My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 48.2

A plaque inscribed with the words “Enforcement Hall” hung above the main entrance, the three characters radiating an imposing aura that seemed to deter any misdeeds. Below the plaque, the crimson gates stood tightly shut. Whether a barrier was in place or not, not a single sound emerged from the courtyard.

Since she hadn’t committed any wrongdoing, 03 approached the gates calmly and knocked.

A minute passed, and a cold wind swept down the steps.

Seeing no one to open the gates, 03 groaned, “How am I supposed to get in?” How could she enter the Enforcement Hall without disrupting the staff’s normal work?

Lingshi poked her head out from 03’s sleeve, and the two exchanged a look.

Before long, a red jiao dragon coiled at the base of the Enforcement Hall’s wall. A woman in crimson robes with silver hair stood atop the dragon’s head. “Higher,” 03 instructed.

The dragon raised its head.

“Good, thank you.” 03 braced her arms against the wall and reached out to touch the air.

A transparent barrier materialized. 03 thought, If I poke a hole in the barrier, I might be able to hear what’s happening inside. In the ancient worlds of the System tags, many Hosts used to do this—poke holes in window paper.

03 concentrated her spiritual power at her fingertips and jabbed at the barrier.

A crackling sound filled the air as fissures radiated outward from her fingertip. The barrier exploded with a bang.

“Who’s there?!” a stern voice demanded. 03 looked down and saw the courtyard packed with Lanyang Palace disciples in their uniforms, their heads tilted back to gaze up at her with a mixture of reverence and astonishment.

Heavens! A fellow Daoist is raiding the Enforcement Hall!

“I’ve been wanting to try that for ages!” she heard someone say.

The last time so many eyes were on her was during the System Mall grand opening ceremony. Recalling the past, she waved her arm and said, “Hello, everyone.”

The crowd stared, wide-eyed. A Heavenly Immortal Daoist!

As the initial shock began to fade, they couldn’t help but burst into laughter at her calm demeanor.

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist.”

“Fellow Daoist, which peak are you from? Why have we never seen you before?”

“Should we call you Senior Sister Apprentice or Junior Sister Apprentice?”

“Are you stupid? Anyone who could break the Enforcement Hall’s barrier must be a Senior Sister Apprentice!”

“Senior Sister, why aren’t you running?”

Lanyang Palace had an unwritten rule: the most formidable disciples were always addressed as “Senior Sister” or “Senior Brother.”

The crowd buzzed with chatter, their voices rising to a cacophony. 03 raised a hand to cover her ears.

Just then, a middle-aged man in blue robes, standing at the front of the crowd, barked, “Silence! What a disgraceful scene!”

Everyone fell silent immediately.

03 was relieved: Finally, it’s quiet.

The stern voice earlier had come from this man. He looked up at 03, noticing her disciple’s robes, and asked suspiciously, “Who sent you here?”

03 answered honestly: “Feng Jue sent me.”

The moment Feng Jue’s name was uttered, the courtyard fell into a deathly silence. Even the middle-aged man paused, then clasped his hands and asked formally, “What brings you here?”

What brings me here? To show her around, of course!

03 replied truthfully, “I also need to find Xue Mengtao.” On the way here, Siyi had mentioned that Xue Mengtao was at the Enforcement Hall. 03 wanted to thank her for lending her the clothes. The crowd’s gaze immediately turned to the corner of the courtyard, where Xue Mengtao stood, looking utterly bewildered and staring back at 03 in confusion.

Mu Rong whispered, “Senior Sister, do you know her?”

Xue Mengtao shook her head. She had only ever seen two peerless women: the Palace Master and her Master. She had no recollection of 03. If she had ever met them, she would never have forgotten.

Since the Palace Master had given the order, the middle-aged man raised his hand to signal the gatekeepers to open the doors. “These monkeys caused trouble in the city last night,” he explained. “To avoid further disturbances, I’ve confined them in the Enforcement Hall behind a barrier.”

“Monkeys?” 03 stepped inside, puzzled. “Are you calling us monkeys?”

The middle-aged man: “……”

The disciples: “……Pfft hahaha!”

They burst into unrestrained laughter, only to see a Red Jiao Dragon slither in behind 03. The Fire Rock Jiao Dragon looked around curiously, wondering, Where are the monkeys?

The laughter in the courtyard cut off abruptly, and everyone lowered their heads.

The middle-aged man snorted coldly. “What’s wrong? Where’s your laughter now? Let Lord Lingshi hear how proud you are—did you place in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition? Or have you already secured spots in the Five Continents Grand Competition? Is that why you’re so recklessly boasting, attracting attention from all sides?”

