Ruan Jun sneered. "Let's see if you can still act so smug in the Enforcement Hall!"
Expressionless, he fixed his gaze on the disciples from Tianjian Peak, trying to catch the slightest sign that they were bluffing.
But to his growing frustration—
Not just Yun Jin.
Even Yue Zhao and Si Wanning appeared completely at ease. As for Yu Songnian, he always had that same blank face, so there was nothing to glean there.
Ruan Jun narrowed his eyes.
What was going on?
Why were they so confident?
Could Yun Jin really have learned those sword arts on her own?
No!
Impossible!
He knew Yue Zhao to be cunning and calculating. This had to be some kind of ploy to make him back off.
Did they think he was that gullible?
They were going to the Enforcement Hall, no matter what!
Meanwhile, Ye Danxia, flustered and disheveled, finally recovered her fake hairpiece that had been casually flung into the bushes by the bird earlier. Her hands trembled as she reattached it.
Only after confirming that her scalp was no longer exposed did she begin to calm down.
She approached Ruan Jun again, about to speak—
But the moment he saw her, he seemed to recall her bald-headed appearance from before. Even with the wig now back in place, he instinctively averted his eyes.
"…," Ye Danxia bit her lip.
She felt both aggrieved and angry, and for once, she said nothing at all.
Seeing her so downcast, Ruan Jun's heart softened. In a gentler tone, he said, "No need to worry, junior sister. Once we've dealt with Yun Jin, I'll find someone to craft you a hair-growth pill. A trivial matter like this is easily resolved."
Ye Danxia's eyes lit up, and her expression eased. She gave him a sweet smile. "Thank you, senior brother."
Ruan Jun forced himself to look anywhere but at her wig and nodded, then couldn't help adding with a sneer, "Some people, lacking talent, resort to petty tricks like this. But five-spirit-root trash will always be five-spirit-root trash. No matter how deep their scheming, they'll never touch the heavens."
As he spoke, he made sure to glance at Yun Jin.
To his surprise, Yun Jin actually nodded sincerely. "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right. A true genius like Senior Brother Ruan, who needs three full days just to grasp a basic sword technique—now that's real talent. Me? I only managed to learn it in an instant. Clearly, I'm nothing but a clown."
She said it with such earnestness that it was hard to tell if she was being sarcastic.
Yue Zhao and Si Wanning couldn't help but laugh.
Yue Zhao cheerfully fanned the flames. "Ah, my junior sister truly has no talent, yet even she's beyond your reach. What does that say about you?"
Si Wanning added, "Probably says he's garbage. True, irredeemable garbage."
Ruan Jun's face turned an ugly shade of green. "You've got sharp tongues, I'll give you that. Let's see how clever you sound at the Enforcement Hall!"
Yun Jin arched a brow, her smile sweet. "Please, look forward to it!"
Ye Danxia stayed unusually quiet.
Most of her thoughts were occupied with her hair, terrified it might vanish again, turning her once more into a bald little wretch.
~
Tianjian Peak, Tianxing Sect – Enforcement Hall.
In this world of cultivation, realms were divided into:
Qi Refining→ Foundation Establishment → Golden Core → Nascent Soul → Divine Transformation → Unity → Tribulation → the pinnacle: Mahayana.
Tianxing Sect ranked as a mid-tier sect on the continent. Its highest cultivators barely reached the Unity Stage. Those who reached the Divine Transformation Stage could become elders, governing critical regions. Unity Stage cultivators were eligible to become peak lords.
The current sect leader, Zhao Wujii, was in the mid-Unity Stage, slightly stronger than the other peak lords.
As for the Enforcement Hall, its current chief officer, Yue Lin, was a late Divine Transformation cultivator, a personal appointee of Sect Master Zhao and considered one of his most trusted confidants.
So when Ruan Jun dragged Yun Jin before Yue Lin, a smug satisfaction colored his expression.
Yue Lin would surely side with him.
This time, Yun Jin was finished.
