Chapter 007: Here Comes the Protector

In just a moment, Wuxu Peak was in sight.

On the square of Wuxu Peak, a few disciples practicing their techniques spotted Yan Shu and were all taken aback. Hadn’t Elder Yan not set foot off Supreme Peak for over a year? Why had she suddenly appeared today?

No sooner had this thought crossed their minds than Yan Shu, simmering with anger, stood before them.

She put away her flying sword and looked at the disciples. “Just now, who was it that injured my disciple?”

The disciples were stunned by her question and turned their gazes to Xiao Jihan, who was standing behind Yan Shu.

“Why are you looking at him?” Yan Shu’s eyes grew cold. “I am asking you all—who struck my disciple earlier?”

Sensing her genuine fury, the disciples hurriedly replied, “Elder Yan, it was Qiu Shuoran, Senior Kong’s chief disciple, who injured Uncle Xiao.”

Yan Shu frowned. “Qiu Shuoran? Never heard of him.”

The disciples exchanged awkward glances.

One mustered the courage to say, “He’s… he’s the top-ranked of the new disciples.”

Yan Shu thought for a moment. “Never heard of him.”

The disciples were speechless. He was, after all, the top among the new disciples. Several elders nearly fought over him, and even if you never care for outside matters, couldn’t you at least pretend to know of him?

Yan Shu cared nothing for who was number one or not. She only wanted to know which wretch had cost her ten points of favorability, leaving her unable to regain them even with two flying swords!

She would not be satisfied until she taught him a lesson for this slight!

Her voice was icy. “Where is this… whatever-his-name-is, now?”

“It’s Qiu Shuoran,” a disciple kindly reminded her. “He should be receiving instruction from Senior Kong at the moment.”

That answer was as good as none. The original host had devoted herself entirely to cultivation before her heart demon appeared, and after, all her energy went to resisting it. The only time she’d left Mount Immeasurable was to lure Xiao Jihan, having heard he bore the Pure Yang Constitution.

How could she possibly know who Senior Kong was, or where to find him?

She gazed at the disciple. “You will take me to him.”

The disciple regretted his words but dared not refuse Yan Shu, so he braced himself. “Please, Elder Yan, this way.”

As they passed Xiao Jihan, the disciple couldn’t help but regard him with disdain. Trash was trash—beaten because his skills were lacking, and now he had to trouble Elder Yan to defend him!

Then again, wasn’t Elder Yan supposed to treat him as nothing more than a menial? Why would she go out of her way to speak up for him?

Xiao Jihan seemed not to notice the contempt; he followed Yan Shu with an impassive face, his phoenix eyes as cold as ever.

The disciple led Yan Shu to a courtyard and pointed to a figure cultivating beneath a tree. “Elder, that’s Qiu Shuoran.”

Yan Shu glanced at the youth under the tree, then strode directly into the courtyard.

Qiu Shuoran had already reached late Foundation Establishment, just a step away from the Golden Core. At this moment, he was in deep meditation, following Senior Kong’s guidance as he attempted to form his core.

Suddenly, a cool, clear female voice sounded before him. “You are Qiu Shuoran?”

Having failed yet again to form the core, Qiu Shuoran was already seething. He snapped his eyes open and barked, “What’s the meaning of this? Didn’t my master say—no one is allowed—”

But when he saw who it was, he immediately stood and bowed respectfully. “Elder Yan, what brings you here?”

Watching his rapid shift of expressions, Yan Shu’s voice was cold. “So it was you who struck my disciple?”

Qiu Shuoran was momentarily taken aback and glanced at Xiao Jihan by the courtyard gate—trash, as ever.

He withdrew his gaze and forced a smile for Yan Shu. “Elder, you misunderstand. I merely hadn’t seen Uncle Xiao in some time and wished to seek his guidance. I simply didn’t expect…”

Here he looked over at Xiao Jihan, feigning a troubled air, and then lowered his voice, “I simply didn’t expect Uncle Xiao would be injured after just one exchange.”

Misunderstanding, was it!

Lost ten points of favorability in an instant—how dare he call that a misunderstanding!

Yan Shu sneered. “It seems you are very much in need of instruction. Since you seek guidance, instead of him, I shall do it myself!”

With a sharp flick of her wrist, a long whip appeared in her hand with a crisp snap.

The whip was made of nine segments, its body a silvery violet, wreathed in lightning. It had been crafted over a century by the late Sect Master of Heavenly Mysteries, forged from thundercrystals and sacred woods, with thunder and fire for tempering. When it first appeared, it drew nine bolts of heavenly lightning and was a supreme post-heavenly spiritual treasure, a step away from becoming innate.

Seeing the nine-section thunder whip in Yan Shu’s hand and the violet lightning coursing along it, Qiu Shuoran finally felt a chill of fear.

He looked up at Yan Shu. “Elder, what… what do you intend?”

“I intend to instruct you.”

Yan Shu’s voice was cold. “You said my disciple only took one of your moves. I am always fair; you need only take one of mine in return.”

Without waiting for a response, she raised the nine-section thunder whip and lashed out at him.

With her cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage, even if she was unfamiliar with the techniques, a blow from Yan Shu was not something a mere Foundation Establishment disciple could withstand.

He didn’t even have time to react—the whip was already upon him.

Just as it was about to strike, a sudden surge of spiritual power knocked the whip aside, making it land just past Qiu Shuoran.

A flustered figure rushed over, pulling Qiu Shuoran behind him.

Sun Changfeng looked at Yan Shu, nearly in tears. “Elder, this won’t do! That whip of yours could shatter even a Nascent Soul. He’s not even formed his Golden Core yet—are you trying to kill him?”

Oh, so he’s just a child, is he?

Yan Shu frowned at Sun Changfeng. “And you are?”

Sun Changfeng bowed. “Elder, you may not recall; my master is Shi Wanqing, head of Wuxu Peak. I am his third disciple—and Qiu Shuoran’s master.”

Yan Shu understood at once: this portly fellow was the brat’s master, here to shield his disciple.

She looked at Sun Changfeng and said coldly, “Your disciple sought my instruction. Why are you so anxious? If I truly meant to take his life, do you think you could have stopped that strike?”

If it had been Yan Shu at her peak, even Sun Changfeng at late Nascent Soul would not have been able to block her blow.

“It was my mistake,” Sun Changfeng said hastily, forcing a smile. “May I ask what happened, that you would trouble yourself to come from Supreme Peak to instruct this unworthy disciple?”

“It’s nothing much.” Yan Shu turned and pointed to Xiao Jihan, who had remained detached throughout. “Your disciple asked mine for guidance. My disciple, not very skilled, spat blood after just one exchange. Since he so dearly wishes for instruction from Supreme Peak, I cannot let him be disappointed.”