“You indulge in this momentary verbal satisfaction, but let me ask you this: never mind other sects, what if you lose to disciples from the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect in the Grand Competition? What then?”

Losing to the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect… Shame filled the faces of the disciples. Mu Rong, a disciple from Liyang Peak standing beside Xue Mengtao, shouted loudly, “Then I refuse to lose to them!”

“Right! We won’t lose to them!”

“We’ll take them down one by one! Those turtles will learn who’s number one in the Eastern Continent!”

Mu Rong’s call was echoed by a chorus of voices.

“Is the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect a turtle?” 03 asked.

The Fire Rock Jiao Dragon suddenly coiled around 03, completely enveloping his head.

Don’t listen, don’t listen.

Mu Rong rolled up her sleeves and stood with her hands on her hips. “Elder Xu, how can you tolerate the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect daring to hang a banner proclaiming themselves ‘Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect First’ in our Lanyang City?”

Elder Xu clasped his hands behind his back and snorted coldly.

Indeed, it was intolerable.

“But you shouldn’t have lost your composure and blown up at the slightest provocation, even going so far as to challenge them to a fight in Purple Bamboo Forest!” Elder Xu said sharply. “Didn’t your Master teach you the art of tact and diplomacy? Not a single one of you thought to send a formal challenge letter to demonstrate our Lanyang Palace’s refined humility? With a proper challenge letter, who would dare call us brutish or unreasonable?”

Though none understood why a challenge letter was related to refined humility, all the disciples echoed their agreement.

03 suddenly understood. Clapping his hands, he exclaimed, “I’ve been enlightened!”

Lingshi clung fiercely to 03’s head, chanting, “Don’t learn it, don’t learn it.”

Elder Xu passionately lectured the disciples, reviewing last night’s “Sky Battle” to prevent outsiders from finding fault and causing trouble. Struggling to free herself from the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon coiled around her, 03 listened intently, feeling like everyone was reflecting on how they could have performed better in a heated argument.

Humans are truly full of wisdom, 03 mused inwardly, resolving to learn more from them. As she listened, she shrank Lingshi, who was taking up too much space, rolled her up, and tucked her into her sleeve. Then, she slowly moved closer to Xue Mengtao.

Xue Mengtao hurriedly bowed in greeting.

“Siyi said to prepare thoroughly for the Grand Competition after you’ve completed your punishment and returned to Qihuang Peak,” 03 told her.

Xue Mengtao lowered her head in shame. Mu Rong wrapped an arm around her, reassuring her, “It’s alright. Which disciple of Lanyang Palace hasn’t been to the Enforcement Hall? Practice—make it a habit! Elder Siyi definitely won’t blame you!”

Just as she finished speaking, Elder Xu announced the punishment:

“All who participated in last night’s verbal sparring will copy the palace rules ten times. Those who challenged others to fight in the Purple Bamboo Forest will copy them thirty times.”

03 saw everyone sigh in relief, their faces breaking into unconcerned smiles. The punishment didn’t seem severe at all.

But Elder Xu added, “The Eastern Continent Grand Competition is approaching, so the punishment is postponed. I’ve ordered the Enforcement Hall disciples to record your names. Once the competition concludes, anyone who loses to a Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect disciple or ranks below them will face a hundredfold penalty.”

The disciples gasped, their earlier relief vanishing without a trace. A hundredfold!

03 also gasped, counting on her fingers. She had attacked all the sects equally—how many times would she have to copy the rules now?

Mu Rong patted her chest, glancing at 03’s attire. The bold spirit that had led the charge moments before vanished in an instant, replaced by bashfulness. “Senior Sister Apprentice,” she asked timidly, “are you also a disciple of Lanyang Palace? Why have I never seen you before?”

Counting on her fingers, 03’s eyes lit up as she realized something: she wasn’t a disciple of Lanyang Palace at all!

“Not a disciple of Lanyang Palace?”

An angry voice, filled with skepticism, rang out from the Main Hall of Lanyang Palace. Feng Jue, seated on the high dais, suppressed the scorn in her eyes and declared sternly, “Do you suggest that I, the Palace Master, would lie?”

The hall was packed with people of all ages and genders, clad in the uniforms of various sects. When Feng Jue took her seat, she had already noticed that, apart from the leading Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, all the others were minor, insignificant sects. They had come clamoring for explanations, only to be met with disdain from Lanyang Palace.

They should be the ones offering compensation.

“The Eastern Continent Grand Competition is approaching. All eligible disciples will participate, and then you’ll see whether Lanyang Palace sends that disciple or not,” Feng Jue said leisurely, a smirk curling her lips.

