Chapter 361: Chapter 3: A Narrow Path
Duan Lu showed contempt towards Liu Ying. “I’ve warned you multiple times that the Ding Tian Sect has just taken over the Sun Moon Pavilion’s influence in the Western Regions. You need to be cautious and act with discretion, not arrogance.”
“I…” Liu Ying was speechless.
“Making such a big scene, robbing two juniors and a rogue cultivator’s treasures in front of everyone. Do you want the whole world to laugh at us!” Duan Lu shouted, like a superior reprimanding a subordinate.
But that’s how it was. Without the Purple Cloud Pavilion’s support, how could the Ding Tian Sect quickly seize power and establish a foothold in such a chaotic situation?
Right now, the Purple Cloud Pavilion was indeed their pillar of support.
Liu Ying truly felt a hundred grievances. Her actions with Wu Tian were indeed a bit much, but she couldn’t understand why the Purple Cloud Pavilion would turn on their own and discipline them for helping outsiders.
“Elder Duan Lu, they injured Wu Tian and even damaged his Dao Foundation. This matter cannot be let go so easily—”
“What right do you have to speak here?” Duan Lu said coldly. “Is there any ambiguity in what I’m saying?”
“Elder Duan Lu!!”
“Shut up.” Duan Lu glared at Liu Ying, exuding the pressure of an Integration Stage cultivator, like invisible fists pressing down on her head, forcing her to lower her gaze.
“…I apologize.”
“Hmph.”
Duan Lu glanced at Liu Ying and walked towards Ye Changsheng and his group.
“My apologies, fellow rogue cultivator, for the trouble caused.” Duan Lu said.
“Yes, there was indeed a lot of trouble.” Brother Chen rubbed his flushed face, unhappy, feeling that injuring Wu Tian’s Dao Foundation earlier wasn’t enough to vent his anger.
“Changsheng, what’s going on with these people?” the Little Fox quietly asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t recognize them,” Ye Changsheng shook his head.
He didn’t know anyone from the Purple Cloud Pavilion and had never interacted with them before. This was their first meeting, and there was no prior relationship.
“I also don’t know anyone from the Purple Cloud Pavilion. If I had to say, I only had some contact with a female cultivator from the Purple Cloud Pavilion while heading to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, but we barely spoke.”
Ye Changsheng glanced at Brother Chen, noticing that he also seemed unfamiliar with the Purple Cloud Pavilion members.
“We at the Purple Cloud Pavilion are also very sorry for what happened. I believe these two must give you an explanation and offer a sincere apology, otherwise, it will be difficult to convince the public,” Duan Lu explained.
His attitude was not as arrogant as the Ding Tian Sect cultivators; instead, he appeared understanding.
“Elder Duan Lu, hello. I am Ye Changsheng, an Inner Disciple of the White Emperor Sword Sect,” Ye Changsheng greeted him.
“Oh, hello, young friend,” Duan Lu’s attitude was unpretentious. “I regret meeting you under these circumstances. I am Duan Lu, and these are my disciples.”
The disciples introduced themselves politely. Their cultivation levels were not low; they were all Golden Core Realm cultivators.
Chapter 577: Section Read
Zhong Yanhan responded accordingly upon seeing this.
“Elder Duan Lu, why are you intervening on our behalf?”
“The White Emperor Sword Sect and our Sun Moon Pavilion are allies. We once fought together against the Demon Race’s forces from the Demon Heart Palace in the Southern Region. If the White Emperor Sword Sect is insulted, we naturally cannot stand idly by,” Duan Lu said. “Our Purple Cloud Pavilion is not unreasonable; we wish to uphold justice.”
“How do you intend to uphold justice?” Brother Chen asked doubtfully.
“Have them come over and admit their mistakes.”
“Really?” Brother Chen didn’t believe it. “How could these people bow their heads to me.”
Duan Lu turned back and shouted, “Liu Ying, come over and apologize to this rogue cultivator and the two White Emperor Sword Sect disciples!”
Liu Ying was defiant. “Elder Duan Lu, don’t go too far… Our Ding Tian Sect and the Purple Cloud Pavilion are, after all, just cooperating!”
