. Ouyang Changqing tried appeasing her.
But the girl of his dreams was most definitely not interested.
Western lands’ people had long since gathered, waiting on Double Dragon Manor’s orders to return and defend home. Northern lands’ best disciple words earned their cold glares. Ye Lin sneered as he mocked him, “You sure got a mouth on you. You’re not grown up yourself yet you call another a punk?”
“Ye Lin, I have beaten you once, best disciple in western lands, and I can do it again. Care to try?”
“What’s to fear fighting a dumb brat? But get one thing straight, I was the best disciple before, but with my elder brother back, I’m now second. Though I’m more than enough for the likes of you.”
“Then I’ll just start the thras.h.i.+ng with you before settling with your convicted elder brother. The best disciple in the land is a crucial part of my future. I’m not about to give it up, humph!”
Crack~
Ouyang Changqing’s knuckles crackled as he made his fist, giving Ye Lin a cruel smile. Ye Lin c.o.c.ked his head, unafraid, smirking as he stepped closer.
The two were ready to draw blood.
The audience shook their heads, with Murong Xue totally ignoring them.
Wu Qingqiu waved his hands, stepping between them with a smile, “Little junior brother, we’re still guests here and can’t start a fight with our hosts. Young master Ouyang, you’re the image of your sect and shouldn’t fight with your guests. Both our elders will have to punish you if you go through with this. We’re about to part anyway, so can we please not do it with a fight? Let’s all go our way on good terms.”
The two huffed and looked away.
Wu Qingqiu shook his head. The others nodded at him.
[Ye Lin may be the strongest in western lands, but the leaders.h.i.+p will fall to Wu Qingqiu with his elegance. He knows how to look at things in perspective.]
Only his broad mind could keep the peace between the sects. No other disciple was better than him…
“Humph, it might be late for a fight, but we still need to clear some things out.”
Unable to flex before the girl of his dreams just because of Wu Qingqiu’s smooth words, Ouyang Changqing grumbled, “I’m a reasonable man. I know you think the world of Zhuo Fan, but isn’t it because he’s stronger than you? Ha-ha-ha, I saw it myself, so I know it’s true. That is his talent, while his few decades on this earth can’t possibly compare to the experience my father and the elders have acc.u.mulated. You think he can handle something my dad can’t? I only put myself in their stead and called him a punk, what’s wrong with that?”
Wu Qingqiu shook his head, “Young master Ouyang is right, but you fail to understand brother Zhuo. Only by experiencing his tactics will you realize just how much better he is than many seniors. Why else would Sect Leader Ling and the others lower themselves to ask for a convict’s help?”
“Anyone would try anything when the time is dire.” Ouyang Changqing rolled his eyes.
Ye Lin smirked, “Why haven’t they come to you then?”
“You…” Ouyang Changqing glared at him in anger.
The elders then walked over, having returned from the dungeon.
Only this time, they looked much brighter and worry free from the time they left.
Among their starry eyes of hope was Zhuo Fan holding Chu Qingcheng’s soft hand and Qiao’er in the other.
The elders were even acting like servants, bowing and sc.r.a.ping before Zhuo Fan like he was their ancestor.
The disciples were mindblown.
[What just happened? Why is a convict being hailed a hero? The elders are cloyingly nice with him, like they had no dignity to speak of…]
Ouyang Changqing gaped there for a while, giving time for Zhuo Fan’s procession to step inside the Main Hall.
Ouyang Changqing then woke up and rushed to Ouyang Lingtian, “Dad, wait, what’s going on? Why are you so nice to some punk? Does he have such a brilliant plan to turn things around?”
“Uh, not yet, but soon.”
Ouyang Lingtian patted his head and rushed inside the Main Hall.
Ouyang Changqing’s face twitched and looked back at the rest of the stunned disciples, “The d.a.m.n punk sure has talent, to swindle that many old men. I just can’t figure what grand plan he might have to even get my dad, a seasoned cultivator, to follow him around. Just what did he do?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“Ha-ha-ha, I did tell you. There are times when brother Zhuo is shrewder than any elder!” Wu Qingqiu proudly said.
Ouyang Changqing was most confused, still in disbelief.
[A d.a.m.n brat just hoodwinked a bunch of seasoned old men?]
They were all grinning from ear to ear, like they just found their lord and savior. How could a brat pull it off?
[G.o.dlike!]
[Why hasn’t dad ever looked at me like that?]
Ouyang Changqing was stumped, while Murong Xue totally blown away.
The most she believed was if these elders accepted Zhuo Fan’s foul plan, the world would be in chaos from his despicable and cruel methods.
But now it was way worse. These leaders of their own land had not just accepted his plan, but even wors.h.i.+ped him. Now the damage he’d do would only multiply.
Murong Xue caught Murong Lie, who was last to go in, with unease, and held his hand, “Brother, what’s happening? Weren’t you all going to ask him for a solution? Why is he out and about? I’d get it if it was his condition, but why are you all acting…”
“Xue’er, you weren’t there so you don’t know. We’ve sorely underestimated him.” Murong Lie took a deep breath.
Murong Xue said, “Brother, what does that mean?”
“His mind is sharp and astute, his plans sublime, inhumane even. I am of firm belief he may be the only one in the lands that can stand up to Baili Jingwei.’
Murong Lie looked ecstatic, “We had yet to explain Baili Jingwei’s actions to him yet he already foresaw it. We ourselves just became aware of this but he already knew. Isn’t that divine? That’s why we discussed having this danger on the lands averted, making him the four lands’ Grand Marshal, in control of everything. Everyone will heed his orders, including us.”
[What?!]
Everyone around gasped and began whispering, “Grand Marshal of the four lands, equal to becoming the ruler of them all! And he can deploy anyone?”
“Yeah, it’s that simple, but in times of war, we need him to resolve this crisis.”
Looking at them so shocked, Murong Lie waved his hand, “This is the situation. Now I need to go in and discuss further matters. For once, Shangguan Clan Head’s choice truly lives up to the hype, ha-ha-ha…”
Murong Lie slipped inside the Main Hall, leaving all these people behind to process such explosive news with dumb looks.
Wu Qingqiu was the first to come to, looking at his fellow disciples, Ye Lin and at Ouyang Changqing, “See? This is the power of the best disciple in western lands. While we are squabbling over who is the best disciple in the alliance, he already took control of the four lands, becoming their Grand Marshal. The elders are even following his orders. This is the gap between us. We are his peers yet left in the dust, so far behind we can’t even see him.”
Everyone bobbed their heads, then shook it in helplessness. The more behind they were in regards to that monster, the more despair they felt.
The most prideful man ever, Ouyang Changqing, felt the sting
much deeper than the rest…