Proofreader: Papatonks
Knock~
In a dusky room, with few lights arranged, the face of High Venerable was reflected as he sat cross-legged.
A heavy voice came from outside, breaking his peace, “Who is it?”
“Master, it’s I. I came to pay my respects.” A familiar voice spoke with respect.
Elder Yuan spoke, “Wuyue, you haven’t done it for centuries, so what made you pick the habit again?”
“Ha-ha-ha, it’s not so strange, master.”
Xie Wuyue spoke, “I have been a Sect Leader all this time, keeping with the sect’s norms and could not pay my master any respects. Now that I have stepped down and I’m free, I of course have to make up for all those years.”
Elder Yuan felt doubt inside, but softened in the end. Wanting to go back to those close times with his disciple, he lifted the seal on the door, “Enter.”
The heavy stone door was pushed open and Xie Wuyue stepped in with a smile. He kneeled and kowtowed three times.
“Master, I came to pay my respects.” Like a good child, Xie Wuyue put on a genial face.
Nodding, Elder Yuan’s eyes held a hint of sneer, “Wuyue, you only came here for your own reason, not to pay me respects.”
“Master, I would never.”
“Humph, a master knows his student. You were never so honest.” Elder Yuan sighed and waved, “Say your piece.”
Xie Wuyue looked Elder Yuan in the eye as he chuckled, “The older, the wiser, as they say. I can’t hide anything from master. Ha-ha-ha, master, I have reflected deeply on your guidance a month ago and ask that master gives me another chance.”
“You still want to be a Sect Leader?” Elder Yuan eyed him.
Xie Wuyue nooded with a smile, “Yes, a nation can’t be without a king and the same applies to a sect. Zhuo Fan has gone to Double Dragon Manor just as he became Sect Leader, leaving the seat empty. If it was just a couple of days or so, it wouldn’t matter, but he will be gone for decades. Not handling the matters a Sect Leader does will lead to the sect becoming a mess.”
“Don’t worry, there’s also me. Moreover, there are venerables helping…”
“Master, you’re the High Venerable, leading the sect’s matters in the name of the Sect Leader will lead to bad rumors. If it drags out, some might say that High Venerable wants to break the sect’s ancient rules, to take matters into your own hand and the seat.”
“Who would spread such gossip?” Elder Yuan looked squarely at Xie Wuyue.
Xie Wuyue’s head jerked back, lowering it as he bowed, “I could never try to surmise what my master thinks, but others will surely prattle and ruin master’s name. Especially those venerables, who only scheme and fight each other. They may be agreeing with everything you say now, but when their power grow, they would take matters into their own hands. As a Venerable, since you can handle the sect’s affairs, why can’t they? That’s why there are ancient rules. Deposing and even fraternization is possible, but only a Sect Leader can lead. Or it will affect people’s hearts and invite disaster.”
“Humph, who would scheme to exceed Sect Leader’s authority?”
Elder Yuan stood up and flicked his sleeve as he shouted, “I am an open man and only handle the matters of the sect in Zhuo Fan’s stead for the next years. When he returns, he will be taking up his duty as Sect Leader.”
Face twitching, Xie Wuyue’s expresson darkened, “Master, you’re too heartless. You’d rather wait on him then let me lead for these decades, rather than give me a chance? I promise that in these years, I will see to the public opinion. Once he’s back, no one will follow him. Let all know that there’s only one Sect Leader, Xie Wuyue!”
“Wuyue, I see now you not once reflected on what I told you.”
With a saddened look, Elder Yuan shook his head, “Public opinion is merely a method, while what matters is wisdom. That is what makes people follow you. Without it, you might catch their hearts in short term, but they would soon scatter later. When you understand the meaning of Dao, when you find your path, we’ll then speak of the Sect Leader position.”
Taking a deep breath, Xie Wuyue’s eyes went cold, clutching his fists, “Dao? Humph, master, you’re only being vague. Who can understand such unreal things? You’re only using it as an excuse to stop me from being a Sect Leader.”
Slowly turning away, Elder Yuan no longer looked at him. He sighed in disappointment.
