Chapter 30: Chapter 28: Apologizing and Backing Down

"The killer... The killer is..." Xu He felt like it had been a hundred years since he’d had to rack his brain this hard. ’Who else could the killer be but Mo Qi? But in this situation, do I dare say it?’

Sweat beaded on Xu He’s forehead. His gaze involuntarily drifted to Wang Xinglong, and a flash of inspiration struck him. ’I’ve got it!’

"The killer is Wang Hao! After a thorough investigation by the Punishment Hall, the one who murdered Cui Yu was Wang Hao!"

The entire scene plunged into a shocked, deathly silence. You could have heard a pin drop.

The twist caught everyone so off guard that they couldn’t react. Even Mo Qi, the man at the center of it all, was utterly baffled.

’You can fucking do that?’

’It might seem ridiculous, but it’s incredibly satisfying!’

’So much for you bullies throwing your weight around. Now you know, I’ve got powerful people on my side too!’

It was unclear whether it was from his injuries or sheer rage, but Wang Xinglong, sprawled on the ground, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his breathing growing ragged.

Xu He didn’t dare to look at him, thinking, ’Third Senior Brother, oh, Third Senior Brother, don’t blame me. I was forced into this. Besides, Wang Hao is already dead. Taking the blame for one more crime is no big deal. It’s better for everyone this way.’

"Oh? Now this is interesting. Are you sure it was Wang Hao?" Yang Ming hadn’t expected Xu He to come up with such an explanation.

"I’m absolutely, positively sure! The evidence is ironclad!" Having thrown caution to the wind, Xu He nodded emphatically.

"Now, don’t feel pressured. I’m certainly not forcing you, you know," Yang Ming reminded him.

Xu He was speechless, wanting only to laugh drily.

’If your Grotto Heaven wasn’t hovering right over my head, I’d be more inclined to believe you.’

"So you’re saying my Junior Brother Mo didn’t kill anyone?"

"Of course not!"

Yang Ming nodded in satisfaction, and Xu He let out a sigh of relief.

Applying slight pressure with his foot, Yang Ming ground Wang Xinglong’s face into the dirt.

He looked up toward a point in the empty air and said, "You’ve enjoyed the show long enough. If you don’t come out now, I’m going to crush his skull!"

As Yang Ming’s voice fell, a middle-aged man materialized with a wry smile. It was none other than the Sect Leader of the Void Sect, Yun Xuzi.

"Second Junior Brother, your temper is as fiery as ever."

Yang Ming sneered. "I’m certainly not as good as you at playing all sides and acting all high and mighty."

Yun Xuzi knew Yang Ming was blaming him for knowingly allowing Wang Xinglong and Xu He to act unscrupulously, even though he was aware that Mo Qi was being unjustly targeted.

He didn’t want to explain, nor was there any way he could.

As the Sect Leader of the Void Sect, he had to consider the bigger picture.

Compared to an Outer Disciple who couldn’t even condense True Essence, he would naturally be more partial to Wang Xinglong and Xu He.

For him, the interests of the Void Sect came first.

Likewise, when Yang Ming emerged from his seclusion and proceeded to overpower and even humiliate Wang Xinglong and Xu He, Yun Xuzi hadn’t stopped him either.

This was because after breaking through to a new realm, Yang Ming’s value to the Void Sect was far greater than that of Wang Xinglong and Xu He combined, so Yun Xuzi could tolerate his behavior.

However, Wang Xinglong and Xu He were Elders, after all. Killing them would not be permitted.

"From this moment on, Mo Qi is promoted to a Core Disciple and will enjoy the highest level of treatment," Yun Xuzi announced, his decision stunning the crowd. He then turned to Mo Qi and said, "Mo Qi, Wang Xinglong and Xu He were the first to be at fault in this matter, and I, too, bear some responsibility. But rest assured, from this day forward, those two will never cause you the slightest trouble again. You have my word."

"In light of the injustice you suffered today, I will also compensate you on behalf of Wang Xinglong and Xu He. How about one hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, plus ten thousand contribution points?"

Yun Xuzi knew that to pacify Yang Ming’s anger, the key lay with Mo Qi.

A wave of gasps went through the crowd below.

Let alone the status of a Core Disciple, just the hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones and ten thousand contribution points were enough to make everyone turn green with envy.

