330: Yao Lao, who lacks martial ethics

"Yin Field, Third Round."

"Liyan Holy Land, Xuanyuan Qingyao, versus Butian Pavilion, Wang Gang."

Watching the two enter the arena, Zhou Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"She's finally gone. It's quiet now."

He narrowed his eyes slightly and rubbed the space between his eyebrows.

Earlier, while Bai Ling was fighting, this person kept leaning toward him, feigning innocence whenever he asked why.

But Zhou Yan knew in his heart that this person was pure 'white-cut black'—sweet on the outside but dark on the inside—and who knew what she was plotting.

So he had indeed felt quite helpless; he couldn't communicate with her, and he had no reason to strike, not to mention he might not even be able to break through her defense if he did.

Fortunately, just as Bai Ling's match ended, it was her turn to take the stage. He could finally have some peace for a while.

"Mm, decided. I'll go change to a different viewing platform in a bit."

"Isn't it fine here? The environment is nice and it's quiet."

A voice suddenly came from beside him, and Zhou Yan instinctively replied.

"It was quiet at first, but everything changed as soon as Xuanyuan Qingyao arrived. She's too strange; I can't handle her. It's better to change locations."

"Is that so? Although I don't know what happened, since Brother Zhou says so, let's pack up and go."

"Eh?"

Zhou Yan's narrowed eyes instantly widened, and he sprang up from his seat, looking to his side. Bai Ling was sitting there with an innocent face.

"Holy crap! How did you get in again?"

"Is my pavilion really that easy to enter? Anyone can just walk in whenever they want?"

Bai Ling scratched his head.

"I just saw Yao Lao beckoning me over, so I came. Then she told me to help her save a seat, so I came in and found a place to sit. I didn't expect you to be here too, Brother Zhou."

"By the way, where is Brother Zhou going? Let's go together."

Zhou Yan showed a look of disgust and plopped back down into his seat.

"Go, go, go... go where?"

"I've seen through it now. Neither of you two is a simple character."

"I'll just stay right here."

Seeing that Zhou Yan was a bit angry, Bai Ling felt a bit guilty and said apologetically,

"Brother Zhou, I'm sorry... I really didn't know it would turn out like that. I really drank too much that day and don't remember anything."

"Besides, it wasn't me who said those things; I only heard a bit of it... Of course, I'm not trying to shirk responsibility. I just hope Brother Zhou can forgive me."

Seeing Bai Ling with his hands pressed together in a sincere attitude,

Zhou Yan didn't feel like saying anything more.

He had already punished him, and the other party was apologizing so earnestly, so what else could he do?

It was just that the maneuvers of Bai Ling and Xuanyuan Qingyao over the past few days had truly left him speechless, even dispelling the mystique he had for titles like Saint and Saintess.

"Fine, it's not a big deal. Just don't be so gossipy in the future."

Hearing his tone soften, Bai Ling immediately broke into a smile and thanked him repeatedly.

Amidst these thanks, the battle in the arena had already begun.

This time, the Small World was a plain with almost no cover. The two sides stood at opposite ends of the plain, facing each other.

At this moment, on the Elders' viewing stand, a white-haired young man looked into the arena and clicked his tongue twice.

"I say, Old Wang, this is your son? Are you sure it's not your daughter? He looks way too delicate."

"Besides, with how rugged you look, is he really your son?"

The speaker was Zhu Ming, the Grand Elder of Liyan Holy Land.

The one being teased was Elder Wang Wu, the leader of the Butian Pavilion delegation.

Wang Wu's eyelids twitched upon hearing this, but he quickly suppressed it and walked to the railing.

"He certainly isn't my son."

The Fourth Elder, who had been bored, instantly perked up. He barely suppressed his excitement and only quietly pricked up his ears.

"Oh? There's a story here? Tell us!" Zhu Ming's eyes lit up.

The Fourth Elder also couldn't help but glance at Wang Wu.

Wang Wu's face was heavy, and his tone carried a hint of sadness.

"This child has a hard life; he is an adopted son I took in."

"He was originally a Mortal and once had a son, but that son was unfilial and abandoned him. Seeing how pitiful he was, I took him in as my son."

After the story was told, the Fourth Elder and Zhu Ming both frowned.

What kind of mess was this?

One moment the son was unfilial, the next he was taken in as an adopted son; they didn't understand at all.

Thus, the Fourth Elder couldn't help but speak up.

"Old Wang, what are you saying? Someone else's son didn't want him, so you taking him in as your son—how does that work?"

"Though his son really is a piece of work."

By now, the corners of Wang Wu's mouth had already curled up slightly.

Zhu Ming felt something was off, but he curiously asked another question anyway.

"What is his son's name?"

Seeing his goal achieved, Wang Wu finally laughed out loud.

"His name is Zhu Tao."

"Go to hell! Wang Wu, you bastard!" Zhu Ming's veins bulged as he lunged at Wang Wu through the air, and the two immediately began to scuffle.

As the two fought, Wang Wu continued to mock him.