“Master, you’re casting me out. I am trying so hard here, but you…”
Xie Wuyue tensed and his clenched fists crackled. Then a hint of bloodthirst appeared in his eyes. He made a claw with his hand and struck Elder Yuan’s waist, “High profound ranked martial art, Flood Dragon Claw!”
Whoosh~
Xie Wuyue’s dark claw arrived right before Elder Yuan.
Elder Yuan was outraged. He never thought his disciple would have the nerve to strike his master down.
Elder Yuan unleashed his power as well, his heavy power pressed on Xie Wuyue, stopping the claw in its track.
Elder Yuan flicked his hand and grabbed his arm to throw him out.
Bam!
Xie Wuyue was slammed into the wall like a ragdoll before slumping to the ground. He coughed a lot of blood.
“Xie Wuyue, you’re insane. I’m your master yet you dare raise your hand?” Clenching his fists, Elder Yuan’s eyes were bloodshot from anger.
Xie Wuyue gave a crazed mocking smile, “Master? You threw me off the Sect Leader seat and you dare call yourself master?”
Elder Yuan’s face shook, his heart overcome with grief.
Hum~
A green glow evelopped the dusky room.
Xie Wuyue mocked, “Impermanence Five, you finally came out. You make for poor bodyguards. What if I had hurt High Venerable?”
“No one in the sect can surpass High Venerable in power. You can’t hurt him. Our duty is only to prevent an ambush and disturb High Venerable’s cultivation.”
Elder She’s voice came from green glow, “As you’re master and disciple, we should not interfere, but Sect Leader Xie, you need to understand, High Venerable had never mistreated you. He had handled the matter of the Sect Leader position perfectly. Or did you really think you’d be alive if Zhuo Fan started a fight?”
Xie Wuyue wiped the blood from his mouth and nodded, “You’re right and I know that. That’s why I gave him one last chance to change his mind, help me take my seat back while Zhuo Fan was not here. However, he cast me out. It’s not my fault here. Moreover, since I did not kill him with my strike, you can take it as repaying his favor for saving me.”
“You’ve simply lost it! Xie Wuyue, you really think you could’ve harmed me?”
Elder Yuan shouted, “Impermanence Five, arrest Xie Wuyue!”
“Yes, sir!”
The elders nodded and made a sign. The green glow flashed and sent green lights for Xie Wuyue and around him.
With an evil glint in his eyes, Xie Wuyue mocked, not minding it at all, “Ha-ha-ha, lost it? Yuan Xinggang, don’t think you’re the strongest in Demon Scheming Sect, that you’re untouchable. I could have really killed you back then, but I didn’t to break the ties between us. We don’t owe each other anything now. Watch!”
Xie Wuyue shook his arm and the storage ring on his hand flashed. A mighty power exploded from within and slammed into the Vicissitude Domain.
Boom!
The green glow shook and the Impermanence Five had no cough blood.
“Who did this?” Elder She roared.
A cackle entered their ears, “Demon Scheming Sect’s Impermanence Five sure are something. You still breathe and only your domain is broken despite suffering the might of a Soul Harmony Stage.”
Whoosh~
A gray figure of a middle-aged man appeared tall and imposing before Elder Yuan.
Elder Yuan gasped in shock, “Heaven Trailing Sect’s Sect Leader, Ren Xiaoyun?!”
“Ha-ha-ha, it is indeed I!”
Ren Xiaoyun turned to Xie Wuyue’s ring, “It was a smart move to use the ring for an ambush. How did you came up with it, Sect Leader Xie?”
Xie Wuyue bowed slightly, “I only learned it from a certain shameless traitor. I didn’t think it would work to bring you so easily before High Venerable.”
“High Venerable, now do you believe me?”
Xie Wuyue turned to Elder Yuan with a smile, “If it wasn’t me who struck you before, but Sect Leader Ren from the ring, you would’ve died instead of preaching to me.”
Elder Yuan’s beard shook as he gnashed his teeth.
“That’s why I said I went easy on you for being your disciple, ha-ha-ha…” Xie Wuyue snickered.
