ILDV Chapter 37

“……”

Accept your three sword strikes and the grievance will be resolved? Gu Fuxuan, do you even hear yourself talk! A trip to the Heavenly Punishment Ravine at most means suffering some hardship, but receiving three full-powered strikes from a Mahayana stage sword cultivator’s natal sword—whether one could even keep breathing afterward is uncertain!

Hua Qilan nearly choked on her breath, barely managing to maintain her gentle expression. She kept reminding herself that she was here to save someone, her fingers gripping the handkerchief so tightly they turned pale blue-white. Her gaze shifted meaningfully, “Martial Uncle Gu says the two martial nephews were wronged, but I see that Martial Nephew Feng and Martial Nephew Xu… appear unharmed?”

“Is that so?”

Gu Fuxuan’s tone was noncommittal. Qin Xun reacted much faster than Xu Rong, pulling aside his clothing to reveal a shoulder covered in bruises and red swelling. Recalling the suffering he endured in the Thirteenth Hell, he needed no preparation to show genuine emotion, his eyes reddening with grievance.

There was no need for further words. With such ironclad evidence before her, Hua Qilan was left speechless.

She racked her brains and said dryly, “If that’s the case, then there’s absolutely no violation of sect rules. Even Martial Uncle Shen, as a sword master, has been imprisoned in the ravine. Peak Master Zhou cannot show favoritism and disregard the sect’s regulations.”

Lin Xinqiao shot her a look of disbelief. Hua Qilan groaned inwardly but also felt somewhat annoyed at this woman’s failure to recognize what was good for her. The Heavenly Punishment Ravine might be harsh, but it was still better than losing one’s life under Gu Fuxuan’s sword!

Zhou Rui had good relations with the Jihe Alliance’s Lin family, but had no connection with the Hua family. If not for his ancestral master’s orders, who would want to risk their life to save this muddle-headed fool?

Gu Fuxuan’s long eyebrows furrowed slightly. He was reluctant to let this person off so easily, but couldn’t think of an appropriate argument for the moment.

Qin Xun cleverly picked up the conversation, “Is this Martial Sister Hua’s idea, or Martial Sister Lin’s?”

It was already quite remarkable that Gu Fuxuan could be unreasonable in standing up for his martial nephew. To expect him to engage in verbal sparring was truly too much to ask. When Hua Qilan’s gaze fell on him, he tacitly approved of Qin Xun’s approach.

Hua Qilan suppressed her anger and asked, “What difference does it make?”

Qin Xun replied, “Martial Sister Lin is Peak Master Zhou’s only disciple. If she says it, I’ll assume Peak Master Zhou willingly entered the Heavenly Punishment Ravine. But Martial Sister Hua has no connection to him, so this martial nephew can’t help but question Peak Master Zhou’s magnanimity.”

“You’re bully—”

Lin Xinqiao’s eyes reddened with urgency. Just as she opened her mouth to retort, the hand resting in her palm moved slightly. Her body trembled violently, and when she spoke again, she had already swallowed her humiliation and lowered her head, “…Yes. Master feels guilty, so naturally… he’s willing to accept the punishment.”

After using his last bit of clarity to give his disciple a hint, Zhou Rui lost strength and fell unconscious again. After an unknown amount of time, in a half-awake state, he vaguely heard complex voices around him, seeming to argue, then quickly fading to near silence.

He was awakened by the cold.

The chill seeped into his bones, penetrating through his thin clothing into his flesh. His injuries had only been simply treated, dried blood stuck to his body, and the charred, curled skin had lost all sensation. Without spiritual power to protect against heat and cold, he even had the illusion that the blood in his body had frozen.

Zhou Rui supported himself against the wall and shakily stood up. Before his eyes was an icy, snowy landscape, with clouds and mist churning above.

——Even with all his mental preparation, he never imagined that the one surnamed Gu could be so ruthless.

He had originally thought that Elder Li, being so concerned with face, would absolutely refuse to admit she’d been deceived by him. Without evidence, even if Gu Fuxuan guessed the truth, there was nothing he could do. Who would have thought that the bond between Gu and Shen was truly as legendary as the rumors claimed, and that even an honest person like Gu Fuxuan, when pushed to the limit, could fabricate charges.

Someone lightly tapped on the mountain wall. Zhou Rui instinctively looked over to see a familiar figure in snow-white robes crouched on a protruding stone platform a few meters away, smiling as he greeted him, “Awake now?”

Zhou Rui: “……”

The Heavenly Punishment Ravine was divided into many separate spaces by intricate and varied formations. What appeared empty to the naked eye could actually turn the world upside down with one wrong step, not to mention the thunder dragons watching covetously overhead.

Generally speaking, prisoners thrown in here would obediently stay in place, waiting to be retrieved when their sentence was complete. Meeting each other was basically impossible. Shen Muxuan, who dared to wander around without spiritual power, was the anomaly.

