Chapter 75: Kill your way through (1)
Because Qi Huang spoke arrogantly, many geniuses eliminated at the Evergreen Convention did not leave. They looked forward to the start of the fourth round and wanted to regain their honor by defeating this ignorant young girl. After all, defeating the Saintess of Hua Rong Sect was enough to wash away the shame of being eliminated and be accountable to their respective sects.
Protector Yuan also heard some rumors. Unfortunately, she couldn’t persuade the Saintess, so she had to seek help from others. Thus, she found Hua Meng and her disciple.
“Elder Ping, I believe you have also heard some rumors. Many people are coveting the Saintess now, and she insists on going to the Evergreen Convention. If we don’t think of a solution, I’m afraid our Hua Rong Sect’s reputation will be damaged this time.”
Protector Yuan sighed in the quiet guest room.
“What does that have to do with me? It’s all her fault for speaking without thinking!”
Hua Meng rolled her eyes.
“The Saintess does speak without consideration, but she is young after all. As the saying goes, children’s words are innocent. We can’t argue with her, can we?”
Protector Yuan tried to make excuses for Qi Huang.
“Yes, disciple. Everyone has a responsibility to maintain the reputation of Hua Rong Sect. We cannot stand aside just because of the Saintess’s personal words and actions!”
Ping Yan also said sarcastically from the side.
“Master Elder is so magnanimous!”
Protector Yuan complimented politely.
“Protector Yuan flatters me. Do you have a solution?”
Ping Yan inquired calmly.
“There is a solution, but it requires Hua Shizhi’s cooperation. I don’t know if she is willing?”
Protector Yuan probed.
“Not willing!”
Hua Meng played the tough role.
“Willing or not, Protector Yuan, please tell us first.”
Ping Yan played the soft role.
“My idea is this: when we reach Zhu Xian Terrace, many people will surely come to challenge us. As elders, we cannot act, so we can only let the younger generation deal with it. And Hua Shizhi is the one with the highest cultivation among the younger generation. If she can block some challenges for the Saintess, it should solve most of the trouble.”
Protector Yuan revealed her thoughts.
“Hah, you want me to clean up her mess? Dream on!”
Hua Meng sneered repeatedly.
“Hua Shizhi, your reaction is too strong. Your master just said that everyone has a responsibility to maintain the reputation of Hua Rong Sect. So, you are not cleaning up her mess, but contributing to the sect. I will definitely report this to the Sect Leader when we return!”
Protector Yuan tried to entice her with promises.
“Not enough! If you want me to clean up her mess, I can agree, but there’s another condition. When we return, I’ll take her carriage, and she’ll have to carry it all the way back to Hua Rong Sect.”
Hua Meng made her demand.
“How dare you…”
Protector Yuan hadn’t expected her to be so unreasonable and almost blurted out an insult.
“How dare I not? Protector Yuan, don’t forget, in the Cultivation World, strength is paramount! Her carrying me is only natural, and it’s not like I’m demeaning myself!”
Hua Meng said disdainfully.
“But as the Saintess of Hua Rong Sect, she represents the sect’s reputation. If she carries your sedan chair, I’m afraid she will not only be ridiculed within the sect but also lose all her authority outside!”
Protector Yuan tried to explain.
“So, if I carry her sedan chair, I won’t be afraid of being ridiculed? We’re all human, why should her face be more precious?”
Hua Meng retorted coldly.
Protector Yuan was speechless. She finally understood that Hua Meng wanted to find an opportunity for revenge.
“Protector Yuan, my disciple is like this, she has a strong sense of self-esteem, but it’s also a good thing for the sect. Competition leads to progress.”
Ping Yan smoothed things over for her disciple and then said insincerely, “Actually, you don’t have to be difficult. After all, you are not directly involved!”
“Yes, do you want to make decisions for the Saintess? You should go back and ask her first!”
Hua Meng chimed in.
Protector Yuan had no choice but to leave the room in a hurry.
Returning to her own residence, Protector Yuan was anxious like an ant on a hot pan. After much thought, she decided to probe the Saintess’s intentions. So, she rushed out again.
To increase the chances of success, Protector Yuan specifically asked Shi Yuqi to accompany her.
Protector Yuan found Qi Huang and Cheng Hong Ling. She first explained the seriousness of the situation and then stated Hua Meng’s request.
“You want me to carry her? And all the way to Hua Rong Sect?”
Qi Huang burst into laughter, then said, “Even if she was in a coffin, I wouldn’t consider it!”
“Indeed, my disciple is the Saintess of Hua Rong Sect. If I carry her sedan chair, what face will I have left?”
Shi Yuqi did not help persuade her, but instead affirmed her statement.
