Chapter 400: Bungling Clowns Inviting Their Own Humiliation
Chapter 400: Bungling Clowns Inviting Their Own Humiliation
It was obvious at a glance that the man in dark robes and the feather headdress was long accustomed to power, and his majestic bearing was extraordinary.
The Cloudstone Venerate exclaimed, “Sect Master, when did you get here?”
The man in dark robes looked somewhat ashamed, and he sighed, “When I heard what that girl, Luoyu, said and did at the banquet at Celestial Waters Mountain Villa, I could no longer sit still. I rushed over and waited here to meet you and resolve any possible misunderstandings.”
Qiu Tianchi.
The leader of the Donghua Sword Sect, with cultivation at the peak of the Grain Avoidance Realm. In the Great Qin, authority figures of his level were so rare, you could count them on your fingers.
He was also Shang Luoyu’s master.
When they heard the name “Shang Luoyu”, the Cloudstone Venerate and Lan Suo’s eyes flashed with strange light.
“All of that’s in the past,” said the Cloudstone Venerate, his expression subtle. “You needn’t worry about it.”
Qiu Tianchi laughed. “Martial Uncle, when Luoyu gets back, I’ll be sure to have the girl apologize to you in person. Right… She didn’t come back with you?”
Lan Suo said harshly, “Shang Luoyu disdained my master and I. She chose to travel with Qin Dongxu and his companions instead, and she entered the ruins of the Immortals’ Sword House with them. Who knows whether or not she’ll make it back?”
Qiu Tianchi was stunned, and he smiled bitterly.
He’d long since learned that the Cloudstone Venerate was unwilling to join Qin Dongxu in opposing Su Yi, and that he and Shang Luoyu had once clashed verbally.
Add that to the fact that Lan Suo and Shang Luoyu had always detested each other, fighting both openly and in secret, and Lan Suo’s bad attitude was understandable.
“This time, Luoyu, that girl, really did go too far this time,” said Qiu Tianchi. He glanced at Su Yi. “And who is this young friend of yours?”
The Cloudstone Venerate initially didn’t plan to introduce Su Yi, but under the circumstances, he knew he couldn’t hide it. He immediately responded, “This is the imperial preceptor of the Great Zhou, Fellow Daoist Su Yi.”
Su Yi!
When Qiu TIanchi and the Donghua Sword Sect elders accompanying him heard this, their expressions shifted, and they couldn’t help but take another look at Su Yi.
He’d risen to prominence in the Great Zhou, and he was like a living legend. His reputation was already common knowledge.
Qiu Tianchi and the elders wouldn’t have guessed they’d encounter him at a time like this.
When they considered that Qin Dongxu, Clarifying Truth, Gu Qingdu, and various other peak experts of the Great Qin had all joined forces for the sake of destroying Su Yi, it seemed incredible that Su Yi had returned from the Sea of Chaotic Spirits alive. Their hearts filled with confusion.
What’s going on?
However, before they could finish pondering the implications, the Cloudstone Venerate said, “Sect Master, we planned to accompany Fellow Daoist Su into the city for a drink….”
Qiu Tianchi laughed. “This really isn’t a good place for a conversation. In that case, let’s leave together.”
The Cloudstone Venerate’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. He realized that Qiu Tianchi had already sensed that something was amiss. Still, after a moment’s silence, he nodded his agreement. “That’ll work too.”
From beginning to end, Su Yi acted as if none of this had anything to do with him, and he never once spoke up.
He could tell that the Cloudstone Venerate felt conflicted, which was why he didn’t immediately report what had happened in the Sea of Chaotic Spirits.
It seemed… He was worried that when they learned the truth, they wouldn’t be able to bear the shock, and they’d lose control of their emotions.
But it was obvious that Qiu Tianchi already suspected something.
Su Yi couldn’t be bothered to concern himself with the situation. He just wanted to eat a meal and have a drink. All other concerns were as fleeting as the passing clouds, unworthy of his attention.
