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nThank you Meg for the Ko-fi!

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nEditor: Casey

nFor the first time, Shi Qing discovered someone who was his match in acting.

nHe watched as his big bear apprentice cowered pitifully in his arms, his voice muffled, “Thank you, Shizun. This disciple would have died for sure if you didn’t come.”

nRong Jue could feel the other person’s thin waist that could be encircled by a single-arm stiffen due to his words. Shi Qing tried to push him away, but Rong Jue pretended not to notice. In fact, he only tightened his grip.

nSupreme Elder Shi Qing was about to continue to shove him when the people chasing after Rong Jue caught up.

n“How dare you run away! I’m going to beat you to a…”

nThe leader’s harsh words trailed off. He shifted his gaze upwards, only to be confronted by Shi Qing, who was regarding him with a cold expression.

nHis face drained of all colour as he quickly got down on one knee and paid his respects as a junior. “This disciple greets the supreme elder.”

nHis lackeys naturally followed suit, their voices somewhat unified.

n“Disciples greet the supreme elder!”

nShi Qing looked at the group kneeling to him.

nTheir leader looked very much like a cannon fodder with his crooked eyes and slanted mouth. He was wearing the same Chi Yun Sect disciple robes as Rong Jue, but the difference was night and day.

nHe averted his eyes in disgust and sternly asked, “Which peak are you from?”

n“T-this disciple is Zhang Paohui from Chi Xia Peak.”

nThe people behind him immediately replied as well. They were all from Chi Xia Peak.

nShi Qing was as cold as ever. “What guts you people from Chi Xia Peak have. You dare to come to my Qing Jian Peak and harm my Qing Jian Peak disciples.”

nAs soon as the words were spoken, those kneeling under the ground started sweating rivers.

nZhang Paohui grit his teeth hatefully. He had inquired beforehand and discovered that Rong Jue was not favoured by Supreme Elder Shi Qing. He wasn’t even allowed treatment for his injuries. That was why Zhang Paohui had dared to come over to look for trouble.

nHow would someone as busy as a supreme elder have time to seek justice for a mere disciple he didn’t even like? Not to mention the fact that Rong Jue was now an invalid. There was nothing to be gained by defending him.

nBut this guy must’ve taken one too many blows to the head or something. He didn’t act proud like before, instead, he ran at the sight of their group and shouted for help.

nHe was supposed to be the eldest disciple of Qing Jian Peak, a cultivator who had almost reached the Void Refining Stage! Had he no shame?!

nZhang Paohui dared to bully Rong Jue, but offending Shi Qing was another matter entirely.

nAlthough this supreme elder only got his position due to nepotism, Qing Jiang Peak had an extensive network of influence.

nHe grit his teeth and tried to spin the situation in his favour.

n“Please don’t misunderstand, Supreme Elder. This disciple came to visit because I have always admired Rong-shixiong and heard he was in an accident. But for some reason, Rong-shixiong started running as soon as he saw us. We were worried because Rong-shixiong was still injured, so we chased him here.” Zhang Paohui said, feeling very justified again.

nYes, although his words were slightly twisted, they weren’t far from the truth.

nEven if he’d thought of countless ways to humiliate Rong Jue in his head, he hadn’t implemented them yet, had he?

nAs he thought about it like that, all the remaining guilt on Zhang Paohui’s face cleared. His voice grew louder. “The supreme elder is wise. Please don’t get the wrong idea here.”

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nBefore Shi Qing said anything, Rong Jue, who had been &#k2018;fearfully’ and &#k2018;cautiously’ hiding in his arms, got up first.

nHe hadn’t been lying either.

nIn his last life, the demon lord was indeed humiliated by these people. At that time, he still believed in justice. Rong Jue thought that Chi Yun Sect would punish these people with the injuries on his body as proof.

nBut to his surprise, their shamelessness far exceeded the imagination of the Rong Jue of the past.

nThey teamed up and backstabbed him, saying that he had tripped by himself and that his injuries were so severe because he was now a mortal.

nCoupled with the fact that Rong Jue had old injuries that he didn’t seek treatment for, it then resulted in the group’s lies to be taken as the truth.

nIn the end, he was expelled from the Chi Yun Sect. Not only was he injured, but he also became infamous for falsely accusing his fellow disciples.

nThe demon lord hid behind Shi Qing. A hint of amusement flashed by in his beautiful eyes.

nNow that he had been reborn, it was time for these people to have a taste of what it was like to be falsely accused and not given a chance to fight back.

nHe carefully moved behind his Shizun some more. “Shizun, he’s lying.”

nThe demon lord utilized 120% of his acting skills. Seemingly filled with bitterness, he lowered his head and whispered, “This disciple was recuperating in my room when these Shidi suddenly barged in. They said that a mortal like me shouldn’t remain in Chi Yun Sect anymore. If I wanted to stay, I have to become their lackey.”

n“Of course this disciple refused, but they went too far! They started beating me, not even caring that this was Qing Jian Peak territory! This disciple has no cultivation, that is why I couldn’t fight back. Left with no choice, I crushed the jade slip and asked for Shizun to intervene.”

nZhang Paohui and the others could only watch as Rong Jue told these bald-faced lies.

