ILDV Chapter 38

The feeling of being pierced by thorns on his back could no longer adequately express Qin Xun’s current state of mind. He didn’t need to turn around to know just how thick with gossip the gazes of those disciples in the hall were.

When watching other people’s gossip, the Young Venerable delighted in it. But when the melon-eating reached his own people—especially his Master, whom he respected most in this life—he simply couldn’t tolerate it.

——Especially when a certain foolish protagonist beside him was also looking at him with shocked eyes.

I’ll deal with you when we get back.

Qin Xun smiled slightly, his eyes already carrying murderous intent. He said slowly, “Martial Aunt Hua, you can eat food carelessly, but you can’t speak carelessly.”

Since Hua Feiying dared to stand here, she had naturally made thorough preparations. She smiled miserably and said desolately, “What mother would joke about her own daughter’s reputation? Martial Nephew Feng, you dare to do it, but don’t dare let others speak of it?”

She stepped forward, questioning shrilly, “Do you dare swear to the heavens that the Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Pill that disappeared overnight from Qingnang Peak’s secret chamber decades ago didn’t go into your belly, Feng Lan?”

Qin Xun—Qin Xun truly didn’t dare.

Because that Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Pill from Qingnang Peak had indeed been obtained by Yin Lang through schemes, having Hua Qilan retrieve it for him and personally feeding it into his mouth. Master disdained doing things like deceiving people’s feelings, but his methods… were indeed not very honorable.

However, this didn’t mean Qin Xun was willing to let others bring up this matter.

Without that pill, Qin Xun would have died in his swaddling clothes long ago—how could there be today? If Master was the person Qin Xun cared about and respected most, then this matter was his reverse scale, tolerating no one’s contempt.

He slowly clenched his palm and laughed extremely lightly, “Martial Aunt Hua can’t control her own daughter, loses things and blames it on my Tianji lineage—isn’t that rather unreasonable?”

“Martial Nephew, changing the subject like this—could it be you have a guilty conscience?”

Hua Feiying was someone who had lived for several hundred years. If she truly got serious, Qin Xun definitely couldn’t out-argue her.

After saying this, she didn’t continue entangling but openly followed Qin Xun’s meaning and switched targets, instead making Qin Xun appear to lack confidence. “Fine, then let’s talk about what good deeds your martial brother has done.”

“A few days ago, Martial Nephew Feng wasn’t in the sect. Martial Aunt won’t take advantage of you—everything I’m about to say, you can ask any disciple here to verify.” Her confident assurance made Qin Xun’s heart sink even further.

If it were only Xu Rong, he could throw him out without a shred of guilt. But looking at Hua Feiying’s posture, she obviously wouldn’t truly let go of Master’s past affairs. Qin Xun shot Xu Rong a ‘figure it out yourself’ look and immediately raised his alertness to the maximum.

Hua Feiying started from when Xu Rong refused to take Li Baisu as his master, briefly emphasizing how Hua Qilan had cared for Xu Rong during the period when he lived among the inner disciples and repeatedly failed to take Tianji as his master, especially highlighting Xu Rong’s attitude of completely accepting this.

Then her words took a sharp turn, sternly and painfully denouncing Xu Rong’s abruptly changed attitude after successfully taking a master. When the gentle senior sister who came to congratulate him, treating him no differently than before, he wasn’t even willing to spare a single false word of deception to placate her, bluntly stating that if not to suffer less ostracism during the days before taking a master, he would never have wronged himself by engaging in false pretenses with this senior sister.

As a mother, she truly couldn’t bear to see her daughter suffer such grievances. Even if it meant forming a blood feud with the Tianji lineage, she would definitely seek justice for her daughter!

After this speech with all its rises and falls, even Qin Xun felt this cheap martial brother was truly a scumbag of Tribulation stage level—the kind that even being subjected to a thousand cuts wouldn’t relieve the anger. Not to mention the fellow martial brothers and sisters secretly eavesdropping—each one’s gaze was like knives, which if materialized could directly poke Xu Rong into a pile of mincemeat.

Xu Rong: “…………”

His current mood was extremely similar to Qin Xun’s from a cup of tea ago.

Damn it, living this life over, this one surnamed Hua hadn’t caused trouble, so he only remembered Li Baisu and nearly forgot that both the Hua mother and daughter were ruthless characters not to be trifled with!

The hand Feng Lan pressed on his shoulder tightened in warning. Xu Rong’s mouth filled with bitterness, and he actually felt a sense of déjà vu to his desperate situation before death in his previous life. Because what Hua Feiying said about his conduct… truly not a single sentence was false! This woman had taken the art of language to its extreme.

Xu Rong had indeed borrowed the influence behind Hua Qilan to ensure his life among the inner disciples wouldn’t be bullied. But when Hua Qilan proactively came to find him, didn’t the various signs she showed indicate she had her own calculations? Using each other—who was cleaner than whom?

At least he had lived a second life. After a brief moment of confusion, Xu Rong quickly thought of a rebuttal. “Martial Aunt, those words are incorrect.”

