NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9
“Do you have evidence for your claims, Elder Gao?”
Inside the Immortal Hall, the sect master Ning Shenming, seated on the foremost white feather chair and dressed in a white cloud-patterned Taoist robe, asked.
Gao Baihe stroked his beard: “Sect Master, you can verify it yourself. My disciple said he saw our peak’s Medicinal Cranes on Erbai Peak.”
“Did Shen Shi offer any explanation to your disciple?” Ning Shenming inquired.
“No, instead, he injured my disciple, causing psychological trauma. I request the Sect Master to intervene. I ask for no other compensation, only for Elder Shen Shi to return the Medicinal Cranes and apologize to me.”
Gao Baihe crossed his arms and leaned on the chair’s armrest, appearing magnanimous.
Expect Shen Shi to apologize? That’s a joke. If Shen Shi were the type to apologize, he wouldn’t have ended up fleeing across Qingzhou Domain, eventually seeking refuge in the Shangding Immortal Sect.
Ning Shenming rubbed his temples. Asking Shen Shi to apologize was more challenging than killing him. On one side was a hot-tempered Golden Core cultivator, and on the other, a trusted elder and beast tamer. Ning Shenming found himself in a difficult position.
He glanced at Gao Baihe, who was patiently waiting for a response, his hands interlocked inside his sleeves.
“Shen Shi indeed went too far, but Elder Gao, with the Xianmiao Conference approaching and many tasks at hand, let’s delay dealing with this matter,” Ning Shenming ultimately decided to postpone the issue until after the conference.
Gao Baihe, seeing Ning Shenming’s indifferent attitude, was infuriated but bowed and said: “Sect Master, by the time of the Xianmiao Conference, Shen Shi would have probably dealt with the Medicinal Cranes. How can I confront him without evidence?”
“That would be for the best,” Ning Shenming thought but maintained a helpless demeanor. “Elder Gao, as you know, this Xianmiao Conference is unlike any before, with guests from Yuhua Sect and Dongming Pavilion. We cannot afford any mistakes, so we must delay this matter.”
Gao Baihe wanted to argue further, but Ning Shenming’s cough and displeased expression made him angrily storm out of the Immortal Hall.
Watching Gao Baihe leave, Ning Shenming shook his head helplessly. Shen Shi was indeed a troublemaker, and it was no wonder he was ostracized. If not for his formidable strength, he might have been driven out of the Shangding Immortal Sect by these resentful elders long ago.
Meanwhile, Shen Shi, oblivious to these issues, was busily pampering the remaining six Medicinal Cranes.
“Look at you, living in this place with blooming peach blossoms and personally cared for by me. When will you start mating and lay some eggs for my drinks?” Shen Shi squatted, talking to himself as he watched the cranes pecking at the Snow Velvet Grass, his mouth watering.
The six Medicinal Cranes raised their heads, looked arrogantly at Shen Shi, and then continued pecking.
“I’ve already sent the single crane away. There are no other rivals here, just the three pairs of you. When will you start?” Shen Shi persisted.
The cranes ignored him, eating their fill without any intimacy, maintaining a distance from one another. The males didn’t even glance at the females.
“Cold creatures,” Shen Shi muttered angrily.
Just as Shen Shi was contemplating locking the cranes in pairs, he stood up seriously and looked melancholically at the peach tree branches over the wall.
Soon, Dongyue Li appeared at the door, seeing her master standing among the cranes, looking wistfully at the peach blossoms, like a celestial being.
Her cheeks flushed, she entered the courtyard, suddenly feeling something amiss.
“When did a peach tree appear in Master’s courtyard?” Dongyue Li wondered, looking at the lush peach tree and freshly turned soil underneath.
“Master, disciples from Danqing Peak have come to collect Snow Velvet Grass,” she reported.
Shen Shi nodded: “You handle it.”
Dongyue Li felt uneasy about Shen Shi’s calm response, expecting to be scolded or even beaten. But now, it seemed her master had no intention of doing so.
“Master, I’ve already handled everything and sent them away,” Dongyue Li said bravely.
“Well done,” Shen Shi smiled.
Dongyue Li felt uncomfortable being praised, wondering if she actually wanted to be scolded.
“Master, this is what Danqing Peak exchanged for the Snow Velvet Grass – ten Grade Three Lingyun Pills.”
She presented a small porcelain bottle to Shen Shi, who took it.
“Li, you’re at the Foundation Building stage now, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Master. Thanks to your pills
, I was able to breakthrough,” Dongyue Li replied humbly.
Shen Shi waved his hand: “It’s your effort. I just gave you a push.”
Seeing her modesty, Shen Shi felt he needed to truly impart something useful to his disciples.
“Since you’re at the Foundation Building stage, you can start learning techniques. With your mutated Ice Spirit Root, close to the water attribute, I have a Spirit-level Water Technique, ‘Encircling Tenderness.’ You can study it.”
Shen Shi handed her an old book from his mustard seed bag.
“Thank you, Master.” Dongyue Li knelt to receive the book.
“Although it’s just a Spirit-level technique, practiced diligently, its power is formidable. Come to me if you have any questions,” Shen Shi said lightly.
Dongyue Li held the book to her chest, looking up at Shen Shi, meeting his refreshing smile amid the backdrop of the large peach tree and falling blossoms.
Her cheeks flushed again, and she quickly looked down.
“Yes, Master. I will practice diligently and not disappoint you.”
Although it was a Spirit-level technique, it was still a technique, which many cultivators might not have even at the later stages of Foundation Building. Excited, Dongyue Li resolved to make Shen Shi proud in the next sect competition.
Dongyue Li stood and left.
Life seemed to return to normal. Without high-tech entertainment, Shen Shi spent his free time idly, sleeping, and walking the birds. The laid-back lifestyle suited him well, as hard work was not meant for the idle.
The Xianmiao Conference was drawing closer.