7: Chapter 7 Master, I've really worried myself sick over you~

"Elder Tie! Help! Elder Tie!"

"This Chen Yan doesn't follow the rules of martial virtue! He's not human!"

Up in the tree, the hanging Liu Meng had already woken up. Seeing Tie Wuya was like a long-lost son seeing his old father; he began wailing at the top of his lungs.

His crying was sorrowful, filled with humiliation and helplessness.

It was truly a sight that would make any listener sad and any witness weep.

When Chen Yan saw Tie Wuya, he immediately put away the brick in his hand.

He put his hands behind his back, gazed up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, and whistled, putting on an act of "I don't know anything, it wasn't me."

The corners of Tie Wuya's mouth twitched violently a few times.

He looked at Liu Meng hanging from the tree, then at Chen Yan whistling and playing innocent nearby, his Face full of helplessness.

This kid really knows how to cause trouble!

However, remembering Chen Yan's calm composure in the Discipline Hall yesterday when facing false accusations, and his unyielding grit under Li Qingxuan's pressure, Tie Wuya actually felt full of admiration for him.

Truth be told, although Chen Yan's methods were a bit wicked, he was very much to Tie Wuya's taste!

And now, he was actually able to counterattack a Foundation Establishment Stage as a Qi Refining Realm.

It seemed this kid wasn't the trash the rumors claimed him to be!

Could this kid be someone who is pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger?

*Cough, cough~*

Tie Wuya gave a light cough, but instead of tending to the wailing Liu Meng begging for help in the tree, he walked up to Chen Yan and said with a light smile, "Chen Yan, regarding yesterday's matter, my Discipline Hall was too quick to believe slander and jumped to conclusions without investigating clearly."

"The Discipline Hall owes you a favor. Please accept this small gift!"

Saying this, he handed a bottle of Medicinal Pills to Chen Yan. "This bottle of qi and blood pills shall serve as this old man's apology to you!"

The words were addressed to Chen Yan, but Tie Wuya's eyes unconsciously drifted toward the bamboo hut on the Ninth Peak.

Chen Yan's eyebrows shot up, instantly understanding his ulterior motive.

As an Elder of the Discipline Hall, Tie Wuya was at least an Incarnation realm powerhouse. Why would he apologize to a small fry in the Qi Refining Realm like him?

Ultimately, it was because of the Revered Master standing behind him, Sword Venerable Shuanghua!

The absolute ceiling of the entire Sect's combat power!

He hadn't come just to return a favor, but also to take this opportunity to test Leng Qingshuang's attitude.

In his younger years, Li Qingxuan's pursuit of Leng Qingshuang had been rejected. His love turned to hatred, which was why the Fifth Peak made things difficult for the Ninth Peak at every turn.

He just hadn't expected that they would use such a drastic measure this time, trying to cripple Chen Yan to completely sever the Ninth Peak's Legacy!

Tie Wuya was here to see what Leng Qingshuang's current attitude was.

Chen Yan chuckled, the corner of his mouth curling into an arc.

Inwardly, he began to complain frantically: "Testing my Revered Master's attitude? With my Revered Master's cold personality, does she even know a third word besides 'Get lost' and 'Draw your sword'?"

"In the future, for the Ninth Peak's external social occasions, it'll have to be me, her caring little Disciple, who steps up to hold the fort for Revered Master!"

With this thought in mind, Chen Yan's Face immediately shifted into an expression of immense gratitude and overwhelming humility.

He gave a deep bow to Tie Wuya and said with trepidation, "Elder Tie, you are too kind! The fact that you came at all makes this Disciple eternally grateful! How could I possibly accept a gift from you?"

But while he said those words, Chen Yan smoothly took the bottle of Medicinal Pills.

qi and blood pills! One pill is worth 10 Spirit Stones!

This bottle has 10 pills, so that's 100 Spirit Stones!

Only a fool wouldn't take it!

Tie Wuya looked at his empty hand, then at the supposedly overwhelmed Chen Yan, and laughed in spite of himself. "You little rascal..."

Chen Yan grinned and continued, "To be honest, my Revered Master even mentioned you to me last night!"

Tie Wuya was stunned. "Oh? Sword Venerable Shuanghua... she mentioned this old man?"

"Yes!"

Chen Yan let out a heavy sigh, his Face full of sincerity as if it were the absolute truth. "My Revered Master said that you, Elder Tie, are upright and impartial, a strict enforcer of the law. You are the backbone of our Taiqing Sword Sect!"

