193: Chapter 193 Can't Wait Any Longer

"After Shen Qing returned to Xuanguang Peak, he mentioned to his fellow Disciples that he had a brief chat with you and wanted to spar, but you didn't agree.

What he said was ordinary enough, but once the wind started blowing, the story changed completely as it spread.

By the time it reached my ears, it had become 'Su Cheng is arrogant and looks down on Senior Brother Shen Qing, and by extension, he doesn't even care about Xuanguang Peak's Dao of Alchemy'."

Although Chen Yuan wasn't exactly flying into a rage after finding out, he was clearly indignant on Su Cheng's behalf.

In his impression, his Junior Brother Su Cheng would absolutely never say such things.

"This is clearly someone acting with ill intent, trying to use this as a pretext to stir up trouble between our two peaks!" Chen Yuan slapped his thigh. "You're a new Disciple who hasn't even been in the Sect for a year; how could you possibly have the nerve to look down on Xuanguang Peak?

Our Revered Master is usually the most aloof and indifferent to worldly struggles.

Moreover, Xuanguang Peak is guarded by two Golden Core Elders; Elder Zhao Zhengyang's status and network are right there for all to see.

If this gossip reaches their ears and they take it seriously, it could truly drown you!"

"No, I have to go and clear this up." Chen Yuan stood up. "In my capacity as the Eldest Disciple of Qingmu Peak, I'll go and confront those gossips face-to-face and lay everything out.

We can't just let these distorted words circulate everywhere and allow them to ruin my Junior Brother's reputation."

Su Cheng quickly raised his hand to signal him to sit down. "Senior Brother, the more you step forward to clarify in the name of Qingmu Peak, the more it seems like these rumors have struck a nerve.

In this kind of situation, getting personally involved in the argument makes it easier for others to seize upon it and continue making a scene."

"But if we don't suppress this ill wind, others will think our Qingmu Peak is a pushover!"

"Senior Brother, think calmly. As long as Senior Brother Shen Qing's original words didn't mean that, the source wasn't intended to stir up trouble," Su Cheng said methodically as he placed the Jade Slip back on the shelf.

"As for the two Golden Core Elders of Xuanguang Peak, they are old foxes who have cultivated for hundreds of years. Why would they lower their status to trouble a Junior like me over a few loose words from low-level Disciples?"

Chen Yuan took the teacup Su Cheng handed him and gulped it down.

"I understand the logic. The higher-ups won't care, but the spit from fellow Disciples is enough to bury a person... I just feel stifled for you."

Su Cheng poured a cup for himself as the tea's steam curled upward. "It's not stifling. Since this direction was artificially twisted, the one who tied the knot must untie it.

It's useless for us to personally debunk the rumors; we need Senior Brother Shen Qing to stand up and shut them down himself."

"Would he be willing to help? Weren't you two still competing with each other today?"

"He is a reasonable man with pride. He wouldn't be comfortable knowing his words were being exaggerated and used as a tool behind his back." Su Cheng picked up his teacup. "However, the timing isn't right now. Let's leave it for a few days.

In a while, I'll find a proper excuse to meet him privately and ask for his help. After all, this matter started because of him."

Hearing this, Chen Yuan's tense shoulders finally relaxed.

"Fine, as long as you can stay steady. But if some blind fools really jump in front of you to mock you with this later, just say the word, and your Senior Brother will go 'reason' with them for you."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. I know what I'm doing."

Chen Yuan drank two more cups of tea, suppressing the fire in his heart a bit before turning to leave.

Quiet returned to the Immortal Cave.

The night wind outside blew in, carrying the unique herbal fragrance of Qingmu Peak, and the edges of several Jade Slips glinted softly under the lamplight.

Su Cheng sat on a prayer mat, the tea by his hand having cooled halfway.

He had already gone through the entire matter in his mind from beginning to end.

Shen Qing didn't do it on purpose; Su Cheng could judge that much.

