Chapter 169

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

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

As soon 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 faintly. "Can you move Yuanli now?"

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

Li Wenying extended her hand. "Give me the sword. You barely held on to your life—don't take unnecessary risks."

Zhang Liuzhen frowned.

Li Wenying smiled slightly. "What, afraid I can't hold them off? My face, your sword—then we unfurl Zhang Li's banner. Who dares move? Besides, there's Wang Feiyin's banner too."

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

Li Wenying took the sword, turned, and flew straight off the second floor, stepping across the tiles until she stood at the corner of Fengqi Courtyard's roof, directly facing Pan Yun's room.

Seeing Miao Zhen spotted a sudden figure on the roof, startled, clenched her sword tightly, pressed her right hand against the hilt, and drew half the blade with a swift hiss.

Li Wenying glanced down at her, then lifted her robe and leaned sideways against the roof, cradling the sword as she stared at the spiritual energy cluster in midair.

After Li Wenying, others gradually arrived.

Xue Tai Xu arrived fastest; he didn't join Li Wenying but stood not far away—just ten paces off—watching the thickening spiritual energy cluster with her.

He sighed. "Truly 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 misfortune for our Daoist path."

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

"I did. Couldn't see through it—up and down, unpredictable."

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

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

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

Yet they formed a triangular formation without a word.

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

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

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

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

"Has she taken a Daoist title yet?"

Zhang Ziwang shook his head. "Not yet."

Zhang Ziming smiled. "I have a fitting Daoist title 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 faintly. "So what? She's among mortals now—she still needs guidance."

Li Wenying scoffed. "If you can wrest her from Wang Feiyin's grasp, I'll perform a handstand and defecate on the spot."

Everyone on the roof fell silent.

Zhang Ziming's face twisted in disgust as he turned away, catching sight of the sword in her hands. Curses choked his throat—he held them back.

In the silence, someone stepped through the air.

All turned their heads, expressions sharpening, straightening their bodies and bowing in unison—regardless of seniority, they clasped their hands and said: "Master."

Li Wenying lowered her 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."

"Strong talent. Has she taken a Daoist title?"

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

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

Zhang Ziwang said: "Ritual arts. In her entrance examination, she ranked first in ritual arts."

The newcomer was even more pleased. He stroked his beard. "Excellent. Excellent. She comes from Mount Sanqing yet shows talent in ritual arts—that's rare. I will select her as a direct disciple of Long Hushan. Transfer her academic record to me."

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

"Such a minor matter—why disturb the True Person?" he said. "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…"

A pressure of authority bore down on Zhang Ziwang. "What? Has Long Hushan lost the right to choose direct disciples from the Academy?"

Zhang Ziwang held firm. "Of course it can—but this matter is too grave. It requires the True Person's approval."

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

Miao Zhen, seated tense before the door, brightened. "Miaohe—I think I heard Fourth Master's voice."

Miaohe also stirred with excitement. "I heard it too."

There, in midair, Master Xuanmiao stepped through the air, then ignored the spiritual vortex above, descending slowly onto the roof.

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

Master Xuanmiao's expression was cold. She glanced down at them, her icy eyes holding a faint warmth. "Return. Resume your guard duty."

Miao Zhen and Miaohe shouted loudly: "Yes!" and ran back to stand before the door, their eyes fixed sharply on the figures across the roof—no longer afraid.

The two children returned. Master Xuanmiao raised her gaze to the white-bearded elder on the opposite roof. "Pan Yun is a disciple of Sanqing Temple. Who dares take her? Who would dare?"

The elder's face darkened. He gritted his teeth. "Zhang Li—rebellious daughter! How dare you come to Long Hushan?"

All those standing on the roof lowered their heads in silence. Zhang Ziwang quietly stepped back two paces, leaving the battlefield to the two women.

Master Xuanmiao regarded him with icy clarity, ignoring his rage. "It seems you've truly fallen from favor. Don't you know? For the past two years, I've returned home frequently—and you knew nothing?"

