After the Nascent Soul cultivator was bound by the two senior martial brothers, Kong Hou’s legs went weak. “Senior Sister Linghui, please support me.”
“Are you injured?” Linghui helped Kong Hou jump onto the flying sword, thinking that because she was young and concerned about appearances, she was too embarrassed to show her disheveled state after being injured in front of ordinary people. She asked in a low voice, “Where did that old beast hurt you?”
“I’m not injured, it’s just… my legs are a bit weak.” Kong Hou felt somewhat embarrassed and covered her face with her hands. Even though that Nascent Soul cultivator’s cultivation was achieved by piling up medicinal pills, his cultivation level was still far higher than hers. The pressure aura emanating from him had pressed down on her until she could barely breathe. However, in that situation, if even she had shown a timid attitude, wouldn’t the people of Yong City, who had lived carefree lives for years, have become frightened as well?
As a disciple of Yunhua Sect, she felt she couldn’t just stand by and watch such things happen. Her father had wronged the common people of the world, but as a direct disciple of Yunhua Sect, she couldn’t wrong the people of Yong City.
“Silly junior martial sister.” Linghui smiled and gently tapped Kong Hou’s forehead. Her smile carried a touch of tenderness. “Although you’ve only just established your foundation and are still young, you already understand what benevolence and righteousness mean. That’s already quite remarkable.”
Cultivation went against the heavens, so Yunhua Sect emphasized cultivating the body externally and virtue internally. Junior martial sister had outstanding talent—at only fourteen years old, she already had the courage and kindness to stand before evil people for the sake of common folk. This was even more precious than her five spiritual roots aptitude.
She understood Master Uncle Wang Tong’s personality well—he would never drag his disciples around spouting benevolence and righteousness all day. Yet all three direct disciples of Qiyue Peak were exceptionally outstanding, so outstanding that even her own master was jealous.
Looking at Master Uncle Wang Tong leading the way ahead, still holding two fish, a chicken, and a duck in his hands, Linghui couldn’t help but smile. These were all gifts from the city residents who insisted that Master Uncle Wang Tong accept them no matter what, nearly pulling his robes off in the process.
“Quack quack!”
The plump duck being held upside down opened its beak wide and let out an indignant cry. Wang Tong shook it vigorously in his hand until it fainted from dizziness.
Kong Hou looked at the plump duck—should it be stewed in soup or braised?
Wang Tong brought the Nascent Soul cultivator directly before the sect leader. When Sect Leader Heng Yan saw the disheveled Nascent Soul cultivator, he asked Kong Hou and Linghui, who were standing behind Wang Tong, “What happened here?”
Linghui recounted the entire sequence of events in detail.
“Mm.” Heng Yan nodded and looked at the Nascent Soul cultivator with a gentle expression. “This Daoist friend, we in Yong City value harmony above all. Your behavior has put everyone in Yunhua Sect in a difficult position.”
Seeing the sect leader’s gentle demeanor and the hint of a smile in his words, the Nascent Soul cultivator felt a glimmer of hope. “Sect Leader Heng Yan, what I did today was inappropriate. If you let me leave the mountain, I will definitely compensate those common people properly.”
“Recognizing one’s mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue. I’m very gratified that you have such awareness.” The smile on Heng Yan’s face became even more pronounced. He turned to the disciple behind him and said, “Wu Chuan, go fetch a set of clean clothes for this Daoist friend to change into.”
The Nascent Soul cultivator’s heart filled with great joy. It seemed this Heng Yan was preparing to let him go.
“Please rest assured, Daoist friend. The prison cell I’m arranging for you is extremely clean, with mild lighting and quiet surroundings. It won’t affect your meditation or rest.” Heng Yan picked up his teacup and took a light sip. “I recall that Cell Ding hasn’t held anyone yet, so please, Daoist friend, endure the inconvenience for a few days. After your elder brother arrives, I’ll release you.”
“What? You’re not sending me out now?” The Nascent Soul cultivator was shocked. If he wasn’t being released, why had he just said all that nonsense?
“Cities have city rules, and sects have their bottom lines. You’ve misunderstood, Daoist friend.” Heng Yan set down his teacup and raised his eyelids slightly. “Wu Chuan, please escort this Daoist friend down. Remember, it’s Cell Ding—don’t get it wrong.”
