Chapter Ten: Autumn Jackals

"Duan Tianyi?" Xue Renqi had been quietly watching Long Yun from the side. He made no move to intervene; the Jade Sword Sect did not restrict its disciples from internal conflict—on the contrary, it actively encouraged it.

The Sect Leader, Shangguan Yu, believed that sparring among disciples was beneficial for their cultivation and progress. Though Long Yun had just humiliated Quan Guanxin and Pei Yue, he had acted with restraint and had not harmed them, so Xue Renqi saw no reason to interfere.

Now, Duan Tianyi appeared suddenly, bringing with him Chang Yuan, the chief disciple of the Sword and Man branch, and Xiao Leng, the second disciple, both exuding a fierce aura. Xue Renqi dared not show neglect, and immediately stepped to Long Yun's side.

"You dare insult disciples of the Sword and Man branch? With your mere Gathering Origin cultivation, you dare speak so arrogantly and even injure my disciples—how could I let you get away with it?" Duan Tianyi sneered coldly.

He lunged forward, arriving before Long Yun in a few swift movements, then turned his palm and struck down toward Long Yun's head.

"Duan Tianyi, you dare attack!" Xue Renqi was no pushover. Though his cultivation was only at the Rebirth stage, one level below Duan Tianyi, as elders their status was equal.

He raised a single hand to block Duan Tianyi's attack, then wrapped his left arm around Long Yun and retreated with him, staggering back!

Suppressing the turmoil within him, Xue Renqi’s gaze grew cold. "Duan Tianyi, you are an elder, yet you strike at a newly initiated disciple. Do you wish me to report this to the Sect Leader?"

"Xue Renqi," Duan Tianyi laughed coldly. "Besides reporting to the Sect Leader, what else can you do? I merely want to show him that his current strength is not enough to be arrogant. My Sword and Man branch is not to be trifled with!"

"What do you want?" Xue Renqi demanded angrily.

"It's simple. Have him kneel and apologize to my two disciples. And let Pei Yue slap him a few times. Then this matter can be put to rest," Duan Tianyi said indifferently.

"Damn it," Long Yun thought to himself. "The Sword and Man branch truly is arrogant, and perhaps the Heart Sword branch is too meek. Though Xue Renqi is an elder as well, his strength doesn't allow him much backbone."

"You intend to use your status as an elder to force me to kneel and apologize?" Long Yun calmed himself and addressed Duan Tianyi.

Duan Tianyi nodded, neither confirming nor denying.

Long Yun replied calmly, "Then you might as well kill me. I am not accustomed to being threatened."

"Very good!" Duan Tianyi laughed heartily. Character is character—prideful, but pride easily breaks. As he finished speaking, he lunged forward again, this time drawing his long sword.

The blade trembled, sending forth brilliant rays, and Duan Tianyi unleashed his cultivation at the eighth stage of the Postnatal Eight Realms, the Returning to Origin stage, to its fullest. The blade swept down toward Long Yun with unstoppable force.

Xue Renqi quickly drew his own sword, his sword energy surging, and flicked his wrist three times, each strike intercepting Duan Tianyi's sword energy, finally managing to block the attack.

"Xue Renqi, if you wish to interfere, don't blame me for disrespecting you in front of your disciple," Duan Tianyi snorted.

Rage boiled in Xue Renqi's heart. He could not allow Long Yun to be harmed, for Long Yun was the pride and hope of the entire Heart Sword branch.

"Then let's see who prevails!" Xue Renqi responded forcefully, pointing his sword at Duan Tianyi's brow, ready to strike at any moment.

A great battle was on the verge of erupting, the two elders facing off, swords drawn.

"You two, to draw blades before your junior disciples—how shameful! Stand down at once!" A white-haired elder walked over slowly, his voice quiet yet laced with natural authority.

Upon hearing his voice, both Duan Tianyi and Xue Renqi immediately withdrew, stepping aside. The Sect Leader, Shangguan Yu, was devoted to cultivation and usually left sect affairs to the Grand Elder, Qiu Di.