……
It seemed every city had a restaurant named after it.
The Dongfu Prefectural Capital’s Dongfu Restaurant was one such establishment.
The restaurant had three floors in total, and it was built in the city’s most prosperous district. Its customers were either wealthy or noble.
Perhaps due to its proximity to the eastern seas, the majority of the Dongfu Restaurant’s dishes were seafood. They were fresh and delicious.
Su Yi and his dining companions sat in a hall on the third floor. Before long, all manner of delicacies filled the table.
Su Yi sampled various types of seafood between drinks, and his entire body relaxed.
This expedition into the Sea of Chaotic Spirits lasted about a week. He hadn’t encountered all that much danger, but even so, there was barely any time to stop and catch his breath.
As he sampled various delicacies and fine brews, he listened to the sounds emanating from the city streets. He took in the atmosphere of the mundane world, and his whole body relaxed.
Just like always, when he wasn’t cultivating, he was extremely lazy. He just wanted to quietly indulge and relax. He had no interest in following the petty squabbles of mundane affairs.
Su Yi was leisurely and at ease, but this was in stark contrast with his dining companions. Each had their own concerns, and within the private dining hall, the atmosphere was somewhat stifled.
After a few rounds of drinks, Qiu Tianchi couldn’t take it anymore. “Martial Uncle, did something happen in the Sea of Chaotic Spirits?”
The Cloudstone Venerate sighed to himself.?They say the truth will always come to light sooner or later. It seems the time has come.
The Cloudstone Venerate glanced at Su Yi. Only after he saw that Su Yi was still happily eating and drinking and that he voiced no objections did he say, “Indeed, but before we discuss this, I hope you’ll prepare yourself for the worst.”
Qiu Tianchi’s pupils constricted, and his sense of foreboding intensified. He took a deep breath, then nodded. “She went off in search of good fortune. It’s hard to avoid accidents and the unexpected. Martial Uncle, please give it to me straight.”
The other three Donghua Sword Sectelders all looked at the Cloudstone Venerate too, their expressions solemn.
The Cloudstone Venerate didn’t hide it. “Qin Dongxu, Clarifying Truth, Gu Qingdu, and You Changkong are all… All of them are dead.”
Despite mentally preparing themselves, Qiu Tianchi and the elders couldn’t help but gasp, and their expressions changed dramatically.
All of them were peak-level experts. Theirs was arguably the strongest lineup in the Great Qin. Who’d dare believe that all of them were dead?
Qiu Tianchi forced down his unease. “Don’t tell me Luoyu is also…”
“Yes, she’s dead too,” said the Cloudstone Venerate evenly.
It was as if Qiu Tianqiu had been struck by lightning. His hands shook, and his face went ashen. “How is this possible? Who killed them?”
The three elders couldn’t remain calm either. All of their faces filled with fury.
The atmosphere was now so stifled, it was hard to breathe.
Lan Suo glanced at Su Yi, only to realize that he didn’t seem the least bit concerned. He was ignoring them and drinking on his own in indescribable contentment.
She couldn’t help but sigh to herself.?This guy… It seems he’s always like this. A mountain could crumble right in front of him and he wouldn’t even blink.
It seems nothing can influence his mental state.
He just does as he pleases without inhibitions.
“This incident involves one of the Possessed. His name is Chu Xiu.”
On their way back, the Cloudstone Venerate learned the full story from Su Yi. Now, after a moment’s pondering, he recounted the entire tale.
When they learned that Nie Xingkong and Qin Fu had been possessed, and that they’d acted as double agents on Chu Xiu’s behalf to set a trap for Qin Dongxu and his allies, the elders’ hair stood on end.
They’d gone on a voyage in search of good fortune. Who’d have guessed there was a conspiracy behind it all?
When they heard that in response to Chu Xiu’s threats, Qin Dongxu and company lowered their heads in submission, Qiu Tianchi and the elders’ expressions turned incomparably grave.
