NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8
Watching Zhao Huangming’s aggressive approach, Han Xian’er panicked. After all, she had only recently started cultivating, and her previous four years were spent doing chores. Both her martial skills and spiritual energy manipulation were abysmal. Seeing Zhao charging at her, she lost her composure and charged forward out of sheer courage.
The disciples of Hebai Peak collectively sneered at her low-level, desperate move.
Zhao Huangming swiftly dodged to the side and delivered a side kick to Han Xian’er’s waist, sending her flying.
Han Xian’er’s slender body rolled several meters on the ground before stopping, her face pale, clearly injured internally by the kick.
“I told you, why bring trouble upon yourself?” Zhao Huangming sneered.
“Brother Zhao is mighty,” the other disciples flattered him.
“Stop! All of you, stop!”
As the Hebai Peak disciples laughed and started walking up the mountain, Han Xian’er struggled to her feet, clutching her side in pain and unable to straighten her back, but still stubbornly yelled.
“Hmm? You can still stand? Seems like you’ve entered the threshold of cultivation, Han Xian’er, haha,” Zhao Huangming laughed.
“It’s strange indeed. How did you enter the threshold of cultivation without your master teaching you? Could it be that you learned it secretly?”
Zhao Huangming approached Han Xian’er, speaking word by word.
“Get lost, do not set foot on Erbai Peak.”
Han Xian’er’s forehead was covered in sweat, and her trembling body seemed to be supported solely by her willpower.
“Trash!”
“Stealing techniques, trash, and you still have the face to speak. I shall teach you a lesson on behalf of Real Person Shen Shi.”
The Hebai Peak disciples laughed, viewing Han Xian’er as nothing more than a trivial mortal, unworthy of concern. Even killing her seemed inconsequential to them.
“You’re the one blocking my way up the mountain, let’s see who can stop me today,” Zhao Huangming arrogantly declared.
“I’d like to try.”
Just as Zhao Huangming was being arrogant, a calm voice entered everyone’s ears, its indifference making everyone hold their breath.
Zhao Huangming, caught up in his triumph, failed to notice the creeping sense of dread.
“Who said that? Which bastard said that?” Zhao Huangming turned around and shouted.
The moment he turned, Zhao Huangming immediately performed a coherent turn and knelt on the ground with a thud, trembling and kowtowing: “Real Person, please spare my life, spare my life.”
“Master.” Han Xian’er, seeing the white-robed figure not far away, finally felt a weight lifted off her heart.
“Does it hurt?” Ignoring the kneeling disciples of Hebai Peak, Shen Shi spoke to Han Xian’er, who lay on the ground.
Han Xian’er moved slightly, feeling a sharp pain in her side. She looked at her master dejectedly: “Master, I’ve embarrassed you.”
Shen Shi looked at Han Xian’er with calm yet encouraging eyes: “Is it really so terrible to lose face?”
Seeing Han Xian’er’s dejected expression, Shen Shi turned to the Hebai Peak disciples and coldly ordered: “All of you, raise your heads.”
The disciples of Hebai Peak shakily raised their heads. Shen Shi waved his hand, and a gust of wind struck each of their faces, knocking out two teeth from each person, no more, no less.
Then calmly said: “You are juniors, and I do not wish to make things difficult for you, but a lesson is necessary. This slap is a reminder that everyone must abide by the rules on Erbai Peak.”
With another backhand slap, everyone’s heads turned to the other side, their hair flying about in an oddly uniform manner.
“This slap is for insulting my disciple. I won’t make you lose more teeth, at least you’ll remember how you lost the others when you eat,” Shen Shi said calmly.
“Han Xian’er, who hit you today?” Shen Shi asked calmly.
Zhao Huangming trembled violently.
Han Xian’er glanced at Zhao Huangming and said through gritted teeth: “Master, it was Zhao Huangming.”
Shen Shi nodded: “Then remember this well. Through diligent cultivation, one day, you must personally, rightfully, repay him, showing him the meaning of ‘do not underestimate the young and poor.'”
Han Xian’er’s eyes lit up, nodding vigorously, taking Shen Shi’s words to heart.
“Alright, you all can leave. If there’s an issue, let your master come to me,” Shen Shi waved dismissively.
The Hebai Peak disciples gratefully fled, holding their reddened cheeks, whimpering.
The ruffians of Erbai Peak are terrifying, even we spectators got beaten.
After the disciples of Hebai Peak left, Shen Shi turned to Han Xian
‘er and opened his palm, revealing a round pill: “Eat this.”
Han Xian’er gratefully swallowed the pill, then looked amazed.
“This is a painkiller, not a healing pill,” she thought, puzzled.
“Does it not hurt anymore? What happened just now, how did you end up in conflict with them?” Shen Shi inquired.
Han Xian’er was moved by her master’s immediate protection before even knowing the situation.
After Han Xian’er explained everything.
Shen Shi nodded, patted her head, and said: “Well done. In future encounters, act just like this.”
You’ve done well in upholding your master’s image, a teachable child indeed.
As Shen Shi drifted away, he left a message that wafted into Han Xian’er’s ears.
“I didn’t give you a healing pill so that you remember the pain and what you’ve lost.”
For Shen Shi, being dramatic came naturally.
Han Xian’er knelt down, kowtowing three times in the direction Shen Shi left, full of admiration.
“I really admire myself,” Shen Shi thought contentedly as he floated up the mountain.
In fact, it was a coincidence. Shen Shi didn’t expect the immortals’ meeting to be so boring. A bunch of people sat together, with only one or two actively participating, while others were distracted, chatting, or even trimming their nails.
So, Shen Shi simply escaped, only to arrive at the mountain top and witness the dispute, making a timely appearance.
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At Hebai Peak, Peak Master Gao Baihe angrily smashed a cup.
“This Shen Shi is too much!”
Kneeling below, Zhao Huangming wept: “Master, you must stand up for me. That Shen Shi stole the Medicinal Cranes and, along with his disciple, beat us up and even insulted you, Master. It’s despicable.”
“Are you sure the Medicinal Cranes are on Erbai Peak, in Shen Shi’s possession?” Gao Baihe asked.
“I’m a hundred percent sure,” Zhao Huangming kowtowed.
“This Shen Shi, relying on his high cultivation, is really arrogant. I must go to the sect master and have him decide on this matter.”
Gao Baihe originally thought of confronting Shen Shi himself but reconsidered, given his early Golden Core stage strength. Going there would only lead to more embarrassment.