Chapter 128: Stirring Up Trouble

From the forbidden grounds behind the Sword Sect, a hoarse male voice echoed: "Sect Master, why bother losing your temper with a junior like Yanfeng?" A divine sense swept over the cliff like a tidal wave, lingering on Yu Youwei for a fleeting moment before rapidly receding.

Yu Youwei let out a muffled groan, her face drained of color. That burst of divine sense had carried such overwhelming pressure that it made her soul tremble violently. Fortunately, the hidden master had only intended a light reprimand; otherwise, even if she had been willing to reveal her trump card, the Scarlet Flame Sword, she would have struggled to keep her soul unscathed. The benefits of the little white bear became apparent at this moment. She sighed inwardly: with that glutton around, this level of pressure posed no threat at all.

"Sister!" Yu Ruoshuang cried out, pulling her sister into her arms. The one who had spoken was Supreme Elder Ling. Quick-witted and sharp, she naturally realized that the old man had used his divine sense to attack her sister. As a junior, she could not defy her superiors, but she pointed her sword at Ling Yanfeng in righteous indignation: "If anything happens to my sister, I will carve you into pieces!"

Ling Yanfeng had been terrified by the Sect Master’s roar, only finding a measure of composure when he heard his ancestor’s voice. He had no idea his ancestor had pressured Yu Youwei and was bewildered. He offered a bitter smile, saying, "Sister Ruoshuang, I haven't done anything to your sister."

Sect Master Ying flashed onto the cliff, standing before his granddaughter and facing the forbidden grounds with a cold expression: "Must Supreme Elder Ling interfere even when I am disciplining a low-level sect disciple?"

Factions within the sect were inevitable, and Sect Master Ying’s position remained secure because his foundation was deep. He was not a tyrant, but he was certainly a formidable leader. While the Ling family belonged to a different faction, they had always maintained a veneer of cordiality.

This time, the Sect Master’s reaction was so intense that it surprised not only the juniors but even the reclusive elders of the Sword Sect. Divine senses swept out from the back mountains, terrifying the disciples who had been hovering around the cliff to watch the spectacle, causing them to scatter like birds and beasts.

When gods fight, the mortals suffer. Although it was unlikely the Sect Master and the Supreme Elder would actually come to blows, the possibility could not be ruled out. A tense atmosphere, like a storm gathering, immediately descended upon the Sword Sect.

Looking at her grandfather’s straight back, Yu Ruoshuang’s eyes welled with tears, feeling deeply guilty for her earlier thought that he had been hiding. Her grandfather did love her after all!

Yu Youwei, however, saw the bigger picture. She realized the Sect Master was making a stance to support his granddaughter’s claim to the succession. After all, the Yu family’s foundation in the sect was weak. While the Sect Master’s faction might not necessarily support Yu Shiyu, they would face no obstacles in supporting Yu Ruoshuang.

A hoarse laugh echoed from the forbidden grounds, and Supreme Elder Ling descended onto the cliff. He did not look like an ancient monster; rather, he appeared as a refined gentleman in a moon-white brocade robe embroidered with black bamboo, a black jade pendant hanging at his waist. Standing with his hands behind his back, he looked at Yu Ruoshuang and smiled, "Sect Master, you are mistaken! The marriage between Yanfeng and the girl Ruoshuang has already been settled. We are all one family now; why would I, an old man, have any objection to you disciplining Yanfeng?"

Feeling her sister’s fingernails dig into her palm, Yu Ruoshuang’s face flushed red as she shouted, "Even if I die, I will never marry that beast!"

"My father went to propose, and your mother agreed. We have matchmakers and witnesses; you cannot go back on your word now!" Ling Yanfeng retorted immediately.

In truth, even the date for the betrothal gifts had been set, leaving Yu Ruoshuang with no room to argue.

"Are you bullying a widow and her orphans?" Yu Youwei raised her eyebrows and sneered, "Fortunately, my sister has only lost her father; her grandfather is still alive and not yet senile. He will not let his granddaughter be bullied for nothing."

Sect Master Ying almost wanted to applaud the girl. His daughter had indeed agreed to the Ling family's proposal and had explained her concerns to him afterward. However, with the girl slapping the label of "bullying a widow and her orphans" on them, he could now rightfully annul the marriage.

Supreme Elder Ling regretted not turning the girl into an idiot with his divine sense earlier. He wanted to try again, but he knew the Sect Master would surely intervene.

Yu Ruoshuang looked at her sister in astonishment. A situation where they were clearly in the wrong had been twisted by her sister’s tongue into a stance of righteous indignation. She truly admired her sister. At that moment, she felt another sharp pinch in her palm. Her eyes turned red and she choked out, "Grandfather, that beast Ling Yanfeng bullied me. I don't want to marry him, I want to kill him!"

Sect Master Ying had always treasured his granddaughter. Upon learning she had been drugged and nearly violated, his first impulse had been to grind Ling Yanfeng to dust. How dare he scheme against his granddaughter! However, his daughter had voiced her concerns, and after much tearful persuasion, he had swallowed his anger and retreated into seclusion to sulk.

Now that his granddaughter had finally realized the situation and requested justice, his long-suppressed rage erupted. He glared at Ling Yanfeng and thundered, "Will you end your own life, or must I do it myself?"

Ling Yanfeng panicked, pleading, "Sister Ruoshuang, I was only confused for a moment."

Supreme Elder Ling, not expecting the Sect Master to attempt to kill Ling Yanfeng right in front of him, felt his dignity slighted. He stepped in front of Ling Yanfeng and said in a deep voice, "According to the sect rules, Yanfeng’s actions do not warrant a death sentence, do they?"

Yu Youwei whispered, "Sister, your grandfather the Sect Master certainly has the authority to issue a new rule, doesn't he? Once it's issued, you can charge Ling Yanfeng again, and you can deal with that beast quite legitimately, right?" Though her voice was soft, everyone present heard her clearly.

A fleeting smile appeared on the Sect Master’s lips before he regained his composure. Looking at the face of Supreme Elder Ling—who loved to cause him trouble—now as black as the bottom of a pot, he felt a sense of immense satisfaction. He asked with a mocking smile, "Does the Supreme Elder have a moment to hear me announce a new rule?"

An open confrontation between a Sect Master and a Supreme Elder was rare in the history of the Sword Sect. Aside from those in deep seclusion, the upper echelons and the old monsters from the back mountains appeared, forming three camps. The Sect Master’s faction was the strongest, the neutral camp the weakest, and if the Supreme Elder’s faction joined with the neutrals, they could narrowly suppress the Sect Master.

Watching the situation escalate, Yu Ruoshuang trembled with nervousness.

Seeing this, Yu Youwei understood that the Sect Master was merely using the event to gain leverage; the end result would surely be a lot of thunder but little rain. Taking Ling Yanfeng’s life was unrealistic. If Yu Ruoshuang could become the successor and Ling Yanfeng were forced into a matrilocal marriage, it would be the best possible outcome.

Squeezing her sister’s hand firmly, Yu Youwei whispered, "It’s just death, Sister, there’s nothing to fear!"

The old monsters in the Supreme Elder’s faction felt the urge to slap Yu Youwei. The Sect Master also chuckled to himself: *You girl, you might as well just say, "Sister, if he doesn't give you a satisfying conclusion, just go ahead and threaten to kill yourself!"*

The honest Yu Ruoshuang nodded, having caught the hint, and stated bluntly, "I know. If that beast Ling Yanfeng escapes death, I will simply draw my sword and slit my throat right here before my grandfather!"