Having lost to an unknown Ghost King, the young and aggressive Liu Jingyun and Qiu Lingzhou simply could not accept their defeat. Consequently, after settling at Juyang Peak, they immersed themselves in intense cultivation, even going so far as to practice against each other.
It was well known that Liu Jingyun and Qiu Lingzhou were rivals. Even in a simple sparring session, the two fought as if they were trying to kill one another. Initially, the Tianyun Sect disciples watching the scene were amazed by their skill. However, when they saw the unrestrained sparring begin to damage the surrounding buildings, the disciples grew frantic.
“Those are the houses where we live!” they cried.
None of the disciples dared to intervene in such a violent exchange, so they hurried to find the Sect Leader and the elders. Elder Luying was the first to arrive and stop them.
“Sparring should be done in moderation,” he cautioned. “Both of you are still injured.”
However, both Qiu Lingzhou and Liu Jingyun were inherently proud. Their master, Haiyangzi, had essentially abandoned them, and their experiences before joining Emerald Bamboo Peak combined with Chen Ji’s inability to control them had left them defiant. They wore expressions that said they answered to no one, and Luying’s advice fell on deaf ears.
It was only when Tianjizi arrived that the two showed a modicum of respect toward their elder.
“Why are you two not by Chen Ji’s side?” Tianjizi asked.
“Our junior brother is with him,” Liu Jingyun replied.
Tianjizi glanced at them. Their wounds had not yet healed, and faint bloodstains marred their clothing. “That Ghost King escaped. Based on what Chen Ji said, he will not let the Tianyun Sect off easily. Are you truly comfortable leaving the newly initiated Zhimu alone with an injured Chen Ji?”
The hearts of the two young men tightened, and their expressions immediately turned anxious. Seeing that his words had hit the mark, Tianjizi added, “What are you still standing here for? Go back.”
“Yes!”
Liu Jingyun and Qiu Lingzhou responded in unison and hurried back. Tianjizi then turned to the lingering disciples and said, “Disperse now. Continue your cultivation and do not waste time here.”
“Yes!” the disciples replied, obediently scattering. Once they were gone, Tianjizi returned to the main hall.
With the Sect Leader and Elder out of earshot, the disciples gathered in small groups to whisper.
“Qiu Lingzhou and Liu Jingyun are far too arrogant. Did you see that? When Elder Luying tried to stop them, they glared at him as if to ask why he was interrupting.”
“Exactly. They only behaved once the Sect Leader showed up.”
“I do not understand why they are so conceited. Their cultivation might be higher than ours, but it is certainly not higher than an elder’s. How can they be so disrespectful?”
“There are so many sect rules, yet only we have to follow them. They do whatever they please. The Sect Leader is far too partial toward them.”
“Elder Haiyangzi ignores them, so the Sect Leader pampers them instead. Especially that Chen Ji; he is practically useless, and he only has a tragic backstory to his name. Yet the Sect Leader and the elders all seem to adore him. I just do not get it.”
“Just consider it a result of the elders’ kindness. Emerald Bamboo Peak only has four disciples and their master does not teach them, so perhaps the elders just pity them as orphans and give them extra affection.”
“But is this kind of partiality reasonable?”
The disciples grew more frustrated as they spoke, unable to comprehend the special treatment given to the Emerald Bamboo Peak disciples. Standing not far away, Jiang Cichao watched the growing resentment toward Chen Ji and the others, his eyes darkening.
Chen Ji waited in the courtyard until Qiu Lingzhou and Liu Jingyun returned.
“Did you two break more houses?” Chen Ji asked, his expression stern.
“We only damaged a few,” Qiu Lingzhou replied.
“Is damaging a few something to be proud of?” Chen Ji rubbed his temples. “This is not Emerald Bamboo Peak. If the houses there break, I can earn money to rebuild them. But this is Juyang Peak. It is not good for the other disciples to see you destroying things here. Also, did you apologize to the Sect Leader?”
Qiu Lingzhou and Liu Jingyun remained silent.
“You two!” Chen Ji started to scold them but swallowed his words.
What was the use of yelling? They were simply following their established character roles from the novel. It was precisely because they fought without regard for anything else that the original ending resulted in no survivors. If they could only learn to consider others, fewer people would die. Chen Ji worried that even without the Thousand Infant Coffin, their personalities would still drive the story toward its original tragic conclusion.
“The two of you are coming with me to apologize to the Sect Leader.”
“A-Ji, do you want me to carry you?” Liu Jingyun asked.
“I can hold you,” Qiu Lingzhou added.
“No need. I will walk there myself.” Chen Ji picked up his crutch. This was Juyang Peak; he had to maintain some dignity. Being carried or held would ruin his reputation as the Big Senior Brother. He hopped along at the front of the group and soon found Tianjizi.
Chen Ji led his two unfilial sons in an apology. Tianjizi laughed and said, “A-Ji, there is no need for such formality. It is just a few rooms; they can be repaired. Lingzhou and Jingyun possess such high cultivation at a young age; they bring prestige to our sect.”
“Sect Leader Shibo, please do not say that. If their cultivation were truly high, they would have been able to avoid the buildings. It is because they are lacking that this happened.”
“A-Ji, when you put it that way, it does make some sense.”
“Sect Leader Shibo, let them pay for the repairs this time. Do not protect them anymore,” Chen Ji said.
Tianjizi looked conflicted. “Where would they get the silver?”
“How about you assign them any tasks involving monsters in Tianyun City?” Chen Ji suggested.
Since Liu Jingyun and Qiu Lingzhou were unwilling to travel the world to earn money, they could at least take on commissions within the city.
“That is not difficult,” Tianjizi agreed. “However, since they are capable of traveling for experience, why do they refuse to go?”
“They are a bit timid and do not dare to descend the mountain alone yet,” Chen Ji lied.
It was a better explanation than admitting they simply refused to leave. He did not care if the two of them liked the excuse or not; it was their own fault for being stubborn.
“Jingyun and Lingzhou are indeed still young. Very well, I am not your master; you may do as you wish.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Sect Leader Shibo.”
After their chat, the four of them did not stay long and headed back to rest. On the way, they ran into Jiang Cichao.
“A-Ji, your injury has not healed. Why are you out of bed and walking around?” Jiang Cichao asked.
Chen Ji smiled sheepishly. “Lingzhou and Jingyun damaged some houses, so I took them to apologize to the Sect Leader.”
“Senior Brother Chen Ji, Liu Jingyun and Qiu Lingzhou are not children. Why is it that whenever they make a mistake, you are the one leading them to apologize?”
“Exactly. If we were them, we would feel ashamed to constantly make mistakes and have our senior brother apologize for us,” one of the disciples behind Jiang Cichao added.
Hearing this, Jiang Cichao spoke up. “Say no more. A-Ji is their senior brother. If the juniors make a mistake, it falls on the senior to guide them. A-Ji is a good senior brother who will not abandon them.”