"The Chief of the Discipline Hall is in secluded Cultivation, so the Discipline Hall relies entirely on you to hold things together!"

"With you around, the Sect's laws can be upheld, and we Disciples can Cultivate in peace!"

"As for Revered Master, you know her. She has a cold exterior but a warm heart; she's just not good with words."

"But in her heart, she is quite approving and satisfied with the Discipline Hall!"

Chen Yan spoke these words with deep feeling, his Face not reddening and his heart not racing, as if Leng Qingshuang really had praised Tie Wuya behind his back.

Tie Wuya was left dazed by what he heard.

Sword Venerable Shuanghua... really said that?

In his impression, Leng Qingshuang had always been a woman of few words, cold and aloof!

Forget praising someone—even giving you a second glance was considered giving you a lot of Face.

Yet he hadn't expected her to have such high approval of the Discipline Hall?

Could it be that he had misunderstood her in the past?

Tie Wuya's eyes widened, his heart caught between belief and doubt.

Inside the bamboo hut on the Ninth Peak.

Leng Qingshuang, who was currently holding a teacup and drinking tea, nearly spat it out upon hearing Chen Yan's words.

This Rebellious Disciple!

He's full of lies! Utter nonsense!

When did I ever say those things?

Backbone of the Sect? Quite satisfied?

Yesterday, I clearly just wanted to slash that old dog Li Qingxuan with my sword!

What does that have to do with the Discipline Hall?

Leng Qingshuang was extremely annoyed, her red lips pursed slightly. She wished she could rush out right now and hang this lying Rebellious Disciple from the tree to keep Liu Meng company!

But for some reason...

Listening to Tie Wuya's skeptical tone and seeing Chen Yan's deadpan Face as he spouted nonsense, a strange, absurd sense of amusement actually rose in her heart.

The Ninth Peak had been lonely for too long. It was rare for this wooden Disciple of hers to become so silver-tongued. She might as well let him handle the interactions with the other peaks!

She, in turn, could enjoy more peace and quiet.

As for what he said?

It didn't matter.

In any case, she didn't need to explain anything to outsiders.

In front of the mountain gate.

Seeing Tie Wuya's hesitation, Chen Yan chuckled inwardly and added more fuel to the fire while the iron was hot.

"Elder Tie, my Revered Master also said that you are a man of integrity who does not fear power, a true role model for our generation."

"She even told me to learn from you more often when I have time!"

This time, Tie Wuya was completely won over by Chen Yan's sugar-coated bullets.

A gratified smile immediately broke out on his old Face, and the way he looked at Chen Yan became increasingly kind.

"Haha, Sword Venerable Shuanghua overpraises me! Upholding the Sect's laws is simply my duty!"

Tie Wuya stroked his beard, his mood excellent. "Chen Yan, you are a good child. If anyone dares to bully you in the Sect in the future, just come to the Discipline Hall and find me. This old man will see justice done for you!"

Chen Yan mentally made a peace sign:

Mission accomplished!

Revered Master, I've really worn myself out worrying for you~

This favor from Elder Tie is now set in stone!

He hurriedly bowed again. "Thank you, Elder Tie! This Disciple will certainly not disappoint the expectations of you and my Revered Master!"

Tie Wuya nodded with satisfaction. Now that this matter was settled, he prepared to take his leave.

But before leaving, he seemed to remember something, and his expression suddenly became grave.

He looked at Chen Yan and said in a low voice, "By the way, there is one more thing. Three months from now is the Sect's decennial Small Competition."

"According to Sect regulations, if a peak fails to have a Disciple enter the top hundred in the Small Competition for thirty consecutive years, fifty percent—that is, half—of that peak's cultivation resources will be deducted."

"The Ninth Peak... has already been at the bottom for twenty consecutive years. Take care of yourself."

After saying this, Tie Wuya gave Chen Yan a deep look, transformed into a streak of light, and vanished into the horizon.

Leaving Chen Yan standing there alone, the smile on his Face slowly freezing.

Sect Small Competition?

Top hundred?

Deduct half the resources?

Chen Yan looked at the dirt-poor mountain peak behind him and wanted to cry but had no tears.

They were already barely making ends meet. Deducting another half?

Wouldn't he and his Revered Master have to go begging for food in the future?