Given the other's status, power, and the talent boost of his Water Spirit Body, there was no need for him to use such methods to trip up a newcomer at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

After Shen Qing returned to Xuanguang Peak, he likely just mentioned it casually while chatting with his peers: 'I ran into that Su Cheng from Qingmu Peak today and wanted to spar with him, but he didn't agree.' His tone might not have even been that serious.

The problem lay with the listeners.

To get Shen Qing an assistant slot, the two Golden Core Elders of Xuanguang Peak had cashed in several favors, even asking two managers of the Alchemy Hall to intercede.

Such matters might just be ordinary social exchanges at the Golden Core level, but it was different in the perception of the Disciples. Since their Revered Master had paid a price to secure this position, then this position had to be 'earned,' not 'conceded by someone else.'

Su Cheng's attitude of 'not competing' was precisely what became the biggest thorn in the eyes of the Xuanguang Peak Disciples.

If you don't compete, then what was the point of all our Revered Master's effort?

Thus, Shen Qing's ordinary remark was processed layer by layer by several disgruntled Junior Brothers until it became 'Su Cheng looks down on Shen Qing' and 'Su Cheng looks down on Xuanguang Peak's Dao of Alchemy'.

The people spreading the word might not have had immense malice, but the resentment was real, and the exaggeration was real too.

Su Cheng rubbed his brow; he hated this kind of thing the most.

It wasn't fear; it was just a nuisance.

Which of the major tasks at hand wasn't more important than this nonsense?

Fang Zhenhai's Core Formation preparations, the opportunity to observe the refinement of the spirit nurturing pill, the upgrade of the wanbao mirror, the investigation into his father's itinerary, and the plan to enhance his Divine Soul with the soul-nurturing flower—each had a clear deadline, and none allowed for distractions.

Yet, this kind of nonsense was the most draining on one's mental energy.

If you ignore it, it will slowly ferment, turning from gossip among Disciples into prejudice among peers, and then from prejudice into a tangible obstacle.

In the future, whatever he did in the Sect, someone behind his back would mutter, 'That's the one who looked down on Xuanguang Peak.'

If you address it, it's easy for the explanation to only make things worse.

Su Cheng's original plan was to let it sit for a few days and find Shen Qing to talk things out privately once the heat died down.

But the more he thought about it, the more he felt it was better to resolve it early. If he left it for another three to five days, who knows what version it would evolve into.

He couldn't wait anymore.

The next day at the hour of chen, Su Cheng went up the mountain and infused the dragon beard vine with a final dose of Qi of Creation—he wouldn't bother with it after today—and then continued to Cultivate by the soul-nurturing flower for an hour.

By the time he came down from the mountain peak, the sky was bright. He didn't return to his Immortal Cave but flew directly toward Xuanguang Peak on his sword.

Xuanguang Peak was much livelier than Qingmu Peak; even from the foot of the mountain, groups of Disciples could be seen shuttling between the spirit fields and the martial arts arena.

Su Cheng landed on a plaza halfway up the mountain. At the edge of the plaza stood a Reception Pavilion where two Disciples on duty were playing chess.

Su Cheng stepped forward and asked, "I am Su Cheng of Qingmu Peak. I wish to speak with Senior Brother Shen Qing. Please announce my arrival."

The Disciples on duty looked up at him, their eyes filled with surprise and suspicion.

The name Su Cheng had clearly already spread through Xuanguang Peak.

The two exchanged a glance, and one of them pushed the chessboard aside and stood up.

Constrained by the status of a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator and a Personal Disciple, he had no choice but to perform a perfunctory Junior's salute and said, "So it is Senior Brother Su. Forgive us for the lack of a proper welcome."

"Haha, it's no matter."

"Senior Brother Su has come at an inopportune time. Senior Brother Shen is in secluded meditation and is not seeing guests."

"Then please help me pass on a message. Tell him Su Cheng has come to ask Senior Brother Shen to clarify something; it won't take much time."

Encountering Shen Qing's seclusion at this juncture made Su Cheng secretly annoyed. This seclusion was timed quite inconveniently, inviting unnecessary trouble.

The other Disciple on duty gave a cold laugh. "Clarify? You should swallow the words you said before coming here to clarify."