"To all of you—"
"Karma is a cycle, retribution is inevitable. With evil deeds upon you, you shall meet a wretched end."
When Liu Ruyi spoke these words, he did not deliberately affect a tone or put on airs. His voice was clear and melodious, like the gentle flow of spring water. Though his volume was not loud, each syllable struck the eardrums with weight, cutting through the heavy silence of the night with a sharp, icy clarity.
Late at night, secret plotting, an uninvited guest appearing out of nowhere, and the sweeping crimson skirts of a dress—like blooming lotus petals—paired with the graceful bow of a stunning beauty... Wait, no, perhaps not a woman after all.
In any case, to those gathered in the hall, the scene was utterly bizarre.
Third Master Qi, the weakest in cultivation and the most timid, immediately began to tremble, his teeth chattering audibly. He raised his voice in a show of bravado: "The Jiuhua Sect—how dare you spout such nonsense! The Jiuhua Sect is one of the Four Great Sects, righteous and honorable! How could you barge into someone’s home in the dead of night and spew such vulgar words?"
Shu Fu: "..."
Sorry, but from what she’d seen so far, these two might be on the side of justice, but they were far from being proper paragons of virtue. They’d already indulged in far cruder remarks along the way.
Honestly, she felt a little disillusioned.
But beyond that disillusionment, she had one thing to say: I never expected the Yaoguang Peak to be this wild—I love it!
According to the storytellers, Master Tanhua of Yaoguang Peak was temperamental and eccentric, with a penchant for collecting—no, taking in—unconventional and rebellious disciples. He also had a signature move: "protecting his own." If anyone dared call his disciple trash, he’d personally toss them into a trash compactor.
After hearing this, Shu Fu distilled her impression of Master Tanhua into two words: Daddy.
But she never imagined that this "Daddy" was right in front of her all along, casually addressing her as "fellow cultivator" without the slightest concern for seniority.
It was hard to say whether he was just that down-to-earth or simply so arrogant that worldly hierarchies meant nothing to him.
"Um, Senior Jiang..." Shu Fu ventured cautiously, "The Peak Master... Master Tanhua?"
Jiang Xuesheng shook his head. "‘Fellow cultivator’ is best. The Great Dao has three thousand paths. I merely started earlier than you—that doesn’t mean I’ll walk farther. Why bother with distinctions of rank, age, or status? The rules of the mortal world need not apply here."
His words were spoken lightly, yet they carried the weight of a mountain and the unyielding pride of a lone peak piercing the heavens. Shu Fu was momentarily speechless, staring at him wide-eyed as if trying to bore a hole through his face with her gaze.
Jiang Xuesheng didn’t seem offended. He let her look, even kindly adding, "I don’t look my best right now. If you’d like to see, perhaps wait a little longer."
Shu Fu: "..."
What happened to ‘aloof and transcendent, untouched by worldly concerns’?
She couldn’t help muttering, "I thought you didn’t care about appearances."
While Liu Ruyi had spent an hour meticulously applying makeup and another hour selecting the perfect dress and accessories for his disguise, Jiang Xuesheng had simply slapped on an utterly forgettable face—easier than applying a sheet mask. Clearly, he didn’t care how others saw him.
"I truly don’t care about appearances," Jiang Xuesheng replied gently. "Fellow cultivator, I care about you. A man may die for those who understand him, but he may also dress to please those who admire him. Before you, I’d prefer to look my best."
"..."
Shu Fu fell silent again—this time, rendered speechless by his shameless charm.
Meanwhile, Liu Ruyi stood alone in the center of the hall, poised and unruffled as he spoke with calm precision: "Third Master Qi may not know the ways of Yaoguang Peak, but Elder Kongtong certainly does. ‘Relying on their master’s reputation, they act arrogantly and without respect, flaunting their power like petty upstarts.’ Those were your exact words the last time we met, weren’t they?"
He tapped a finger thoughtfully against his chin. "Now, where was it that we last met? Ah, yes. I believe you were attempting to force yourself upon a female disciple from White Deer Mountain when my third junior brother stabbed you in the thigh—nearly castrating you in the process. He even warned you: ‘If you dare act like a beast again, I’ll grind your manhood into paste and feed it to the fish.’"
"..."
Elder Kongtong’s face, already dark, turned a shade darker—like a burnt purple sweet potato.
But as a long-revered elder of Lingxiao City, he wasn’t about to be cowed by a junior. "Impudent brat! How dare you spout such insolence before me?"
"Indeed, indeed," Liu Ruyi agreed cheerfully. "I always said my third junior brother lacked manners. How could he treat you—a man of such advanced years, so close to the end of his lifespan—with such disrespect?"
Elder Kongtong: "You—!"
"Elder, there’s no need to waste words on him," Third Master Qi cut in, his face pale and legs shaking, but emboldened by Lingxiao City’s backing. "Even if you are a disciple of the Jiuhua Sect, so what? The Qi family may be small, but we have our pride! We won’t tolerate such slander and humiliation!"
Before he could finish, Liu Ruyi took a single step forward—and in the blink of an eye, he was standing before Third Master Qi. Without hesitation, he kicked the man square in the kneecap.
"Ah, don’t make me laugh," he sighed, watching Third Master Qi crumple to the ground. "A dog that begs for scraps dares to call itself proud? You disgrace not only the word ‘pride’—but dogs as well."