The snow-robed man stood steadily on the stone platform, not advancing another step. A quick glance up and down gave him a clear view of Zhou Rui’s injuries. His long eyebrows rose slightly, “Shen dimly recalls that Peak Master Zhou isn’t the sharp-tongued type. How did you end up provoking even someone as soft-hearted as my martial brother, to the point where he wouldn’t even let you treat your wounds before throwing you down here?”

Zhou Rui choked, and considering the time when Shen Muxuan was imprisoned in the Heavenly Punishment Ravine, couldn’t determine whether this was a genuine question or sarcasm.

Based on Jin Yue’s miserable state, if he knew about it… Tianji Daojun wasn’t someone with a patient and accommodating temperament.

Zhou Rui kept his composure, “Rui also doesn’t know how I displeased Tianshu Daojun. I hope the Daojun will enlighten me.”

Shen Muxuan narrowed his eyes slightly, “Peak Master Zhou’s meaning is that my martial brother is indiscriminate and wronged you?”

“Rui would never dare to think—”

Shen Muxuan suddenly tapped his finger against the invisible barrier before him. Though it shouldn’t be visible to the naked eye or audible to the ear, Zhou Rui faintly felt something violently trembling in the void, making crisp tapping sounds, as if it could shatter into thousands of pieces at any moment.

He suddenly froze.

So Shen Muxuan smiled again, “Shen recalls that you’re one of Elder Li’s faction. Elder Li holds the esteemed position of Enforcement Elder—how is it that Peak Master Zhou still knowingly breaks the law?”

Zhou Rui’s face stung from this casual reprimand. His lips moved a couple times but he still didn’t dare to argue back. He could only secretly grit his teeth in anger, wishing he could drag that ungrateful person back through time to personally witness the ‘indiscriminate Tianshu Daojun.’

Bringing his sword and barging in to confront them—what difference was there from Tianji beating Jin Yue? They truly were worthy martial brothers from the same lineage!

Shen Muxuan continued his one-sided questioning, “Speaking of which, regarding the mastermind who caused Shen to be imprisoned in the Heavenly Punishment Ravine, I wonder if my martial brother has found any leads?”

Zhou Rui: “…………This… Rui doesn’t know either.”

Shen Muxuan looked at him meaningfully for a moment, the subtle emotion in his eyes making Zhou Rui’s heart pound nervously. Could something have been discovered?

Zhou Rui dared to scheme and harm from behind, but didn’t have the courage to directly face the sword edge of the Seven Swords of Taihua.

“Fine then.” Shen Muxuan’s demeanor grew noticeably more languid, probably seeing that no useful information could be extracted. He leaped down from the stone platform and strolled away leisurely, “This place is bitterly cold. Peak Master Zhou surely knows the sect’s rules. When Shen was thrown into the ravine, all medicine and other possessions were confiscated. Therefore, regarding these injuries, please endure them for now, Peak Master.”

By the end, his voice had become extremely faint and winding, having apparently passed through several more formations and wandered off somewhere.

Zhou Rui’s spirit and energy relaxed, only then realizing his thin robe was completely soaked with sweat.

The icy mountain wall carried the cold wind from the ravine sweeping through. He curled his fingers and supported himself against the wall, struggling forward, trying to use his shallow knowledge of formations to find a relatively safe and comfortable place.

Normal temperature changes couldn’t freeze a cultivator to death—the Heavenly Punishment Ravine’s most dangerous aspect was far from this. As for that most perilous place—perhaps except for the Daozhu, no one could emerge from it unscathed.

Zhou Rui leaned against a hollow in the mountain wall, closing his eyes to rest briefly.

He actually bore no personal enmity toward Tianji Daojun. It just so happened that the other party had taken Xu Rong as a disciple at this critical juncture, and for Xinqiao’s sake, he absolutely couldn’t let Xu Rong go—regardless of whether the opponent was an exceptionally talented ordinary disciple or Tianji Daojun’s direct personal disciple.

This conflict was irreconcilable, just like the deep blood feud between Xinqiao and the Seventh Venerable. Crippling one’s foundation—it was no less than killing one’s parents.

Thinking of his old friend who died miserably, Zhou Rui’s expression became even more resolute.

Without family or parents, he was Xinqiao’s only support. If even he gave up, who else would avenge his old friend’s death?

Yin Lang found a withered branch extending from the cliff wall and sat down. This spot was about seventy meters from the bottom of the cliff. Looking down, he could see hundred-zhang ice layers below, and further beyond, lush greenery—separated by just one wall from a spring landscape.

He stared at the flourishing flowers and trees in that world for a long time, then slowly moved his gaze to the thunder dragons churning in the clouds above. Golden-white cracks reflected in his pitch-black pupils, and amid the changing light and shadow, something seemed to grow even more profound.

With a thunderous boom, Yin Lang pulled back his wandering thoughts and pondered his current situation.

