Love & Redemption
Chapter 176: Volume 4 Hua Meng’s Sudden Rift - 33 Conference (Part 5)

Chapter 176: Volume 4 Hua Meng’s Sudden Rift Chapter 33 Conference (Part 5)

"Father!" Xuanji called out, and immediately said, "This is a misunderstanding! Zi Hu is a good person! She has never harmed anyone, and when we went to Buzhou Mountain, she helped us a great deal! She’s my friend, how can I just watch her being locked in a cage?!"

Chu Lei did not respond, but walked forward, took a look at Zi Hu in the cage, and after a long while, he said, "Even if you were to rescue her, what then?"

Xuanji was stunned for a moment before saying, "Uh, rescue her... Of course, it’s to take her away from Fuyu Island so the Vice Palace Master can’t catch her again."

Chu Lei furrowed his brows tightly and said in a deep voice, "Not to mention why the Vice Palace Master wants to capture her, what exactly does the Flower Pinning Conference mean to you in your heart? The flowers that were prepared beforehand, you released them on your own accord, even bewitching the disciples of Fuyu Island! With what identity do you stand here? And with what identity did you arbitrarily make such a big mistake?!"

"I..." Xuanji was so questioned that she was speechless, not knowing what to say.

"You are now a member of the Shaoyang Sect, not someone who wanders alone! The cause you have created today is the effect that Shaoyang Sect will have to bear for you tomorrow. When you act wilfully, first think about who you are? Will what you do bring trouble to others?"

Xuanji, covered in a cold sweat, muttered, "I... never thought about that. But what I do has nothing to do with the Shaoyang Sect..."

"Can you still say it has nothing to do with them?"

Her shoulders slumped, and after a long time, she said softly, "But, I can’t just watch my friend being locked in a cage! Zi Hu is my friend, Father, can you really just watch your friend being locked up without doing anything?"

Chu Lei said sternly, "The word ’friend’ should not be carelessly misused. How many days have you been off the mountain? Are you so trusting with others so quickly?"

Xuanji said, "A friend is a friend; if there’s affinity, even an hour is enough to form a bond that could stand against life and death. Without affinity, even a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to become friends!"

"If she hadn’t committed a crime, why would the people of Li Ze Palace capture her for no reason at all? Everything in the world does not stray from a ’reason.’ You cannot disregard principle for personal sentiment."

"She hasn’t done anything wrong! That Vice Palace Master is not a good person!"

"Nonsense!" Chu Lei was suddenly furious and raised his hand as if to slap her.

Zi Hu suddenly called out from behind, "You old man! You really are obstinate! Never mind, Xuanji, I don’t want to make things difficult for you. You don’t have to save me. Hmph, a few disciples from Cultivation Sects thinking they can hurt me is a dream! Hey, old man, I didn’t want to harm anyone originally, but since you’ve pushed me to this point, when it comes time for the picking and pinning of flowers, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

Chu Lei glanced at her and said coldly, "If this is how you behave, you truly do not deserve to be someone’s friend!"

Zi Hu was furious and said anxiously, "Stop talking nonsense! If I don’t fight back, do I just lie down and let myself be killed?! I’m certainly not that kind of coward!"

Xuanji interjected, "Father! Regardless, I am definitely going to save her. I’ll explain the whole story to you. If you still disagree, then... no matter what, I’m going to save her!"

She then recounted how they met Zi Hu, how they went to Buzhou Mountain to save someone, and how Zi Hu was abducted by the Vice Palace Master. Xuanji was not as articulate as Linglong and the others, but she still told the whole story completely, and in the end, said, "Father, Li Ze Palace is very strange! Shouldn’t they be the ones we’re wary of?"

Chu Lei remained silent in contemplation and did not speak. On the side, Tengshe laughed and said, "You people just love to complicate things. If you ask me, just let her out straight away, and if anyone dares to gossip, take down each one that comes! That would be truly satisfying!"

"Shut up!" Xuanji rolled her eyes at him, utterly scornful of his frivolous suggestion.

Chu Lei finally spoke, "Regardless of Li Ze Palace’s intentions in this case, today you absolutely must not let her out."

"Father!" Xuanji was anxious. Chu Lei waved his hand, signaling her to be silent, then said, "If you truly regard her as a friend, then don’t do something sneaky like a petty thief. Win the contest fair and square, and then whether you rescue her or let her go, that’s your business, and no one else can intervene. But if you release her today, I definitely do not agree!"

Xuanji clenched her teeth and said in a low voice, "Fine! Then I’ll win the Flower Pinning Conference and show you! But Tengshe, he’s not going to be left out in the cold either."

Chu Lei, with his hands behind his back, slowly descended the steps, while saying, "As you wish. Just don’t harm someone’s life."

Xuanji stared blankly as he walked away, his figure disappearing into the thick of the night. It took a while before she realized her palms were drenched with sweat. She wiped her hands on her clothes and turned back guiltily to look at Zi Hu, whispering, "I’m sorry, Zi Hu. I couldn’t rescue you today."