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nHoly **!

nHow was this guy even more shameless than us!

nWhat ‘left with no choice’?? He crushed the jade slip as soon as he saw us!

nWas Rong Jue’s overly righteous and honourable reputation a sham? Was he actually this kind of person??!!

nZhang Paohui opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again. He didn’t know how to respond to Rong Jue’s shamelessness.

nActually, it was good for him that he remained silent. The lackeys behind him remained determined to say their piece.

n“Nonsense! That’s not what happened at all!”

n“We didn’t do anything before you ran off on your own.”

n“That’s right! Supreme Elder, don’t listen to his lies!”

nThe handsome man was acting like a big wolf-dog that had been bullied outside. He held his Shizun’s sleeve and whimpered pitifully.

n“Shizun, this disciple only spoke the truth! If you don’t believe me, then look at the wounds on this disciple’s face. Who else could have inflicted these injuries, me?”

nThe group: “…Yeah, you fell on your own!”

nThey were just wondering why Rong Jue ran so fast he tripped several times on the way here. This guy was planning this from the start!

nRong Jue tugged on Shi Qing’s slightly cool hand, pretending not to be aware of how stiff the other person was. He guided those fingertips to his cheek.

n“These injuries still have traces of spiritual energy left. Everyone knows I’m an invalid now, so how could I have done this to myself? Shizun, everything will become clear once you take a look.”

nHe was so serious that Shi Qing could only carefully examine the area.

n“Indeed, there is still residual spiritual energy here.” He confirmed, shooting the people kneeling on the ground a look of disgust.

n“You barged into my Qing Jian Peak, injured my disciples, and now you want to spread lies about Rong Jue?! Does my Qing Jian Peak mean nothing to you?!”

nThe pressure unique to a supreme ruler at the Amalgamation Stage came crashing down. Zhang Paohui almost collapsed as his legs softened.

nZhang Paohui gritted his teeth and struggled to speak, “Supreme Elder, we really didn’t do anything to Rong-shixiong.”

nEven if what Rong Jue had said was more or less what they had envisioned, they didn’t have time to do anything yet!

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nShi Qing’s voice was faint, but there was clear impatience present. “You still wish to argue when the truth has already become clear?”

n“Do you need this master to tell you the rules of the Punishment Hall?”

nIf you hurt a fellow disciple, you had to disperse your protective spiritual energy and receive 50 cane strikes.

nIf Zhang Paohui had really done something, he might’ve admitted his wrongs once Supreme Elder Shi Qing came out to support Rong Jue, if only to minimize his punishment.

nBesides, his grandfather was the Supreme Elder of Chi Xia Peak. Even if he was punished, the Punishment Hall’s shixiongs would certainly hold back out of consideration for his background.

nBut he didn’t do anything!!!

nHow can he let himself be wronged like this since he was innocent?!

nZhang Paohui reluctantly had to argue: “Supreme Elder, the disciple really didn’t–”

nRong Jue, who had been listening to them in silence, suddenly intervened. “Shizun, since my shidi won’t admit it, let’s just leave it at that.”

nHe lowered his injured arm that was at an unnatural angle and leaned on Shi Qing. “This disciple is now an invalid that can no longer bring honour to our Qing Jian Peak, and Chi Xia Peak’s supreme elder is Zhang-shidi’s grandfather. Why else would Zhang-shidi act so arrogantly here? If Shizun punishes Zhang-shidi, Supreme Elder Zhang Chang is sure to intervene.”

n“This disciple can no longer protect Shizun, so it’s not worth it to offend Chi Xia Peak for my sake.”

nZhang Paohui: “……”

nRong Jue first acted pitifully by mentioning his invalid status, then implied that Zhang Paohui was relying on his grandfather’s authority to come and make trouble at Qing Jian Peak.

nAlthough that was true, but by saying it out loud, people would think that Shi Qing was afraid of his fellow supreme elder if he backed down now.

nRong Jue!

nWhat a vicious move!

nZhang Paohui was about to refute Rong Jue when he noticed the death glare Supreme Elder Shi Qing was shooting at him.

nThe blue-robed supreme elder laughed, enraged. “I never knew that there was a hierarchy amongst the major peaks of Chi Yun Sect.”

n“What, now that my father has ascended, your Chi Xia Peak is trying to take advantage and use me as a stepping stone to elevate your own prestige?”

nZhang Paohui: “Supreme Elder is mistaken, it’s really not like that…”

nHe shuddered when Shi Qing looked at him again and shut his mouth.

nSupreme Elder Shi Qing looked at them…

nLike they were already dead.

nThe lackeys behind him sensed the danger and silently shrank back, wishing they could just shrink into a ball and disappear.

nRong Jue was behind Shi Qing, watching his Shizun get angry for his sake.

nThere was a slight blush on that beautiful jade-like face due to anger. Even his always cold and distant eyes were brimming with emotion.

nIt was really…

nThe demon lord slightly raised his eyebrows like he was scared out of his mind. He leaned even closer to his Shizun.

nRevenge was not the only reason behind his previous words.

nMore than that, it was to test what could trigger Shi Qing’s temper.

nRong Jue just figured it out.

nJust as he expected.

nShi Qing turned him into an invalid with his own hands, while also detesting when others tried to bully him.

nWhat a contradictory person.

nRong Jue recalled a rumour he heard when he first entered the demon realm about a demonic cultivator that enjoyed collecting contradictory souls. The more two-faced the better.

nThey would confine those souls in a crystal and carry it on their person, taking it out at night to enjoy them in detail.

nAt that time, Rong Jue didn’t think such people existed in the world.

nA person either deeply hated you or deeply loved you. How could they be both at the same time?

nBut now, he actually saw such a contradictory and beautiful soul in the Shizun he hated the most.

nThe demon lord sighed sorrowfully in his heart.

nIt was still too early to imprison Shi Qing in a crystal.

nHe had to wait a little longer.

nRong Jue had to wait until he grew tired of Shi Qing’s body, until he figured out all the secrets this person was hiding.

nThen, he would personally kill Shizun as slowly as possible.

nHe would confine his beautiful soul inside a crystal and keep it by his side for all eternity.

nHe could already imagine its dazzling radiance.

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nHappy holidays! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

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