Chapter 169: Insulting Battle

Zhang Liuzhen opened his eyes, quietly got out of bed, walked to the wooden bench by the window, pushed it open, and looked out to see a vortex of spiritual energy swirling high above.

He was slightly surprised, but quickly let it go, turned, took down the sword hanging on the wall, and stepped outside.

As he reached the corridor outside, he collided with Li Wenying, who was just opening the door.

Li Wenying saw the sword in his hand and smiled. "Can you move spiritual force now?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled faintly. "Enough to scare people, at least."

Li Wenying extended his hand. "Give me the sword. You barely held onto your life—don't risk it."

Zhang Liuzhen frowned.

Li Wenying smiled slightly. "What, afraid I can't hold them off? My face, your sword—when the time comes, I'll raise Zhang Li's banner. Who dares move? Besides, we still have Wang Feiyin as a shield."

Zhang Liuzhen handed him the sword. "Be careful."

Li Wenying took the sword, turned, and flew straight off the second floor, stepping across the tiles until he stood at one corner of the Phoenix Perch courtyard's roof, facing directly toward Pan Yun's room.

Miao Zhen, seeing a sudden figure on the roof, gripped her sword tightly, pressed her right hand against the hilt, and drew half the blade with a sharp hiss.

Li Wenying glanced down at her, then lifted his robe and leaned sideways against the roof, holding the sword as he watched the dense spiritual energy above.

After Li Wenying, others gradually arrived.

Xue Taixu came fastest. He didn't join Li Wenying but stood nearby, ten paces away, watching the thickening spiritual energy with him.

He sighed. "A genius unseen in a hundred years. I thought Liuzhen was the only one—yet here's another. I wonder if this is a blessing or curse for our Daoist path."

Li Wenying: "Didn't you calculate it privately?"

"I did. I couldn't see through it—sometimes good, sometimes bad."

"Then it's good. Heaven wouldn't give us two geniuses only to destroy them both, would it?"

Xue Taixu said nothing, silently thinking: not two—three.

Lou Tong, Zhang Ziwang, and Wang Gongze arrived in turn. They didn't cluster together but stood apart.

Yet they subtly formed a triangular formation.

No sooner had they taken their positions than four figures flew in from four directions. Zhang Ziwang looked over, lips curling. "You've all come out of seclusion?"

Zhang Ziming spoke for the others, nodding in greeting. "Second brother."

"Who lives in this room? Such extraordinary talent."

Zhang Ziwang smiled. "She's Wang Feiyin's junior from Mount Sanqing. Her name is Pan Yun."

"Has she taken a Daoist name yet?"

Zhang Ziwang shook his head. "Not yet."

Zhang Ziming smiled. "I have a fitting Daoist name for her."

Zhang Ziwang said: "She's a disciple of the Mountain God of Mount Sanqing. She bears the Mountain God's seal."

Zhang Ziming smiled. "So what? She's among mortals now—she still needs guidance."

Li Wenying scoffed. "If you can steal her from Wang Feiyin, I'll perform a handstand and defecate right here."

Everyone on the roof fell silent.

Zhang Ziming's face twisted in disgust. He glanced at the sword in Li Wenying's arms, choked back a flood of curses, and said nothing.

In the silence, someone stepped through the air.

All turned, stiffened, straightened their bodies, and bowed, regardless of seniority: "Uncle."

Li Wenying lowered his eyes and bowed with the rest.

The newcomer nodded, his gaze fixed on the house beneath the spiritual vortex. "Is this the child from Mount Sanqing whom the Mountain God took as a disciple?"

Zhang Ziwang replied respectfully. "Yes."

"Talent is impressive. Has she taken a Daoist name?"

Zhang Ziwang replied calmly. "I've heard nothing. Perhaps Master Wang has already chosen one."

"If none has been given, then none exists. What path does she specialize in?"

Zhang Ziwang said: "Talismans and spells. In her entrance trial, she ranked first in spellcraft."

The newcomer was even more pleased. He stroked his beard. "Excellent. She's from Mount Sanqing yet shows talent in spellcraft—that's rare. I'll take her as a direct disciple of Long Hushan. Transfer her records to me."

Zhang Ziwang's fingers tightened. "Uncle, this is a grave matter. Shouldn't we consult the True Person? And Mount Sanqing may not agree."

"Such a small matter—why disturb the True Person? As for Mount Sanqing, how could Wang Feiyin refuse? I'm not taking away his disciple—I'm making her a direct disciple of Long Hushan, without changing her master. It's a gift of great future."

"But…"

Pressure pressed down on Zhang Ziwang. "What? Has Long Hushan lost the right to choose direct disciples from the Academy?"

Zhang Ziwang held firm. "Of course we can—but this matter is too grave. We need the True Person's approval."

"What if I insist on taking her?" A voice echoed from afar: "Where would you take her?"

Miao Zhen, sitting tense by the door, brightened. "Miao He, I think I heard Fourth Uncle's voice."

Miao He was equally excited. "I heard it too."

