Chapter 214: Handing Down Punishment

Chapter 214: Handing Down Punishment

Sect Master Lan materialized out of the light. He stood atop his sword, hands clasped behind his back. He frowned at the four captured cultivators, Hui and Li Xiang, and Lan Taijian. What happened here?

Sect Master Lan! Weiheng Hui was eating your ducks again! I caught him red-handed, and he attacked me out of nowhere! Wang Zhong shouted before anyone could speak.

Lan Taijian stood back, allowing them to speak for themselves.

Untrue. Wang Zhong and his friends ate your ducks. We saw him, Hui said.

Li Xiang nodded, standing behind Hui.

Sect Master Lan frowned at Wang Zhong, then at Hui. He rubbed his chin. Weiheng Hui, if you have eaten my ducks again, I will no longer be able to tolerate your existence in my sect.

Pressure weighed down on Huis shoulders. Rather than fight it, he bent into a bow. Hui nodded. I understand, Senior! This small cultivator has been warned. I know better than to touch your precious ducks, now!

Wang Zhong as someone who was supposedly protecting my ducks, if you in fact killed them and ate them, I Sect Master Lan narrowed his eyes.

Wang Zhong shook his head. I never would. Never, Sect Master!

There is a simple way to resolve this, Sect Master Lan said evenly, gesturing.

Mid-gesture, something rustled in the woods. Everyone, including the Sect Master, froze and turned.

The members of the Duck Protection Society stumbled out of the woods, looking around with wide eyes. Li Qian turned to Hui. Xie Hao, whats this?

Hui rubbed the back of his head and smiled. Er this small cultivator stumbled upon the criminals, Elder Brother!

TheWang Zhong? But hes Li Qian said, startled. He stared, then turned and caught sight of Li Xiang, and his eyes widened further. Li Xiang? Xie Haoyou really did know her!

Hui laughed lightly, awkward.

The girl with glowing blue eyes from the Duck Protection Society lunged forward and covered Li Qians mouth. Glancing upward, she hissed, The Sect Masters here! And Peak Lord Lan!

Sect Master Lans brows furrowed. He looked at Wang Zhong. I thought you were undertaking your guard duties alone. But here you have not only three friends, but another group of juniors?

Wang Zhong shivered. Respectfully, Sect Master Lan, this forest is a large place! I needed assistance.

Hmm. Sect Master Lan turned away. He continued his gesture.

Li Qian scooted toward Hui, escaping from the blue-eyed girls grasp. Junior Brother, how do you know Li Xiang?

Er, its a long story? Hui tried, laughing.

Li Xiangs eyes flashed. Junior Brother? Know your place.

Eh? What do you mean? Li Qian asked. He glanced at Hui and frowned. Huh? I cant sense his cultivation anymore

I I can explain, Hui said weakly, distracted by forcing down the ducks.

Sect Master Lan gestured again.

Hui stumbled a step, desperately holding back, but the flood gates broke. Ducks poured out of him, one after another. Five, ten, fifteen, until fifty ducks stood alongside the pink duck, lined up into a neat regiment. They stood there, quietly ruffling their wings and arranging their feathers, unconcerned with the goings-on.

Sect Master Lans face turned red. He took a step toward Hui, furious.

Hui raised his hands. Sect Master, please! I didnt eat these ducks. I, Itheyre

Yes? Sect Master Lan asked.

Hui grit his teeth. Time to go for broke! When I ate Fatty, I felt intensely remorseful. After a great number of twists and turns, I cultivated his soul as a powerful technique as a way to apologize for my mistakes. Ultimately, I gained the power to unleash multiple copies of Fatty! I thought to present his soul to you, Sect Master, as a gift, but the, the timing wasn't right

In any case, I did feel apologetic, and it was a small part of my intentions to apologize by cultivating Fatty... if a very small part. As for presenting the soul, I did think about it a few times, especially around the tournament, but... things never worked out. And certainly, just now, before I spoke, I thought about it! It's hard to say the timing's right to present Fatty to him now, isn't it?

Sect Master Lans face reddened even further. You cultivated Fattys soul? You captured it and held it inside yourself? You went so far to desecrate my beloved pet?

ISect Master, its, its not like that Hui stumbled, not sure what to say.

Sect Master Lan pointed at Hui, his hand trembling. You!

Hui threw himself on the ground. Apologies, Sect Master! Please accept this humble disciples apologies. I never meant to insult you, nor desecrate Fatty! I did what I did with the noblest of intentions! The noblest of intentions, also known as keeping this small cultivator alive!

Li Xiang stood in front of Hui. Sect Master Lan, what hes saying he believes it to be true.

Sect Master Lan hesitated. His anger faded half a note. He frowned. Even so, he

Remember what you came to decide. Not whether Disciple Hui deserves punishment, but whether Wang Zhong or Weiheng Hui is guilty in the eating of your ducks.

Sect Master Lan took a deep breath. He glared at Hui for another beat, then turned to Wang Zhong.

Sect Master, please. Let me explain, Wang Zhong said.

Waving his hand, Sect Master Lan silenced Wang Zhong and simultaneously freed and awakened him and his three friends. Wang Zhong climbed to his feet, staring up at Sect Master Lan with devotion in his eyes. The other three stared around them, confused.

The four of you have committed great crimes against me, your Sect Master. Not only killing and eating many of my beloved pets, but also directly ignoring my orders and wishes. Your actions are tantamount to betraying the entire sect!

Wang Zhongs face fell. His three compatriots backed away. They tried to speak, but no voices emerged from their throats.

As punishment all four of you are banished henceforth. Go, and consider yourselves lucky that I did not simply exterminate you! Sect Master Lan flicked his sleeve. The four of them were gathered up by a wind and lifted off into the distance.

Hui breathed out. Sect Master Lan believed me for once! Thank goodness I brought Li Xiang!

Sect Master Lan turned toward him, his face stony. And as for you

Hui swallowed. He prostrated himself again, not daring to look up. Master! Where are you?