Chapter 32

Yun Shuchen gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, and seeing that she truly had no intention of speaking, let her go.

When Madam Chen heard that her son had been beaten to a pulp, she rushed over in a frenzy, happening to run into the young disciples carrying the barely-alive boy out the door.

At the sight of his bloody back and the crisscrossing bruises, she nearly fainted. Then, clutching her son, she wailed loudly. Her red-rimmed eyes fixed on Qing Zhouxue, and she suddenly charged over, raising a hand to strike.

Yun Shuchen snapped her folding fan shut and, with a feather-light touch that deflected a thousand pounds of force, precisely blocked her hand. "The matter isn't settled yet, madam. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Settled?" Madam Chen fumed. "My son was so cruelly harmed by her, and you still want a settlement? She's just an inner disciple—how dare she hit someone in public? Are you bullying our Chen family because you think we have no one?"

The Sect Leader pulled her back with a few soothing words, and the woman's chest heaved as she calmed slightly. She looked at Yun Shuchen with disdain. "I thought the Taichu Sect was beyond reproach, but it seems it's full of bullies who throw their weight around."

At the mention of her master, Qing Zhouxue's gaze shifted to the woman's face. Suddenly, she spoke coldly, "This child was poorly raised. His words were disrespectful. He deserved the beating."

Madam Chen's barely suppressed anger flared up again at Qing Zhouxue's light remark. She wanted nothing more than to slap her again. She was also from a prestigious immortal family, not as powerful as Yun Shuchen or the Sect Leader but far above Qing Zhouxue. If she struck with full force, Qing Zhouxue would certainly suffer.

Yun Shuchen blocked her hand once more, a courteous smile still fixed on her lips but not reaching her eyes, as if in warning.

"I've watched this child grow up," the Sect Leader said in a deep voice, his favoritism plain. "She would never act rashly or bully the weak. Perhaps there's more to the story. Although hitting someone is wrong, we must investigate before punishing. Please wait another incense stick's time."

Qing Zhouxue lowered her eyes, unwilling to say more. She didn't want Yun Shuchen to know how that man had lusted after her or slandered her and the Sect Leader. Even if it wouldn't cause discord, it would only add revulsion. She didn't want her master to be stained by any filth. Speaking of it would only tarnish her reputation. So she chose not to elaborate and accepted the punishment.

"Sect Leader."

A clear female voice rang from the doorway. Lin Xunzhen bowed.

The Sect Leader nodded, gesturing for her to enter. Behind her followed a few nervous young disciples—some who had fled the classroom earlier, others unfamiliar.

Lin Xunzhen spoke in a measured tone. "The full story has been investigated. The eldest son of the Chen family spoke frivolously, laughing and cursing in class, and made slanderous remarks. Qing Zhouxue then followed him in, issued a warning, and told him to go to the Xunjie Hall to receive his punishment."

The Sect Leader nodded. Up to this point, what Qing Zhouxue had done was within the rights of a disciplinary enforcer; there was no fault to find.

"Then he insulted her again, and Junior Sister Qing... perhaps began to punish him personally." Lin Xunzhen stepped aside. "My word alone isn't enough. Here are a few disciples who witnessed it."

They stammered through their accounts, and Qing Zhouxue's heart eased. She knew Lin Xunzhen was thorough and meticulous. She must have known those words would disgrace the elder, so she had likely instructed the witnesses beforehand to swallow anything inappropriate and only hint vaguely.

"In addition," Lin Xunzhen continued, "a few months ago, an incident occurred in the outer sect that left a bad impression. The junior sister involved doesn't wish to show her face. This is her elder sister."

The unfamiliar girl bowed gracefully to the elders, and her eyes blinked as if she were about to cry. "My younger sister had some aptitude for cultivation, so our family sent her to the outer sect to train, hoping she'd pass the exams in a few years."

"But on the night of the Moon Lantern Festival, this rogue dragged her away under the guise of seeking advice, then dared to assault her. Afterward, he threatened her family's lives." At this, she broke down sobbing. "My poor sister was so distraught she tried to end her life several times at home. I managed to stop her, but what use is that? Now she's listless and won't even leave the house."

"Is this true?" The Sect Leader's expression darkened. "Madam Chen, if this proves to be the case, I'm afraid you'll need to stay here a few more days."

"So, this is just about who has more people, then? You'd believe the one-sided stories of these girls?" The woman was about to make another scene, her eyes darting. "Regardless, isn't it wrong to take the law into one's own hands? If you don't punish her, it won't make sense!"

"Since rules were broken, punishment is certainly due." Yun Shuchen smiled. "But the Taichu Sect has another rule: when a direct disciple errs, the master must personally discipline them. No one else may lay a hand on them."

The Sect Leader kept his eyes down, thinking, When did the Taichu Sect have such a rule? But he said nothing—Qing Zhouxue was, after all, his junior niece and a half-disciple.

A disciple from the Xunjie Hall presented a ruler, but Madam Chen protested, "At least it should be a cane!"

Yun Shuchen coughed lightly and said in a soft voice, "That's true. But I'm not in good health. The rod is too heavy, and my hands are too weak to lift it. I can only make do with this."

She picked out one of medium thickness and held it up. Qing Zhouxue turned her head to look, but the wooden ruler pressed against her chin, pushing her face back.

The ruler was raised.

Qing Zhouxue closed her eyes, bracing her back instinctively.

To her surprise, the blow landed with only a sound—its force as gentle as a willow branch brushing the surface of spring water. Slow and unhurried, soft as a lover's caress.

