Chà Chà Novel

“Esteemed sect leaders and elders, the Baqi Sect asks for a little of your time today to address a matter of public concern.”

Yuan Tianba, the current leader of the Baqi Sect, had reached late Nascent Soul, but he was notorious for his pettiness.

Every immortal sect knew that offending the Baqi Sect was like having a rabid dog latch on and refuse to let go.

Someone among those seated could no longer bear it and remarked sarcastically, “Sect Leader Yuan, this assembly isn’t a venue for your sect’s petty squabbles.”

“Today’s matter is not a private concern of the Baqi Sect. It affects the entire cultivation world.”

From the head seat, Chu Xiuyuan sighed. Unless he let the man speak, they would get nowhere today.

“Then keep it brief, Sect Leader Yuan.”

Assuming an air of righteousness, Yuan Tianba declared solemnly, “Qin Du, a disciple of the Xuantian Sect, practices demonic cultivation, has injured an elder of our sect, and colludes with the demon race. I ask the assembled sect leaders to deliver a fair judgment.”

His words stunned the hall.

This was the Xuantian Sect’s own territory, after all. To accuse its disciple so openly of practicing the demonic path—the Baqi Sect really would say anything.

Quite a few disciples from other sects had witnessed the scene in the town below the mountain yesterday.

There had indeed been talk of a Xuantian Sect disciple fighting a Baqi Sect elder, though who had won remained unclear.

Chu Xiuyuan spoke.

“An accusation requires evidence, Sect Leader Yuan. How do you prove that our disciple practices demonic cultivation?”

“A mere Foundation Establishment disciple knocked our Golden Core elder down a stage with a single palm strike. Unless he follows the demonic path, what other explanation could there be?”

As expected of members of the same sect, even their reasoning was identical.

The onlookers began murmuring again.

“Which Baqi Sect elder was it? So weak that a Xuantian Sect disciple knocked him down a stage? Looks like the Baqi Sect is finished.”

“My disciple was there yesterday. Apparently, the young man was badly injured too. He nearly lost his spiritual roots.”

“Then they both suffered, didn’t they? What is the Baqi Sect still making a fuss about? Does everyone who defeats one of their elders count as a demonic cultivator?”

Chu Xiuyuan rubbed between his brows.

“Then let’s summon everyone who was present and have them give their accounts here.”

In truth, he did not believe for a moment that his junior brother Lin Huaiqing’s direct disciple would practice demonic cultivation.

The Baqi Sect’s disciplinary elder and Zhang Ting were already present.

After assessing the situation inside, Lin Huaiqing told Qin Du to remain outside the hall and observe while he went in first.

Whatever the truth of Qin Du’s cultivation, he did carry demon blood.

If the Baqi Sect discovered that, they would never let it go.

“Where is Qin Du? Has anyone been sent for him?”

“My disciple is gravely injured and has yet to regain consciousness. You can send for him once he wakes, Senior Brother.”

A slender figure in moon-white robes appeared at the entrance.

Wherever Lin Huaiqing went, everything seemed to slow. The moment he appeared, every gaze was drawn toward him.

As expected of someone ranked among the cultivation world’s three greatest beauties.

The ribbon covering his eyes only lent him a different kind of beauty.

He possessed a cool, fragile grace that ordinary beauties could never imitate.

For many of the sect leaders and elders present, this was their first time seeing Lin Huaiqing since he lost his sight. Somehow, he seemed even more mysterious than before.

“Junior Brother? Why have you come in person?”

Chu Xiuyuan rose and signaled for a disciple to bring him a chair.

“My disciple was beaten until he was gravely injured, then accused of demonic cultivation afterward. If I didn’t come, I fear these people would devour my young, delicate disciple alive.”

Thinking again of Qin Du lying weak and helpless in bed only made him despise these people more.

At those words, anyone who had witnessed Qin Du’s fight with the Baqi Sect elder yesterday found it difficult to agree.

Young, they could believe. The disciple looked no older than twenty.

But delicate? Where had that come from?

He was built like a young bull and had knocked a Golden Core cultivator down a stage with one palm strike.

“Hmph! Immortal Venerable Huaiqing certainly has raised a fine disciple! Attacking our disciples wasn’t enough—he attacked our elder too. If he were here today, would he try to climb over my head as well?”

“My disciple is not that sort of person. Unless someone provoked him first, he would never strike.”

Of that, Lin Huaiqing was certain.

“Is that so? Then let my direct disciple Zhang Ting explain exactly what was said in the tavern yesterday!”

Called upon, Zhang Ting showed no alarm. As though he had rehearsed it all beforehand, he declared solemnly, “Yesterday, I was chatting in the tavern with several fellow disciples. Qin Du, who was sitting nearby, seemed drunk. We were merely making a few casual remarks when he came over to attack me.

“I told him I was a Baqi Sect disciple. Without another word, he sent me flying with a palm strike. Fortunately, his spiritual energy was scattered from drinking, or I might not have survived.”

His account absolved him of all responsibility, placing the entire blame for the conflict on Qin Du.

Listening outside, Qin Du punched the doorframe, wishing he could sew Zhang Ting’s filthy mouth shut.

Lin Huaiqing did not know the precise details of that part of the incident, so he couldn’t speak recklessly.

But he was certain of one thing: this disciple named Zhang Ting was not telling the truth.

For a moment, the situation reached an impasse.

Should he bring Qin Du in to confront them?

But what if someone discovered his demonic identity?

Just as Lin Huaiqing was at a loss, a small, slender figure pushed through the crowd.

“I can testify! He’s lying! You insulted Immortal Venerable Huaiqing first. That’s why Qin Du argued with you!”

Fu’er was only fifteen. Today was her first time accompanying her master to an assembly of the immortal sects.

As it happened, she was the only eyewitness among those present.

Since she had been there, she could never stand by and let Zhang Ting make things up.

Yin Shuangyue hurriedly rose to pull her back, but the girl was stubborn and refused to budge.

The Xuantian Sect and the Baqi Sect were both among the cultivation world’s foremost powers. The Xianyue Sect wanted to offend neither.

Yet this little girl insisted on speaking out. Wasn’t she dragging their sect into the dispute too?

Realizing that nothing would move her, Yin Shuangyue pressed a hand to her forehead.

Forcing her back now would only make the Xianyue Sect look afraid of trouble. She could only let Fu’er continue.

Consider it a favor to Lin Huaiqing.

Exposed before the crowd, Zhang Ting’s expression turned ugly. He demanded loudly, “Where did this ignorant little brat come from? When did I ever slander Immortal Venerable Huaiqing? Don’t you dare spout nonsense on an occasion like this!”

His shouting left Fu’er’s eyes red with anger, but she still stood her ground and spoke up for what was right.

“Yesterday, in the tavern, you publicly said the Xuantian Sect was talking bullshit and that the Spirit-Suppressing Stone Immortal Venerable Huaiqing brought back was fake! When I defended him, you even called me his old lover!”