When the Immortal Venerable Picked-Up the Demon Cub - Chapter 35

Fan Mo’s face showed hesitation, but he soon descended from the pavilion and walked directly toward Zhu Ning. Though his arrogant demeanor remained undiminished, he softened his tone and bowed respectfully to her.

“This matter isn’t as complicated as it seems,” Fan Mo explained with a rare smile. “Let’s not let a misunderstanding damage the harmony between our sects and become a laughingstock for others.”

This conciliatory attitude was Zhu Ning’s due, but she found little satisfaction in it.

The other disciples quickly summoned Yun Cang Mountain’s physician to bandage Su Mi’s wounds. Zhu Ning glanced at the scene: the crimson blood had soaked Su Mi’s robes, a gruesome and terrifying sight.

“A misunderstanding?” Zhu Ning’s voice, though soft, carried with perfect clarity across the arena. “This Venerable One will accept that for now. But Su Mi is my Chief Disciple, and she was injured by your people because of this ‘misunderstanding.’ What compensation does Zhen Sui Mountain offer?”

Dressed in white, Zhu Ning stood against the backdrop of heaven and earth, her cool voice reaching every ear with unwavering precision.

Everyone except the physician tending to Su Mi paused what they were doing. The remaining matches held little appeal; all eyes were fixed on how this spectacle would conclude.

Fan Mo was losing face. Knowing Xia Meng’s temperament, if he let Su Mi stab her, the situation would only spiral further out of control. He frowned, still searching for a solution, when Xia Meng seemed to realize her mistake. She drew her sword and stabbed herself in the shoulder.

Lin Xiayan hadn’t expected Xia Meng to go to such extremes and hadn’t prepared to stop her. Her face turned cold as she realized the matter would now have to be dropped.

Zhu Ning was stunned. She never imagined someone like Xia Meng would willingly stab herself. All the arguments she had prepared were now useless, like throwing a punch into cotton wool.

Blood continued to flow from Xia Meng’s shoulder wound. Already soaked from falling into the lake, she stood shivering in the cold wind, looking utterly pitiful. Several Zhen Sui Mountain disciples rushed to help her back, their expressions clearly saying, “She’s already stabbed herself. If you, Immortal Venerable Zhu, don’t let her go now, you’re being unreasonable.”

Zhu Ning seethed inwardly but reluctantly stepped aside, watching the Zhen Sui Mountain disciples escort Xia Meng away, each one fussing over her.

For the first time, Zhu Ning realized that cultivation level and status weren’t everything. All those novels claiming that gaining power meant gaining the world were utter nonsense.

As a person, one must uphold basic moral principles. Once someone finds a way to morally blackmail you, even the greatest power becomes limited.

Zhu Ning stood dejectedly to the side, realizing that this brief incident had revealed a profound life lesson.

Lin Xiayan didn’t join the others tending to Su Mi or confront Zhen Sui Mountain. As a child, she knew she should stand quietly beside Zhu Ning.

“Why didn’t you save Su Mi earlier?” Zhu Ning finally snapped at Lin Xiayan, venting her frustration like a child throwing a tantrum.

Though she was angry, Zhu Ning still remembered Lin Xiayan was a major villain. Her questioning remained restrained.

Lin Xiayan had anticipated this question and prepared an explanation. But when she met Zhu Ning’s bloodshot eyes, she hesitated.

“It’s not about favoritism toward Su Mi,” Zhu Ning said, her voice strained. “You saw how arrogant Zhen Sui Mountain was. If Su Mi hadn’t held her ground and had jumped into the lake after being stabbed, Yun Cang Mountain would have lost all face.” Zhu Ning wasn’t sure why she was telling Lin Xiayan this, but she seemed to be the only person around to vent to.

Lin Xiayan surprisingly didn’t retort. In the Demon Realm, no one would dare speak to her like that. Yet today, she stood silently, letting Zhu Ning vent her anger.

Zhu Ning continued to speak for a few more moments, seemingly unable to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. She turned away, unwilling to say another word. Though Lin Xiayan didn’t argue back, she also didn’t know how to comfort her.

She simply stayed quietly by Zhu Ning’s side as everyone else left.

Su Mi lay injured, as did Xia Meng. After settling them, the competition resumed to save time for the other sects. The earlier outburst had made the remaining disciples even more cautious, resulting in an unexpectedly harmonious round. Even those who voluntarily jumped into the lake avoided harming others in the slightest.

Zhu Ning’s mind was in turmoil. She had just lashed out at Lin Xiayan, pouring out her grievances in a harsh tone. Now Lin Xiayan wouldn’t speak to her, not even glance her way. With her fiery temper, who knows how she’ll retaliate later?

Zhu Ning didn’t want to assume the worst, especially since the Lin Xiayan from the original novel seemed vastly different from the one before her.

Could it be? Is Lin Xiayan also acting out of character?

Zhu Ning’s thoughts spiraled further into speculation, her initial panic gradually subsiding. She didn’t know how to initiate a conversation, but she had already prepared a spell to interrupt the match. If Lin Xiayan showed any signs of distress, Zhu Ning would have to intervene immediately.

With this plan in place, Zhu Ning didn’t even have time to wipe the sweat from her palms. In the freezing weather, beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead.

As time passed, the competition neared its conclusion. Only the final match remained, and Zhen Sui Mountain had sent out Lü Zhao.

