Chapter 008: Only Children Make Choices

Sun Changfeng, upon hearing this, glanced over at Xiao Jihan and indeed saw bloodstains on him.

He understood what had transpired, spun around, and shot Qiu Shuoran a fierce glare, then forced a smile and said, “This matter is indeed the fault of my unworthy disciple. From now on, I will discipline him strictly and ensure that today’s incident never happens again.”

As the saying goes, behind every troublemaking child, there is always a parent who indulges them.

Yan Shu gave a cold snort. “So according to you, my disciple’s blood was spilled for nothing?”

Sun Changfeng was momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered and replied urgently, “Of course not. I have here three superior-grade Essence Nurturing Pills for Brother Xiao to heal his injuries and restore his strength. In addition, I am willing to offer two hundred low-grade spirit stones as compensation.”

Essence Nurturing Pills could clear the meridians and strengthen one’s foundation, a fine medicine for those in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages—and naturally, they also aided in healing.

Sun Changfeng clearly thought Xiao Jihan was still in the Qi Refining stage, hence his offer of three superior-grade Essence Nurturing Pills.

As for the spirit stones, two hundred low-grade stones wasn’t much, but an outer sect disciple’s monthly stipend was only fifty.

Yan Shu had been inclined to refuse outright—these things hardly interested her—but after a moment’s thought, she sent Xiao Jihan a message in secret: “Do you want the compensation, or do you want to vent your anger with a beating?”

Xiao Jihan looked at her with a hint of surprise in his phoenix-like eyes.

Was this woman truly standing up for him?

When he didn’t respond, Yan Shu assumed it was because he didn’t know how to send secret messages; after all, this pitiful prodigy was self-taught, and not knowing such techniques was understandable.

So she messaged again: “If you want the compensation, take two steps forward. If you want to vent your anger with a beating, stay where you are.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jihan’s gaze grew colder.

Favorability: -86 (Extreme Hatred)

Yan Shu: …

Just one look, and she loses more favorability points. Was her appearance really that revolting to him?

She was a little unnerved.

Yan Shu immediately turned her head, about to speak, when a cold voice reached her via secret transmission: “Disciple wants both.”

Yan Shu: …

Fair enough—children don’t make choices.

She turned to Sun Changfeng and said coldly, “Since your disciple dared to attack mine, some compensation is only right. But he also overstepped his rank. This can’t be let go so easily!”

Xiao Jihan was Yan Shu’s disciple, making him Sun Changfeng’s peer; in terms of seniority, Qiu Shuoran had indeed overstepped.

Sun Changfeng sighed inwardly and spoke: “Shishu, you are absolutely right. What do you think would be appropriate?”

“It’s simple,” Yan Shu replied coolly. “My disciple is at the Qi Refining stage, and he was injured by someone at the Foundation Establishment stage. In the spirit of fairness, I will suppress my cultivation to the early Core Formation stage and won’t use the Nine-Section Thunder Whip—if he can withstand one palm from me barehanded, the matter is settled.”

On the surface, her words seemed reasonable, but the reality was far more severe.

The gap between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment was like that between a brook and a stream—but between Foundation Establishment and Core Formation, it was as great as between a stream and a mighty river.

The difference was vast, yet Sun Changfeng had no right to refuse.

The woman before him was not someone he could afford to provoke. Even if things escalated to his master, given how his master and the other uncles doted on her, they would sooner hand her the Thunder Whip so she could exact her satisfaction.

Sun Changfeng sighed, stepped aside, and said, “I hope Shishu will show mercy.”

Qiu Shuoran immediately panicked. Who was Yan Shu? A mutant spiritual root, born with a Dao body! Even if she suppressed her cultivation to early Core Formation, one palm from her would cost him most of his cultivation, if not his life.

He was just about to form his core—if he took this blow, all his efforts would be wasted.

Qiu Shuoran looked anxiously at Sun Changfeng. “Master!”

Sun Changfeng felt the pain too, but he had no choice. He scowled and said, “Unworthy disciple! You overstepped your rank. Even if Shishu Yan does not punish you, the Discipline Hall would! Don’t make things worse for yourself.”

He then sent a secret message: “Don’t panic. I have a Spirit Gathering Pill from your grandmaster. Even if your cultivation is damaged, as long as your spiritual root remains intact, you’ll recover in a few days.”

With these words, Qiu Shuoran finally steadied himself.

He shot a venomous glare at Xiao Jihan, then turned and bowed to Yan Shu. “Disciple is willing to accept punishment.”

Yan Shu wasted no more words and, with a single palm, struck him in the chest.

With a muffled groan, Qiu Shuoran staggered back several steps before stopping, blood spurting from his lips.

Sun Changfeng’s heart ached at the sight. This was the disciple he’d wrested away from his fellow apprentices!

“This is but a small punishment,” Yan Shu said coldly, her gaze sharp as she turned to Sun Changfeng. “Today I’ll make myself clear, and I ask you to spread my words. Xiao Jihan is my only personal disciple. In the past, I did not interfere because Heaven tests those it wishes to entrust with great responsibility, first tempering their will and body.”

“But that does not mean I will tolerate anyone bullying him! From this day forth, to bully him is to insult me. If you seek death, you are welcome to try!”

Sun Changfeng trembled at her words and respectfully bowed. “I will remember your words.”

Yan Shu snorted coldly, cast a final warning glare at Qiu Shuoran, then turned and strode away.

As she passed Xiao Jihan, she maintained her aloof air, lifting her chin and keeping her gaze straight ahead.

Xiao Jihan glanced at her cool, ethereal beauty, lowered his eyes, and stepped into the courtyard, extending his hand to Sun Changfeng. “Senior Brother, my compensation.”

Sun Changfeng: …

Though his heart bled, he had no choice but to retrieve the Essence Nurturing Pills and the two hundred low-grade spirit stones from his mustard seed pouch and hand them to Xiao Jihan.

Xiao Jihan accepted them, put them away, and left.

As he walked away, Qiu Shuoran’s eyes were like poisoned daggers.

Sun Changfeng approached him, handed over the Spirit Gathering Pill, and said, “This is the only one I have left. If you make trouble again, even I can’t protect you. Go and heal—don’t provoke Xiao Jihan again. Even when beating a dog, you must mind its owner!”

Qiu Shuoran accepted the pill, his hatred undiminished. He looked at Sun Changfeng and asked, “But what if I must beat that dog?”

Sun Changfeng narrowed his eyes. “Then do it when the dog’s owner is away. Conceal your identity and beat the dog to death, so that even if the owner seeks revenge, they can’t find the culprit.”

Qiu Shuoran pondered for a moment, wiped the blood from his lips, and bowed. “Thank you, Master. I understand.”

Yan Shu strode out of the courtyard, outwardly cool and arrogant, but inwardly elated and full of anticipation. Admittedly, she’d wanted to strike Qiu Shuoran partly to avenge the loss of favorability points.

But whatever the reason, she had avenged Xiao Jihan, hadn’t she?

And her speech about Heaven testing the chosen had successfully explained away why the original master had ignored Xiao Jihan for over a year.

Qin Wan could barely stop herself from applauding—so clever, truly worthy of herself!