Wayfarer

Chapter 699: A Ruckus at Taiyi Peak

Within the Yuqing holy land, news of Sage Green Lotus's demise left all the Yuqing disciples at odds with each other.

"It's all Xiao Nanfeng's fault! He—" someone stated, frowning.

"Why are you blaming Senior Brother Xiao? He's not the one who killed Sage Green Lotus. How could you malign someone like that?"

"Right, the Demon Child was responsible. Why are you besmirching Senior Brother Xiao's name? At most, all he did was save the Demon Child."

"In the past, Senior Brother Xiao even gave you advice on cultivation and helped you break through. Don't you think it's shameless of you to be talking ill of him behind his back?"

A group of disciples spoke up for Xiao Nanfeng, causing those who had been criticizing him to flush in anger.

Xiao Nanfeng's lectures had earned him an incredible supply of goodwill, and there were few disciples who would dare speak badly of Xiao Nanfeng in public. Some didn't care, but the majority wouldn't join in.

Countless Yuqing disciples had gathered atop Taiyi Peak as they argued vigorously.

"Elder Zhao is the strongest cultivator on the peak. With the Mountain Lord dead, Elder Zhao should inherit that position."

"Nonsense! Senior Brother Ma is superior in terms of spiritual cultivation. He's the one who should take over."

"Senior Brother Chen was the Mountain Lord's foremost apprentice. He's the ideal candidate!"

The cultivators were all arguing about the unexpected vacancy for the position of Mountain Lord.

Although they couldn't unilaterally decide on the next Mountain Lord by themselves, they were trying to garner mass support for their preferred candidate, with which they would then appeal to the Yuqing hierarch. As a result, there was a huge ruckus on Taiyi Peak.

In a pavilion on another mountain, Yang Chuan was enjoying some liquor on his lonesome. He looked disdainfully at the commotion happening in the distance. Beside him, his subordinate, Black Dog, stood attending to him.

"Master, the situation on Taiyi Peak is much like what we experienced on Yujiang Peak, isn't it?" Black Dog smiled.

"It's exactly the same. If not for what I went through myself, I would hardly perform this favor." Yang Chuan finished his cup of liquor.

"The hierarch has sent for you several times, Master. Do you intend to continue shrugging off his invitation?" Black Dog asked curiously.

"There's nothing much to discuss with him. Let's wait for Xiao Nanfeng to return first."

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"Understood!" Black Dog nodded.

Just then, surprised cries could be heard from the distance.

"Senior Brother Xiao's back!"

"Really? Where?"

"It really is him—and the Demon Child, too!"

The Yuqing disciples were all in a frenzy.

Xiao Nanfeng and the Demon Child were flying toward Taiyi Peak.

"Xiao Nanfeng, how dare you come back! Return the seventh-grade lotus to Yuqing!" someone cried out.

"Demon Child, how do you have the nerve to return after brutalizing the Mountain Lord to death?!" many others shouted.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled, but didn't respond to the disciples. He sent the Demon Child a mental transmission to teach him how to respond to these allegations.

The Demon Child raised his voice. "What are all of you shouting about? Is this the right attitude to show a holy child of Yuqing?!"

"You?" the disciples thundered.

"We're in the Yuqing holy land. Is this any way to treat an elder of the sect?" the Demon Child demanded again.

Many of the disciples glared at him. The Demon Child was known to be rambunctious and had long since lost all authority in the eyes of the disciples.

"Listen to me. Sage Green Lotus, that old geezer, attempted to kill me. According to the Yuqing laws, I had the right to kill him in self-defense. I have reclaimed the seventh-grade lotus of Taiyi Peak. From now on, I'll be the new Mountain Lord of Taiyi." The Demon Child parroted what Xiao Nanfeng had taught him.

"What? You intend to be the next Mountain Lord?" the disciples exclaimed.

"Who agrees with me, and who doesn't?" the Demon Child demanded.

"I object, you thief! You killed the Mountain Lord and are even trying to steal his position now! Dream on!" a disciple thundered.

The Demon Child sent that disciple flying with a slap.

Everyone else suddenly gulped. They paused and glanced at the Demon Child in disbelief.

"I am a holy child of Yuqing. Even if I'm not the Mountain Lord just yet, how dare any of you disrespect my position? Consider this slap light punishment. If any of you dare to disrespect me again, I'll consider it a betrayal of the holy land. I can kill you at any moment," the Demon Child continued to repeat what Xiao Nanfeng was telling him.

Taiyi Peak fell silent as everyone sucked in a deep breath. The Demon Child had been unreasonable and unruly in the past, but it always felt as though he was in the wrong. Now that he had come up with a good excuse to attack them, they were all caught by surprise.

Furthermore, that disciple from before had been a late-stage True Immortal. A single slap had sent him flying—and he was now bloody all over, his bones cracked. He had even fallen unconscious.

How were they supposed to take on the Demon Child now?

Several disciples who had been intending to go against him slunk back. None of them wanted a taste of the Demon Child's palm. He was a holy child, and they were in the wrong. Even if he killed them, he would go unpunished.