"You just flap your lips and spout whatever bullshit comes out. When you said my son wasn't my son, I didn't get angry. So why are you getting angry when I say he's your father's 'wild father'?"

The Fourth Elder finally realized what was happening and burst into laughter.

The laughter immediately drew the attention of those two.

"Lin, what are you laughing at? Your guests are fighting, and instead of breaking it up, you're laughing?"

"Exactly! Are we just here for your entertainment? You were all gloomy when hosting us, but now that we're fighting, you're happy? Get him!"

The two, who had been fighting fiercely, suddenly changed direction and pinned down the Fourth Elder together.

Then it was the Fourth Elder's turn to be dazed.

"Wait, what the hell does this have to do with me?"

Zhu Ming and Wang Wu didn't care about that. Each grabbing one of his arms, they pulled his legs apart, aimed at a pillar, and began an ancient sport—Aruba.

On the adjacent viewing platform where the Sect Master was, the Sect Master looked worried.

"Old Fourth won't be okay, will he?"

The Sixth Elder looked at the scene below calmly.

"Fourth Brother has been in a bad mood lately. Chatting and venting with them like this should help him relax a bit."

"Old Wang and Old Zhu are usually quite funny. I specifically told them earlier to take good care of my Fourth Brother."

"By now... they've probably already 'become one' with each other."

The Fifth Elder also looked unwell and somewhat worried.

"What's been wrong with Old Fourth lately? He's usually the most carefree person. Why has he started getting all sentimental?"

Hearing the Fifth Elder's question, the Grand Elder spoke up slowly.

"A year ago, when Zhou Yan was reporting a mission, he mentioned encountering the Power of Law of Heaven and Earth, and it wasn't something he cultivated himself, but something given to him by another."

"At that time, Old Fourth didn't have much of a reaction, but later, the mission information brought back by the Disciples more or less involved traces of Heaven and Earth."

"Although the total number isn't much, if you organize it by timeline, one thing is certain: that dead cat has started moving again."

"Combined with the recent movements in the Eastern Region, that dead cat is likely to get involved."

"Old Fourth is probably worried that Zhou Yan will run into trouble."

"After all, that cat... you all understand."

After listening, the Fifth Elder also fell silent, his heart feeling a bit heavy.

He had even gone to Yulin last year. He didn't expect such a thing to happen in the Eastern Region again. Had he known, he should have gone to the Eastern Region to take a look.

"Worrying is useless," the Sect Master took over the conversation. "This martial arts competition wasn't organized for nothing. Although the trouble won't disappear, things will be stable during this period."

Everyone regained their outward composure and continued to watch the competition, though each was lost in their own thoughts.

On the field, Xuanyuan Qingyao was looking at Wang Gang with a dazed, cute expression.

Although Wang Gang knew he couldn't beat the Saintess of Liyan Holy Land, he considered that she was a female cultivator, so it wasn't convenient for him to strike first.

But with the opponent making no move, he became a bit embarrassed.

"Um... Fellow Daoist Xuanyuan, ladies first. Why don't you make the first move?"

Xuanyuan Qingyao didn't react much, only saying softly,

"Wow, Brother Wang, you're such a gentleman."

"You're so manly."

These words, paired with her appearance, instantly struck Wang Gang's heart.

Although Wang Gang wasn't as androgynous as Zhou Yan once was, he had always been troubled by his delicate looks.

Because his father was a Body Cultivator, he also had to follow the path of a Body Cultivator, but no matter how he trained, his muscles weren't obvious. He was often teased among Body Cultivators, even being called the 'little bride of the Body Cultivators'.

He didn't expect that today, such a beautiful female cultivator would praise his manliness, and she was even the Saint— "Ugh!"

A flash of white light passed, and Xuanyuan Qingyao had already closed in silently, then struck his abdomen with a punch.

Wang Gang was still immersed in those words and hadn't even circulated his Cultivation Technique when he was heavily hit, falling to the ground clutching his stomach.

Seeing him fall and not get up, Xuanyuan Qingyao tilted her head and looked toward the sky.

"Does this count as my win? If not, should I follow up with a kick?"

That voice, which had been gentle and pleasant just now, now sounded as cold as an ice blade.

Wang Gang trembled on the ground, tears flowing.

"You played with my feelings..."

Xuanyuan Qingyao looked indifferent.

"This is called winning by wit."

"As soon as I call you 'brother', your brain disappears. This trick is very effective against you 'Xiao Chunan' types."

Seeing that she really was about to lift her foot to stomp on his head, the referee appeared in time to announce her victory and took away the heartbroken young man.

Xuanyuan Qingyao's actions also left a deep impression on all the spectators.

A thought couldn't help but surface in their minds.

How could such a cute little girl have such experienced and ruthless methods? I don't accept this!

Even the Fourth Elder and Wang Wu, who had been fooling around, stopped and looked together at the self-satisfied Zhu Ming.

Zhu Ming, however, acted as if nothing was wrong, proudly patting his chest as if to say,

Look, this is my good Disciple.