Chapter 215: Ducking Punishment
Sect Master Lan glowered at Hui. He gazed over the neat regiment of ducks and crossed his arms. What have you done to my duck?
Nothing! Ive just helped Fatty grow! Ive generated more Fatties! Whats wrong with that? Ah, if not for me, hed just be dead, you know? Hui cried internally. Externally, he prostrated silently before the Sect Master, unwilling to speak, lest he misspeak.
Did you eat these ducks? Sect Master Lan asked.
Hui swallowed. I did not.
Li Xiang nodded. Hes telling the truth.
Sect Master Lan snorted. He glared at Hui. You
Golden light burst overhead, casting the sky in gold. A group of figures appeared overhead, hovering over the sect.
Sect Master Lan looked up, distracted. After a moment, he flew up on his sword, zooming toward the figures.
Lan Taijian scowled at Hui, then flew after his father without another word.
Hui dared to sit up. He looked around, then frowned after the two cultivators surnamed Lan. Where are they going? Who are those people up above?
Want to see? Li Xiang offered. She hopped atop her sword and gestured for him to join.
Hui climbed to his feet and beamed, climbing up after her. Of course!
Almost as an afterthought, he turned to the ducks and gestured. They trembled, caught in place by the Sect Masters spell. Black burned around them, chasing along invisible threads, and then they leaped free. The ducks spiraled into a vortex as they rushed into Huis dantian.
How did you end up with so many soul copies of the Sect Masters duck? Li Xiang asked, tilting her head. Her pink enamel pin glittered in the sunlight.
Hui coughed. Its a long story.
Li Xiang glanced up. Summarize.
Quickly, he told her about what had happened in the Bai clan, then explained everything that had happened since. He left out that the ducks were made of death qi, obscured some of the finer points of his time in the Black Asp Sect, and left out that they were stored in the second dantian in his soul, but covered most of the history of the death qi ducks otherwise.
Li Xiang frowned. Interesting. Ive never heard of any cultivation technique like it. Or is it a magical ability?
Unlike your great and illustrious sect, our Starbound Sect only has five peaks and five inheritors, Sect Master Lan replied.
Hui frowned. Does Gui Delun have the upper hand to the point he can openly demand particular disciples, even inheriting disciples? But Sect Master Lan hasnt simply ignored him, nor has he directly refuted him. Instead, hes used polite language and indirect refusals to fight Gui Delun.
No it isnt Gui Delun himself. Instead Gui Deluns sect, the All-Heavens Sect, is simply that powerful!
That disciple cultivates life qi. He would benefit greatly from cultivating in All-Heavens Sect. Gui Delun reached out toward Hui. Huis body lifted off Li Xiangs sword and began to fly toward him. Li Xiang reached after him, and he grabbed her hand, but their grasps couldnt fight against the power of Gui Deluns grasp. Their hands parted, and Hui flew toward Gui Delun. He tried to shed his skin to wriggle free, but Gui Deluns strength suppressed his cultivation base. Play dead? No... he wouldnt stop, and Id just be giving up my trump card! Swap with a ghoul? And give up that Im also a death qi cultivator? Absolutely not! I could probably poison this grasp with death qi, but not in front of the exorcist sect that almost killed me for wearing a ghoul-skin! They have no concept of the truly righteous, but instead allow themselves to be misguided by the surface appearance of things!
A cold snort rang out. Huis body froze in midair, then flew the opposite direction. Weiheng Wu reached out and caught him by the belt, dangling him from the waist.
Gui Delun narrowed his eyes at him. How presumptuous of you.
You presume to kidnap my disciple, Weiheng Wu replied, arching a single brow.
Hui kicked his way out of Weiheng Wus grasp and blasted qi at the ground for a moment to reposition himself on his Masters sword, rather than dangling. He hid behind Weiheng Wu and frowned at Gui Delun, his heart pounding. I almost got dragged off to a terrifyingly powerful sect! Who knows what horrible tortures would have awaited me there? Without Master there, who would keep me safe?
Then at least her, Gui Delun said, lifting his hand to gesture again.
Lan Taijian reached for his sword. Atop her sword, Li Xiangs eyes glinted with dangerous light.
Gui Delun, did I get to pick the members of your exchange? Will you give me no face? Sect Master Lan asked imperiously.
Gui Delun paused. He lowered his hand and tucked it behind his back. As if nothing had happened at all, he nodded at Sect Master Lan. I will remain to help educate your cultivators. If you wish, you may send one of your Peak Lords to All-Heavens Sect to help further the comprehension of our cultivators, as well.
Hui raised his eyebrows. So hes here to educate us, but we can further their comprehension? Ha! What a joke. You might as well openly call it re-education, Gui Delun!
Hmm I think its time for this small disciple to find some more meritorious service to do for the sect. Preferably far away from the sect and Gui Deluns education!
He raised a hand to his chin. Come to think of it is this his reaction to Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect? Attacking Starbound Sect instead of Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect? No, that doesnt seem right. After all, Mysterious Heavenly Forest acted on their own, without anything to do with Starbound Sect. I think its wrong to infer that Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect isnt being punished, due to us also being punished.
Rather it might be proper to assume that all the lesser sects from All-Heaven Sects perspectiveAzure Fang, Silk Heart, Starbound, and Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect, the members of the Southern Sect Conferenceare being reigned in! Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sects attack is merely the excuse to restrict all of the Southern Sect Conferences members.
But why? This He twisted his lips, frowning. What does All-Heavens Sect gain from restricting the lesser sects? Or are there outside factors influencing them to make this decision now?
Ah, dammit, I dont know enough about All-Heavens Sect! I need to get out! Learn more about this world!
Hui glanced over at Gui Delun. Feeling Huis eyes on him, Gui Delun turned, a stern expression on his face that only turned sterner as their eyes locked. Hui swallowed. and get away from Gui Deluns reeducation! Somehow, this small cultivator feels like hes first on the chopping block!