"No one objects, then? Very good. All of Taiyi Peak is united in recommending me as the new Mountain Lord," the Demon Child said.

The disciples of Taiyi Peak grimaced, not knowing what to say. None of them wanted to speak up for fear of getting hit by the Demon Child again.

"According to Yuqing laws, since no disciple of Taiyi Peak objects, let's inform the various Mountain Lords and the hierarch about my upcoming ascension. Go—ring the Taiyi Bell and summon the Mountain Lords and hierarch!" The Demon Child pointed at one disciple.

The disciple was about to refuse, but the Demon Child walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. With a crack, his collarbone broke. In fear, the disciple exclaimed, "Of course, holy child! I'll do it immediately!"

Only then did the Demon Child loosen his grip. The tolling of the bell quickly echoed across the Yuqing holy land.

Before long, beams of light flew over from every corner of the Yuqing holy land. The Mountain Lords had arrived.

Not all the Mountain Lords of Yuqing's twelve peaks were present, but six of them had been summoned.

They had been keeping an eye on Taiyi Peak all this time. The Demon Child seemed to have transformed into a different person entirely, and was suppressing countless disciples of Taiyi Peak by force. Some of them were discomforted by this transformation, others didn't care, and yet others began to smile.

"Long time no see, Demon Child."

"Demon Child, you killed Sage Green Lotus? How dare you!"

"Sage Green Lotus shouldn't have done what he did, but you didn't have to kill him outright."

The Mountain Lords all seemed to have comments of their own about what had happened.

The Demon Child, despite his distaste for them, followed Xiao Nanfeng's instructions and bowed toward them.

"Mountain Lords, I am the Demon Child, a holy child of Yuqing. Sage Green Lotus and his accomplice, Li Qianjun, attempted to kill me. Sage Green Lotus even killed my mother. I acted to kill him only in self-defense. By the laws of Yuqing, I have done no wrong. I hereby return with the treasure that Sage Green Lotus had in his possession, including the inheritance of the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak. I am the foremost successor of Taiyi, and I ask to be acknowledged as a candidate for the position of the next Mountain Lord."

The Mountain Lords were taken aback to see the Demon Child speak so formally. They all turned to Xiao Nanfeng, who was standing by one side. Was it Xiao Nanfeng who had taught the Demon Child to speak like this?

"Xiao Nanfeng, you stole the seventh-grade lotus and left Sage Green Lotus defenseless. That's why he died at Taixu. How dare you show up here uninvited? You'll pay for what you've done!" a Mountain Lord shouted.

"I brought Xiao Nanfeng back here, and I shall take full responsibility for what has happened. However, the matter in question is the candidacy for the next Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak. Once that matter is settled, Sage Green Lotus's death will naturally be investigated," the Demon Child continued.

The Mountain Lords all stared at him in surprise. They were certain the Demon Child wouldn't have been able to talk like this without any coaching. They were at a loss for words—they wanted to chastise the Demon Child, but what excuse did they have to do so? A holy child of Yuqing was of equal status as the Mountain Lords.

"The disciples of Taiyi Peak are all willing to nominate me as the new Mountain Lord. I ask for your support as well," the Demon Child said.

Just then, a Taiyi Peak disciple ventured forward. "No, we're not in support! The Demon Child killed my master, and he deserves to die! We were pressured into this. We—"

Before the disciple could finish, the Demon Child had slapped the disciple and sent him flying.

He fell unconscious to the ground, a mouthful of blood pooling there.

"I apologize for the disturbance. There are some traitorous disciples in Taiyi flaunting Yuqing law, which I intend to handle on my own in due time," the Demon Child continued.

The Mountain Lords were taken aback. The Demon Child really was a menace—especially now that he was backed by Yuqing law!

No Mountain Lord spoke up in favor of the disciple who had been knocked unconscious. After all, it really was an internal matter for Taiyi Peak to handle on its own. If they were to interfere regardless, the Demon Child would surely strike at them. If they beat the Demon Child, so be it; but if they lost to him...

The Taiyi Peak disciples didn't dare to say anything given what had happened to the first disciple who did.

"Mountain Lords, with the Yuqing hierarch not in attendance, it is customary for you to approve a candidate. What do you think?" the Demon Child asked.

"The Demon Child is a holy child of Yuqing and a disciple of Taiyi Peak besides. I approve of his candidacy as Mountain Lord."

"I'm in support as well."

"Me too."

"And me."

Suddenly, four Mountain Lords spoke up in agreement.

The remaining two Mountain Lords were astonished.

"Are you all crazy? Such a child as a Mountain Lord?"

"It's likely that Xiao Nanfeng is controlling him somehow. How can you leave Taiyi Peak to an outsider?!"

The four Mountain Lords shook their heads, signaling their continued support of the Demon Child. The two other Mountain Lords frowned, feeling as if a conspiracy were unfolding around them.

Xiao Nanfeng, who had been standing at the side, brightened. He knew that someone had to have helped provide these four straightforward votes of approval.

As for who it was, that didn't need to be said. Yang Chuan was the only one who would have done so.

Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief. The matter was almost settled, then.