In midair, Xuan Miao stepped through the air, ignoring the spiritual vortex above, and landed gently on the roof.

Miao Zhen and Miao He immediately rose, ran into the courtyard, looked up, and called joyfully: "Fourth Uncle!"

Xuan Miao's expression was cold. She glanced down at them, her icy eyes softening slightly. "Return and resume your guarding."

Miao Zhen and Miao He shouted "Yes!" loudly, ran back to stand by the door, and stared fixedly at the figures on the opposite roof—no longer afraid.

Once the two girls returned, Xuan Miao lifted her gaze to the white-bearded elder on the opposite roof. "Pan Yun is my disciple of Sanqing Temple. Who dares take her? Who would dare?"

The elder's face darkened. He gritted his teeth. "Zhang Li, traitorous daughter—how dare you come to Long Hushan?"

Everyone on the roof lowered their heads in silence. Zhang Ziwang even stepped back two paces, leaving the field to the two.

Xuan Miao regarded him with cold clarity, ignoring his rage. "So you've truly fallen from favor. Don't you know I've returned home several times these past two years—and you knew nothing?"

!. ead

The elder trembled with fury. "Traitorous daughter! You've been expelled from the Zhang family! What right do you have to come here—to Long Hushan?"

"Uncle," Zhang Liuzhen arrived, clutching his chest as he coughed several times, then spoke solemnly: "My aunt has not been expelled from the Zhang family. Please watch your words."

"Liuzhen, look what she's done to you—and still you defend her."

Zhang Liuzhen lowered his eyes, masking the sharpness within. He smiled faintly. "Uncle, what happened back then was an accident. We were too weak, failed to exterminate the demon—it's no one's fault…"

"Hmph," Xuan Miao cut him off, her gaze freezing on the elder. "You know full well what really happened. If you truly seek justice for Liuzhen, dig up the past—and the first to be condemned is you."

"You—!"

These words tore his face off and trampled it. A flash of killing intent crossed his eyes as a golden energy sphere gathered in his palm.

Miao Zhen and Miao He below the eaves watched anxiously.

But Xuan Miao on the roof showed no fear—she stood ready to fight.

Zhang Liuzhen coughed softly, speaking calmly. "Third Uncle, my aunt has always been this fearless, blunt, and unyielding. Why quarrel with her?"

Li Wenying said: "Liuzhen, why Quan them? Let them fight. I want to see how much your sister has improved since going to Mount Sanqing. She fights like a woman possessed—six years ago, at sixteen, she single-handedly stormed Shihua Academy, dragged out Zhang Wei from the center guarded by four academy heads and eighteen Long Hushan Guards. Six years later, she's surely stronger. If they fight, I doubt Third Uncle can win."

Xuan Miao fixed her gaze on Zhang Zhengchang, eager to strike.

But the energy sphere in Zhang Zhengchang's palm slowly dissolved into nothing.

He snorted. "I won't stoop to your level. Zhang Li, leave Long Hushan's territory at once. If I see you again, I'll petition the True Person to banish you forever."

Xuan Miao sneered. "Go ahead and petition. I'd like to see if the True Person will agree."

Zhang Liuzhen glanced at Xuan Miao, warning her not to push too far—forcing the elder into a corner might trigger a fight they couldn't win, and they'd suffer dearly regardless.

Xuan Miao snorted and turned away.

Zhang Zhengchang was furious, muttering "traitorous daughter" repeatedly. "I'll ask Old Six and his wife how they raised their daughter."

He turned and left.

This time, Xuan Miao said nothing, watching him fly away.

Everyone on the roof turned to watch. No matter how they looked, his back seemed defeated.

Once he was gone, Xuan Miao turned coldly to Zhang Ziming and the other three. "Who else wants to take my Pan Yun as a disciple? Who wants to give her a Daoist name?"

Zhang Ziming and the other three walked away in silence.

Zhang Ziwang smiled inwardly—then Xuan Miao's gaze fell on him.

Zhang Ziwang immediately said: "Since Li has arrived, we no longer need to guard here. I'll take my leave."

Wang Gongze added: "I'll go too. Ziwang, let's leave together."

Xue Taixu bowed to Xuan Miao and turned to leave.

Lou Tong nodded to her and walked away.

Only Li Wenying and Zhang Liuzhen remained.

Xuan Miao glanced at the two, then at Zhang Liuzhen. "Are you well? You're so frail to be out."

Zhang Liuzhen smiled bitterly. "I've been ill too long. They all think I'm dying. My sword no longer intimidates. Wenying holding it might deter the academy heads—but not those coming up from below."

Li Wenying quickly said: "No one expected Third Elder to come up himself."

Xuan Miao said: "He has no shame. We still have ours. How can a man with shame guess the mind of one without?"

Li Wenying paused. "Sister, these past years with Tao Ji—you've learned many things, but your venomous tongue? You've mastered it completely."

Xuan Miao's face remained expressionless. "Thank you for the compliment."

(End of Chapter)