What were Spirit Stones? The hard currency of the Martial Arts World, a fundamental necessity for Cultivation!

One hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones—most disciples could spend their entire lives and never earn that much.

As for the ten thousand contribution points... to put it in perspective, a typical Outer Disciple might earn ten to twenty points a year. An Inner Sect Disciple, perhaps eighty to a hundred. An Elite Disciple, around five hundred.

In other words, Mo Qi had struck it rich overnight.

But Mo Qi himself felt nothing. He didn’t care about the Spirit Stones or contribution points, and he didn’t put much faith in Yun Xuzi’s promise.

He was certain that Wang Xinglong would never give up on revenge.

’And the status of a Core Disciple? Is that supposed to be a big deal?’

"Hah, a little late for compensation, don’t you think?" Yang Ming sneered. "In the near future, you will learn just how foolish it is to underestimate my Junior Brother Mo."

Yun Xuzi just shook his head and chuckled, paying no mind to Yang Ming’s sarcasm. He was waiting for Mo Qi’s response.

Mo Qi wasn’t stupid. He still had to live in the Void Sect; he couldn’t make the Sect Leader lose face.

"Thank you, Sect Leader."

Yun Xuzi nodded. His gaze shifted to Liu Hui in the distance. He gave him a look but said nothing more before his figure flickered and vanished.

"Aren’t you going to apologize yet?" Yang Ming retracted his Grotto Heaven and, with a flick of his toe, sent the barely conscious Wang Xinglong flying.

Having regained his mobility, Wang Xinglong flew into a rage and was about to lash out, but Xu He held him back tightly.

"Third Senior Brother, we can bide our time!" Xu He sent via voice transmission. "Yang Ming has already broken through. Even if we self-detonate our Dantians, we’re no match for him. Don’t start a pointless fight."

Wang Xinglong took a deep breath. Knowing Xu He was right, he could only forcefully suppress the rage in his heart.

"Oh? Still not giving in? If you’ve got a problem, let’s fight!" Yang Ming would have been more than happy for Wang Xinglong to make a move; he was looking for an excuse to kill him, after all.

Wang Xinglong’s eyes burned with frustration and rage, but he was in a position of weakness and had no choice but to submit.

It was just as he had done to Mo Qi. Without a powerful enough background and strength, one had no right to refuse.

"I’m sorry!" Wang Xinglong squeezed the two words through gritted teeth.

"Saying sorry to me?" Yang Ming retorted, refusing to let him off the hook. He spoke lazily, "Go say it to my Junior Brother Mo!"

If Xu He hadn’t been holding him back, Wang Xinglong would have lost control again.

But in the end, he still walked over to Mo Qi. His face flushed red, his voice was barely a whisper.

"I’m sorry, Junior Brother Mo. I was wrong."

"What did you say? Your voice is too quiet, I didn’t hear you." Mo Qi tilted his head, feigning confusion.

Since they were fated to be enemies, Mo Qi certainly wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to humiliate his opponent.

He knew that if the Bear and Tiger Fight hadn’t happened to activate Yang Ming’s Vitality, and if Yang Ming hadn’t broken through at that exact moment, he wouldn’t just be facing humiliation from Wang Xinglong and Xu He today. He would have been dragged into the Punishment Hall to suffer inhuman torture before finally dying a miserable death.

If not for his lack of strength and his desire to not make things difficult for Yang Ming, what Mo Qi wanted most right now was to kill Wang Xinglong and Xu He—to pull them out by the roots.

Cui Yu’s betrayal had taught him the perilous and cruel nature of the Martial Dao. The soft-hearted don’t survive.

Wang Xinglong couldn’t hold it in any longer. He could take the humiliation from Yang Ming—the man had the power to back it up. But who the hell was a pipsqueak like Mo Qi to do the same?

"Mo Qi, you’re going too far!" Wang Xinglong roared.

Mo Qi sneered. "When your grandson, Wang Hao, goaded me into challenging him, did you think he was going too far? When he dug up my Uncle Niu’s grave and used his bones to threaten and kill me, did the concept of ’going too far’ even cross your mind? When he came at me—an Outer Disciple who can’t even form True Essence—with his Refining God Cultivation, wearing Mystic-Level Armor, wielding a Mystic-Level Long Spear, and using Mystic-Level Martial Techniques, did you think *that* was going too far? When you, the dignified Third Elder, teamed up with the Fourth Elder to target me, threatening to drag me to the Punishment Hall, did you think for a second that *you* were going too far?"

