Chapter 79: Qin Wuyou

The departure of the Branch Sect of the Xiao Sect left a deathly stillness hanging over the grand hall. Some stared at one another in speechlessness, some gnashed their teeth in fury, some gloated over the misfortune, and others fidgeted in sheer anxiety.

One thing, however, was absolutely certain: the Branch Sect of the Xiao Sect would never let this matter rest. Given their immense power, they normally could not tolerate even the slightest slight, let alone having their Young Sect Master crippled in public—especially since he was the unparalleled, century-rare prodigy of the entire sect!

By now, the atmosphere of the banquet had shifted entirely. The ruining of Xiao Luocheng left everyone present unable to find peace of mind. Qin Wuyou, however, appeared unexpectedly calm and composed. Turning toward the seats of the six major sects, he said with a chuckle, "I am deeply mortified to have startled our distinguished guests. Alas, this was originally a friendly sparring match born out of mutual respect between two young talents. I never expected that a careless slip of the hand by a disciple of our Palace would lead to such a result. It has truly caught me off guard."

"Fortunately, before engaging with Xiao Luocheng, our disciple Yun Che did make a promise that no grievance would be pursued even in the event of severe injury. All the friends present here also stepped forward at that time to express their willingness to act as witnesses. I trust that a thousand-year sect like the Xiao Sect will surely honor their word and not pursue the matter. However, should the Xiao Sect happen to go back on their word, I hope that all of you who bore witness with your own eyes will speak a few fair words on our behalf."

Having spoken, Qin Wuyou swept his remarkably serene gaze over the crowd, taking in every nuance of their expressions. Finally, his eyes came to rest upon Yan Zizai, the Chief Elder of the Yunyang Sect, and he asked with a beaming smile, "I recall that the first person to step forward and declare a willingness to witness for the two juniors was precisely Elder Yan. As the Chief Elder of the Yunyang Sect, Elder Yan's prestige and the weight of your words are naturally immense. If we can have a few fair words from Elder Yan when the time comes, the Xiao Sect will surely not make trouble unreasonably while bearing the brunt of public condemnation. Elder Yan, is that not so?"

Every gaze instantly fell upon Yan Zizai, causing him to feel thoroughly uncomfortable all over. Standing up with a dry laugh, he replied vaguely, "What Palace Chief Qin says is naturally... reasonable. It is just that the actions of the Xiao Sect may not be something the likes of us can speculate upon... This old man suddenly remembered just now that there are still important matters uncompleted within our sect, and I must return immediately... If Palace Chief Qin has leisure in the future, you are welcome to visit our Yunyang Sect as a guest."

Without waiting for Qin Wuyou's response, Yan Zizai quickly departed with his sect disciples.

With the Yunyang Sect taking the lead, the other sects also began offering various excuses to take their leave. With such a massive incident occurring today, they naturally needed to report back to their respective sects at the first opportunity or discuss how to handle what might happen next. Before leaving, Tie Hengshan hesitated for a moment, then walked up to Yun Che, produced a vermilion pill, and said in a low voice, "Brother Yun, this is a Mid-Grade Profound-Restoring Pill specially crafted by the medicine hall of our Iron Spear Sect. It should allow you to recover a bit faster."

Without declining, Yun Che reached out to accept it, tossed it directly into his mouth, and then smiled warmly, "Many thanks, Brother Tie."

Tie Hengshan wavered for a brief moment before speaking, "Brother Yun, Xiao Luocheng is not only the number one figure among the younger generation of New Moon City, but he also carries the hopes for the entire future of the Xiao Sect's branch. Now that he has been ruined by Brother Yun in a single strike, the Xiao Sect will absolutely never let this matter drop. Although this branch is merely one of hundreds under the Main Sect, its immense power is still far beyond Brother Yun's imagination and definitely not something you can resist... Therefore, I advise Brother Yun to leave New Moon City immediately, the faster the better... This is not a cowardly flight. Preserve your life first, and handle the aftermath later. As long as the green mountains remain, one need not worry about a lack of firewood."