Protector Yuan was a little helpless and could only persuade again, “So, it’s best that you don’t go to the Evergreen Convention to watch the fun. We’ll leave No Night City secretly tonight!”
I only said I wouldn’t hand her over, but I didn’t say I’d give up watching the show!
Qi Huang replied calmly.
“Saintess! Don’t you know how risky this is? If you are used as a stepping stone and tarnish the sect’s reputation, it will be difficult to continue in the position of Saintess.”
Protector Yuan explained the severe consequences once more.
Shi Yuqi realized what was happening and then helped persuade her disciple, “Disciple, gaining experience doesn’t have to be now. Can we find another opportunity later?”
“No! Have you considered that if I leave now, it would be equivalent to being scared away by them? What’s the difference between that and fleeing without a fight?”
Qi Huang rebutted with sound reasoning. This time, she was determined to make a scene at the continental Evergreen Convention, and no one could change her mind.
Protector Yuan and Shi Yuqi exchanged glances, and both showed helpless expressions. The persuasion failed.
Protector Yuan returned to her residence. Having no other recourse, she informed Hua Ru Yi.
“Strange, why must she go to the Evergreen Convention? Is it just to gain some experience?”
Hua Ru Yi also began to suspect.
“Yes, I don’t know what the Saintess is thinking either! Actually, her request was unreasonable from the beginning. We shouldn’t have agreed to it. Now we are in a dilemma!”
Protector Yuan regretted.
Hua Ru Yi remained silent for a long time, then said, “Since she wants to go, let her go!”
“What? How can this be? So many people are coveting her now!”
Protector Yuan became agitated.
“Protector Yuan, don’t be agitated! Let’s speak plainly. Do you think the Saintess is a little girl who doesn’t know her own limits? Or has she ever disappointed us since she joined Hua Rong Sect?”
Hua Ru Yi reminded her.
Protector Yuan recalled carefully. Although the new Saintess was young, from exposing Hua Yu’s scheme, to her astonishing cultivation speed, and then to dealing with the Cao family with her resourcefulness, she had indeed never disappointed them. Thus, she replied, “No, she hasn’t!”
“Yes, I’m not afraid to admit it, but she gives me a feeling of being omnipotent! Since she is not an ignorant little girl, I believe she must have a way to deal with it. You just need to follow her lead.”
Hua Ru Yi commanded.
“Okay!”
Protector Yuan replied reluctantly.
She agreed. As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. The Saintess, although smart, is still a child after all. Who knows if this time it’s just a momentary impulse?
Days passed one by one. The cultivators who wanted to find a stepping stone couldn’t wait any longer. They came to the Dragon and Phoenix Inn every day, looking around, for fear that the Saintess of Hua Rong Sect would sneak away, thus losing their chance to regain their honor.
A few more days passed, and the fourth round of the Evergreen Convention finally began!
In the cold winter, heavy snow began to fall in No Night City early in the morning. However, this did not diminish the enthusiasm of all the onlookers, because today was the day the Saintess of Hua Rong Sect would go to Zhu Xian Terrace.
The onlookers in No Night City knew that a good show would be staged today, so they all headed to Zhu Xian Terrace to watch. Those cultivators who wanted to find a stepping stone did the same. They set up checkpoints along the way, determined to use the opportunity with the Saintess of Hua Rong Sect to wash away the shame of being eliminated!
Therefore, no one cared who was dueling against whom on Zhu Xian Terrace today.
Qi Huang had been itching for a fight for a long time and urged the people of Hua Rong Sect to set off early in the morning.
The women of Hua Rong Sect understood that there would be endless trouble today, so they were all dejected and reluctant.
Master Ping and her disciple were exceptions, as they knew there would be trouble, so they had to summon their own faces.
…
“Where is the Saintess of Hua Rong Sect? Why hasn’t she appeared yet? It’s freezing cold, I’m about to blend in with nature!”
“Yes, didn’t she say she was going to visit Zhu Xian Terrace in the fourth round? Could it be that she heard the rumors and chickened out?”
“How can this be? If she doesn’t go, we won’t have any fun!”
“It’s a small matter that we won’t have fun to watch. I still want to use her to wash away the shame of being eliminated. If this stepping stone is missing, how can I explain it to my sect when I go back?”
“Saintess of Hua Rong Sect, come out. It’s time for you to fulfill your promise!”
“Yes, you can hide for a while, but not forever. When you leave No Night City one day, we will still block you on the road! By then, it won’t just be sparring.”
…
Seeing that Qi Huang and Cheng Hong Ling were delayed, the spectators outside the inn started shouting.
“They’re coming, they’re coming, what’s the rush? Don’t you know girls need time to get dressed?”
Qi Huang rushed out of the inn impatiently.