"Outrageous!"
Elder Kongtong roared, belatedly realizing that verbal sparring was beneath him—and unnecessary. He lunged forward, palm aimed straight for Liu Ruyi’s head.
He’d dealt with Yaoguang Peak before. They were infuriating—disrespectful, unreasonable, and utterly shameless. They struck faces, stabbed hearts, and were universally despised even within the Jiuhua Sect.
Since they’d stumbled upon tonight’s scheme, there was no peaceful resolution. Better to strike first and seize this insolent whelp.
Elder Kongtong, ever conscious of his dignity, dressed in lavish golden robes fit for royalty. As he moved, the fabric billowed like a banana peel caught in the wind, threatening to smother Liu Ruyi whole.
Liu Ruyi sidestepped gracefully. "When words fail, fists fly. How impressive."
Elder Kongtong bristled. "I will not waste breath on a mere child!"
At the head of the room, Ling Xiyue—unlike the hotheaded elder—remained composed. After a moment of contemplation, he clasped his hands politely toward Liu Ruyi. "Fellow cultivator, with such skill and beauty, might you be the renowned ‘Jade Lord’ Liu Xiao, first disciple of Master Tanhua and rising star of the Ziwei Immortal Gathering?"
Liu Ruyi smiled. "You flatter me. That would indeed be this humble one."
Ziwei Immortal Gathering... Jade Lord...
The titles rang a faint bell in Shu Fu’s mind, but the details eluded her for now.
Fortunately, the antagonist was always diligent when it came to explanations. The Kongtong elder immediately turned hostile, saying, "Second Young Master, why bother being polite with him? The Ziwei Immortal Assembly is merely a competition among the younger generation of various sects. This brat is young and inexperienced. Even if he lucked out and took first place once, earning Ziwei Immortal Lord’s guidance, it doesn’t mean much."
Ah, right—Ziwei Immortal Lord.
Now Shu Fu remembered.
No wonder her memory was hazy. "Immortal Sect Tournaments" were as common in xianxia novels as "entrance exams"—practically a staple trope. Every story had one, and she’d read so many that she could hardly recall which tournament happened where or what the rewards were.
The only reason she remembered Weak Water Three Thousand was because of how absurd it was. The unremarkable plots just didn’t stick.
As for this Ziwei Immortal Assembly, held once every three hundred years, its sponsor, the "Ziwei Immortal Lord," was a legendary figure of unparalleled prowess. By seniority alone, even the sect leaders of various factions had to address him as "Ancestor."
Those who excelled in the tournament would receive personal guidance from him—be it cultivation techniques, divine weapons, rare treasures—and even an honorary "bestowed name."
These bestowed names were rather lazily chosen. Just as the Jiuhua Sect borrowed directly from the nine stars of the Big Dipper, Ziwei Immortal Lord’s names were lifted straight from high school required readings. A single essay like Yueyang Tower had already been plundered for a handful: "Brocade Scales," "Shore Orchids," "Long Smoke," "Bright Moon," "Floating Light," "Sunken Jade"...
Each era had its own talents, dominating the scene for centuries. Receiving a name from Ziwei Immortal Lord meant leading the trend for the next three hundred years—glamorous, practical, and prestigious. Useful for both self-admiration at home and showing off in public.
Shu Fu vaguely recalled mocking the title "Lord Sunken Jade" back then—at first glance, it sounded too much like "Shen Bijun," the peerless beauty from The Eleventh Son of Xiao. What if the winner turned out to be a man? That would be so awkward.
Never in her wildest dreams did she expect the winner to actually be a man—and indeed, a great beauty.
But that wasn’t important.
If she remembered correctly, the original novel’s male lead, Qi Yuxuan, had also won a tournament once, earning some "Lord So-and-So" title and flaunting it for ages.
Of course, that wasn’t important either.
What was important was that, at least three hundred years before Qi Yuxuan’s rise to fame—possibly even earlier—Liu Ruyi had already been a trailblazer, dominating the scene with unmatched flair.
Recalling the phrase, "The gentleman’s age is twice mine," Shu Fu couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Jiang Xuesheng, wondering just how old this man was.
As if sensing her gaze, Jiang Xuesheng lowered his long lashes, his faintly amused eyes sweeping over her like the brush of a bird’s feather. "I’m still quite young. And still very capable."
Shu Fu: "..."
No one asked about that.
The Kongtong elder, relying on his status, scoffed at the Ziwei Immortal Assembly, but the others didn’t dare be so dismissive. Especially Third Master Qi—the moment he heard "Lord Sunken Jade," his face cycled through red, white, and green before he finally gritted his teeth and muttered, "Elder Kongtong, this man is Master Tanhua’s first disciple. If anything happens to him, I doubt the Yaoguang Peak will let it slide."
"Then we’ll leave him here. Dead men tell no tales—do you really think Yaoguang Peak would come knocking for revenge?" The Kongtong elder sneered. "Tanhua has always been arrogant. It’s time he learned a lesson. With his most prized disciple dead, I’d love to see the look of utter despair on his face!"
Jiang Xuesheng: "Actually, he wouldn’t. This man is overthinking it."
Shu Fu: "..."
Shu Fu: "Alright, stop talking."
Her impression of "immortals" could never be restored now.
Big Brother Tanhua, puffing on Zhonghua cigarettes.