From Tie Hengshan's eyes, Yun Che saw a genuine anxiety, and his heart was instantly moved. He nodded earnestly and said, "Brother Tie can rest assured. Since I dared to do this, I have naturally thought of how to face the impending consequences. Thank you for your advice, Brother Tie."

The guests departed one after another, and within fifteen minutes, only the people of the New Moon Profound Palace remained in the grand hall. Disciples of all levels from the New Moon Profound Palace had already swarmed around Yun Che.

"Junior Brother Yun, this is a healing medicine made by the Medicine Hall of our Palace. It has a very good curative effect on both internal and external injuries." Several disciples brought out the best healing medicines on their persons one after another, scrambling to stuff them into Yun Che's hands.

"Junior Brother Yun, are you truly a disciple who just joined our Profound Hall today? It is still somewhat hard to believe. How could our New Moon Profound Palace possibly produce a genius even more formidable than those of the Seven Sects!" a seventeen-or-eighteen-year-old girl asked with immense excitement, her beautiful eyes scanning Yun Che over and over again.

"Pah! What do the geniuses of the Seven Sects amount to? Our Junior Brother Yun actually ruined Xiao Luocheng... and it took only a single strike! Xiao Luocheng was the number one figure of New Moon City's younger generation, and since our Junior Brother Yun ruined him, wouldn't that make Junior Brother Yun the new 'Number One Person'?"

"Exactly! The number one figure of the younger generation in New Moon City is actually in our New Moon Profound Palace now... It feels just like a dream!"

"Junior Brother Yun, where are you from? Are you truly only sixteen years old this year? Although you look very young, you are actually so formidable. It really makes it hard to believe you are only sixteen..."

Nearly all eyes converged upon Yun Che, filled mostly with reverence, adoration, and admiration, though there was certainly no shortage of envy and jealousy as well. Had Yun Che displayed his strength to people under other circumstances or on different occasions, it would completely fail to trigger such an effect. At today's banquet, however, Yun Che had not only shocked the entire hall with his strength, but he had also allowed the New Moon Profound Palace—which had been suppressed by the Seven Sects for God knows how many years—to fiercely hold its head high. This filled them with a deeper sense of gratitude alongside their reverence and awe.

Clutching his chest, Li Hao walked over, gave Yun Che a grateful nod, and said, "Junior Brother Yun, thank you for avenging my grievance. Though it might sound a bit presumptuous to say this... if anyone in the Palace dares to bully you in the future, I will be the first not to forgive him."

"Haha, count me in as well." Li Hao's cousin, Li Haoran, also said with a hearty laugh.

"Brother-in-law, it turns out you were actually this incredible!" Xia Yuanba also squeezed through, disregarding the wounds on his body, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at Yun Che. "I used to admire my sister the most, but from now on, the person I admire most is you, Brother-in-law."

"Alright, everyone stop crowding around Junior Brother Yun. Although he did not suffer any severe injuries, his profound energy has been heavily depleted, and he cannot bear such a noisy commotion."

Lan Xueruo possessed what could be considered the highest prestige among the disciples of the New Moon Profound Palace. Whether it was her strength, appearance, temperament, or character, she deeply won over many male and female disciples within the Profound Palace. Her brief words caused the surrounding clamor to instantly quiet down. Lan Xueruo walked to Yun Che's side and said with concern, "Junior Brother Yun, if you had merely injured Xiao Luocheng, everything would still be manageable. But this time, Xiao Luocheng was not just injured; he was ruined. The Xiao Sect will definitely retaliate, and they might even come knocking on our door right away. In this matter, it is fundamentally impossible for them to honor the so-called promise of 'never pursuing grievances,' and there is no person or power in the entire New Moon City capable of compelling them to keep it... What do you plan to do?"