“Putting that aside, last night’s incident was merely the youthful recklessness of young disciples, some childish mischief. For such a trivial matter, the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect actually sent an Elder—and oh, Young Master Xu himself came personally. How surprising,” Feng Jue remarked, leaning back in her jade chair and smiling lazily at the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect delegation. “Could it be that something I said last night struck a nerve, prompting this grand display of force?”

Recalling the message 03 had written with spiritual power, Feng Jue chuckled inwardly as she surveyed the ugly, greedy faces before her.

Useless fools.

Xu Zehua, son of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect Leader, clenched his fists in fury at Feng Jue’s words. Three years older than her, he had been the one to suppress Lanyang Palace’s disciples with his spiritual glow the previous night, yet she dared to call him a child!

His cultivation was superior to hers, being in the Late Golden Core Stage. Not only had she shown her disrespect, but she had also addressed him as the Palace Master of Lanyang Palace! The Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect’s glory days predated Lanyang Palace’s very existence!

The elder beside Xu Zehua pressed his hand down, and Xu Zehua opened his eyes to look at Feng Jue. Feng Jue raised an eyebrow, waiting to hear what this elder had to say.

The elder from the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect wasn’t here to discuss last night’s incident; in his eyes, it had been nothing more than a farce—a pretext for their visit. His true purpose was to declare, “Palace Master Feng, although the Eastern Continent Grand Competition is hosted by Lanyang Palace, the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, having stood in the Eastern Continent for centuries, is intimately familiar with all its sects. We hope that Lanyang Palace will consult with us regarding the competition’s proceedings.”

Feng Jue’s gaze turned icy, the disdain in her eyes deepening.

The plot had been revealed. The Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect intended to interfere with the Grand Competition. Her gaze swept imperceptibly over Xu Zehua beside her, and she sneered inwardly. A Late Golden Core Stage cultivator propped up by pills—no wonder they’re going to such lengths.

Feng Jue regretted not sending Siyi to handle these people. She should have stayed by 03’s side; she wondered if they were getting along with the others.

Aloud, she said, “There’s no need for you to worry. Although the Grand Competition is hosted by Lanyang Palace, the specifics are entirely guided by Wendao Academy. Instead of pleading with me, you should take your concerns to them.”

Who’s pleading with you?!

The elder, who had earlier feigned calm during the “verbal spat,” exchanged only a few more words with Feng Jue before his face flushed crimson. He snapped, “Palace Master Feng, do you understand the principle of harmony bringing prosperity?”

Feng Jue blinked, puzzled. “Has the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect fallen so far that they’re begging for financial help?”

“You impudent brat!” The Elder, who had cultivated for years and held a position second only to the sect leader within the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, couldn’t tolerate Feng Jue’s “insult.” His anger flared, and he immediately turned to leave.

Xu Zehua glared at Feng Jue. “See you at the Grand Competition. Then we’ll see who regrets this!”

Feng Jue burst into laughter, raising her hand. “Take your time.”

As the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect members departed, the representatives from the smaller sects who had followed them scrambled after them. The group jostled and crowded around the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect members, complaining about Lanyang Palace’s arrogance, unreasonable behavior, and stubbornness.

Just then, three red-robed women approached the Main Hall. Leading them was 03.

The group collided with the crowd.

The Elder of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, still seething with pent-up anger, spotted three young women in Lanyang Palace disciple robes. Two were at the Foundation Establishment Stage, while the one in the middle showed no sign of cultivation whatsoever. He sneered, cursing, “What’s the point of dressing so gaudily? You’re nothing but empty vessels! In this world, cultivation is what truly matters! Everyone beneath me is worthless trash!”

As he cursed, he deliberately turned to look toward the main hall, directing his venomous words at the absent target.

Mu Rong immediately rolled up her sleeves, but Xue Mengtao stopped her with a shake of her head. This person’s origins were unknown, yet their cultivation was openly displayed—and they were at the Late Nascent Soul Stage! Impulsiveness would be unwise.

03 halted and asked, “Who are you?”

The Elder of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, furious that she showed no fear, sneered, “Did your elders not teach you to state your name before asking someone else’s? Or do you simply lack any elders?”

He deliberately raised his voice so it echoed throughout Qihuang Peak. His supporters roared with laughter, while Xu Zehua clapped and guffawed, “Truly worthy of Elder Li’s reputation!”

Inside the main hall, Feng Jue paused mid-step, her gaze turning icy.

On the square, 03 looked puzzled by their strange laughter. Nodding calmly, she said, “I indeed lack elders, but I can tell you who I am.”

Feng Jue had taught her much, and she remembered every word.

“I am your ancestor,” 03 declared.

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