Qiu Di was, besides Shangguan Yu, the only Innate Realm expert in the Jade Sword Sect, renowned within the sect. Thus, Duan Tianyi and Xue Renqi both ceased their actions upon hearing him.

Qiu Di frowned slightly. "Duan Tianyi, was it you who struck first? Remember, you are an elder of a major branch. Is this the example you set for your disciples?"

Duan Tianyi bowed, his eyes sharp. "Grand Elder, please do not be angry. It was the Heart Sword branch's disciple who acted ruthlessly, humiliating my disciples and gravely injuring them. I asked him to apologize, but he refused, so I sought to discipline him. Unexpectedly, Elder Xue shielded him and was willing to confront me for this arrogant disciple."

Qiu Di's expression grew stern, his gaze shifting to Xue Renqi. "Elder Xue, is this true?"

Xue Renqi nodded. "Yes and no. Duan Tianyi is not entirely wrong, but to call my disciple arrogant and unruly is unjust. He only taught Quan Guanxin and Pei Yue a lesson because they first humiliated members of the Heart Sword branch and injured Yuan Chen and Chen Jie, provoking Long Yun's anger."

Qiu Di glanced at Duan Tianyi, noting his embarrassed expression and understanding the situation.

"So, this matter stems from a conflict between your two branches' disciples?" Qiu Di asked.

Both nodded, but neither spoke.

Long Yun also remained silent. Qiu Di was known for his impartiality, but Long Yun sensed something odd in his gaze, though he couldn't pinpoint it.

"It seems that, lacking opportunities for outside training, the disciples challenge each other to improve their skills, which is good. But intentional humiliation is against sect rules. As the disciplinary elder, I will not show favoritism. Recently, the brigands of Mount Bikou have been rampant, causing trouble in the countryside. Each branch will send one disciple to eliminate them!" Qiu Di said quietly.

Xue Renqi replied, "My disciples are not strong. Though Long Yun has great potential, his combat experience is lacking; he might suffer losses. Let me handle this task."

Before Qiu Di could respond, Long Yun smiled at Xue Renqi. "Master, let me go. Flowers raised in a greenhouse can never truly grow. Combat experience must be earned through fighting—you wouldn't want me to be useless, would you?"

"But..." Xue Renqi began, but Qiu Di interrupted him. "Good! Jade Sword Sect disciples must have such resolve. Elder Xue, do not prevent him. The brigands of Mount Bikou are not strong; they will be fine."

He then turned to Duan Tianyi. "Elder Duan, have your disciple participate. Any objections?"

Duan Tianyi quickly replied with a smile, "Of course not. Quan Guanxin, you will take part this time."

Quan Guanxin's expression changed. Those brigands were desperate men, not high in cultivation, but fierce in battle, and he would rather not face them if possible.

"Master, let me go!" Xiao Leng, the second disciple of the Sword and Man branch, stepped forward.

Xiao Leng, a genius of Five Aperture Qi Condensation, had reached the sixth stage, Bone Transformation, within five years of joining, becoming the second disciple of the branch, his cultivation equal to Chang Yuan's.

Duan Tianyi's face changed slightly at this, and he said, "Xiao Leng, let Quan Guanxin handle this. These petty criminals are not worth your effort."

Xiao Leng clasped his hands. "Master, I am interested in Long Yun. Let me accompany him."

Though Duan Tianyi was reluctant, he couldn't refuse in front of everyone. He said, "Be careful. If you encounter danger, do whatever you must to escape."

Xiao Leng nodded, and turned to Long Yun. "Brother Long Yun, let us depart."

Long Yun smiled; his first impression of Xiao Leng was quite good. He nodded, returned his sword to Yuan Chen, bowed to Xue Renqi, and followed Xiao Leng out of the mountain gate.

As the two disappeared from view, a glint flashed in Qiu Di's eyes, then he announced, "If they succeed, I will grant them rewards that will benefit them greatly! Everyone, disperse."

Xue Renqi felt uneasy, but sighed and led Yuan Chen and the others back to the courtyard.

"The Heart Sword branch will never have a genius. All hope is doomed to die. But Xiao Leng, you must return safely," Duan Tianyi murmured, his eyes flickering.