Lan Xueruo's words instantly dampened all the disciples' excitement, and their expressions grew incredibly solemn. They knew clearly just how massive the Xiao Sect's power in New Moon City was. They could well imagine how fierce a retaliation the ruining of Xiao Luocheng would draw from the Xiao Sect. The Xiao Sect's retaliation... who in New Moon City could withstand it?

Perhaps Yun Che's only choice was to flee New Moon City immediately, the further the better.

"Heheheh, you all need not worry too much about this matter."

Accompanied by a burst of gentle laughter, Qin Wuyou walked over with a jovial smile. "As the Palace Chief, I will naturally protect the disciples of this Palace. There is no need for you to worry. If I were to let a disciple be bullied by the Xiao Sect just after taking office, I would have no face left to stay in this New Moon Profound Palace."

"Palace Chief." Seeing Qin Wuyou approach, the disciples bowed one after another. This Palace Chief Qin was much more peaceful and far more mysterious than the previous Palace Chief Zhou, and his strength was superior by an unknown number of folds. With his strength, he would be sufficient to rank among the masters even within the Blue Wind Imperial City, and in this New Moon City, he was not inferior to any sect master or clan leader of the Seven Sects. That such a figure had actually come to this New Moon City to serve as Palace Chief left many deeply astonished.

"Palace Chief," Yun Che also gave a very respectful bow, a hint of eccentricity showing in his gaze.

Qin Wuyou nodded slightly, gazing at Yun Che as he asked with concern, "Yun Che, how is your physical condition?"

Yun Che smiled faintly, "Not too well, but if it is just to talk, there is absolutely no problem."

Qin Wuyou froze momentarily, and then a somewhat helpless smile flashed across his face as he said, "Since that is the case, then accompany me in conversation for a while... Elders, take the disciples back to the Profound Hall first. As for this main hall, have someone come to clean it up in fifteen minutes."

The elders knew that Qin Wuyou had words to speak with Yun Che alone. They responded in unison and then departed with all the disciples.

As he stepped out of the main hall's entrance, Murong Ye cast a backward glance at Yun Che, a cold, gloating sneer flashing across his face: To actually ruin Xiao Luocheng... let's see how you die this time!

Only Yun Che and Qin Wuyou remained within the spacious main hall. In the quietude, the two faced each other in silence for a moment, neither speaking for a long time. Facing this Palace Chief who possessed a powerful background and strength while exuding mystery at every turn, Yun Che's gaze remained incredibly calm. In contrast, Qin Wuyou's expression was somewhat complex.

Ultimately, it was Qin Wuyou who spoke first. With a bitter laugh, he said, "Sigh, I never expected that I, Qin Wuyou, having spent a lifetime dominating and displaying grand majesty, would be fiercely plotted against by a little brat like you... and even while knowing clearly that I was being plotted against, I still had no choice but to leap right in."

Yun Che smiled as well, his smile filled with apology. He respectfully performed a junior's salute and said, "This junior did not know the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth, causing Palace Chief Qin to see a farce."

"There is no need for such useless pleasantries," Qin Wuyou waved his hand with a grimace, and then suddenly asked, "Are you truly so certain that I will definitely do my utmost to keep you safe? This is the first time I have met you, and the first time you have met me. I have only been in this New Moon City for a month; those who know of me might be many, but those who understand me can be said to be nonexistent. From where did you get such confidence? It is impossible for you not to know that if I had shown even a shred of hesitation today, that little life of yours would have been completely forfeited right here. And had it been anyone else, nine out of ten would not even hesitate; no matter what kind of genius you are, they would simply throw you directly to the Xiao Sect... You ruined the Young Sect Master and future hope of their sect, after all!"

The corners of Yun Che's lips curved slightly upwards. Looking into Qin Wuyou's eyes, he said, "To completely understand a person often requires several years, over a decade, or even several decades. But if one wishes to know a person's basic disposition, it is enough to merely observe their gaze. What does the Palace Chief think?"