“Yes, Master, your disciple obeys.” Wu Chuan retrieved a rope from his storage pouch and threw it onto the Nascent Soul cultivator, binding him tightly. Aside from his legs being able to move, his entire body seemed to have lost all strength.
The Nascent Soul cultivator began to feel afraid. He wanted to cry out, but found he couldn’t even make a sound.
Damned Yunhua Sect, using such underhanded methods!
“Cell Ding?” Kong Hou had never been to Yunhua Sect’s prison before and didn’t understand why Master Uncle the Sect Leader emphasized this particular cell.
Linghui whispered, “Cell Ding is rather special. For all twelve hours of the day, one cannot see any light, and there’s a sound-blocking formation inside so not even a hint of noise can be heard. That’s why it has non-intense lighting and is quiet.”
No light and no sound—this kind of prison cell was quite frightening.
Looking up at the smiling Master Uncle the Sect Leader, Kong Hou unconsciously lowered her head even more, adopting a more respectful posture.
“You all did very well today, but there were also improper aspects.” Heng Yan directed his gaze toward the several direct disciples. “Confronting a Nascent Soul cultivator for the safety of common people is courage, but one must not act with courage alone without strategy. If today it had been a Nascent Soul cultivator with even more ruthless methods, could you have guaranteed that everyone would escape unscathed? If your Master Uncle Wang Tong hadn’t arrived in time, what would the consequences have been?”
The several direct disciples hung their heads in shame. Master Uncle the Sect Leader was right—they had indeed been too impulsive today.
Seeing that they had taken his words to heart, Heng Yan nodded with satisfaction. “Although your strategy was insufficient, your actions today deserve praise. Each of you go to Five Elements Hall later to collect a reward of fifty spirit stones, then go back and think carefully about what more prudent ways there might be to handle such situations in the future.”
Wang Tong turned his head to look at Heng Yan. Nothing for him?
“We respectfully receive Master Uncle the Sect Leader’s teachings.” The direct disciples were thoroughly convinced by Heng Yan’s reprimand.
“You’re all still young. Being able to do this much is already very good.” Heng Yan ignored Wang Tong’s gaze and said to Kong Hou, “Kong Hou, you did very well this time. You knew to notify your master in advance and found ways to delay time. However, your actions afterward were too hasty. If your martial brothers and sisters hadn’t used their magical treasures to cover for you, your master might not have been able to block that strike in time, and you would definitely have been seriously injured. Remember, when things haven’t completely concluded, even if victory seems certain, you cannot be the slightest bit careless.”
“Thank you, Master Uncle the Sect Leader. Kong Hou has taken this to heart.” Kong Hou pondered thoughtfully. Master Uncle the Sect Leader was right—her disguise hadn’t been thorough enough. She would definitely do better in the future.
“All of you go rest. You’ve been frightened today as well.” After Heng Yan dismissed the direct disciples, he turned to look at Wang Tong and said in frustration, “That reward is for the younger generation. How can you have the nerve to claim it?”
“If you give it, I’ll certainly have the nerve to claim it.” Wang Tong said, “How can one not take what’s rightfully deserved?”
“Fine. I’ll have Five Elements Hall deduct one hundred spirit stones from your debt ledger.” Heng Yan waved his hand. “Go, go, go. I get angry just looking at you.”
“Senior martial brother, when Yuxiao Sect comes to ransom… to collect their person, we can’t let them take him away for free.” Wang Tong coughed. “Don’t you agree?”
Heng Yan knew what scheme he was plotting and said helplessly, “Since you’re the one who captured him, I’ll leave the follow-up matters to Qiyue Peak to handle.”
“Thank you, senior martial brother. Junior martial brother takes his leave.” Having achieved his objective, Wang Tong left cleanly and decisively, lest senior martial brother the sect leader roll his eyes so hard his eyeballs popped out.
After Wu Chuan had locked up the Nascent Soul cultivator, he saw Kong Hou standing at the prison gate and walked over to her. “Junior Martial Sister Kong Hou?”
“Senior Martial Brother Head Disciple.” Kong Hou smiled at Wu Chuan. “What kind of people are locked up inside?”
Girls of fourteen or fifteen always harbored some curiosity about things they hadn’t seen before. Seeing Kong Hou craning her neck to look inside, Wu Chuan said with a calm expression, “Inside are some people who violated the moral code of the cultivation world, as well as disciples from our sect who committed mistakes.”