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The old Taoist, enraged by her mockery, trembled with fury: "Rebellious daughter! You've been expelled from the Zhang family—what right do you have to come here, to Long Hushan?"

"Uncle Ancestor, cough—" Zhang Liuzhen arrived, clutching his chest as he coughed several times, then said 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, concealing the sharpness within, and smiled lightly: "Uncle Ancestor, what happened back then was an accident—we were too weak, failed to exterminate the demon. It's no one's fault…"

"Hmph, why explain any of this to him? Everyone knows the truth of that time," Master Xuanmiao cut in, her gaze freezing as she fixed the old Taoist: "If you truly wish to uphold justice for Liuzhen, dig up what happened back then—the first one to face punishment and confess guilt will be you!"

"You—!"

These words were like tearing off the old Taoist's skin and grinding it underfoot. A flash of killing intent passed through his eyes as a golden energy sphere gathered in his palm.

Seeing Miao Zhen and Seeing Miao He, beneath the eaves, grew frantic with worry.

But Master Xuanmiao, standing atop the roof, showed no fear—she was ready to fight him.

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

Li Wenying said: "Liuzhen, why persuade them? Let them fight. I want to see how much progress Sister Zhang has made in these years at Mount Sanqing. She fights like she doesn't care if she lives or dies—back then, at only sixteen, she single-handedly stormed the Ten Hua Courtyard, dragged out Zhang Weiyuan from the center guarded by the Four Courtyard Masters and Eighteen Dragon-Tiger Guards. Six years have passed—she must have improved. If they fight, I doubt Third Uncle Ancestor will win."

Master Xuanmiao fixed her gaze on Zhang Zhengchang, eager to strike.

But the energy sphere in Zhang Zhengchang's hand slowly dissolved into nothingness.

He sneered: "I won't stoop to argue with you. Zhang Li, leave the Hushan Realm at once. If I see you again, I'll petition the True Person to banish you from Long Hushan forever."

Master Xuanmiao sneered: "Go ahead and submit your petition. I'd like to see if the True Person will agree."

Zhang Liuzhen couldn't help glancing at Master Xuanmiao, warning her not to push too far—if she forced him into a corner and they had to fight, they might not win, but neither would they come out unscathed.

Master Xuanmiao snorted and turned her head away.

Zhang Zhengchang was furious too, muttering "rebellious daughter" several times: "I'll ask Old Sixth and his wife how they raised their daughter!"

With that, he turned and left.

Master Xuanmiao finally said nothing more, watching him fly away.

Everyone on the roof turned to look—no matter how they viewed it, his back seemed disheveled.

Once he was gone, Master Xuanmiao coldly scanned Zhang Ziming and the other three: "Who else wants to take my Pan Yun as a disciple and give her a Dao name?"

Zhang Ziming and the other three walked away in silence.

Zhang Ziwang smirked inwardly—then Master Xuanmiao's gaze landed on him.

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

Wang Gongze also said: "I'm leaving too. Brother Ziwang, let's go together."

Xue Taixu bowed to Master Xuanmiao, then turned and departed.

Lou Tong also nodded to her, then turned and left.

Only Li Wenying and Zhang Liuzhen remained.

Master Xuanmiao swept her gaze over the two, then fixed it on Zhang Liuzhen: "Are you well? Why go out looking so frail?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled bitterly: "I've been ill too long—they all think I'm dying. My sword's aura no longer intimidates. Wenying holding the sword might hold off the Courtyard Masters, but she may not stop those coming up from below."

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

Master Xuanmiao said: "He has no shame—we do. How can those with shame guess the thoughts of those without?"

Li Wenying paused before saying: "Sister, in these years with Tao Ji, I don't know what else you've learned—but your venomous tongue? You've mastered it completely."

Master Xuanmiao, expressionless, said: "Thank you for the compliment."

(End of Chapter)