Chapter 469: Times and Troubles

Chapter 469: Times and Troubles

Hui spun the sword in his hand, tossing it and snatching the handle out of the air. He spun it one last time, and this time, caught the handle and threw the sword toward the far wall. It flew off, impaling itself into the back wall of the forge.

He let out a deep sigh. Thank goodness. It didnt shatter.

Six months had passed. Most of the disciples had created forges. Those few who had failed utterly and lacked all karma with the forge trained under Ying Lin on her peak, learning sword arts instead. For the most part, Huis peak had remained quiet. A few times, disputes broke out among disciples, but once they learned that Hui had little interest in settling their disputes in anyones favor and much more interest in getting them back to forging, the disputes largely quieted down. The peak rang out with the clang of hammer on metal and burned with the vicious heat of several dozen forges. Although it couldnt be said to be peaceful, it was at least harmonious.

Even that Song Wei quieted down in fact, hes so quiet that its almost suspicious, Hui mused. He gestured, calling the sword back to his hand. It landed in his palm with a satisfying smack. Im surprised that Hong Lu got away without injury for threatening his precious ore. Song Wei really struck me as the kind to pay back any indignity with a thousand times the indignity, and any grudge with a thousand times the

The door to his forge flew open. A panicked female disciple stood in the doorway, her chest heaving. Master, come quickly!

Hui pressed his lips together. Is it Song Wei?

The female disciple startled, then bit her lip. Its better if Master sees for himself

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao shall appear, huh? Hui thought, shaking his head. Sticking the newly-forged sword through his belt, he followed the female disciple out of the forge and over his peak.

The scent of blood met his nose. Hui glanced at the female disciple. A panicked expression on her face, the female disciple sped onward.

Well, shit. Hong Lu, my fellow black-lotus-target, may your soul proceed smoothly through reincarnation. Ah, Ive got to hope that Song Weis white-to-black-lotus transition cheat isnt so strong that he immediately surpasses me and comes after this small clones head, too!

After all, black lotuses always end up with some cheat or another, no? Otherwise, how are they supposed to overturn the powerful bullies who stepped on them until now?

Haaa, and to think, I thought I finally got through to him no, no. Deceit is the ultimate tactic of the black lotus! Hui sped up again, pulling ahead of the female disciple. Quietly, he drew out a few talismans from his storage node, particularly barrier talismans, and pasted them under his robes around his core. Just in case. This small clone has no desire to die in one hit! If Im to be cannon fodder in someone elses story, at the very least, I wont be the kind of face-slapping villain who goes down in one slash!

A red stain splashed across an open space where the orchards had been rent asunder by a blade. The low-realm harvester cultivators fled through the woods, desperately escaping the scene. Higher-realm cultivators from the Clouded Pavilion ran in the opposite direction, though whether to rubberneck or contain the fight, Hui couldnt tell. In the distance, a beam of sword light shot from Ying Lins peak toward Huis, full of Ying Lins familiar fluctuations.

Hui came to a halt, hovering over the scene.

Hong Lu stood backed into the corner, hands raised protectively over his face. Deep cuts marred his body, and blood ran thick in his robes. He wavered, but he remained standing. Less lucky than him, a few toady-looking cultivators laid on the ground around him, bleeding profusely.

Song Wei stood opposite him, breathing heavily. A maddened fire burned in his eyes, and his face twisted into a hideous scowl, all the earnestness and freshness gone from his expression. He clutched a strange sword. Clearly no masterwork, the metal warped in places, and black marks stained its surface. Even so, Hong Lus sword, and the swords of all the toadies, laid shattered on the ground.

Ah, as expected. Its not so bad to see Hong Lu get so thoroughly face-slapped, but ultimately, I must stop Song Wei here, before he decides to go after the rest of us. Hui descended toward the scene, drawing his own sword. Song Wei. What is the meaning of this?

Song Wei looked up. At the sight of Hui, his expression brightened. Master! This man was bad-mouthing you. He was spreading rumors that Master knows nothing of forging and is only using us to mass-produce artifacts for spirit stones. I couldnt let him keep going!

Eh. Wheres the expected accusation? Wheres the dark glares? Instead, hes looking at me like like he has faith in me!

Uh, did I accidentally tame a black lotus? I dont want this plotline, I dont want it! Ahh, so stressful. If I make a single misstep, the backlash

But on the other hand hmm, I dont really mind it? The dangerous black lotus with explosive potential is on my side, and not only that, hes faceslapping my villains for me. When I think of it that way I cant help but feel like Ive gained massively! Now I dont even have to keep my disciples in line. I can throw that work at Song Wei!