Bearing the piercing gazes from all around, Xu Rong stepped forward and declared loudly, “Martial Aunt says Rong deceived Senior Sister Hua’s feelings, but that’s just your one-sided story. People have mouths—anyone can spout nonsense. Rong originally didn’t wish to embarrass an elder, but you speaking of me is one thing—you must go and insult my Master’s character and dignity, so I must discuss this matter with you properly.”

After finishing that last sentence, a gaze beside him noticeably warmed.

Xu Rong internally cursed ‘vinegar-drinking master-controller’ and quickly continued, “At the time, it was Senior Sister Hua Qilan who came to find me first, correct?”

Hua Qilan, suddenly called upon, subconsciously nodded. When Lin Xinqiao beside her forcefully squeezed her palm, she recalled what her mother had instructed her before coming out and hurriedly became alert, standing at full attention.

Who would have thought Xu Rong wouldn’t question her further, instead patting the shoulder of a male disciple present. “This senior brother, I find you familiar—you were probably in the same place as me back then. Tell me, did I ever proactively seek out this Senior Sister Hua, or accept any help from her?”

“…Seems like no.” The moment their eyes met, the male disciple’s gaze went blank for an instant. When he spoke again, he was even more certain, “No. Every time it was Senior Sister Hua who proactively came to find you, and she never entered your courtyard. You were consistently poor, and nothing good mysteriously appeared on your person.”

Inner disciples each had their own affairs—how could they have so much time and energy to notice such details? Yet this Golden Core stage male disciple was so certain, it momentarily influenced quite a few people’s already vague memories.

“Seems like that’s true…” “I also remember when Junior Brother Xu came and left, his possessions hadn’t changed at all…” “I think Martial Aunt Hua probably wouldn’t joke about Senior Sister Hua’s reputation…”

Only Qin Xun in the hall narrowed his eyes.

No wonder the Soul-Confusion technique left no aftereffects—turns out this kid also knows the same type of spell technique. But how did he, a mortal prince, learn immortal techniques?

Hua Feiying said coldly, “Boy, you have a sharp tongue. But no matter how you argue, facts are facts. Do you dare swear that from your entry into the sect until taking a master, you never received even the slightest bit of Qilan’s help?”

Xu Rong sneered, “Martial Aunt, you keep making people swear at every turn. Since you’re so confident, why don’t you swear first?” He raised his eyes, a fierce glint flashing through his black pupils. “Could it be… Martial Aunt is just a liar full of false words?”

Hua Feiying could still maintain composure, but Hua Qilan grew anxious.

Her mother had promised that as long as she cooperated, she could quickly rescue Muxuan from Heavenly Punishment Ravine and make Muxuan grateful to her, greatly increasing the possibility of rekindling their romance. 

But looking at the current situation, forget rescuing Muxuan—her and her mother’s reputations were about to be destroyed!

She had originally received Grand Master Li’s task to approach Xu Rong. She wasn’t clear why she had to do this, but she truly didn’t have even the slightest romantic thoughts about Xu Rong!

“I…”

“Does Senior Sister Hua also want to argue with Rong? Or do you want to display your usual skill of making trouble unreasonably?”

Having started smoothly, Xu Rong’s performance flowed even more naturally. His grasp of rhythm was superb, giving no opportunity at all for Hua Feiying, who was still trying to put on airs, to interrupt. Much less Hua Qilan, whose verbal skills were inferior to her mother’s.

If she said yes, she would be admitting that what Xu Rong said was the truth. If she said no, wouldn’t that be tacitly admitting she was making trouble unreasonably?

For a moment, she was caught in a dilemma.

If Xu Rong would consider her feelings, he wouldn’t have been that harem-opening scumbag in his last life. He smiled and leaned back, hands pressed on the table behind him. “Let’s not even mention that Senior Sister never expressed her feelings to Rong. Even if she had, Rong would absolutely not speak of it to smear Senior Sister’s name. A woman’s reputation is precious to begin with, but Martial Aunt Hua insists on being relentless, even insulting my Master—then you can hardly blame Rong for speaking rudely.”

“Never mutually expressing feelings, never exchanging tokens, not even spending time alone together. Rong dares say his relationship with Senior Sister is completely pure and innocent. Martial Aunt Hua insists on pinning such accusations on Rong and Master—is it that you truly don’t care about your own daughter’s reputation, or is it that to frame Master, you’re willing to discard even your own daughter’s good name?”

How heart-piercing.

Watching this left Qin Xun amazed and utterly convinced.

Worthy of being the protagonist. Taking all the advantages, then reversing the blame onto the opponent. If it were him, Qin Xun, he definitely couldn’t bring himself to use a woman’s reputation as leverage.

Hua Feiying never expected this minor disciple she had overlooked to have such a sharp tongue. She had deliberately chosen a time when Shen Muxuan couldn’t break away, when the decision-makers Gu Fuxuan and Feng Lan were both not good with words, specifically to pin down Shen Muxuan directly. Best if he could be imprisoned in Heavenly Punishment Ravine for life to obediently supply blood, absolutely preventing him from having any chance to retaliate against Qilan!