“Our sect… also has disciples locked up inside?” Kong Hou was stunned. In her perception, everyone in the entire sect was good, and she couldn’t imagine what they’d look like committing mistakes.
“Even Liuguang Sect, which acts most rigorously, has disciples who make mistakes.” Wu Chuan’s expression remained calm as he turned and walked up the stairs. “I’ll take you inside to look.”
“Is that allowed?” Kong Hou was eager to try.
“Mm.” Wu Chuan nodded, his expression somewhat subtle. “In any case, in a few days we would have arranged for you to see this place anyway.”
Yunhua Sect had an unwritten rule that disciples who had just established their foundation all had to come to the prison for a tour. Using the most realistic consequences, they would understand the fate of those who wantonly committed violence after gaining cultivation. The more miserable the viewing subjects, the better the effect.
Originally they had planned to wait until Kong Hou turned fifteen before bringing her to see, but since she was already here, he might as well take her for a viewing session now.
The prison didn’t have the moldy stench Kong Hou had imagined, but it was very cold—the kind of cold that seeped into one’s bones, making her very uncomfortable. Seeing them enter, the people locked inside didn’t dare shout loudly. Those who had been picking their feet or cursing all stood up straight, as if trying their utmost to demonstrate to them that they had reformed well and would absolutely be perfect saints after getting out.
These small rooms all had formations that suppressed the five elements. No matter how formidable a cultivator was, they could only be ordinary people here.
The deeper they went, the stronger the cold sensation became. Kong Hou even saw someone in a certain room undergoing punishment, their entire body a bloody mess without a single intact spot.
“This person used young boys and girls to practice his techniques. Nearly a hundred ordinary children died at his hands.” Wu Chuan said, “So he was sentenced to death by a thousand cuts.”
Kong Hou felt somewhat uncomfortable with such bloody scenes, but she wasn’t timid or afraid. Instead, she cursed in a low voice, “He deserves it.”
“Our Yunhua Sect has the finest medicinal pills. Before the sentence of death by a thousand cuts is completed, he won’t die.” Wu Chuan turned his head to observe Kong Hou’s reaction, his lips curving slightly, and continued leading her further inside.
Kong Hou soon witnessed the eighteen different fates of evildoers. When she walked out of the prison gate, she had only one thought:
Being a good person really is wonderful.
The flying letters Yunhua Sect sent to the various major sects soon reached their hands, including Liuguang Sect, on which Yuxiao Sect depended.
Liuguang Sect was the cultivation world’s sect with the greatest power, strictest management, most geniuses, most magical treasures, most disciples, most ferocious sword cultivators, and even the most great masters participating in compiling various essential reading materials for cultivators.
Seeing Yunhua Sect suddenly send them a flying letter, Liuguang Sect’s sect leader Jin Yue turned to ask the others, “Has anything major happened at Yunhua Sect recently?”
The others all shook their heads. Apart from them finally accepting a disciple with five spiritual roots, there didn’t seem to be anything else.
Jin Yue was even more puzzled. Given Yunhua Sect’s character of not liking to meddle in affairs, they would actually take the initiative to send them a letter—could it be that someone had provoked them? Decades ago, some foolish young sect heir had run to Yunhua Sect’s jurisdiction to cause trouble and was severely dealt with by Yunhua Sect, who even specially sent letters to all the major sects, causing that young sect heir to lose all face. Sixty years had passed since then, and that former young sect heir still didn’t have the face to go out.
Outsiders only knew that everyone in Yunhua Sect was lazy and easygoing, but they didn’t know that Yunhua Sect’s temperament was such that they wouldn’t get angry easily, but once angered, they would kill you—and if they couldn’t kill you, they would cripple you.
With such a precedent, there shouldn’t be anyone brainless enough to provoke them again.
Jin Yue thought this way and opened the envelope with the mentality of watching excitement unfold. As soon as he looked, his face darkened.
**Author’s Note:** Yunhua Sect Leader: For children, cultivation level isn’t most important. What’s important is not going astray. Quality education cannot be delayed.
Thanks to all you big shots for the nutrient solution and landmine tickets. The nutrient solution seems to be almost at twenty thousand—sending kisses to everyone, see you tomorrow~
[Translator’s note: Author acknowledgments of reader gifts have been omitted as they are metadata unrelated to the story content]