"But now that I’m asking for an apology, *this* is ’going too far’? What, have you gotten cocky, or do you think my Senior Brother Yang Ming’s blade has gotten dull?"

With that, Mo Qi looked over at Yang Ming. "Senior Brother, it seems he’s not very willing to apologize."

Yang Ming took the hint and, playing along, manifested his Grotto Heaven once more.

Wang Xinglong’s defiance vanished instantly. Steeling himself, he gritted his teeth and roared, enunciating each word, "Junior Brother Mo! I’m sorry! I was wrong!"

Mo Qi dug a finger in his ear as if it were ringing from the shout. He grinned. "See? That’s better. If you’d just done this from the start, your grandson might still be alive."

Fearing he’d be driven mad if he stayed a moment longer, Wang Xinglong’s face darkened. Without another glance at Xu He, his figure flashed and shot into the sky, disappearing from sight.

Xu He gave an awkward laugh and, not lingering, quickly followed suit.

At the Punishment Hall, Wang Xinglong and Xu He landed one after the other.

"Third Senior Brother, the Sect Leader himself has forbidden us from acting. Are we really just going to let it slide?"

Wang Xinglong’s eyes were filled with murderous intent and a cold glint. "Let it slide? Hmph. If I don’t get revenge for this, then I, Wang Xinglong, am not fit to be called a man!"

What he left unsaid was that revenge was secondary; the true goal was to obtain the secret of the Wailing Abyss.

Back at the Gambling Arena, after Wang Xinglong and Xu He’s departure, a series of powerful auras materialized. Their owners all stared at Liu Hui with burning gazes.

"Excellent, excellent, truly a fine specimen," a white-haired elder said, his eyes gleaming. He sized up Liu Hui like a lecher who’d just spotted a beautiful woman, practically drooling.

"Young man, I am the Grand Elder of Instruction of the Void Sect. Are you willing to take me as your master?"

Though it was phrased as a question, his tone brooked no argument.

"Hey, hey, hey! Old Zhou, have you no shame? How dare you try to poach my talent! He’s my disciple!" another red-faced elder protested, without the slightest hint of embarrassment at his blatant lie.

"You’ve got some nerve calling Old Zhou shameless! You’re the shameless one here!" a middle-aged man in black robes fumed. "He’s your disciple? Then pray tell, what’s his name?"

The red-faced elder sputtered, unable to answer, but still insisted stubbornly, "Hmph! He’s definitely going to take me as his master, so that makes him my disciple, doesn’t it?"

"All of you, back off! He’s mine!"

"I once won the Void Sect’s ’Best Master of the Year’ title. Young man, come with me!"

"What kind of crappy title is that? You probably made it up yourself! Young man, I see you’re an exceptional talent, and you bear an uncanny resemblance to me. When I was young, I was quite the womanizer. Perhaps your mother mentioned my... exploits... to you?"

"Blech! Wang the Old Ghost, how can you even say something like that? Have you no decency?"

"Decency? What’s that? Can you eat it?"

"Get lost! I am a Supreme Elder! I am the most qualified to take him as my disciple!" another person joined in.

"So what if you’re a Supreme Elder? You’re the worst at teaching disciples! Brothers, let’s get him!" It’s not clear who instigated it, but a group immediately swarmed him, and a vicious beatdown—THWACK! BAM! POW!—erupted.

"You dare hit me? Take my Blazing Palm!"

"Who the fuck poked me in the ass? Taste my Celestial Deformed Leg!"

"Damn you! Daring to sneak attack me! Monkey Stealing Peaches!"

"So you’re playing dirty, eh? Then don’t blame me for what comes next! Moon from the Bottom of the Sea!"

In an instant, the squabble over the disciple devolved into an all-out brawl.

The disciples below watched as these great figures—normally so high and mighty, so elusive you could rarely catch a glimpse of them—brawled like common street thugs over the chance to take Liu Hui as a disciple. Every one of them felt their perception of reality being shattered.