Seeing Elder Bai Shu’s furious expression, Qu Xiangxiang wisely withdrew the hand she had been about to use to summon Zhuoyue Whip, tucking it back into her sleeve. Lowering her eyes, she called out pitifully, “Elder.”
Baishu fixed his gaze on the sword in Yun Qingqing’s hand and demanded sternly, “Yun Qingqing, what are you doing? Have you forgotten the rule that no weapons may be drawn in the cultivation hall without elder permission—or do you simply not care?”
“N-no…” Yun Qingqing looked panicked. She quickly cast a spell to retract her sword into her sleeve, stammering, “It wasn’t me, Elder—it was Qu Xiangxiang! She struck first! It’s her fault!”
Qu Xiangxiang lowered her head and gave a soft, derisive laugh. This woman was trying to pin all the blame on herself.
Bai Shu glanced at Qu Xiangxiang, who stood meekly with lowered eyes. “You were the only one holding a weapon. If I’m not mistaken, your strike was aimed straight at her throat.” His small eyes gleamed beneath his graying brows, his voice low and severe. “You meant to kill her.”
“No, I didn’t…” Yun Qingqing’s words sounded feeble against the memory of her silver sword. “It was—she and Lin Zheng insulted me first. I lost my temper and drew my sword…” Suddenly seizing on this excuse like a lifeline, she cried shrilly, “Yes, that’s it! They provoked me with their words, and I was enraged and forgot the rules. It’s all their fault!”
“How dare you say that!” Lin Zheng’s cheeks flushed red with anger. “You were the one who provoked us first—every disciple here can testify!”
But as soon as she spoke, the hall fell silent. Everyone lowered their heads, pretending to study their books. None wanted to be dragged into this thankless dispute. Both Yun Qingqing and Qu Xiangxiang were troublemakers—no one wanted to risk offending either side.
Lin Zheng opened her mouth to argue further, but Qu Xiangxiang caught her wrist and gave a subtle shake of her head. Reluctantly, Lin Zheng fell silent.
“I did not provoke Yun Qingqing,” Qu Xiangxiang said evenly. “She insulted my family and my friend. I merely defended them. Yet she drew her sword in the cultivation hall and tried to take my life.”
“Who can prove it was you and not me who provoked first?” Yun Qingqing challenged. With the disciples’ silence, she felt certain no one would speak for Qu Xiangxiang—except Lin Zheng, whose words would be dismissed as biased.
“I can!” Lin Zheng shouted.
“Oh, please,” Yun Qingqing sneered. “Everyone knows you’re close to Qu Xiangxiang. Your testimony is worthless.”
“I’ve never done such a thing,” Qu Xiangxiang retorted coldly, her eyes locked on Yun Qingqing. “And even if I had provoked you with words—does that justify drawing a sword in the cultivation hall?”
“I only meant to teach you a lesson,” Yun Qingqing hissed through clenched teeth. “I wasn’t wrong!”
Baishu raised his hand, cutting them off. “Yun Qingqing, since this is your first violation, you will serve seven days of confinement at the Gate of Virtue after morning lessons. If there is a next time, you will be expelled from Cangxuan Mountain and sent back to Wujimen.”
Yun Qingqing’s face went deathly pale. Qu Xiangxiang’s expression wasn’t much better.
For Yun Qingqing, being publicly scolded and sentenced to confinement was a first. Her cheeks burned with humiliation, and her hatred for Qu Xiangxiang deepened.
To Qu Xiangxiang, Bai Shu’s words were little more than a slap on the wrist. Seven days of confinement were hardly a punishment. The original Qu Xiangxiang had once been caught breaking curfew and was locked up for a single night. Yet Yun Qingqing had drawn a sword in the hall and received only seven days. The unfairness twisted in her stomach like a knife.
“Elder…” Lin Zheng began indignantly.
Qu Xiangxiang tugged her sleeve, shaking her head. Lin Zheng reluctantly held her tongue.
Qu Xiangxiang lowered her head again, hiding her expression. At that moment, Mu Hanzhang glanced at her, and for reasons unknown, his gaze was complicated. But Qu Xiangxiang, lost in thought, didn’t notice.
Once everyone was seated again, Bai Shu placed his book on the corner of the desk. His twig-like fingers tapped rhythmically, his sharp eyes sweeping over the disciples. “Today, we will not hold class in the hall.”
“You’ve studied at Cangxuan Mountain for some time now. It’s time to test what you’ve learned.”
The disciples erupted in murmurs.
Bai Shu raised two thin fingers. “Pair off. Friendly sparring. Stop short of harm.” His gaze flicked—seemingly by chance—toward Qu Xiangxiang. She thought she might be imagining it, but the look felt strangely meaningful.
The hall fell silent for a moment, then burst into noisy chatter.
“Ah!” Lin Zheng groaned, collapsing onto the desk. “Pairing off… this old man always comes up with rotten ideas. I’m doomed to lose miserably.”
She suddenly straightened, clutching Qu Xiangxiang’s hand, eyes shining. “Let’s pair together! That way we can—”
Before she could finish, wooden lots fluttered down onto their desks like falling snow.
“Matching numbers form pairs,” Bai Shu announced.
Lin Zheng: “…”
Qu Xiangxiang: “…”
“What number did you get?” Lin Zheng asked, leaning close.
Qu Xiangxiang: “…Two.”
Was it her imagination, or did that number feel like an insult?
As the disciples excitedly searched for their partners, Yun Qingqing strode over with a mocking smile, slamming her lot onto Qu Xiangxiang’s desk.
Qu Xiangxiang looked down.
A big, bold number two.
“Qu Xiangxiang,” Yun Qingqing sneered, lifting her chin, eyes narrowed. “I won’t let you off.”
Such a perfect villain’s line. But as the “vicious cannon-fodder” herself, Qu Xiangxiang wasn’t about to back down. She folded her arms, leaned against the desk, and said coolly, “Your rouge is on your teeth.”
Lin Zheng: “Hahahahahaha!”
Yun Qingqing: “…”
There was simply no way to continue after that.
Today’s duel would end with either Qu Xiangxiang, the so-called villainess, dead, or Yun Qingqing alive.