The old man’s task for him still hadn’t made any progress. His willingness to turn a blind eye while his martial brother threw someone down here surely contained an element of appeasement. Xie Tingxuan was helping keep watch over the Northern Demon Territory, so no major problems should arise in the short term…

He stroked his chin, seriously considering—there shouldn’t be anything else… right?

Meanwhile, the eldest disciple who had once again been forgotten by his master was conscientiously executing his well-practiced specialty—cleaning up his master’s messes.

By “mess,” he specifically meant a certain protagonist.

Qin Xun had never seen anyone who could attract trouble like this in his entire life.

This “attract” didn’t mean “provoke,” but rather “draw in.” All males seemed to hate Xu Rong as if he’d dug up their ancestors’ graves in a past life. Small troubles every three days, major troubles every five—he couldn’t have a moment’s peace whenever he left Tianji Peak.

Today it was Elder Zhao’s nephew and children, tomorrow Peak Master Lin’s disciple, and the day after, even Elder Lu’s treasured peacock tail feathers could somehow mysteriously end up in Xu Rong’s possession. Yet every time an investigation concluded, Xu Rong was completely innocent—the conflicts were always instigated by the other party, and lost items were deliberately hidden on him by others to frame him.

If his master hadn’t been the one to take in this disciple, Qin Xun would almost suspect this “protagonist” was deliberately here to cause trouble!

When Lu Li retrieved his lost tail feather and expressed his gratitude to Qin Xun, his manner was calm and composed, not at all like someone who’d just recovered a precious treasure.

Qin Xun’s heart tightened as he probed cautiously, “Junior Grand Martial Uncle Lu, I remember you always kept all your treasures together. How did you not notice this was missing for so long?”

Lu Li said indifferently, “I probably forgot to put it away after admiring it one day.” With that, he handed over a thank-you gift for Qin Xun to pass along and left with a chuckle.

A stingy peacock working undercover in a human sect could forget to properly store his own shed tail feather?

Qin Xun took a deep breath and vigorously rubbed his face to stay calm.

“From now on, you’re not allowed to wander off alone. Wherever I go, you follow.” Qin Xun announced this decision with no room for refusal, completely disregarding Xu Rong’s objections as he forcibly attached a spiritual artifact to him.

Xu Rong’s face was full of reluctance and “what’s wrong with you,” but he still couldn’t resist the Young Venerable’s iron grip. The spiritual artifact firmly restricted him to within Qin Xun’s line of sight.

“Where is Martial Brother going?”

“To collect our monthly stipend.” Qin Xun didn’t look back. Xu Rong was unwilling to stay so close to him and had to follow stiffly, struggling to maintain their distance within a hundred meters, otherwise…

His body rushed forward uncontrollably, and when his collar was grabbed from behind, he was mere inches from the other’s chest.

Xu Rong’s face turned iron-blue. Qin Xun’s expression wasn’t much better either as he said impatiently, “Do you want to crash into me again?”

After several rounds of this torment, before the Young Venerable’s patience ran out, Xu Rong finally resigned himself to being carried along by him in flight.

The process of collecting their monthly stipend was unnaturally peaceful, and the two martial brothers smoothly exited the hall.

Just when Qin Xun thought his instincts had been wrong, Hua Qilan and Lin Xinqiao appeared together, neither sparing the two even a glance. Yet this dismissive, contemptuous attitude made Qin Xun breathe a huge sigh of relief internally.

“Let’s go, back to the mountain to practice swordsmanship.” He coldly reprimanded, “Unstable footing, stiff joints, losing strength after just three hours—are you trying to embarrass Master if I let you go out!”

Xu Rong ground his teeth in anger, but didn’t want to be beaten up by this jealous fool in front of others, especially before Hua and Lin. He bit back his words, “…Yes, I’ll practice extra on my own when we return.”

His obedience exceeded Qin Xun’s expectations, so he couldn’t very well continue finding fault. Just as the two were about to leave, Xu Rong’s peripheral vision caught sight of another familiar figure heading straight in their direction.

Qin Xun, with the mindset of avoiding trouble, pretended not to notice. However, the woman stopped precisely in their path and said softly, “Martial Nephew Feng, though my Hua family has fallen on hard times, we cannot tolerate such humiliation from you master and disciple.”

Qin Xun felt an ominous premonition rising. When he noticed everyone in the hall casting what they thought were subtle gossiping glances, his unease intensified. 

Hua Feiying met his gaze, a coldness flashing through her slightly curved eyes. When she spoke again, her voice already carried a sob, “Years ago, Shen Muxuan deceived my daughter’s feelings for the sake of my Qingnang Peak’s treasure, the Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Pill. Now his disciple has come to seduce my daughter for his own advancement, only to abandon her once his goal was achieved… Your Tianji lineage truly lives up to its reputation!”

Qin Xun: “…………”

Xu Rong, you damned bastard—this Young Venerable is going to flay you alive!!!