"Hall Master Yue," Ruan Jun declared, voice loud and proud, "our investigation has revealed that Yun Jin, a newly inducted disciple, used an advanced sword technique during her match. Clearly, someone from Tianjian Peak has violated sect rules by secretly instructing her. According to sect law, Yun Jin should be expelled immediately. And those who taught her—the disciples of Tianjian Peak—must also be punished. I ask the Hall Master to deliver judgment."
As the chief disciple under the Sect Master, Ruan Jun's cultivation was comparable to Yue Zhao's—both a step away from the Divine Transformation Stage. Given Zhao Wujii's favor, it was even possible Ruan Jun might inherit the sect in the future.
So Yue Lin responded with a polite smile. "If the facts have been confirmed, then we will proceed accordingly. Yun Jin will be expelled from the sect. Yue Zhao, Si Wanning, and Yu Songnian will each have their annual resource allocations revoked."
Everything went more smoothly than expected.
A pleased smile curled at Ruan Jun's lips.
Ye Danxia's eyes gleamed with calculation.
Once Yun Jin was driven out of the sect, she'd be a stray dog. If Ye Danxia demanded she become her servant then, Yun Jin wouldn't dare refuse.
And that ring… would naturally become hers.
Ye Danxia was just preparing to bring up the matter again—
When Yun Jin chuckled softly. "So the Enforcement Hall passes judgment based solely on one-sided accusations? Is that how it works now? If your verdicts are so arbitrary, then why even bother with a Hall Master? You might as well post a public notice that says: 'The Enforcement Hall is a farce. Whatever Ruan Jun says becomes law.'"
Disdain colored Yun Jin's features.
Ruan Jun's expression darkened. "What are you trying to say, Yun Jin?"
Yun Jin gave him a cold smile. "Exactly what it sounds like."
Yue Zhao added calmly, "If this is how the Hall Master handles things, word will spread fast. I'm sure everyone will praise your 'brilliant insight' and 'heroic fairness.'"
The sarcasm in his tone made Yue Lin's face turn green.
He wasn't concerned about Yun Jin.
But Yue Zhao… was a problem.
Even though the Sect Master had hinted more than once that Tianjian Peak should be suppressed, this Yue Zhao had somehow remained untouched. No matter how hard others tried to suppress him, he remained wildly popular among the junior disciples and held considerable influence.
If he started spouting nonsense outside, things could get troublesome. With a sullen face, Yue Lin asked, "Since you all insist this is just one-sided testimony… then what's your version of events?"
Yun Jin opened her mouth to respond.
But Ruan Jun cut in with a sinister tone. "Many saw you use that sword technique in the sparring arena that day. I could randomly select a few disciples, and they'd all testify. Don't delude yourself."
Ye Danxia added sweetly, "Xiao Jin, it's okay to admit you were wrong. We're still sisters. Even if you can't stay a disciple, I'll keep you close. You'll just have to settle for being my servant, that's all."
Yun Jin didn't even glance at the lunatic.
Calmly, she said, "I never denied knowing a sword technique."
Yue Lin was stunned.
She admitted it… just like that?
Then why all the fuss earlier?
He asked sharply, "Which Yellow-Grade manual did you learn?"
To master a technique within days, it could only be a low-tier Yellow-Grade manual.
Yun Jin smiled. "The sword art I used was the Lotus Bloom Sword Art."
Hmm?
Yue Lin frowned. There was no Yellow-Grade technique by that name…
Wait!
His pupils shrank.
This wasn't a Yellow-Grade technique at all.
The Lotus Bloom Sword Art was a mid-tier Mystic-Grade sword manual! Within the entire Tianxing Sect, fewer than a handful had ever successfully cultivated it.
And a disciple who had only entered three days ago claimed to have learned it?
Yue Lin couldn't help but laugh.
He was just about to mock her—
When Yun Jin casually drew her sword and gave it a graceful swing.
A single lotus petal silently blossomed in the air.
--
[+600 Emotional Value from Ruan Jun.]
[+500 Emotional Value from Ye Danxia.]
[+400 Emotional Value from Yue Lin.]
[+300 Emotional Value from Bystanders.]