Zi Hu sighed and reached her hand out from between the railings, patting Xuanji’s head, "It doesn’t matter. Ever since that freak captured me, I’ve been worried about your safety. Now that I see you’re safe, I’m relieved. Don’t get angry with your father over a demon like me, he... he did make some sense."

Xuanji whispered, "Wait for me, I will win all the competitions and then I’ll rescue you."

Zi Hu’s eyes reddened, and she lowered her head. After a long pause, she softly said, "Don’t... don’t tire yourself out for me. I’m just a demon and I’ve even thought of harming you guys before."

Xuanji said indifferently, "Don’t talk nonsense. Just wait here with peace of mind. In at most three or four days, I’ll come to take you away!"

Zi Hu wiped away her tears, and suddenly let out a giggle. Xuanji asked in surprise, "What are you laughing about..." Zi Hu giggled, "No, I was just thinking... Does this count as a hero saving a beauty? Oh, that’s not right, you’re a beauty too, so it’s not about a hero anymore, it’s beauty saving beauty."

Xuanji was taken aback but then laughed too. She took Zi Hu’s hand and they talked for a while before she left the high platform with Tengshe.

"Hey, what about these people?" Tengshe pointed to the Lize Palace disciples lying on the ground and asked.

Xuanji shook her head nonchalantly, "Who cares! Let them lie there! They will wake up by tomorrow morning anyway." She pursed her lips tightly, her mind filled with thoughts of how to win the Flower Pinning Conference, then she suddenly said in a serious voice, "Tengshe, if there’s a rule not to kill, can you still show off your prowess?"

Tengshe’s eyes lit up, exclaiming, "Finally, a fight for me?" Then he quickly shook his head, remembering something, "I don’t want to! What kind of conference is this, with little kids coming out to fight. I could kill them with a single finger, not fun at all. You fight on your own!"

Xuanji said nothing and quickly descended from the high platform, while saying, "Fine! Just watch from the side, and if you get the itch, jump up and fight with me! If I don’t win this competition, then I’m not Chu Xuanji!"

Tengshe heard her determined words and couldn’t help but glance at her. Her eyes were filled with a cold light, as if ice was shattering. It was chilling to the bone. He felt a stirring in his heart. The War God General who became famous in one battle, slaughtering nearly a thousand Demon Gods—were his eyes also like this back then?

Hey, isn’t that a bit of an overreaction? He wanted to ask this, but under that piercing gaze, he couldn’t utter a word.

The next day’s competition was down to twenty participants. The drawing of lots continued, and each would go to the ring for their match based on their number. Xuanji’s opponent today was a male disciple from Fuyu Island, and the judge was the Vice Palace Master of Lize Palace. Upon seeing him, she felt a surge of old and new grievances, wishing she could grab him by the throat and strangle him then and there.

Linglong and the others yelled from the wooden building, their voices thunderous, cheering and encouraging her, their fervor almost overwhelming the other Sects’ clamor. Eventually, everyone started looking towards Shaoyang Sect with expressions ranging from resignation to indignation.

The Fuyu Island disciple chuckled, "What a powerful cheering squad, quite surprising."

Xuanji felt a bit awkward and quickly apologized, "I’m sorry... they are a bit loud..." But the disciple laughed and said, "It’s nothing, shouting loudly doesn’t mean you’re strong."

There was a hint of provocation in his words. Xuanji’s smile faded as she looked at him quizzically. He continued, "Today’s match is different from yesterday’s defensive maneuvers. Don’t expect the same leniency from me as you got from your Sect mates. Think it over before we begin."

Xuanji’s face flushed with anger, understanding that he implied she had won her first match only because Du Minxing let her win, suggesting she had no real skills and rised through favoritism. Not skilled at verbal disputes, she said nothing, drawing out her Bengyu and forming a sword technique.

The Vice Palace Master waved his feather fan back and forth, smiling, "If there’s anything left to say or any quarrels to be had, get them out now. Once the match begins, there will be no more talking!" He looked around with a grin, and finally announced, "No more words then? Let’s begin!" He gestured with his fan as he spoke.

The Fuyu Island disciple was still leisurely drawing his sword, clearly not taking Xuanji seriously, and finally took his stance, whispering, "Come then, maybe your big brother can spare a few moves with you." Before he could finish, a figure flashed before him like lightning, so fast that it was impossible to react in time. Then came a loud "clang" as his sword was instantly severed into two pieces, falling to the ground and rolling away.

A coldness touched his neck, Xuanji’s sword pressed against him. He looked at her with an incredulously odd gaze, as if she had transformed from a weak and mild little rabbit into a fierce and menacing demon.

"You’ve lost," Xuanji said softly.

With this bout, she finally won convincingly, earning respect and approval. The cheers from the wooden building were like ocean waves, louder than the last, never ceasing. (To be continued. For the subsequent story, please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)