“Since they chose to submit, why… Why are they all dead?” Qiu Tianchi couldn’t help but ask.
The Cloudstone Venerate fell momentarily silent, then said, “They joined forces with Chu Xiu to target Fellow Daoist Su, only to fall beneath his blade instead. That’s what happened.”
The entire room instantly fell so silent, you could hear a pin drop.
Qiu Tianchi and the elders’ faces filled with unconcealed disbelief. All those powerful cultivators, plus the even more terrifying Chu Xiu, had joined forces. How could Su Yi, a Xiantian Martial Ancestor, have killed them all?
This was absolutely earth-shattering news. Waves of emotion coursed through their hearts, and a long time passed before they regained their senses.
“I have a question. Might you enlighten me, Fellow Daoist Su?” asked an elder named Li Tuxing. He fixed his gaze on Su Yi.
Su Yi slumped lazily against the table, one hand supporting his jaw, the other holding a cup of wine. “Let’s hear it.”
Li Tuxing’s eyes flashed like lightning, and he said gravely, “You knew Chu Xiu forced Qin Dongxu and his companions to join him, so why not cut them some slack and spare their lives?”
Su Yi was stunned. He looked over and laughed, “I have a question for you too. You know full well that Qin Dongxu gathered his allies for the express purpose of killing me, so why would you ask something so stupid?”
The Cloudstone Venerate snorted coldly, “You only just heard the bad news. It’s understandable that your emotions would be in turmoil, but saying whatever pops into your head without first getting a clear picture of the situation is utterly brainless!”
Li Tuxing’s cheeks instantly flushed red, and he fell silent.
“Junior Apprentice Brother Li, you forget yourself.” Qiu Tianchi waved. “If this matter is indeed as Martial Uncle says, Su Yi is not to blame. Even if Luoyu was killed, she brought it upon herself!”
As he said that last part, his heart ached.
Shang Luoyu was his closed-door disciple, and she was extraordinarily talented. She was a legendary figure of the Great Qin’s younger generation, and he'd had high hopes for her.
Now, she had encountered calamity and fallen in battle. As her master, how could he not regret her loss?
Qiu Tianchi paused, then looked at Su Yi. “Fellow Daoist, I imagine the Celestial Xiezhi Sword is now in your hands?”
Su Yi nodded. “It is.”
“The sword is the treasure of our Donghua Sword Sect,” said Qiu Tianchi. “Fellow Daoist, please return it to its rightful owners.”
The Cloudstone Venerate and Lan Suo’s hearts instantly tensed.
Su Yi flipped his palm, and the Celestial Xiezhi Sword appeared with a clang and hovered in front of him.
“So long as you think you can take it, you’re welcome to try it,” said Su Yi casually. He swept his gaze across Qiu Tianchi and the elders.
The atmosphere was instantly stifled and oppressive.
A white-haired elder in golden robes glowered. “Fellow Daoist Su, what do you mean by this? Do you plan to seize the treasure of our Donghua Sword Sect for yourself?” 𝚋𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚘𝚟ｅｌ．𝚌ｏ𝚖
Su Yi glanced at him. “I said you’re welcome to come and take the sword, not that you’re welcome to spout nonsense. Say even one more sentence out of turn, and I’ll kill you.”
This rebuke left the white-haired, golden-robed elder ashen-faced with anger. He shot to his feet and said, “All I have to do is grab a sword! I’ll just do it, then!”
As he spoke, he walked right up and reached for the hilt of the Celestial Xiezhi Sword.
Bzzz!
The thick, massive blade let out an impassioned hum and burst with indomitable sword light.
Bang!
The white-haired, golden-robed elder let out a muffled grunt, staggered back, and fell onto his but. He felt as if he’d just touched a lightning bolt, and his whole right arm was in agony.
The entire group was shaken, and they looked at each other in astonishment.
Su Yi sat alone before the table. He took a drink, shook his head, and laughed dryly.
As if he were looking at a bungling clown inviting his own humiliation.