“What?! Lü Zhao is facing Lin Xiayan? Even I can’t gain the upper hand against her, and while I haven’t trained diligently, how could a child like Lin Xiayan possibly stand a chance?” Han Xiaoxiao exclaimed, finding the arrangement utterly unfair. Her assessment was accurate. Though Han Xiaoxiao wasn’t particularly diligent in her cultivation, she had accumulated considerable skill over the years. Yet even with this, she had never managed to gain the upper hand against Lü Zhao.

Zhu Ning analyzed the situation and couldn’t help but admire Zhen Sui Mountain’s strategic move. If Lü Zhao won against Lin Xiayan, they could simply claim that even someone who had already lost couldn’t defeat her, so how could she possibly defend against demonic creatures? Conversely, if Lin Xiayan won, they could use the same argument to dismiss her victory.

Lin Xiayan remained unfazed. Before stepping onto the stage, she removed all the pearls and jewelry from her dress, transforming from an elegant child into a vibrant, festive “lucky baby.” Her small stature was already a disadvantage.

Yet her opponent showed no shame in bullying a child. Rubbing her hands together with a smug grin, she sneered, “If I couldn’t beat the last one, I can certainly beat you!” Lin Xiayan pursed her lips, her gaze drifting involuntarily toward Zhu Ning. Zhu Ning’s face now radiated encouragement, devoid of anger or sadness. Even the corners of her tear-streaked eyes curved upward slightly.

“Lin Xiayan, you can do this,” Zhu Ning murmured silently, not intending for anyone to hear. But Lin Xiayan, who had just returned from casting her spell and was watching from the sidelines, heard it clearly. Standing on the dueling platform, her lips curved into a smile, her spirits lifting.

I will do my best, Lin Xiayan vowed silently. No one heard this promise, not even Lin Xiayan herself. Lü Zhao, eager to redeem herself after her earlier defeat, offered a perfunctory bow before launching a fierce attack.

Lin Xiayan found herself on the defensive again. She struggled to use Yun Cang Mountain techniques against her opponent, but the swordplay felt clumsy and outdated compared to the Zhen Sui Mountain Sword Technique.

Fortunately, dodging was Lin Xiayan’s specialty. Her small face wore a disarmingly innocent smile as she precisely evaded Lü Zhao’s attacks, occasionally patting her chest and exclaiming, “That was close!”

Lü Zhao, still smarting from her earlier defeat against Han Xiaoxiao, held back her full strength. After a few probing strikes, she stood her ground, engaging Lin Xiayan in a psychological standoff.

Lin Xiayan, never one to back down, doubled down on her brazen tactics. If her opponent didn’t move, neither would she. Though it lacked elegance, this strategy kept the match in a stalemate.

Elder Fan Mo of Zhen Sui Mountain had been watching intently, but seeing his disciple struggle so much against a child made him lose face. Could it be that my disciple can’t even defeat a child? he wondered, sinking into deep thought.

“What’s your plan?” Lü Zhao asked, growing impatient. She had initially disdained speaking to a child, but now she felt compelled to break the silence.

This was exactly the reaction Lin Xiayan wanted. She tugged at her red dress and looked at Lü Zhao with feigned confusion. “I’m just standing here. Why aren’t you attacking me?”

Lü Zhao felt like she was about to vomit blood from anger, but Lin Xiayan’s words seemed to hold some truth. The moment she raised her wooden sword to attack, her movements became chaotic and disordered. Lin Xiayan narrowed her eyes, seizing the opportunity to strike with Yun Cang Mountain’s deliberate sword technique. Lü Zhao couldn’t dodge in time. She had planned to leap back and force Lin Xiayan away, but instead… she plunged straight into the lake.

Lin Xiayan flashed a subtle smile, quickly suppressing it as the Zhen Sui Mountain disciples turned to look. She feigned breathlessness, panting, “If I hadn’t gotten lucky just now, I’d be the one in the water.”

The Zhen Sui Mountain disciples averted their gazes.

“The match is decided. Yun Cang Mountain’s Lin Xiayan wins!” Zhu Ning shouted, her voice brimming with joy. This victory not only meant Lin Xiayan could become her disciple, but it also dealt a crushing blow to Zhen Sui Mountain’s pride. She imagined Yue Qing, bedridden with illness, would be so furious he’d actually get sicker.

Zhu Ning’s earlier gloom vanished, replaced by pride. She had watched the entire match. Lin Xiayan hadn’t used any of her Demon Realm cultivation techniques, relying solely on her wits. How could Zhen Sui Mountain possibly find fault with that?

If anyone was to blame, shouldn’t it be Lü Zhao for underestimating her opponent and being so foolish?

“You know, age doesn’t determine victory,” Zhu Ning lectured, singling out Lü Zhao. “Isn’t that right?” Zhen Sui Mountain was a formidable force, but could an Immortal Venerable like Zhu Ning really be intimidated by this little lackey?

Lü Zhao didn’t dare say no. She nodded repeatedly, her wet clothes shivering in the cold wind, leaving her trembling and utterly devoid of her earlier arrogance.

Fan Mo, his face dark, ordered his men to take Lü Zhao away immediately. Then, with forced sincerity, he congratulated Zhu Ning: “Congratulations, Sect Leader Zhu. You rarely take disciples, yet when you do, you find two promising talents. It seems Yun Cang Mountain is destined to prevail in this rebellion.”