She trembled with rage and cursed directly, “Is this the disciple Shen Muxuan taught? Full of lies, disrespecting elders—how does he have the face to wield our Immortal Sect’s divine sword? Could it be he used some devious methods like back then!”

Pffft.

Xu Rong truly couldn’t hold it in. Covering his mouth, anyone could see how hard he was struggling to contain himself. 

Hua Feiying immediately realized she had misspoken, her face turning deathly pale. She could speak of anything, but the last thing she should have done was mention the Seven Swords of Taihua!

The status of sword masters was recognized by the immortal swords themselves. She could angrily denounce Shen Muxuan’s moral failings, but she absolutely could not question his loyalty to the sect!

The surrounding disciples’ gazes toward her immediately turned wrong.

After finishing his laugh, Xu Rong straightened up and stared directly into her eyes. “Martial Aunt Hua, please swear an oath. Since you feel only swearing can prove one’s innocence and righteousness, then let’s do as you wish. As long as you dare swear that not a single word you just said was false, Rong will immediately submit to punishment without a second word.”

How could Hua Feiying dare!

Never mind that last angry curse spoken in her loss of composure—even those words about Hua Qilan involved her deliberately using verbal tricks to distort the facts. Once she swore an oath, the Nine Heavens’ Thunder would strike immediately.

For a moment, she froze in place, sweat pouring down.

Qin Xun laughed lightly.

Before he could speak, Hua Feiying seemed to be reminded of something. She took a deep breath and steadied herself again. “Forcing an elder to swear—it seems the prince’s upbringing isn’t all that impressive. He doesn’t even understand basic hierarchy.”

She inconspicuously pressed her fingers together in her sleeve. “Regarding Martial Nephew Xu’s matter, I also spoke based on hearsay. In my anger, I spoke hurtful words—that is my fault.” She admitted her mistake quite decisively.

Then her words took a sharp turn, pointing back at Qin Xun. “But regarding Tianji Daojun’s matter, I knew the entire process from beginning to end. Martial Nephew Feng, you should at least give me a reasonable explanation, shouldn’t you?”

Using Shen Muxuan’s honorific title while switching back to addressing him as martial nephew—any discerning person could see she felt guilty.

Qin Xun didn’t care about that, since he never argued with those about to die.

He lightly patted Xu Rong’s shoulder, generously passing him an approving look. Xu Rong felt this was probably the most favorably this cheap senior brother had viewed him since they met.

Qin Xun said indifferently, “Explanation? Martial Aunt Hua, Lan originally didn’t want to damage Senior Sister Hua’s reputation, which is why I tolerated your many presumptions. But seeing your aggressive attitude, I’m afraid you have no intention of making peace with us.”

Having been challenged by Xu Rong, Hua Feiying felt somewhat uncertain in her heart. Facing Feng Lan, she also couldn’t quite muster her righteousness. Forcing herself to appear calm, she coldly snorted, wanting to see how Feng Lan would distort this established fact.

Qin Xun opened his mouth and dropped a thunderbolt. “I don’t know what Senior Sister Hua’s thoughts and intentions are, but I dare guarantee that Master never had even the slightest bit of inappropriate feelings toward Senior Sister Hua. To him, Senior Sister Hua has always been nothing more than a martial niece who needed to be looked after.”

“You’re lying!”

Xu Rong’s multiple attacks hadn’t broken Hua Qilan’s composure, but Qin Xun’s single statement easily shattered her defenses.

Supporting herself on Lin Xinqiao, she swayed unsteadily, eyes filled with tears, her voice never so shrill before. “Muxuan couldn’t possibly not love me—he personally said he liked me!”

Qin Xun looked at her, eyes containing pity. He gently shook his head and, under Hua Qilan’s tear-blurred gaze, raised one hand.

“Hasn’t Martial Aunt Hua always wanted me to swear? Martial Nephew is too lazy to continue entangling with you. I’ll swear.”

At these words, the disciples in the hall unavoidably looked at Hua Feiying with suspicion in their eyes.

Feng Lan actually dared to swear? Didn’t that prove…

Hua Feiying was also stunned.

Her lips moved. After thinking it over, she gritted her teeth and added another line, “Willing to swear? Since Martial Nephew is so confident, why not go all the way—how about swearing a Heart Demon Oath? Just say ‘If even half a sentence of what I say is false, may my cultivation never advance again in this life!'”

“Holy shit!” 

“This is too…” 

“If you don’t dare say it, I will—Martial Aunt Hua has truly become shameless.” 

“Cough, junior brother is perhaps too straightforward…”

Everyone knew that for spirit cultivators, Heart Demon Oaths were far more severe than Heavenly Dao oaths. Heavenly Dao oaths could still exploit loopholes in language, but Heart Demon Oaths judged the heart, not the words.

Hua Feiying turned a deaf ear, staring intently at Qin Xun. “Well, Martial Nephew, are you certain you want to swear?”

Qin Xun almost laughed out loud. He struggled to maintain his smiling expression and slowly nodded at Hua Feiying——

“I’ll swear.”