“No need to hint at anything to me. Handle matters as they should be handled, understand!” Duan Lu contemptuously struck Liu Ying with a palm.
Under the powerful force, Liu Ying’s protective aura dissipated, she spat out blood, her hair was disheveled, and she looked utterly pathetic.
“Don’t force me to kill you. Come here.”
“…Yes.”
Liu Ying walked over, swallowing her pride and bitterness, feeling utterly humiliated in front of everyone, so angry that her heart and lungs felt like they would explode.
Reluctantly, she couldn’t bring herself to lower her head.
Duan Lu had no choice but to move his fingers, using invisible pressure to force her painfully to the ground.
“Speak,” Duan Lu commanded.
“I’m sorry… Brother Chen, and the two White Emperor Sword Sect fellow daoists, Wu Tian and I were wrong just now.” Liu Ying’s voice was filled with unwillingness, as if she was being forced to speak, and resounded with resentment towards them.
Brother Chen was taken aback. He truly didn’t expect the Purple Cloud Pavilion to go this far. Logically, they shouldn’t have. Could it be that these two people’s identities—
He looked at Ye Changsheng and Zhong Yanhan.
Ye Changsheng shook his head seriously, indicating that the situation was also beyond his expectations.
“Can you accept her apology, fellow daoists?” Duan Lu asked.
“No problem. Liu Ying, take Wu Tian and leave quickly. Don’t appear before me again. Otherwise, I’ll beat you every time I see you!!” Brother Chen had long been fed up with these two. Seeing their humiliation, his mood became incredibly joyful.
Liu Ying clenched her fists, her nails almost digging into her palms, but she was unable to retaliate. She could only lead Wu Tian away to heal their injuries.
The Ding Tian Sect members left, leaving only the disciples of the Purple Cloud Pavilion.
“Thank you. Initially, I had some doubts about the Purple Cloud Pavilion, but I never expected you to be so reasonable,” Brother Chen said cheerfully.
At this point, Ye Changsheng finally began to see some clues and roughly understood what the Purple Cloud Pavilion members intended to do.
“Of course. Matters should be handled as they should be. This is the way our Purple Cloud Pavilion operates—Come here!”
Duan Lu raised his hand, and a Purple Cloud Pavilion disciple who had assisted the Ding Tian Sect and was injured by Brother Chen walked over.
Brother Chen waved his hand. “Fellow daoist, there’s no need. I can accept that your Purple Cloud Pavilion disciples do not need to apologize to me. I am magnanimous and will not hold grudges!”
“Fellow rogue cultivator, you injured our Purple Cloud Pavilion disciple just now. It’s your turn to apologize,” Duan Lu said, uttering words that surprised Brother Chen.
Brother Chen was stunned. “What did you say!?”
Duan Lu patted the Purple Cloud Pavilion disciple. “Our Purple Cloud Pavilion disciple was injured by you for no reason. Don’t you owe us an explanation?”
“So that’s what you meant!” Brother Chen realized he had been tricked. “Don’t try to fool me. They were trying to collude with the Ding Tian Sect cultivators to snatch my white feathers, that’s why I acted!”
“Is that so?” Duan Lu looked at the disciple. “Tell me honestly, what happened. Don’t lie.”
The Purple Cloud Pavilion disciple trembled all over and stammered, “Reporting to Elder! This rogue cultivator and the Ding Tian Sect cultivators got into a conflict, went berserk, and caused chaos in Yellow Sand City. We couldn’t stand by and watch and tried to stop them, but he injured them all!”
“You’re talking nonsense!! You are clearly in cahoots and colluding!” Brother Chen retorted.
The Purple Cloud Pavilion disciple’s guilt was evident, and he didn’t reply.
However, this account was enough. Brother Chen had indeed acted carelessly just now. As long as the opponent presented this narrative, Brother Chen was at a disadvantage.
“Fellow daoist, you accepted our Purple Cloud Pavilion’s way of handling affairs. Please show corresponding sincerity, otherwise, wouldn’t that mean the two from the Ding Tian Sect suffered humiliation for nothing?”
“This Brother Chen would rather die than submit! If you have the nerve, kill me now!” Brother Chen had no intention of yielding to this person.