Madam Chen protested again, but the woman merely frowned slightly, clutching a handkerchief as if she might cough blood at any moment, as if she could tire herself to death just by beating her disciple a few times. The Xunjie Hall disciples nearby were frightened witless and urged, "Elder Yun, please take it easy."

After the last stroke of the ruler, Yun Shuchen said, "Get up, Qinger."

And so Qing Zhouxue, under blatant protection, walked out of the Xunjie Hall unscathed, leaving Madam Chen behind to argue futilely with the Sect Leader.

"No need to worry. The Chen family's children are spoiled—this isn't the first time they've stirred up such filth in the cultivation world. If we give them any more face, they'll only get worse."

On the way back to Heyi Peak, Yun Shuchen squeezed her wrist. "This is the first time I've seen you so angry. Was it about you or about me?"

Qing Zhouxue lowered her eyes. "That person was disrespectful to an elder. Please don't concern yourself, Master."

Seeing that she was still reluctant to elaborate, Yun Shuchen pondered for a moment and roughly understood what it was about. The quality of outer disciples varied; some were domineering and, after a couple of drinks, would dare to say anything in private. Encountering such a scoundrel occasionally was inevitable.

"If it wasn't about me," Yun Shuchen said, turning to look at her with a light sigh, "would you still have done it?"

She was genuinely surprised. Usually, no matter what others said about her disciple, good or bad, the girl always remained indifferent. This was the first time she had seen her anger show a glint of edge, like a treasured sword in its scabbard seeing light for the first time—and making such a commotion.

"Perhaps not," Qing Zhouxue said, reflecting that she had been impulsive and had dragged Yun Shuchen all the way there. She said softly, "Master, I've troubled you."

Yun Shuchen looked at her fair, cold profile, her eyes beneath her lashes like a pool of melting snow, clear and lovely enough to bring fondness to one's heart. For the first time, she felt the advantage of having a disciple—there were occasional troubles and occasional expenses, but the girl's wholehearted devotion beneath her reticence was still deeply moving.

"Why be so formal?" Yun Shuchen curved her lips and said warmly, "Next time you're polite, I'll have to hit you."

But Master's hits don't hurt at all.

Qing Zhouxue thought this, but found her hand being pulled up. The soft pads of her fingers brushed across her palm, sending a fine, ticklish sensation.

Why is she holding my hand?

She lagged a step behind, watching the evening breeze lift Yun Shuchen's hair. Yun Shuchen simply held her hand, as if it were accidental, and walked on.

* * *

Qing Zhouxue's deeds became famous throughout the inner and outer sects. What people focused on wasn't "disciplinary enforcer takes the law into her own hands" but rather "Senior Sister Qing punishes the lecher."

In the past, because of her ethereal, immortal beauty, many male disciples in the outer sect admired her. But after this incident spread, her junior brothers gradually dwindled, while junior sisters grew in number.

Finally, when she finished her sect task and no longer needed to visit the outer sect, she received several love letters soaked with junior sisters' tears.

She couldn't bring herself to throw them away, so she clutched them in her hand. Just as she was about to step out of the outer sect's grounds, she saw a dark mass of people surging, as if she were facing an army alone.

Qing Zhouxue unconsciously stepped back, sensing something ominous.

The leading junior sister spotted her and shouted excitedly, "Elder Yun's disciple is over there! See her? Quickly, surround her!"

With a thunderous rumble, Qing Zhouxue nearly drew her sword in self-defense, but she was surrounded tightly all the same.

A junior sister grabbed her hand, tears streaming. "Senior Sister Qing, my name is Mu Li. I admire—"

Qing Zhouxue nodded. "I appreciate the sentiment." She tried to end the scene quickly.

Unexpectedly, the junior sister glared. "I've admired Elder Yun for a long time!"

"..."

Qing Zhouxue was startled, then stiffly nodded. "I appreciate it on her behalf."

"Please," she choked out, "take these to her. These are my feelings written down. I hope she'll remember my name."

"Senior Sister," a male disciple squeezed in, shoving a sack of sweet potatoes at her. "These are from my hometown—big and sweet. I wonder if Elder Yun would like them. Please help me deliver them. My name is Zhang Lilin! Don't forget to tell her!"

"Get lost, you little brat." He was quickly swallowed by the crowd, and more hands reached out. Qing Zhouxue looked at the surging heads and said coldly, "Silence!"

The whole place quieted for a moment.

Qing Zhouxue said, "Line up from here."

She promptly hauled a chair over, sat down, took out a piece of paper, and, frowning, began to register names one by one.

Elder Yun held a high position and had a gentle nature, but most importantly, she was beautiful and graceful. The admiration of younger disciples was mostly that shallow.

In the past, Heyi Peak had never taken disciples, so sending things was impractical, and Yun Shuchen rarely set foot in the outer sect, making direct gifts impossible. The boys and girls could only glimpse her from afar at important ceremonies, then suppress their budding affections with deep melancholy.

Now they had Qing Zhouxue as their go-between, and her constant back-and-forth connected them all. Other elders didn't lack such favors, but the pressure on Qing Zhouxue was uniquely heavy.

After filling two storage rings and watching the sun's shadow move from noon to slanting afternoon, the ordeal finally came to an end.

The junior sisters and brothers left with profuse thanks.

She let out a light sigh and returned laden with gifts. It was good that so many people admired her master; after all, that was a good thing.

But for some reason, as Qing Zhouxue touched those letters, she sank into a complex melancholy.