Hui paused, thinking to himself. He looked at Hong Lu expectantly, raising his eyebrows.

Hong Lu spat blood and scowled at Hui. So what? Its true, isnt it? Everyones saying it. Master knows nothing! Youre not our Master, youre just an idiot with a mountain!

Ah, is that so? You know what, Song Wei, I think youre right. Lets go ahead and keep thrashing this man, Hui said, nodding.

Song Wei stepped forward.

Go ahead! Beat me! It doesnt change the truth! The truththat youre a useless Master who doesnt know anything! Hong Lu shouted, glaring at Hui. He backed away from Song Wei, occasionally giving him a nervous look.

Around them, the other cultivators began whispering amongst themselves. A few glanced at Hui, suddenly uncertain.

Thats right. You have never lectured us. Youve never shown us your work. Youyoure a scam! A charlatan! Hong Lu continued.

You Hong Lu spat up another mouthful of blood.

Now, now. Is that inner demon of yours flaring up? Calm down, calm down. He looked around. Master will lecture you soon. Ah, even though Ill have to take time from my breakthrough to lecture you, Ill still He looked down and shook his head.

Its okay, Master! Keep studying your cultivation. Theres no need to disturb you, Song Wei said, his eyes shining with worship.

If you insist. But I would hate for my disciples to feel abandoned, Hui said.

No, no. We dont feel abandoned at all, Song Wei said. If not for his bloodstained robes and bloodied sword, it almost looked like an ordinary scene.

No? Hui asked, uncertain.

Song Wei looked around at the others. No, no. Right, everyone? We dont feel abandoned!

One of the disciples cleared her throat. We would like

Song Wei narrowed his eyes at her.

Her eyes flickered to his bloodstained self, and she swallowed. for Master to continue to cultivate in peace!

Looking around, Song Wei nodded at all the other disciples. Right? Masters happiness is our happiness.

The other disciples all stood up straight and nodded.

Hong Lu scowled. This is nonsense. You wont get away with this.

Hong Lu, if you refuse to be my disciple, then the two of us will no longer have anything to do with one another, Hui said simply. I absolutely could resolve this in such a way that Hong Lu remained but quite honestly, Im not interested. Im not here to earnestly raise disciples. I dont much care for whether he succeeds or fails. If he wants to cause problems now, wont he continue to cause problems in the future? The kind of disciple who spreads rumors rather than facing me head-on

Well, to be fair, he also faced me head-on, but not taking no for an answer! Imagine if he decided he didnt want to fight by my side when the time came to face All-Heavens, and he attempted to recruit disciples to fight against me instead, or spread rumors against me among the disciples! Although I need more cultivators, I dont need to take in poisonous disciples who will only drag me down like this Hong Lu.

Hong Lu blinked. He pointed at Song Wei. So this man attacks me, and youyou throw me out?

Mmm? And now youre questioning your Master, too, Hui said, shaking his head.

This is wrong. Youre completely overturning justice! Hong Lu snarled. Veins throbbed on his forehead, and his cultivation began wobbling again, no longer stable.

Hui tilted his head. But whos the first one to forget favors and violate justice? Is it me, in refusing to take your side? Or you, in turning against the Master who healed you, lifted you off the Clouded Pavilion, and gave you materials for free?

Hong Lu gnashed his teeth. He pointed all around him. Youre all being taken in by this charlatan. Dont fall for it!

You know what? I think this is quite enough. Hui waved his hand. In his injured state, Hong Lu couldnt fight it as a blast of wind caught him up and carried him off the peak. He tumbled away, falling out of sight into the clouds below the peak.

As he fell, he howled some threat or another, but the wind snatched his voice away.

Hmm, well, I suppose this Hong Lu will be quite eager to come after Xing Huang, if he recovers down there below the peaks. Ha, too bad that man doesnt exist! Using a fake name is becoming a better and better idea by the moment!

Dusting his hands off, Hui turned to the group. Does anyone else have any problems with my leadership?

The other disciples backed up, shaking their heads.

Hui nodded to himself. He turned to Song Wei.

Song Wei quickly bowed, saluting to Hui.

Clean yourself up. And come by the forge. I want to have a look at that sword. Youre only third realm, right? Cutting a fifth-realm cultivator is quite the achievement. With that, Hui turned on his heel and swept away, leaving the disciples staring after him wide-eyed.