Ye Changsheng surmised that the Purple Cloud Pavilion cultivators simply wanted to drive away the Ding Tian Sect members, create a situation where they held the moral high ground, and gain the right to negotiate with Brother Chen.
They were clearly after the white feathers.
Seeing Brother Chen’s stubbornness, Duan Lu didn’t dally and turned to Ye Changsheng and Zhong Yanhan.
Zhong Yanhan said, “Elder Duan Lu, there seems to be a misunderstanding.”
“I agree as well. The White Emperor Sword Sect has always held a prestigious reputation in our Southern Region. It’s indeed unlike them to engage in such despicable acts, let alone injure our Purple Cloud Pavilion cultivators.”
“You understand.”
“In that case, why don’t the three of you come and be our guests at the Purple Cloud Pavilion? We can clarify this matter properly to avoid any unnecessary repercussions.”
Ye Changsheng knew that going to the Purple Cloud Pavilion’s territory would mean big trouble.
“I caused the trouble myself, why should they two go!?” Brother Chen protested.
“This rogue cultivator’s actions have now involved a conflict between the White Emperor Sword Sect and the Purple Cloud Pavilion, clearly endangering the friendly diplomatic relations between our two sects. It is no longer a simple personal grievance.”
“You…!!!” Brother Chen was so angry he wanted to attack, but doing so would only bring more trouble to Ye Changsheng and Zhong Yanhan.
Zhong Yanhan said, “We apologize, Elder Duan Lu, but the White Emperor Sword Sect is currently indisposed. We will visit another day to properly explain—”
“Two young friends, our Purple Cloud Pavilion has been patient, only seeking justice. Please do not continue to undermine the relationship between our two sects and cause a rift.”
Duan Lu gradually released the oppressive aura of an Integration Stage cultivator, implicitly warning them to be sensible, or they would resort to force.
Zhong Yanhan’s eyes darted around, and she nodded. “Alright, we agree to accompany Elder Duan Lu to the Purple Cloud Pavilion to clarify matters.”
“Thank you for your understanding. It’s good that we can clarify things. This matter won’t be too troublesome, and you will be treated as distinguished guests at the Purple Cloud Pavilion and hosted properly.”
“Then we will go back and call our junior brothers and sisters,” Zhong Yanhan said, leading Brother Chen and Ye Changsheng away.
As Ye Changsheng was closer to Duan Lu, he patted his shoulder.
Ye Changsheng looked up, and Duan Lu smiled.
“Come back quickly, don’t keep us waiting too long.”
“…Okay,” Ye Changsheng nodded.
…
Zhong Yanhan found the three disciples who had remained at the Yellow Sand Gate and explained the situation, startling them. They immediately realized how troublesome it was.
“Let’s leave stealthily and go straight back to the White Emperor Sword Sect,” Zhong Yanhan said. “We must not linger here for a moment. Once we return to our territory, we’ll be safe!”
“So, Little Zhong, you were just pretending to agree as a delaying tactic to escape! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!” Brother Chen exclaimed. “Coincidentally, I’ll go to the Southern Region to seek refuge. I have someone I know who can help me lie low for a while.”
“Brother Chen, then we’ll leave together for mutual support!” Zhong Yanhan agreed.
The five of them then set off together, not even bidding farewell to the Yellow Sand Gate members. They only left a letter and quickly departed the Gobi Desert, blending into the night, flying with all their might towards the Southern Region.
However, along the way, Ye Changsheng patted the Little Fox’s shoulder and whispered, “Tell them I forgot the spiritual wood token and am going back to get it.”
“Changsheng, you…” The Little Fox seemed to understand what he was planning.
“Yes, don’t worry.” Ye Changsheng nodded.
The Little Fox didn’t say anything more.
Ye Changsheng jumped down and landed on the ground, watching the four leave. He then walked in a different direction at a leisurely pace.
Soon after, as expected, an Integration Stage cultivator appeared and blocked Ye Changsheng’s path, intercepting him alone.
“Young friend, I genuinely pity you,” Duan Lu looked down on Ye Changsheng. “You have truly narrowed your own path.”
